RECORD STORE DAY: BLACK FRIDAY WISH LIST

Posted in Independent Music, MUSIC



The holiday season, like it or not, is about to descend. And of course the big kick-off is Black Friday, when everyone shakes off the food coma to head out to the stores and forage for gifts. Traditionally Black Friday has been dominated by large corporate retailers promoting mass produced items at super low prices, but this year, Record Store Day is getting in on the Black Friday action, subverting the model and creating pieces of art in the form of limited special edition vinyl,  from some really cool, impressive artists.

You can find a list of all the US titles RIGHT HERE  in a handy wish list format.

**AND HERE IN A PULL-DOWN MENU FORMAT WITH MORE DETAILS ON EACH TITLE

Watch some Record Store Videos HERE

 

THE PASS: LIVE AT PIANOS/FONTANAS

Posted in Independent Music, Live Review, MUSIC, top story

Kentucky is not the first place you would expect to find a dance rock band of the caliber of The Pass, but these Louisvillians aren’t one to let their geographics tie them down. Which is lucky for us, considering we had two opportunities to see them play this past weekend in New York. Selling out venues across the country (twice selling out NY’s Pianos and even the 700 person Headliners in their hometown of Louisville), The Pass are nevertheless one of the more underrated bands of the scene. That was, perhaps, until Friday night when the line to get into Pianos stretched around the corner of the block and dozens of people that we spoke to were unable to get into see the band. For a young band still out to prove itself, there are certainly worse problems to have.

Drawing influences from Justice and LCD Soundsystem (R.I.P.), The Pass create a basement party kind of sweaty dance rock that packs crowds in and keeps even the most rigid hipsters moving. Recently featured on the CMJ and SXSW websites, big things are coming for this band who have found their music in primetime television and several CW and MTV televisions.

The sets at Pianos and Fontanas navigated the usual hits with all of the songs for which videos have been produced (except Criminal) making their appearance, but we were fortunate to be treated to two brand new songs, “It’s Less Dangerous” and “Hologram,” both of which were written in the last few weeks with kinks still getting worked out. The first of the new records had the anthematic quality showing the promise of that truly great record the labels are always looking for and the second displayed a really interesting wah wah kind of sound showing an exploration and development of guitar leads in their sound. Perhaps the tweet from Bank Robber Music said it best when they said “Wow. Suspicions confirmed at Pianos. @ThePassTheBand can’t write a bad song.” While they didn’t have the birdmen look this time, they put on a great show as always. In their feature, CMJ said “The courageous quartet pours passionate lyrics into a whirlwind of synthesizers and upbeat rhythms, all while catering to the perfect dance party environment” and notes that “the Pass’ music draws inspiration from dance parties, relationships, making out, the power of positive thinking and whatever rests in between.” It couldn’t be clearer from this week’s performances how true those statements are.

The Pass are definitely a band to keep up with so that you can be the guy or girl who knew about them before they blow up, and we’ll definitely be at the next performance (if we can get in the door).

Setlist:
Trap of Mirrors
Hologram
It’s Less Dangerous
Girl Don’t Wait
Treatment of the Sun
Crosswalk Stereo
How to Live
Colors
Vultures

The Pass: Live at Pianos

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Cassette Kids: Live at Pianos

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The Pass: Live at Fontanas

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RECORD STORE DAY, SATURDAY APRIL 16 2011

Posted in top story

Record Store Day might be more fun than Christmas.  Whether you manage to get your paws on some limited-edition wax or get a chance to check out an in-store performance or DJ set, hopefully, you get off the couch this year to show/get some love from your local record shop.  Now in its fourth year, with support from Dylan, Elvis Costello, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, The Smiths and tons of other great bands and musicians, Record Store Day is becoming a serious holiday for music nerds, vinyl junkies and anyone interested in their record shop community. In honor of the holiday, over 1400 independent record stores all over the country will commemorate the day by selling limited-edition vinyl LPs, Eps and singles  produced specifically for the day, along with dinosaur disc CD’s and other merchandise by participating artists. There are also live in-store performances to make record browsing even more memorable. While itunes and Amazon may have eclipsed record shop sales, there is something infinitely more exciting about hitting up these cultural hubs, bonding with fellow music lovers and strolling the aisles looking for hidden treasure.

WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS YEAR:

VIEW FULL LIST OF RECORDS HERE

Record Store Day Ambassador 2011:

The Oz Man, Ozzy Osbourne

MUST GRAB ALBUMS:
Lower Dens

“Deer Knives”
b/w “Tangiers” SPP 7″ Vinyl
limited edition
100
copies
Nirvana

Hormoaning
UMe 12″ Vinyl limited edition
4000
copies
Sonic Youth

Whore’s Moaning
UMe 12″ vinyl
limited edition
4000 copies
Of Montreal
The Past Is A Grotesque Animal
12″ (w/ MP3) Limited to 1,000 on
180-gram black vinyl
Architecture in Helsinki
Places Like This
Special Edition LP (w/ MP3)
Limited to 500 on
180-gram pink vinyl
Television

Live At The Old Waldorf (2LP)
Rhino 2LP
white Vinyl
limited edition 3000 copies
Mute Records Compilation

Vorwärts:
Hand-numbered  limited edition
1000 copies orange vinyl
Deerhoof
Friend Opportunity
LP (w/ MP3)
Limited to 1,000 on
180-gram
green vinyl
Bad Brains

“Pay to Cum”
ROIR 7″ vinyl
limited 1500 copies
Bad Brains

God Of Love
Maverick LP + 7″ vinyl
limited 2000 copies
The Rolling Stones

“Brown Sugar”
UMe 7″ Vinyl limited edition
Single 5000 copies
Deerhoof / XIU XIU

Almost Xiu Xiu, Almost Deerhoof
Split 7″ (w/ MP3)
Limited to 2,000 copies  on orange vinyl
Fleet Foxes

Helplessness Blues
b/w Grown Ocean
SPP 12″ vinyl limited edition 3000 copies
13th Floor Elevators

Wait For My Love Snapper Music
7″green vinyl
limited edition 1000 copies
The Cars

“Sad Song”
Concord 7″ vinyl
on
picture sleeve

DON’T SLEEP IN! :

Just be smart, and hit the pavement early. I spent a frustrating portion of last years Day, trying to desperately snag copies of the Beck/Sonic Youth split 7″ and The Rolling Stones 7″  “Plundered My Soul ” single featuring unreleased track from Exile on Main St sessions. Both of which had unfortunately disappeared off all the shelves…

MAP IT OUT:

WHAT WE PICKED UP LAST YEAR:

  • Beach House:  Zebra, with 2 new tracks and 2 alternate from album “Teen Dream” (12″ vinyl)
  • Black Keys: Tighten Up/Howlin’ For You, 12″ vinyl contains two new songs (12″ vinyl), Julian Casablancas: 11th Dimension (WXRP live recording) b/w “Long Island Blues” (previously unreleased) Strokes founder’s exclusive RSD 7″ ( 7″ vinyl)
  • MGMT: “Siberian Breaks”, single-sided disc with 12 minute track and etched side (12″ vinyl)
  • Modest Mouse: The Moon and Antarctica, Tenth Anniversary Vinyl Edition reissue, Double LP 180 Gram vinyl (12″ Vinyl)
  • Monsters of Folk: Monsters of Folk, double LP set on clear blue vinyl (12″ Vinyl)
  • The National: Sad Songs for Dirty lovers, (12″ Vinyl)
  • Phoenix: Fences, Pink vinyl 12″ single with album track plus remix; first vinyl issue (12″ PINK vinyl)
  • Sonic Youth: Hits Are For Squares, 15 tracks selected by other artists with exclusive new SY track “Slow Revolution”; individually numbered, Double LP (12″ Vinyl)
  • Sound Garden: Hunted Down”/”Nothing To Say”, reiusse of translucent vinyl (7″ vinyl)
  • Surfer Blood/Holiday Shores: “Take It Easy (live”)/”Your Motion Says”, Surfer Blood track features Marnie Stern, Holiday Shores track is an Arthur Russell cover (split 7″ vinyl)
  • Them Crooked Vultures: “Mind Eraser, No Chaser”/”Hwy 1″ (Live from Sydney–exclusive track) B side “Vulture Speak” interview with the band, 10″ Picture Disc includes unreleased track “Highway One” each one is numbered (10″ vinyl)
  • Washed out: Life of Leisure, (12″ Vinyl)

BLUR: FOOLS DAY

Posted in discosalt, Downloads, Independent Music, MUSIC

*MP3: Blur – “Fool’s Day”

It’s been seven years since Blur released a single, but they finally broke the dry spell with “Fools Day”. Released last Saturday on only 1,000 copies of 7″ vinyl in the UK exclusively for Record Store Day.  Damon Albarn told The Sun, ”We want independent record stores to continue — they’re an important part of our musical culture.”  Since none of this wax made it across the great pond, the band has posted the track for free on their website. Have a listen above and download your copy here.

RECORD STORE DAY: OTHER MUSIC

Posted in discosalt, Independent Music

Other Music is hosting what has to be one of the absolute best Record Store Day parties in the country with a lineup of the eternally cute The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and the equally as cute The Drums with a DJ set from Scott from The National. While we haven’t heard anything entirely official (i.e. from their website), we’ve got this tweet to rely on and as this was sent out on March 31st, there’s no reason to believe we’re talking about an evil April Fool’s joke.

We caught the Pains of Being Pure at Heart when they performed at the Bowery Ballroom last March as well as the recent performance by The National at The Bell House.  Unfortunately for us, we missed The Drums at Bowery in January and their sets at Mondo last summer and we’ll be damned if we’re missing this one too.  There is more to come for Record Store Day including rumors of a new Crystal Castles 12″ Single.  Last year’s releases were amazing (check out what I picked up).  Unfortunately several releases seem to be UK only at this stage, but we strongly recommend following Record Store Day on Twitter to see what new releases you can expect to find.

WHAT”S VINYL SATURDAY?

Posted in top story

record-store-day_108heads600

If you missed Record Store Day, not to fret.  Them same folks behind Record Store day decided that you are good enough, smart enough and people like you enough that waiting a whole year to bring you more unreleased wax is well, just too long. Thats what she said.  So now, you can mark your calendars for the sequel, that sounds like it will live up to the original: Vinyl Saturday. Kicking off June 20th and re-occurring monthly, bands will be releasing exclusive limited edition material to independent record stores starting with four very limited releases for the day. Heres the run-down:

WILCO : “You Never Know” b/w “Unlikely Japan (an amazing early (2003) version of Impossible Germany, previously unreleased)ONLY 3800 MADE! This is a special 7” single being released 10 days before new album, WILCO (The Album) comes out on 6/30.

GREEN DAY : NUMBERED vinyl version of the “Know Your Enemy” single b/w “Hearts Collide” (previously unreleased) ONLY 5000 MADE!T  The b-side is an unreleased studio track called “Hearts Collide”.

MODEST MOUSE : Second in a series of 7” singles, leading up to the new CD.  This one is “Autumn Beds” b/w “Whale Song” (First single “Satellite Skin” at participating stores now)

PETE YORN /SCARLETT JOHANSSEN : “Relator” single (from their upcoming record BREAK UP) b/w “I Don’t Know What To Do” (Pete Yorn demo) ONLY 3000 MADE!

There is also rumor that THOSE DARLINS will kick off their Blublockers sponsorship with a giveaway on Record Store Day Saturday.

If you want to geteven more in the timbre,  check out Discosalt’s “turntable” and “vinyl” T-shirts, located in our MERCH section.