cultureshockshop

Last Week
Music Releases 10-25-24
Music Releases 10-25-24

This Week's New Releases
Music Releases 11-01-24

Quick View

After 16 years, THE CURE is back with their 14th studio album, SONGS OF A LOST WORLD. Songs from the record were previewed during their 90-date, 33-country Shows Of A Lost Worldtour for more than 1.3 million people to overwhelming fan and critical acclaim. Speaking about, Alone,the opening track on the album, Robert Smith says, Its the track that unlocked the record; as soon as we had that piece of music recorded, I knew it was the opening song and I felt the whole album come into focus... that was the moment when I knew the song and the album were real.Robert Smith created the sleeve concept and Andy Vella, a longtime Cure collaborator, handled the albums art and design. The cover art features Bagatelle,a 1975 sculpture by Janez Pirnat.

Quick View

Across 6CDs, Elvis Costello: King of America & Other Realms traces his musical travels from Hollywood – where the King Of America album was recorded in 1986 – to a brand new take on “Brilliant Mistake” cut in Cape Fear early in 2024, via Costello’s recording adventures in New Orleans, Oxford and Clarksdale, Mississippi, Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee and guided by Costello’s own 35-page essay which includes numerous rare and never-before seen photos.   

The collection is anchored by CD1: a new 2024 remaster of the album King Of America from the original master tapes.  

CD2 collects the solo demos from 1985 including six performances from the unheard Red Bus Studios session with radically different lyrical drafts, shedding new light on the intention of key songs from the King Of America album. 

CD3 is a never heard before 17-song concert recorded on January 27, 1987 at The Royal Albert Hall in London in the company of James Burton, Jim Keltner, Jerry Scheff, Benmont Tench & T-Bone Wolk.  

Newly mixed from multitrack tapes – and featuring live renditions of several King Of America titles – Costello is also heard performing songs by Waylon Jennings, Arthur Alexander, Allen Toussaint, Sonny Boy Williamson, Mose Allison, Ray Charles, Jesse Winchester, Dave Bartholomew and Buddy Holly. A truly great American songbook.   

The set closes with a 3CD digest of Costello’s studio recordings, previously unreleased demos, outtakes & live recordings from this wild and wonderfully odd odyssey. 

Quick View

Often revered as one of the most important debut albums of all time, Weezer’s “blue” album celebrates 30 years with a 1-LP color vinyl
edition exclusive for indie music stores.

Quick View
Multi-platinum GRAMMY Award-winning four-piece Little Big Town – comprised of Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbrook – release their first-ever, career-spanning Greatest Hits album via Capitol Records Nashville. The album collects over two decades of chart-busting country smashes on one definitive body of work, ranging from the GRAMMY Award-winning “Pontoon,” “Boondocks” and “Better Man” to massively influential anthems such as “Girl Crush.” It traces the quartet’s unbelievable journey from humble beginnings to country royalty. For the uninitiated, it’s also the best way to get to know the band!
Quick View
Jeremie Albino, the magnetic Canadian singer-songwriter, presents his Easy Eye Sound debut, Our Time In The Sun. Produced by Dan Auerbach, this album melds the rich textures of soulful folk, Americana, and gritty blues, showcasing Albino’s evocative voice and sincere storytelling. Deeply personal, grounded in his own history and infused with a palpable, raw energy, the collection is an intimate and powerful listening experience, affirming Albino's place as a resonant force in contemporary music.
Quick View
Nena - "NENA (Remastered & Selected Works)" [Translucent Red 2 LP] Nena and BMG celebrate the release of their debut album with a special anniversary edition. All original titles have been lovingly remastered from the original tapes to ensure excellent sound quality to make the spirit of that time true to the original. In addition to the remastered NENA album, the anniversary edition contains a second LP with further unreleased material - including "Amour Candide," a version of the song "Nur Geträumt" in French from 1983 that appeared in the rock 'n roll archives, energetic and previously unheard live tracks from Nena's 1984 concerts, as well as rare demos and B-sides. This comprehensive and stylishly compiled anniversary edition gives old and new fans the opportunity to rediscover the magic of this legendary album. 2 LP set, translucent red vinyl, triple gatefold jacket, collectible poster included. Printed inner sleeves feature archive photos, credits, lyrics and a personal note from Nena to late band member Carlo Karges
Quick View

Willie Nelson is now in his 7th decade as a songwriter, performer and recording artist, but one of his most underrated talents is song interpretation. Over his career he has tackled songs from across the world of music, making each his own. Now for his 76th studio album and 153rd album overall as he celebrates his 91st year, Willie turns his gaze to a collection of songs by rock legends, idiosyncratic singer songwriters, alt-rock heroes, and indie folk artists. The result is a gorgeously cohesive rumination on loss, love, and world-weary hope, perfectly complemented by spare and spooky musical production. Lovingly curated and produced by his son Micah Nelson, Last Leaf On The Tree finds Willie covering songs from moody indie rock (Beck), psych alt-pop (The Flaming Lips) and punk-informed folk (Sunny War, Micah’s Particle Kid) to thought-provoking soul jazz (Nina Simone) and lesser-known gems from legends like Tom Waits, Neil Young, Keith Richards, and Warren Zevon. In addition, the album features new takes on one of Willie’s oldest songs (“The Ghost” from 1962) plus a new one penned with Micah (“The Color Of Sound”) that joins Willie’s collection of Zen-soaked classics. In addition to producing, Micah Nelson plays many of the instruments and even designed the album cover. He is joined by a host of celebrated musicians plus guest spots from legendary producer and musician Daniel Lanois, John Densmore of The Doors and harmonica master Mickey Raphael, who has played alongside Willie for over 50 years.

Quick View

It’s dangerous to put Illiterate Light in a box, especially with the release of their new album, Arches. Are they a guitar-driven indie rock duo? Kaleidoscopic neo-psychedelia? Synth-kissed, harmony-laden folk? What does one do with an album beginning with “fake tits and diet coke,” then pivoting to train derailments in rural Ohio and never-ending black holes? These prolific farmers-turned-rockers have captured the energy of their live shows—fans crowd-surfing, moshing, crying, and crooning—and infused it into their latest release.

“We’ve always been shape shifters, moving between heavy, dark distortion and gentle sweet fingerpicking, writing aggressive songs, introspective songs, and love songs, exploding and embracing,” reflects singer-guitarist Jeff Gorman. “Smashing it all together used to feel strange, but now there's a glue between everything we do. Our fans get it. They care less about genre. All they care about is feeling. And that’s all we care about. Are you alive or not?”
Illiterate Light’s third album, Arches, is not a passageway but an arrival. “We’re no longer striving to define a sound,” said drummer Jake Cochran. “We’re leaning into sides of ourselves that have felt off-limits, sticking to what feels right rather than concerning ourselves with comparison.” Out November 1 via Thirty Tigers, the record is bursting with thunderous anthems, biting lyrics, and lush harmonies.

The band originated in the Shenandoah Valley in 2015 when multi-instrumentalists Gorman and Cochran began playing music together while working on an organic farm. Eventually, they left the farm to focus on music, adopting the moniker Illiterate Light from a Wilco lyric. After several years of non-stop touring, they signed with Atlantic Records and released their eponymous full-length debut in late 2019. Two years later, they signed with Thirty Tigers and, in 2023, issued their critically acclaimed LP, Sunburned. Shortly after, they released two additional EPs, making Arches their fourth release in two years.
Arches was recorded in two very different locations: small-town Appalachia at Gorman’s home studio and Hollywood, CA at Sunset Sound with producer Joe Chiccarelli (The Strokes, Beck, The Killers). “We wanted the best of both worlds,” says Gorman. “We spent several days with Joe at Sunset. To record vocals in the same live room as so many of my heroes—Neil Young, Paul McCartney, Dylan—was unreal. I knew I was in a holy place.” The LA session was paired with sessions in Virginia, where Gorman and Cochran co-produced the bulk of the record with longtime collaborator Danny Gibney. In their hometown, they experimented with soaring instrumental journeys and had friends sit in on the sessions to keep things lively.

“Having our community stop by the sessions kept us on our toes—we haven’t been able to do that in the past. It helped connect us to the feeling of our live show,” recalls Cochran. Illiterate Light’s live performances, described by the Washington Post as “massive,” feature Gorman on one foot, hammering bass on a foot-pedal synth, shredding big guitar riffs, and spitting out song after song while Cochran matches Gorman harmony for harmony, dancing with his standing drum kit, teetering on the edge of the stage only to dive head first into his next solo.

Arches is the closest you can get to their live show, with heavier songs like “I Ride Alone” and “Bloodlines” encapsulating the best of the writhing, uninhibited front-row experience. The keystone of the album, “Norfolk Southern,” crashes in with Gorman belting, “Here comes the Norfolk Southern / It's off the tracks / and heading for you,” with Cochran chanting, “break, break, break, break” to the ghost of the train that derailed in 2023 in East Palestine, Ohio, releasing 10,000 gallons of hazardous materials into the atmosphere. The song also serves as a metaphor for Gorman’s own turbulent feelings. “I certainly wanted to shine a light on the environmental catastrophe. But strangely, some days I feel just like that Norfolk Southern, barreling out of control at warp speed.”
Gorman lets the lyrics take control. Showing up relentlessly, day after day, to his home studio dubbed “The Bookhouse” (a tribute to David Lynch's Twin Peaks), he can’t predict what will arise. For the album's first track, “Payphone,” the opening lyrics were a surprise to Gorman: “Fake tits and diet coke / Full of undefeated hope / You are the only one I trust.” The jangly and groovy album opener is a pep talk between a woman named Big Red and her man as he faces crippling self-doubt and is self-medicating. She comforts him during a time of despair on a phone call that continues to drop.

Another relationship study, “Montauk,” is a cold beachside dance under the full moon inspired by the central question in Gorman’s favorite movie, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. “Do we go for it again—even though we're destined to fail?” he asks. “For me, the answer is a resounding yes.”
“All the Stars Are Burning Out” continues in that reflective vein. “It’s a throwback song, about getting high, going for a drive, dreaming up your future. You’re looking at that wide open black sky of bright stars, and they’re so beautiful and inspiring, and they make you want to follow your dreams. And yet all those stars eventually burn out. It’s a song about going for it even though life is impermanent and full of change,” Gorman said.

The saying goes, “arches never sleep.” Designed to distribute weight evenly, arches naturally rebalance as the structure around them shifts over time. Illiterate Light’s Arches exists within this metaphor in many ways. The album marks a period of artistic strength, a balancing act of identity and possibility. To listen to Arches is to plant yourself within the arch, to stand in the threshold between two worlds and gaze into Gorman and Cochran’s constant motion forward.

Quick View

Raised in Long Beach, Lil Peep (born Gustav Ĺhr) launched his career through the self-release of his music online as a teenager. He garnered attention in 2015 following the success of a slew of singles and his first solo mixtapes, "Lil Peep; Part One" and "Live Forever". Over the course of two years, Peep amassed millions of fans, who connected with him through his gritty lyrics that explored themes of love, loss and loneliness. Branded "the future of emo" by Pitchfork in January 2017, Peep's genre-bending style contributed to his reputation as a pioneer of the late 2010s post-emo revival, dishing out a handful of full-lengths and several extended-plays all before the release of his debut album "Come Over When You're Sober, Pt. 1" in 2017. After his breakthrough 2016 mixtapes "Crybaby" and "Hellboy" made waves in underground circles, Peep toured the United States and Europe, walked the runways at Fashion Week and began collaborating with increasingly prominent artists between New York, Los Angeles and London throughout 2017. At the time of his death just two weeks after his 21st birthday, Peep had achieved status as one of the scene's most promising rising stars. Since his emergence in 2015, he has racked up 5 billion views on YouTube and over 20 billion streams across all platforms.

Quick View
The secret has been out for a while now. After nearly nine years apart, Swedish prog rock legends Beardfish are back. Songs For Beating Hearts is the first new music from Beardfish in nine years, but as its many magical moments unfold, it really is as if the band had never been away. With strong echoes of past glories but a whole new vibe of wistful wonderment, Songs For Beating Hearts is a glowing testament to the magic that happens when these four musicians join forces. From the dreamy melancholy of the opening Ecotone and the intricate opulence of five-part sprawl Out In The Open, to the prog-friendly pastoralism of bittersweet 11-minute epic Beating Hearts, and the sobering prog-noir of the closing Torrential Downpour, Beardfish have not just made their strongest work to date, but also their most emotionally resonant. Loosely held together by thoughts of love, loss, friendship and finality, Songs For Beating Hearts is the sound of four kindred spirits laying their hearts bare. A triumphant comeback that nobody saw coming, Songs For Beating Hearts will be available as a Limited CD Digipak (incl. bonus track), Gatefold 140g LP & as Digital Album.
Quick View

Bruce Liu

Tchaikovsky: The Seasons

Vinyl: $25.99 UNAVAILABLE
Bruce Liu, winner of the 2021 International Chopin Piano Competition and famous for his distinctive mix of "feline agility and lightness of touch" (New York Times), breaks new ground with the supposedly well known. Following his enormous success with WAVES, a tribute to French composers and nature themes, The Seasons now focuses on Tchaikovsky's and Liu's relationship with music. "For me, this is a moment to explore some personal emotion," the pianist says of his latest album, which envelops the Russian composer's intimate and profoundly poetic language with musical breathing space.
Quick View
Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing housed in gatefold jacket. Includes trading cards and bumper sticker. Academy Award-winning composers Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross deliver a propulsive, hard-hitting original score to the high-stakes world of professional tennis for Luca Guadagnino's acclaimed 2024 film CHALLENGERS starring Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor. The deluxe gatefold release features vinyl-exclusive extras alongside the 16-track original score pressed on 180 gram black audiophile vinyl. Including fan favorite score moments "Challengers: Match Point", "Yeah x10" and the original end credits song "Compress / Repress" co-written with Luca Guadagnino and performed by Trent Reznor & Mariqueen Maandig Reznor. ?Included in the package is a custom interior gatefold collage featuring on-set photos by photographer Alessio Bolzoni, a collectible set of three player trading cards featuring Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist as Tashi, Patrick and Art, as well as an exclusive Phil's Tire Town bumper sticker.
Quick View

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Saves The Day's iconic album "Through Being Cool," a special edition reissue has been released, featuring a new limited embossed OCard that wraps around the original, classic packaging. This collector's edition is a tribute to a landmark album that has shaped the emo and pop-punk scenes for decades, offering fans a chance to relive the nostalgia and own a unique piece of music history.

Quick View

USHER

Confessions - (20th Anniversary)

Vinyl: $44.98 UNAVAILABLE

Confessions 20th Anniversary Edition contains alternative album artwork and orchestral versions of “Burn” and “Superstar” as bonus tracks on a 2-LP black vinyl.

Quick View
12 timeless classics from the Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Ronnie Milsap, comprise this collection. Featuring tracks such as “I Wouldn’t Have Missed It For The World,” “(There’s) No Getting’ Over Me,” “Smoky Mountain Rain” and other favorites, this album showcases the six-time Grammy Award winner’s signature crossover style. Speaking to Milsap’s impact, The Grand Ole Opry says, “The ebullient performer and original stylist changed the face of country music.”
Quick View
Multi-Grammy and Emmy-winning artist and producer Robert Glasper releases a new holiday EP, In December. Featuring an esteemed roster of frequent collaborators—PJ Morton, Alex Isley & Andra Day—the eight track project is an evocative and moving addition to Glasper’s critically lauded catalog. In December sees Glasper’s unique approach to contemporary R&B and jazz, encapsulated in his famed Black Radio series, applied to what is a sonically unique take on holiday music.
Quick View
Music From Agatha All Along Various Artists Hollywood Records presents all your favorite tracks featured in the Disney+ series, Agatha All Along, featuring Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Christophe Beck and Michael Paraskevas. Available on standard black vinyl.
Quick View

Killerstar

KillerStar Reimagined [LP]

Vinyl: $27.98 UNAVAILABLE
KillerStar Reimagined features radically reworked versions and remixes of the songs from the KillerStar album. It features a slew of David Bowie Band alumni guests throughout the album including Mike Garson, Earl Slick, Gail Ann Dorsey, Donny McCaslin, Mark Plati, Emm Gryner, Tim Lefebvre. Joining Rob Fleming and James Sedge Collectively they have crafted a sound that fuses the scale of classic rock with sophisticated harmonies and elements of art rock. KillerStar's self-titled debut album has garnered critical acclaim from press on both sides of the Atlantic, earning 4/5 stars in both Mojo magazine and The Times newspaper. Music Connection praised the album for its "fresh art rock aesthetic" and "impeccable musicianship." Additionally, Q Magazine recognized KillerStar as "One of the Top 12 Most Exciting Acts in the World," while Vintage Guitar noted the band’s ability to merge classic rock with art rock, creating powerful melodies and harmonies. The KillerStar Reimagined album features additional production and remixing by Mark Plati, who has produced albums for David Bowie and The Cure, among many others. It also includes a remix by The Anchoress.
Quick View

Jonny Tobin

Steppin' Out [LP]

Vinyl: $27.98 UNAVAILABLE
Description Canadian artist Jonny Tobin’s new modern funk album “Steppin’ Out” on Austin Boogie Crew Records shines with its catchy songwriting, stellar production and synth wizardry. It kicks off with a banger of a title track featuring Daniel David of renowned group The Pendletons. This bouncy jam captures the elation of reemerging into the world after the 2020 lockdown to reconnect and dance with our loved ones. California underground legend XL Middleton jumps on “Change It Up” to drop slick raps over a shimmering Tobin beat. XL expresses how ‘the funk gave me somethin’ to believe in’ as a sensitive soul growing up in hectic L.A. The lush bridge, virtuosic solo and epic breakdown make this tune extra fresh. Tobin links with Austin, TX group The Vapor Caves on the uptempo yet sultry “Give And Take.” Sweet vocals, rich harmonies and talkbox adlibs buoyantly float over the track’s verses until the energy swells for a jubilant chorus. On “Rock Me,” one of two instrumentals on the LP, Tobin’s grandiose chords and guest Marlon Petronio’s guitar solo make this number apt for an 80’s action film soundtrack. The record’s second half kicks off with the addictive “Never Too Late” featuring fellow Canadian and vocal powerhouse Maya Killtron. The beautiful strings, transcendent bridge and twinkly keys lend disco-roller-rink vibes to this winner cut. Bay area crooner Rojai pines for a lover on the bumpin’ cruiser “Drive Me Wild,” bolstered by a soaring 90’s R&B influenced bridge. Tobin dips into his video game bag and belts out some amazing synth solos on instrumental head-nodder “Boombox.” Soulful dancer “Time Flies” with Mexico City duo Shiro Schwarz brings the album to its conclusion. Written with a grounded post-pandemic perspective, the sweet lyrics highlight the importance of appreciating ourselves and our loved ones as the precious years go by.
New Vinyl: $27.98
Quick View

20th Anniversary 3xLP colored vinyl with 11 original demo tracks recorded with Forrest Kline of HELLOGOODBYE. 14 song Digital release includes 11 song demo version of “Is A Real Boy” plus for the first time released digitally the song “But A Fleeting Illness”, “Spider Song” (Paul Trust version) and “Belt” acoustic.

Quick View
The original version of “Serious” was included on Kazzey's 2022 album Voyage. The collaboration between him & LA modern funk mainstay XL Middleton became a favorite in the street dance scene, soon becoming used in innumerable videos & dance battles internationally. It also found its way into heavy club rotation thanks to forward-thinking DJs who include the modern funk sound in their sets, from the West Coast of the US to Japan, and back to Kazzey's native France. Now, the track is finally being pressed on vinyl, and included on the b-side is a bonus remix (the “Midnight Drift Remix”) bringing a silkier, late-night edge to this certifiable dance floor filler.
Quick View

Kaelin Ellis

You Are Here, Start [LP]

Vinyl: $27.98 UNAVAILABLE
The ever-prolific Kaelin Ellis is a rare gem of a musician. His rise to prominence has grown through his skills as a talented multi-instrumentalist and a very earnest need to build community and collaboration. This is made beautifully apparent in his Fool's Gold debut entitled, You Are Here, Start. This album is full of the melodic and rhythmic sensibilities that has made Kaelin a respected and revered household name. With features that range from Duckwrth, Guapdadd 4000 and 2-time Juno Award winning rapper TOBi, to savant pianist Anomalie and RnB/Blues crooner C.S. Armstrong, "You Are Here, Start" covers sonic ground in ways only Kaelin can. There's a certain warmth to this project that wraps around you like the sun.

This Week's New Releases
Music Releases 11-01-24

Quick View

After 16 years, THE CURE is back with their 14th studio album, SONGS OF A LOST WORLD. Songs from the record were previewed during their 90-date, 33-country Shows Of A Lost Worldtour for more than 1.3 million people to overwhelming fan and critical acclaim. Speaking about, Alone,the opening track on the album, Robert Smith says, Its the track that unlocked the record; as soon as we had that piece of music recorded, I knew it was the opening song and I felt the whole album come into focus... that was the moment when I knew the song and the album were real.Robert Smith created the sleeve concept and Andy Vella, a longtime Cure collaborator, handled the albums art and design. The cover art features Bagatelle,a 1975 sculpture by Janez Pirnat.

Quick View

Across 6CDs, Elvis Costello: King of America & Other Realms traces his musical travels from Hollywood – where the King Of America album was recorded in 1986 – to a brand new take on “Brilliant Mistake” cut in Cape Fear early in 2024, via Costello’s recording adventures in New Orleans, Oxford and Clarksdale, Mississippi, Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee and guided by Costello’s own 35-page essay which includes numerous rare and never-before seen photos.   

The collection is anchored by CD1: a new 2024 remaster of the album King Of America from the original master tapes.  

CD2 collects the solo demos from 1985 including six performances from the unheard Red Bus Studios session with radically different lyrical drafts, shedding new light on the intention of key songs from the King Of America album. 

CD3 is a never heard before 17-song concert recorded on January 27, 1987 at The Royal Albert Hall in London in the company of James Burton, Jim Keltner, Jerry Scheff, Benmont Tench & T-Bone Wolk.  

Newly mixed from multitrack tapes – and featuring live renditions of several King Of America titles – Costello is also heard performing songs by Waylon Jennings, Arthur Alexander, Allen Toussaint, Sonny Boy Williamson, Mose Allison, Ray Charles, Jesse Winchester, Dave Bartholomew and Buddy Holly. A truly great American songbook.   

The set closes with a 3CD digest of Costello’s studio recordings, previously unreleased demos, outtakes & live recordings from this wild and wonderfully odd odyssey. 

Quick View

Often revered as one of the most important debut albums of all time, Weezer’s “blue” album celebrates 30 years with a 1-LP color vinyl
edition exclusive for indie music stores.

Quick View
Multi-platinum GRAMMY Award-winning four-piece Little Big Town – comprised of Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbrook – release their first-ever, career-spanning Greatest Hits album via Capitol Records Nashville. The album collects over two decades of chart-busting country smashes on one definitive body of work, ranging from the GRAMMY Award-winning “Pontoon,” “Boondocks” and “Better Man” to massively influential anthems such as “Girl Crush.” It traces the quartet’s unbelievable journey from humble beginnings to country royalty. For the uninitiated, it’s also the best way to get to know the band!
Quick View
Jeremie Albino, the magnetic Canadian singer-songwriter, presents his Easy Eye Sound debut, Our Time In The Sun. Produced by Dan Auerbach, this album melds the rich textures of soulful folk, Americana, and gritty blues, showcasing Albino’s evocative voice and sincere storytelling. Deeply personal, grounded in his own history and infused with a palpable, raw energy, the collection is an intimate and powerful listening experience, affirming Albino's place as a resonant force in contemporary music.
Quick View
Nena - "NENA (Remastered & Selected Works)" [Translucent Red 2 LP] Nena and BMG celebrate the release of their debut album with a special anniversary edition. All original titles have been lovingly remastered from the original tapes to ensure excellent sound quality to make the spirit of that time true to the original. In addition to the remastered NENA album, the anniversary edition contains a second LP with further unreleased material - including "Amour Candide," a version of the song "Nur Geträumt" in French from 1983 that appeared in the rock 'n roll archives, energetic and previously unheard live tracks from Nena's 1984 concerts, as well as rare demos and B-sides. This comprehensive and stylishly compiled anniversary edition gives old and new fans the opportunity to rediscover the magic of this legendary album. 2 LP set, translucent red vinyl, triple gatefold jacket, collectible poster included. Printed inner sleeves feature archive photos, credits, lyrics and a personal note from Nena to late band member Carlo Karges
Quick View

Willie Nelson is now in his 7th decade as a songwriter, performer and recording artist, but one of his most underrated talents is song interpretation. Over his career he has tackled songs from across the world of music, making each his own. Now for his 76th studio album and 153rd album overall as he celebrates his 91st year, Willie turns his gaze to a collection of songs by rock legends, idiosyncratic singer songwriters, alt-rock heroes, and indie folk artists. The result is a gorgeously cohesive rumination on loss, love, and world-weary hope, perfectly complemented by spare and spooky musical production. Lovingly curated and produced by his son Micah Nelson, Last Leaf On The Tree finds Willie covering songs from moody indie rock (Beck), psych alt-pop (The Flaming Lips) and punk-informed folk (Sunny War, Micah’s Particle Kid) to thought-provoking soul jazz (Nina Simone) and lesser-known gems from legends like Tom Waits, Neil Young, Keith Richards, and Warren Zevon. In addition, the album features new takes on one of Willie’s oldest songs (“The Ghost” from 1962) plus a new one penned with Micah (“The Color Of Sound”) that joins Willie’s collection of Zen-soaked classics. In addition to producing, Micah Nelson plays many of the instruments and even designed the album cover. He is joined by a host of celebrated musicians plus guest spots from legendary producer and musician Daniel Lanois, John Densmore of The Doors and harmonica master Mickey Raphael, who has played alongside Willie for over 50 years.

Quick View

It’s dangerous to put Illiterate Light in a box, especially with the release of their new album, Arches. Are they a guitar-driven indie rock duo? Kaleidoscopic neo-psychedelia? Synth-kissed, harmony-laden folk? What does one do with an album beginning with “fake tits and diet coke,” then pivoting to train derailments in rural Ohio and never-ending black holes? These prolific farmers-turned-rockers have captured the energy of their live shows—fans crowd-surfing, moshing, crying, and crooning—and infused it into their latest release.

“We’ve always been shape shifters, moving between heavy, dark distortion and gentle sweet fingerpicking, writing aggressive songs, introspective songs, and love songs, exploding and embracing,” reflects singer-guitarist Jeff Gorman. “Smashing it all together used to feel strange, but now there's a glue between everything we do. Our fans get it. They care less about genre. All they care about is feeling. And that’s all we care about. Are you alive or not?”
Illiterate Light’s third album, Arches, is not a passageway but an arrival. “We’re no longer striving to define a sound,” said drummer Jake Cochran. “We’re leaning into sides of ourselves that have felt off-limits, sticking to what feels right rather than concerning ourselves with comparison.” Out November 1 via Thirty Tigers, the record is bursting with thunderous anthems, biting lyrics, and lush harmonies.

The band originated in the Shenandoah Valley in 2015 when multi-instrumentalists Gorman and Cochran began playing music together while working on an organic farm. Eventually, they left the farm to focus on music, adopting the moniker Illiterate Light from a Wilco lyric. After several years of non-stop touring, they signed with Atlantic Records and released their eponymous full-length debut in late 2019. Two years later, they signed with Thirty Tigers and, in 2023, issued their critically acclaimed LP, Sunburned. Shortly after, they released two additional EPs, making Arches their fourth release in two years.
Arches was recorded in two very different locations: small-town Appalachia at Gorman’s home studio and Hollywood, CA at Sunset Sound with producer Joe Chiccarelli (The Strokes, Beck, The Killers). “We wanted the best of both worlds,” says Gorman. “We spent several days with Joe at Sunset. To record vocals in the same live room as so many of my heroes—Neil Young, Paul McCartney, Dylan—was unreal. I knew I was in a holy place.” The LA session was paired with sessions in Virginia, where Gorman and Cochran co-produced the bulk of the record with longtime collaborator Danny Gibney. In their hometown, they experimented with soaring instrumental journeys and had friends sit in on the sessions to keep things lively.

“Having our community stop by the sessions kept us on our toes—we haven’t been able to do that in the past. It helped connect us to the feeling of our live show,” recalls Cochran. Illiterate Light’s live performances, described by the Washington Post as “massive,” feature Gorman on one foot, hammering bass on a foot-pedal synth, shredding big guitar riffs, and spitting out song after song while Cochran matches Gorman harmony for harmony, dancing with his standing drum kit, teetering on the edge of the stage only to dive head first into his next solo.

Arches is the closest you can get to their live show, with heavier songs like “I Ride Alone” and “Bloodlines” encapsulating the best of the writhing, uninhibited front-row experience. The keystone of the album, “Norfolk Southern,” crashes in with Gorman belting, “Here comes the Norfolk Southern / It's off the tracks / and heading for you,” with Cochran chanting, “break, break, break, break” to the ghost of the train that derailed in 2023 in East Palestine, Ohio, releasing 10,000 gallons of hazardous materials into the atmosphere. The song also serves as a metaphor for Gorman’s own turbulent feelings. “I certainly wanted to shine a light on the environmental catastrophe. But strangely, some days I feel just like that Norfolk Southern, barreling out of control at warp speed.”
Gorman lets the lyrics take control. Showing up relentlessly, day after day, to his home studio dubbed “The Bookhouse” (a tribute to David Lynch's Twin Peaks), he can’t predict what will arise. For the album's first track, “Payphone,” the opening lyrics were a surprise to Gorman: “Fake tits and diet coke / Full of undefeated hope / You are the only one I trust.” The jangly and groovy album opener is a pep talk between a woman named Big Red and her man as he faces crippling self-doubt and is self-medicating. She comforts him during a time of despair on a phone call that continues to drop.

Another relationship study, “Montauk,” is a cold beachside dance under the full moon inspired by the central question in Gorman’s favorite movie, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. “Do we go for it again—even though we're destined to fail?” he asks. “For me, the answer is a resounding yes.”
“All the Stars Are Burning Out” continues in that reflective vein. “It’s a throwback song, about getting high, going for a drive, dreaming up your future. You’re looking at that wide open black sky of bright stars, and they’re so beautiful and inspiring, and they make you want to follow your dreams. And yet all those stars eventually burn out. It’s a song about going for it even though life is impermanent and full of change,” Gorman said.

The saying goes, “arches never sleep.” Designed to distribute weight evenly, arches naturally rebalance as the structure around them shifts over time. Illiterate Light’s Arches exists within this metaphor in many ways. The album marks a period of artistic strength, a balancing act of identity and possibility. To listen to Arches is to plant yourself within the arch, to stand in the threshold between two worlds and gaze into Gorman and Cochran’s constant motion forward.

Quick View

Raised in Long Beach, Lil Peep (born Gustav Ĺhr) launched his career through the self-release of his music online as a teenager. He garnered attention in 2015 following the success of a slew of singles and his first solo mixtapes, "Lil Peep; Part One" and "Live Forever". Over the course of two years, Peep amassed millions of fans, who connected with him through his gritty lyrics that explored themes of love, loss and loneliness. Branded "the future of emo" by Pitchfork in January 2017, Peep's genre-bending style contributed to his reputation as a pioneer of the late 2010s post-emo revival, dishing out a handful of full-lengths and several extended-plays all before the release of his debut album "Come Over When You're Sober, Pt. 1" in 2017. After his breakthrough 2016 mixtapes "Crybaby" and "Hellboy" made waves in underground circles, Peep toured the United States and Europe, walked the runways at Fashion Week and began collaborating with increasingly prominent artists between New York, Los Angeles and London throughout 2017. At the time of his death just two weeks after his 21st birthday, Peep had achieved status as one of the scene's most promising rising stars. Since his emergence in 2015, he has racked up 5 billion views on YouTube and over 20 billion streams across all platforms.

Quick View
The secret has been out for a while now. After nearly nine years apart, Swedish prog rock legends Beardfish are back. Songs For Beating Hearts is the first new music from Beardfish in nine years, but as its many magical moments unfold, it really is as if the band had never been away. With strong echoes of past glories but a whole new vibe of wistful wonderment, Songs For Beating Hearts is a glowing testament to the magic that happens when these four musicians join forces. From the dreamy melancholy of the opening Ecotone and the intricate opulence of five-part sprawl Out In The Open, to the prog-friendly pastoralism of bittersweet 11-minute epic Beating Hearts, and the sobering prog-noir of the closing Torrential Downpour, Beardfish have not just made their strongest work to date, but also their most emotionally resonant. Loosely held together by thoughts of love, loss, friendship and finality, Songs For Beating Hearts is the sound of four kindred spirits laying their hearts bare. A triumphant comeback that nobody saw coming, Songs For Beating Hearts will be available as a Limited CD Digipak (incl. bonus track), Gatefold 140g LP & as Digital Album.
Quick View

Bruce Liu

Tchaikovsky: The Seasons

Vinyl: $25.99 UNAVAILABLE
Bruce Liu, winner of the 2021 International Chopin Piano Competition and famous for his distinctive mix of "feline agility and lightness of touch" (New York Times), breaks new ground with the supposedly well known. Following his enormous success with WAVES, a tribute to French composers and nature themes, The Seasons now focuses on Tchaikovsky's and Liu's relationship with music. "For me, this is a moment to explore some personal emotion," the pianist says of his latest album, which envelops the Russian composer's intimate and profoundly poetic language with musical breathing space.
Quick View
Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing housed in gatefold jacket. Includes trading cards and bumper sticker. Academy Award-winning composers Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross deliver a propulsive, hard-hitting original score to the high-stakes world of professional tennis for Luca Guadagnino's acclaimed 2024 film CHALLENGERS starring Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor. The deluxe gatefold release features vinyl-exclusive extras alongside the 16-track original score pressed on 180 gram black audiophile vinyl. Including fan favorite score moments "Challengers: Match Point", "Yeah x10" and the original end credits song "Compress / Repress" co-written with Luca Guadagnino and performed by Trent Reznor & Mariqueen Maandig Reznor. ?Included in the package is a custom interior gatefold collage featuring on-set photos by photographer Alessio Bolzoni, a collectible set of three player trading cards featuring Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist as Tashi, Patrick and Art, as well as an exclusive Phil's Tire Town bumper sticker.
Quick View

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Saves The Day's iconic album "Through Being Cool," a special edition reissue has been released, featuring a new limited embossed OCard that wraps around the original, classic packaging. This collector's edition is a tribute to a landmark album that has shaped the emo and pop-punk scenes for decades, offering fans a chance to relive the nostalgia and own a unique piece of music history.

Quick View

USHER

Confessions - (20th Anniversary)

Vinyl: $44.98 UNAVAILABLE

Confessions 20th Anniversary Edition contains alternative album artwork and orchestral versions of “Burn” and “Superstar” as bonus tracks on a 2-LP black vinyl.

Quick View
12 timeless classics from the Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Ronnie Milsap, comprise this collection. Featuring tracks such as “I Wouldn’t Have Missed It For The World,” “(There’s) No Getting’ Over Me,” “Smoky Mountain Rain” and other favorites, this album showcases the six-time Grammy Award winner’s signature crossover style. Speaking to Milsap’s impact, The Grand Ole Opry says, “The ebullient performer and original stylist changed the face of country music.”
Quick View
Multi-Grammy and Emmy-winning artist and producer Robert Glasper releases a new holiday EP, In December. Featuring an esteemed roster of frequent collaborators—PJ Morton, Alex Isley & Andra Day—the eight track project is an evocative and moving addition to Glasper’s critically lauded catalog. In December sees Glasper’s unique approach to contemporary R&B and jazz, encapsulated in his famed Black Radio series, applied to what is a sonically unique take on holiday music.
Quick View
Music From Agatha All Along Various Artists Hollywood Records presents all your favorite tracks featured in the Disney+ series, Agatha All Along, featuring Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Christophe Beck and Michael Paraskevas. Available on standard black vinyl.
Quick View

Killerstar

KillerStar Reimagined [LP]

Vinyl: $27.98 UNAVAILABLE
KillerStar Reimagined features radically reworked versions and remixes of the songs from the KillerStar album. It features a slew of David Bowie Band alumni guests throughout the album including Mike Garson, Earl Slick, Gail Ann Dorsey, Donny McCaslin, Mark Plati, Emm Gryner, Tim Lefebvre. Joining Rob Fleming and James Sedge Collectively they have crafted a sound that fuses the scale of classic rock with sophisticated harmonies and elements of art rock. KillerStar's self-titled debut album has garnered critical acclaim from press on both sides of the Atlantic, earning 4/5 stars in both Mojo magazine and The Times newspaper. Music Connection praised the album for its "fresh art rock aesthetic" and "impeccable musicianship." Additionally, Q Magazine recognized KillerStar as "One of the Top 12 Most Exciting Acts in the World," while Vintage Guitar noted the band’s ability to merge classic rock with art rock, creating powerful melodies and harmonies. The KillerStar Reimagined album features additional production and remixing by Mark Plati, who has produced albums for David Bowie and The Cure, among many others. It also includes a remix by The Anchoress.
Quick View

Jonny Tobin

Steppin' Out [LP]

Vinyl: $27.98 UNAVAILABLE
Description Canadian artist Jonny Tobin’s new modern funk album “Steppin’ Out” on Austin Boogie Crew Records shines with its catchy songwriting, stellar production and synth wizardry. It kicks off with a banger of a title track featuring Daniel David of renowned group The Pendletons. This bouncy jam captures the elation of reemerging into the world after the 2020 lockdown to reconnect and dance with our loved ones. California underground legend XL Middleton jumps on “Change It Up” to drop slick raps over a shimmering Tobin beat. XL expresses how ‘the funk gave me somethin’ to believe in’ as a sensitive soul growing up in hectic L.A. The lush bridge, virtuosic solo and epic breakdown make this tune extra fresh. Tobin links with Austin, TX group The Vapor Caves on the uptempo yet sultry “Give And Take.” Sweet vocals, rich harmonies and talkbox adlibs buoyantly float over the track’s verses until the energy swells for a jubilant chorus. On “Rock Me,” one of two instrumentals on the LP, Tobin’s grandiose chords and guest Marlon Petronio’s guitar solo make this number apt for an 80’s action film soundtrack. The record’s second half kicks off with the addictive “Never Too Late” featuring fellow Canadian and vocal powerhouse Maya Killtron. The beautiful strings, transcendent bridge and twinkly keys lend disco-roller-rink vibes to this winner cut. Bay area crooner Rojai pines for a lover on the bumpin’ cruiser “Drive Me Wild,” bolstered by a soaring 90’s R&B influenced bridge. Tobin dips into his video game bag and belts out some amazing synth solos on instrumental head-nodder “Boombox.” Soulful dancer “Time Flies” with Mexico City duo Shiro Schwarz brings the album to its conclusion. Written with a grounded post-pandemic perspective, the sweet lyrics highlight the importance of appreciating ourselves and our loved ones as the precious years go by.
New Vinyl: $27.98
Quick View

20th Anniversary 3xLP colored vinyl with 11 original demo tracks recorded with Forrest Kline of HELLOGOODBYE. 14 song Digital release includes 11 song demo version of “Is A Real Boy” plus for the first time released digitally the song “But A Fleeting Illness”, “Spider Song” (Paul Trust version) and “Belt” acoustic.

Quick View
The original version of “Serious” was included on Kazzey's 2022 album Voyage. The collaboration between him & LA modern funk mainstay XL Middleton became a favorite in the street dance scene, soon becoming used in innumerable videos & dance battles internationally. It also found its way into heavy club rotation thanks to forward-thinking DJs who include the modern funk sound in their sets, from the West Coast of the US to Japan, and back to Kazzey's native France. Now, the track is finally being pressed on vinyl, and included on the b-side is a bonus remix (the “Midnight Drift Remix”) bringing a silkier, late-night edge to this certifiable dance floor filler.
Quick View

Kaelin Ellis

You Are Here, Start [LP]

Vinyl: $27.98 UNAVAILABLE
The ever-prolific Kaelin Ellis is a rare gem of a musician. His rise to prominence has grown through his skills as a talented multi-instrumentalist and a very earnest need to build community and collaboration. This is made beautifully apparent in his Fool's Gold debut entitled, You Are Here, Start. This album is full of the melodic and rhythmic sensibilities that has made Kaelin a respected and revered household name. With features that range from Duckwrth, Guapdadd 4000 and 2-time Juno Award winning rapper TOBi, to savant pianist Anomalie and RnB/Blues crooner C.S. Armstrong, "You Are Here, Start" covers sonic ground in ways only Kaelin can. There's a certain warmth to this project that wraps around you like the sun.
        
back to top