Tag: banter

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are all keeping well.

Warner for the 27th of February has arguably the biggest release of the week with ex Oasis man, Noel Gallagher’s second solo album.

I really like the new single “the ballad of the mighty I” with Mr. Marr on guitar….as good a tune he has had for many a day in my opinion.

It is available across three formats, standard CD, deluxe CD and LP with a copy of the standard CD included.

It is encouraging seeing more and more Vinyl releases with the CD thrown in or a download code with the LP.

Surely there is only a little extra cost involved in it for the record companies to throw in the CD or the code, so hopefully it will be the standard going forward.

The new Noel Gallagher record is 180 gram gatefold with the standard CD enclosed for 24 Euro….which I think is good value….only issue I see with it…..why not enclose the deluxe CD with the Vinyl??…..you are harming the super fan who likes to buy the physical product, be it CD or Vinyl records (who supports the industry we all work in, Mr. Record Company man) because this super fan wants the bonus tracks on the deluxe CD, so that customer is saying to him or herself “ shit, I want the record on Vinyl but I want the bonus tracks also, that’s going cost me 44 euro”…..do it right, treat people right, stick the deluxe CD in with the LP for 27 or 28 quid…everyone’s happy and the customer isn’t pissed off feeling they paid 20 euro for 4 tracks and a fancier box!

Sony has been putting a CD copy in with their big Vinyl releases of late also.

The new Dylan LP had the CD also thrown in for 22 euro….fair enough I think.

Speaking of the new Dylan album, we had a mad rush on it last Friday afternoon in Music Zone.

We sold about 8 or 10 copies in a few hours after JOE DUFFY done a special on the album on his radio show, for over an hour I was told.

It does go to show the power that a show like that has.

Customers were saying to me that Joe said it was Dylan’s best album ever…..I will repeat that…..his best album ever!!

IT’S A COVERS ALBUM FOR **** SAKE, HOW CAN IT BE ONE OF THE WORLDS GREATEST EVER SONGSMITHS BEST ALBUMS???

Joe had all sorts of people on the show telling Joe (as that’s what you do I believe, tell Joe) that it was his best album ever.

Bob himself would be saying get a grip Joe.

I don’t know which side of the fence ye sit on with this and maybe I will have to bring my bullet proof vest to work in the morning but I for one just can’t hear its greatness.

I always say it, it’s a game of opinions folks, but I for one think this album is grand…….just.

Its greatness seems to have descended from quite a few 5 star reviews and programs from button moon like Tell Joe.

Maybe the great emperor Dylan has just bought himself some new clothes….

Anyone who knows or owns the album, I would be really interested in your views….

Warner also for the 27th has a new CD release from THE OVERTONES with local boy Timmy Matley.

They have the VINYL releases of the RHIANNON GIDDENS and the PUNCH BROTHERS new ones, LP reissues from LES MCCANN “ invitation to openers” and MASTODON “ blood mountain”.

Warner also has the new album from EUROPE…who doesn’t remember the final countdown!

And lastly, a new record from OF MONTREAL, which Raymond here thinks is quite good.

PIAS have the other big release on tonight’s newsletter but it is not released till Friday the 6th of March.

Drum roll please….yep even though it’s a re issue….and yep even though its nearly 20 years old…..it is still and always will be a masterpiece.

Yep, its NICK CAVE’s hauntingly beautiful album “the boatman’s call” on double Vinyl with a download code, partly written about Miss P.J HARVEY I believe.

One of the most asked about records in the shop is nearly with us. A taste of brilliance below….

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnHoqHscTKE

Not to forget, “THE GOOD SON” from NICK CAVE also gets the Vinyl reissue treatment that day…which is another fine album.

Pias also have new records from ENSLAVED, MATTHEW E.WHITE, a bunch of LP reissues from BROADCAST including “ the noise made by people” and a new single from PETE DOHERTY, a tribute to his friend AMY WINEHOUSE.

Sony has new albums from KELLY CLARKSON and BLUE for the 27th Feb.

Universal, (who also are moving house at the moment) have a couple of reissues from UB40 on deluxe CD and double LP “PRESENT ARMS” and “LABOUR OF LOVE” as well as the NEAL MORSE BAND new combo pack LP/2CD of the new album “ the grand experiment”.

ESSENTIAL releases for the 6th of March are attached which include County Down’s THE ANSWER and their new album “raise a little hell”….their 5th album now, a really hardworking band….i was quite randomly introduced to the lead singer Cormac at NEIL YOUNG down da marquee and he seemed like a really good lad….so I really hope they can persevere, and prosper.

Here are the REPUBLIC OF MUSIC releases for the 6th MARCH…

Singles this week, A Sagittariun “No Spring Chicken EP” on Hypercolour featuring 3-4-3 (Original Mix) + Rolando Remix & Delta House, on Ram the latest from Calyx & Teebee “A Day That Never Comes/Snakes & Ladders” and Interrobang?; Dunston Bruce, Harry Hamer of Chumbawamba and Stephen Griffin from the Regular Fries new project; “Are You Ready People” will be part 1 in a series of 3 7s. New Street Adventure release “The Big A.C.” on 7 on Acid Jazz & Reginald Omas Mamode IV gives us “Sunshine/Moneymaker” on Five Easy Peices.

To the albums…. Beam Up release “Innerstand” on BBE, Northern Lite release their 10th studio album and it’s called “Ten” on UNA Music & Saycet release “Mirage” on Meteors Music – catch them live at the Convergence Festival in March. Manchester’s Slow Show release their debut album “White Water” single Bloodlines getting plays across 6 Music, R2 & XFM, on double CD “Balance 27” comes mixed by Mixed By Magda & finally this week on a one week presale brought to you by Death Waltz Recording Co & One Way Static for the first on vinyl!! It’s Riz Ortolani’s 1980 score to Cannibal Holocaust.Get in!

I was reading during the week that the NME are only clinging on to existence as there readership figures have fallen to just over 15,000 per week, half the readership its sister mag MELODY MAKER had when they closed it about 10 years ago.

NME had weekly figures in the 70s and 80s in its heyday of 300,000….it has 5% of that now.

All media seems to be under huge pressure, (as I can partly vouch for!!)

The Irish Times also in print media this week have announced they will be charging people to use the digital version of their paper, I don’t know, is that a smell of the funeral pyre in the air…..all media have to find a way whereby the people who provide the content, be it high quality journalism, music, movies or whatever ….these people must get paid.

NME has being going 63 years and even though they could be found up their own backsides at times, it would be a shame if they were no longer… also, what would MOZ do….he must be having sleepless nights.

Few little bits of news, Blur announced a new album today….first with Coxon since 1999 and first since 2003…

JIMMY PAGE is on Matt Cooper tomorrow evening Friday…..strange one to be on really when you think about it….talking about the PHYSICAL GRAFFITI reissue amongst other things Zepp.

Bowie and Zepp new ones both in store now…..

Check out our website for what’s new on record…

Home

Sin e for this week folks,

Thanks for listening,

Ray.

Hi Everyone,

Hope ye are all keeping well.

Quite a bit to plough through tonight so let’s rock on….

Warner could nearly have a newsletter to themselves for all the interesting releases they have for the 20th of February.

ZEPPELIN ZEPPELIN ZEPPELIN “physical graffiti” gets the remaster treatment on Atlantic/Swansong for the 20th, again on 5 formats.

The first 5 Zep reissues last year won the award (awards for crossing the road these days) for best reissues of 2014, Optimal being the pressing plant and the sound quality being exceptional by all accounts.

So “PHYSICAL GRAFFITI” is to be released nearly 40 years exactly to the day it was originally released and too many is Led Zeppelin’s best work.

It will be on a double CD, triple CD, double LP, triple LP and a super duper deluxey boxy thingy for good measure.

The Music Zone Corporation is one euro cheaper on the CDs, four and seven euro cheaper on the LPs and seventeen euro cheaper on the super duper boxy thingy than our/ my big faceless, friendless foe in the sky, who wants to gobble up all retail, from nappies to nail varnish…am I showing them to much love….anyway, anyone who wants to throw a nod my way for the Zep….that pass will be very gratefully excepted by the local lads!!…we will stick your name on one, no nail varnish though unless one of the Bowie lads are in the shop at the same time!

Parlophone through Warner have the next in the DAVID BOWIE 40TH anniversary 7” picture disc with the release of “young Americans” on the 20th also.

Warner doing a blast of Vinyl reissues that day also including FLEETWOOD MAC’S “ then play on”, “ klin house” , “ future games” and “ bare trees”, DR John’s “ in the right place” and the fantastically sounding RAY CHARLES duets album “ genius loves company” 10th anniversary ….his last recording before his death I think…a true legend….sample below if its new to you.

Warner have a nice priced SHADOWS 5 CD set and a best of BILLY TALENT, a DUSTY SPRINGFIELD DVD as well as new records from KID ROCK and hardcore punk band FALLING IN REVERSE.

The last one I want to mention from Warner is MAHALIA BARNES (JIMMY BARNES daughter) doing a covers album of BETTY DAVIS songs (MILES DAVIS’S WIFE….bitches brew album title attributed to her??….as she was by accounts one sassy funky lady) with the help of guitar virtuoso JOE BONNAMASSA…..( if all that makes sense!!)

Universal has an album by acclaimed producer EMILIE HAYNIE getting very well received ….

They also have a blast of RAINBOW LP reissues including “rising”, a deluxe CD version of JOHN MARTYNS brilliant “grace and danger”, and ALI FARKA TOURE with RY COODER “TALKING TIMBUKTU” on a limited gatefold Vinyl….if you forgot how good it sounds or have never heard it hears a sample below..

Universal also have some nice Jazz LP reissues on the Bluenote label including THELONIUS MONK, SONNY ROLLINS and DON CHERRY.

DAVE GROHL was announced as RECORD STORE DAY ( RSD) ambassador during the week, a great choice, a guy who really believes in the cause and is passionate about it…..is it just me or does he get a tad emotional here in the clip below when he talks about his kids and their records…

http://t.co/sbJ1s0TuuH

I have been meaning to speak about RSD for a few weeks and just never got to it.

So here goes….

This is the fourth year that the Music Zone Corporation will partake in RSD….first year that there was a threat of a fee….soon to be more than a threat I would imagine.

It has grown massively since 2012 when I first got involved.

And do not get me wrong here; I think it was an absolutely fabulous idea, and still do by the way once it doesn’t shoot itself in the foot or even worse in the head, which it has the potential to do.

It was the busiest day in the shop in 2014 outside of Christmas week by quite a bit.

But dealing with the record companies for RSD is like dealing with a bank….someone never loses, (and if they do we all chip in so they wont lose again….i wont get sidetracked on banks for to long but got a letter this week from my friendly partly owned by me bank to say they were increasing the charges they apply….12 months ago it cost 32 cent to lodge 100 euro cash in the business account, now its 60 cent….say a big business ( a big business) was lodging 10 k in cash a week, that’s 60 euro to the bank for the 10 second pleasure of putting the money through a counting machine and attributing it to an account…ah Christ don’t get me started on them…lets move back)

I have a very good relationship with most of the record companies and if I have an overstock problem we generally work something out between us, but for RSD all bets are off, what you buy stays with you forever….tough shite if it don’t sell…some retailers posted pictures of their record store day graveyards after last years event.

That’s all fine with me IF it was a level playing field we were playing on, but it aint I am afraid.

You see, this is the scenario for a retailer…….

If you want 5 copies of a limited RSD product, to achieve your 5 copies for your loyal and valued customers ( whom record shop owners like me hate to disappoint) you must show your keenness to get those 5 copies by ordering 15/20 copies…..the more you order the better chance you have of making the qty you desire….but because there is no transparency with it, ultimately you can end up with 15 copies of HENRY MANCINIS PINK PANTHER SOUNDTRACK on yes, you guessed it, pink vinyl ( If you know anyone who is looking for it…..) because sometimes you get what you ordered but not what you really wanted if that makes sense, so you are left with a lot or all of the profit for the day sitting on your shelves for months and months, whilst the record company execs go to lunch with the bankers.

Basically, your orders get cut, so if you want to get the amount you really want, you have to gamble on what % of the order you think they will cut you by…..not a level playing field I think you would agree.

Then from a consumer’s point of view…..

There are a few issues…..a grave one unfortunately is when your favorite bands limited 12 “ record falls into the wrong hands , those hands are only interested in making a quick buck, so you are forced to pay over the odds prices online for it….not good on loads of levels.

The other major issue I would think is the pricing on the product for the day…..retailers I would imagine take the same mark up as usual (well I do anyway) but customers are looking at 15 euro for Nirvana’s “pennyroyal tea “on 7 inch or a Roger Taylor COLOURED NUMBERED record for 50 bucks…..Crazy…..and its not a little thing called love.

There can be some remedies for this issues I believe (I have a few ideas myself which I will share some day soon) but RSD should act soon or what is a brilliant idea and a brilliant day could easily end up shooting itself somewhere it hurts.

Having said all that, I am starting to get excited about RSD, asides from looking at Peter Sellers face everyday, there was a great buzz in the shop last year….kids of all ages going through the racks….it is fantastic for the shop, people in all day long buying long playing vinyl records….as Prince said on presenting the Grammy to BECK for best record “records matter, they do tonight, and they will forever”.

Bit carried away as usual, so I am going to skip through the rest quickly please…

Sony has the new KODALINE LP for the 20th…a step forward sonically I feel with this record and Sony also has a new SCORPIONS album.

Pias has Nick Caves “abbatoir blues/ lyre” 2 CD/DVD reissue as well as two new records from BRANDI CARLILE and PURITY RING which Raymond here gives a thumps up to…quick sample of each below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr5mtKSbd7M

Proper Music has a new album by Irish trad band ALTAN.

I don’t know if many of you read BOB DYLAN’S acceptance speech for the MUSICARES award he received, but it is well worth a read…..

Id say he was saving his breath down da marquee in the summer for this acceptance speech (those of you who were there should find that bit amusing, those who weren’t….well….ye weren’t down there I suppose)

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/read-bob-dylans-complete-riveting-musicares-speech-20150209

On the local scène, the really talented ANNA MITCHELL was in the shop Friday the13th at 4pm signing copies of her new album and playing some tunes from her new album, which is available in the shop.

Also, we should have some copies of THE HEDGE SCHOOLS “at the end of a winding day” CD in stock towards the end of next week.

Sin e for this week,

Thanks for listening,

Ray.

Hi Everyone,

Hope ye are all doing well enough.

I have had a fairly rough week myself.

A bit of a relationship breakdown I’m afraid, nearly 25 years together , but I felt it was for the best that me and my Johnny Blues parted company.

Man, they are a powerful addiction; it seemed that nearly every thought on Monday revolved around my deadly friend…how life would have no enjoyment ever ever again…..completely absurd irrational thoughts, but yep losing Johnny made me feel that way….but anyway I’m sure ye don’t want to be listening to the battle me and the boy are having so I’ll move on…..

Universal for Friday the 13^th of Feb have the second IMAGINE DRAGONS album, “smoke and mirrors”,

No sign of Vinyl LP with this one for now, which is a bit of a pity, 3 formats of CD, STANDARD, DELUXE AND SUPER DELUXE.

Universal also have new albums from NEYO and THE MAVERICKS, a much talked about debut by MARIKA HACKMAN, reissues from THUNDER and RUSH “ caress of steel” and an interesting BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS release called “  easy skanking in Boston 1978” on a few formats.

Warner for the 13^th have a new STEVE EARLE record called “ terraplane” out on CD, DELUXE CD and LP.

It goes without saying that Mr. Earle is one of the most consistently excellent musicians and songwriters around, and from my brief listen to this, it again won’t disappoint his fans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FPttLYUHz4

There is ROEBUCK “POPS” STAPLES last ever recording out through ANTI, WARNER on Feb. 13 also.

Its title is “DON’T LOSE THIS” as these were the words that MAVIS STAPLES father said to her as he gave her the recording whilst he was very ill.

Mavis enlisted the help of her friend Jeff Tweedy to help finish the record.

Warner also have the release of teenage (??) bad girl “I don’t wanna go to school, I just wanna break the rules” CHARLI XCX on the 13^th also, as well as some Vinyl reissues from FRANKIE PAUL, YELLOWMAN AND FATHEAD and THE ORDER OF APOLLYON.

Pias have no info for the 20^th FEB as they are busy moving house as well.

All the big record companies have moved or will have moved house (warehouse) in the last 3 to 4 months.

Sony went back to SONY DADC last October (this plant had been destroyed, burnt to the ground in the London riots a few years ago), Universal are moving their distribution there as well at the end of March.

Pias are moving to CINRAM UK and Warner have moved to CINRAM Germany ( although it feels like WARNER could have moved to Beirut, last Monday two weeks order arrived Tuesday ….only 8 days after, for a 48 hour turnaround…and no Warner new releases ……I am getting to a point, believe it or not.

These moves come down to one thing…..dollars, or saving them.

2014 was a fairly bad year for the Music industry.

The statistics company Nielsen Music released their report on the state of the game for 2014….not pretty reading from where I was sitting.

Total album sales (units) for CD/VINYL/ DIGITAL were down 11% from 289 million units in 2013 to 257 million units in 2014.

Streaming and Vinyl were the only winners….streaming ( spotify, youtube) up 54% and VINYL up 52% ….Vinyl is now 6% of all physical music sales….CD was down 15% and Digital down 12.5%. (So what you gain on one hand, you lose on the other)

What I am hearing/reading is that the record companies are not going to be putting any money into the ailing; fully loaded pressing plants….they just want to cut back on costs.

Wise??

I really don’t know, if they did pump some money into the pressing plants to upgrade them and invest in new machinery, no doubt the consumer would foot the bill….same as dealing with a bank or insurance company, the record company will get their money back.

And, the new records are dear enough as we speak without increasing the cost of them…..which seems to happen randomly…..Van Morrison LPs increased by 50 % over the last few months due to “manufacturing costs” I was told, from an 18 euro price tag to a 25 euro one.

Rubbish, they are taking more margin…..plain and simple…..the floyds are the same 25 to 30 euro price tags…..cos they know they will get it.

So, it seems as if they are going to sit on their well manicured hands and hope for the best….but 52% growth and not willing to invest in trying to improve service, stock title availability, ease backlog…. is that wise?

Small story,

I have been chasing THE STONE ROSES debut LP from Sony since it sold out around Christmas….it was reissued back in September 2014….i was told today it was deleted….i asked why saying it was a great album and a great seller…..to be told that the next time it is reissued it will sell even more because it was hard to get.

This makes no sense to me, they are still treating the market as if everyone is a mad collector who wants limited rare stuff…..a lot of people I believe want to buy a nice collection of Vinyl records because they enjoy the experience of buying them, looking at them and listening to them….they invest more into the experience and ultimately get more out of it.

So, deleting things to increase demand don’t make sense to me….i think it will piss people off.

There’s a hint of that attitude in RSD but that’s for next week now again.

I suppose the plain and simple point of the last few paragraphs is basically this game is as precarious now as it has always been since I joined the match in 2001.

One major positive from that Nielsen report was that independent shops, (like the Music Zone Corporation), were least affected by the 11% drop in sales….only suffering about a 1% decrease whereas chain stores and supermarkets suffered far greater decreases…..so as Elvis might say and on behalf off all indies…..thank you very much!

Sony had nothing worth a mention for the 13^th Feb…… (They have a vast enough catalogue of CDs, they could have reissued a few on Vinyl….let it go Raymond)

MUSIC ON VINYL has reissues from BLACKFOOT “marauder”, RISING SONS which feature both RY COODER and TAJ MAHAL earliest recordings and RON WOOD “ I’ve got my own album to do” ….a dig at Rod Stewart???

CARGO has for the 23^rd of Feb…

Public Service Broadcasting – The Race For Space                         Test Card Recordings

LP Limited     TCRVA02X     23/02   5055869501835          (UK Indies Only)

LP      TCRVA02       23/02   5055869501842                     

CD          TCRCDA02    23/02   5055869501859                     

(March Collective Title) NOTE: There will be a limited edition clear plastic, heavyweight vinyl available as an exclusive to independent record stores while stocks last. Press/Radio highlights: Reviews will be across the board, full lists available but highlights include: “Gagarin” added to 6Music playlist B List from now, Marc Riley 6Music session confirmed, Daily Mirror one page feature w/c 23 Feb, Music Week feature – mid Feb, Album reviews in Q, Mojo, UNCUT, London In Stereo, Classic Pop, Prog, Record Collector, Drowned in Sound and many many more. // Following the critical and commercial success of their debut album last year and 18 months’ extensive touring & festival appearances, Public Service Broadcasting are pleased to confirm the release of their eagerly anticipated second album, The Race For Space. To mark the occasion, the band will perform two very special live transmissions from the National Space Centre, Leicester, on 26 & 27 February 2015 – these shows sold out in under 24 hours. After touring USA/Aus/NZ/Canada, PSB will embark on a major UK tour in April / May – dates below. Before all of this, they will be playing 14 dates as the sole support to Kaiser Chiefs on their UK arena tour where they expect to play to 80k+ people around the country – dates below. Recorded at The Pool Studios and Abbey Road in London and, once again working with exclusive archive footage from the British Film Institute, the new record will tell the story of the American & Soviet space race from 1957 – 1972 via the duo’s eccentric mix of guitar-driven electronica, propulsive drumming and spoken word samples culled from this uniquely rich period of modern history. The Race For Space follows Inform – Educate – Entertain, Public Service Broadcasting’s debut album which reached #21 in the UK album charts and was nominated for ‘Best Independent Album’ at the AIM Awards 2013, as well as being The Guardian’s Album of the Week and one of BBC 6Music’s Top 10 albums of 2013. Press Highlights: “They blend the voices of the past with the music of the present to astounding effect” The Independent // “Genuinely original, innovating and amazing” Artrocker Album of the Month // Time Out “Inspirational stuff” // BBC6 Music: “Absolutely, sensationally brilliant” Top 10 Albums of 2013 // “Adrenalised post-rock and electronics..gripping” 4* Mojo // “A sampladelic delight” 4* Independent on Sunday // “Terrific” GQ // “Brilliant” Q Magazine // “An extraordinary debut” The 405 // “A truly exciting, original and innovative band” Loud & Quiet. Live Dates: UK Tour dates: 22 APRIL Brighton Corn Exchange, 23Bristol O2 Academy, 24 Portsmouth Pyramids, 25 Cambridge Corn Exchange, 28 Sheffield The Foundry, 29 Manchester Ritz, 30 Newcastle Riverside 1 MAY Inverness The Ironworks, 2 Glasgow O2 ABC 3 Belfast Mandela Hall, 5 Dublin Button Factory, 6 Birmingham The Institute, 7 London Roundhouse. Short biog: Taking in archive material from a variety of sources the new album sees the corduroy-clad J. Willgoose, Esq. and his faithful drumming companion, Wrigglesworth, continue their mission statement to Inform, Educate & Entertain. Through both the record and their uniquely spell-binding live audio-visual ‘Transmissions’, audiences witness the band weave samples from these films around live drums, guitar, banjo and electronics, creating an array of diverse tracks. What emerges is, by turns, thrilling, moving, funny and powerful. The Independent’s Simon Price said of the band : “In their love of history, and their understanding of the dignity of the wartime generation, they remind me of British Sea Power, although Stereolab are closer sonically. PSB are progressive without the florid ornamentation of Prog, dense and complex with not a semiquaver wasted. It’s an industrious, diligent sound, and, in the flesh, surprisingly danceable: slamming chemical beats accompanied by old cine footage, providing a peculiar opportunity to party to Pathe news”

Brian Jonestown Massacre  – Tepid Peppermint Vol 2                               ‘a’ Recordings

2LP180g         AUK027LP     23/02   5055869507363

This comes for the first time on 180g vinyl in a gatefold sleeve. Re-mastered for vinyl.This 22 track compilation spans the years 1995 – 2004 featuring key tracks from all their albums as well and live recordings and many unreleased tracks.BJM has been essential in the development of the modern U.S. garage scene, and many LA and SF musicians got their start playing with Newcombe, including Peter Hayes of The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Originally Newcombe was heavily influenced by The Rolling Stones’ psychedelic phase – the name comes from Stones guitarist Brian Jones combined with a reference to cult leader Jim Jones, but his work in the 2000s has expanded into aesthetic dimensions approximating the UK Shoegazing genre of the 1990s and incorporating influences from world music, especially Middle Eastern and Brazilian music.

REPUBLIC OF MUSIC has

Kicking off with singles this week – first up from Southend and riding a wave of fuzz are Asylums with their debut EP on Cool Thing Records. Next up from Death Waltz Record Co we’ve got the first ever official release of Frankie Vinci – Angela’s Song on a white 7 and from the stables of the excellent Hypercolour House of Black Lanterns smashes it out the ground with The Smack.

Loads of albums to plough through this week. We welcoming to the RoM fold this week soundtrack powerhouse Mondo – and they’ve got four releases straight off the bat this week with Jurassic Park, The Iron Giant, Pet Semetary and Cat in the Brain. From Springfield, Massachusetts All That Remains return with their seventh album of metalcore on Razor and Tie, and at the other end of the scale, The Balkan Clarinet Summit ramp it up with eastern flavoured jazz and classical noodlings. From Death Waltz we’ve got the original Indonesian score to the fantastic The Raid on 140g grey vinyl and from across the pond Dave Nada and Matt Nordstrom A.K.A. Nadastrom bring their new album of techno groovers and genre bending club anthems on Dubsided. Noisia are here to celebrate Ten Year of Vision Recordings with a double CD and beautiful book of Vision artwork that comes with a download code. Spectres – one of the loudest bands we’ve ever heard at RoM bring their new album on the mighty Sonic Cathedral – they are going to slay it in 2015 and after a colossal 35 year break – Bristolians The Pop Group return with Citizen Zombie, which is racking up some great reviews in the press. Also new to the RoM stable the effortlessly cool Kitsune releases their latest slick compilation, with the back catalogue titles to follow shortly. From Ram Records this week Audio is the latest artist to step up to the RAMlife series, also with a 12” sampler to accompany. From the wilds of southern Germany, SCNTST releases his second album on BNR and we’ve got the compilation Four Seasons Lounge that may or may not be compiled be a famous German electronic artists – we couldn’t possibly say. Finally there’s a LP version of the new OK GO on a one weeker

On the local scene, we have our own ANNA MITCHELL who launched her beautiful new album “down to the bone” in Music Zone, Douglas Court, Cork on Friday the 13^th at 4 pm.

ANNA sang and signed the album on the day.

Check out her gorgeous lead single here from the new record.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Bc7nSvDWpk

As always check out our website for new records like…

https://musiczone.ie/

Sin e for this week,

Thanks for listening,

Ray.

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are all keeping well enough.

Sony for Friday the 30^th of January has the new BOB DYLAN record “shadows of the night”, which is a covers album of Sinatra big band tunes.

Bob has stripped them down to a five piece band….brave move sir.

Dylan (love him or not feeling much love at all,  will go down in the annals of history as an incredible artist)  has said in the past that “people seldom do what they believe in, they do what is convenient, then repent”

I don’t think anyone can say you are doing the convenient thing  Bob….leaving you and your voice wide open for criticism more likely.

I have to say the two tracks I have heard, were vocally delivered very well.

The boss man of Sony has being gushing about the album……blah blah blah maybe.

I am reliably informed the LP comes with a copy of the CD….so not to bad I suppose for 22 euro.

Some of my friendless faceless foes in the sky are asking for 21 pounds!! And some id say, to deliver it…..just doing my local duty folks!!

I have heard quite a few Dylan tales/stories over the years….arriving at Jack Whites house at the crack of dawn in a big bus driven by Bob, to listen to Jack’s records and having to be asked politely to leave much much later that night, only to return the following morning at the crack of dawn again in his bus to start the process again….jack must have been thinking, “how am I gonna get rid of yer man”.

Bob wanted to hear some rare old blues records; I was told it was Jack’s wife had the blues by the end of the week.

I know Bob was spotted a few years back walking along in the direction of hayfield manor between the dole office and St Finbarr’s cathedral, around the time of one of his gigs down da marquee… a balmy summers night… he was first noticed because he had a long black coat on him (oh mercy me, in that heat)….you just never know who is maudlin around the city.

Someone in the shop told me recently how they were out in St Olivier’s cemetery and Brian May from Queen asked him and his wife did they know where Rory’s grave was.

Pias have a few really nice releases for Friday the 6^th of February.

Firstly, I would like to mention THE DISTRICTS, only kids from America, 19 and 20 years of age, have a listen to them and it is a near impossibility to stop your head from bobbing up and down….ones to seriously watch I feel. If they don’t wear cowboy boots and checkered shirts ill take a copy please.

Pias also have the new records from FATHER JOHN MISTY and TWO GALLANTS as well as a load more NICK CAVE reissues on CD/DVD including the beautiful “BOATMANS CALL” album ….just Nick and his piano mainly.

I am watching the BBC series PEAKY BLINDERS a bit at the moment (very watchable it is to…on sale in the Music Zone corporation also) and Nick seems to jump in and sing a tune every 15 or 20 minutes. (Not physically jump in)

Another two of the NICK CAVE Vinyl reissues are out on the 6^th of February as well, namely “Henry’s Dream” and “the Murder Ballads”.

Murder Ballads was Nick’s most commercially successful album, maybe down to the fact that MTV ( at the time 1996, it was still a really good music channel, I don’t know what the rest of ye think but for all the MTV music channels on the telly right now….i don’t think they are great at all, they certainly don’t show much new  and interesting stuff…my opinion anyway but hey each to their own) seemed to have the duet with KYLIE “ where the wild roses grow” on repeat nearly.

That year MTV even nominated NICK for best male artist but he asked them to withdraw his nomination….which they did…..so Nick must have thought it was a shite music channel back then as well…..what do I know!

Shaggy won best male artist that year in the MTV awards…..that was a joke…I don’t know who won it… I hope now it wasn’t Shaggy!! ha

Universal have a new record from DIANA KRALL out on the 30^th January…she has sold nearly 20 million records I think and people refer to her, as I will now, as ELVIS COSTELLO’s wife…..she must love that.

An interesting one from a guy called BLAKE MILLS, his second album, getting some serious reviews in the music mags.

There is a best of GAMMA RAY out on the 30^th of January also and some RICK WAKEMAN ( YES) reissues…..speaking earlier of random sightings of great rock stars….my friends and I were on a stag in Swansea of all places a few years back when one of the lads said “ look its yer man Noel Edmonds from the telly” ….it turned out to be the aforementioned Rick, having a bite of lunch with his family….the seriously bleary eyed Cork boys left him in peace as they had to rush to catch the ferry from hell….lucky for him, being told he was mistaken for Noel Edmond’s could have turned him off his Yorkshire pudding.

Music on Vinyl have the JIMI HENDRIX tribute album “ stone free” reissued, as well as reissues of JULEE CRUISE and STAN GETZ ( all attached)

Essential have the new record by THE SUBWAYS for the 6^th.

PROPER has ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN’S self titled 5^th album, the last with drummer PETE DE FREITAS….who left the band after the 4^TH album…ocean rain was 4^th I think…..the band tried 4 or 5 different drummers in the recording sessions for this 5^th album but none worked out, so they brought their long time band mate DE FREITAS back as a hired hand (not as a member of the band) for the recording of the fifth album….there was savage friction during the recording, but still a good album.

Warner has nada for the 30^th January as they are closed this past few days on account of moving warehouse….i ordered 129 units of stock from Warner early this week, when they were still open, and I received 41 units….not a great fill rate….so if anyone is waiting on a special order from any of the Warner labels…please bear with me.

Things can only get better….he hopes.

Sin e for this week folks

Check our website for new records in….got a delivery from the states this week so should be all up on the site by the end of the weekend hopefully.

https://musiczone.ie/new-products-vinyl-records

Thanks for listening as always,

Ray.

Hi Everyone,

Hope all is good with ye…

Nothing major out for the 23rd of January but a nice few bits and pieces all the same.

I will start with Universal who has the new album by Irish band JAPE.

Richie Egan has being doing the rounds for quiet a few years now having started out (I think) with THE REDNECK MANIFESTO a good ten or fifteen years ago.

This is JAPE’s fifth record and not that I am an avid fan but what I know of them has always being good.

You would know the song “floating” if you heard it and maybe “ Phil Lynott” also and the opening single ( if that’s what they are even called these days!) from this record “ the hearts desire” is a really good tune also.

So another really good hardworking Irish band who probably deserve a lot more success than they will ever get….check them out if you don’t know already.

I think they have something more than a lot of the other Irish bands signed to majors.

Universal has a new album by GAZ COOMBES of Supergrass fame ( I know ye know)….this record has been getting 4 and 5 star reviews, Supergrass didn’t really float my boat to be honest ( “ we are young, we run free, we’ve got teeth nice and clean” ….some might say that’s about all ye had.)

But, I did see our GAZ on something recently doing a little solo acoustic thing and I must say it caught my ear and I listened on….more than just clean teeth I thought, more mature, which is probably more than you can say for some!

Speaking of what some might say, our boy Noel (Gallagher) had a pop off the golden boy ED SHEERAN this past week saying something along the lines of I don’t want to live in a world where ED SHEERAN sells three nights out at Wembley….ED retorted with something along the lines of it’s a pretty fine world to me. (Always nice is our ED)

Now, the two boys could have being having a pint the other night for all we know and the conversation could have went something like this,

NOEL: I’m doing this NME f*** ing thing tomorrow to promote the album.

ED: ah sure, it has to be done, a load of balls I know.

NOEL: I’ll be asked the usual boring f***ing questions about our kid and all that Oasis rubbish

ED: why don’t you have a pop at me at the interview?

NOEL: jays , that’s a great f***ing idea.

You get my drift I take it; everything in business has some sort of angle that’s what I’m saying, especially if you are selling something.

Me doing this is an angle, trying to get ye guys to buy records from me and not some other place in the sky or elsewhere. (Now that’s only a baby example, don’t worry about it!)

Now, I could be way off the mark also, and Noel could think his music’s shite and it keeps him all night, worrying about all ED’s success!

Really like the new Noel Gallagher tune btw.

Seen as I’m on rock n roll spats, ROBBIE WILLIAMS has moved in next door to JIMMY PAGE and they are having a barney over planning permission for some bay windows I believe….very rock n roll fellas….

Anyway, tangent over….

Universal also have new albums by POND and NATALIE PRASS as well as TYRANNOSAURUS REX reissues of “my people are fair” “prophets, seers..” and “ unicorn” across 3 formats, CD, deluxe CD and double LP.

Lastly, Universal have two reissues from the genius that was JOHN MARTYN, namely “piece by piece” and “sapphire” ,again on the same three formats as the T-REX.

Oh sorry, they also have a LYNYRD SKYNYRD 6 LP box set and some nice bluenote Jazz reissues including HERBIE HANCOCK and ART BLAKEY.

Warner have a debut album by a girl called RAE MORRIS….is it a name that will go down in the rock n roll hall of fame ….here is what’s being said about her..

Rae Morris is becoming the country’s most beloved singer songwriter” – Zane Lowe

“A pop star in waiting”- Clash

“Stunning”- The Independent

“A truly gifted songwriter” – NME Magazine

“Morris’s debut album is going to be sensational”- Sunday Times Culture

“One of the UK’s finest young talents”- The Line Of Best Fit

“The singer’s keening melodies and lustrous vocals suggest Adele might have to defend her World Piano Balladry title” – The Guardian

Warner also has new albums by THE PUNCH BROTHERS, PAPA ROACH, GOV’T MULE featuring JOHN SCHOFIELD and a seemingly very nice J.J CALE unreleased recordings on Vinyl.

PIAS have a debut album by a band called ALL WE ARE which have an Irish lad Richard O Flynn as a member of the three piece…all three met in college in Liverpool.

They have a bit of a bee gees sound going on, only a bit dreamier and trippy, with underpants maybe even tighter, if that is possible.

Limerick born Richard D James aka APHEX TWIN has a new EP coming out…he’s a mass of business of all a sudden after was it a 13 year hiatus….(” Syro” is up for a Grammy as well as a Meteor) and I have to mention the title of the new EP, ITS “ COMPUTER CONTROLLED ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTS PART 2 “

BLIND GUARDIAN has a new metal album and I personally like the sound of SUNDOWNERS….ala Cocteau twins.

SONY has the debut album by MEGHAN TRAINOR which they I’m sure, and me also for that matter, hope will be a massive smash.

SONY also has the TV advertised NOW POWER BALLADS which again we hope will be a massive smash!

REPUBLIC OF MUSIC for the 30th Jan….

Singles – Two this week, from the RAM stables we have a double 12″ pack from Frankee “All For One EP” & the 3rd single to be taken from the forthcoming The Charlatans album “Come Home Baby” on limited 7″.

Albums – Next from the Numero Group is the heartworn country/folk of Jeff Cowell “Lucky Strikes and Liquid Gold” I like this a lot! John Carpenter, yes the mighty John Carpenter releases his debut solo album, this is also cracking “Lost Themes” on Sacred Bones. More greatness as New York’s Mincha’s releases his second album “Thousand Thursday” on Ghostly; a double 12” repress of the seminal Mount Kimbie album “Crooks & Lovers”, Nite Fields debut album “Depersonalistion” on Felte and finally a recording of the fantastic live show from Fabio Frizzi “Frizzi 2 Fulci – Live At Union Chapel” a couple of us here had the pleasure of going to that show, it was pretty special.

Check out our website for comings anyway….

Home

sin e for this week,

Thanks for listening,

I’m off to brush my teeth.

Ray.

Hi Everyone,

Hope ye are all well.

This week’s releases are mainly centered on Friday the 28th of November.

It has being a turbulent year for AC/DC, firstly Malcolm Young, founder of the band, had to retire from the group due to ill health back in April after being diagnosed with dementia (was suffering a bit since 2007 but is now in full time care at the age of just 61, terribly sad) and then just three weeks before the launch of AC/DC s new album “Rock or Bust”, their drummer Phil Rudd was arrested on charges of basically paying a hit man to murder two other men.

Initially, I must admit, I thought this was a publicity stunt taken from Mr. Paul Hewson’s book of unused stunts on how to promote your new album but alas it seems to be fairly accurate and looks as if Phil Rudd has being fired from AC/DC for the second time and could well face some prison time.

Rudd was fired the first time in 1983 when himself and Malcolm where in nearly constant conflict, verbally and physically, it is a sad and difficult end to there AC/DC careers now for both men.

AC/DC’s new one is out on the 28th.

(Speaking of the Bono lad above, I must say the acoustic session tracks on the new album are top notch)

Sony also has a new, sincerely L.Cohen live album from the O2 in Dublin, recorded last year.

It is available across 3 formats…3 CD, 3CD/DVD or 3 CD/BLURAY…it is supposed to be a stunning recording.

Now, if you read last weeks ramblings, you would have heard some of my thoughts and views on why record shops have gone under or maybe will all go under, ( hopefully not says he) I could have on till dawn talking about it.

This week a wise man (well an older man anyway) had his thoughts on it, here is what he had to say:

Morning Ray, great news letter again and if I may can I throw my tuppence worth in the ring. You write about how downloading legal or illegal is killing the industry( not all on its own, but its not helping). Remember when the companies ran a campaign saying that HOME TAPING is killing the record industry!!!! Really? The same as my mam knitting at home was killing the clothing industry!!! I tell you whats killing the whole thing. Greed…Greed by the record labels. Looking at the new releases I see that Imelda Mays TRIBAL is being re-released with 5 new tracks. This drives me crazy. They want me to buy the album twice. F**K that…. I’ll download from ‘the bay’. Thats whats killing the goose that lays the golden egg. The labels can only blame themselves. I know many music fans who download…BUT….they also buy product. Most of the time they download to see what a particular artist/music is like and the will end up buying the entire back catalogue…So let the labels look to themselves to see where the problem lies…..Its only roc’n’ roll but I like it…….Besides all that hows trix…..Rant over

Fair points I think you would agree, the reissue with the extra few tracks is a killer, and really harms the pocket of a physical buyer….not fair.

But the labels don’t care, (and I suppose I have to be somewhat careful here as obviously I need and want a good relationship with them, but these decisions are not made by the good sound people I deal with day to day but by big suits in the great city of London.)

The major labels anyway, are a bit like the banks here, the game is rigged so they don’t lose.

Basically they own the sweets, they sell them to me (small indie retailer or the Music Zone Corporation if you prefer), to chain stores ( golden discs), to supermarkets ( blah, blah, blah) to online rulers of the retail world ( blah, blah, blah) and they own the rights to any legal downloads….they have most angles covered once the bold boys don’t liberate too many sweets.

Quick recent example of, lets call them…. antics, by a record company….Depeche Mode released a 2 CD/DVD very recently retailing at 40 quid, Leonard Cohen’s forthcoming 3 CD/ DVD will be 27 quid.

Manufacturing, distribution, royalty costs I would imagine would be pretty similar for both releases….there is very little advertising costs for the Mode release whereas there will be quite a few bob spent on the Cohen release.

Why then you ask is there a 13 euro difference in price?

Those boys in London town know that the Mode have a real hardcore fan base and will pay the Johnny cash (record company probably knows within 5/10% how many units of the Mode release they will sell) whereas with the Cohen, it has a more crossover appeal but would not work in the market at a 40 euro price point….people may take or leave it….

Anyway, I had better drive on or I might get any sleep or any stock for that matter for Christmas.

Sony also has a soundtrack to “Gone Girl” by Trent Reznor (nine inch nails) out on the 28th.

Universal have the new Take That album out on the 28th aptly called “III” ….last time I looked I thought there was 5 of them?…is Robbie gone again?

Had some real catchy pop tunes in recent years to be fair and Herr Barlow writes those songs as well to be fair…. So, let it shine….45 million albums sold and still counting.

New releases also from Universal by McBusted and Kiesza , Vinyl box sets of Blondie and Rod Stewart as well as a Rat Pack Vinyl reissue and Massive Attacks “ mezzanine” gets the LP reissue treatment….blue lines by them is a classic record…..this one is good.

Lastly from Universal is the Band Aid 30 single, due for physical CD release on the 5th of December….all profits go to the charity….well when I say all profits that’s not exactly the whole truth….Enda and his boys and girls take their 23% first and then the rest goes to charity….that kind of galls me to be perfectly honest….it is the same with all charity releases….talk about leading by example.

Speaking of Enda and his boys and girls, (and this is no way going to become any sort of political rambling, music and a hint of sport for me, when the hurling comes back) this past week has me thinking of the Fun Boy Three song “THE LUNATICS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE ASYLUM”, Terry Hall could have wrote that song in the Dail bar during the week….WHAT A FARCE.

Warner have new releases by NICO&VINZ, the WU-TANG CLAN, WILCO best of and rarities box set, EVA CASSIDY LP reissues, PRINCE’S new albums get there release on LP, LP reissues by OFFSPRING and RANCID on epitaph and GAVIN JAMES has a live at Whelan’s CD release.

Pias has the new SMASHING PUMPKINS record on CD and Vinyl , a JOHN GRANT live album with the BBC philharmonic orchestra, the CZARS best of compilation and a mini covers album by JONATHAN WILSON.

On the local scene, the MUSIC ZONE Corporation is pleased to announce two upcoming in store performances and signings by up and coming Irish artists.

First up is the fantastic local lad JOHN BLEK (have I told ye how good he/ they are….stop me ohoooohhh stop me, stop me if you think that you’ve heard this one

before) who is coming into the shop on Saturday the 6th December to help launch his new solo album ‘ the cutting room floor” ….so please come along if you are around. Time TBC.

Secondly, we have the Voice of Ireland winner BRENDAN MCCAHEY who will be with us on Wednesday the 10th of December at 4.30….spread the word please

Right, I’m off to buy a large water gun and go look around the city for Enda and his boys and girls so

Sin e,

Thanks,

Ray.

Home

Hi Everyone,

Its coming into the seasonal/ festive time of year….(ho ho ho and all that) and a lot of the music releases are aimed at the Christmas Market.

And I am not complaining about that, I complain enough!

Shops like us (the Music Zone Corporation) depend on Christmas; we would traditional do between 25 and 30% of our annual turnover in December and over 10% in last 3 or 4 days up to Christmas.

A lot of you who read this regularly are the heartbeat of the shop, and only for ye there would not be a shop and a big sincere thanks for that, but a good Christmas with people who may only visit the shop once a year is nearly equally as important

The music retail game has changed so much since I started in Golden Disc’s in 1993, back then the only way you could buy music was by walking into a store or you could have yours fingers on the play and record buttons as you were listening to Dave Fanning….they have a word for that these days.

A line we hear every day or two in the shop is “ da downloading must be killing ye” and yep the truth of the matter is downloading either legally or what’s that other word have culled nearly 60% of the music shops in the country in the last decade or so ( coupled with the aul recession….green branches and all that now huh)

But people now have so many options when it comes to listening to music, you can pay for it or not pay for it, buy it online, supermarkets, spotify it, YouTube it, sound cloud or buy it in a shop.

This organic fragmentation is the reason record shops got/are in trouble…..the times they are a changin

I remember when I opened my own place in Carrigaline on the 8th of May 2001 (I don’t particularly like the phrase “its not personal, its only business”, because a small business to a small business person is like a child, you remember its birthdays, you try to nurture it and watch it grow and if its failing it hurts) I knew the train was coming down the tracks but I thought I might get five years out of it…..as Elton would say “ im still standing, feeling like a little kid” never more so than when I sell a record to a young person, I love it.

Online can be my biggest gripe, especially the big monsters based outside of Ireland, in a boxing match we would win on points on pricing across the board, so if someone passes a local shop fairly regularly give them a chance, check online for price if you wish but at least give them a chance and then choose.

Now, one of my favorite repeated comments in the shop over the last few years is probably “do ye sell iTunes vouchers”, and we know people just don’t think, but it’s like going into Dunne’s and asking for a Tesco voucher!

Anyway, went off on a right tangent there,

Universal have the fourth album by the CORANA’S….big move for the Dublin lads ( lead singer Danny is a son of MARY BLACK as ye all probably know) having signed to Island records in the UK this year…..so will be pushed in the UK.

Not too many Irish bands have being signed by big UK labels this century so lets hope they can go from strength to strength.

Warner has the last of the IRON MAIDEN 7” singles and LP re issues.

They have a fancy CD/DVD version of the new COLDPLAY album “ghost stories”, a brand new seemingly very innovative DAVID GUETTA album, a new JOOLS HOLLAND album plus some reasonably priced 5 CD sets including NEW MODEL ARMY.

It is the 15th anniversary of Shady records, so EMINEM and his stable are releasing a yes you guessed it, a 15th anniversary compilation….its a double CD with 9 new EMINEM tracks.

The biggest hits compilation of the year NOW 89 is out on the 21st November.

There is a fine CREAM 6 LP Vinyl box set out that day as well; fine price too says you at 90 yoyos….one of my big friends in the sky have it at 84 pounds…

There is a SOUNDGARDEN 3 CD box set of rarities / b sides etc out also.

A RAINBOW 9 LP set out, the TAME IMPALA LP reissues…again….and THE BEATLES LPs, 1’s, LOVE and the RED and BLUE albums get the remastered vinyl treatment.

On the DVD front, Warner have an REM 6 DVD box set, a very good live BOB MARLEY and 25 YEARS OF WALKEN metal DVD.

Speaking of DVD’s, the new TOMMY TIERNAN one is out on the 21st of November also, shoot in Cork like boy.

SONY has new albums by OLLY MURS (10 million albums sold…..) SUSAN BOYLE ( who does a cover of PINK FLOYD’S wish you were here, and seeing as we are speaking of Floyd and that song, I told ye I am reading Nick Mason’s book at the moment…….SYD was becoming very difficult and withdrawn so they were going to play a gig in Southampton one night and “ someone said in the car, will we bother collecting Syd and the rest of us said lets not fffingg bother” and they never collected him again and that’s how SYD BARRETT left PINK FLOYD….now I reckon Mason has regrets over the handling or lack of handling of SYD and I would think it was a very difficult situation but that was how it ended….)

SONY also has a SIMON & GARFUNKEL complete albums box set and a new metal album by PRIMORDIAL.

PIAS have a 25th anniversary edition of (the) PIXIES “DOOLITTLE” on 3 CD and double LP….we are getting old, as well as some reissued gems by GRAVENHURST and YO LA TENGO.

MUSIC ON VINYL has the BUSH album 16 stone.

On the local front, we now have copies of the new JOHN BLEK solo album “cutting room floor” as well as more copies of the first JOHN BLEK AND THE RATS album “leave your love at the door”.

I am not a big fan of genre naming (read somewhere during the week about a band “who are the best indie electronic band around at the moment”) but to give you some idea of the lads sound, I suppose its country/ folksy rock or the buzz word at the moment for it is Americana…..but LISTEN to me now please when I tell you the lads stuff is QUALITY with a capital Q…..I MEAN IT….please pay attention to them….they are local and extremely talented….musically, lyrically….please check them out.

Who is the handsome one on the far left with the Jim Morrisonesqe gaze into space?

Competition winner will be announced soon.

Anyway,

Sin e for this week,

Thanks,

Ray.

www.musiczone.ie