We've several Japanese Beatles LPs on the wall at the moment and there's a ton of CDs in the new arrivals now--most came in yesterday. Some fantastic jazz, including a copy of Bill Evans' Secret Sessions box set. Here's just a small taste of some of the non-jazz:

Various Artists - A Field Guide to the Table of Elements
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Albert King - Saturday Night in San Francisco
Justin Townes Earle - The Good Life
Robert Pete Williams - Free Again
Ken Boothe - All I Own
Garland Green - Jealous Kind of Fella
James Carr - A Man Needs a Woman (Japanese Import)
Memphis Slim - Parisian Blues
Soul Children - The Singles / Open Door Policy
Robbie Basho - Bonnist Supreme
Akrobakkus - Afenginn
Cocoon - From Panda Mountain
310 - After All
Christian Kleine - Beyond Repair
Knocker Jungle - s/t
Los Flechazos - Haciendo Astillas El Reloj
Tarentel - From Bone to Satellite
Ike and Tina Turner - Proud Mary (Best of)
Barrington Levy - Best of
Constantines - The Modern Sinner Nervous Man
Brian McBride - When the Detail Lost its Freedom
Volcano Choir - Unmap
Ohbijou - Beacons
Taylor Dupree and Kenneth Kirschner - Post Piano 2
Meredith Monk - Beginnings
Brian Eno - Discreet Music
Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More
M. Ward - Amnesia
Richard Swift - The Novelist
Merzbow - about 5 different CDs
Godflesh - 3CD set
Many Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co CDs and EPs, including some tough to find ones
And dozens of other treats I can't remember off the top of my head

We've also got a copy of the 10CD spoken word set, The Best of the Moth, featuring stories by Thomas Dolby, Joe Jackson, Jerry Stahl, Kimya Dawson, Joyce Maynard, Dominick Dunne, Lewis Lapham, Adam Gopnik, Meg Wolitzer, Jonathan Ames, and many others. This is a fantastic set and a steal at $35.

And for the person who read to the bottom... be the first one to walk in the door on Saturday, March 20th and tell me I'm looking even more dapper than usual and you'll get a ticket for two to the Neil Young Trunk Show at the Royal. And yes, I only have one ticket to give away. The screening is next week, starting March 26, and the ticket is good any night the film plays.

Okay, so I've been slow updating the site (and the mailing list) because I've been busy trying to get some stuff straightened out for Record Store Day. We're definitely gonna have a few things (prizes, even) that no one else in the city has. I'll post here when things are in my hands.

Here's some vinyl that came in today:

Liars / Gerry Mitchell and Little Sparta - Keep Mothers Vol. 4
Y'all know Liars is one of my favorite bands. They've got a new LP coming out very soon (we'll have stock of the ltd edition 2LP version) but in the meantime, this is a split 10" between them and Gerry Mitchell. Limited to 500 copies. Numbered. UK Import.

Bardo Pond - Bufo Alvarius
Another UK import - Fire Records reissues Bardo's first LP on 180g vinyl. Comes with the CD. One bonus track on the vinyl, I believe. Remastered. I can tell you're curious about the title. It's a hallucinogenic toad. Yup, really. (All Bardo Pond albums are named after drugs or drug-related stuff. Again, yup, really.)

Ntsamina - Spiritual Singers
This is an early-ish release on Mississippi Records. It's out of print but we found a warehouse that had a few. I brought in 5 copies. Not sure if I'll be able to get more. Grab it now.

Various Artists - Black Man's Cry: The Inspiration Of Fela Kuti
Actually, this came in on CD, not vinyl... but we should have the vinyl in about a week. It's a 4x10" set. Comes with a 24 page booklet.

Clogs - Creatures in the Garden of Lady Walton
This is a CD only release, unfortunately. So we'll have it on CD very soon. I've always loved Clogs. If you like Rachel's or maybe Kronos Quartet, you'll dig Clogs. Should be in Thursday.

Jimi Hendrix - First Rays of the New Rising Sun
Yeah, I know this came out today. But I hate the title and forgot to order it. We should have it Thursday. I hope. Though for my money, you're better off with Clogs.

I also expect the following in about a week or so:

Fenn O'Berg - In Stereo
Fenn O'Berg is Jim O'Rourke, Christian Fennesz, and Peter Rehberg. You should know who at least one of those people is. Two if you've ever worked a day in your life. Three and you can have my job (not really). 2LP. Gatefold. Austrian import.

Herbie Hancock - Inventions and Dimensions
Grachan Moncur III - Evolution
These two are new France imports on Heavenly Sweetness, a label that is reissuing six early Bluenote records this year. They're gonna be pricey as they're imports and heavy vinyl, but all the titles in this series have been out of print on vinyl for decades so chances you have 'em are slim.

Bardo Pond / Pre - Keep Mothers Vol 5
Just like the Liars 10" above, this one is limited to 500 copies. Numbered. Yadda Yadda yadda.

Lali Puna - Tridecoder & Faking The Books
Remember Lali Puna. I do. I always liked Korean-born Valerie Trebeljahr voice. That's why I ordered these. Faking the Books also comes with the Micronomic 12" and is limited to 500 measly copies. Both are on Morr Music.

Neutral Milk Hotel - On Avery Island
"I already have this," you're thinking. Well, you're wrong. Because this version was made in the UK and features two tracks that aren't on your version--they're taken from the band's 1993 single Everything Is. 180g.

Kammerflimmer Kollektief - Jinx and Wildling
Wildling is KK's new record. Jinx is an older record. I've always liked the band, especially Cicadidae. Love love love that record. German imports.

Today will be a heavy day for new vinyl stock. A large list of what's expected is below.

In addition, yesterday saw the arrival of the following CD and Blu-Ray box sets:

- Waylon Jennings - The Journey: Destiny's Child (6 CDs; Bear Family)
- Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - The Capital Years (8 CDs; Bear Family)
- Various Artists - A Shot in the Dark: Nashville Jumps: Blues & Rhythm on Nashville Indepedent Labels (8 CDs; Bear Family)
- Various Artists - Motown: The Complete Singles, Vols. 2: 1962 (Limited to 8000 copies), 6: 1966 (Limited to 6000 copies; out of print), and 10: 1970 (Limited to 8000 copies) (5 CDs and 1x7" each; Hip-O Select)
- Miles Davis - Complete In A Silent Way Sessions
- Rolling Stones - Singles, 1963 - 1965, Singles, 1965 - 1967, and Singles, 1968 - 1971

- Star Trek, The Original Series, Season 1 (Blu-ray)
- Star Trek, The Original Series, Season 2 (Blu-ray)

Some interesting used CDs came in as well (you know, in addition to the hundreds of interesting things we see every week):

The Nigeria '70 3 disc set--two CDs and a DVD which has a documentary on the country's music. As far as I can make out, the two disc version is still in print but this 3 disc one is not. It's on Strut, so is a UK import as well.

Three volumes of the Verve France: Free America series came in. Here's an article on the series in Jazz Times and another in All About Jazz. The titles we received were Art Ensemble of Chicago's Certain Blacks, and one title each from Clifford Thornton and Frank Wright. These CDs were obviously released in France and are numbered, limited to 3500 numbered copies. We've put a premium price on these; they're in perfect shape.

As for the vinyl, I think the following will be in boxes that arrive today:

- Devendra Banhart - Oh Me Oh My The Day Goes By
- Vashti Bunyan - Just Another Diamond Day (LP + 7")
- Serge Gainsbourg - Histoire de Melody Nelson (180g)
- Girl Talk - Night Ripper (2LP, limited ed)
- Simon Joyner - Songs for the New Year
- The Knife - Silent Shout
- Lady Gaga - The Fame
- Pelican - March Into the Sea
- Set Fire to Flames - Telegraphs In Negative / Mouths Trapped in Static (2LP)
- Velvet Underground - Loaded (180g), VU and Nico (180g), VU and Nico (Mono)
- Scott Walker - Scott, Scott 2, Scott 3, and Scott 4
- Mazzy Star - She Hangs Brightly
- Deep Listening Band - Then & Now Now & Then (2LP, Ltd to 500)
- Tim Buckley - Greetings From L.A.
- Budos Band - s/t
- Elmore James - The Sky is Crying
- Johnny Cash - The Sun Singles (6 x 7" box set)
- Boris - Japanese Heavy Rock Hits (Ltd. ed. 7")

As well as restocks of:

- Them Crooked Vultures - s/t
- Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
- Husker Du - Zen Arcade
- Soundgarden - Badmotofinger
- Stars of the Lid - And Their Refinement of The Decline (2LP), Avec Laudenum, The Tired Sounds Of... (2LP)
- Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted (180g)
- Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced (2LP), Band of Gypsies (140g), and Axis: Bold As Love
- John Coltrane - A Love Supreme

We also managed to find one more copy of Nadja's out of print 2LP 180g Radiance of Shadows. Limited to 750 copies.

These are also in the wind and may arrive today but could be as late as next week:

- Cinematic Orchestra - Everyday
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Freakey Styley and Uplift Mojo...
- Radiohead - The Bends
- Radiohead - Kid A

Some nice blues:

- Mississippi Fred McDowell - Mama Said I'm Crazy
- Joe Callicott - Ain't A Gonna Lie to You
- Scott Dunbar - From Lake Mary
- Heartless Bastards - Stairs and Elevators
- Sweet Tea - s/t
- Elmo Williams - Takes One to Know One

And restocks of:

- MF Doom - MM Food
- Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond
- Kraftwerk - Autobhan
- Kraftwerk - Radio Activity
- Kraftwerk - Man Machine
- Kraftwerk - Tour De France
- Kraftwerk - Europe Express

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":

So, we got some more limited run vinyl titles in. Here's the breakdown:

Fiery Furnaces - Remember. This is a triple LP of live material that's limited to 2000 copies.

Exploding Star Orchestra - We Are All From Somewhere Else. According to the official press release for this album Chicago Underground Trio cornetist Rob Mazurek was "approached by The Chicago Cultural Center and the Jazz Institute to put together a group that would represent the more contemporary / avant-garde side of sound in Chicago for a concert in Millennium Park’s Frank Gehry-designed concert hall. The music was conceptualized/composed in Manaus Brazil, Fontevraud, France and Chicago, and developed over more than a dozen performances of the Orchestra before it was recorded by John McEntire at his Soma Studio in Chicago." This double LP is stunning. Limited to just 500 hand-numbered copies.

Max Richter - 24 Postcards in Full Color. Limited to 500 copies. Allmusic says, "This may be Richter's shortest album, but it's also his most eclectic and emotional work, a mosaic of brief but beautiful wishes for contact and a powerfully inspiring way of making what could be mundane into something artful, even if it's just for a moment". Read AMG's bio of the German composer.

David Daniell and Douglas McCombs - Sycamore. Daniell is an experimental, improvisational guitarist who has worked with heaps of folks, including Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Loren Connors, and minimalist composer Rhys Chatham. On this album, he teams up with Doug McCombs, well known for being a member of a tonne of great bands including Tortoise, Eleventh Dream Day, Brokeback, and The For Carnation. Limited to 1000 copies.

Tape - Luminarium. Tape is an electroacoustic trio from Sweden. Luminarium is their 4th release and the first to come out on vinyl. Limited to 500 copies world-wide, it's gotten some terrific reviews. For instance, Boomkat says, "The only really useful comparisons to make would be to other Tape albums, and Luminarum finds this unique Swedish troupe at least equalling, if not bettering the genre-defying work they've made their name with. Amazing stuff - Highly Recommended."

Mono - Gone. So I brought in another copy of this triple LP. I think it's the sixth we've had. It's limited to 3000 copies. Mono played in Toronto last night and the two copies we had left of their Hymn to the Immortal World sold today as a result.

I also brought in a few things that aren't limited runs: Phosphorescent's To Willie and The Drift's Nuomena.

The Drift's Nuomena is a favorite of mine and I play it at the store often. Double vinyl. Allmusic says, "focused and tight, patient enough to know when a composition should dive in full force and when to tease and gently unfold by itself. In a genre that often recycles its own ideas and eats its young, this is potent and fresh." Here's the first 6 or so minutes of the album's second track, Invisible Cities.

Phosphorescent is Matt Houck. To Willie is his album of Willie Nelson covers. It is fantastic. Really. Unfortunately I can't share any of its tracks with you, but here's an MP3 of a track from Phosphorescent's previous album, Pride: Torn Up Praise. And here's video of Phosphorescent playing Wolves, which is also from Pride and which also isn't a Willie Nelson cover: