Limited edition (1000) specially-colored vinyl versions of these classic two albums.
Coalesce – Ox LP+MP3 Coalesce encapsulates over a decade of forward-thinking hardcore that typifies the trend-eschewing band and proves they still have much to say. Just the right touch of bombast and contrast to make the seething aggression all the more engaging.
Dredg – The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion
“Veering between ominous dirges and wide-eyed big sky anthems, they play massive art metal that’s been treated to multi-layered, intricate production in the vein of Radiohead and Pink Floyd; and for a band that can smash and roil like waves against Pacific beaches, they frequently take the subtler road, softening themselves with atmosphere and world music flourishes.” – Pitchfork
Her Sympathy label back-catalog — re-issued via Damaged Goods.
Guided By Voices – Alien Lanes LP+MP3
Their critically-acclaimed Matador debut and best-selling album is back in print on vinyl for the first time since 1999. HQ-180 virgin vinyl with gatefold sleeve.
The Kills – Keep On Your Mean Side
Vinyl re-issue of The Kills’ 2003 debut.
Pelican – Ephemeral 12”
Over three songs and 20 minutes, the vinyl-only Ephemeral introduces a heavier, darker, more riff-based Pelican for 2009. Includes a cover of Earth’s “Geometry Of Murder” with Dylan Carlson on guitar.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that Sonic Youth — average age: 50 — had mellowed in recent years. 2006’s Rather Ripped found the band working some of the most subtle grooves of its career, and the results were spectacular, a continuation of the second act SY began staging with 2002’s excellent-if-spotty Murray Street and 2004’s just-damn-perfect Sonic Nurse.
In case you worrying, though, track one of SY LP number 16, The Eternal, will cure you of any illusions that this band has gone soft. Titled “Sacred Trickster,” the song is two minutes of no-frills punk rock, with an angry vocal turn by bassist Kim Gordon and a fat bottom end that comes courtesy of new fifth band member Mark Ibold (formerly of Pavement).
Oklahoma is cooler than Florida! At least as far as official state rock songs are concerned. Residents declared The Flaming Lips‘ “Do You Realize?” the rock anthem of Oklahoma via an online vote. However, the Oklahoma state House rejected the resolution. Some representatives, inclined against all things cool, protested the vote, citing the band’s profanity and provocative wardrobe. A bandmember once wore a hammer & sickle t-shirt? Say it ain’t so! When all was thought lost, Gov. Brad Henry, part-time rock savior, overruled the legislature via executive order and threw his support behind the people’s choice. Oklahoma is now cool despite the best efforts of certain politicians. As for the Lips (pictured right), they are currently prepping a double album.
Ume (pronounced ooo-may) is a My Bloody Valentine/Sonic Youth-influenced rockin’ three-piece from Austin, Texas that is one of the more exciting bands I have heard in a while. Critics from all over are drooling over the beautifully brutal songs delivered by easy-on-the-eyes frontwoman Lauren Larson. Check it out:
Posted by Leilani Polk on Jan. 2, 2009, at 3:13 am
Pitchfork recently ran a comprehensive guide to releases coming up in 2009. I’ve scaled it down to the highlights (no box sets, re-issues, vinyl, 7″ or overseas releases) and added a few as well. Click here to see Pitchfork’s complete guide.
JANUARY
06 *The Brighton Port Authority, I Think We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat (Southern Fried) Glasvegas, Glasvegas (Columbia) The Gourds, Haymaker! (Yep Roc)
13 Late of the Pier, Fantasy Black Channel (Astralwerks) Lymbyc System, Carved by Glaciers (Magic Bullet) My Dear Disco, Dancethink (Dancethink) Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Greatest Hits (Columbia Wal-Mart exclusive) This Will Destroy You & Lymbyc System, Field Studies (Magic Bullet) *Derek Trucks Band, Already Free (Sony Legacy)
20 *Andrew Bird, Noble Beast (Fat Possum) *Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino) Antony and the Johnsons, The Crying Light (Secretly Canadian) *Bon Iver,Blood Bank EP (Jagjaguwar) Calexico, Live From Austin, TX (New West DVD) John Frusciante, The Empyrean (Adrenaline Music) Ice-T, Live in Montreux 1995 (MVD DVD) Matt and Kim, Grand (FADER) *The Modern Skirts, All of Us in Our Night (Modern Skirts Recordings) A.C. Newman, Get Guilty (Matador) Ben Nichols, The Last Pale Light in the West (The Rebel Group) Or, The Whale, Light Poles and Pines (Seany) Public Enemy, Revolverlution Tour 2003 (MVD DVD) *Squarepusher, Numbers Lucent EP (Warp) *Umphrey’s McGee, Mantis (Sci Fidelity)
27
*The Bird and the Bee, Ray Guns Are Not the Future (Blue Note) Brian Wilson, That Lucky Old Sun (Capitol DVD) Circlesquare, Songs About Dancing and Drugs (!K7) *Cotton Jones, Paranoid Cocoon (Suicide Squeeze) *Dan Deacon/Adventure, Split 12″ (Carpark) *Franz Ferdinand, Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Domino/Epic) Hot Chip With Robert Wyatt and Geese EP (Astralwerks) Kylie Minogue, Boombox: The Remix Album (Parlophone) of Montreal, Jon Brion Remix EP (Polyvinyl) Owen, (the ep) (Polyvinyl)
Rush, Retrospective 3 (Atlantic CD/DVD)
*RZA, Afro Samurai: The Resurrection (Wu Music Group)
Duncan Sheik, Whisper House (Victor) Bruce Springsteen, Working on a Dream (Columbia)
*The Sway Machinery, Hidden Melodies Revealed (JDub) Read the rest of this entry »
Coalesce – Ox LP+MP3
The Kills – Keep On Your Mean Side
Oklahoma is cooler than Florida! At least as far as official state rock songs are concerned. Residents declared 
