The Five Blind Boys of Alabama
Down in New Orleans
Time Life
Formed in 1939, The Blind Boys of Alabama have had an amazing seven decade career, releasing their own brand of gospel on every possible medium the history of recording has to offer, from 78s and LPs to eight track tapes, cassettes and CDs. On their newest album, the Chris Goldsmith-produced Down in New Orleans, the Blind Boys take a Crescent City route, working with veteran New Orleans musicians like the legendary Allen Toussaint and the result, thanks in part to the earthy and raspy lead vocals of founding member Jimmy Carter, has a joyous, lightly funky feel that reaches back into the long history of traditional southern gospel even as it updates that tradition with the trademark push and pull rhythms of classic New Orleans R&B.
Black Gospel, Traditional Gospel, Southern Gospel, Contemporary Gospel
The Helio Sequence
Keep Your Eyes Ahead
Sub Pop
The Helio Sequence return for their second Sub Pop offering, mixing bits of modern-day shoegaze with the occasional folk ballad. The duo's electronic tendencies have been pushed to the back burner, making way for a new obsession with Bob Dylan and an emphasis on tight, pop-schooled songcraft.
Indie Rock, Dream Pop, Neo-Psychedelia
Joe Jackson
Rain
Rykodisc
Joe Jackson reunited with his original backing band for 2003's Volume 4. For this week's follow-up Rain, he returns with all but guitarist Gary Sanford, giving Rain a familiar feel, but it's a bit smoother and more refined than Volume 4, and it's a far cry from the scrappy new wave-inspired rock of Look Sharp! and I'm the Man, but it does show that Jackson learned something from his experience with Volume 4 -- he's better with clever pop songs than trying to write orchestral pieces, and Rain balances sophistication and edgy smarts with a winning mixture of grace and confidence.
Pop/Rock
Shelby Lynne
Just a Little Lovin'
Lost Highway
Shelby Lynne's been a chamelon since the beginning of the decade, and on Just A Little Lovin' she pays an homage to the music of Dusty Springfield. It's a set of tunes recorded and bascially trademarked by the late British singer, from albums like Dusty In Memphis, the Look Of Love, and others. But Lynne doesn’t merely try to copy her inspiration; instead she gets inside these songs--with help from producer Phil Ramone--and makes them her own.
Vocal Pop, Pop, Adult Contemporary
The Mars Volta
The Bedlam in Goliath
Universal
The Bedlam in Goliath should have been the album where the Mars Volta either wore their formula down to nothing or abruptly turned in a different direction. Instead, the band created an album that nearly perfects what they've been working toward.
Post-Hardcore, Punk Metal, Progressive Metal, Neo-Psychedelia, Thrash
Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend
XL
Internet darlings Vampire Weekend took a year and a half to perfect what their songs and sound, which they call "Upper West Side Soweto" -- a vibrant mix of indie-, chamber- and Afro-pop. In blog years, that might make them ancient, but their self-titled debut should please indie fans who enjoy music as much as trend-chasing. Vampire Weekend is a concise, vivid album, full of memorable words and melodies.
Indie Rock
John Anderson
All the People Are Talkin'
Collectors' Choice Music
Outlaw Country, Neo-Traditionalist Country, New Traditionalist, Honky Tonk, Country-Pop
John Anderson
Eye of the Hurricane
Collectors' Choice Music
Neo-Traditionalist Country, New Traditionalist, Honky Tonk
Beck
Odelay [Deluxe Edition]
Geffen
Indie Rock, Lo-Fi, Club/Dance, Alternative Pop/Rock, Dance-Rock
Andrea Bocelli
Vivere: Live in Tuscany [CD + DVD]
Decca
Music for Tenor & Orchestra
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
Wilding in the West
Spunk
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Rock, Lo-Fi
Sarah Brightman
Symphony
Manhattan
Show Tunes, Musicals, Adult Contemporary
Bullet for My Valentine
Scream Aim Fire
Jive/Zomba
Punk Metal, Screamo, Alternative Metal
Popa Chubby
Deliveries After Dark
Blind Pig
Blues-Rock, Modern Electric Blues, Contemporary Blues
Billy Ray Cyrus
Love Songs
Mercury Nashville
Contemporary Country, Country-Pop
Dailey and Vincent
Dailey and Vincent
Rounder
Bluegrass-Gospel, Contemporary Bluegrass, Country-Folk
Dimitri from Paris & DJ Muro
Super Disco Friends
Headphone Heroes
Club/Dance, Disco, Funk, Old-School Rap
Dispatch
Dispatch Zimbabwe: Live at Madison Square Garden [CD/DVD]
Republic
Jam Bands, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
The Doors
The Future Starts Here: The Essential Doors
Elektra/Rhino
Album Rock, Psychedelic, Hard Rock, Pop/Rock, Rock & Roll, Proto-Punk
Donna Jean & the Tricksters
Donna Jean & the Tricksters
Dig
Heartland Rock, Jam Bands, American Trad Rock, Folk-Rock, Psychedelic, Country-Rock, Rock & Roll
Human Bell
Human Bell
Thrill Jockey
Experimental Rock, New Acoustic
Ida
Lovers Prayers
Polyvinyl
Sadcore, Indie Pop, Dream Pop
Al Jarreau
Love Songs
Rhino
Adult Contemporary, Vocal Jazz, Contemporary R&B, Smooth Jazz, Crossover Jazz
Paavo Järvi
Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kijé Suite; Symphony No. 5 [Hybrid SACD]
Telarc
Modern Orchestral Music
Jeffrey Lewis
12 Crass Songs
Rough Trade
Alternative Folk, Anti-Folk, Political Folk
Louis XIV
Slick Dogs and Ponies
Atlantic
Indie Rock, Neo-Glam, Garage Punk
Idina Menzel
I Stand
Warner Bros.
Adult Alternative
Pat Metheny Trio
Day Trip
Nonesuch
Post-Bop, Contemporary Jazz, Folk-Jazz
Charles Mingus
The Very Best of Charles Mingus [Rhino]
Rhino
Early Creative, Hard Bop
Van Morrison
Avalon Sunset [Expanded]
Polydor
Album Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Soft Rock, Rock & Roll
Van Morrison
Back on Top [Expanded]
Polydor
Album Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Soft Rock, Rock & Roll
Van Morrison
It's Too Late to Stop Now [Expanded]
Polydor
Album Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Soft Rock, Rock & Roll
Van Morrison
Tupelo Honey [Expanded]
Polydor
Album Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Soft Rock, Rock & Roll
Van Morrison
Wavelength [Expanded]
Polydor
Album Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Soft Rock, Rock & Roll
Willie Nelson
Moment of Forever
Lost Highway
Contemporary Country, Traditional Country
David "Fathead" Newman
Diamondhead
Highnote
Jazz Blues, Hard Bop, Soul-Jazz
Thao
We Brave Bee Stings and All
Kill Rock Stars
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Pop
Obituary
The Best of Obituary
Roadrunner
Heavy Metal, Death Metal/Black Metal
Kim Sjøgren
Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole
OUR Recordings
Post-Romantic Music for Violin & Orchestra
Leonard Slatkin
Leroy Anderson: Orchestral Music, Vol. 1
Naxos
Modern Orchestral Music
Tabia Zimmermann
Sally Beamish: The Seafarer
Bis
Contemporary Orchestral Music
Original Score
27 Dresses [Original Score]
Varese Sarabande
Original Score
Original Soundtrack
Be Kind Rewind
Lakeshore
Original Score, Soundtracks
Lee "Scratch" Perry
Chicken Scratch
Heartbeat
Dub
Protest the Hero
Fortress
Vagrant
Post-Hardcore, Punk Metal, Progressive Metal, Emo
Sun Ra & His Arkestra
Some Blues But Not the Kind That's Blue
Atavistic
Standards, Post-Bop
Radar Bros.
Auditorium
Merge
Slowcore, Indie Rock
Ed Sanders
Beer Cans on the Moon
Collectors' Choice Music
Proto-Punk, Folk-Rock, Psychedelic, Rock & Roll, Comedy Rock
Ed Sanders
Sanders' Truckstop
Collectors' Choice Music
Proto-Punk, Folk-Rock, Psychedelic, Rock & Roll, Comedy Rock
Various Artists
Grammy Nominees 2008
Hip-O
Pop/Rock, Pop, Pop Idol, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Contemporary Jazz, Hard Rock, Contemporary Country, Contemporary R&B, Urban, Dance-Pop
Various Artists
Pulse Platinum
Razor & Tie
Club/Dance, House, Euro-Dance, Euro-Pop
Various Artists
Smithsonian Folkways: Classic African American Gospel
Smithsonian Folkways
Field Recordings, Spirituals, Traditional Gospel, Gospel Choir, Southern Gospel, Black Gospel
Christopher Walla
Field Manual
Barsuk
Indie Pop, Indie Rock
Kate Walsh
Tim's House
Blueberry Pie
Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Folk
Webb Wilder
Born to Be Wilder
Blind Pig
Roots Rock, Blues-Rock
Larry Willis
The Offering
Highnote
Post-Bop, Modern Creative
Xiu Xiu
Women as Lovers
Kill Rock Stars
Experimental Rock, Indie Rock, Post-Rock/Experimental
Yoav
Charmed & Strange
Verve Forecast
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
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Xiu Xiu "Women as Lovers" and Thao "We Brave Bee Stings and All" are out today:
buyolympia.com: Kill Rock Stars
All pre-orders have shipped and we'd like to thank you for your
patience. It's been a madhouse around here for the past few weeks. I
wish I could take a photo of what it looks like in here, ha ha ha.
Maybe it's best you can't see.If you haven't gotten your order yet,
rest assured it's on it's way. It really means a lot to us that you
order direct. It's a great way to support independent music and
artists, so you should feel good about your choice to do that.
I am happy to announce that EVERYONE who pre-ordered the Xiu Xiu
Women as Lovers CD was sent the free DVD, as Touch and Go were able
to send us additional copies at the last minute.
We actually have a few of the special edition copies left. Click here
and order now, before we run out:
KRS484dvd Xiu Xiu - Women As Lovers -- Special Edition w/
What's Your Problem DVD $12
buyolympia.com: Kill Rock Stars: Xiu Xiu - Women As Lovers -- Special Edition w/ What's Your Problem DVD
We also have Xiu Xiu buttons available for free with selected orders.
They come in three different styles, so look for those to start
showing up in random packages.
For more information on these releases, please check our website:
killrockstars killrockstars
This issue of the newsletter features an exclusive interview with
Thao and an announcement about Xiu Xiu's new website, so read on for
that.
That's about it around here. Back to packing orders.
Love,
Tobi Vail,
KRS Mail Order Freak Internationale
Linear Mode
