Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Polaris Long List
The 2011 Polaris Music Prize Long List:
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Austra - Feel It Break
Black Mountain - Wilderness Heart
Braids - Native Speaker
Buck 65 - 20 Odd Years
Louise Burns - Mellow Drama
D-Sisive - Jonestown 2: Jimmy Go Bye Bye
The Dears - Degeneration Street
Destroyer - Kaputt
Diamond Rings - Special Affections
Dirty Beaches - Badlands
Luke Doucet and The White Falcon - Steel City Trawler
Eternia & MoSS - At Last
Galaxie - Tigre et Diesel
Jenn Grant - Honeymoon Punch
Tim Hecker - Ravedeath, 1972
Hey Rosetta! - Seeds
Hooded Fang - Album
Imaginary Cities - Temporary Resident
Land Of Talk - Cloak and Cipher
Little Scream - The Golden Record
The Luyas - Too Beautiful To Work
Malajube - La Caverne
Miracle Fortress - Was I The Wave?
One Hundred Dollars - Songs Of Man
Doug Paisley - Constant Companion
PS I Love You - Meet Me At The Muster Station
Daniel Romano - Sleep Beneath the Willow
The Rural Alberta Advantage - Departing
Ron Sexsmith - Long Player Late Bloomer
Shotgun Jimmie - Transistor Sister
Sloan - The Double Cross
Frederick Squire - March 12
Stars - The Five Ghosts
Colin Stetson - New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges
Timber Timbre - Creep On Creepin' On
The Weeknd - House Of Balloons
Women - Public Strain
Neil Young - Le Noise
Young Galaxy - Shapeshifting
Friday, June 17, 2011
Backstreet Recommends: Barn Owl
Barn Owl is out of San Francisco centered around the duo of guitarists Evan Caminiti and Jon Porras (also of Elm). They've been recording for about five years, beginning with a CD-R release in 2007 on the UK label Foxglove. Their instrumental work recalls the creeping unease and isolation of bands like Sunn O))) and Earth. but with a slightly lighter touch and more briefer duration. Essentially it's great mood music to enjoy walks in the desert or for checking out that sound you heard out in the woodshed. You know, the one with the burnt out lightbulb you've been meaning to replace for a while now.
Currently we have three of their releases in stock:
The Conjurer (Root Strata, 2009) CD $18.98
Ancestral Star (Thrill Jockey, 2010) CD $17.98 Vinyl $19.98
Their next album is also on Thrill Jockey, due in September of 2011 and titled Lost in the Glare. It will be preceded by the e.p. Shadowland, also on Thrill Jockey.
Barn Owl - Light from the Mesa from Thrill Jockey Records on Vimeo.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
This week's second chances
Twenty titles in our Used CD New Arrivals that should be in your collection. (If they aren't already).
- !!! - S/T
- Acorn - Glory Hope Mountain
- Arcade Fire - Funeral
- Beck - Sea Change
- Broken Social Scene - You Forgot it in People
- Deadmau5 - For Lack of a Better Name
- Ani DiFranco - Dialate
- Dave Gahan - Hourglass
- P.J. Harvey - Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
- Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights
- Islands - Arm's Way
- Muzsikas - Blues for Transyvania
- My Morning Jacket - Okonokos
- National - Boxer
- Pearl Jam - Lost Dogs
- Radiohead - Com.Lag
- Sheep Dogs - Big Stand
- Smiths - The Queen is Dead
- Tom Fun Orchestra - You Will Land With a Thud
- Stevie Wonder - Talking Book
Thursday, June 09, 2011
14 from the front of 2011
Hard to believe the year is approaching it's midway mark already. It seemed like time to cough up a short list of recommendations of the high points so far.
13 & God - Own Your Ghost
---Members of Themselves and The Notwist reconvene half a decade after their self-titled debut to confront mortality over a hip-hop/electro/acoustic beat that's as captivating as it is edgy and unsetlling.
James Blake - S/T
---UK dubstep producer takes a crack at minimalist RnB. Like the irradiated skeleton of TV on the Radio.
Bill Callahan - Apocalypse
---third release under his given name for the former Smog leader. It's another moody and cryptic meditation on America, nature, history and, of course, horses.
Destroyer - Kaputt
---a front runner for this year's Polaris, Destroyer steps up the production and explores an 80s-tinged sound that's long on atmosphere and short on retro-embarrassment. Bejar is at his lyrical best too.
The Dodos - No Color
---after a fairly lackluster second album this San Francisco outfit comes out hammering all the cylinders with a hyperspeed collection of pop featuring great harmony backup from Neko Case.
Little Scream - The Golden Record
---Laurel Sprengelmeyer is an Iowa-born transplant to Montreal. After adding her input to that scene's luminary outfits (Bell Orchestre, Arcade Fire, Stars) they return favour by backing her on this debut that rivals their best.
Low - C'Mon
---after experimenting with heavy guitars and electronics this long-running Minnesotan couple has gotten back to basics with an album of slow burning majesty that holds up next to their early best.
J. Mascis - Several Shades of Why
---in the midst of a Dinosaur Jr. rebirth including a Bug tour this summer, J. took a little time to make a solo acoustic album with guestwork from Kurt Vile, Ben Bridwell and others that should please both longtime fans and those looking for a quieter, deeper time.
Thurston Moore - Destroyed Thoughts
---like his buddy Mascis, Sonic Youth's leader seems an unlikely candidate for an acoustic + strings solo album (produced by Beck no less), but it works... and works well. Like a slightly more nervous Nick Drake masterpiece.
Okkervil River - I Am Very Far
---after the high water mark of Black Sheep Boy Okkervil seemed to be somewhat on autopilot. Nice to see this rager pull them back on track. It's the precise storytelling couple with a more angst, energy and production that we've seen before.
The Raveonettes - Raven in the Grave
--- this Danish duo have been on a "not broken / don't fix it" trajectory over their last few albums. Overshadowed a little by The Kills, perhaps, they still outperform and on this release, out-grunge their competition.
Telekinesis! - 12 Desperate Straight Lines
---Michael Lerner's self-titled debut had a few brilliant moments amidst the ok-to-great flow. But on this follow-up a livelier crunchy sound props up twelve killer power pop tracks that never ever fail to win.
Timber Timbre - Creep On Creepin' On
---recorded in the gothic depth of his Queen St. Toronto bachelor pad. Taylor Kirk delivers another slab of moody voodoo. With help on foghorn sax by Colin Stetson Creep On is a horror show that shivers and rattles the bones.
Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring for My Halo
---rather than re-hashing the all-too-excellent Childish Prodigy, Vile comes back with a collection of tracks that are twistier and briefer, but no less driving in their Midwestern weary ways.
13 & God - Own Your Ghost
---Members of Themselves and The Notwist reconvene half a decade after their self-titled debut to confront mortality over a hip-hop/electro/acoustic beat that's as captivating as it is edgy and unsetlling.
James Blake - S/T
---UK dubstep producer takes a crack at minimalist RnB. Like the irradiated skeleton of TV on the Radio.
Bill Callahan - Apocalypse
---third release under his given name for the former Smog leader. It's another moody and cryptic meditation on America, nature, history and, of course, horses.
Destroyer - Kaputt
---a front runner for this year's Polaris, Destroyer steps up the production and explores an 80s-tinged sound that's long on atmosphere and short on retro-embarrassment. Bejar is at his lyrical best too.
The Dodos - No Color
---after a fairly lackluster second album this San Francisco outfit comes out hammering all the cylinders with a hyperspeed collection of pop featuring great harmony backup from Neko Case.
Little Scream - The Golden Record
---Laurel Sprengelmeyer is an Iowa-born transplant to Montreal. After adding her input to that scene's luminary outfits (Bell Orchestre, Arcade Fire, Stars) they return favour by backing her on this debut that rivals their best.
Low - C'Mon
---after experimenting with heavy guitars and electronics this long-running Minnesotan couple has gotten back to basics with an album of slow burning majesty that holds up next to their early best.
J. Mascis - Several Shades of Why
---in the midst of a Dinosaur Jr. rebirth including a Bug tour this summer, J. took a little time to make a solo acoustic album with guestwork from Kurt Vile, Ben Bridwell and others that should please both longtime fans and those looking for a quieter, deeper time.
Thurston Moore - Destroyed Thoughts
---like his buddy Mascis, Sonic Youth's leader seems an unlikely candidate for an acoustic + strings solo album (produced by Beck no less), but it works... and works well. Like a slightly more nervous Nick Drake masterpiece.
Okkervil River - I Am Very Far
---after the high water mark of Black Sheep Boy Okkervil seemed to be somewhat on autopilot. Nice to see this rager pull them back on track. It's the precise storytelling couple with a more angst, energy and production that we've seen before.
The Raveonettes - Raven in the Grave
--- this Danish duo have been on a "not broken / don't fix it" trajectory over their last few albums. Overshadowed a little by The Kills, perhaps, they still outperform and on this release, out-grunge their competition.
Telekinesis! - 12 Desperate Straight Lines
---Michael Lerner's self-titled debut had a few brilliant moments amidst the ok-to-great flow. But on this follow-up a livelier crunchy sound props up twelve killer power pop tracks that never ever fail to win.
Timber Timbre - Creep On Creepin' On
---recorded in the gothic depth of his Queen St. Toronto bachelor pad. Taylor Kirk delivers another slab of moody voodoo. With help on foghorn sax by Colin Stetson Creep On is a horror show that shivers and rattles the bones.
Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring for My Halo
---rather than re-hashing the all-too-excellent Childish Prodigy, Vile comes back with a collection of tracks that are twistier and briefer, but no less driving in their Midwestern weary ways.
Friday, June 03, 2011
Sony's Vinyl Reissue "Sale"
Was putting together an order from our major label distributor and noticed they had a sale on newly reissued vinyl from Sony. Here is a short list of titles plus their projected retail prices. It's a little depressing in places. If anyone is interested in a full list get ahold of me at backstreetrecords@gmail.com
AEROSMITH NINE LIVES (180G) R SON $44.98
AFGHAN WHIGS 1965 (180G) (7 BONUS TRACKS) SON $47.98
ALICE IN CHAINS DIRT (RM) (180G) R SON $35.98
ALICE IN CHAINS JAR OF FLIES/SAP (180G) R SON $44.98
ALICE IN CHAINS MTV UNPLUGGED (180G) R SON $44.98
AUDIOSLAVE AUDIOSLAVE (180G) R SON $44.98
AYERS*KEVIN UNFAIRGROUND (180G) R SON $35.98
BECK*JEFF BLOW BY BLOW (180G) R SON $35.98
BECK*JEFF WIRED (180G) R SON $35.98
BOSTON BOSTON (RM) (180G) R SON $35.98
BRUBECK*DAVE QRT TIME OUT (180G) R SON $35.98
BUCKLEY*JEFF MYSTERY WHITE BOY R SON $44.98
BUCKLEY*JEFF GRACE (RM) (180G) R SON $35.98
BUCKLEY*JEFF GRACE EPS (180G) R SON $89.98
BUCKLEY*JEFF SKETCHES FOR MY SWEET R SON $56.98
BYRDS (UNTITLED) (UNISSUED) (180G) R SON $56.98
BYRDS SWEETHEART OF THE RODEO (180G) R SON $35.98
CASH*JOHNNY 16 BIGGEST HITS (180G) R SON $35.98
CASH*JOHNNY 1969: AT SAN QUENTIN R SON $35.98
CASH*JOHNNY AMERICAN III: SOLITARY R SON $35.98
CHEAP TRICK 1978: AT BUDOKAN: LIVE R SON $37.98
CLASH CLASH (U.S. VERS) (180G) R SON $37.98
CLASH LONDON CALLING (30TH ANN. ED) R SON $44.98
COHEN*LEONARD GREATEST HITS (180G) R SON $35.98
AEROSMITH NINE LIVES (180G) R SON $44.98
AFGHAN WHIGS 1965 (180G) (7 BONUS TRACKS) SON $47.98
ALICE IN CHAINS DIRT (RM) (180G) R SON $35.98
ALICE IN CHAINS JAR OF FLIES/SAP (180G) R SON $44.98
ALICE IN CHAINS MTV UNPLUGGED (180G) R SON $44.98
AUDIOSLAVE AUDIOSLAVE (180G) R SON $44.98
AYERS*KEVIN UNFAIRGROUND (180G) R SON $35.98
BECK*JEFF BLOW BY BLOW (180G) R SON $35.98
BECK*JEFF WIRED (180G) R SON $35.98
BOSTON BOSTON (RM) (180G) R SON $35.98
BRUBECK*DAVE QRT TIME OUT (180G) R SON $35.98
BUCKLEY*JEFF MYSTERY WHITE BOY R SON $44.98
BUCKLEY*JEFF GRACE (RM) (180G) R SON $35.98
BUCKLEY*JEFF GRACE EPS (180G) R SON $89.98
BUCKLEY*JEFF SKETCHES FOR MY SWEET R SON $56.98
BYRDS (UNTITLED) (UNISSUED) (180G) R SON $56.98
BYRDS SWEETHEART OF THE RODEO (180G) R SON $35.98
CASH*JOHNNY 16 BIGGEST HITS (180G) R SON $35.98
CASH*JOHNNY 1969: AT SAN QUENTIN R SON $35.98
CASH*JOHNNY AMERICAN III: SOLITARY R SON $35.98
CHEAP TRICK 1978: AT BUDOKAN: LIVE R SON $37.98
CLASH CLASH (U.S. VERS) (180G) R SON $37.98
CLASH LONDON CALLING (30TH ANN. ED) R SON $44.98
COHEN*LEONARD GREATEST HITS (180G) R SON $35.98
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)