Hi Everyone,
Hope all is well.
Hope none of ye got murdered by a psycho killer when ye stopped to help a broken down motorist on a main road in broad daylight.
Christ, give it a rest Ray…
I got quite a reaction from that one….from an unknown unsubscriber who kindly from behind the comfort of his Smartphone said “I can’t believe I signed up for this shit…..yada yada yada….blah blah blah”
Stuff like that makes you feel real good about trying to do something positive for your business which is time consuming and mainly done late at night when the body and mind are not at their mae west.
That’s the great power of the aul social media crack, say what you want, when you want….you are only tapping a few keys on a phone.
Aside from that reaction, most people told me that “to be honest Ray, I don’t think I would have stopped for someone either”….so my 0.5 % stat looks fairly solid…
Anyway enough of that before I get more abusive emails….
Loads of interesting stuff for the 18th of September …..Where do I start……
We are going to kick off with the record I am looking forward to the most that week and it is the second offering from local unsigned band JOHN BLEK AND THE RATS.
The first album is great as those of you who know it I’m sure would agree….and I think this one is in a slightly different direction…..which I for one like….you cant do the same album again….change is good in my opinion….i know that the lads are really happy and proud of it.
I have only heard one track from the record ( hint hint ) but I love that track, so we really cant wait to get listening, playing and selling it.
May have John and a few of the lads in soon to do a bit of an in store, will keep ye posted on that.
Here’s the lead single….enjoy….
I suppose next up has to be the new DAVID GILMOUR record “RATTLE THAT LOCK”.
GILMOUR is nearly 70…..the rock gods are pushing on….i really liked his last album “on an island” which was about 10 years ago…so I am looking forward to hearing this new record….GILMOUR has a style of guitar playing which few can match…. really layered and rich texture and sound to it.
The album is available on four formats, CD, CD/DVD, CD/BLURAY and gatefold VINYL.
Our vinyl price beats the vast forest in the sky by about 6 or 7 Euros also….just to let ye know…
Here’s the single from the album…
Sony also has a few nice CD BOXSETS out on the 18th also from JEFF BECK, SIMON & GARFUNKEL and JOHNNY CASH.
UNIVERSAL have another classic reissue from TASTE “LIVE AT THE ISLE OF WIGHT” which was recorded soon before they split.
This beauty is reissued on four formats, CD, DVD (never before) BLURAY (never before) and double LP (not being around for a good while)….similar price difference as above…just saying is all!!
Universal have the new LANA DEL REY album out on the 18th also…..her third full release….i think??
She writes her own tunes and plays the guitar so that’s all right mama, that’s all right for you….and for me too.
The VINYL LP is a double on bloody red vinyl for the first run only….just saying again is all.
“HONEYMOON “is the album title…..here is the single…
New record out from KEITH RICHARDS on Universal called “cross eyed heart” …his third solo album…last two excellent….being a while though since the last solo record…over 20 years….quality over quantity….a band mate of his could take a leaf out of his book…..oh catty Raymond…..look back to the top of the page…oh he who hath not sinned and all that…….lots to play on the 18th.
Univ also have a new record from CHRIS CORNELL (SOUNDGARDEN, AUDIOSLAVE) as well as a reissue of his “euphoric morning” record.
RITCHIE BLACKMORE has a new release under the BLACKMORE’S KNIGHT logo called “all our yesterdays”….on CD, DELUXE CD and GATEFOLD VINYL.
Reissues also from B.B KING – LIVE IN COOK COUNTY JAIL LP and some NIGHTWISH reissues including CENTURYS CHILD.
I have mentioned price above a few times for more than just one reason…I spoke about some other great friends of independent retailers, TESCO , last week and it has being a topic with many on the shop floor in recent days.
Here is a somewhat contradictory piece about it….to kill us…to kill us not…to kill us….to kill us not
Here are a few thoughts/questions of mine
1. 1.5% of all music sales in the UK….are they clutching at straws after a failed download service attempt….( Christ, the fuckers try and get into everything don’t they)
2. Surely it’s a uniqueness thing…independent record shops? FLAWED AS WE ARE!!!!
3. is price king??? I quoted that we are cheaper than those friends in the sky tonight a few times….to what extent does it matter??
We are not as surgical as giant online retailers….i see daily examples of human error from warehouses, suppliers, reps, myself, the lads….we are all human….but when you are up against super efficiency, human error don’t cut the mustard with some people….” Its out of stock with the supplier” “ it was left short from the order” …etc etc etc. not perceived as good enough these days and probably correctly so….but that is the nature of my beast.
I ordered 7 king crimson records last week for a customer….i queried the stock availability before I ordered and was told “the stock should be alright”….it wasn’t… five came in….now the customer was cool beans but it would not happen with the surgeons in the sky….but at ground level here we are all under pressure trying to make a living, staffing in the record companies to the bone ( as is what happened in this case…they did not check) ….but forensically to Joe consumer….that isn’t good enough.
They have a different model, those beasts, have truckloads of cash and governments giving them free land to create low paying jobs….so powerful its scary…..but I am going down the lane towards sidetracks and I really don’t want to go there so let’s move back to the other boot boys TESCO.
I suppose they can fill their selves with records….only pay for what they sell….and they have no risk but also no uniqueness…..i personally don’t think it will work for them in the short term anyway….market just isn’t there at the moment I feel and the folks into the records generally know their shit and I just don’t see them in Tesco’s buying records….perhaps I am deluded…time will tell I suppose…but I only see them taking on major releases in the short term but watch this space im sure it will reappear again…my love for them has not just sprung up overnight by the way, it’s deep and goes back quite a while….they have consistently done their best to put fellas in my line of work and my others out of business….Joe consumer may not always realize that they have used music/film consistently as loss leaders to get you through the doors….we can make loads of money elsewhere on toiletries, chocolate, deli, rashers, beans etc etc ….anyway I’m moving on up now ….I wasted enough breath on them.
Warner has the second album by Frames front man GLEN HANSARD….always brings quality to the table in my opinion.
Here is the new single…
New album also out from the gorgeous vocalist GABRIELLE APLIN, her second album…..loads of band’s second albums happening in the coming weeks
WARNER has a double JAMES TAYLOR greatest hit on CD, a new album from CROSSFAITH from Japan and a new CD from ANNIHILATOR.
Also new ones from ROB THOMAS (MATCHBOX TWENTY), KWABS (who has a great voice…link below) speaking of great voices the new RICHARD HAWLEY is great in my opinion…really really like it, playing it all week, and last new one from Warner is from NICOLAS GODIN who is 50 % of French band AIR, has recorded a JOHAN SEBASTIAN BACH based record…check attachment.
Some good reissues from Warner also for next Friday including the HAPPY MONDAY’S “pills thrills and bellyaches”, SUPERGRASS “ I SHOULD COCO” and KING CRIMSON “USA”
PIAS have a few BERT JANSCH reissues out for the 18th September.
Proper for the 11th September has a new Seamus Begley entitled “ the bold Kerryman” just in time for the football final…
If any of ye have copies of BEGLEY & COONEY “ MEITHEAL” , well its going for about 50 euro 2nd hand on CD and more off course on LP….great album.
SUEDE live at the albert hall CD version is out also.
On the local scene quite a bit going on in the shop next Friday the 18th of September.
We at the Music Zone Corporation are involved in Culture night or in our case Culture evening.
We are a cultural venue in the city on the day in question so we have some live music in store on the day so if you are around pop in and say hello, stay for a few tunes and chillax…….it’s going to be easy going as can be….sing a song if you fancy that, tell a joke….. as I know loads of ye fancy yerselfs as comedians
At 4 PM we have local singer songwriter EAMON DWYER who released a fine album a few months back “that wrinkled shirt”.
Eamon will be doing a few tunes from that album on the day.
At 5 P.M we have good friends of the shop and really fine rock band, RAISING JUPITER, belting out a few tunes for us all.
RJ are doing a bit of promotional work for their latest release “ THE CHROME EP” …so we look forward to hearing the lads play again.
And lastly at 5.45 PM we have JOHN BLEK stopping in to play a few tunes from the really excellent new album “BORDERS” by JOHN BLEK AND THE RATS.
Have been listening to the record over the last few days and it is a fine listen…….not a weak track….really well produced I thought also giving a great sound in general.
Really strong unique vocals from John backed up extremely well by his craftsmen and woman, great relationship at times between the drums and the bass, brilliant chaos on guitar on occasion, beautiful bit of steel and keys throw in for good measure, all the time with great harmonies and melodies.
Really fine record and the folks are right to be proud of it….very proud of it they should be….i hope as many people as possible get to hear it.
As mentioned at the top of the page, the album is only released on Friday so an opportunity to kill two birds, get to see John live and be among the first to buy the album also….three birds as I am sure John will sign the album for you also….so all good as Damo would say….
If you can’t get into us, remember to check the site and we can post the records out to you,
Sin e for this week anyway,
See ye all next Friday so……!
Thanks!
Ray.