Death Cab For Cutie Boxset

Death Cab For Cutie has announced a limited edition vinyl set, The Barsuk Years.

There will be only 1,500 sets. Individually numbered and signed by the band, the deluxe box  contains the group's early recordings plus some unreleased material.

The price is $225. Pre-orders are being taken at www.deathcabforcutie.com/.

Strong Women: Mattea, Griffith As Good As Ever

Kathy Mattea and Nanci Griffith gained popularity in the 1980s. Now, 30 years later, they have both released notable albums that remind us just how exceptional they are.

Mattea rode high on the charts with a string of country hits, including “Eighteen Wheels and A Dozen Roses,” “Untold Stories,” and “Burnin’ Old Memories.” Her honey alto was warm and comforting on country radio.

She didn’t rely on gimmicks or theatrics. She didn’t have an instantly recognizable first name like Reba or Wynonna. 

Instead, Mattea found good songs and sang them better than anyone else. She brought integrity to her music, striving to find the best way to showcase a song and not herself.  She earned a Grammy for best female country vocal for “Where’ve You Been,” a song written by her husband, Jon Vezner, about a longtime couple facing the hardships of aging.

She soon moved to more eclectic material at the expense of radio hits. In 2008, the West Virginia native released her stunning Coal album, a collection of 11 classic mining songs, and became an activist, raising awareness about environmental issues caused by the industry. The songs were difficult numbers to perform and hard subjects to tackle, but Mattea more than rose to the occasion. Her version of “Red-Winged Blackbird” is haunting. Coal was nominated for a Grammy for best traditional folk album. Mattea lost to Pete Seeger.

She returns this year with Calling Me Home on the Sugar Hill label. It picks up where Coal left off, with Mattea delving deeper into a collection of coal and mountain songs. Always a great archeologist of material, she has dug deep to uncover and bring these songs to the surface to make an achingly beautiful album.

“Sad scenes of destruction on every hand,” she sings on Jean Ritchie’s “Black Waters.” “Black waters, black waters, run down through my land.”

While that number describes the scars left by mining, Mattea follows that up with Hazel Dickens’ “West Virginia, My Home,” a song that captures the state’s beauty and hold on its people. Mattea hits all the emotional notes.

It is a richly performed collection,with assistance from Patty Loveless, Emmylou Harris, Mollie O’Brien, and Alison Krauss.

One of Mattea’s biggest songs was “Love At The Five And Dime,” which was penned by Griffith. It appeared on her 1986 Walk The Way The Wind Blows album. In 1992, the songwriter’s “Listen To The Radio” appeared on Mattea’s Lonesome Standard Time album.

Griffith has also released a compelling new album, Intersection, this year.

While Mattea has been a first-rate interpreter, Griffith has served as her own songwriter. Her music is more “folkabilly” than country radio.

On her early albums, Griffith was a Texas spitfire--smart, sassy, and spirited. Her early songs were fictional tales filled with memorable characters and literary lines. Her fourth album, 1986‘s Last Of The True Believers, towers as a classic.

In the best tradition of folk music, Griffith has not been afraid to take a stand in her songs. One of her most well-known compositions is “It’s A Hard Life Wherever You Go.”  In that song she sings. “The fat man in front of me Is calling black people trash to his children/ He's the only trash here I see/ And I'm thinking this man wears a white hood.”

On her later albums, she traded some of her youthful spunkiness for mature introspection. And, Griffith grew into the role of torchbearer for folk music.

The recent economic recession and political dysfunction have fueled Griffith’s passions. Her new song “Hell No (I’m Not Alright),” which skips along like a Buddy Holly classic, should be the theme for the recent Occupy Now movement. Nanci Griffith, protest singer. 

She writes about other struggles as well. “Bad Seed” is about her turbulent relationship with her father. Griffith is in fine form. Here, she delivers the choice line, “I’m him without the moustache. I’ll have that too if I live that long.”

Mattea and Griffith have released two fine albums this year. (No word yet on whether they will be released on vinyl.)

Both women show they are as good as ever.

"Groove Interrupted"

With the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the arrival of Hurricane Isaac, I’ve had New Orleans on my mind.

I just recently finished reading “Groove Interrupted: Loss, Renewal and the Music of New Orleans” by Keith Spera, the music writer for the city’s Times-Picayune.

It’s a great read, one of the best music books that I’ve picked up in a long, long time.

Spera shares the heartbreaking and inspiring stories of many of New Orleans’ musicians following Katrina.

He writes about Aaron Neville losing two loves -- his wife and his city. He reveals Alex Chilton living in a cottage in the Treme neighborhood. He takes us with Fats Domino as he visits Manhattan.

Spera also unveils rapper Mystikal after he is released from prison and bluesman Gatemouth Brown’s struggling with his declining health. He also takes us into Terence Blanchard’s world as he tries to translate Katrina into music.

The book is structured with each artist’s story as a chapter. Even if you aren’t into a particular artist’s music, don’t skip a section. Each story is riveting.

It’s cliche, I know, but I’ll say it: I didn’t want the book to end.

Avett Brothers, Others Ready New Releases

Hey Vinyl Fans:

There are a few notable September releases coming up.

The Avett Brothers will deliver The Carpenter on Sept. 11. The album is produced by Rick Rubin. That's a great pairing.

The Dave Matthews Band is also scheduled to release Away From the World on the same day.

A week later, Ryan Bingham and Aimee Mann will release their new albums.

Bingham will give us Tomorrowland on his own label.

Mann returns with Charmer, her first album is many years.It is said to be influenced by the sugary pop sound of the 1970s.

Mark your calendars.

Searching for Sugar Man

I'm really looking forward to seeing "Searching for Sugar Man." The film is about singer-songwriter Rodriguez, who emerged in the '60s, but then soon fell into obscurity.

While many people in the United State never heard of him or believed he had died, Rodriguez was gaining a rabid following in South Africa. His anti-establishment lyrics resonated with people there during a time of Apartheid.

The film is both a musical and a mystery as it unravels the story of Rodriguez.

And, yes, vinyl fans there is a soundtrack coming from Light in the Attic.

Mark Your Calendars for Mountain Goats Album

The Mountain Goats have announced the release of Transcendental Youth on Oct. 2.

Merge says it will begin taking pre-orders July 23. What's intriguing is the record label says the advance orders will come with a special surprise.

I wonder what it could be.

Stay tuned to Merge to find out.

Cat Power Announces New Album

Cat Power’s first album of original material in more than six years is scheduled for a Sept. 4 release.

Matador is taking pre-orders for Sun, including a limited-edition, two-disc version on clear vinyl in an alternate gold foil cover. It also comes with a 7-inch record with two tracks not on the album.

Get a little taste of the upcoming album in this video announcement.

Gaslight Anthem LP Pre-Sale

The Gaslight Anthem’s fourth album, Handwritten, is available for pre-order on the Sideone Dummy Web site.

On blue vinyl, the album is $15 and is scheduled to be released July 24.

I’m big on this band, especially frontman Brian Fallon, who recently spent some time working on his side project, The Horrible Crowes.

He’s a terrific singer and songwriter whose gritty voice perfectly complements his barroom rock songs. This is the summer album that I've been waiting for.

Here’s the tracklist for the upcoming album:

1. 45

2. Handwritten

3. Here Comes My Man

4. Mulholland Drive

5. Keepsake

6. Too Much Blood

7. Howl

8. Biloxi Parish

9. Desire

10. Mae

11. National Anthem

Inside John Peel's Collection

You can look inside John Peel's vast record collection at The Space.

The legendary DJ amassed an amazing archive of more than 26,000 LPs, 40,000 singles, and thousands of CDs. This important collection of rock and other music is being made public through a special online project that will run for 26 weeks, from May through October.

Because of the size of the collection and time limitations, the John Peel Centre for Creative Arts and project supporters have decided to release details of the first 100 albums, listed alphabetically, from each letter of the alphabet each week. On May 1, the first 100 As were released.

In addition, with each release of 100 records there will be a mini-documentary about one of the artists. The first features 1960s singer-songwriter Mike Absalom.

Take a look. It's fun and worth spending time inside Peel's celebrated collection.

Codeine Box Set Coming

Numero Group is taking pre-orders for a Codeine box set.

All three of the band's albums will be featured with detailed liner notes, including essays by Sub Pop’s Jonathan Poneman, Love Child’s Alan Licht, and the Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne and Steven Drozd.

"The albums have been faithfully restored from the original masters, and are accompanied by a plethora of singles, demos, live recordings, and Peel sessions," says Numero. "Each album will be packaged as a double album with a CD of the same material. Additionally, an ultra deluxe box set of all three albums is available in a limited edition of 1000 copies. The box set features no additional tracks, but does come with a 5-by-1 foldout poster of the band’s complete discography and a tidy box that holds all three albums National Geographic-style."

The first 500 copies pre-ordered of When I See The Sun will also receive a bonus 7″, featuring two songs recorded live at TT the Bear’s Place in Boston by Bob Weston.

The price is $80. There's also a $100 set that comes with a T-shirt. Look for the package to come out around the end of May.


Check out the Codeine set and other interesting releases from Numero here.

Record Store Day Releases

Record Store Day is only 26 days away!

The RSD Web site has posted a list of all the goodies that will be released on our favorite day of the year. The selection looks pretty good.

Check out the list here.

I already have my sights on a couple of the items, including Arcade Fire's Sprawl II, an Eddie Vedder 7-inch, Of Monsters and Men's Into the Woods EP, and a Widespread Panic live album.

The list also includes a vinyl release of Sinead O'Connor's latest album, How About I Be Me (And You Be You). I was wondering if we would ever see that album on vinyl.

The Night Tripper Meets A Black Key

Nonesuch is taking pre-orders for the new Dr. John album, Locked Down, which comes out April 3 on CD. The vinyl version is scheduled for release on Record Store Day, April 21.

If you order in advance, you'll receive a nice print of the good doctor with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. Why is Auerbach on the poster? He produced the album.

As a huge Dr. John fan, I'm really looking forward to hearing Locked Down. Auerbach is an inspired choice to helm the effort, and I think the recent popularity of The Black Keys can't help but bring some new attention to Dr. John (Mac Rebbenack), who was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame yet remains shamefully under appreciated.

With his unique blend of rock, New Orleans R&B, and swamp funk, Dr. John is a master mixologist. No one sounds like The Night Tripper. His Gris Gris album is a classic that is as fresh today as it was when it came out in 1968.

It will be interesting to see if Auerbach takes Dr. John to a rougher indie rock and blues sound that has distinguished his own music.

The new album was recorded at Auerbach's Nashville studio, Easy Eye Sound, and, yes, he adds his mighty guitar to the effort.

I can't wait. This is going to be goooood.

For more, visit www.nonesuch.com.

Springsteen, Others Announce Releases

Bruce Springsteen announced this week that he will release Wrecking Ball on March 16.

Featuring 11 new songs, his 17th studio album looks to hit on today’s social and political themes. It is produced by Ron Aniello with Springsteen and executive producer Jon Landau.

Wrecking Ball is one of the most anticipated albums coming out this year, but there are several other first-quarter releases worth noting:


Craig Finn from The Hold Steady releases his solo album, Clear Heart Full Eyes, on Jan. 24.

Kathleen Edwards releases her fourth album, Voyageur, on Jan. 24. It has been a while since we’ve heard from Edwards, but she’s back in a big way with the new album and upcoming tour. Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) co-produced the album.

Leonard Cohen delivers Old Ideas on Jan. 31. It received four-and-a-half stars from Rolling Stone.

Imperial Teen, a favorite with its boy-girl vocals, comes out with Feel The Sound on Jan. 31.

Sleigh Bells’ Reign of Terror hits the streets Feb. 21.

The Decemberists will release We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live Songs 04.11-08.11) on March 13.

The Shins finally return with Port Of Morrow on March 20.