Just a quick note… Normal service will resume soon.
Two points of note today though, both important.
Local lads THE SHAKER HYMN are playing an instore with us this Friday at 4PM to launch their new album ‘Do You Think You’re Clever?’… If you can pop in to support the lads that would be great.. They’re playing Coughlan’s also that same Friday 22nd of April, still a few tickets left.
Secondly, a hugely important, heartfelt, genuine thank you to everyone who supported us for RSD.. Ye guys reading this.. Sheer class.. Humbling to be honest.. The support… The bands… Thank ye.. And the boys who work with me.. Thanks!
So 8 sleeps to RECORD SHOP DAY, excitement is building with us, a theme of celebration ( were still alive!!!) this year, like every other year, we’re still going….i think this is Music Zone towers 6th RSD….I think i got about 6 records the first year in ( was not stocking vinyl at the time) to maybe 30 records in 2012 to this year where we are getting nearly 800 records across 300 titles……so bring your wallets ( !!!) leave your car…. if you wish….booze and buns shall be provided…we hope to give everyone in the early
morning queue a pressie….LP/ 7INCH/ CD/BIT OF MERCH/LOCK OF BOBBY’S HAIR ( some of ye in need of it) things like that up for grabs…definitely for the first 30 to 40 anyway. My RSD fill of records was good enough, a few disappointments though as usual but hey that’s the nature of the beast …..a lot of the smaller UK labels don’t seem to be overly fair when it comes to supplying the Irish shops for RSD, I feel they sell them in the UK first and if they dont sell out, then we get a shot at it….whereas the majors in fairness, yes in fairness i said, give Ireland 10% of the UK/IRELAND quantity….so if there is 500 units of the DOORS record for the UK and IRELAND…then Ireland get 50 copies….TOWER and GOLDEN DISCS would probably eat up 20 of them, GD qty spread across a few shops….30 units then left for the likes of me, Willie in ROLLERCOASTER in Kilkenny ( we don’t really talk about sport, well the one that matters anyway, no, we don’t really talk about it, i may inquire about Brian Codys health from time to time but generally we keep it to the music ) OMG in Galway, BEN O NEILL in Dungarvan, CLASSIFIED up in Louth and maybe a few others….so the rest of us can get a few each i.e i have 6 of that DOORS record….ah the Doors….pour moi….numero uno….JIMBO and the lads…6 brilliant records in less than five years, musically and lyrically class
Words dissemble
Words be quick
Words resemble walking sticks
Plant them they will grow
Watch them waver so
I’ll always be a word man
Better then a bird man
I’d say you liked the birds as well now Jim boy to be fair…
Anyway , sidetracked, apologies, RSD commences at 9am on Saturday the 16th of April and we have an independant mini music festival in the shop on the day also… Kicking us off at 11am are a fine rock band with roots in Scotland and Cork, RAISING JUPITER…they will definitely warm us up with some cracking tunes like this beauty…thanks for doing it RJ
Next up at 12 pm is ANDERSON who in fairness to him is travelling down from Dublin to do RSD for us….Daniel played a lovely set around the launch of his album PATTERNS a few months back, so really looking forward to this one….ANDERSON plays Cypress avenue the following weekend Friday the 22nd…thanks for doing it Danny.
1 PM brings us CRY MONSTER CRY…..these boys are class so really looking forward to seeing them…Simon & Garfunkel vibe going on…class..can’t wait…thanks for doing it lads….
2 pm brings us the supremely talented local lass ANNA MITCHELL with a little bit of help from John Blek, Anna’s voice is startlingly beautiful backed up by some fine self penned songs…talented girl….one not to miss…..thanks for doing it Anna
Last up at 3 PM are local young fellers and talented boys CROJAYN….the Music Zone corporation thinks a lot of these boys….an awful lot….pop in and see for yourself….you can brag in years to come that you saw them play in a record shop at the start of their journey…check this out…
We like, we like, we like…
All these artists are doing this for a drop of whiskey and a bun, maybe a record…. so bula bos for getting behind us and the spirit of RSD… hats off to ye Lady and Gents…thanks.
Right so onto releases for the day before RSD, friday the 15th of April which sees the return of the unconquerable Polly Jean Harvey….i like the tunes i heard from this record….reports of stock issues, firm reports, not bullshitting here…my LP order was cut way back…second press wont be in till may 20th…forewarned is forearmed and all that yada yada…
PIAS have some BERT JANSCH LP reissues from the original analogue master tapes , from 1968 “ birthday blues “ and from 1967 “ NICOLA” ….1967….man 1967…what music…THE DOORS debut, PEPPERS, SURREALISTIC PILLOW, LOVES “ FOREVER CHANGES” ….these JANSCH tapes have not being used for nearly 50 years…. There is a DEAD CAN DANCE release also that day says he hedgingly ( if that’s a word) “anastasis” is being reissued on green vinyl….30 copies for Eire….so potluck for me and hence ye….Gerrard and Perry were some duo….
SAM BEAM and JESCA HOOP have an album also on the 15th on sub pop.
Warner have the next in the batch of PHIL COLLINS reissues as well as new albums by GRAHAM NASH and STURGILL SIMPSONS , his third album….this one an open letter to his first child from start to finish….
Republic of Music have the new album “ person A” ( 4th) by californian 10 piece EDWARD SHARPE AND THE MAGNETIC ZEROS as well as JOHN CARPENTERS follow up “ lost themes 2” some of these on purple and white swirl coloured….make an nice ice cream.
Sony have the lost album from 2001/02 by J.DILLA as well as some vinyl reissues by THE DIXIE CHICKS “ home” and “ taking the lead” and PARADISE LOST “ in requeim”
ESSENTIAL have the new SANTANA album….all original members back for this one….
Proper have the second album by Dublin band THE YOUNG FOLK outnext Friday also.
And last but not least Cork music gods THE FRANK AND WALTERS are to release a new album next Friday….should have stock for RSD THE 16TH….really looking forward to that one….we are, we are, we are the….
So LOADS of releases to bring people into the record shops over RSD weekend….hope you enter one and who knows maybe your grandkids will enjoy that experience also some day…anyway enough of my preaching for one week…
And it’s a bit of a bumper week next Friday the 1st of April… Biggest I suppose is the newLAST SHADOW PUPPETS record, ‘Everything You’ve Come To Except’, out on Domino Records via PIAS. Out on CD, CD/Book, LP, or Limited LP + coloured bonus 7’’. Alex and Miles return for a second offering eight years on from debut. The deluxe heavyweight gatefold LP includes a 32 page booklet, and a bonus coloured 7’’ featuring lead single ‘Bad Habits’ and an exclusive new track. Check out ‘Bad Habits’ below :
THE HEAVY also return with their fourth record… A real melting pot of influences and funkiness… Again there is a limited LP with a 7’’ and also a limited LP Boxset available on Counter Records via PIAS once again.
Another biggie out from PIAS next Friday is the new MOGWAI record on Rock Action… Again Indies only coloured vinyl… ‘Record Shop Day has arrived’ I hear you say, 15 days early…!!
I’m hearing a small bit of disappointment on the shop floor about the releases for RSD this year. I must agree that there are not as many belters as last year…. It is more varied and diverse for sure… But obviously a disappointing list (in some eyes) affects the day (naturally enough). Releases like the three above would have been belters of releases for RSD… But record companies know that customers are going to go to stores anyway maybe and get those three above.. I am a firm believer in LPs for RSD.. More LPs, less EPs and 7’’s for the day anyway. Fingers crossed anyway. Good LPs will always tip away. A collectable 7’’ you can look at for a long long time (forever) and may not be that collectable in the end, unless your a dustmite… Nice then alright.
That said, we can crib as much as we want, but there are some solid releases as always on the day! These include BOWIE, METALLICA, THE DOORS, BOB DYLAN, THE ANIMALS,NIRVANA, as well as a good focus on modern popular bands like BLOSSOMS, BIRDY,BASTILLE, and many more. So while the list may be a lot more varied this year, there are some golden nuggets of limited vinyl as always provided by the RSD day.
Overall it is still a day we are all very much looking forward to in the shop… Limited vinyl and live music always leads to a great day!
Not fully confirmed yet but a nice bit of music lined up for the day as per usual.
Confirmed are ANDERSON, CRY MONSTER CRY, RAISING JUPITER, and brilliant Cork newcomers CROJAYN…. Check out these boys! Should hopefully have one or two more confirmed for next week!
Anderson :
Cry Monster Cry :
Raising Jupiter :
Crojayn :
Anyway, enough of RSD until next week.. (The sign is up… We’re in the mode!)..
Second biggest release for this week in our opinions is the new album by THE SHAKER HYMN.. Their second record and it’s another beauty.. A bit more of a psychedelic feel than the first record.. Great tunes once again all through, and very well produced by Brendan Fennessy of O Emperor… Sax, cello, piano, organ, viola, trombone thrown in from time to time on this new CD with great effect.. I know quite a few of ye picked up the debut album from us and this new one certainly is a step forward. The Shaker Hymn really are one of the best hometown bands around at the moment… About to start a nationwide tour, and they are playing Coughlan’s on April 22nd. Might have the lads in for a few tunes also soon..
Forgot to mention with the PIAS stuff above… There is a special 10th Anniversary 2LP on coloured of the SUFJAN STEVENS classic ‘Illinois’… I must admit his album last year was my favourite of the year.. A truly beautiful record..’The man who taught me to swim, he couldn’t quite say my first name’.. You couldn’t fault Stefan now to be fair.. Maybe not for everyone, but pour moi, a gorgeous album… Understated, soft, and dark.
Proper have a few interesting releases out for next Friday, including the new PET SHOP BOYS album, JAMES LUTHER DICKINSON and THE NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS album ‘I’M JUST DEAD, I’M NOT GONE’, and RYAN VAIL, a young lad from Derry has an interesting record out… Classical / Electronica type of thing if that is a thing..
Fortuna Pop has the new SEPTEMBER GIRLS record out next Friday.. The Dublin 4 piece play Cyprus Avenue on April 16th, with upcoming Cork group The Sunshine Factory.. Will be a gig not to be missed!
Warner have an album by LUKAS GRAHAM (Band) out next Friday also.. Lukas (singer) had a different upbrining than most… Brought up in an autonomous artist’s enclave in the centre of Copenhagen, with no cars, street lighting or police intervention, which goes by the name of Christinia… Probably shapes you a bit different so he might have something to say..
Warner also have a new album out next week by WEEZER… Their tenth.. The White Album… Now lads… There really only is one…
Also out by Warner is the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame DLP Live, which has a loud of household names on it.
The new PANIC AT THE DISCO album gets it’s vinyl record release. Also Warner have the reissue of the 1967 classic ‘West Meets East’ by RAVI SHANKAR and YEHUDI MENUHIN.
Lastly from Warner for next week is a new BLACK STONE CHERRY album ‘Kentucky’, on CD/DVD and LIMITED 3LP on white vinyl with codes.
Universal have the soundtrack to new Irish film ‘SING STREET’ and the vinyl record release from the riveting AMY WINEHOUSE documentary ‘AMY’… The latest Bond soundtrack is out on vinyl, and lastly from Universal is the new album from BABYMETAL, ‘Metal Resistance’ on CD, LP and LP Set which includes a T-Shirt…
Very lastly, we have just had another SUPERB act confirmed for R.S.D… Anna Mitchell has agreed to do a slot with a little help from John Blek… That will be a very nice one.. All good…
First up is the new vinyl record release video, which has the big releases from the last couple of weeks, including local lads JOHN BLEK AND THE RATS and some big names such as JEFF BUCKLEY, JAMES, POLICIA and many more, check the video out below, if you want to see them all, a good bit in! :
Big response to last weeks note on the Record Shop Day, very varied selection this year…. Nothing huge but nice and varied… Maybe not as strong as last year, personally as a shop keeper I prefer album releases, always less of a graveyard after RSD with albums.. RSD can get a bad wrap at times and certainly there are some negative aspects to it… Pricing being one I suppose.. To be fair the 7” and 12” can be excessive.. I don’t know why, it’s unfair… Record companies could feel there is major re-sell value on a lot of the stuff but that’s not a fair reason for inflated prices. Infact, that only fuels another negative for RSD and that is people who get involved for the wrong reasons, purely and simply to buy a record and flip it for twice it’s value 3 hours later on Ebay… Parasites is the industry term for them.. But there are parasites in all games where product is limited and only increases in value… It’s the way of the world as unfortunate as it is… Most who visit us are cool, no issues there, thank God.. I’d hate if the wrong hands got an only limited release to flip it on Ebay taking it away from a genuine fan.
Another problem faced by us on RSD is the availablitiy of the produce… It’s rare and limited by nature but one company this year decided not to support the Irish industry, that company being Music On Vinyl.. Here’s the reason that I can’t buy stock from them this year, in a’roundabout fashion from rep
‘Hi Ray,
I’m afraid that a RSD order is not such a good idea after all because of the way it is organized:
We have to create a special sub account for each participating store; a special RSD account.
Then all RSD orders are collected and automatically entered in the system at once.
Until this is done it is still uncertain who will get what or how many.
When the stock has arrived and is divided between all the participating stores in chronological order, then all the RSD shipments will be shipped out on the same day via priority mail.This is quite expensive but priority is the only option.
And on top of that our accounts department does not make an invoice for an amount below € 300,-
No matter how much I wanted to ship you these titles, all in all its probably not worth the hassle and it would be better to wait until after RSD to see what’s still available then.
I did not know it would be such a tour du force to organize this otherwise I would have told you this much earlier.’
So, I apologise in advance to anyone hoping to get MOV RSD releases here, or in fact anywhere in the country for that matter.. I suppose my returning cribbing emails have yielded promises for next year…
All that said, RSD, is for us what it says on the tin.. It supports us as independent record shops.. And it does.
Last year it was as as good as any day Christmas week.. There was a lovely vibe in the shop all day long… People supported us even without buying any of the RSD stuff… It was humbling, the support, to be honest, from ye the customers and the musicians who played for us… Truly humbling. Musicians signed up to play already for this year include CRY MONSTER CRY, CROJAN and ANDERSON who plays a gig in Cyprus Avenue on Friday April 22 (tickets available now!), and is going to drive down from Dublin to us on the day to play a few tunes in the shop.. Top man… Fair play.. We don’t mind if he turns into… Bleeding Bono (said in my Dublin accent). Anyway bottom line… It’s a hugely important and special day for us here..
Universal have the MOTORTOWN REVUE record Live In Paris, which includes all the Motown stars, the Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, Stevie Wonder etc, all on a 3LP set.. Universal also some STATUS QUO CD expanded reissued versions of ‘If You Can’t Stand The Heat’, ‘On The Level’, and ‘What Ever You Want’. They also have an ERIC CLAPTON 4LP Live Album Collection, which includes Derek and the Dominos, Rainbow Concert, E.C. Was Here and Just One Night.. Also some nice new Bluenote Jazz vinyl reissues with classics from Count Bassie, Ella / Louis, Billie Holiday and Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker…
Warner probably have the biggest releases for the next Friday the 25th with the new JOE BONAMASSA album on CD / Deluxe CD and 2LP… The album is called ‘Blues if Desperation’, out via Provogue..ALL NEW TRACKS
Warner also has the BIRDY record on the same 3 formats, EVA CASSIDY ‘Simply Eva’ LP reissue, and a lost JEFF HEALEY album gets a release.
Sony have a bit out next Friday also, including a new WHITE DENIM record (Major Label Release), new AMON AMARTH album on CD and LP as well as a load of good vinyl record reissues, such as PEARL JAM’s Vs and Vitalogy, as well as all of THE SCRIPTS albums.
How’s the form…
Going to be short and sweet this week….saw way to much of the aul armitage shanks this week and energy levels are not the mae west…
Releases for next week the 18th of March include a new NEW ORDER single, newJAMES record, new PRIMAL SCREAM record, new BONNIE PRINCE BILLY, ALL TIME LOW reissue, new IGGY POP record!!! with Josh Homme on production, new UNDERWORLD record, new GWEN STEFANI, ELLIOT SMITH soundtrack, new RICHMOND FONTAINE, ELO reissue, RAT BOY single, BATMAN V SUPERMAN OST, JOHN WILLIAMS( guitarist ) 60 cd set.
After rattling them just there, if anyone wants more info pop me a mail…
RECORD SHOP DAY (RSD) is around the corner now just 5 weeks Saturday….
Most of ye know the drill….cant promise or hold anything…but if you want to send me requests i shall MAKE SURE they are ordered, after that its in the lap of the gods….early birds and all that then after that as well….every year confusion over the lists….this is the list for Irish and UK records shops….there are other lists ( america ) with stock Irish and UK shops wont be sold….JOHN GRANT -Queen of Denmark an example this year….if interested in anything try let me know by closing time Monday night as i need my orders in tuesday/weds next week….thanks….here’s the list
THE BEACH BOYS, AOIFE O’DONOVAN, MIIKE SNOW and Limerick’s own HERMITAGE GREEN ( nice few bands coming out of Limerick recently) two Murphy brothers in this band, one of them, Barry, won a couple of Heineken Cups with Munster in 2006, 2008….i’d say he even has a few Irish caps…
So, moving on to releases for the 11th of March, through your local friendly corporation.
How many corporations like us do you see these days actually..?
Fewer and fewer i’d suggest…and i’m not talking about my game…in general i am on about….loads of shops seem to follow a set of rules,( procedures they would call them) employees vary from them at their peril.
Friendly merchandisers who can upsell seems to be the future in a duller, boring more sanitised society….the barcode will be inserted into our wrists soon….everything seems to be drowning in red tape… prefer red wine to be honest.
Anyway, excuse the tangent, onto releases for Friday the 11th March.
Sony have the latest “lost” JEFF BUCKLEY record….Jeff is one dude bar Kobain and probably to be fair Bowie ( even at the age he was at) over the last quarter of a century that the music biz lost that really could have made a massive impact….Amy as well actually ( i underrated her at the time to be honest, tabloids blinded me to the talent if that makes sense)….this record contains 10 unheard and unreleased tracks, including covers of DYLAN,ZEPPELIN, SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE and THE SMITHS as well as one completely original song…..personally, i can’t wait to hear it….top 10 albums of all time change with our moods i know but GRACE is never far away…ever.
Sony also have a reissue on vinyl record of SADEs best of.
Universal have the new and second record from LITTLE GREEN CARS….I like these folks a lot….cracking tunes and harmonies on the debut album and it sounds like more of the same on this record…seem like good skins as well….i messaged them on twitter some months back trying to track down the debut record on long player and they got back promptly and tried to help ( no real benefit for them responding to me as it was only released in the states and they had no control or right over it, but they still responded) some irish bands do not respond to us at all….not good enough for them maybe….makes no sense that to me, we are only trying to help, give them some profile, give them the money from any sales, it improves our shop also by stocking good unsigned Irish bands….makes no sense when a band aint interested in helping one another….
I hope this record throws them into the super strata sphere….check out the latest tune…
New album available in CD and DLP formats.
Universal have debut solo album by GASLIGHT ANTHEMS BRIAN FALLON “painkillers” as well as new albums by AURORA and ALESSIA CARR….catchy tune, TRICKY have a song that sounded like it maybe….
Some new ones in from MUSIC ON VINYL next week include ( deep breath) ALLMAN BROTHERS – seven turns, BLOOMFIELD, KOOPER, STILLS – super sessions, JJ CALE – troubadour, JOHN CALE- fear, MILES DAVIS – get up with it, DEATH CAB FOR CUTIES – codes, plans and narrow stairs, PHIL LYNOTT – solo in soho, IMELDA MAY – love tattoo, soundtracks to FORREST GUMP and THE COMMITMENTS and last but not least LLOYD COLE – rattlesnakes……few gems there.
PIAS have the LUCIUS record “ good grief” on PLAY IT AGAIN SAM as well as EMMY THE GREAT “ second love” on BELLA UNION.
On the local scene, we are delighted to announce news of the release of the second album by THE SHAKER HYMN….inside in the corporation we love their debut album….as good an indie pop/rock record you won’t have heard in the last year or two…heres a track from the debut album, do yerselfs a favour and have a listen to it….consider it a friday treat….
THE SHAKER HYMN – NEW ALBUM “DO YOU THINK YOU’RE CLEVER?”
The Shaker Hymn have announced the release of their second album “Do You Think You’re Clever?”.
With a release date of April 1st, it is the group’s second album to be released in just under two years.
Produced and engineered by Brendan Fennessy (drummer of the Waterford quintet O Emperor), the band spent little time hanging around, completing the recording of the album in only nine days.
Dynamically rich and sonically colourful, Do You Think You’re Clever? sees a marked advancement on the band’s previous output, with the Cork quartet incorporating both a brass and string section to serve their growing maturity as musicians and songwriters.
Check out the video for ‘Trophy Child’, the lead single to be taken from the forthcoming album:
Tour Dates
April 1 – Connolly’s Of Leap, Co. Cork
April 7 – Roisin Dubh, Galway
April 8 – Kenny’s, Lahinch Co. Clare
April 22 Coughlans’, Cork
May 6 – McGing’s, Westport
May 7 – Tir Na Nog, Cavan
May 13 – DeBarra’s, Clonakilty
May 21 – Pine Lodge , Myrtleville
May 22 – Levis’s, Ballydehob
May 26 – The Bernard Shaw, Dublin
We really are excited about this album release….great up and coming Cork band….we hope to get the lads into the shop around release time for a tunes….we will keep ye posted on that.
REPUBLIC OF MUSIC have the soundtrack to OBLIVION with M83 on double LP….once off pressing…
SOAK just won the choice….well done Bridie girl….got a few mentions on these pages in the past….when you were just 16 first i think….well done….some fine irish albums last year to be fair….i would have had HEDGE SCHOOLS and THE NORTH SEA albums in there….two great albums….but good stuff all round.
Warner for the 11th of March have a new album by KILLSWITCH ENGAGE “incarnate” , the new DREAMTHEATER album “ the astonishing” on 4LP and GAVIN JAMES album finally landed on LP.
Proper for next week have an EDDI READER best of CD as well as STEVEN WILSON reissues on CD including “ the raven who refused to sing “ .
Late news on in the background….Trump going to be the next american president….we are going to have a different Taoiseach for every season going forward….Gerry, Mickey, Leo and Danny healy rae ( ye smart alecs will have to go through me to get to him….that Danny) and the best of all….one of the two banks showed 1.9 billion profit today for 2015….the crowd that are backing brave…that crowd…..1.9 billion….yes with a B…..AH MAN…..i got a bill today from the other great bank in this nation for 3 months of the year for the pleasure of doing business with them….718 euro for maintenance and cash handled only ( we aint Dunnes by the way) ….i scratched my nose a couple of times in there, breathed some air in the vicinity of the bank…..not kidding here bank and credit card charges in 2015 amounted to 4710 euro…..nearly 5% of the cost of keeping the shop trading….is it just me or does anyone else want to vomit….for what ….5 k for what….what a country….danny healy rae for Taoiseach….
Anyway, before i turn into Michael Douglas in Falling Down….is that a large fries sir
Firstly from Sony is the major label release (debut release really, only a live album before now) from HERMITAGE GREEN, entitled ‘Save Your Soul’… Fine up and coming Irish band from Limerick who really are supposed to be sensational live. I hope this record (only CD for now) does really well for them.. A vibrant Irish music scene is important for all of us. I personally think it’s good at the moment, without any major superstars (Hozier maybe an exception on second thought).. Anyone else??.. Bueller… Bueller..
Sony also have a new Ray Lamontagne album, his 6th entitled ‘Ouroboros’.
I see, in our first mention of the year, (more unashamedly on the way over the next few weeks, we promise), METALLICA were announced as Record Shop Day ambassadors, with a couple of RSD releases by the band themselves coming up for RSD.. Changed my mind.. Was going to have a pop of Lars, but no… Not going to.
Next up, Universal have a new band on the scene, THE STRUTS.. I like this crowd… Queen rip off one might say (the main singer is the bulb of Freddie, may have even gone to his dentist to do the job for him) but they have something I feel.. Catchy tune
Next up from Universal is the brilliant MASSIVE ATTACK, with their ‘Ritual’ EP, which also sees the return of The Tricky Kid, as well as collaborations with Young Fathers, Roots Manuva, and newcomer Azekel… The EP comes as a 12″ Heavyweight (180 gm) Mid Grey coloured vinyl with 4 colour centre labels housed in a black polylined inner hand placed into 3 mm spine sleeve printed 4 colour process + special screen printed 5th colour orange designed by Hingston Studios and the man himself, Rob Del Naja.
Universal also have the BEACH BOYS ‘Party’ LP.. An album of covers all unplugged. Also from Universal is the new MAX RICHTER album ‘Songs From Before’, and lastly some jazz reissues on the Verve label including ELLA FITZGERALD / LOUIS ARMSTRONG, CHARLIE ‘BIRD’ PARKER and OSCAR PETERSON.
Essential for the 4th of March have MEXRRISSEY… What’s that Ray, I hear you ask.. Well, it’s a Mexican tribute to the MOZ man.. A covers album by Mexico’s greatest musicians of some of Moz’s greatest tunes… Why are you telling us about that Ray?.. Well, simply and maybe surprisingly, I think it sounds really good.. But hey, one man’s meat is another man’s poison… (That right Moz?!!!)
Essential also have the new album by THE FEELING.
Some of you may have heard me on the Sean O Rourke radio programme earlier in the week. Firstly, t’was a great plug and was delighted to be asked.. Great opportunity to get shop mentioned to (I’d imagine) a couple of hundred thousand listeners.. But, (there’s always a but with you Ray)… I was naive thinking it was all hunky dory, wine and roses with the interview.. Not fully the case, but felt in hindsight that it was taken (the vinyl resurgence) a small bit negatively.. Price v. quality… I would have bigged up the quality in the 7 or 8 minute interview, but the 60 or so seconds kind of painted a different picture I thought.. Maybe me just being super sensitive.. Cassettes, for f*cks sake!! No wonder Sean O Rourke thought I was a nut job… Not too far wrong, the profession I have! All and all look, a great mention, just slightly caught out by those editors.
PIAS for the 4th of March have the new M. WARD record (sounds lovely).. Must have wrote it in Ireland.. ‘More Rain’ is the title..
PIAS also have the new POLICA record, their third offering, on coloured vinyl for Indies only.
Debut from LAPSLEY also out through PIAS next week, only 19 years of age.. Take a listen below
New SABATON ‘Heroes on Tour’ 2DVD/CD or 2LP, and THE VIOLENT FEMMES have a new offering, their 9th, all through PIAS.
Warner for the 4th of March have a FLEETWOOD MAC 3LP in concert set, and new albums by MIKE SNOW, INVERLOCK and THE CORAL, their 8th album.. First in five years..
Warner for today, a bit under the radar, have an expanded version of MORRISSEY’S brilliant ‘Bona Drag’ ALBUM, 2LP with a bonus poster.
Have to start with Warners reissues of the boy BOWIE’s early 70s albums. Some classics amongst ‘Space Oddity’, ‘Man Who Sold The World’, ‘Hunky Dory’, ‘Ziggy’, ‘Pin Ups’, ‘Aladdin Sane’, and lastly ‘Bowie at the Beeb’ 4LP vinyl boxset at €75 retail…. all the others €23…. €27 with the big dog in the sky…
Pre-order any of the Bowie reissues before next Thursday at 4PM, and have them delivered to you for release on Friday in Ireland! Check that out here : https://musiczone.ie/product-category/pre-order/
I saw the Grammy’s ‘tribute’ to Bowie the other night and thought ‘tribute’ was a strong word. No disrespect to anyone involved, they were on a hiding to nothing.. I wonder was Gaga the first to be asked?? It reminded me of a wedding band medley aside from the corporation backed graphics that were aesthetically pleasing for a minute or two..
I thought a sincere, heartfelt collage of music, images, anecdotes, quotes from the boy BOWIE himself and from other artists he influenced and helped would have worked better (in my opinion)….
Corporate backed Hollywood razzmattattlle we got instead…
Warner also have a CHILI PEPPERS ‘Greatest Hits’ out over the next few days on double LP.. Limited Marbled vinyl for this one.
Warner also have a new Santigold album, ‘99 Cents’ on CD and LP, and a new MACKLEMORE + RYAN LEWIS CD (their second offering), and a new BONNIE RAITT album on CD and LP, and lastly more PHIL COLLINS reissues.. ‘Hello, I Must Be Going’, and ‘Dance into the Light’.
Universal have a big release for the 26th also with the second album by THE 1975on CD and Double gatefold vinyl.. I really like the 80s vibe to the single. A real band, a real frontman. I’m going to give this record a good chance.
Here’s a taster
Small tiny critischism… The album is called ‘I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful and Yet So Unaware of it’…. Could be the title of a Michael Bolton song… Get your buckets.
Universal also have the GEORGE FEST which is a tribute to the late, great GEORGE HARRISON recorded on what would have been his 73rd birthday. Guests on the night included BRIAN WILSON, BRANDON FLOWERS, and THE FLAMING LIPS among others. This comes as a 3LP set or 2CD/DVD
Here’s a taster of the gig..
Universal also have a MILOS KARADAGLIC Beatles tribute LP, with the likes of TORI AMOS, GREGORY PORTER on vocals.
Got a nice bit of reaction for my Bruce bashing??? Last week… I like Bruce. Best reaction here…
‘We do need a younger BROOCE…a younger everyone really.. but they aint there Ray. Now maybe it’s because I’m a dinosaur but I don’t see anything or anyone revolutionary out there anymore. No young guns coming up wanting to change the world. Plenty out there wanting to make a fortune and be famous but to me music and roc’n’roll was always more than that. It’s probably the romantic in me but music is suppose to change your life and very few artists these days do that. Nick Cave once said that when you listen to music when you’re young it changes the gears of your heart. You know when you just couldn’t wait for the next album by your favourite artist. But are there any acts out there now who really affect people that way. Where are the tribes gone? You know the Punks, Mods, Skins, whatever…..It’s all a bit bland now. No one there that will make you go..WHAT THE F**K was that….. And I believe that the young people coming to music these days are losing out on a lot….but look I’m a Dinosaur…….Anyway back to BROOCE, wasn’t it the Who that said ‘meet the new BOSS, same as the old BOSS’
Could not have said it better myself… Feedback is great.. Feel free to engage please… I am a bit younger than this dinosaur but my age were Cureheads or Modeies… I loved both bands, so didn’t go goth or leather but kids of today are missing out… Music is not shared well. Not in the right way. ‘Come around my gaff I got the new Guns N’ Roses cassette if you want to listen’.. It’s all singurly with youtube/dowloads.
Saw two girls (15/16) taking photoes of each other in the shop during the week flicking through the records… (For their profile pictures i’d imagine, never saw them before…)
At this point last night (about 11:40) disaster struck (well thats a complete overstatement really). I lazily kind of clicked a few keys on the keyboard and everything I wrote on Mailchimp disappeared… Spent until 1.50AM driving myself insane trying to retrieve it… no joy had to do it all again today (got I.T. advice.. vanished…).
PIAS for February 26th have the new ANTHRAX album ‘For All Kings’ via Nuclear Blast on Double LP and double CD limited digi-pack. The Gloaming’s second album is also out next Friday via Realworld Records…. LP not till 6th of May though… PIAS also have a reissue of Jesse Malin’s Debut, that Ryan Adams produced, called ‘Fine Art of Self Destruction’. Fine album… Lastly from PIAS is the new Ricky Warwick solo project (front man of Black Star Riders) on double CD and double LP.. ‘When Patsy Cline was Crazy and Guy Mitchell Sang the Blues’. Great title
Essential have the ‘SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS’ album out for next week..
Sony have a deluxe version of MICHAEL JACKSON’s ‘Off The Wall’ album on CD/DVD, ENTOMBED’s new album ‘Dead Dawn’ and a vinyl reissue of CAROLE KING’s ‘Tapestry’ again…
An interesting customer of ours rang me on Thursday and asked me did I want to do an interview piece on the vinyl resurgence for the Sean O’ Rourke radio programme… after a gulp…. I said yes!!! Thanks Brian.
Hope all is well…
Here are some of the links for releases in store for the morning including…. BLEEDING HEART PIGEONS, JOHN COLTRANE, DRIVE BY TRUCKERS,WHITE BUFFALO, KULA SHAKER and BASIA BULAT.
So lets ramble on to releases for next Friday the 19th of February,( and i know it can be a bit of a ramble ,with some notoriously bad grammatical errors, apologies in advance dear readers, but why change the habit of a life…and all that, besides i have in house and out house editors so all’s good)
Not a huge amount for Friday ( bumper week the following week though the 26th) .
Universal for the 19th have new kid on the block JACK GARRATT…here’s a quick listen…
JACK was BBC SOUND OF 2016 WINNER, BRITS critics choice winner, SPOTIFYs spotlight on 2016 winner….lots of awards and with it comes lots of expectation….what ye think…?
Uni also have the soundtrack to the movie WHIPLASH, excellent soundtrack i am hearing to what is also supposed to be an excellent film ( its a music movie ) , they have another PLACEBO reissue, this time SLEEPING WITH GHOSTS, this time on limited blue vinyl, ROSIE LOWE album on CD and LP and a rake of DVD releases on eagle vision or eagle rock or whatever they are called these days….BEACH BOYS infamous Knebworth concert from 1980, MOODY BLUES live at the isle of Wight DVD, LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM- songs from the soft machine DVD, DURAN DURAN and MIKE AND THE MECHANICS live DVDs also.
WARNER for the 19th have a couple of DEEP PURPLE vinyl record reissues, IN ROCK and FIREBALL, the soundtrack to THE REVENANT on 2LP with the music by RYUICHI SAKAMOTO.
Warner also have a reissue of the MOVING HEARTS live in Dublin CD/DVD set, this one from 2008 i think, metal CD from AFTER THE BURIAL and a new MAVIS STAPLES album called livin on a high note.
Lastly from Warner is new ” goth -punk ” band CREEPER with an EP on ROADRUNNER entitled ” the stranger” , on white vinyl…..here’s a track from the EP
Republic Of Music have a new album by DJ PRINS THOMAS…a four LP set i think.
PIAS have a debut album or solo debut album anyway by New Zealander MARLON WILLIAMS ( the equivalent to Murphys in that neck of the woods, apologies O MURUCHUs)…heard this guy maybe a month back doing a session on Paul McLoone one night which i quite liked…folk with a tinge of country and a drop of bluegrass…
The biggest release for next week is probably going to be through
Featuring 5 new tracks recorded at the Hotel Saint Cecilia in Austin, Texas in October 2015
Tracklisting
A. Saint Cecilia (03:41)
A. Sean (03:11)
A. Savior Breath (02:11)
B. Iron Rooster (04:11)
B. The Neverending Sigh (04:45)
THEM VINYL
As part of Legacy Recording’s acquisition of the Van Morrison catalogue, the first two albums of Belfast group, Them – fronted by Morrison between 1964 and 1967 – will be made available on vinyl on 12th February……in store for tomorrow also
Sony also has a reissue of the man of the moment BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – the seeger sessions on Vinyl…don’t get me wrong here now punks, i like Bruce….but i thought these tickets would not have disappeared as quick as they did…i thought he may have come to our well a bit to often is all (was always going to sell out but i really was surprised by the speed is all)….legend i know, before i am burned at the stake or stoned to death….i mean that, a legend, but Bruce seems to do here every summer and always takes it to the bank or the river in this case….amazing really…..i want to see a 25 year old Bruce in Croke park , that’s what i want….ooo hoo hoo i’m on fire….. tomorrow!
Lastly Sony have this new guy i like the sound of also called JOSEF SALVAT….heres a listen…
Sin e for this week folks,
catch us at https://musiczone.ie
thanks for listening,
Ray.
Hey Everyone,
Hope all is well…
Some of the releases in the shop for tomorrow include FIELD MUSIC, THE WEEKEND, JUNIOR BOYS, ELTON JOHN, TELEGRAM and BLOC PARTY.
Now going to mention what’s coming out Friday the 12th of February.
The most interesting record coming out Friday, in my opinion ( the opinion bit is to protect me from abuse) is from a three piece from up the road, down the road in Limerick.
BLEEDINGHEARTPIGEONS release their debut long player next Friday via massive UK label, VIRGIN/EMI….I have a bit of faith in these boys that they will be around for the long haul….i would have mentioned their EP releases in the last year or two….and the big label seem to be showing a lot of fate in them also….LP only release…no CD….now thats not a call the label would have made….no way jose….so for a teenage Irish band to call that shot ( at least i imagine it was the band who called it) and be granted their wish, shows the esteem the record company holds the lads in… or the record company see’s dollar signs, that maybe fairly or unfairly more accurate.
I am sure there are guys and gals who work in record companies who want to find a band who will blow the worlds socks off, others just in for the dollars.
Here’s a tune
BLEEDINGHEARTPIGEONS are somewhat traditional angst rock outfit i suppose with elements of prog and electronic throw in the pot, with a strong lyrical content also…something tells me there is a lot of creativity to follow….everything they have done so far smacks of forward thinking, boundary pushing music….here are a few words about the album from lyricist and singer Michael Keating ( pronounced as gaelige, i cant find da fada!!)….
Interesting lad, fair to say…
We are hoping to get the lads in for an in-store….so will keep ye posted on that one….
I ain’t going to blow more smoke up their…….here’s another tune… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNyrfdjcOjQ
Universal also has a live DVD of ELVIS COSTELLO, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH LP reissues of “the way of the fist”, ” war is the answer” and ” american capitolist” , each reissue on a different colour…RIDE ” nowhere” gets a standard reissue release, Australian goth/synthpopers THE JEZABELS have a new record, RONAN KEATING has a new CD and there is a reissue of SUN RAs “space is the place”.
Lastly from Universal is a deluxe triple LP of JOHN COLTRANES “love supreme”….as usual we beat up the big forest in the sky with our prices….
Essential for next Friday have a new album by LISSIE and a reissue of THE BLUETONES ” excepting to fly” album…i remember really liking that album…wonder did it stand the tesat of time…20 years ago id say.
REPUBLIC OF MUSIC has new albums by BASIA BULAT on the secret city label with a lot of input by JIM JAMES of MY MORNING JACKET and a YOU SAY PARTY new album also.
Warner have the soundtrack to the new HBO TV series by Martin Scorsese called VINYL….Jagger was a consultant on it, well for the bits he remembers anyway….its a TV SERIES about the record industry in the late 60s and 70s….it shows how hot a buzzword VINYL is at the moment….not that record shop owners are cribbing about that…we crib enough. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yrz4DMEjCpQ
There is a trendiness attached to the aul record buying at the moment….so look ye are all cool….HBO done the market research and its findings were that ye are all cool…seriously, to some this is just a passing fad, some were always lifers and some who may have being the passing fad, will fall in love and become lifers….thats my tuppence worth anyway….will Vinyl be here in 25 years…yes i would guess, to what degree, i haven’t got a clue…anyone got a good crystal ball
Warner also have new albums by Mali singer/songwriter ROKIA TRAORE, KULA SHAKER, WHITE BUFFALO ( the dude who done the sons of anarchy soundtracks) and the BRITS awards compilation.
SONY for next Friday have Vinyl records reissues by THEM…” the angry young them” and ” them again” as well as reissues by ICED EARTH.
Oh, RIHANNA released an album today…no promo, jack shit, just landed….copycat…now who was the first to do that again…..you could argue Zeppelin but everyone knew there was an album coming, just no single…there was a flood of surprise albums since 2013…one fella started that flood around his birthday.
PROPER via EDSEL have a 20th anniversary edition of the FUN LOVING CRIMINALS debut “come find yourself” on 3 cd or a fancy box-set thingy.
One last tune from my new favourite band before i go and write dear landlord
check us here at VINYL RECORDS CORK for whats coming and going…
Sin e for this week and as ever
So, releases for next Friday the 5th of February include from Pias the new FIELD MUSIC album ” commontime” on double orange vinyl for Indie shops only for a limited time, bit of a talking heads vibe going on here….
Also from PIAS are some 30th anniversary Vinyl reissues from ERASURE.
UNIVERSAL
UNIVERSAL for Friday the 5th of February have a new ELTON JOHN studio album “wonderful crazy night” on four formats, CD, DELUXE CD, LP and super douper boxy thingy… , they have a new album by ERIC PRYDZ and also the soundtrack to the ELLIOT SMITH documentary ” heaven adores you” ( must get to see it) check out this beauty if he is new to you…
Essential have the new record by THE CULT out next Friday also on CD and DLP on the COOKING VINYL label….heres a taste
It was a bit of a surprise yesterday to hear of the demise of xtravision, and not really a good surprise.
I know a couple of the lads who worked there well and i have thought of them both a bit over the last day or so. One of them was in fact one of Music Zones first employees when she was only a kid, i nearly worked every day of the year for the first 12 months ( MAY 2001 we opened) but i remember Jamie covering me for a match or two for the 2002 Soccer World cup ( GA background, hence the use of the soccer term)…..she worked part time for me for a couple of years and then went travelling for a bit and came back a good 10 years ago or so and settled in with xtravision…..the second,a sound lad who loves his Vinyl and who i know down through the years ( has a young family, my own age) and has being managing xtravision shops for the last 15 years or so, was moved out of the Douglas branch about 6 or 9 months to another branch, he was in at Christmas when word was out that the Douglas branch was closing and we felt he had missed a bullet with being moved out..couldn’t miss all the bullets in the end…..good lad, would love him on board if i had a spot…thats the personal damage it can do.
Some may understandably think that i may be delighted in a professional sense with xtravisions demise…not really the case.
If i can explain…
We sold the same products within reason but were very different shops i felt.
I want to survive and grow, obviously, but i feel overall the demise of physical bricks and mortar shops like HMV, GOLDEN DISCS, XTRAVISION or any of the indie guys is bad news for us all.
People have such choice now with how they consume media/ music….the buzz term in our game at the moment is multi channel platforms….less suppliers in the physical game, the less money can be made by the powers that be and hence the less interest those powers will show in that “platform”. ( just give the products to those beasts in the sky, they can sell it for us and we only have to ship it a couple of locations, makes sense, makes money, lets do it, they can rack it next to their dog poop cleaners)
That said though, DVD is under dreadful pressure, i am 4 full years in Douglas in March and in year one, DVD sales were close on 60% of turnover….this year ( year 4) running at about 19%….fell off a cliff.
They reckon 250,000 households in Ireland have Netflix, crucial point here is, those that have it were probably people who bought DVDs prior to getting it…..another tough day for the industry i am in.
XTRAVISION needed to change quickly when that cliff approached and when you have 80 shops, you don’t move to nimbly, if move at all…… Irish man Peter McGowan ( owner of Hilco…hmv, xtravision….Hilco are a commercial restructuring company….eemmmmmmm) is interviewed in the SUNDAY BUSINESS POST this Sunday..
WARNER
Warner for next Friday have a 2CD remastered album by MCGOUGH & MCGEAR….Macca’s younger brother, Hendrix on Guitar, Macca does a bit of producing…meant to be a classic…i don’t know it…poems and all sorts i think
WARNER also have new albums by CHRIS ISAAC, german prog metal by OBSCURA, and a fancy version of the Josh Groban album.
REPUBLIC OF MUSIC have new albums next week by JUNIOR BOYS on city slang ( electro pop) heres a listen….
ROM also have a new album by TELEGRAM…alternative rock 4 piece from London town…signed, coloured LP copies available…a live CLUTCH DVD and GRIMES debut album gets a reissue….her very first one that is….
SONY
SONY have the second album by FOXES out next week, hip hop sensation BRYSON TILLER gets a vinyl release….heres a snippet
On the local scene, aside from THE ALTERED HOURS and WALKING ON CARS releases tomorrow, we have a bit of live music in the shop.
Local and up and coming songwriter and musician GERALD AHERNE, is in store tomorrow playing a few tunes for us ….GERALD is only turned 17 but already there has been a lot of interest in him from record companies in the UK….Should be a good one tomorrow…..5pm tomorrow if you’re around.
check out the site for comings and goings https://musiczone.ie
Sin e for this week,
thanks for listening,
ray.,
More serious players in the music industry passed on last week, Glen Frey fromTHE EAGLES, whom some would accredit to being the main musical driving force behind the band, passed away ( whatever that saying really means) …..whilst also did Dale buffin Griffin, drummer from MOTT THE HOOPLE , both aged 67. BOWIE had a huge part to play in HOOPLEs success,( as ye probably all know but sure i’ll tell ye again anyway), BOWIE was a fan of the band but things weren’t going too well for them and they decided to call it a day, so Bowie offered them ” suffregette city” from the then unreleased Ziggy album because he wanted them to stay together, the lads said no thanks we’re out of here, so he said look, i wrote this song, there ye can have it if ye want…..the track was, in the one cent pop quiz, ALL THE YOUNG DUDES….they said aaahhh sure we’ll try that one alright.
SAINT BOWIE it is…the welsh have the SAINT DAVID thing tied up…5 years to wait though…..it’s to early i know….
Dingle five piece WALKING ON CARS release their hugely anticipated debut record on Virgin/EMI via Universal…most of ye know i enjoy a light hearted jab from time to time at the massive pillars of on line retailing so why break the habit of a lifetime….they are 21 pounds sterling, we are 22 euro for the LP.
I, like a lot of other people like the sound of these guys and girl, have being going since about 2010/ 2011 i think…..they jacked everything in a few years back and all five said right lets try do this…rented a shed on the pennisula, ate bread jam and beans for 6 months and came away with the bones of this record…..must ask how they went from beans and jam sandwiches to signing to a big record label….will find out and give you an update next week….ones as ye know to watch for sure…here’s a track…
Also through Universal next Friday is a DEEP PURPLE 7 LP Vinyl box-set, anERIC CLAPTON 9 LP box-set from his time with Polydor, 150 euro versus the beast’s 144 pounds sterling…..some MIKE OLDFIELD reissues including “discovery” , a SIOUXSIE 6 CD studio album box set, TOOTHGRINDER, a debut metal album ( in case you didn’t guess) which i am told is going to do well and lastly from Universal for next week is the new TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND record on CD and 2LP.
here’s a track from that album…
Next up is a much anticipated debut long player release from Cork band THE ALTERED HOURS…
The Altered Hours are a five-piece music group based in Cork city, Ireland. IN HEAT NOT SORRY is their first full length album, recorded at the Funkhaus studio in Berlin. Following their work with Fabien Leseure on the Sweet Jelly Roll EP (A Recordings) in 2013, plans were made to further explore the potential for capturing the band’s intense live energy.
The group returned to Berlin in 2014 and spent three weeks exploring, experimenting and recording with Leseure at the controls. The project began with a great variety of songs and ideas but a unique and cohesive style was quickly decided upon due to an emphasis on live recording. The resulting ten tracks are representative of the group’s evolution since their last EP – beginning with a lush psychedelic sound and pushing towards a stark but honest headspace. This album has clearly been influenced by the dismal but beautiful surroundings of the 1950s Funkhaus studio building (a former DDR radio center) and in many ways IN HEAT NOT SORRY’s sound and atmosphere encapsulates the band’s ongoing fascination with testing (and sometimes disrupting) that fine balance between tranquility and chaos.
The Altered Hours continue to tour and play festivals across Europe, having also been invited to share the stage with some of their biggest influences, such as the Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Pop Group, Singapore Sling and White Hills.
Here is one of the new tunes…
The band are launching the album in the KINO on Friday night…
The Altered Hours have a certain darkness to their sound. It’s there in those brittle tones, the post-punk influenced chugging bass line, and it’s there in those pleading, sometimes desperate vocals. But that isn’t to suggest that the Irish act are doom-laden naysayers – rather, The Altered Hours continually transgress the intensity of their volition, focussing on shards of pure, white light amidst the black
Clash
Galvanic psych majesty and tectonically-charged rapture
Line Of Best Fit
The Altered Hours specialise in swirling psychedelia that could be described as Jefferson Airplane for the post-punk era….one of the genre’s most exciting new acts
Drowned In Sound
…this is not so much carefree psych for a sunny summer’s day but something more sinister creeping out of the shadows, albeit allaying any fear with a mightily catchy chorus
Louder Than War
The Altered Hours are not a band to be pinned down too neatly. The layered, cyclical guitars bounce between shoegaze detachment, psychocandy aggression and chiming raga folk. The intertwining vocals of Cathal Mac Gabhann and Elaine Howley float somewhere above it all, by turns transcendent and paranoid. Buried underneath is the droning noise, propulsive drums and fuzzed- out low end.
The Irish Times
i hope it goes great for them….we will have CD and LP copies next week…
Essential has the new TURIN BRAKES album for next Friday…..
Proper have a nice TOWNES VAN ZANDT reissue on Vinyl for next Friday “texas rain”…
PIAS for next Friday the 29th have the new BLOC PARTY album, believe it or not, their 5th record….they seem to be around forever…i quite like the song or two i heard….
The album is available on a double CD, CD or double white Vinyl for indie stores….fair play to ye lads.
Out on nuclear blast also next week is the 7th album by AVANTASIA on four formats, CD, deluxe CD, 2LP or 2LP picture disc….
PIAS also have a couple of SWANs reissues for next week…..
SONY has a new CD from SIA for next week, as well as debuts from SEAFRET, two lads from the HULL area in the UK….i kinda like a couple of their songs…dont shoot me….available as CD only for now
and a new album from New York indie pop three piece WET
as well as reissues from SLAYER which include ” show no mercy” ” hell awaits” ” haunting the chapel”.
Sony have a new record from EXUMER on Metal Blade and lastly LP reissue of the soundtrack from TOP GUN.
Warner for the 29th have the GAVIN JAMES album release on Vinyl, the CHARLIE PUTH CD and some BRING ME THE HORIZION LP reissues…
On the local scene again…shop favourites THE SHAKER HYMN are back with some new tunes…
If you can’t get in to say hello, how’s the form, hows it going or just don’t want to talk to us at all….you can do it all here…no talking required….unashamed i am….you can do it all here https://musiczone.ie
hi all,
Well, where do i start?
It has been a strange, surreal and very sad week for music lovers but more so Bowie fans.
It started for me with unanswered beeping on my phone on a few occasions after 7 but before 8 on Monday morning….when i finally did attend to the beeps, the first message i saw had three words…Bowie is dead ( from a good source, i knew it was no wind up) i replied with two words….what? how?…which i received a one word answer…cancer….after that it was a stun.
As he mystically and magically pronounced….WHERE THE FUCK DID MONDAY GO.
I was knocked for six, i had two thoughts, one was for some hard core Bowie fans who support and frequent the shop and the other was….what a class act…what a way to go…graceful and dignified and on his own terms, not allowing his ego to be massaged or smoke blown up his arse for the last number of months…granted, he probably didn’t want the hassle of press and all the rest….nope, he spent his last months being incredibly creative and left a beautiful haunting piece of work for his fans to cry over for now but grow to love over time….i said it last week, its a brilliant record, it is dark, has Jazz and drum and bass influences but give it time, its a gem…last track on the album here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE1Zcngd3VA&list=PLJ8y7DDcrI_rZ4E1JZobJCezqGnQi9ouh
Now, i don’t profess to being a huge Bowie fan, league one type of fan ( promoting myself to the championship over the last week and looking forward to diving into more of the catalogue),i know a good few albums from the 70s well, and vaguely know other albums outside the hits, but we all probably have our own little Bowie memories….here are a couple of mine….i knew the name before i knew the music…born in 74…early 80s was the time for the Bowie suits, thin red leather ties, slick pants, open shirt, slip on shoes…a fashion movement brought about by a musician….i remember taping a Dave Fanning radio show where famous guests picked their favourite songs and Bowies ” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao2ZLifNLXc was on it…i loved that song…..i remember him stopping in the middle of the Freddie Mercury memorial concert, going down on one knee and praying….in english….
Ár nAthair atá ar neamh,
go naofar d’ainm,
I remember he was the first to use the internet to sell his album, 1997s Earthling i think….
And then i remember, his declaration in Irish this time of Tiocfaidh ar la at one of his Dublin concerts back along….made a stir at the time…he enjoyed that id say.
He was a musical genius, innovative and always ahead of the posse….
I asked one of the premier league lads , did he want to write a few lines about what Bowie meant to him,and some of his friends as i felt it would be better coming from him, a true true fan…
Here’s what he had to say…..
This has really knocked me for six. Even now my chest feels like it’s going to explode. It really is like losing a family member. I couldn’t be consoled on Monday. Tears were shed. Ray it’s hard to describe, but I grew up with this man. Forty years Ray, forty years. That’s a long time. The guy was with me since I was a child and all the way up to today. He sound tracked my whole life. BOWIE was always there even in the years when he was off the radar..he was never off mine. My abiding memory from my teenage years is my Mother screaming at me ’If you knew as much about your maths now as you do about David Bowie you’d be better off’!! Myself and Caroline even walked down the aisle to the sound of Absolute Beginners!! Dean the youngest, was born on a Thursday..Thursdays child! When I was in school there were two gangs or tribes in the yard..you were either Status Quo or BOWIE. For me there was no choice. Every album was an event in our lives. And as you know no two albums were the same. We tried to copy him..at one point I even smoked Gauloise cigarettes because BOWIE did. Jesus I nearly choked to death. You’d read an interview with BOWIE and if mentioned a band you never heard of e.g. Velvet Underground you’d go and get their stuff and listen to it. Something new. If he mentioned books he was reading you’d get then too. Something new.. Fashion..art….learned all about it from BOWIE. He informed all the various parts of our lives. I can honestly say he changed my life…completely. And all the friends from all over the world I’ve made over the years that I’ve met at various gigs. And we all keep in touch. I’ve followed him all over the world. America, Australia, Europe…everywhere. I met him a few times and a nicer guy you’d never meet. As we say in Cork..Sound out!!! And maybe that would be a good epitaph..SOUND….As you know the new album is a cracker. He was on a roll again, Seemingly he was eager to do another one soon and had cut 5 demos with Visconti for the next album. What that man must have gone through to cut BLACLKSTAR and the two videos no one knows. It must have been so hard physically and mentally. My heart breaks. This morning we hear he has already been cremated on his own. His wishes were for NO FAMILY to be present. My youth gone. I can honestly say that there are now no heroes left in my life. My heroes were Sinatra, Georgie Best and Bowie. All gone. Bowie was out there on his own in terms of music. No one there like him now. Always going forward. Never looking back. It was always about what’s next. Always the future. Always change. Sure it didn’t always work. But that was the beauty of the man. Not afraid to try or fail. And by the way I thought Tin Machine were great. You just never knew where he was going to take you. You always looked to him to see what the future was going to be. I always thought that Bowie would cheat Death. I truly expected to be getting a new release in 3016. Nothing has changed?……Everything has changed…… Jesus Ray sorry about that..looking back it looks like the ramblings of a deranged mind. All I wanted to ask you was, would you let people know in the newsletter that there’s a night to remember BOWIE and celebrate his life next Saturday night in the Friary at 9…Jim Comet…… Will drop in soon…Thanks….Tony
Bits in the shop for tomorrow include the new DAUGHTER record ” not to disappear” , the new SKUNK ANANSIE ,
Releases for next Friday include the new MEGADETH record ” dystopia” on CD, deluxe limited CD , LP and picture disc LP from Universal as well as a reissue on Vinyl record of THE KOOKS debut ” inside in, inside out” and a second album i think from ELIOT SUMNER…yep that guy SUMNER’s daughter.
Warner have the new SUEDE album which i must tune in to…” night thoughts” on CD, CD/DVD, Boxset thingy and double LP….as well as some fancy RHINO reissues on coloured Vinyl including THE MONKEES, GRATEFUL DEAD, VELVET UNDERGROUND and THE CARS.
Sony have talk of two SPRINGSTEEN reissues on Vinyl, MAGIC and THE SEEGER SESSIONS but i think they are pushed back a week or two….will let ye know next week.
PIAS have the new ( second) SAVAGES record next Friday also….will could be a good un…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7ZpPsaMNMM
Pias also have new records from TY SEAGALL, BESWARD LAKES and PROMISE OF THE MONSTER and reissues from BADLY DRAWN BOY and JOHN CALE.
ESSENTIAL has the newest LUCINDA WILLIAMS record, ” the ghosts of highway 20″ out next Friday also….a double LP
So, Sin e i think………for some people it feels like last Monday really was the day the music died……. but in celebration of an absolutely STAGGERING musician whose music will live on long past all of us, i would like to finish the newsletter the same way as last week, so…..
altogether now…
THERES A STARMAN WAITING ……
There is a black star on the horizon from the star man, choice nominees and talks of old folks homes
Hi Everyone,
Happy new year and all that Jazz….
Hope all went well and that all is good.
Traditionally a quiet enough time except for ARCTIC MONKEYS debut release in 2006 and the boy wonder with his birthday release 3 years ago now.
And the birthday boy wonder BOWIE is back with a new record again…album of the year i’d say no doubt about it…..so far this year anyway.
Only playing lads, ( the Bowiehead lads i am referring to ) i really likeBLACKSTAR , the jazz influence easy to hear, avant garde style, vocally very good for a fella 80 next year, ( another jab lads, getting closer yerselfs now sure)
The lead single is an absolute cracker in my opinion a wonderful piece of music that improves listen after listen…needs a few of those listens though, and i have listened 6 or 7 times to the album in the shop and it’s starting to resonate with me, thats a great song, jays thats a great song as well type of thing….very impressed i must say.
Moving on from the birthday boy so, the new VILLAGERS record is out tomorrow also….well not exactly a new record, reworkings of songs from the first three records, recrafted and sounding succulent, talented boy is our own Mr. O Brien….available via Domino on CD and for a short time only limited green Vinyl record….its a lovely listen.
The Corporation ( my address to you shareholders) had a good enough Christmas…in the positive direction by 2.5 % fuelled largely by the aul Vinyl record….vinyl up about 40% in 2015 against 2014…DVD still in a lot of decline….the two of them nearly balancing each other out…shop for the year was a mirror of the Christmas…2% increase….look, happy days….shit load more work than the good times , the bertie bowl era, our great leader of the past….but hey right direction…take that.
The Choice music nominees were announced during the week, which as you know are considered to be the ten best Irish records this year…well 2015….list is GIRL BAND, HAM SANDWICH, GAVIN JAMES, JAPE, LE GALAXIE, COLM MAC CON LOMAIRE, ROISIN MURPHY, SOAK, VILLAGERS and YOUNG WONDER.
Strong list to be fair, a couple of notably exceptions in my opinion, THE NORTH SEA and HEDGE SCHOOLS records are excellent in my opinion and never the made the list and locally THE HARD GROUND and JOHN BLEK AND THE RATS must count themselves unlucky also, as must Danny ANDERSON.
The last five i mentioned have one thing in common, they are unsigned, not in bed with a record company, and that’s just the mechanics of the industry, i buy into those mechanics everyday, i have to….i depend on record companies….they will get by fine without me…..but there was never going to be more than two unsigned bands in the 10….thats just the way it is….2 is good in fact i would argue….but i personally would have to question whether the 10 best Irish albums are on display….but hey thats the way it works….
Next week the 15th , there’s is not a huge amount happening…
PIAS have the second album by DAUGHTER on 4AD…
Universal have the SKUNK ANANSIE record ( their sixth now) with one of the best front women around in SKIN and UNI also have the iconic soundtrack for BACK TO THE FUTURE on PICTURE Disc…is it RECORD STORE DAY….( not long now folks!!, what a marketeer)
Here is an interesting piece from BBC RADIO 4 on sound and compression…both sides of the tale given…if you like your sound and have a spare half an hour, this is for you, if not it may bore the liathroidi off you…worth a listen in my opinion….game of opinions as ye know though http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06tvgp1#play
might bring the aul video back all going well….some of ye are lyrically, some visual…
Serious, thanks for all the support over Christmas and all year, please god we will rock on….
Hi Everyone,
Hope all is well…
Still a few bits out tomorrow and next Fridaythe 18th as well….the Friday after that will be turkey cooking, cider drinking, turkey eating, cider drinking type of Friday…how bad.
Going to skip through the new releases so..
Out tomorrow from Universal is an 8 LP vinyl boxset of AMY WINEHOUSE including her three studio albums plus rare live and unreleased tracks all on 180 gram vinyl with codes, bespoke prints and exclusive photographs..retails at 130 euro versus 140 upstairs.
Universal also a couple of FRANK ZAPPA LP reissues namely ” feeding the monkies…” which is on limited coloured vinyl and also ” sheik yerbouti”
Universal for the 18th have the CD of the new Star wars film again by JOHN WILLIAMS, the soundtrack to the new TARANTINO movie ” hateful eight ” with the music composed by the genius ENNIO MORRICONE, this one on CD and 2LP, THE WEEKEND’s latest album gets its vinyl release tomorrow week plus there is a red coloured reissue of the GHOST album “meliora” and lastly a CHARLIE PARKER, CHARLES MINGUS, DIZZY GILLESPIE and more “jazz at massey hall” 3 LP box set. Have a listen to a track from the MORRICONE soundtrack here…
WARNER for tomorrow really only have the new NOEL GALLAGHER single worth a mention but for the 18th they have a nice PANTERA 5 LP plus exclusive 7″ or a 5 CD box-set entitled the complete studio albums 1990 – 2000, they also have a FLAMING LIPS 5 LP box set called ” nuggs 20 years after clouds taste metallic…”, a LINDA RONSTADT triple LP best of and the new PAUL WELLER 7″.
It is becoming a 50 week a year release schedule…
I think the last couple of years i gave a bit of a state of the nation around this time of the year….a report to ye investors….the shop is up about 2% going into the last month…Vinyl is up about 40% on 2014 in the shop but the dollars increase gained by the long playing record has being off set by more decline in DVD sales…leaving a bit of a status quo…DVD is under pressure on loads of fronts…believe or not it was nearly 60 % of turnover Christmas 2013…i reckon it might be 20% this Christmas….it’s never being easy this game, i can safely say two things…Vinyl has saved my bacon and the shop has reat customers who choose to support us, warts and all, than maybe take another option so a sincere and heart felt thanks to ye all…i mean that.
Sony for tomorrow really only has the vinyl release of RYAN ADAM’S take on Taylor SWIFT’S album 1989…I really like this i must say…stone me or dethrone me i really like this.
Next week the 18th Sony have the vinyl release of the new DAVE GAHAN AND SOULSAVERS, plus some ELO vinyl reissues ” el dorado” ” out of the blue” and ” a new world”.
Sony have the new BOWIE album for Friday the 8th of Jan and a complete star wars vinyl boxset….Bowie will hopefully be discussed again before the 8th….its called *….
Pias have for tomorrow the second album by GRIMES on 4AD called ” art angels” which is the follow up to the much applauded debut….pop bliss….mentioned in quite a few year end album of the year lists…..heres a quick listen
Also out tomorrow from PIAS is the debut solo record from JENNY LEE LINBERG of WARPAINT on rough trade plus a gorgeous looking 3 LP box set of Damon Gough aka BADLY DRAWN BOY debut ” the hour of bewilderbeast” , this reissue includes 13 bonus tracks, numbered and limited….there is a CASS MCCOMBS anthology outtomorrow also as well as NEW ORDERs latest single ” tutti frutti” on yalla vinyl…
PIAS for the 8th of Jan will have the latest release from Conor O Brien or VILLAGERS…..which is a reworking of 12 songs from across his three records, recorded in one day with some incredible musicians, available exclusively to indepandant retailers like moi on green vinyl with two bonus tracks…
The world lost two great souls this past four or five days and I lost two friends….one who was always warm and friendly and never failed to make me laugh when i met her…never…she went too soon and the other one who minded me like a baby in Carrigaline for 11 years, are ya alright for a cup of tea bud, are ya alright for the toilet bud….salt of the earth that one…..targets and % don’t matter a shit at the end of the day really do they…none of us know how many days are ahead of us, try enjoy them as best as possible.
From me and the rest of the lads inside, have a happy and safe Christmas and again thanks….so for the last time this year,
sin e for this week…
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