The Who New Vinyl Thursday

It’s The Who New Vinyl Thursday at The Vinyl Underground at 7th Heaven. Check out this week’s list of new vinyl arrivals:

Art Blakey & Jazz Messengers – Moanin’

Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Adrian Younge & Gary Bartz – Jazz Is Dead, Vol. 6

Weekly Review:

Although Adrian Young and Ali Shaheed Muhammad first worked together scoring the Luke Cage TV
show, the partnership has resulted in several strong entries in their Jazz is Dead series. Their guest for
the sixth installment is saxophonist Gary Bartz.
Bartz debuted in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, performed with Miles Davis on the dense Live-Evil album
and was a key part of McCoy Tyner’s band in the 1970s. Bartz turned 80 around the time of these
sessions, but you’d never know it. The album’s eight songs soar past in less than 30 minutes, but there is
nary a wasted note to be found.
The album opens with a snare roll and harpsicord line that sounds like it could introduce the next Jay-Z
hit. Instead, Bartz soprano sax floats effortlessly over the bed. “Distant Modes” gets funky thanks to a
diving bassline and tight snare pattern. “The Message” finds Bartz on tenor treading near some of the
fusion territory he worked with Davis. “Day by Day” stands out thanks to its soulful backing vocals.
Muhammad and Younge have done a great job introducing jazz – and legendary jazz artists – to a new
audience throughout the Jazz Is Dead series. Volume six is another solid link in a very strong chain. -Joel Francis

Abdullah Ibrahim – The Balance (Indie Exclusive)

Alan Vega – Mutator (Red Colored Vinyl, Indie Exclusive)

Archie Shepp – Looking at Bird

Archie Shepp – Mama Rose

The Black Angels – Live At Levitation (Colored Vinyl, Indie Exclusive)

Black Sabbath – Paranoid (Deluxe Edition, 180 Gram Vinyl, Boxed Set)

The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion

Bob Mould – Distortion: 1989-1995 (8LP Box Set, Boxed Set)

Bob Mould – Silver Age

Bob Mould – Sunshine Rock (Black, Digital Download Card)

Binker Golding – Abstractions Of Reality Past And Incredible Feathers (Indie Exclusive)

Brown Sugar – Brown Sugar Featuring Clydie King [140-Gram Black Vinyl]

Busta Rhymes – Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God

Weekly Review:

Near the end of the seven-minute introduction track, rapper Busta Rhymes describes his first album in
more than a decade as a full-course meal. He’s not kidding. Extinction Level Event 2 encompasses 22
tracks and 77 minutes. With Chris Rock serving as his hype man, Rhymes weaves through wreckage of
humanity’s sins leading to the apocalypse.
Busta is at his best blasting police brutality on “The Purge” and “Freedom?” and boasting on “Czar” and
the mellow “Don’t Slow,” with Q-Tip. Rhymes becomes considerably less progressive as he works
through failed romantic relationships on a handful of cuts.
A ‘90s hip hop icon, Rhymes knows his audience. The production references Nas’ “Who’s World is This”
on the intro and “Outta My Mind” is built on drum break from “Poison.” There’s a Jackson Five sample
on “Look Over Your Shoulder” (with Kendrick Lamar) and “Slow Flow” uses 8-bit video game sounds as
the bed track.
Rhyme’s frenetic delivery made him one of the genre’s best guest artists. His features are guaranteed to
elevate the song’s energy. Over the course of an entire album, it can be overwhelming. Cumulatively,
Extinction Level Event 2 (the first volume dropped back in 1998) becomes numbing and even exhausting
over the last third. Fortunately, on vinyl listeners are able to digest one side at a time and avoid
overconsumption. -Joel Francis

The Beatles – Abbey Road Anniversary

Beastie Boys – Licensed to Ill

Black Pumas – Black Pumas (Bonus Tracks, With Bonus 7″, Deluxe Edition, Colored Vinyl)

Brian Eno – Ambient 1: Music for Airports

Weekly Review:

From the moment the needle drops on the first installment in Brian Eno’s Ambient series it
becomes clear that he is going to take his time. The music plods along without words and
drums. The sparse piano and synthesizer loops seem to accentuate the space between the
notes as much as the notes themselves. It quickly becomes apparent that this music is going
to require some perseverance.
It should be noted that this is not the first ambient album ever. The styles that would later
become known as ambient and new age had existed since the late 1960s, but mostly on tiny
labels and private pressings. It is, however, one of the first to self-identify as ambient, with
Eno proclaiming it was “as ignorable as it is interesting.” Certainly, this is an interesting
pronouncement from an artist who was first known for his flashy attire in the band Roxy
Music.
Music for Airports is an album that takes what would otherwise be just nice, brief musical
passages in songs and stretches them out to nearly ten minutes at a time. Tracks of piano,
synthesizers, and women’s voices are chopped up and looped for nearly 50 minutes.
There are two kinds of tracks on the album. (These are not conventional “songs” in any
way.) The first and third tracks prominently feature sparse motifs played by Robert Wyatt
on acoustic piano. Loops of piano treatments and synthesizers sync up and/or collide in
interesting ways on these tracks. The second and fourth tracks feature synthesizers and
women’s voices, sounding perhaps, at times, like a modern-day Debussy chorus of wordless
vocals.
Music for Airports certainly informed the burgeoning style of new age, as well as what has
become known as modern classical. It’s hard to imagine the work of artists like Nils Frahm,
Ólafur Arnalds, Slow Meadow, Hammock, or even Max Richter without Music for Airports.
The record is not just good because it’s influential, but rather because it’s an invitation to
spacious musical passages and contemplation. -Jonathon Smith

Bikini Kill – Pussy Whipped

Blaze Foley – Live At The Austin Outhouse

Blues Creation – Demon & Eleven Children

Buck Curran – Immortal Light

Buck Curran – Morning Haikus, Afternoon Ragas

Chess Club – You’re Lucky I Like You

Weekly Review:

The Lawrence, Kan., trio Chess Club recalls the glory days of the college town’s turn-of-the-century emo
scene. Echoes of the Get Up Kids, Anniversary and Appleseed Cast imbue the band’s upbeat, bouncy
melodies and heartfelt lyrics.
But You’re Lucky I Like You is more than a throwback to glory days. The dozen songs here have so much
great energy and exuberance that it only takes a few measures to get you dancing. They also seem to
end in the perfect spot to leave you wanting more, forcing a wait through those painful silent moments
between tracks until the next sugar rush kicks in. And if that weren’t enough, the album also has clever
song titles, like “Bet Five, Brett Farve” and “Miller Hard Life.”

Chess Club have been working hard – but safely – throughout the pandemic. In addition to completing
this album, they recorded a video and are currently chomping at the bit to start playing in public again.
Hopefully those days will be here soon. As undeniably joyful as Chess Club is on the turntable, one
suspects they will be even better in person. -Joel Francis

Chris Cornell – No One Sings Like You Anymore

Cromagnon – Cave Rock

Deftones – White Pony 20th Anniversary 2 x Double LP Box Set

Weekly Review:

Thanks to predominately positive reviews of their 2020 studio release, Ohms, the band Deftones are starting to get a second look by many who might have passed them off as 90’s era NuMetal has-beens the likes Limp Bizkit or Korn.
Deftones released their third studio album, White Pony, in June of 2000. It was immediately acclaimed as a masterpiece by fans and critics alike.
Recently the band has celebrated the 20th Anniversary release of White Pony with this very cool 2 x Double LP Box Set of the full album plus 2 discs of remixes. This is a pretty cool package including booklet and limited edition lithograph.
True confessions, I owned a Limp Bizkit CD back in the day but I’ve never really been a NuMetal guy. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying this box though, especially the remixes, perhaps revealing this band has as many connections to Radiohead as they do to Slipknot. -Major Matt

Death Cult – Spiritual Conundrum 7in

Elliott Smith – An Introduction To Elliott Smith (180 Gram Vinyl)

Elmo Hope – New Faces New Sounds

Frank Lowe – Out Loud

Fleetwood Mac – Rumours

Gregory Porter – Gregory Porter “3 Original Albums” (Boxed Set)

Gang of Four – Solid Gold

Gang of Four – Entertainment!

George Russell – Stratus Seekers

Gorillaz – The Now Now

Gorillaz – Humanz

Glass Animals – Zaba

Heat Above’ introduces the album with a church organ, ‘Broken Bells’ features lush string arrangements while ‘Light My Love’ is driven by piano and acoustic guitars are used well to add depth and break up the electric’s growl. Throughout the album, the sense of space and expanse is phenomenal, and on ‘Age of Machine,’ the trick of distant, reverb-soaked guitars moving gradually closer is excellently executed.There are some stand out moments. Guitar riffs in ‘On My Way, Soon’ and ‘Caraval’ ooze with swagger; the wah-driven solo in ‘Broken Bells’ and drum work in ‘Built By Nations’ deserve attention too. Overall a solid album that deserves attention and repeat listens. Grab a copy today the Vinyl Underground…you won’t be sorry! -Albert Schmurr

H.E.R – H.E.R

Hank Mobley – Soul Station

Jlin – Autobiography (Music from Wayne McGregor’s Autobiography) (Colored Vinyl, Red, Indie Exclusive)

Jlin – Black Origami

Johnny Cash – The Essential Johnny Cash

John Prine – Diamonds In The Rough

Justin Townes Earle – Kids In The Street [150 gram Vinyl]

John Lennon – Plastic Ono Band [2 LP]

Kings Of Leon – When You See Yourself

Weekly Review:

Depending on how you feel about Kings Of Leon, I have good or bad news for you.
When listening to, When You See Yourself, the band’s eight studio album you’re probably not going to hear a lot of what you haven’t heard before. Frankly, I’m okay with that.
The dirty guitars and soaring vocals mixed with the locked down solid grooves are in place. Unlike, their Northeastern contemporaries The Strokes who seem to be experimenting every genre from techno to arena rock, KOL seem quite comfortable not straying far from the he sonic bed they’ve made for themselves for at least their past four albums.
And when it comes to lyrics they’ve certainly not let up on any of their signature ache and longing. The chorus to the albums opening track, When You See Yourself, Are You Far Away, repeats, “One more night, one more night. Will you stay here? One more night, one more night. We’ll be safe…”
I’m all for exploring new worlds but sometimes keeping things close to home is what you need from a band. -Major Matt

Knife Crime – Lovely Gary

Weekly Review:

Though the band has been playing out for the past ten years, in one form or another, founding brothers Byron (guitar, lead vocals) and Brad Huhmann (bass, vocals) have played with a small legion of bands, going back to the 1990’s, including Onward Crispin Glover, the Dark Circles, Truck Stop Love, Red Kate, technically, this is the bands debut album. And I’d say it was well worth the wait!
The boys set up camp for several months at local KC studio Massive Sound with producer Paul Malinowski in 2019 and then waited out the worst of the pandemic’s stranglehold, and are now teaming up with local KC label Black Site to produce this very impressive sounding and looking (translucent orange vinyl) record!
I’m all for supporting the home team but I love it when I can say that I’d honestly dig this record whether I knew it was a KC band or not. Malinowski seems to have smoothed the rough edges in all the right places, while at the same time showcasing the bands penchant for melody and classic, driving indie rock hooks.
For me Lovely Gary falls somewhere between The Strokes and early Elvis Costello, which is a good place to be in my book. -Major Matt

Weekly Review #2:

Knife Crime’s debut album had a long and unusual gestation. Sure, there were the usual lineup changes.
At one point the quartet’s equipment was stolen. Then, with the album safely recorded, a global
pandemic broke out, putting the release on hold for more than a year.
Now, finally, that album, Lovely Gary, is here. If you’ve been lucky enough to hear Knife Crime in concert
over the past decade, you know they deliver strong guitar rock with catchy hooks and a smart
songwriting sensibility. Thankfully, Knife Crime captured their invigorating live sound in the grooves of
Lovely Gary.
Comprised of musicians who have played with Truck Stop Love, Red Kate, Monta at Odds, Be/Non and
the Conquerors, among many other local bands, Knife Crime’s idea of classic rock is early Police and
Stiff-era Elvis Costello. This debut is well worth the wait and will provide the ideal music for any
backyard party in preparation for any Knife Crime live events. -Joel Francis

Leon Bridges – Coming Home [180 gram Vinyl]

Loretta Lynn – Still Woman Enough

Lucinda Williams – Runnin’ Down A Dream: A Tribute to Tom Petty

Weekly Review:

Last fall, Lucinda Williams hosted a series of six webcasts, with each performance highlighting a different
artist or style of music. Dubbed Lu’s Jukebox, the first in the series is her tribute to Tom Petty.
The daughter of a celebrated poet and a stellar singer/songwriter in her own write, Williams consistently
unearths and plays with the nuances in Petty’s songs. Williams’ thick Southern drawl on “Rebels” pours
empathy into the main character, transforming the song into a Tennessee Williams play. She captures
the ache and pain on “Room at the Top” more vividly than Petty managed and puts a layer of anger in
“You Don’t Know How It Feels” missing from the original.
The musicians backing Williams are almost worth the price of admission on their own. By moving the
signature riff on “Runnin’ Down a Dream” to the bass guitar, they turn Petty’s hard-charging single into a
swampier number without sacrificing any of its momentum. Even when the songs aren’t rearranged,
their playing is always sympathetic to Williams’ vocals, perfectly framing a song’s emotions while leaving
plenty of space for the listener to fill in with his or her own experiences.
By highlighting album tracks as well as singles, Williams’ stroll through the Petty catalog is a delight for
not only Petty or Williams fans, but anyone who loves solid songwriting and passionate performances. -Joel Francis

Last Exit – Iron Path

Macy Gray – Stripped

The Meters – Meters

Outkast – Stankonia

Queens of the Stone Age – Like Clockwork

Radical Empathy Trio – Reality and Other Imaginary Places

Radiohead – Ok Computer (180 Gram Vinyl)

Sinead O’Connor – Lion & the Cobra

Sonic Youth – Washing Machine

Spiritualized – Lazer Guided Melodies

Steve Cropper – Fire It Up

Sun Ra – Astro Black

Thee Oh Sees – An Odd Entrances

Thee Oh Sees – Live In San Francisco

Todd Snider – First Agnostic Church Of Hope And Wonder

Various – Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Weekly Review:

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the cult classic romance/comedy/action flick Scott Pilgrim vs. the
World, the original soundtrack got a new reissue with bonus tracks and Nigel Godrich’s score received
its vinyl debut.
The soundtrack is brimming with fun, energetic songs that bounce of the speakers and gleefully ricochet
around the room. In the movie, Pilgrim must defeat his love Ramona’s exes in several battles of the
band to win her heart. Beck wrote several new songs for Pilgrim’s half of the equation. Performed by
actor Michael Cera (and reprised as Beck’s demos as bonus tracks), these tracks are about more mood
than songcraft, but crackle with low-fi spirit.
Songs from Metric, Frank Black, T. Rex, Broken Social Scene, Black Lips and the Rolling Stones round out
the rest of the collection. Strung together, the songs a mirror the ebbs and flows of young love, with the
euphoria of “Scott Pilgrim,” performed by Plumtree, buttressed by the Beachwood Sparks’ tender cover
of Sade’s “By Your Side.”
Nigel Godrich’s film score can be easily overlooked among so much ear candy. Best known as
Radiohead’s producer, Godrich’s pieces don’t function as well away from the film but serve as pleasant
background music. The score frequently zooms back to the foreground with snippets of dialogue and
music from the band fights (including more contributions from Beck). -Joel Francis

Various Artists – Wilcovered

Van Halen – 1984

The Who – The Who Sell Out (2LP Deluxe Vinyl Reissue Edition)

Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud

Yma Sumac – Recital

FLASH SALE!

50% OFF Deftones – White Pony (All Versions) Thursday, April 22nd ONLY!

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Here’s where we talk about the virus. We are all freaked out. We are all nervous and anxious. We are OPEN. If you want to come shop in person put on your mask and we will say hello, give you a virtual high five- a virtual hug if we know you that well- and we will keep our distance. We love all of our customers and are glad to keep this little bit of normalcy in these crazy times. With that being said, we will also offer various other ways to get your vinyl fix. We have always shipped music and we will continue to do so. We also offer curbside pick up. Call us, pay, call us when you are outside and we will deliver your freshly sanitized purchase to your car.

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Enjoy the music and we will see you soon. Your loving Vinyl Underground at 7th Heaven staff:

Sherman, Gordon, Cat, Matt, Dylan, Doyle, Heather, Dave and Max

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