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Childish Gambino - Atavista - Vinyl 2 LP
For years, Childish Gambino's Atavista hid in plain sight. When he released an unfinished version of the record on March 15, 2020, it spent just 12 hours on his website before he pulled it down. Reappearing on streaming a week later as 3.15.20, the project brought up almost as many questions as sparkling neo-soul anthems, which still sounded slicker than the average as raw cuts titled after timestamps.
Atavista is an ode to impermanence, never more directly than over the glimmering guitar of "Time" with Grande. ("One thing's for certain, baby/We're running out of time," they harmonize on the chorus.) But in Gambino's capable hands, Atavista also slows down to enjoy the view, the sonic equivalent of a luxe leather-interior BMW cruising an open California highway. "I did what I wanted to," he revels on closing track "Final Church." Atavista took many shapes over the years to reach a final form. In each warm refrain, tight sequence, and carefully chosen collaborator, Gambino demonstrates why some things are worth waiting for.
“You have to see them in concert,” is what fans of The National have been preaching for years. “The songs transform. It’s a whole other level.” Recorded live (without overdubs) in June 2024 at an architecturally stunning venue named for famed Italian film composer Ennio Morricone, Rome is the definitive live document of The National. The 21-track double album is truly career spanning, and showcases scintillating versions of beloved songs like “Bloodbuzz Ohio,” “Don’t Swallow the Cap,” “I Need My Girl,” “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness,” “England” and “Fake Empire”; plus sharpened readings of recent tracks “Eucalyptus,” “New Order T-Shirt,” “Tropic Morning News” and the boundary-pushing “Smoke Detector.” The National’s setlist changes significantly show to show, revisiting their 25-year catalog to cast fresh light on hidden gems. For Rome that includes the show opener “Runaway,” “Lemonworld,” “The Geese of Beverly Road,” “Lit Up” and a tour de force pairing of “Humiliation” from their critically acclaimed album Trouble Will Find Me into Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers’ “Murder Me Rachael.” The Rome encore features the election anthem “Mr. November,” and, from High Violet, “Terrible Love” and the show-closing fan singalong, “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks.” The live album was mixed by the band’s longtime collaborator Peter Katis. Reviewing a National performance this summer, NME wrote that “every song is played like it could be the last.” Rome captures that playing-for-keeps urgency on record and serves not merely as a concert souvenir but the latest vital addition to the band’s peerless catalog.
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Halsey - The Great Impersonator - Vinyl 2 LP
Halsey's fifth studio album The Great Impersonator is due out on Columbia Records on October 25th. In this confessional, concept album, Halsey explores who she would be as an artist and a person if she existed throughout different decades. Black Double LP, Gatefold, with double sided insert.
Following Wilco’s acclaimed 2023 album Cousin, Wilco revisited unfinished material from these sessions to craft ‘Hot Sun Cool Shroud’. Collaborating again with engineering mixer Tom Schick, the band crafted six tracks that expand on the sound of Cousin. According to Jeff Tweedy, they have “a summertime-after-dark kind of feeling. It starts off pretty hot, like heat during the day, has some instrumentals on it that are a little agitated and uncomfortable, and ends with a cooling breeze.”
Got A Story to Tell refines the sweet soul sounds Thee Sacred Souls have become famous for, delivering a genre pushing collection of songs that exhibit a magnetic coolness and swagger. The relaxed quality of the musicianship coupled with Josh Lane's heart-wrenching voice, gives the album a maturity that carries the listener through many facets of the soul music spectrum. From the heavy groove of the opening track "Lucid Girl", the '70s swing of "Live for You".
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What's New 11-29-24
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New Release Round-Up 11-29-24
Still Listening To...
Grant Green - Idle Moments - Blue Note Records
Grant Green - "Idle Moments" [Blue LP] Time and troubles seem to melt away during the fifteen enrapturing minutes of "Idle Moments," the opening track of Grant Green's sublime 1963 album of the same name. As the piece unhurriedly unfurls, all the unique colors of the ensemble present themselves with Green's soulful guitar joined by Duke Pearson's elegant piano, Bobby Hutcherson's crystalline vibraphone, Bob Cranshaw's reassuring upright bass, Al Harewood's subtle drums and Joe Henderson's magnificent tenor saxophone. The pace quickens for the rest of this tremendous set, including the nimble Green original "Jean de Fleur," a bluesy take on John Lewis' MJQ standard "Django," and a driving performance of Pearson's original, "Nomad." Indie Exclusive Blue 180gram LP. Limited Edition.
Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage - Blue Note Records
Herbie Hancock -"Maiden Voyage" [Blue LP] Even by the high-water marks set by Herbie Hancock's tremendous 1960s output for Blue Note, 1965's Maiden Voyage remains one of the pinnacle artistic achievements of the great pianist's career. Hancock is joined by his Miles David Quintet bandmates, Ron Carter (bass), Tony Williams (drums), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet) and George Coleman (tenor saxophone). The quintet embarks on an oceanic exploration of five original Hancock compositions, several of which have since become enduring standards of the jazz lexicon, including "Eye of the Hurricane," "Dolphin Dance" and the title track. Indie Exclusive 180gram Blue LP. Limited Edition.
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK
Charley Crockett - Visions Of Dallas [LP]
Wilco - Hot Sun Cool Shroud [LP]
Buck Owens - I've Got A Tiger By The Tail [RSD Black Friday 2024]
Biohazard - Mata Leão [RSD Black Friday 2024]
Gaslight Anthem - Live at Park Ave (15 Year Anniversary) [RSD Black Friday 2024]
Santana - Let The Guitar Play [RSD Black Friday 2024]
Daniel Powter - DP [RSD Black Friday 2024]
Tribe - Dedication [RSD Black Friday 2024]
The Minus 5 - Down With Wilco [RSD Black Friday 2024]
Dave Douglas - GIFTS [RSD Black Friday 2024]
Norman Mclaren - Rhythmetic: The Compositions Of Norman Mclaren
Destroy Boys - Sorry Mom [Indie Exclusive Opaque Yellow and Black LP]
Various Artists - Contaminated Comp 2024 [LP]
Hanseroth Twins - Vera [Indie Exclusive]
Il Volo - Ad Astra - International Edition
Bear McCreary - Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power - O.S.T.
Sweet - Full Circle [Colored Vinyl] [Deluxe] (Gate) [Limited Edition] (Purp)
West, Kanye / Ty Dolla Sign - Vultures 1 - Marbled Vinyl
Albert Collins / Cray,Robert / Copeland,Johnny - Showdown [Clear Vinyl] [Deluxe] (Gate)
Mount Kimbie - Sunset Violent (Blue) [Colored Vinyl]
Menahan Street - Make The Road By Walking [Download Included]
Richard Thompson - Live From Austin, Tx [Colored Vinyl] (Gate) (Grn) (Stic)
Warren Zevon - Preludes (W/Book) (Gate)
Caroline Rose - Loner [Clear Vinyl] (Red)
Ben Boysen Lukas - Alta Ripa [Clear Vinyl]
Harriet The Spy - Unfuckwithable [Colored Vinyl] (Org)
Shovel Dance Collective - Water Is The Shovel Of The Shore
Better Than Ezra - Deluxe [RSD Black Friday 2024]