I'm too tired to organize my thoughts this morning (very busy yesterday) so here's how it's pouring out of my head:

1. As mentioned previously, we will be starting to bring in a small qty of new CDs (as in sealed). As I did with the new vinyl when we started that seven months ago, I'll be concentrating for the most part on smaller labels and lesser-known artists. We'll also stock the latest releases from the hip bands that the kids are listening to these days.

For instance, in the next few days, weeks, we expect the latest releases on both vinyl and CD by Spoon, Vampire Weekend, Ben Frost, Tindersticks, Leyland Kirby, Them Crooked Vultures, Grouper, Black to Comm, and a few others. As the weeks and months pass I'll try to stay on top of these titles so we have them on their first day of release.

In addition, we'll be stocking some older titles that are out of print or harder to find in Toronto. One such title will be My Morning Jacket's second, and, in my opinion, best album: At Dawn. I've managed to get my hands on just 8 copies of this title in its original edition, which was as a double and limited to a pressing of just 2000. The regular CD is nice enough on its own but the bonus disc of demos is also a delight. I'm pretty comfortable saying it's unlikely anyone else in the city or country will have these as they've been out of print for close to a decade. To my recollection, we've never even had a used copy come into the store in the years I've been there. I've spoken directly with the label and they've assured me it's not going to be repressed.

We will be pricing these titles as reasonably as possible and should be competitive with the downtown shops. For instance, the new Spoon will be $14.99 on CD and $19.99 on vinyl. I don't know what the other indie shops will be pricing it at yet as it doesn't come out until next Tuesday, but Amazon and HMV are at least a buck or two higher than that.

Now, because of the set up of our store and the lack of a security buzzer at the door, I obviously don't want to put sealed product on the floor. As a result, we will open one copy of each title for display purposes and keep sealed copies behind the counter. When we're down to our last copy of a title or when the title doesn't warrant me stocking more than one, the CD will be open, but it will still be new and unplayed. Such is the nature of the beast.

I will appropriate a section of the wall directly above the New Arrivals, between Compilations and Folk, and place this new product there. New vinyl will go in the new arrivals where it always is.

If there are titles in particular you'd like to see, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and I'll see what I can do.

2. I've been catching hell from a number of customers because I've been playing the excellent second release from Budos Band without having any on hand to sell. I finally found a source for their stuff, but on vinyl only. I placed an order yesterday so we should have them in a week or so. I'll be bringing in all their titles as well as other artists on Daptone Records: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Daktaris, Antibalas, and Sugarman 3 (with Lou Donaldson). We also have access to their 45s, but I'll only be bringing those in on a special order basis.

3. A heap of ambient/drone/modern classical is on its way. Most of it is very small run stuff, limited to 300 or so copies each, all on CD. Artists will include Richard Skelton, Concern, Scott Tuma, Evan Caminiti, Elm, and many others. These aren't well known artists but they're turning out quality stuff. Click the links to read Boomkat reviews. As you'll see, they don't even have stock on most of them anymore. Again, not sure who else in the city carries this stuff.

One of the choicest finds in this haul will be the last copies I could find of Black to Comm's first release, Ruckwarts Backwards on vinyl. Limited to just 222 copies. BtC's Fractal Hair Geometry is also on its way on vinyl. Limited to 500 copies. Given the high praise the artist's received for his latest release, Alphabet 1968, which made a number of year end top 10 lists, and which we sold out of promptly (it is limited to 500), these should be nice treats for those who dig Richter's particular take on electronic.

4. I've got another copy of Charley Patton's 4LP set coming in next week. We sold out once already and this will probably be my last order of it as it's limited to 275 copies world-wide. $125. That's $25 cheaper than the competition sells it for downtown.

5. Another heap of Numero Group titles will probably be in in about 2 weeks. For the first time, we'll also be bringing some of their titles on CD. Should happen around first week in February.

6. Restock of some Mississippi Records titles are on the way: Clara Rockmore and Reverend Overstreet in particular.

7. I added the ability to sample some audio to the site. This entry features a track from the above mentioned My Morning Jacket release. You should see the option in the left hand column under Listen To. If you experience problems with the audio player, please .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

That's all I got at the moment. Back to bed with me.

Some of you may have noticed that the Blues, Gospel, and Reggae sections are now organized horizontally instead of vertically. This makes it easier for us to keep things in alphabetical order (and we'd appreciate your help regarding this when you put stuff back). I've gotten mixed responses from people, with the vast majority of it being positive. If you've thoughts on it, please mention them to whoever's working and we'll keep them in mind while trying to sort out the rest of the shop.

Here's a list of new vinyl that should be out by the weekend:

Jimmy Reed - Rockin' With Reed and I'm Jimmy Reed
Otis Redding - Pain in My Heart
Radiohead - Pablo Honey (180g)
My Morning Jacket - Z (2LP)
Jimi Hendrix - Band of Gypsies (140g)
Dirtbombs - Ultraglide in Black
Miles Davis - Workin'
Ornette Coleman - Free Jazz (180g)
John Coltrane - Blue Train
Yndi Halda - Enjoy Eternal Bliss
MF Doom and Madlib - Madvillian (2LP)
Slayer - World Painted Blood
Bonny Billy and The Picket Line - Funtown

As well as the following restocks:

James Carr - A Man Needs a Woman and You Got My Mind Messed Up
Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (180g)
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing (2LP)
Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus

And... some updates on past entries:

We only have one copy of Light: On the South Side left. It's been opened to show off the book but is otherwise new (records unplayed). We've got the best price in town on this one. We're sold out of the other Numero Group box sets that we brought in (Twinight, and Tap), but still have stock on some of the 2LP Eccentric Soul sets and Guitar Stoli. Again, cheapest in town.

The new Tom Waits releases went on the floor on Tuesday--we have a few of Glitter and Doom left but only two of the Orphans 7LP sets remain of the six we brought in. $22.99 and $138.99 respectively.

Only two of the William S. Burroughs Grey Room LPs remain. It's a limited pressing of 800 copies and is one we probably won't bring in again as it's an import. Just $18.99.

The Mingus - Live at Antibes sold out before I even had a chance to price them. Literally. More will be coming.

One copy of Ocean's 2LP Here Where Nothing Grows is also on its way.

A few more things coming from Mississippi, probably late next week:

Rev. Louis Overstreet - An Evening With His Guitar, His four Sons, And the Congregation at St. Luke's Powerhouse Church of God in Christ
Reissue of the Arhoolie LP recorded in 1962 at Overstreet's church in Phoenix, Arizona with a slightly altered track listing. Includes two tracks previously unissued on vinyl. Recorded very live during a church service. Rev. Overstreet plays electric guitar and bass drum in his own driving & intense style while his four sons and the congregation take care of tambourine, backup singing and hand claps. A powerful record of gospel energy and testament.

Clara Rockmore - The Art of the Theremin
This LP, originally recorded and released by Delos International in 1977, features the eerily beautiful theremin accompanied by piano. A record of stark simplicity & emotional intensity. We are proud to present the first ever vinyl reissue of this material. Gatefold tip on cover with extensive liner notes detailing the history & inner workings of the theremin & Clara Rockmore.

The Breeders - Fate to Fatal EP 12"
Limited edition of 1,000. The four songs on the Fate to Fatal EP were recorded in a variety of places. The band booked time at the Fortress in London to record the title track. Track two, "The Last Time," was written by Kim and recorded in her Ohio basement with guest vocalist Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, Queens of the Stone Age). For "Chances Are," a cover of the Bob Marley and the Wailers song, Kim and Kelley went to Steve Albini's Chicago studio where they recorded it live. The EP's closing song, "Pinnacle Hollow," was also recorded in Kim's Ohio basement on a four-track, tape hiss and all.

All this and restock of the Cecil Barfield, the Joseph Spence, and the Mortika box set to boot.

I think that most people who like the respective genres of the above artists will be familiar with these albums. The one exception is probably the little-known UK band Yndi Halda. Though I'm loathe to pigeon-hole them, they're probably considered a post-rock band with a splash of 20C classical. I'd guess that anyone who enjoys GY!BE, Explosions in the Sky, Mono, Do Make Say Think, or Mogwai would appreciate them.

The shortest song on their Enjoy Eternal Bliss LP is almost 12 minutes long. The other three hover around 17 minutes and "A Song for Starlit Beaches" clocks in at almost 20. Because the tracks are so long, they're not very Youtube friendly. However, here's the second half of "Illuminate My Heart, My Darling":

Titles we've had before and titles we haven't:

- Restock on the Numero Group titles, including the Twinight and Light: On the South Side box sets
- Various Artists - African Scream Contest (2LP)
- Various Artists - Legends of Benin (2LP)
- Bo Diddley's Have Guitar Will Travel and Bo Diddley is a Gunslinger
- Charles Mingus - At Antibes (2LP)*
- Anduin - Abandoned in Sleep (cd and LP)*
- W.S. Burroughs - Break Through In Grey Room (limited to 800 copies)*
- Freakwater - Dancing Under Water*
- Black to Comm - Alphabet 1968
- Anarchist Republic Of Bzzz - s/t (Marc Ribot, Arto Lindsay)*
- Various Artists - An Anthology Of Noise & Electronic Music Volume 1 (3LP)*
- Various Artists - Oh, Run Into Me But Don't Hurt Me - Female Blues Singers - Rarities 1923-1930*
- Various Artists - Dr. Boogie Presents Rarities from the Bob Hite Vaults*
- Various Artists - Dr. Boogie's Shim Sham Shimmy*
- Various Artists - Dr. Boogie Presents 20 Deranged And Smokin' Cool Cats*
- Various Artists - Dr. Boogie Presents Heavy Jelly: Essential Instrumentals*
- Brethren of the Free Spirit - The Wolf Shall Also Dwell With the Lamb* (features James Blackshaw; ltd to 500 copies)
- Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - Lost in Reflections*
- Ocean's Pantheon of the Lesser* and Here Where Nothing Grows* (both 2LP 200g, limited to 500, w/ letterpressed covers; I'm betting we've got the best price in the country on the latter title).
- Yndi Halda - Enjoy Eternal Bliss*
- AC / DC - Back in Black
- Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (180g), Summer Days (And Summer Nights) (180g, ltd), Today! (180g, ltd)
- Beatles - Abbey Road
- Captain Beefheart - Mirror Man and Safe as Milk (both 180g)
- John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
- Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables and Plastic Surgery Disaster
- DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
- Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced (2LP)
- Husker Du - Land Speed Record, New Day Rising, Zen Arcade
- Jay-Z - Black Album
- MF Doom - Mm...Food
- MF Doom and Madlib - Madvillain
- My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything and Loveless
- Nirvana - In Utero, MTV Unplugged, Nevermind
- Gram Parsons - GP and Grievous Angel
- Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus, Way Out West and The Bridge
- Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger, Flower, and Ultramega OK
- Soundtrack to Friday Night Lights (music by Explosions in the Sky)
- Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones
- Susumu Yokota - Grinning Cat

These are coming in from 4 different locations (in three countries) so will arrive at different times over the next week or two.

* First time we've had stock on these titles

Just some quick updates on what was writ before:

- Soundtrack sale ended Saturday. Sign up to the mailing list to get the lowdown on future sales.

- We're almost completely sold out of the Numero Group titles. I'm trying to get more--not sure if it'll be at those introductory prices though. Cross your fingers. Speaking of soul... should have restock on James Carr's first two Goldwax LPs soon.

- The Black to Comm came in and quickly sold out. I did some email swapping with Richter and he's hooked me up with some of his early catalog. Should be soon. However, it'll be your last time to get them--very small print runs on all this stuff.

- More Mississippi Records stuff should be in soon: Mississippi Fred McDowell, Clara Rockmore ("features the eerily beautiful theremin accompanied by piano--a record of stark simplicity & emotional intensity"; first time on vinyl), restock on Abner Jay and Mortika, all at the best prices in Toronto. I've also got a few of MR's out of print titles coming but they'll be a bit more expensive as my regular source for Mississippi Records stuff was out of stock on 'em. Since they're currently out of print this'll be your last chance to grab 'em: Various Artists - Love is Love, Bishop Perry Tillis, Various Artists - String of Pearls, Various Artists - Last Kind Words.

- Two titles from a very small USA'n press in Maine that specializes in folk: Shep & Me ("Simple folk songs with some experimental touches; beautiful hand screened covers"), and Uke of Spaces Corners ("Dan Beckman & Amy Moon play off kilter original songs & a Sun Ra cover--this record evokes the idillic life lived by the band").

- I've placed a small order for SST records so in the next week or two we should see the better releases from Black Flag, Minutemen, fIREHOSE, and Bad Brains, as well as the label's early Soundgarden titles. They'll be cheap--all under $13, I think, with the exception of Double Nickels on the Dime which is a 2LP.

The Numero Group is a USA-based label that specializes in rarely-heard gems from (mostly) little-known American acts of the soul, folk, and international variety. Their titles are beautifully mastered and packaged. They were originally a web-only label, meaning their items were unavailable in stores. One of the reasons I've been reluctant to bring in their titles is that they're a little pricey when imported and redistributed by a Canadian company. I've now found a reliable source south of the border at what I think is the best price possible and our first shipment is on its way.

Here's a list of what's coming, along with links to more info on each title:

Various Artists - Wayfaring Strangers: Lonesome Heroes
Various Artists - Wayfaring Strangers: Guitar Soli
Various Artists - Eccentric Soul - Young Disciples
Various Artists - Eccentric Soul - Smart's Place
Various Artists - Local Customs: Downriver Revival
Various Artists - Soul Messages from Dimona
Various Artists - The ABCs of Kid Soul: Home Schooled
Various Artists - Eccentric Soul: The Prix Label
Various Artists - Eccentric Soul: The Deep City Label
Various Artists - Eccentric Soul: The Big Mack Label
Various Artists - Eccentric Soul: The Capsoul Label
Various Artists - Don't Stop: Recording Tap
Various Artists - Cult Cargo: Grand Bahama Goombay
Various Artists - Cult Cargo: Belize City Boil Up
Various Artists - Eccentric Soul: Twinight's Lunar Rotation
Various Artists - Good God! A Gospel Funk Hymnal
Various Artists - Light: On the South Side

All of The Numero Group's titles thus far have been wonderful but this last title is a stunner. Light: On the South Side is 2 LPs documenting Chicago's South Side night club scene between 1975 and 1977 accompanied by a 12x12 132-page hardcover book with photos by Michael Abramson. For those unfamiliar with Abramson's work, here's a PDF of an article called Groove Memories from last year's Chicago Tribune.

That article--and those photos--were the spark for The Numero Group doing this boxed set. Here's a photo of the box and book:



I don't yet have pricing on any of this stuff as it'll depend on what happens when customs gets hold of it, but I'll do my damnedest to offer them at the lowest price in Toronto. You can read more about the Numero Group on their site.