New CDs

Brood Or Change Price: $12.00 Artist: 50 Cent Haircut Description: What best describes Jay Souza and 50 Cent Haircut? Think a rootsier Only Ones! Souza’s Peter Perrett-like vocals coupled with the band’s rockin’ approach add up to one terrific effort of “classic and richly toned slide guitars, whisky-soaked vocals and timeless melodies….like Hank Williams slapping The Beatles on the back over a few beers…Syd Barrett is the bartender, Johnny Cash is working the door, and XTC is on the jukebox” "Alt Honky-Tonk Garage Brit Pop." Not too far off the mark, though probably favoring the Brit Pop edge, heavy with warm, rootsy undercurrents… has a fluid, indefinable sound where all of these elements mix. "The album is like a cold beer on a hot day when you don't want to do anything, but still want to feel like more than a moldy lump on a lawn chair. 'Fiction' is a driving, pulsating sexy vision. 'Geronimo' makes you want to take your baby's hand and dance as hard as the guitar. The whole album is dripping with sweat and whiskey. it's perfect." - Sarah "The record's a bit like a scavenger hunt - they beg, borrow and steal from the masters and the obscure with the product being something completely original yet familiar. Describing themselves as 'a great American sound with that deep imported taste', if Ray Davies was in a rockabilly or Americana band it would sound a bit like this. Great harmonies, great interplay between jangle guitar and crisp leads, big thumping bass, skins pounded to within a inch of their lives, heavy and sometimes humourous lyrical content. They more than hold their own playing in the same ballpark as the likes of Ryan Adams, Wilco, the Jayhawks, the Cure (sans cheesy keys), the Kinks, John Hiatt, Elvis Costello and Graham Parker." - W1P Plus, how can you go wrong with a song like “Bring Me The Head (Of A Backstreet Boy)”? EXCELLENT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

The Anatomy Of An Apricot Price: $10.00 Artist: 8X8 Description: 8X8 is the transatlantic collaboration between Lane Steinberg (NYC - he of Tan Sleeve, Cracked Latin, The Wind) and Alex Khodchenko (Kiev, Ukraine). The entire album was recorded via file sharing. The principals have never met, nor even spoken. Their relationship, which began as a series of emails, blossomed over several years into a working musical partnership that transcends the lack of a common language and physical proximity. "A rare and precious jewel of an album! Entirely done via the internet, yet it has an organic wholeness that you would swear could not be possible under those circumstances.Although it has a sound that one might consider 'Brit Pop' or psychedelic pop, and fits easily in a playlist featuring The Dukes Of Stratosphear, the Kinks, early Pink Floyd, Love, late Beach Boys, and the like, it remains completely original, so well have the influences been digested. Every song is a gem. It's a beautiful album, and stands on its own as a work with it's own integrity, rather than a mere imitation. I can't recommend this album more highly." - M. B. Dill "Bringing forth influences from Todd Rundgren, The Zombies, The Beach Boys and Procol Harum, it requires multiple listens – but it really sticks. Opening with 'Fantastic Sun' it’s the most immediate and catchy track with a rich layered musical palette. The vocal harmonies are transcendental here and continue on 'Layabout' and 'Time And Tender Love.' Even Colin Blunstone would be impressed by the swirling 'Live in Dreamland.' This isn’t simply music you listen to – you let it wash over you like lush warm breeze. Good headphones are a must for this material. Many other highlights include the epic melodies of 'Snowflake In The Rain' and 'Sweetness In Your Life.' Credit also must go to Gregory White on a variety of keys (Hammond organ, mellotron, etc.), Rebecca Ona (backing vocals) and Rick R. (drums). Easily makes my top ten list for 2012, and will remain on my ipod for a long, long time." - Powerpopaholic.com GREAT!!!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Azalea's Room Price: $12.00 Artist: 8X8 Description: 8X8 is the unique and mystical collaboration between Lane Steinberg (New York, US) and Alex Khodchenko (Kiev, UKR).  The two met in the Myspace days and have since developed an intuitive working relationship despite the fact that they have neither met nor ever spoken. At first listen, one could file under "Psychedelic Popular", but the strength of the compositions and performances are the real tribute to their influences.  "Azalea's Room", their second collection, has been two years in the making. The title track typifies the kinetic 8X8 energy with its Arabic sounding melody set to a jungle groove with lyrics describing a seaside refuge belonging to a woman who makes a fantastic cup of tea.  What follows are songs about star-crossed werewolves, cold war-era spies, a retiring obstetrician, a person trying to erase their identity from the internet...the usual rock n' roll subject matter.  It closes with a Hammond-fueled cover of "Tears of Rage", by Bob Dylan and Richard Manuel. The idea to do the song was batted around one evening with R. Stevie Moore, who plays bass on the track.  It's a bittersweet ending to an album of impressionistic nostalgia via loping grooves and enchanting melodies. "Steinberg and Khodchenko have been around long enough to know that you can't stand still and expect to be taken seriously, and here show some serious growth in a number of areas without abandoning the distinctive baroque pop sensibilities that sugarcoated our earlugs first time around.  So while delicate pop miniatures like 'Ice Wings', the Beatlesque ballad 'Code Name Jacqueline' and vintage harpsichord pop fare like 'Dr Winkler's Hands' could make a fine home for themselves on (their debut) 'Anatomy of an Apricot' there's also plenty of room for the groovy eastern rock stylings of the title track and perhaps best of all, the moody bedsit melodrama of 'Laws of Attraction'. I'm not naive enough to assume that stardom beckons of course, but there are certainly a few more attentive sets of ears that are going to be well pleased to make the acquaintance of this particularly fine album." - TheActiveListener.com EXCELLENT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Inflorescence Price: $12.00 Artist: 8X8 Description: Three years in the making, “Inflorescence”, is the third 8X8 album from the transatlantic collaboration between Lane Steinberg (NYC, US) and Alex Khodchenko (Kiev, Ukraine). The principals have never met, nor even spoken. They collaborate via file sharing in a close musical partnership that transcends the lack of a common language and physical proximity. The music, for the most part, can be described as melodic psychedelia. “They have done a magnificent job of condensing their various 60’s and 70‘s influences, who appear to range from Procol Harum to The Left Banke, into a euphoric baroque-infused sound that’s still distinctively their own. From start to finish it’s like sitting in a comfy parallel universe where the songs are instantly recognizable hits. The fact that they aren’t, and are never likely to be, doesn’t prevent this duo from consistently producing magnificent psych-tinged pop of the highest order!” – Shindig! Magazine Let’s just hope we don’t have to wait another three years for their next one! GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

All Broken Up Price: $9.00 Artist: Aaron Fox Description: Aaron was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. After graduating high school, he escaped from the Chicago suburbs and attended Rock School (Berklee College of Music) in Boston. In his final year in Boston, he recorded this 2003 debut effort (sans T ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Late Too Soon Price: $13.00 Artist: Aaron Fox & the Reliables Description: Here's some very cool, jangly, garage pop rock (with some very cool Replacement-like, chord-sequenced tunes) outta the Windy City! Aaron Fox & the Reliables started as a collaboration between Aaron Fox, guitarist/singer/songwriter, and guitarist Mike Bu ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

In Transit Price: $14.00 Artist: Aaron Fox and the Reliables Description: In Transit” is a bold step forward from 2010’s “Late Too Soon”, evident in the maturity of the songwriting, arrangements, and production. It is often said the first album from a band is the most potent and impactful, primarily due to the overall excitement and energy that goes into making it as a group. That theory does not apply here. In fact, the songs on “In Transit” come from a personal and vulnerable space. “I will wait for you as long as time allows” implies a sweetness and quiet desperation on the beautiful “Coming In.” On the soul-searching track “No One Knows Me,” Aaron sings “I can’t remember where I was but I want to thank you for giving me your direction home.” And then there’s the sincerity and insecurity of the phrase “as long as you’re around I’m not pretending” from “Neverending.” New musical collaborators have been added to in addition to the talented original members, Bob Vodick, Mike Burns and Rick Zygowicz who worked tirelessly to up their game for this album, dedicating many hours to its recording and final mixing. The new collaborators - Josh Kaler (guitar,keyboards, percussion, backing vocals), John Christy (Hammond B3 organ), and Brian Leach (piano) – helped realize the vision of Aaron’s songwriting. Kaler adds cinematic flavors to “Bright Side of the Dark”, infectious slide guitar and keyboard parts on the catchy “Desert Heart”, and moody pedal steel drones to “Coming In.” John’s powerful B3 organ elevates the rocker “No One Knows Me”. Brian’s melodic piano beautifully colors the jangly “Better Days” and anthemic album closer “Waiting.” “Legend has it that you replace all your body cells every 7 years, so perhaps Aaron Fox needs a full reset before releasing new music as his previous 2 albums came out in 2003 and 2010. Whatever the reason, it's good to have this version of Fox and friends back with ‘In Transit’. The jangly ‘Unpromised Land’ recalls the likes of Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket, while "Neverending" would have given The Wallflowers a run for their chart spot in 1996. ‘No One Knows Me’ effectively rocks and ‘Better Days’ channels the Gary Louris-led incarnation of The Jayhawks. A bright collection of Midwestern-influenced power pop, you should be listening to this when you're ‘In Transit’ (or even at home).” – Absolutepowerpop.com EXCELLENT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Happy Endings Price: $13.00 Artist: Abandon Ship Description: LIMITED STOCK!! Born into a musical family, the five Lester brothers grew up playing instruments and singing harmony with their parents. In 2004, Nathan, Damian, and Gabriel Lester delivered a confident follow-up to their promising debut! Retaining their youthful vocal harmonies while delivering a more up-tempo effort than their debut, it’s chock full of layered guitars – not unlike early Brendan Benson and Dan Jones’ “One Man Submarine” (must be the water in Eugene, OR) which is still a fave around here! Posies-like at times too! "A complete blind listen...which is not at all unusual for me. There is something very exciting about hearing an album having never heard a single song...then being completely blown away by it. Which is what happened with this one. The Brendan Benson-like melodies, harmonies and songwriting stays strong and the guitar work is stunning! These siblings possess loads of talent, and it shows all over this album. This one is chock full of great tunes. Listen to it on a rainy day, a sunny day, in the morning or at night Abandon Ship create melodies and pop hooks that manage to suck the listener in early. Catchy, stick to ya kinds of tunes. Anyone who likes pop songs with lots of hooks, catchy melodies, and thoughtful chord changes, should buy this album right away and never stop enjoying it immensely." - Count Keef A grower! GREAT!!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Tales Of Contempt Price: $13.00 Artist: Acid Description: Their sophomore effort features a whole new batch of catchy and blistering tracks with twisted lyrics from the genius mind of lead singer/guitarist Bobby Kennedy. Songs such as the scathingly powerful “Rock & Roll Genocide” to the Manchester-groovy “Outta Sight” to the Beatles meets Ramones hybrid of “Crushing My Heart”, showcase both the breadth and the depth of these rockers. “There was a time - it seems like the distant past now - when rock music was a little bit more in your face. Not in your face like fast or loud or noisy, but in your face like rebellious and uncomfortable and not necessarily ‘nice.’ There are pockets of that now still, but it's become rare to find a 3-minute pop song that captures that grit and well – contempt - of rock music from another time. Not to worry, as Acid serve up plenty of contempt and sneering sarcasm in the form of infectious, bite-sized chunks of well-crafted rock music. Kennedy, has a sharp wit that he turns both inward and outward throughout the record. Things start out happy on the somewhere between punk and post-punk ‘Sea Hag.’ Kennedy's baby, though, just can't seem to live up to the standard set by his own self-perceived greatness; so he's gotta cut her loose. Over jagged guitars and a drum beat reminiscent of The Stone Roses, Kennedy sings on ‘Outta Sight’ about a relationship that's gone south. It drips with sarcasm, ‘Rock & Roll Genocide’ makes some pretty astute observations about the lack of originality in rock music with the band even calling themselves out. Acid have so much contempt for rock music that they can't even stand themselves. They reveal some of their influences with an excellent cover of Love and Rockets' ‘Motorcycle.’ It rocks a little harder, and the production is a little cleaner, than the original which makes the song slot in nicely with the originals. The hard-driving ‘Dance’" calls out the ‘keep at least 10 feet away from the stage, and stand with your hands in your pockets or sit on the floor’ culture that permeates most modern rock shows. ‘Solitaire’ and ‘Crushing My Heart’ both begin with great intro hooks and both deal with the futility of love. The record takes a lot of what used to be great about rock music - singable songs with lots of musical edge, cutting lyrics that question a lot of the things in life that we just accept and take for granted - and combines it in a tight 10-song package that's one of the best, old-school rock records you'll hear in a while. Kennedy is a virtuoso of the 3-minute rock and roll song, and the rest of the band give the songs all the serrated edges they need to bring them to life.” –CoolDadMusic.com EXCELLENT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Star Price: $15.00 Artist: Acme Rock Group Description: Acme Rock Group was formed in 1996 by guitarist-singer-songwriter-producer Erik Rex. Their 2001 debut combines elements of influential British guitar-based rock and roll bands like the Beatles, the Kinks, and the Who. "Indie pop fans have been heaping a large amount of justifiable praise on Rick Corcoran for his gem of a Beatles-inspired album, The Orgone Box. Save some of that same applause for 'Star'. Rex and his musical pals have released a dandy of a Beatlesque album that excels with their original power pop and psychedelic tunes. The disc opens strongly with three straight tracks that smack of 'Sgt. Pepper'’s era songs – the last of which, 'Floating,' even has a bit of a David Bowie sound to it. The slower tracks are reminiscent of 'Rubber Soul'. In fact, this is one of those rare discs where the songs blend seamlessly together, and has just helped pseudo-60s psych/pop take a big step forward!" - Amplifier Magazine Very reminiscent of Teenage Fan Club and Superstar. Features kool covers of Beatles/Peter & Gordon’s “World Without Love” and The Who’s “Odorono”. GREAT!!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none