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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.”
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Now Hear This! - December 2024
Zach Bryan
The Great American Bar Scene
Warner RecordsBuy Now In barely five years, Zach Bryan has transformed from cult-roots road warrior (2020’s Elisabeth) to fast-rising country-adjacent renegade (2022’s American Heartbreak) to Number One hitmaker and voice-of-a-Gen-Z-generation storyteller (2023’s Zach Bryan). Zach might not offer much that he hasn't already, but his excellent songwriting continues to make it worth it. Silkroad Ensemble & Rhiannon Giddens
American Railroad
NonesuchBuy Now Four years of research, collaboration, and music-making, having brought Silkroad artists all across the United States to uncover and uplift the stories of those who built the transcontinental railroad and connecting railways across North America. The result is a tapestry of stories, traditions, and musics that have shaped our multifaceted cultural identity. Rose
Rosie
AtlanticBuy Now A twangy, heartbreaker of a country record, and whatever physical anguish Whitney Rose may be in, she sings through it, finds strength and inspiration from it, and delivers in front of a crack group of Austin musicians. It’s like chicken soup for the soul, and Rosie‘s recipe here is especially efficacious. Neal Morse
No Hill For A Climber
Inside Out MusicBuy Now Iconic and prolific composer and musical collaborator in the progressive rock universe, Neal Morse brings a new project to the genre with Neal Morse & The Resonance – uniting local musicians from the Nashville area. It’s a fresh, creative, and entertaining album of classic melodic progressive rock. Ryan Bingham
Live At Red Rocks
Thirty Tigers / The Bingham Recording Co.Buy Now Known for his raw and emotive music, evocative storytelling, and trademark weather-beaten vocals – Bingham’s music defies classification with folk, blues, country and rock ‘n roll all part of the recipe. With Live at Red Rocks, Bingham teams up with The Texas Gentlemen for an electrifying sold out show, continuing his tradition of explosive and emotive live performances. Opeth
The Last Will And Testament
Reigning Phoenix MusicBuy Now Opeth go Miss Marple via Edgar Allen Poe on the prog-death-jazz metal odyssey that is The Last Will And Testament. It’s their most focused, disciplined piece of music to date and their heaviest work in more than 15 years – a fascinating, striving, and endlessly replayable return from the masters of Swedish progressive death metal. Inepsy
Rock ‘N’ Roll Babylon
TankcrimesBuy Now The debut album from Montreal's Mötorcharged Inepsy is a riotous shot of high-octane rock ‘n’ roll, fusing punk’s primal energy with vintage riffage. It's loud, brash, and unrefined in the best possible way, with gritty guitars and a relentless drive that recalls the rebellious spirit of ’70s garage and proto-punk. Infectious and feral. LISTEN HERE LISTEN HERE Michael & The Mighty Midnight Revival
Songs For Sinners & Saints
Loma Vista RecordingsBuy Now The Run the Jewels rapper follows up last year’s Grammys-sweeping Michael with an album of soulful rewinds and combative new tracks addressing a tumultuous few months. The curveball third act of Michael Santiago Render’s hip-hop career has been no less surprising, nor exciting, to behold. -
New Release Round-Up 12-06-24
The Rolling Stones - Hackney Diamonds (1 Year Anniversary) - Geffen
Hitting Number 1 in 19 countries on release, Hackney Diamonds marked the return of The Rolling Stones as their first original studio album since 2005’s A Bigger Bang. The album includes the GRAMMY nominated lead single ‘Angry’ alongside ‘Sweet Sounds of Heaven’ featuring vocals from Lady Gaga and keys & piano from Stevie Wonder. Late drummer Charlie Watts features on two tracks, ‘Mess It Up’ and ‘Live By The Sword’ alongside Bill Wyman. The album also includes collaborations with Paul McCartney & Elton John. This special limited edition 1 year anniversary 2LP version of Hackney Diamonds includes Live at Racket NYC featuring the 7 tracks the band performed at the intimate launch event in New York on 19th October 2023 with debut live performances of ‘Angry’, ‘Bite My Head Off’, ‘Whole Wide World’ and ‘Sweet Sounds of Heaven’ with Lady Gaga. The 24 page booklet includes photos from the performance by Kevin Mazur.
Tori Amos - Diving Deep: Live - Decca
Tori Amos has long been renowned for never playing the same show twice. Now, these unique live performances are captured in a new live album entitled ‘Diving Deep’ recorded across Tori's 2022-2023 Ocean to Ocean tour, which spanned 93 dates around the globe. The album features beloved tracks from Amos's iconic back catalog, including hits such as “Cornflake Girl.” Indie Exclusive 2 LP set on bone colored vinyl. Limited Edition.
Hank Mobley - A Slice of the Top LP (Blue Note Tone Poet Series) - Blue Note Records
Tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley had already been building a formidable Blue Note catalog for more than a decade when he conceived of his unique album A Slice of the Top, which was recorded in 1966 but not first released until 1979 as part of the LT Series. Inspired by Miles Davis’ Birth of the Cool, Mobley collaborated with Duke Pearson who arranged four Mobley originals and the pop standard “There’s a Lull In My Life” for an octet that added Kiane Zawadi’s euphonium and Howard Johnson’s tuba to a group consisting of James Spaulding on alto saxophone and flute, Lee Morgan on trumpet, McCoy Tyner on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. Behold Mobley’s lyrical flights on standout tunes including “Hank’s Other Bag,” “A Touch of Blue,” and “A Slice of the Top.”
Freddie Roach - Good Move LP (Blue Note Tone Poet Series) - Blue Note Records
In the 1960s, Blue Note’s roster of organists was second to none with leading Hammond B3 practitioners like Jimmy Smith, Big John Patton, and Larry Young each honing their own distinctive styles on the instrument. Freddie Roach was first introduced to Blue Note listeners on Ike Quebec’s albums Heavy Soul and It Might As Well Be Spring and soon began his own run of leader dates for the label including the 1963 standout Good Move featuring Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Hank Mobley on tenor saxophone, Eddie Wright on guitar, and Clarence Johnston on drums. This soul jazz classic makes all the right moves with set highlights including “When Malindy Sings,” an Oscar Brown song that was performed by Abbey Lincoln, and Roach’s own church-rooted “Wine, Wine, Wine” and “On Our Way Up,” an uplifting anthem that he wrote on the day of the historic March on Washington.
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK
The Rolling Stones - Hackney Diamonds (1 Year Anniversary) - [Blue Splatter Clear Opaque 2LP]
Tori Amos - Diving Deep: Live [Bone 2 LP]
Joe Henry - Invisible Hour - [2 LP]
Mavis Staples - Mavis Staples [RSD Essential Gold Star LP]
Christopher Owens - I Wanna Run Barefoot Through Your Hair [Baby Pink LP]
Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost [2 LP]
Laura Nyro - Hear My Song: The Collection 1966-1995 [19CD Deluxe Box Set]
Inepsy - Rock 'N' Roll Babylon [Blue LP]
St. Vincent - Masseduction (Anniversary Edition) - [Neon Coral LP]
Groundhogs - Thank Christ For The Bomb - Gold Colored Vinyl
Magdalena Bay - Little Rhythm And A Wicked Feeling (Blue) [Colored Vinyl]
Magdalena Bay - Mercurial World - [Orchid LP]
Hozier - Unreal Unearth Unending [3 LP Tooth White Vinyl]
TWICE - Strategy (Highlight Ver.)
Hitech - Hitech [Indie Exclusive Glass Of Port LP]
Hitech - Detwat [Indie Exclusive Forest Green LP]
Old Crow - Medicine Show O.C.M.S. [LP]
Paul McCartney - Thrillington [SHM-CD]
Lauren Mayberry - Vicious Creature [LP]
Sabrina Carpenter - fruitcake [Fruit Punch 12inch EP]
Counterparts - Live In Toronto
Estelle - Shine - [Transparent Orange With Opaque Center 2LP]
Joey Valence & Brae - No Hands
TWS - Tws 1st Single 'last Bell' [Compact Ver. With Booklet]
Interpol - Live At Third Man Records
Rose - rosie [Retail Exclusive CD]
J Cole - 2014 Forest Hills Drive (10 Year Anniversary) [Forest Green 2 LP]
Aurora - What Happened To The Heart? [Indie exclusive translucent sea blue LP]