It’s ACDC New Vinyl Thursday at The Vinyl Underground at 7th Heaven. Check out this week’s list of new vinyl arrivals:
AC/DC – Power Up (180 Gram Vinyl, Gatefold LP Jacket)
Alice In Chains – Dirt [180 gram Vinyl]
Alice in Chains – Facelift (150 Gram Vinyl, Download Insert)
Ace Frehley – Origins, Vol. 2
Weekly Review:
Nearly a decade after penning his tell-all autobiography, former Kiss axe man Ace Frehley submits his
second musical memoir. Like 2016’s Origins, Vol. 1, the new Vol. 2 features covers of songs that
influenced Frehley as an up-and-coming musician performed with an impressive list of guests.
Lita Ford shows up to turn “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” into a hair metal anthem. Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander
lends his pipes to Humble Pie’s “30 Days in the Hole.” Elsewhere, Frehley teams up with fellow former
Kiss axeman Bruce Kulick on “Manic Depression” and Marlyn Manson alum John 5 for Cream’s
“Politician” and the Beatles’ “I’m Down.”
Origins, Vol. 2 closes with “She,” a song that goes back to the pre-Kiss days of Uncle Lester. Traditionally
sung by Gene Simmons, Frehley’s version rocks harder, flashes brighter and is just more fun. The other
11 songs here follow suit. Most of the covers are well-known enough in their original versions that
Frehely can’t (and doesn’t try to) add much to their legacies. What he can do – and does – is put these
songs in the context of his career and flash his guitar god pyrotechnics. And have a good time in the
process. -Joel Francis
Art Blakey – Big Beat [180 gram Vinyl]
Art Pepper – Neon Art vol.1
Anton Lavey – Satanic Mass (Picture Disc Vinyl)
Ataraxia – The Unexplained
Blue Oyster Cult – The Symbol Remains
Buck Curran – No Love Is Sorrow
Cranberries – Dreams: The Collection
Cranberries – No Need To Argue (Deluxe Edition, 180 Gram Vinyl, Remastered)
Crumb – Jinx
Crumb – Locket
Charles Mingus – Mingus Ah Um
Weekly Review:
The best word to describe the music of jazz maestro Charles Mingus is uncompromising. Whether
playing bass or piano, or working in a small or large ensemble, Mingus rarely makes any concessions to
the audience.
1959’s Mingus Ah Um remains one of the best-regarded entries in Mingus’ considerable catalog because
it is one of the rare times when Mingus’ vision coalesced into accessible compositions. Album opener
“Better Get It in Your Soul” swings like a Ray Charles song. “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” has become a staple,
covered by Jeff Beck, Joni Mitchell and many, many others. Add a little wah wah guitar and “Boogie Stop
Shuffle” could be the soundtrack to a Blaxploitation movie. The lilting “Jelly Roll” is steeped in the New
Orleans style always makes me smile.
Yet while a newcomer can enjoy Mingus Ah Um, there is plenty to keep longtime jazz fans coming back
again and again. Mingus and his seven-piece band are simply on fire. The intro and outro of “Bird Calls”
screams past at a pace and complexity that most metal bands would have a hard time maintaining
(maybe Decibel will make note of this for their next collection).
The latest edition of Mingus Ah Um is spread across two 45-rpm albums for pristine sound. The only way
this set could get any better would be if they used the unedited version of the performances included on
many CD releases. Don’t let this quibble stand in your way from owning one of the best jazz albums of
all time. You need this. -Joel Francis
Dead Kennedys – Frankenchrist
Freddie Hubbard – Ready for Freddie
Ghost Funk Orchestra – An Ope To Escapism (Blue with Black Swirl Vinyl, Indie Exclusive)
Gorillaz – Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez
Hanoi Rocks – All Those Wasted Years
Idols – Ultra Mono
Iggy Pop – The Idiot
Janet Jackson – The Velvet Rope
John Carpenter & Alan Howarth – Escape From New York (Expanded Original Score) (180 Gram Vinyl, Gatefold LP Jacket)
Joni Mitchell – Early Joni – 1963
Joni Mitchell – Live At Canterbury House – 1967
Keith Richards – Live At The Hollywood Palladium 2LP (180 Gram Vinyl, Gatefold LP Jacket, Colored Vinyl, Red)
Led Zeppelin – Houses of the Holy [180 gram Vinyl, Gatefold LP jacket]
McCoy Tyner – Sahara
McCoy Tyner -Time for Tyner
Miles Davis – Miles in the Sky [180 gram Vinyl]
Modest Mouse – Modest Mouse: Lonesome Crowded West
Mr. and the Mrs. – Sea Side Seven Inch
Mal Waldron – Free At Last
Mal Waldron – Left Alone
Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On (180 Gram Vinyl, Reissue)
Mort Garson – Music from Patch Cord Productions, Didn’t You Hear?, Lucifer – Black Mass
Weekly Review:
You could be forgiven for confusing up one of the new Mort Garson reissues for a 1970s metal album.
The collection Music from Patch Cord Productions features an inverted pentagram and Garson recorded
under the name Lucifer for the album Black Mass.
Behind those covers, however, Garson was an early pioneer of the Moog synthesizer and electronic
music. Back when playing the Moog was closer to experimenting with a complex switchboard than
playing a keyboard, Garson seemingly released a Moog album for every mood.
As advertised, 1971’s Black Mass explores the occult and witchcraft. “The Ride of Aida (Voodoo)”
incorporates African vocals and polyrhythms with a pulsating Moog melody. The haunting “Solomon’s
Ring” sounds like an outtake from the Rosemary’s Baby soundtrack. Clanging percussion on “The
Philosopher’s Stone” makes the track sound like a portal to an underworld smithy.
While many songs on Black Mass sound like they could have accompanied a movie, 1983’s Didn’t You
Hear? Was written for director Skip Sherwood’s film of the same name. The ultra-rare album was only
available at Seattle screenings of the film. Garson’s style didn’t change much over the dozen years
between Black Mass and Didn’t You Hear? “Walk to Grange Hall” is spritely and upbeat, with
shimmering sound effects like someone casting a spell. “Bamboo City” is appropriately spooky, but also
just sounds like a guy messing around with Moog settings and polyrhythms.
Finally, Music from Patch Cord Productions is a new collection of shorter, unreleased pieces. The first
side contains no less than five snippets named “Music for Advertising.” No. 4 would work perfectly as
the accompaniment to a very hip 1980s workplace training video. No. 2 would have been an awesome
soundtrack for Galaga.
Despite sounding dated, Garson’s music is essential listening for fans of electronic and experimental
music. You can hear Garson’s influence on everything from prog rock keyboard wizards Keith Emerson
and Rick Wright, to the Kraut rock movement and Stevie Wonder’s synth- and organ-heavy ‘70s albums.
DJ Shadow even sampled Garson on Endtroducing. Now that these titles are back in print and accessible,
there’s no reason not to dig in. -Joel Francis
Mild High Club – Timeline
Molchat Doma – Monument (Blue Vinyl)
Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Return To Greendale
Weekly Review:
In 2003, Neil Young released the elaborate concept album Greendale. Seventeen years later, Return to
Greendale isn’t a continuation of that story, but rather a live version of the entire Greendale album from
the archives. Young always shines brightest onstage with Crazy Horse and Greendale is no exception.
There’s a narrative thread running through Greendale, but as with most rock concept albums, the story
isn’t always clear. The super deluxe two LP, DVD, Blu-Ray box set containing a film of the stage show –
complete with actors and the band – is your best option if you want to go deep into the story (or stage a
community theater version).
Despite this literary drawback, Greendale doesn’t need the story to work because the songs are so
strong. Young sings about the usual California hippy tropes of environmentalism and the anti-war
movement, but in voicing these opinions through the characters in the Green family, they feel warm and
personal. Greendale’s true gem, “Bandit,” remains just as achingly intimate onstage. The closing “Be the
Rain” – an anthem for Greta Thunberg if ever there was one – could easily feel strident and hokey in
other hands, but feels strangely resonant today.
Truth be told, only the most dedicated fans need both editions of Greendale. Since the studio takes have
been out of print on vinyl for a long time, this seems like an easy call for most Young fans. -Joel Francis
Nels Cline Singers – Share The Wealth
Nina Simone – I Put A Spell On You (180 Gram Vinyl)
Pylon – Chomp
Weekly Review:
Somewhat bigger, yet somehow leaner, in its sound than the band’s debut album,
Chomp was no sophomore slump from the band that R.E.M. considered to be the
best rock and roll band in America. (Although, as it turns out, Chomp would be the
band’s final album until it reunited seven years later.)
A lot of credit should be given to producer Chris Stamey and engineer Mitch
Easter for giving the band clarity because there’s just so much going on here.
Songs like “Crazy” and “Reptiles” do have a somewhat jangly stream-of-
consciousness to them. “Italian Movie Theme” is a fun surf instrumental. “Yo-Yo”
is a sorta bouncy tune that would now feel at home in a retro new wave set. Like
the previous album, the guitars on many of the tracks are percussive and
mechanical. Vanessa Briscoe Hay’s vocals seem to float, and at other times, she
snarls. It’s remarkable to return to Chomp with this new reiussue and hear not only
all the bands that influenced Pylon but also all the bands it would go on to
influence.
Although one listen to Chomp proves that Pylon didn’t sound anything like
R.E.M., it was clear that Pylon shared R.E.M.’s penchant for combining a lot of
interesting influences. The record initially reminded reviewers of post-punk art
music like Talking Heads and Gang of Four, but nearly 40 years later, hints of
Lene Lovich, Cabaret Voltaire, and occasionally even Joy Division can be heard in
the band’s pastiche. It’s not merely dance music, but it’s not entirely psychedelic,
either.
Reissues invite reflection, reassessment, and occasionally invite what-ifs. A band’s
legacy can snowball far bigger than its original impact. Pylon was a post-punk
band from Athens but never saw the chart success of a band like R.E.M. or even
The B-52s, yet the band toured with a lot of big names and was
important/inspirational to its listeners. And for that reason, Chomp is a great record
to (re)visit. -Jonathon Smith
Shock – Electrophonic Funk [Limited Edition, Clear, 180 gram Vinyl]
Slightly Stoopid – Top of the World
Sahib Shihab – Summer Dawn
Sun Ra – The Fireside Chat with Lucifer
Thelonious Monk Quartet – Monk’s Dream (180 Gram Vinyl, Limited Edition)
Thelonious Monk – Brilliant Corners [Deluxe Edition, 180 gram vinyl], Gatefold Lp Jacket]
Talking Heads – Remain in Light
Townes Van Zandt – Best of Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt – For the Sake of the Song
Various Artists – New Orleans Funk 3
Various – Strum & Thrum: The American Jangle Underground 1983-1987
Various – Rock ’n’ Roll High School (Music From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Colored Vinyl)
Various Artists – RSD x Decibel Presents Completely Extreme Volume One
Weekly Review:
Metal magazine Decibel has put together their first compilation. This 10-track collection gathers several
tracks that were previously only available on flexi-discs, an unreleased song from Red Fang and songs
from the new albums by several of death metal’s heaviest hitters.
Napalm Death start the party with the Mach 10 explosion of “Nurse the Hunger” and the album never
relents. On the second side, Plague Years appear to slow the tempo a bit, but it’s really just a trick to
slap you in the head with more beats per minute once the heavy-as-hell intro concludes.
Completely Extreme more than lives up to its name, but an appealing price makes this a must-have for
any metal fan. Even better, Decibel has promised future volumes. -Joel Francis
FLASH SALE!
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Sherman, Gordon, Cat, Matt, Dylan, Doyle, Heather, Dave and Max
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