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Posted 4 JUNE 2001
"Amnesiac"
Radiohead
Our price: $12.58 | You save: $5.39
...order here.
Radiohead's much-anticipated "Amnesiac," which finally sees the
light of day on June 5, features 11 slices of fabulous, inventive
post-pop. It's reminiscent of that time when Autechre jammed with
Pink Floyd (no, that didn't really happen).
"Reveal"
R.E.M.
Our price: $13.28 | You save: $5.69
...order here.
"Reveal," R.E.M.'s first album in three years, finds the remaining
founding members exploring an earnestly introspective and serenely
symphonic landscape.
"Acre Thrills"
U.S. Maple
Our price: $14.22 | You save: $0.75
...order here.
At once aggro and out-there, Chicago's U.S. Maple bring their
Beefheart-inspired, ultracomplex, absurdist punk to new levels on
the awe-inspiring "Acre Thrills."
"Weezer (2001)"
Weezer
Our price: $13.28 | You save: $5.69
...order here.
Weezer's imaginatively titled new album, "Weezer," drops some
seriously driving and catchy geek-pop for coeds and the
post-collegiate alike. It's a definite return to form for these
alt-rock favorites.
"The Optimist LP"
Turin Brakes
Our price: $13.99 | You save: $2.98
...order here.
On "The Optimist LP," catchy British neo-folk duo Turin Brakes mix
smooth California pop and T. Rex; there's an emotional nakedness
here that's pulled off with vim, vigor, and charming wit.
"Look Into the Eyeball"
David Byrne
Our price: $13.28 | You save: $5.69
...order here.
David Byrne has a new record. It's called "Look into the Eyeball,"
and it blends popular American, Brazilian, and African styles
seamlessly, while never losing touch with Mr. Fuzzy Pink Suit's
art-school rock roots.
"Exciter"
Depeche Mode
Our price: $13.28 | You save: $5.69
...order here.
Depeche Mode's "Exciter" is a surprisingly fresh platter of
catchy-as-hell (and also poignant) alterna-dance-pop anthems. The
record manages to update the group's classic synth-pop sound while
harking back to the glory days of the 1980s.
"Field Songs"
Mark Lanegan
Our price: $15.19 | You save: $0.80
...order here.
On Mark Lanegan's "Field Songs," it's tempting to see the
singer-songwriter as Seattle's answer to Nick Cave as he sings of
"the glorious sound of a one-way street." The disc brims with
forlorn lyrics bemoaning missed opportunities and broken
promises--perfect for fans of Fred Neil, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen
(and yes, Cave too).
"Sad Sappy Sucker"
Modest Mouse
Our price: $14.22 | You save: $0.75
...order here.
Modest Mouse's "Sad Sappy Sucker" is the band's first recording,
released in 2001 but created back in 1994. Thankfully, it isn't some
rarity meant just for collectors; breezy melodies build into jagged
choruses as singer Isaac Brock shows he can be both tender and
playfully aggressive. This is classic and classy indie guitar pop.
More recent releases:
Aterciopelados, "Gozo Poderoso"
...order here.
Econoline Crush, "Brand New History"
...order here.
Various artists, "KCRW: Sounds Eclectic"
...order here.
Tegan and Sara, "This Business of Art"
...order here.
David Gray, "Lost Songs"
...order here.
Over the Rhine, "Films for Radio"
...order here.
Gwenmars, "Driving a Million"
...order here.
Shea Seger, "May Street Project"
...order here.
NOT YET RELEASED: ADVANCE ORDERS
"Oh Inverted World"
Shins
Our price: $14.22 | You save: $0.75
...order here.
The Shins' exciting debut album, "Oh Inverted World," mixes lyrics
as strange and vivid as Jeff Mangum's with a smooth, idiosyncratic
pop that recalls Built to Spill, Simon and Garfunkel, and Echo and
the Bunnymen. This is not the last you will hear of this brilliant
band.
More cool upcoming releases:
Belle and Sebastian, "Jonathan David" CD single
...order here.
Travis, "The Invisible Band"
...order here.
"Chicago Underground Quartet"
...order here.
Edwin McCain, "Far from Over"
...order here.
INXS, "Shine Like It Does"
...order here.
REST IN PEACE
Very few folks have actually changed the face of popular music;
Joey Ramone was among them. His awesome band laid bare the
pretensions of '70s rock with stripped-down, melodic, buzzsaw bliss.
...order here.
Check out Amazon.com's exclusive interview with Mr. Ramone from last
year.
...order here.
NOT YET RELEASED
R.E.M.'s much-anticipated album "Reveal" finally sees the light of
day on May 15.
...order here.
L
More upcoming releases you can pre-order today:
Radiohead, "Amnesiac"
...order here.
Mark Lanegan, "Field Songs"
...order here.
Marine Girls, "Lazy Ways/Beach Party"
...order here.
Low, Dirty Three, "In the Fishtank"
...order here.
Mark Eitzel, "Invisible Man"
...order here.
The Ladybug Transistor, "Argyle Hair"
...order here.
NEW AND NOTABLE
"Old Ramon"
Red House Painters
...order here.
The Red House Painters' sixth full-length, "Old Ramon," was recorded
in 1997 but was not released until now. Elegiac, slow, and beautiful,
with none of the cheesy production that slightly mars their earliest
recordings for 4AD, the record is a fine addition to underrated
singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek's output.
"Rock Action"
Mogwai
...order here.
"Rock Action," Scottish experimental-noise outfit Mogwai's third
full-length release, says no to harsh walls of feedback and allusions
to Glaswegian gang warfare, but yes to banjos, trombones, electronics,
and--for the first time on a Mogwai album--vocals, from the band's
Stuart Braithwaite. But what's here is likable; "Rock Action" is a
compromise only to the inevitable effects of musical evolution.
"Mutter"
Rammstein
...order here.
Those zany German guys Rammstein are back with "Mutter," another
ear-bleeding full-length of industrial rock. It's all in German so we
can't understand what they're singing about, but we're sure it has
something to do with tulips, puppy dogs, and bumblebees--making it the
perfect record for spring!
"Take Back The Universe And Give..."
Creeper Lagoon
...order here.
With the release of "Take Back the Universe and Give Me Yesterday,"
Bay Area act Creeper Lagoon embrace their sensitive sides with the
sweetness of old indie bands like Sugar without hydroplaning on an
overly spit-shined final product. This is hummable, smart,
guitar-driven pop.
"Suburban Light"
The Clientele
...order here.
Have you been yearning for fragile yet savvy indie pop the likes of
which the Chills, Galaxie 500, Belle and Sebastian, and the C-86 crew
used to churn out once upon a time? Then look no further than the
Clientele's U.S. debut, "Suburban Light," whose collection of new and
rare tracks prove why they are the best British indie-rock band since
the Clinic.
"roomsound"
califone
...order here.
Chicago's Califone are as inventive and envelope-pushing as Radiohead,
as delirious and downtempo as Portishead, as informed by American folk
music as Palace, and as bluesy as all get-out. Their debut
full-length, "Roomsound," is a minor-keyed masterpiece of smeared
melodies and fragile post-pop.
"Ease Down The Road"
Bonnie Prince Billy
...order here.
That nutter Will Oldham is at it again, with his second album under
the Brit-folk-referencing guise of Bonnie Prince Billy. "Ease down the
Road" is the brooding singer-songwriter's brightest, most easygoing
trip yet, a real treat for Palace completists and newcomers alike.
"Dizzy Spells"
The Ex
...order here.
Ye olde punke rocke doesn't get any more vibrant, real, or politically
aware than when Dutch act the Ex release a new album. This group
originally started in 1980 in the Gang of Four and Crass mold and
later added both improvisational and East European folk elements to
their sound. They are now one of the last punk bands to really truly
matter; one listen to the Albini-produced "Dizzy Spells" will show you
why.
"Cousteau"
Cousteau
...order here.
Cousteau are not the first nor last bunch of young men to have lit
upon Scott Walker's epically lachrymose solo albums as a design for
living. But very few others have trudged in Walker's weary footsteps
with quite the poise the U.K. act Cousteau display on their
self-titled and rerecorded debut. It's enough to make the Bad Seeds,
Tindersticks, and Red House Painters proud.
BRITPOP SPOTLIGHT
"Just Enough Education To Perform"
Stereophonics
...order here.
On their third full-length, "Just Enough Education to Perform,"
Stereophonics present their first truly mature work, an album that
recalls the ragged croak of Rod Stewart and the world-weary country
lament of Neil Young.
EDITOR'S PICKS
I just can't stop listening to the Austin, Texas-based band Knife in
the Water. As you'd figure from a band named after a Roman Polanski
film, their subject matter is brooding and intense yet kind of
hilarious at the same time. Musically they're a strange, intoxicating
mix of Lee Hazlewood, Nick Cave, the Walkabouts, and old-school
country. Check out their album "Red River," which "Spin" magazine
included in its list of the best records of 2000.
...order here.
More recent records garnering extra attention:
The New Pornographers, "Mass Romantic"
...order here.
Danielson Family, "Fetch the Compass Kids"
...order here.
Unwound, "Leaves Turn Inside You"
...order here.
Mouse on Mars, "Idiology"
...order here.
The Sadies, "Tremendous Efforts"
...order here.
Vic Chesnutt, "Left to His Own Devices"
...order here.
OUR CUSTOMERS RECOMMEND
"Isolation Drills [ECD]"
Guided By Voices
...order here.
A customer from Iowa recommends "Isolation Drills" by Guided by
Voices: "GBV's finally found how to put the right amount of polish and
make a 'big studio record' without going overboard and drowning out
the songs. This one's more in line with "Under the Bushes" sound and
consistency-wise (meaning very good). It's one of their more difficult
records but also one of their most rewarding, and definitely their
best in years."
BOOK NOTES
"Raymond Roussel and the Republic of Dreams"
Mark Ford
...order here.
In "Raymond Roussel and the Republic of Dreams," Mark Ford provides a
fascinating glimpse into the life of an absurd aristocrat whose
influence on the literary avant-garde continues to this day.
Posted 4 JUNE 2001
"Amnesiac"
Radiohead
Our price: $12.58 | You save: $5.39
...order here.
Radiohead's much-anticipated "Amnesiac," which finally sees the
light of day on June 5, features 11 slices of fabulous, inventive
post-pop. It's reminiscent of that time when Autechre jammed with
Pink Floyd (no, that didn't really happen).
"Reveal"
R.E.M.
Our price: $13.28 | You save: $5.69
...order here.
"Reveal," R.E.M.'s first album in three years, finds the remaining
founding members exploring an earnestly introspective and serenely
symphonic landscape.
"Acre Thrills"
U.S. Maple
Our price: $14.22 | You save: $0.75
...order here.
At once aggro and out-there, Chicago's U.S. Maple bring their
Beefheart-inspired, ultracomplex, absurdist punk to new levels on
the awe-inspiring "Acre Thrills."
"Weezer (2001)"
Weezer
Our price: $13.28 | You save: $5.69
...order here.
Weezer's imaginatively titled new album, "Weezer," drops some
seriously driving and catchy geek-pop for coeds and the
post-collegiate alike. It's a definite return to form for these
alt-rock favorites.
"The Optimist LP"
Turin Brakes
Our price: $13.99 | You save: $2.98
...order here.
On "The Optimist LP," catchy British neo-folk duo Turin Brakes mix
smooth California pop and T. Rex; there's an emotional nakedness
here that's pulled off with vim, vigor, and charming wit.
"Look Into the Eyeball"
David Byrne
Our price: $13.28 | You save: $5.69
...order here.
David Byrne has a new record. It's called "Look into the Eyeball,"
and it blends popular American, Brazilian, and African styles
seamlessly, while never losing touch with Mr. Fuzzy Pink Suit's
art-school rock roots.
"Exciter"
Depeche Mode
Our price: $13.28 | You save: $5.69
...order here.
Depeche Mode's "Exciter" is a surprisingly fresh platter of
catchy-as-hell (and also poignant) alterna-dance-pop anthems. The
record manages to update the group's classic synth-pop sound while
harking back to the glory days of the 1980s.
"Field Songs"
Mark Lanegan
Our price: $15.19 | You save: $0.80
...order here.
On Mark Lanegan's "Field Songs," it's tempting to see the
singer-songwriter as Seattle's answer to Nick Cave as he sings of
"the glorious sound of a one-way street." The disc brims with
forlorn lyrics bemoaning missed opportunities and broken
promises--perfect for fans of Fred Neil, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen
(and yes, Cave too).
"Sad Sappy Sucker"
Modest Mouse
Our price: $14.22 | You save: $0.75
...order here.
Modest Mouse's "Sad Sappy Sucker" is the band's first recording,
released in 2001 but created back in 1994. Thankfully, it isn't some
rarity meant just for collectors; breezy melodies build into jagged
choruses as singer Isaac Brock shows he can be both tender and
playfully aggressive. This is classic and classy indie guitar pop.
More recent releases:
Aterciopelados, "Gozo Poderoso"
...order here.
Econoline Crush, "Brand New History"
...order here.
Various artists, "KCRW: Sounds Eclectic"
...order here.
Tegan and Sara, "This Business of Art"
...order here.
David Gray, "Lost Songs"
...order here.
Over the Rhine, "Films for Radio"
...order here.
Gwenmars, "Driving a Million"
...order here.
Shea Seger, "May Street Project"
...order here.
NOT YET RELEASED: ADVANCE ORDERS
"Oh Inverted World"
Shins
Our price: $14.22 | You save: $0.75
...order here.
The Shins' exciting debut album, "Oh Inverted World," mixes lyrics
as strange and vivid as Jeff Mangum's with a smooth, idiosyncratic
pop that recalls Built to Spill, Simon and Garfunkel, and Echo and
the Bunnymen. This is not the last you will hear of this brilliant
band.
More cool upcoming releases:
Belle and Sebastian, "Jonathan David" CD single
...order here.
Travis, "The Invisible Band"
...order here.
"Chicago Underground Quartet"
...order here.
Edwin McCain, "Far from Over"
...order here.
INXS, "Shine Like It Does"
...order here.
REST IN PEACE
Very few folks have actually changed the face of popular music;
Joey Ramone was among them. His awesome band laid bare the
pretensions of '70s rock with stripped-down, melodic, buzzsaw bliss.
...order here.
Check out Amazon.com's exclusive interview with Mr. Ramone from last
year.
...order here.
NOT YET RELEASED
R.E.M.'s much-anticipated album "Reveal" finally sees the light of
day on May 15.
...order here.
L
More upcoming releases you can pre-order today:
Radiohead, "Amnesiac"
...order here.
Mark Lanegan, "Field Songs"
...order here.
Marine Girls, "Lazy Ways/Beach Party"
...order here.
Low, Dirty Three, "In the Fishtank"
...order here.
Mark Eitzel, "Invisible Man"
...order here.
The Ladybug Transistor, "Argyle Hair"
...order here.
NEW AND NOTABLE
"Old Ramon"
Red House Painters
...order here.
The Red House Painters' sixth full-length, "Old Ramon," was recorded
in 1997 but was not released until now. Elegiac, slow, and beautiful,
with none of the cheesy production that slightly mars their earliest
recordings for 4AD, the record is a fine addition to underrated
singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek's output.
"Rock Action"
Mogwai
...order here.
"Rock Action," Scottish experimental-noise outfit Mogwai's third
full-length release, says no to harsh walls of feedback and allusions
to Glaswegian gang warfare, but yes to banjos, trombones, electronics,
and--for the first time on a Mogwai album--vocals, from the band's
Stuart Braithwaite. But what's here is likable; "Rock Action" is a
compromise only to the inevitable effects of musical evolution.
"Mutter"
Rammstein
...order here.
Those zany German guys Rammstein are back with "Mutter," another
ear-bleeding full-length of industrial rock. It's all in German so we
can't understand what they're singing about, but we're sure it has
something to do with tulips, puppy dogs, and bumblebees--making it the
perfect record for spring!
"Take Back The Universe And Give..."
Creeper Lagoon
...order here.
With the release of "Take Back the Universe and Give Me Yesterday,"
Bay Area act Creeper Lagoon embrace their sensitive sides with the
sweetness of old indie bands like Sugar without hydroplaning on an
overly spit-shined final product. This is hummable, smart,
guitar-driven pop.
"Suburban Light"
The Clientele
...order here.
Have you been yearning for fragile yet savvy indie pop the likes of
which the Chills, Galaxie 500, Belle and Sebastian, and the C-86 crew
used to churn out once upon a time? Then look no further than the
Clientele's U.S. debut, "Suburban Light," whose collection of new and
rare tracks prove why they are the best British indie-rock band since
the Clinic.
"roomsound"
califone
...order here.
Chicago's Califone are as inventive and envelope-pushing as Radiohead,
as delirious and downtempo as Portishead, as informed by American folk
music as Palace, and as bluesy as all get-out. Their debut
full-length, "Roomsound," is a minor-keyed masterpiece of smeared
melodies and fragile post-pop.
"Ease Down The Road"
Bonnie Prince Billy
...order here.
That nutter Will Oldham is at it again, with his second album under
the Brit-folk-referencing guise of Bonnie Prince Billy. "Ease down the
Road" is the brooding singer-songwriter's brightest, most easygoing
trip yet, a real treat for Palace completists and newcomers alike.
"Dizzy Spells"
The Ex
...order here.
Ye olde punke rocke doesn't get any more vibrant, real, or politically
aware than when Dutch act the Ex release a new album. This group
originally started in 1980 in the Gang of Four and Crass mold and
later added both improvisational and East European folk elements to
their sound. They are now one of the last punk bands to really truly
matter; one listen to the Albini-produced "Dizzy Spells" will show you
why.
"Cousteau"
Cousteau
...order here.
Cousteau are not the first nor last bunch of young men to have lit
upon Scott Walker's epically lachrymose solo albums as a design for
living. But very few others have trudged in Walker's weary footsteps
with quite the poise the U.K. act Cousteau display on their
self-titled and rerecorded debut. It's enough to make the Bad Seeds,
Tindersticks, and Red House Painters proud.
BRITPOP SPOTLIGHT
"Just Enough Education To Perform"
Stereophonics
...order here.
On their third full-length, "Just Enough Education to Perform,"
Stereophonics present their first truly mature work, an album that
recalls the ragged croak of Rod Stewart and the world-weary country
lament of Neil Young.
EDITOR'S PICKS
I just can't stop listening to the Austin, Texas-based band Knife in
the Water. As you'd figure from a band named after a Roman Polanski
film, their subject matter is brooding and intense yet kind of
hilarious at the same time. Musically they're a strange, intoxicating
mix of Lee Hazlewood, Nick Cave, the Walkabouts, and old-school
country. Check out their album "Red River," which "Spin" magazine
included in its list of the best records of 2000.
...order here.
More recent records garnering extra attention:
The New Pornographers, "Mass Romantic"
...order here.
Danielson Family, "Fetch the Compass Kids"
...order here.
Unwound, "Leaves Turn Inside You"
...order here.
Mouse on Mars, "Idiology"
...order here.
The Sadies, "Tremendous Efforts"
...order here.
Vic Chesnutt, "Left to His Own Devices"
...order here.
OUR CUSTOMERS RECOMMEND
"Isolation Drills [ECD]"
Guided By Voices
...order here.
A customer from Iowa recommends "Isolation Drills" by Guided by
Voices: "GBV's finally found how to put the right amount of polish and
make a 'big studio record' without going overboard and drowning out
the songs. This one's more in line with "Under the Bushes" sound and
consistency-wise (meaning very good). It's one of their more difficult
records but also one of their most rewarding, and definitely their
best in years."
BOOK NOTES
"Raymond Roussel and the Republic of Dreams"
Mark Ford
...order here.
In "Raymond Roussel and the Republic of Dreams," Mark Ford provides a
fascinating glimpse into the life of an absurd aristocrat whose
influence on the literary avant-garde continues to this day.
Editor, Michael James McGonigal © 2001, amazon.com and associate ncdn
NEW AND NOTABLE
"Isolation Drills"
Guided By Voices
...order here.
"Isolation Drills" is a balls-to-the-wall album of big rock delivered in
crystalline high fidelity, and it's the best Guided by Voices album in at
least six years. The masters of obscure, crummily recorded basement art pop
have matured without losing the purity of their artistic vision. That might
sound cheesy or unbelievable, but it's true; the lyrically dark and
sublimely catchy "Drills" is simply one of the greatest pop albums you'll
hear all year. If "Glad Girls" does not become a huge hit, there is
something terribly wrong with this world.
"No More Shall We Part"
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
...order here.
Nick Cave's 11th studio album, "No More Shall We Part," shows that the man
is not merely in a different league from most of his peers, he's scarcely
even playing the same game. "No More" sees a renewed emphasis on the
virtuosity of Cave's longtime backing band, the Bad Seeds. They decorate
the sprawling ballads with mutli-instrumental aplomb, helped on several
tracks by lovely folk singers Kate and Anna McGarrigle. Cave's lyrical
preoccupations remain constant--God, love (and the loss thereof), and
death. The man in black handles these themes with agility and imagination.
And, as ever, he is funnier than he's given credit for.
"Sunny Border Blue"
Kristin Hersh
...order here.
When Kristin Hersh embarked on her solo career with 1994's "Hips &
Makers," it was as if she was determined to exorcise every trace--bar her
distinctive, serrated vocals--of the unique sound she had developed with
Throwing Muses. Since then, Hersh's reliably excellent solo albums have
plotted a gradual course back to whence she came. Though "Sunny Border
Blue" is a solo album in the strictest sense--Hersh plays all the
instruments except the drums on one track--it sounds like a follow-up to
Throwing Muses' last albums (obviously no bad thing).
"100 Broken Windows [ECD]"
Idlewild
...order here.
What often makes the best bands such an attractive proposition is that they
usually have a total disregard for what's going on around them. Listening
to Idlewild's "100 Broken Windows" is like hearing the thoughts of four
people who have chosen to seal themselves off from the outside world, with
only a treasured collection of American underground rock records and indie
films for company. The album, an assured and largely faultless follow-up to
"Hope Is Important," is a big step from a band that continues to grow.
"Satellite Rides"
Old 97's
...order here.
As with "Fight Songs," the 1999 predecessor to "Satellite Rides," the Old
97's are ringing a poppy bell. The cover art has a retro 1960s vibe, and
the chiming guitars echo that sentiment. Is it 1960s Britpop? A tad, but
singer Rhett Miller has a vocal palette that runs from 1980s new
wave-leaning alternative to a more scouring, acidic country yowl. He uses
his range well. The twang here is more subtle than in the past, cloaked in
big rave-up melodies (like the fine single "King of All the World") and
heart-on-the-sleeve emotions (as on "Question").
"Live From Mars [LIVE]"
Ben Harper
...order here.
On "Live from Mars," Ben Harper offers up a choice selection of material
that will appeal greatly to fans of his charged, bluesy, and folk-inspired
rock. Harper's first live release, the album features one full CD of
acoustic material and another of electric. It includes many of his most
popular songs as well as covers of "Whole Lotta Love," "Sexual Healing,"
and the Verve's "The Drugs Don't Work."
"Newness Ends"
The New Year
...order here.
New Year, Bubba and Matt Kadane's post-Bedhead band, burns with a larger
flame than that great Texas-based quietcore group did. On New Year's debut
album, "Newness Ends," the guitars are sharper, newcomer Chris Brokaw's
drumming is harder hitting, and the tunes are more aggressive than on
Bedhead outings. The Kadanes have a strum-heavy formula that owes much to
the Feelies and myriad others, but they've tuned it enough that Matt's
laconic vocals and the wobble-toned guitars clearly indicate a debt to
their old band without repeating their footsteps exactly.
NOT YET RELEASED: ADVANCE ORDERS
"Rock Action"
Mogwai
...order here.
Mogwai's new album, "Rock Action," finally sees the light of day on April
24. Their third and most varied studio full-length fully collapses the
distinctions between the genres post-rock, art-rock, post-prog,
post-post-rock and fancy-pants-rock while always remaining accessible, fun,
and melodic. This is exactly what Sonic Youth would be doing if they were
still youths. More cool upcoming releases:
"The Very Best Of"
Elvis Costello
...order here.
"Charged"
Nebula
...order here.
"Dizzy Spells"
The Ex
...order here.
"Old Ramon"
Red House Painters
...order here.
"Dilate"
Bardo Pond
...order here.
EDITOR'S CHOICE
"Quiet Is The New Loud"
Kings Of Convenience
...order here.
The winsome Norwegian duo of Erlend Oye and Eirik Glambek Boe's Kings of
Convenience are keen to play down any blatantly self-evident similarities
to Nick Drake, Simon and Garfunkel, and Belle and Sebastian. But the
weightless and airy acoustic guitar muse of "Quiet Is the New Loud" isn't a
million miles from Radiohead's "Nice Dream" or Pink Floyd's "If" with a
subliminal swish of bossa nova rhythm. This is a lovely, understated
record, perfect for rainy days and mellow nights at home alone.
OUR CUSTOMERS RECOMMEND
"Underwater Moonlight"
Soft Boys
...order here.
A customer from Brisbane, Australia, recommends "Underwater Moonlight" by
the Soft Boys: ""Underwater Moonlight" sounds like nothing so much as Monty
Python backed by the Byrds or the Kinks. If that isn't enough to suck you
in, just listen to the first four tracks. My life was never the same again
after hearing 'I Wanna Destroy You' for the first time. This is punk, but
not punk: it's noisy but arty, deadly serious in its content but utterly
hilarious in its delivery, and it has vocal harmonies from outer space.
Then there's 'Kingdom of Love.' It starts off quiet and ends in joyful
rapture, with a brilliant snaking guitar lead that coils and uncoils itself
as Robyn Hitchcock surrenders himself to the most confusing of human
emotions: 'You've been laying eggs under my skin/ Now they're hatching out
under my chin/ Now there's tiny insects showing through/ And all them tiny
insects look like you.'"
PUNK ROCK SPOTLIGHT
"Blow In The Wind"
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes
...order here.
On their third full-length, "Blow in the Wind," Me First continue with a
lineup that's like the top pick of the underground scene: vocalist "Spike"
(Swinging Utters), bassist Fat Mike (NOFX), guitarist "Jackson" (a.k.a.
Chris Shifflet of the Foo Fighters), drummer Dave Raun, and guitarist Joey
Cape (both of Lagwagon). These goofy, talented musicians travel back three
and a half decades this time, picking up 13 classic songs of the '60s and
racing through them at lightening speed (the whole disc clocks in at a
little over 27 minutes). From the raucous "Who Put the Bomp" and "Sloop
John B." to the heartsick "Elenore" and "I Only Want to Be With You," Me
First put the pop back in pop punk as they bounce their way through the
years.
CLASSIC HITS ON SALE
"Surfer Rosa"
The Pixies
...order here.
The Pixies helped define a now-standard feature of alt-rock: the quiet,
nervous setup of a song and then an inevitable explosion of big guitar
energy to rev the chorus. "Surfer Rosa," their debut, represents their
starkest, most in-your-face work, and it's currently on sale for just
$8.99.
BOOK NOTES
"Snake 'N' Bacon's Cartoon Cabaret"
Michael Kupperman
...order here.
A customer from Los Angeles recommends "Snake 'N' Bacon's Cartoon Cabaret"
by Michael Kupperman: "Michael Kupperman is a genius. He's created
superheroes the likes of which have never been seen before:
Underpants-on-His-Head-Man; Dr. Slappy; Rip Lazybones and His Futuristic
Wonderbed; and Professor Gastropod, to name only a few. If you're a fan of
Gary Larson, Monty Python, "The Onion," Robert Smigel, etc., this
collection is for you."
NEW AND NOTABLE
"Isolation Drills"
Guided By Voices
...order here.
"Isolation Drills" is a balls-to-the-wall album of big rock delivered in
crystalline high fidelity, and it's the best Guided by Voices album in at
least six years. The masters of obscure, crummily recorded basement art pop
have matured without losing the purity of their artistic vision. That might
sound cheesy or unbelievable, but it's true; the lyrically dark and
sublimely catchy "Drills" is simply one of the greatest pop albums you'll
hear all year. If "Glad Girls" does not become a huge hit, there is
something terribly wrong with this world.
"No More Shall We Part"
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
...order here.
Nick Cave's 11th studio album, "No More Shall We Part," shows that the man
is not merely in a different league from most of his peers, he's scarcely
even playing the same game. "No More" sees a renewed emphasis on the
virtuosity of Cave's longtime backing band, the Bad Seeds. They decorate
the sprawling ballads with mutli-instrumental aplomb, helped on several
tracks by lovely folk singers Kate and Anna McGarrigle. Cave's lyrical
preoccupations remain constant--God, love (and the loss thereof), and
death. The man in black handles these themes with agility and imagination.
And, as ever, he is funnier than he's given credit for.
"Sunny Border Blue"
Kristin Hersh
...order here.
When Kristin Hersh embarked on her solo career with 1994's "Hips &
Makers," it was as if she was determined to exorcise every trace--bar her
distinctive, serrated vocals--of the unique sound she had developed with
Throwing Muses. Since then, Hersh's reliably excellent solo albums have
plotted a gradual course back to whence she came. Though "Sunny Border
Blue" is a solo album in the strictest sense--Hersh plays all the
instruments except the drums on one track--it sounds like a follow-up to
Throwing Muses' last albums (obviously no bad thing).
"100 Broken Windows [ECD]"
Idlewild
...order here.
What often makes the best bands such an attractive proposition is that they
usually have a total disregard for what's going on around them. Listening
to Idlewild's "100 Broken Windows" is like hearing the thoughts of four
people who have chosen to seal themselves off from the outside world, with
only a treasured collection of American underground rock records and indie
films for company. The album, an assured and largely faultless follow-up to
"Hope Is Important," is a big step from a band that continues to grow.
"Satellite Rides"
Old 97's
...order here.
As with "Fight Songs," the 1999 predecessor to "Satellite Rides," the Old
97's are ringing a poppy bell. The cover art has a retro 1960s vibe, and
the chiming guitars echo that sentiment. Is it 1960s Britpop? A tad, but
singer Rhett Miller has a vocal palette that runs from 1980s new
wave-leaning alternative to a more scouring, acidic country yowl. He uses
his range well. The twang here is more subtle than in the past, cloaked in
big rave-up melodies (like the fine single "King of All the World") and
heart-on-the-sleeve emotions (as on "Question").
"Live From Mars [LIVE]"
Ben Harper
...order here.
On "Live from Mars," Ben Harper offers up a choice selection of material
that will appeal greatly to fans of his charged, bluesy, and folk-inspired
rock. Harper's first live release, the album features one full CD of
acoustic material and another of electric. It includes many of his most
popular songs as well as covers of "Whole Lotta Love," "Sexual Healing,"
and the Verve's "The Drugs Don't Work."
"Newness Ends"
The New Year
...order here.
New Year, Bubba and Matt Kadane's post-Bedhead band, burns with a larger
flame than that great Texas-based quietcore group did. On New Year's debut
album, "Newness Ends," the guitars are sharper, newcomer Chris Brokaw's
drumming is harder hitting, and the tunes are more aggressive than on
Bedhead outings. The Kadanes have a strum-heavy formula that owes much to
the Feelies and myriad others, but they've tuned it enough that Matt's
laconic vocals and the wobble-toned guitars clearly indicate a debt to
their old band without repeating their footsteps exactly.
NOT YET RELEASED: ADVANCE ORDERS
"Rock Action"
Mogwai
...order here.
Mogwai's new album, "Rock Action," finally sees the light of day on April
24. Their third and most varied studio full-length fully collapses the
distinctions between the genres post-rock, art-rock, post-prog,
post-post-rock and fancy-pants-rock while always remaining accessible, fun,
and melodic. This is exactly what Sonic Youth would be doing if they were
still youths. More cool upcoming releases:
"The Very Best Of"
Elvis Costello
...order here.
"Charged"
Nebula
...order here.
"Dizzy Spells"
The Ex
...order here.
"Old Ramon"
Red House Painters
...order here.
"Dilate"
Bardo Pond
...order here.
EDITOR'S CHOICE
"Quiet Is The New Loud"
Kings Of Convenience
...order here.
The winsome Norwegian duo of Erlend Oye and Eirik Glambek Boe's Kings of
Convenience are keen to play down any blatantly self-evident similarities
to Nick Drake, Simon and Garfunkel, and Belle and Sebastian. But the
weightless and airy acoustic guitar muse of "Quiet Is the New Loud" isn't a
million miles from Radiohead's "Nice Dream" or Pink Floyd's "If" with a
subliminal swish of bossa nova rhythm. This is a lovely, understated
record, perfect for rainy days and mellow nights at home alone.
OUR CUSTOMERS RECOMMEND
"Underwater Moonlight"
Soft Boys
...order here.
A customer from Brisbane, Australia, recommends "Underwater Moonlight" by
the Soft Boys: ""Underwater Moonlight" sounds like nothing so much as Monty
Python backed by the Byrds or the Kinks. If that isn't enough to suck you
in, just listen to the first four tracks. My life was never the same again
after hearing 'I Wanna Destroy You' for the first time. This is punk, but
not punk: it's noisy but arty, deadly serious in its content but utterly
hilarious in its delivery, and it has vocal harmonies from outer space.
Then there's 'Kingdom of Love.' It starts off quiet and ends in joyful
rapture, with a brilliant snaking guitar lead that coils and uncoils itself
as Robyn Hitchcock surrenders himself to the most confusing of human
emotions: 'You've been laying eggs under my skin/ Now they're hatching out
under my chin/ Now there's tiny insects showing through/ And all them tiny
insects look like you.'"
PUNK ROCK SPOTLIGHT
"Blow In The Wind"
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes
...order here.
On their third full-length, "Blow in the Wind," Me First continue with a
lineup that's like the top pick of the underground scene: vocalist "Spike"
(Swinging Utters), bassist Fat Mike (NOFX), guitarist "Jackson" (a.k.a.
Chris Shifflet of the Foo Fighters), drummer Dave Raun, and guitarist Joey
Cape (both of Lagwagon). These goofy, talented musicians travel back three
and a half decades this time, picking up 13 classic songs of the '60s and
racing through them at lightening speed (the whole disc clocks in at a
little over 27 minutes). From the raucous "Who Put the Bomp" and "Sloop
John B." to the heartsick "Elenore" and "I Only Want to Be With You," Me
First put the pop back in pop punk as they bounce their way through the
years.
CLASSIC HITS ON SALE
"Surfer Rosa"
The Pixies
...order here.
The Pixies helped define a now-standard feature of alt-rock: the quiet,
nervous setup of a song and then an inevitable explosion of big guitar
energy to rev the chorus. "Surfer Rosa," their debut, represents their
starkest, most in-your-face work, and it's currently on sale for just
$8.99.
BOOK NOTES
"Snake 'N' Bacon's Cartoon Cabaret"
Michael Kupperman
...order here.
A customer from Los Angeles recommends "Snake 'N' Bacon's Cartoon Cabaret"
by Michael Kupperman: "Michael Kupperman is a genius. He's created
superheroes the likes of which have never been seen before:
Underpants-on-His-Head-Man; Dr. Slappy; Rip Lazybones and His Futuristic
Wonderbed; and Professor Gastropod, to name only a few. If you're a fan of
Gary Larson, Monty Python, "The Onion," Robert Smigel, etc., this
collection is for you."
associates of amazon.com,bn,tower,cdnow
Home Page
new CDs
REST IN PEACE
Very few folks have actually changed the face of popular music;
Joey Ramone was among them. His awesome band laid bare the
pretensions of '70s rock with stripped-down, melodic, buzzsaw bliss.
...more here.
Check out Amazon.com's exclusive interview with Mr. Ramone from last
year.
...more here.
NOT YET RELEASED
R.E.M.'s much-anticipated album "Reveal" finally sees the light of
day on May 15.
...more here.
More upcoming releases you can pre-order today:
Radiohead, "Amnesiac"
...more here.
Mark Lanegan, "Field Songs"
...more here.
Marine Girls, "Lazy Ways/Beach Party"
...more here.
Low, Dirty Three, "In the Fishtank"
...more here.
Mark Eitzel, "Invisible Man"
...more here.
The Ladybug Transistor, "Argyle Hair"
...more here.
"Old Ramon"
Red House Painters
...more here.
The Red House Painters' sixth full-length, "Old Ramon," was recorded
in 1997 but was not released until now. Elegiac, slow, and beautiful,
with none of the cheesy production that slightly mars their earliest
recordings for 4AD, the record is a fine addition to underrated
singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek's output.
"Rock Action"
Mogwai
...more here.
"Rock Action," Scottish experimental-noise outfit Mogwai's third
full-length release, says no to harsh walls of feedback and allusions
to Glaswegian gang warfare, but yes to banjos, trombones, electronics,
and--for the first time on a Mogwai album--vocals, from the band's
Stuart Braithwaite. But what's here is likable; "Rock Action" is a
compromise only to the inevitable effects of musical evolution.
"Mutter"
Rammstein
...more here.
Those zany German guys Rammstein are back with "Mutter," another
ear-bleeding full-length of industrial rock. It's all in German so we
can't understand what they're singing about, but we're sure it has
something to do with tulips, puppy dogs, and bumblebees--making it the
perfect record for spring!
"Take Back The Universe And Give..."
Creeper Lagoon
...more here.
With the release of "Take Back the Universe and Give Me Yesterday,"
Bay Area act Creeper Lagoon embrace their sensitive sides with the
sweetness of old indie bands like Sugar without hydroplaning on an
overly spit-shined final product. This is hummable, smart,
guitar-driven pop.
"roomsound"
califone
...more here.
Chicago's Califone are as inventive and envelope-pushing as Radiohead,
as delirious and downtempo as Portishead, as informed by American folk
music as Palace, and as bluesy as all get-out. Their debut
full-length, "Roomsound," is a minor-keyed masterpiece of smeared
melodies and fragile post-pop.
"Ease Down The Road"
Bonnie Prince Billy
...more here.
That nutter Will Oldham is at it again, with his second album under
the Brit-folk-referencing guise of Bonnie Prince Billy. "Ease down the
Road" is the brooding singer-songwriter's brightest, most easygoing
trip yet, a real treat for Palace completists and newcomers alike.
"Dizzy Spells"
The Ex
...more here.
Ye olde punke rocke doesn't get any more vibrant, real, or politically
aware than when Dutch act the Ex release a new album. This group
originally started in 1980 in the Gang of Four and Crass mold and
later added both improvisational and East European folk elements to
their sound. They are now one of the last punk bands to really truly
matter; one listen to the Albini-produced "Dizzy Spells" will show you
why.
"Cousteau"
Cousteau
...more here.
Cousteau are not the first nor last bunch of young men to have lit
upon Scott Walker's epically lachrymose solo albums as a design for
living. But very few others have trudged in Walker's weary footsteps
with quite the poise the U.K. act Cousteau display on their
self-titled and rerecorded debut. It's enough to make the Bad Seeds,
Tindersticks, and Red House Painters proud.
BRITPOP SPOTLIGHT
"Just Enough Education To Perform"
Stereophonics
...more here.
On their third full-length, "Just Enough Education to Perform,"
Stereophonics present their first truly mature work, an album that
recalls the ragged croak of Rod Stewart and the world-weary country
lament of Neil Young.
EDITOR'S PICKS
I just can't stop listening to the Austin, Texas-based band Knife in
the Water. As you'd figure from a band named after a Roman Polanski
film, their subject matter is brooding and intense yet kind of
hilarious at the same time. Musically they're a strange, intoxicating
mix of Lee Hazlewood, Nick Cave, the Walkabouts, and old-school
country. Check out their album "Red River," which "Spin" magazine
included in its list of the best records of 2000.
...more here.
More recent records garnering extra attention:
The New Pornographers, "Mass Romantic"
...more here.
Danielson Family, "Fetch the Compass Kids"
...more here.
Unwound, "Leaves Turn Inside You"
...more here.
Mouse on Mars, "Idiology"
...more here.
The Sadies, "Tremendous Efforts"
...more here.
Vic Chesnutt, "Left to His Own Devices"
...more here.
OUR CUSTOMERS RECOMMEND
"Isolation Drills [ECD]"
Guided By Voices
...more here.
A customer from Iowa recommends "Isolation Drills" by Guided by
Voices: "GBV's finally found how to put the right amount of polish and
make a 'big studio record' without going overboard and drowning out
the songs. This one's more in line with "Under the Bushes" sound and
consistency-wise (meaning very good). It's one of their more difficult
records but also one of their most rewarding, and definitely their
best in years."
BOOK NOTES
"Raymond Roussel and the Republic of Dreams"
Mark Ford
...more here.
In "Raymond Roussel and the Republic of Dreams," Mark Ford provides a
fascinating glimpse into the life of an absurd aristocrat whose
influence on the literary avant-garde continues to this day.
And check out the New & Future Releases page to view titles
by release date, catch the latest digital downloads, investigate the
coolest new reissues, and more.
...more here.
Very few folks have actually changed the face of popular music;
Joey Ramone was among them. His awesome band laid bare the
pretensions of '70s rock with stripped-down, melodic, buzzsaw bliss.
...more here.
Check out Amazon.com's exclusive interview with Mr. Ramone from last
year.
...more here.
NOT YET RELEASED
R.E.M.'s much-anticipated album "Reveal" finally sees the light of
day on May 15.
...more here.
More upcoming releases you can pre-order today:
Radiohead, "Amnesiac"
...more here.
Mark Lanegan, "Field Songs"
...more here.
Marine Girls, "Lazy Ways/Beach Party"
...more here.
Low, Dirty Three, "In the Fishtank"
...more here.
Mark Eitzel, "Invisible Man"
...more here.
The Ladybug Transistor, "Argyle Hair"
...more here.
"Old Ramon"
Red House Painters
...more here.
The Red House Painters' sixth full-length, "Old Ramon," was recorded in 1997 but was not released until now. Elegiac, slow, and beautiful, with none of the cheesy production that slightly mars their earliest recordings for 4AD, the record is a fine addition to underrated singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek's output.
"Rock Action"
Mogwai
...more here.
"Rock Action," Scottish experimental-noise outfit Mogwai's third full-length release, says no to harsh walls of feedback and allusions to Glaswegian gang warfare, but yes to banjos, trombones, electronics, and--for the first time on a Mogwai album--vocals, from the band's Stuart Braithwaite. But what's here is likable; "Rock Action" is a compromise only to the inevitable effects of musical evolution.
"Mutter"
Rammstein
...more here.
Those zany German guys Rammstein are back with "Mutter," another ear-bleeding full-length of industrial rock. It's all in German so we can't understand what they're singing about, but we're sure it has something to do with tulips, puppy dogs, and bumblebees--making it the perfect record for spring!
"Take Back The Universe And Give..."
Creeper Lagoon
...more here.
With the release of "Take Back the Universe and Give Me Yesterday," Bay Area act Creeper Lagoon embrace their sensitive sides with the sweetness of old indie bands like Sugar without hydroplaning on an overly spit-shined final product. This is hummable, smart, guitar-driven pop.
"roomsound"
califone
...more here.
Chicago's Califone are as inventive and envelope-pushing as Radiohead, as delirious and downtempo as Portishead, as informed by American folk music as Palace, and as bluesy as all get-out. Their debut full-length, "Roomsound," is a minor-keyed masterpiece of smeared melodies and fragile post-pop.
"Ease Down The Road"
Bonnie Prince Billy
...more here.
That nutter Will Oldham is at it again, with his second album under the Brit-folk-referencing guise of Bonnie Prince Billy. "Ease down the Road" is the brooding singer-songwriter's brightest, most easygoing trip yet, a real treat for Palace completists and newcomers alike.
"Dizzy Spells"
The Ex
...more here.
Ye olde punke rocke doesn't get any more vibrant, real, or politically aware than when Dutch act the Ex release a new album. This group originally started in 1980 in the Gang of Four and Crass mold and later added both improvisational and East European folk elements to their sound. They are now one of the last punk bands to really truly matter; one listen to the Albini-produced "Dizzy Spells" will show you why.
"Cousteau"
Cousteau
...more here.
Cousteau are not the first nor last bunch of young men to have lit upon Scott Walker's epically lachrymose solo albums as a design for living. But very few others have trudged in Walker's weary footsteps with quite the poise the U.K. act Cousteau display on their self-titled and rerecorded debut. It's enough to make the Bad Seeds, Tindersticks, and Red House Painters proud.
BRITPOP SPOTLIGHT
"Just Enough Education To Perform"
Stereophonics
...more here.
On their third full-length, "Just Enough Education to Perform," Stereophonics present their first truly mature work, an album that recalls the ragged croak of Rod Stewart and the world-weary country lament of Neil Young.
EDITOR'S PICKS
I just can't stop listening to the Austin, Texas-based band Knife in
the Water. As you'd figure from a band named after a Roman Polanski
film, their subject matter is brooding and intense yet kind of
hilarious at the same time. Musically they're a strange, intoxicating
mix of Lee Hazlewood, Nick Cave, the Walkabouts, and old-school
country. Check out their album "Red River," which "Spin" magazine
included in its list of the best records of 2000.
...more here.
More recent records garnering extra attention:
The New Pornographers, "Mass Romantic"
...more here.
Danielson Family, "Fetch the Compass Kids"
...more here.
Unwound, "Leaves Turn Inside You"
...more here.
Mouse on Mars, "Idiology"
...more here.
The Sadies, "Tremendous Efforts"
...more here.
Vic Chesnutt, "Left to His Own Devices"
...more here.
OUR CUSTOMERS RECOMMEND
"Isolation Drills [ECD]"
Guided By Voices
...more here.
A customer from Iowa recommends "Isolation Drills" by Guided by Voices: "GBV's finally found how to put the right amount of polish and make a 'big studio record' without going overboard and drowning out the songs. This one's more in line with "Under the Bushes" sound and consistency-wise (meaning very good). It's one of their more difficult records but also one of their most rewarding, and definitely their best in years."
BOOK NOTES
"Raymond Roussel and the Republic of Dreams"
Mark Ford
...more here.
In "Raymond Roussel and the Republic of Dreams," Mark Ford provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of an absurd aristocrat whose influence on the literary avant-garde continues to this day.
And check out the New & Future Releases page to view titles
by release date, catch the latest digital downloads, investigate the
coolest new reissues, and more.
...more here.
Editor, Michael James McGonigal reviews excerpted are © 2001 amazon.com & associate ncdn and CDnow, TowerRecords, Barnes & Nobel associates