Technically, I'm still on vacation but I popped by the store tonight and processed a few new LPs: Susumu Yokota's 2LP ambient electronic masterpiece Grinning Cat, and some jazz: Sonny Rollins' Way Out West and Lee Morgan's The Cooker, which Allmusic Guide calls "an essential acquisition".

We also received Nigeria Rock Special - Psychedelic Afro-Rock and Fuzz Funk from 1970 (2LP- Allmusic Guide says, "this is dangerously addictive, one of those pleasures that you'll repeat often!").

Tyrone Davis' 1969 LP, Can I Change My Mind also came in, as did Colleen's debut, Everyone Alive Wants Answers ("One of those rare, truly evocative abstract pieces of art where every observer takes away their own interpretation, and is left feeling a little more special about their experience as a result," says Pitchfork. They gave it an 8.4 outta 10).

Some nice postrock (hate that term) and other things came in on vinyl today. Two Mono (Japan) LPs: One More Step and You Die (2LP) and Gone (3LP); Mum's Yesterday Was Dramatic...; The Books' Lost and Safe ($3 cheaper than I saw it at our competitor's the other day); and some Sunn0))). The Books' Lemon of Pink is also in the new arrivals on CD right now--not an item we see used too often.

We also got a heap of blues CDs in on Tuesday. The New Arrivals bin is pretty kickass at the moment, actually. There's also three new nice box sets: an Okeh set, a Roots & Blues set (both of those are terrific) and an 11 disc Massive Attack (scratch that, it sold)!

In the next week or so I'll also have some super nice vinyl pieces come in from other countries: in addition to the Candi Staton and Bettye Swanns (mentioned in a previous post and which are finally confirmed as shipped), there's some Elmore Judd, two fantastic Steve Reid LPs (Rhythmatism and Nova, one of my all-time favorite jazz albums), the ridiculously difficult to find for the longest time James Blackshaw LP The Cloud of Unknowing, Triple Burner's lovely album, and some very limited titles on SMTG: Anduin/Jasper TX's Bending the Light and Svarte Greiner's Man Bird Dress, each limited to just 300 copies. If you like ambient or drone and electronic music, these are terrific. Man Bird Dress's gorgeous silkscreened cover is pictured, above.

Tomorrow night (Saturday) should see a small heap of Soul / R&B, Blues, Funk, and Rockabilly CDs. Titles from great labels like Kent, Ace, (old) Rhino, Duke-Peacock, Vanguard, Goldband, Crypt, Arock, and Okeh. Most will be various compilations but there'll also be collections for Linda Hopkins, Barry Goldberg, Jimmy Witherspoon, Tyrone Davis, and others.

Speaking of Soul, I'm hoping to have some Candi Staton and Bettye Swann vinyl arrive in the next week or two. They'll be double LPs imported from the UK and on the expensive side but worth every penny. Each collection got a 10 outta 10 from NME and Vice and five stars from The Guardian and MOJO. I was originally just bringing them in for myself as I can't find them anywhere in the city but I brought a few extras for the soul lovin' vortexans. However, chances aren't high that I'll bring them in again as it's always a pain dealing with customs and whatnot.

In the same order should be some Moondog, Simone White, and Elmore Judd.

And speaking of Funk, the first two Betty Davis LPs should be back in stock soon. Sold out within hours last time I brought them in.

Last but not least I'm trying to get my hands on some Bishop Perry Tillis. Only a 1000 got pressed and they quickly sold out when WFMU's Beware of the Blog mentioned them. Check him out below. Certainly among the rawest guitar blues gospel you'll ever hear. From that same label, also limited to 1000 copies, I have some Skip James and a terrific comp of gospel blues called Life is a Problem.

In addition to the ambient titles in the post below, we also received these vinyl gems today. Click the album titles to read Allmusic Guide reviews.

James Carr - You Got My Mind Messed Up
James Carr - A Man Needs a Woman

$23.99 each - some of the best southern soul ever recorded.

Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

A landmark indie rock album and the album of the decade for many people in my generation. A measly $13.99! Five stars from Allmusic and a 10 outta 10 at Pitchfork. Read what other artists had to say when the album celebrated its 10th year anniversary.

The Psychic Paramount - Gamelan Into The Mink Supernatural

I managed to get my hands on a sealed copy of this bizarre masterpiece. Limited to 1000 vinyl copies which quickly sold out three years ago, it's loud as all hell and sounds like few other records. The SF Weekly says, "One of this decades finest albums, a cyclone in an era of faint breezes." I mean, just listen to the onslaught that is track 3, Echoh Air. Speaker melting indeed. $30. Sealed. Out of print.

And a few other treats:

Blonde Redhead - Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons
Jesus Lizard - Liar
Captain Beefheart - Safe as Milk
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless (180g)
Portishead - Dummy
Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (180g)