PJ 20 Vinyl News

When Pearl Jam 20 came out in September, I was disappointed, crushed even, there wasn't a vinyl release. It was totally unlike the band not to have a vinyl version of a new album. Pearl Jam has always been good about releasing their material on LP and creating fantastic packages.

Finally, it looks like my wishes are being granted, and we will see PJ20 on beautiful vinyl.

Amazon has begun taking pre-orders for the three-LP package, which the Web site says will be released Dec. 13. Amazon's price is $54.89 as of today.

Pearl Jam's own Ten Club quickly sold out of copies.

Leonard Cohen Announces New Album

Leonard Cohen has announced that his much-anticipated album Old Ideas will hit the streets Jan. 31, 2012.
It's the master's first studio album in about seven years.

Consisting of 10 new songs, Old Ideas poetically addresses some of the most profound questions of human existence -- spirituality, love, sexuality, loss and death, according to the announcement.

The album is on Cohen's long-time label, Columbia. It will be released on 180-gram vinyl. There's also a collector's package that includes the vinyl plus a lithograph limited to 5,500. The price is $63.99.

Here's the tracklist:

Going Home
Amen
Show Me The Place
The Darkness
Anyhow
Crazy To Love You
Come Healing
Banjo
Lullaby
Different Sides

Black Friday Preview

I hope everyone is ready for Black Friday. It's a great day to get to your indie record store and pick up some special releases.

Here's a list from the good folks at Record Store Day.

I have my eye on the Ryan Adams, Black Keys, and Craig Finn singles.

Kate Bush's new album, 50 Words For Snow, was supposed to come out around the beginning of the week, but her Web site reports that there were some short delays. Hopefully, it will be out to pick up on Black Friday.

Old Song of the Year

Twenty years after Bonnie Raitt recorded “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” the song is proving its timelessness.

The song has been out in force this year, with Bon Iver releasing it as the B-side of the “Calgary” single. Adele covered the song at the iTunes Festival London 2011, and it's available on iTunes. And, jazz artist Jacqui Naylor includes the number on her latest album, Lucky Girl. All are very good versions.

Written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin, the song is still a killer. I think it's the line, "Turn down these voices inside me head."

Black Keys Black Friday News

The Black Keys are proving to be the right antidote for the graying weather.

In an earlier post, we noted that the new album, El Camino, comes out Dec. 6.

But vinyl fans can get their hands on a special 12-inch of the single "Lonely Boy" on Nov. 25. The single release is part of Record Store Day's "Back to Black" Friday. The limited-edition single will be at participating indie music retailers. Both the lead track and the B-side, "Run Right Back," are featured El Camino.

Until then, check out the "Lonely Boy" video. The man's got some moves...

Black Keys Album Due in December

The Black Keys announced today that they will release their new album, El Camino, on Dec. 6.

Produced by Danger Mouse and The Black Keys, the 11-track album was recorded at singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound studio in the band’s new hometown of Nashville during the spring of 2011.

Auerbach describes the record as "more straight ahead rock and roll—raw, driving, and back to basics.”

Here's the track list:
1. Lonely Boy
2. Dead and Gone
3. Gold on the Ceiling
4. Little Black Submarines
5. Money Maker
6. Run Right Back
7. Sister
8. Hell of a Season
9. Stop Stop
10. Nova Baby
11. Mind Eraser

Notable October Releases

Hey Vinyl Fans:

Here's a quick rundown of some notable releases coming out this month.

Nirvana's Nevermind celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Among the special sets coming out is a four-disc LP collection. Looks like this one will be released Oct. 4.

Bjork delivers her seventh album, Biophilia (WEA), on Oct. 11.

The latest from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, I'm With You (WEA), comes out on vinyl Oct. 18.

Shelby Lynne will release Revelation Road also on Oct. 18 on her own Everso label. Uncut magazine has given the album four stars.

Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto (EMI) has a Oct. 24 street date.

Tom Waits' much-anticipated Bad As Me (Anti) also comes out on Oct. 24. And, you know that's going to be good.

And, November is going to be crazy with new releases from the Beach Boys, The Decemberists, and Kate Bush.

Kate Bush Set to Release New Works

Less than six months after releasing Director's Cut, Kate Bush is set to deliver 50 Words For Snow on Nov. 21.

Can it get any better for Bush fans this year?

They've had to be patient for so many years when Bush went from 1993 to 2005 without releasing a new album.

While Director's Cut featured her reinterpreting her earlier works, 50 Words For Snow will feature seven new songs. The tracks are set against "a background of falling snow," according to Bush's Web site. The album, which was record during the same time that she worked on Director's Cut, has a running time of 65 minutes.

The record will be on Bush's own Fish People label.

Alexi Murdoch Vinyl Out in September

About a year ago, maybe longer, I saw "Away We Go," starring John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph. It's an amazing film, managing to capture the hilarity, heartbreak, and the little moments in life. Without getting heavy-handed, it's about finding your place in the world.

And, it has the scene-stealing Allison Janney. A big plus for any movie.

While watching "Away We Go," I instantly fell in love with the soundtrack. Most of the music is by Alexi Murdoch, a Scotsman often compared to Nick Drake. His tender vocals and acoustic guitar seep into your soul. His music wasn't just background music, it was a character in the film.

Earlier this year, Murdoch released his second full-length album, Towards The Sun. The vinyl version hits the streets Sept. 6. (I wish artists and records labels would release CDs and vinyl albums on the same day.) I've heard that the vinyl is limited to just 500 copies, so Murdoch fans should plan on pre-ordering it now.

You can get it through Murdoch's Web site.

For those of you who missed "Away We Go" or are not familiar with Murdoch, check out the trailer below.

New Tom Waits LP Coming

Hey Vinyl Fans,

In case you didn't visit Tom Waits' Web site in the past week, here's the skinny:

Waits will release his first studio album in seven long years, Bad As Me, on Oct. 25. Yippee!

Visit his Web site to watch a hilarious video about the upcoming release.

Neutral Milk Hotel Announces Vinyl Set

Preorders are being taken for a massive vinyl-only box set from Neutral Milk Hotel.

The package includes 15 newly released songs.

In all, it Includes the band's two albums, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea and On Avery Island, two 10-inch records (Everything Is EP with bonus tracks and Ferris Wheel on Fire EP featuring eight previously unreleased acoustic recordings), two 7-inch records (Little Birds and You've Passed/Where You'll Find Me Now), one 7-inch picture disc with fold-out poster (Holland 1945/Engine), and two 24x24 posters.

The price is $88 plus shipping.

To get a glimpse of the set, click here.

Tom Waits News Coming Tuesday

Will we get to hear new music from Tom Waits this year?

I'm thinking it's a real strong possibility. Waits is telling fans to visit his Web site Tuesday, Aug. 23, when he'll set the record straight about all the rumblings about a new album.

Bjork's $800 Special Edition Package

Dang! This is wild.

Bjork fans can pre-order her Biophilia: The Ultimate Art Edition at Nonesuch Records.

This exclusive package will be made to order, with orders collected through Aug. 12. Selling for a scant $800, the set will be one of the most expensive musical packages released this year.

Presented in a lacquered and silkscreened oak hinged-lid case, the set includes Biophilia Manual—two discs of music in a 48-page, full-color, hardbound, cloth-covered, and thread-sewn book. The package also features 10 chrome-plated tuning forks, silkscreened on one face in 10 different colors, stamped at the back, and presented in a flocked tray. Each fork is adjusted to the tone of a Biophilia track, covering a complete octave in a non-conventional scale.

Each case comes with an individual numbered certificate.

It doesn't look like this special edition comes with vinyl. For 800 bucks, it should.

However, vinyl fans can order the regular two-disc vinyl album for $24.

Robert Earl Keen Announces Pre-Orders

Robert Earl Keen fans can pre-order an autographed LP of his soon-to-be released album, Ready For Confetti, on his Web site.

Keen’s 11th studio album hits stores Aug. 30. The latest release is on the Lost Highway label.

Based on the title track and the single, “I Gotta Go,” the album sounds like another good one by REK.

He says he tried to concentrate on a few simple themes like joy and happiness when writing the latest batch of songs and then when he went into the studio to record with his band they stripped down the numbers to make them sound as loose and friendly as possible.

That’s completely fitting with Keen’s warm spirit. He’s an artist who easily endears himself to an audience.

Early in his career, he would travel to Santa Cruz, Calif., and perform solo acoustic shows at the tiny Kuumbwa Jazz Center. He would tell funny stories and sing beautiful songs, tell beautiful stories and sing funny songs.

When the show ended, the audience couldn’t wait until the next time the big Texan would come to Surf City.

Santa Cruz has long been a Keen hot spot, largely because KPIG, a local radio station found at 107 oink 5 on the dial, had the good taste and carefree attitude to play a lot of his songs. That’s how I first came across him.

The city became the setting for one of his best songs, “I’m Coming Home.”

As his popularity grew, Keen went on to play larger venues and perform with a bigger and louder band. That’s taken away from the intimacy of those early shows, but even so he still puts on a good show. He's a first-rate songwriter with a head full of colorful characters, a sense of adventure, and a heart full of tender tales.

Keen’s albums always come with high expectations. Lucky for us he usually delivers.

Wilco Album Coming in September

Mark Sept. 27 on your calendars. That's the date that Wilco releases its eighth studio album, The Whole Love.

The album is on the Chicago band's newly launched dBpm Records. The Whole Love features 12 new original tunes and is produced by Jeff Tweedy with Patrick Sansone and Tom Schick.

The Anti Records site provides this description: "The Whole Love opens with the seven-minute “Art of Almost” and concludes with the twelve-minute “One Sunday Morning (Song For Jane Smiley’s Boyfriend).” In between: 10 adventurous tunes (each clocking in at four minutes or less) including the current single, 'I Might.'"

The first single was released on a limited clear vinyl and sold at the band's Solid Sound Festival in June. A limited blue version is available through the band's store. A classic black single is available through retailers and has a July 19 street date.

Upcoming Vinyl Releases

Steve Earle’s first collection of original material since 2007 is scheduled to come out on vinyl July 19. I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive is on the New West label.

Madeleine Peyroux’s Standing On The Rooftop (Universal) also has a July 19 street date. The new album features mostly original materials plus a cover of the Beatles’ “Martha, My Dear.”

Joss Stone releases LP1 on July 26. It’s the first on her own label, Stone’d Records. Stone co-wrote and co-produced the album with Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart.

Patti Smith delivers Outside Society (Sony), a career-spanning retrospective on double LP. It will feature 18 remastered songs from 10 studio albums. Look for this one in August.

Schuur Releases Strong Album

Diane Schuur has always had an open mind about the material she covers. While keeping one foot firmly entrenched in the jazz world, she has easily and frequently crossed into the pop side. She’s teamed with B.B. King, covered Billy Joel, and recorded an album of new Barry Manilow songs.

For her Vanguard Records debut, Schuur does something she’s never done. She performs 10 country tunes. The Gathering, her first album in three years, is a bold move that pays off.

It’s always risky when an artist crosses into a new genre. The effort often comes across as dilettantish. Not so for Schuur. She makes these songs her own.

Schuur removes the twang and plays the songs in a smart, straight-ahead manner that showcases her impressive voice and the strength of the lyrics. She also plays piano.

The vinyl version sounds great, but there is no digital download.

The Gathering works because Schuur isn’t trying to make a country album. Instead, she’s mined songs from the country canon and adapted them into her own expansive style. Nothing sounds out of place.

It’s similar to what Ray Charles’ achieved on his classic Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.

The album opens with a beautiful version of Hank Cochran’s “Why Can’t He Be You,” which was probably always intended as more of a pop number anyway. Cochran wrote Patsy Cline’s “I Fall To Pieces” and “She’s Got You,” two of Cline’s more pop-oriented songs.

Another highlight is “Til I Can Make It On My Own.” Tammy Wynette filled the song with grit. Schuur gives it grace with her beautiful voice and soulful touch.

On her jazz and pop recordings, Schuur has often played to her big voice. Throughout the new album, she is more understated, and it works well in conveying the sad emotions that mark many of these songs. At the same, she will still add a well-placed touch of vocal flair to the numbers like she does on Willie Nelson’s “Healing Hands of Time,” which is also boosted by a Kirk Whalum’s sax solo.

Even though she owns a pair of Grammys, Schuur is an underrated artist. The Gathering shows just how good she is no matter what material she performs.

Schuur traveled to Nashville to record the album and worked with a strong team of musicians, including Eddie Bayer on drums, Michael Rhodes on bass, Steve Gibson on guitar, Mike Rojas on Wurlitzer piano, Eric Darken on vibes, and Carmella Ramsey, who provides harmony vocals.

She is also joined by some famed guest musicians, including Alison Krauss, who sings on Cochran’s “Dont Touch Me. Vince Gill, Mark Knopfler, and Larry Carlton also appear on the album that is produced by Steve Buckingham.

Tom Waits Haul

I had an amazing time record shopping the other day. Someone had unloaded a great collection of Tom Waits vinyl at the Rasputin store in Berkeley, so I was able to pick up Closing Time, The Heart Of Saturday Night, Nighthawks At The Diner, Blue Valentine, and Heart Attack And Vine. All are in beautiful shape.

Closing Time is Waits' 1973 masterpiece, with “Ol’ 55,” “I Hope I Don’t Fall In Love With You,” “Martha,” "Grapefruit Moon,” “Rosie,” and others. It’s one of the best debut albums that I can think of. It's right up there with Patti Smith’s Horses.

I can’t wait to listen to the other albums. I plan to listen to them, and the other Waits albums that I have, in chronological order to experience his musical evolution. He's increasingly grown more varied and strange over the years. Artists usually go the other way if anything.

Buddy Holly Tribute Shines

A tribute album to Buddy Holly, who would have been 75 years old this year, has just been released on the Fantasy/Concord Music label. It’s available on two-disc 45 rpm vinyl, retailing at about $30.

There are plenty of highlights on this impressive set—The Black Keys performing “Dearest,” Florence and The Machine on “Not Fade Away,” Patti Smith singing “Words of Love.”

However, Lou Reed steals the show with his grinding version of “Peggy Sue,” which is followed by a lovely rendition of “Peggy Sue Got Married” by John Doe.

Rave On is better than most tribute albums because producer Randall Poster pulled together a stellar lineup of legends and young acts and gave them plenty of room to showcase their own styles while still paying their respects to the well-traveled Holly tunes.

This pays off in song after song. A must for Holly fans.

My one complaint is the album doesn't come with a digital download.

June Releases

Hey Vinyl Fans:

Some exciting releases are scheduled to hit the streets in June.

Here’s a quick roundup of some of the albums we are looking forward to:

Steve Earle—The 180-gram vinyl version of Earle’s latest, I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive (New West), is set to come out June 7. He also has a new novel with the same title.

Eddie Vedder—Vedder’s soundtrack to Into the Wild is a masterpiece. His latest solo effort, Ukulele Songs (Monkeywrench), has a June 14 street date. And, yes, the album features Vedder playing the ukulele, and it sounds great. Check out the video for the single “Longing to Belong.”



Neil Young—Young reaches into the archives for his latest 12-track release. A Treasure (Reprise) features music that Young recorded on tour with The International Harvesters in 1984. It comes out June 14.

Alison Krauss—Paper Airplane (Rounder) is the first album in seven years from Krauss and the stellar Union Station. The vinyl version is scheduled for a June 21 release.

Bon Iver—Bon Iver returns with new album June 21. This might be the most-anticipated indie release of the year.

Marianne Faithfull—Faithfull’s latest is called Horses and High Heels (Naïve). Unlike her last album, the outstanding Easy Come, Easy Go, which featured all covers, the new effort includes several original numbers along with some more well-chosen covers. The album was recorded in New Orleans, with a core of local musicians. Horses and High Heels has a June 28 street date. Should be good.

New Bon Iver LP Coming In June

Bon Iver (Justin Vernon) is set to release his follow-up to 2008's For Emma, Forever Ago, one of the most beloved indie releases of all time. (The 2009 release, Blood Bank, was an EP.)

The new album, Bon Iver Bon Iver, on Jagjaguwar has a June 21 street date.

Fans can get a download of the gorgeous single “Calgary” at boniver.org.

A special pre-order bundle that feature a vinyl edition of the album plus a T-shirt, poster, 12-inch single, and download is available for $39.99. A package of just the vinyl album and poster is available for $14.99.

Anti to Release The Duke & The King

Anti-Records just announced that it will be releasing an album by The Duke & The King.

The band’s upcoming self-titled release will hit stores Aug. 2 and is a collection of songs culled from the group’s two previous English albums, not yet available in the U.S. Both records have received unanimously enthusiastic reviews from the British press.

Formed in New York by acclaimed musician-writer Simone Felice, a key songwriter and founding member of celebrated country rock outfit The Felice Brothers, The Duke & The King are a potent acoustic-vocal group created by Felice and Robert Bird Burke featuring Simi Stone and Nowell “ The Deacon” Haskins.


The track list released by Anti reveals that the album will feature 12 songs, including “If You Ever Get Famous,” “Shaky,” and “One More American Song.”

This should be good. I’ve been waiting for the band to release some records here.
An earlier post linked to their video of “Shaky.” Here it is again:

Kate Bush Announces New Works

There's big news from Kate Bush. Well, any news from the reclusive Bush is big, but it's particularly exciting when she announces a new album.

Bush is preparing to release Director's Cut on May 16 on her own label, FIsh People, in conjunction with EMI. She'll be revisiting selections from The Sensual World and The Red Shoes.

The press release explains that she has re-recorded some elements while keeping the best musical performances of the songs.

A new version of “Deeper Understanding” will be released as a single in April.

Director’s Cut will be released in the following formats: digital album, standard CD in a case-bound book, deluxe CD (three disc package, including Director’s Cut, The Sensual World and re-mastered The Red Shoes) in a case-bound book and two-disc vinyl. Other digital and vinyl formats will be made available on katebush.com.

Bush also reports that she is working on new material for a later release.

Oh please, oh please, let there be a tour.

March Releases

Hey Vinyl Fans,

If the rest of 2011 is as strong as the first two months have been, this is going to be an amazing year in music. We've already had some remarkable releases, notably new music from The Decemberists, Bright Eyes, Adele, Low Anthem, and The Dirtbombs. Fantastic stuff.

It looks like the trend will continue in March. I'm looking forward to several big releases.

Lucinda Williams—Lu returns with Blessed on the Lost Highway label on March 1. It's her first album since 2008's Little Honey.

Alexander—Alexander Ebert releases a self-titled solo album on Community Music. He's the lead singer of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. This is also expected to come out March 1.

REM—There's much anticipation surrounding the latest REM album, Collapse Into Now (Warner/WEA). In a recent Rolling Stone interview, Peter Buck called it "the best thing we've ever done." That's a bold statement. This looks to be REM's last record for Warner. It comes out March 8.

The Strokes—Angles has a March 22 street date.

Radiohead—With little notice, the band delivers The King of Limbs on March 29.

Dirty Beaches—I can't wait to check out Dirty Beaches' Badlands. Dirty Beaches is Alex Zhang Hungtai, who makes moody, dark, beautiful, lo-fi music. The vinyl is available for pre-sale at insound. If you want something new and different, check him out. The album also has a March 29 release.

Clem Snide Gets Vinyl Treatment

I somehow missed Clem Snide's Your Favorite Music when it came out in 2000.

Lucky for me and others, the album has been released on vinyl for the first time. It's a gorgeous, melancholy album that gets under your skin with its beautiful melodies and Eef Barzelay's sad voice singing his funny, tender lyrics.

The LP is the second release from the Microfiche Records label, which is working hard to bring some older albums to vinyl.

The Clem Snide album is pressed on either lime green or light blue vinyl. The blue is exclusive to indie record stores.

Here's a vide of the record being pressed:

Radiohead Pre-sale Announced

Surprise! Radiohead has announced the pre-sale of its forthcoming "newspaper album," The King of Limbs.

The package sounds incredible. It includes:

Two clear 10" vinyl records in a purpose-built record sleeve.
A compact disc.
Many large sheets of artwork, 625 tiny pieces of artwork and a full-colour piece of oxo-degradeable plastic to hold it all together.
The album comes with a digital download that is compatible with all good digital media players.

The King of Limbs will be shipped on Monday 9th May 2011 you can, however, enjoy the download on Feb. 19.
Shipping is included in the prices shown.
One lucky owner of the digital version of The King Of Limbs, purchased from this website, will receive a signed 2 track 12" vinyl.

The cost is about $48.

For more information, visit the band's Web site.

The Duke And The King

I'm diggin' this song by The Duke and The King. The lead vocalist is Simone Felice of The Felice Brothers.

The band's album has yet to be released in the U.S. Fingers crossed it's coming soon.

Big January Releases

Hey Vinyl Fans:

There's a strong lineup of new releases coming in the next few weeks from Pearl Jam, Wanda Jackson, Iron & Wine, and many more.

Here are some highlights:

Pearl Jam—Live On Ten Legs on Monkeywrench features 18 live tracks recorded from 2003 to 2010. It has a Jan. 18 release.

The Decemberists—The Portland, Ore. folk-rockers deliver The King Is Dead (EMI) on Jan. 18. The vinyl package features a 180-gram lp in a gatefold sleeve.

Iron & Wine—Iron & Wine leaps to a major label (Warner) for its latest effort, Kiss Each Other Clean, which has a Jan. 25 release date. Despite the switch from indie labels, I have faith Sam Beam will deliver another stellar album.

Wanda Jackson—Rockabilly legend Wanda Jackson unveils The Party Ain't Over on Jan. 25. The album is produced by Jack White of the White Stripes. If you recall, he got Loretta Lynn back into the studio in 2004, and the result was the Grammy-winning Van Lear Rose, one of Lynn's finest album. He and Jackson hope for similar magic here. Jackson's single, "Shakin' All Over" came out a while ago and is terrific.

Elton John—The Covers Record features Sir Elton singing songs by Nick Drake, John Fogerty, Cat Stevens, and others before he became famous. Should be interesting. This double album is an import on the Lilith label. It is expected to come out Jan. 31, but that seems to be tentative.

And, there's no slowing down in February. A few of the releases we are looking forward to next month are Bright Eyes' The People's Key and The Drive-By Truckers' Go-Go Boots, which both come out on Feb. 11. Adele's sophomore release, 21, is set to come out Feb. 22.

Vinyl Sales Increase in 2010

Hey Vinyl Fans:

There's an interesting report out of Nielsen SoundScan that reveals that although overall album sales took a 13 percent dive last year, vinyl sales rose 14 percent over 2009 figures, with about 2.8 million unit sold. That's the highest vinyl sales have been since 1991.

The top selling new albums on vinyl were the Arcade Fire's The Suburbs, the
Black Keys' Brothers, Vampire Weekend's Contra and the National's High
Violet. The overall best-selling vinyl album in 2010 was the Beatles' Abbey
Road, some 41 years after its original release.

But overall, the music industry's sales trends are troubling. Overall music sales, which includes albums, singles, music videos, and digital tracks, were down 2.4 percent from 2009. Total album sales, which includes CDs, cassettes, vinyl, and digital albums, were down 12.7 percent.