Tag: blog

Hey Everyone,

Hows the form?

I’m back to ye after our new arrival… Last wednesday night week to be exact… Bonnie joined the crew… Prince Bill, Over the Ocean, Tyler, Raitt… Nope…. Bonnie O’ Brien…. BOB… So you got in there kid…Truth is Gina loves Gone With The Wind and the little girl in it is called… We’re delighted for her to join the troops…. Anyway look, I don’t want to induce vomit with my paternal ramblings… All’s  well thankfully and that’s the main thing… She is definitely in my top 5 of best looking babies ever poll though… Right… Move on Raymond… Loads to talk about other than beautiful babies…!!

Loads of nice releases in the shop today including FATHER JOHN MISTY (STANDARD OR DELUXE), IMELDA MAY, FUTURE ISLANDS, RIHANNA, DEEP PURPLE, GIMME DANGER OST, NOW 96, JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, KAREN ELSON, RAG N BONE MAN, THE CLASH.

Right so, moving on to releases for 14th of April…

SONY

Sony arguably have the biggest releases of the week with some TOOL vinyl record reissues…’Opiate’, ‘Undertow’, and ‘Lateralus’…. I was chuffed a few weeks back when I saw them on the release schedule… Ah nice one… Lateralus is a great rock album… People always look for it… Greedy guts was thinking how many he’d sell…. Eyes then panned across to the price… ‘Ah shit’ was my reaction…. Some kind of a limited LP is Lateralus so it’s 80 bucks…. Pity like… The other two are normal money… I might have sold 20 of them at 25 Euro over a few months (500EUR), but only at best maybe 3 / 4 at 80 bucks… (320EUR at  very best).. That equation should work for the record companies as well…. Small numbers probably pressed… Not going to be held as a stock item going forward… Press em, sell em and move on… Stock gone… Very much for and against that for me… Way more against it if i’m to be honest… It fuels the Ebay-ers a bit and takes a great album out of the reach of a genuine punter who just wants the LP… Anyway look… No stress…

Sony also have a nice repress of CHRISTY MOORE’s ‘Live At The Point’, a new album by the supremely talented JOHN MAYER ‘The Search For Everything’, and a live album on LP by SCORPIONS entitled ‘Acoustica”.

RED ESSENTIAL have the difficult second album from SAM OUTLAW … ‘Tenderheart’ … Lovely voice on this dude…

Been awhile since we had a record from FIONN REGAN but next friday the wait is over… Cracking video of the lead single… Cracking song also… Cillian Murphy is in the video… Really well done… I could be all wrong but I doubt it… I’d say there wasn’t much money exchanged hands…… Murphy was a budding musician himself in a previous life and was offered a 5 album record deal in 1996 i think… He turned it down… I think his brother who was in the band was still in school so it got knocked on the head… I‘d say he is a good supporter of Irish music… Great cameo too on the great Franks album… So that’s what I have to say about that.

RED ESSENTIAL also have reissues by TWILIGHT SAD (the debut) and IGNITE’s ‘Our Darkest Days’.

On the local scene a very very important and unique festival is being run by the Opera House over the weekend of the 28/29/30th of April supporting and showcasing the depth and dearth of musical talent we have around the city..

I know I am always banging on to ye about the local music scene and how good it is… (If people give it more of a chance)…. Well… Guess what… Here’s a chance folks… Roll up, roll up for what will be a brilliant weekend of excellent live music in the unique settings of the Opera House’s various rooms…. There are gigs across the weekend either in the intimate green room (backstage at the opera house), or the right room (which is basically a gig on the stage itself (audience and band on stage). or the JACK O ROURKE gig in the main auditorium with the Cork Opera House 25 piece orchestra…. It is a great opportunity to sample the Opera House in a different and unique way… Be it on stage or backstage, as well as supporting and enjoying our brilliant local talent…. More details here on the Opera House Website… But on the cards you have… Mick Flannery with Marlene Enright, Interference, Jack O’ Rourke, Anna Mitchell, Strung,  John Blek and The Rats, The Shaker Hymn, Mark O’ Reilly, Friday / Saturday Night Ramble, Hank Wedel, Clare Sands, Greenshine, Sup Trio, Ian Whitty, and Shookrah… So get in and soak it up… The corporation is definitely going to wet some babies heads over that weekend… Well…  Will do well for one night… Fingers crossed… Ye know the story!

WARNER

WARNER for the 14th of April have the brilliant reissue of THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G ‘Life After Death” on 3LP through Rhino… Classic hip-hop indeed… ‘Ready To Die’ is an RSD release also this year folks…. Warner have a new album from JOHN POWERS CAST and reissues by SEASICK STEVE ‘Can’t Teach A Old Dog” and TAKING BACK SUNDAY ‘New Again’.

We at the corporation are really looking forward to the new GORILLAZ album… Out on April 28th… We are teaming up with Warner to do a decent pre-order offer on the LP….. Best price offer of 24EUR (I think you will see it’s very competitive), as well as a bespoke to us Gorillaz print with all pre orders… The band’s management have given the go ahead for us to receive these prints which is great…. Artwork for print not confirmed to me yet…. This is open for in store and online pre-orders…. Need responses by next Weds the 12th of April…. If interested…. Sound as a bell…
Link here : GORILLAZ ‘HUMANZ’ VINYL RECORD CORK

UNIVERSAL

Universal have a classic first timer on vinyl of the GIN BLOSSOMS classic ‘New Miserable Experience’ from back in 1992…. Some more limited Pete Townshend LP reissues on different coloured vinyl as well..

Uni also have reissues by ELTON JOHN on LP including ‘Captain Fantastic’ and ‘The Brown Dirt Cowboy’, ‘Elton John’, ‘Madman Across The Water’, ‘Songs From The West Coast’ ‘17-11-70’, Too Low For Zero’, and also some JOHN MARTYN LP reissues, ‘Bless The Weather’, and ‘The Tumbler’.

We’ve had another late announcement to the RSD17 List this week, and a nice one. A 7’’ replica single of THE BEATLES’ classics ‘Strawberry Fields’ / ‘Penny Lane’. A savage double A sided single to be fair.. Originally came out in February 1967..

Carrying on from there, we are having our own little mini-festival for Record Store Day…. 96FM are involved a bit on the day… Broadcasting from the empty unit across from the shop from 10 to 2… Which will give everyone involved a lovely bit of promo… Some facebook live stuff going on… Lots going on really to be honest… Munster Rugby looking to get a time switch for their cup semi final because of the clash with us…. 96FM have asked for a blurb about the day so if ye want to get a RSD Musiczone.ie Event Guide, and waffle please read on…… Actually in hindsight queueing info and band info here also so probably worth a scan…

Record Store Day is an annual event to help independently owned record shops by providing them with bespoke and limited pieces of pre-recorded music. Vinyl, CD and Cassettes. Both record labels and artists produce these bespoke pieces of vinyl or art, as Paul MCCARTNEY says, to help drive footfall and sales in Indie Record Shops around the globe.

This year we have limited vinyl releases by U2, DAVID BOWIE, THE BEATLES, THE CURE, THE SMITHS, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, PEARL JAM, NEIL YOUNG, PRINCE, MADONNA, LOU REED, VANGELIS, PINK FLOYD, LONDON GRAMMAR, THE WAR ON DRUGS,THE DOORS and THE MANIC STREET PREACHERS amongst others. These are once off pressings, limited and never to be repeated. In some cases, never released before on any format. We will have about 300 different titles in store on the day.

RSD rules state that nothing can be held or sold online until 7 days after the event. It’s purely a ‘first come, first served’ basis on RSD. Only one of any title per customer.

We will have pressies for our early queue attending people while stocks last.

QUEUING. Start when you want. But doors will open into the centre from the Marks / TK Maxx entrance at 6.30AM. Not from any other doors. So if youre before 6.30, go to those doors. We are open at 8AM. We have got a good fill of products to be honest, even The Cure ones are much better than expected. So if you’re early, you should be good for the main titles.

Music, beer and buns start at 11PM. Let’s have a parteee. Because that’s what the day IS ultimately. A celebration of record stores and their survival.

And here’s our entertainment for this party:

11AM  : RAISING JUPITER

12 Noon : JACK O ROURKE

1PM : MARLENE ENRIGHT

2PM : ANNA MITCHELL

2.45PM : CROW BLACK CHICKEN

3.30PM : MILKY TEETH

4.15PM : CROJAYN

5PM : WE CUT CORNERS

Some artists will be solo. Some will have bits of bands, and some full bands.. Definitely in 4 cases at least full bands….. Rock n roll!!

Also on the local front, the JOE CHESTER In-Store from recently is also now available to view on our site! Will have the AUGUST WELLS video up for next week..
https://musiczone.ie/videos/

Sin e for this week folks,

Thanks for listening,

Ray

www.musiczone.ie

Hey Everyone,

How’s the form?

That’s ‘Ray Phrase’ number one for tonight. Like the video, i’m gonna try to fit as many ‘Ray Phrases’ in as possible. With that, the boss man is away tonight with good news, so has left me in charge to try and entertain you, and more importantly, try to flog you stuff to help Ray get his yacht. He has me trained well.

‘Anyway on to the boring stuff’.. That’s number two.

Releases for today in the ‘Music Zone Towers’ (number 3) include BOB DYLAN, MASTODON, STONE FOUNDATION, U2, DAVID BOWIE, THE DOORS, GOLDFRAPP, JULIA HOLTER, FLEETWOOD MAC, DEACON BLUE, ZARA LARSSON, AND CONOR OBERST.

Quite a bit to be fair. The video is also back this week. There’s about 2 or 3 weeks of releases included, so some nice stuff to look at. You can check it as normal here :

Probably the biggest release of the week will go to FATHER JOHN MISTY, who returns with his third solo album ‘Pure Comedy’. His remarkable, lyrical musings will be on CD, Vinyl and a lovely Deluxe Coloured Vinyl edition through Bella Union. Thelast album’s deluxe set was a thing of beauty, so hopefully they’ve done this one as well. His way with words seems to have taken even another powerful, unique step forward on this album, and wouldn’t be surprised to see it up as album of the year come December.

PIAS

Another cracker through PIAS next week is the new FUTURE ISLANDS album by 4AD, entitled ‘The Far Field’. The smiling assassin has asked me to mention it’s on limited, indies only coloured vinyl (and CD of course).. ‘Yipeeeeeee’ (4).

There’s a new ARCA album out through PIAS next week, as well as a DON CHERRY ‘Music, Wisdom, Love’ LP out… KAREN ELSON has a new CD out also this week, and ‘tis a fine listen’ (5). It’s produced by one of my favourite artists,JONATHAN WILSON, who also happens to produce Father John’s albums, so he’ll be getting quite a nice paycheck this week i’d imagine. Really looking forward to hearing this full album next week, take a listen to the single here :

Finally from PIAS for next Friday is the second album from YORKSTONE, THRONE AND KHAN, once again on limited, indies only, coloured vinyl, and the album from DOOMSDAY KINGDOM, who are a metal supergroup, and it’s out through Nuclear Blast..

UNIVERSAL

Moving on to Universal for the 7th of April, we have the new album from IMELDA MAY, entitled ‘Life, Love, Flesh, Blood’, which will be on CD, Deluxe CD or LP.. The album is produced by T-Bone Burnett. How bad. Musicians that feature on the album include some guy called Jeff Beck, and just some band who played on an album called ‘Raising Sand’, by a certain Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Just a few small names in the music industry. Not too bad at all. Some serious pedigree on this record.

Also out from Universal for next week is the new COLD WAR KIDS album ‘La Divina’ on CD or LP, a new THE NEW PORRNOGRAPHER’s album ‘Whiteout Conditions’ on CD and LP, and the new DEEP PURPLE album on a couple of formats, including CD / CD+DVD / 2LP+DVD / MINI BOX [CD+DVD+LARGE SIZED T-SHIRT] / LARGE BOXSET [Numbered, LP sized, includes CD+DVD, 2LP, x3 10″ vinyl (Now What?! live tapes vol. 2), T-shirt sized Large, poster, 5 high quality photo prints, Sticker.

Finally from Universal, a Hozier-Favourite reissue of NIRVANA’s ‘Incesticide’ gets a 2LP release for the 25th Anniversary, as well as RIHANNA’s back catalogue getting the vinyl treatment for the first time, with codes included.

Trying not to use Ray’s signature ‘…..’ after sentences is proving hard, very used to it from tidying up the newsletter each week. He asked me to make this newsletter my own, and I thought what better way?.

SONY

Sony for next week have the latest in the NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL MUSIC series, which is now up to NOW 96.. They also have the new DJ Duo CHAINSMOKER’s album ‘Memories Do Not Open’, and a reissue of ‘Wolves’ byRAG N’ BONE MAN on CD or LP, one of his older albums.

QUEEN’s BRIAN MAY teams up with KERRY ELLIS for a new album entitled ‘Golden Days’, the duo’s second I believe. MIDNIGHT OIL have a ‘Complete Vinyl Boxset’ out through Sony also next week. 13LPs in this one. Surrealistic Pillow by the mighty JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, another favourite of mine, is also reissued next week, as well as ‘Combat Rock’ by THE CLASH.

WARNER

Warner for next week have a couple of nice bits as well. The GIMME DANGER (Iggy and the Stooges documentary) soundtrack gets it’s long anticipated vinyl pressing release, and there is a CARO EMERALD ‘Deleted Scenes’ Acoustic Sessions limited coloured vinyl also out. I wonder how many times I can say the words ‘limited’ and ‘coloured’ in one email to try sell ye stuff. I’ll have to ask the smiling assassin to throw me a fiver every time I do from now on.

Few final bits from Warner for next week include a new MIKE AND THE MECHANICS album ‘Let Me Fly’ on CD or LP, and THE OBSESSED are back with a new album, as well as the new WOODS OF YPRES LP.

Republic of Music for the 7th have the new ERJA LYYTINEN album ‘Stolen Hearts’. Savage blues slide guitar player. It’s been awhile since I’ve heard a blues player and been blown away, but a customer ordered in a live album of hers in recent weeks and asked us to listen to it before it was collected, and it was some listen. The band that plays with her are incredible, the arrangements are incredible, and her playing is something else. Well worth checking her out, especially the live stuff.

There is also a LP reissue of the long out of print, 2002 LAMBCHOP LP ‘Is A Woman’ through Republic Of Music for next week.

And finally for next week guys, Essential have a new JOEY BADASS album on CD or LP, and Proper have a reissue of OPETH’s ‘Still Life’ as a 2LP Picture Disc, and JAMES LUTHER DICKINSON’s ‘I’m Just Dead, I’m Not Gone’ on LP.

We had another great in-store this week, the brilliant CLARE SANDS was in to promote her new solo album ‘Under The Table’. The video for the title track of the album was released last week, so check it out here :

Sin é for this week folks, (I’ve lost count at this stage of Ray quotes)

Thanks for reading,

The Boss-Man should be back next week but thanks for having me,

Hozier (IT God)

www.musiczone.ie

Hey Everyone,

Hope life is treating you ok..

Wish lists for RSD done…

I know some lads are old school also and just like landing in and seeing what’s there… They don’t even want to see a list…. Bigger thrill that way alright I suppose…. But life is all information now…. We have been pedaling this stuff all week long to ye… Nearly ramming it down ye’r throats… Come on what ye want, what ye want… Self serving, I suppose… It gives me a better idea I suppose so I don’t fuck up to badly with stock and hopefully have what ye want on the day also…. Thats my self serving excuse anyway…

I should be getting a fairly full fill I think… U2, SMITHS and most of the BOWIE’S should be OK… Not 11 o’clock OK’s now like…. ‘No Plan’ and the Cure stuff…. Have a plan i’d suggest and be fairly early i’d say lad…

I’ll get info on that out to ye soon enough… What time into the centre and all that..

Massive demand around the Cure… Hope I won’t let anyone down…

Thanks to all those who took the time and effort to email us and we appreciate ye’r understanding.

A couple of extra bits from Warner have made the list which weren’t on the original I don’t think.. So here they are with prices..
1) Notorious BIG, The – Born Again [2LP] 35EUR.
2) PRINCE “Little Red Corvette / 1999” – 7” Picture Disc. 18EUR
3) THE WAR ON DRUGS “Thinking Of A Place” 12” Single. 17EUR.

Anyway on to the boring stuff…. I could ramble away all night but when it comes to this record is out and that record is out and lastly that record is out… It bores the liathroidi off me to be honest…. Not the records obviously, the tediousness of typing them…. Anyway the castle at home here must take preference over the next 6 months or so… So the corporation tower’s newsletters may become a little more brief… Anyway ye must be sick shit of me this week…i’ve ye poisoned.

Anyway releases in the shop for today include PAUL MCCARTNEY, THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN, STEVE HACKETT, MARLENE ENRIGHT, BRETT ANDERSON VINYL RECORD BOXSET, JETHRO TULL, DROPKICK MURPHYS, and KELLY LEE OWENS..

No video again this week folks, been a hectic week with everything.. Back to normal next week

SONY

Moving on so to to releases for next week the 31st of March Sony have the newBOB DYLAN ‘Triplicate’ vinyl record limited boxset. Still time for the 50 euro pre-order for deluxe box.. Also out are Reissue of BOWIE’S ‘Heathen’, AEROSMITHS ‘Rocks’, JOHNNY CASH’s ‘FOLSOM PRISON’, as well as new LPs from ZARA LARSSON, BODYCOUNT and ARCH ENEMY.

New Gorillaz album just announced April 28th…. Half ten on a thursday night… One of the 4 songs they released here. Will be a big album again i’d say..

WARNER

Warner for the 31st March have the DOORS Debut album on a Deluxe Box Set… 3CD/LP and, and also the new album from cracking rock band MASTODON.

CARGO

Cargo have the new WIRE album for next Friday the 31st.

PROPER

PROPER for the 31st have the raw NICK CAVE documentary ‘One More With Feeling’… Film of the year say Mojo… Hard to disagree….

Speaking of rockumentarys, saw on youtube during the week a film about the making of the newest MALOJIAN record…. Really is a very enjoyable watch about the processes a band have in the studio recording their record…. They recorded it on analogue over in Chicago with world famous ‘sound’ man Steve Albini… Link here… Well worth a watch… Interesting and funny.

AIMEE MANN and COLIN HAY also have new albums next week.

UNIVERSAL

UNIVERSAL have new ones by JAMIROQUAI and BRITISH SEA POWER…. Two nice ones id say….. A reissue of the long out of print U2 album ‘How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb’ as well as WAR on vinyl record.

Universal also have DEACON BLUE live and some nice 3CD ‘Best Ofs’ by Level 42, Joan Armatrading, Fairport and Big Country.

PIAS

PIAS For next Friday have new releases from GOLDFRAPP, RODNEY CROWELL and JULIA HOLTER.

Republic of Music have the new STONE FOUNDATION record…. This could be a cracker… If you like a bit of soul…. WELLER heavily invovled on it…. Sings on three and plays on all tracks… Lovely tune here :

The FIGHT CLUB Score and HAUSCHKA LPs out also next week.

Seeing as it’s all about me lately…. Me me me…. I done an interview with a music website and magazine OVERBLOWN recently… Here’s the story if you want a read… If you are fairly bored like…

https://overblown.co.uk/musiczone-interview/

On the local front Marlene Enright was with us Saturday, and CLARE SANDS this coming Saturday at 1PM…. Try pop in if you are around…. Please…. Marlene was launching her new album with us…and truly a great listen..

Sin e for this week folks…

Thanks for listening

Could be busy next week like but talk soon

Thanks!

Ray

www.musiczone.ie

UNIVERSAL

PIAS

We are doing a bit of a special on the new BOB DYLAN vinyl release on pre-orders only….There is a limited boxset coming out …. (Choice Commentary : And the winner is RUSANGANO FAMILY…. Don’t know it to be honest… Shall investigate… Sound like top lads in fairness to them) … So, it’s a limited, numbered Dylan boxset… Deluxe CD/3LP set….. So we are doing it for 50 euro, best price on pre-orders only….  Be back to us before next Thursday morning please….  For anyone that is interested…. I think you should find that it’s a really good price… Pop us a mail if interested, or pre-order directly from this link :
https://musiczone.ie/product/bob-dylan-triplicate-deluxe-vinyl-boxset-special-price-pre-order/

CARGO

PROPER

Hi everyone,

Hope ye are all well…

Sitting in the shop at 10:02PM, Thursday the 2nd of March.. Was here till 7:30.. Nipped home for an hour… Back since 9:30.. Strange night really.. Surreal.. Pensive at the moment.. Pissing rain out, no one at all around.. Opening in two hours for a Midnight Launch for Ed Sheeran’s new album Divide.. Very pensive… The battle is won regards this event though, loads of promo surrounded us and the event thanks to Bartosz and the shopping centre here, and all the folks in Warner.. It allowed us to wave a flag in the air and say we are here.. So thanks to all involved.. Bobby also for soldiering again with me..

Surreal though, as I sit here, this time six years ago my business was on it’s knees… Surviving on fumes.. Turnover of less than two grand a week on a bog standard week.. Death on two legs and it was tearing me apart.. Couldn’t turn the mind off at home.. New baby on the way (as now, a new baby on the way) but a business that has some life… This event is a sign of that life… Polar opposite feelings.. Nervous excitement… First midnight opening for me since Oasis’ ‘Be Here Now’ in ‘96.

I know in the great scheme of life none of this matters a shite, but you know… It’s nice when you’re self employed and you don’t have to take shite baggage home with you.. So thanks to all involved.. Lots of work goes into something like this.. I promise to give an update before this goes out as to how we got on..

Christ Raymond, you sounded like Grandad in ‘It’s Only Fools and Horses’ reminiscing about the war….

Anyway, albums out this last Friday in the shop (apologies with delay in getting this sent out, busy busy weekend in the shop) include the aforementioned Mr. ED SHEERAN, SLEAFORD MODS new vinyl record as an indie only red vinyl, ALISON KRAUSS, IMMOLATION, GRANDADDY, IGGY AND THE STOOGES Reissues, and METHYL ETHYL..

SONY

Right so, moving on to releases for the 10th of March… We have the new vinyl record release from the mighty THE SHINS… Their 5th now i think… First couple were beauts.. This one also sounds pretty good.. It’s called ‘Heartworms’ and it’s out on LP and CD.

Sony also have a MILES DAVIS QUINTET ‘Freedom Bootleg 5th Volume’, I think which comes with a bonus 12’’ as well.. Also from Sony is a JOE COCKER ‘Ultimate Collection’ on 2CD or 2LP..

Lastly from Sony is a score to the movie ‘The Chamber’ by James Dean Bradfield… Heavy stuff i’d say.. Hardcore Manics fans… Heard him interviewed recently about this score and it’s one of his first solo projects… Second I think.. But he was asked in the interview what advice he would give to aspiring bands.. He said he didn’t have a clue, as it’s a completely different industry since 1991… He is right.. What could you advise a really good young band?..

Keep at it… Every inch might get you the golden mile… He mentioned TV and Film Music is a way in maybe.. Write an unbelievably catchy tune.. No bother sure..

PROPER

Anyway, Proper for the 10th of March have the new LAURA MARLING record ‘Semper Femina’… Lead single excellent.. Portishead like.. I think a few deluxe DLP available too, with live tracks and codes…

Lastly from Proper for next week is the album ‘Last Days of Oakland’ by FANTASTIC NEGRITO.. Winner of the recent Grammy for Best Blues Album.. Sounds like an interesting dude, and sounds bloody great… (To me)… Have a listen here

UNIVERSAL

Universal for the 10th of March have quite a bit, starting the new CIRCA WAVES album, as well asELLIOT SMITH’s ‘Either/Or’ 20th Anniversary 2CD (lovely album), and a MARK ALMOND / SOFT CELL ‘Best Of’.. Also through Uni is the newest MAX RICHTER release on vinyl, a new Marti Pellow CD, the next in the series of the MARTY WHELAN compilations, a CHICKENFOOT ‘Live Best Of’ on 2CD, the new BUSH album on CD only.. They also have the new DEEP PURPLE single on 12’’ and CD, and lastly a brand new CHICKENFOOT track on 7’’..

PIAS

PIAS for the 10th of March have the SOUNDGARDEN reissue of Ultramega OK, the Grammy nominated debut record on limited indies only Blue and Violet coloured vinyl with 6 bonus tracks included.. PIAS also have the Steve Earle ‘Live From Austin, TX’ on CD/DVD or 2LP..

Republic of Music have represses of their first ever three records on coloured vinyl.. Bit of a pleasure / guilty pleasure… Covers by French female singers of classic post punk / new wave classics in Bossa Nova.. The claim is the singers never heard the songs they covered on these albums?!!..

WARNER

Warner have a ‘Live In San Diego’ by CLAPTON / JJ CALE on Blu Ray and DVD, and they have the deluxe versions of FLEETWOOD MAC’s ‘Tango In The Night’ on CD, 2CD, or 3CD/DVD/LP.. They also have aMAGNETIC FIELDS 5LP box set and lastly the PAUL WELLER score CD and LP of ‘Jawbone’…

It’s now 15:21 on the 3rd of March… Last night went well.. About 12LPs and 42 CDs sold… Beer, Prosecco, pizza and chocolate all consumed.. Nice laugh instore… I think people really enjoyed it… no money made (lots of little costs) but loads of promo achieved around it so I do hope there will be more in the future… Where there’s life there’s hope..

It’s now 16:25 on Sunday the 5th of March as this newsletter is being tidied up and finished. We had a great weekend in the shop, between the Ed launch and the BRILLIANT in-stores from Joe Chester and August Wells.. Thanks to both Joe and August for gracing our stage, both very very enjoyable, and thanks to all who came in over the weekend. Sorry for the delay in getting this sent out…

Friends of the shop CRY MONSTER CRY are in Couglan’s tonight (Sunday).. Well worth checking out..
Sin e for this weeks folks..

Thanks for listening,

Ray

www.musiczone.ie

Hey everyone,

Hope all is good with ye…

The RSD application and code of conduct forms are gone back… We are in… Our 7th year….YES we sell pre-recorded music… YES we open 48 weeks of the year for more than 25 hours a week…. YES we will sell everything on a first come first served basis … YES we will be active on social media…. NO we won’t open before 8 am on Record Shop Day… NO we will not take pre orders or reservations… NO we will not hold anything back to sell at a later date… NO we will not sell anything online until the 7 day window is open…. It’s not long now and do you know what…. WE CAN’T WAIT… WE LOVE IT.. It is a CELEBRATION of Record Shops survival (and another yacht as a by the way)…. Ye all know the challenges record shops face and have faced.. The ‘free’ thing is always close by…. Have I banged on about the free thing lately, if not then I intend to one of these weeks… Our industry was probably the first to be hit by,  A) Technology, and B) online superpowers… Now all bricks and mortar face the online threat… Our products were so easy to do the online thing with… We were first… Now everything is fair game online… So to have faced it, survived it and lived to tell the tale, well hey that deserves as Frank Gallagher might say ‘A F**king Parteeee’.. So that’s what we’re going to have… Sat April 22… Diarys open please folks.

Apologies i got a bit excited there… Em hem…. Normal service please dear chap… Vinyl records in the corporation today includes the mighty fine RYAN ADAMS record…. Thanks again to ye pre-orderers.. Sorry again about slight price mix up… Gold taps required on the starboard side….. I like the Ryan Adams to be honest.. Looking forward to hearing it again tomorrow… Always a good sign… Others in the siopa today are IGGY AND THE STOOGES,  ROXY MUSIC, NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, OVERKILL, PETE TOWNSEND, JESCA HOOP and DEPECHE MODE.

A two-week video of releases is up this week too folks, sorry for missing last week

UNIVERSAL

Universal have the GEORGE HARRISON LP Boxset as well as them all individually.

A major debut (I think…. Although I think they are making music a while i’d say) by four lads from Cabra, Co. Dublin called GYPSIES ON THE AUTOBAHN….. See what ye think here :

The next two WELLER solo albums get the vinyl reissue treatment (sorry not deluxe in any real way, deluxe price though)…. ‘Stanley Road’ and ‘Heavy Soul’….Stanley is probably his biggest solo album i’d say, commercially anyway…. Same sceal with the price i’m afraid… Sorry…Crazy I know…

UMG also have a STATUS QUO 10LP vinyl boxset, ‘81 to 96’, as well as ASIA  ‘Symfonia : Live in Bulgaria’ 2CD/DVD.

SONY

Sony for the 24th of Feb have a solo album by VAMPIRE WEEKEND drummer Chris Tomson under the guise DAMS OF THE WEST…. What i heard sounds alright to be honest… To my two ears anyway….. Sony also have a SANCTUARY reissue of 1986s ‘Inception’ .

CARGO

Cargo have the new BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE LP ‘Don’t Get Lost’ on Indies only yellow vinyl… The 24th Feb also.

PROPER

Proper music have a new album by reformed band MODERN ENGLISH, a new one by New York supergroup SUMMER MOON fronted by STROKES bassist Nikolai Fraiture… And lastly a new album by JOHN WESLEY HARDING or Wesley Stone as he now calls himself …. Backed on this by none other than THE JAYHAWKS.. Not too bad a backing band i suppose.

REPUBLIC OF MUSIC have a new DEAR READER album on Magneta… Indies only coloured vinyl… Recorded on Analogue tape… Class..

I must tell ye about an incredible auditory experience I had last night… ‘A fffing what?’, I hear ye say… Called to a friend of mines house who has a music room… 7 or 8 thousand records, about 5 or 6 thousand CDs… QUALITY stuff now… Very little things you’d have to excuse yourself about if you know what I mean… Not much of it the wife’s stuff there or the husband’s stuff either if that’s the case…. Man it was an overdrive to my senses… Sound and vision… Complete overkill… I couldn’t talk or process anything for a while…. Man was it sweet though when I chilled out and took it in… The clarity and warmth of sound was just unreal…. Now I think we were only using about 20 grand worth of kit like (I didn’t touch by the way, I can be clumsy at the best of times)…. Sweet stuff, sweet sweet stuff… Beatles, Floyd, Queen, Santana, Neil Young, Buddy Holly never ever sounded as good…. And introduced to the likes of Roy Buchanan and The Louvin Brothers… I could have stayed for a month… The sound was just incredible.. The clarity of each instrument unbelievable…. Truly…. Got me thinking .. Ye folks really should be buying more… Shag these yachts…

RED ESSENTIAL have new albums by THE PIGEON DETECTIVES and CLAP OUR HANDS SAY YEAH.

PIAS

Play It Again Sam (PIAS) have a new SUN KIL MOON album…  A double album this time from MARK KOZELEK … The one true god to some people…. Not that I disagree with how talented the dude is .. It’s the one true god thing is the stumbling block for me…. Just CD for now folks… I hope they press more than 12 of it on vinyl this time when they do press it…

PIAS also have a debut by HIPPO CAMPUS … My notes tell me I liked it a lot, but I can’t remember jack of it… Trusting my notes though… Indies only yellow vinyl also…

Nuclear Blast have a new IMMOLATION album called ‘Atonement’, and a tour edition of the last AMORPHIS album ‘Under The Red Cloud’, with a live CD.

Pias also have new albums from KING GIZZARD AND THE WIZARD LIZARD (a trad folk band from Ballintotis…. Em no…. A hint of psych I think is truer) LOS CAMPESINOS and SUICIDE SQUAD.

WARNER

Warner for the 24th of FEB have the new RHIANNON GIDDEONS album (CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS) …. Terrible tale as a theme behind the writing of the title track of the album ‘At Purchaser’s Option’.

Rhiannon saw a picture of an old ad in a New York paper in 1797 and the item for sale was ‘a remarkably smart, healthy negro wench with also a nine old month child but the child is at purchaser’s option’….. Absolutely disgusting and mind boggling… I do wonder what will disgust people in 200 years about the crimes this generation have committed… Crimes in the name of gods maybe…. Do we not see our crimes as we live them… Is history the only judge of them…. An ad like this was reasonable behaviour 200 years ago about a woman and her child in the land of hope and freedom…..

Warner also have the CD soundtrack of THE STOOGES doc ’Gimme Danger’, as well as a DISTURBED ‘Live At Red Rocks’ 2LP, and finally an original french language version of the CHRISTINE AND THE QUEENS album on blue vinyl with CD and poster…. 500 only worldwide… Just saying is all!

Massive exciting news for the shop as we team up with our pals in WARNER for an ED SHEERAN Midnight Party Album Launch….. Yes open at midnight we are on Thursday night, the 2nd of March till 1 or 1.30AM on Friday morning, the 3rd of March for the release of the new ED SHEERAN record ‘Divide’….. One of only three record shops in the whole world to be open at midnight on the date of the release…Yeah heh bring it on…. Like the old days… I wrote on these pages a year or 18 months ago would the day ever come back…. The day (or night to be more precise) of “midnight openings”…. I done three or four in the very distant past and there was truly something special about it…. Real fans waiting to hear the new album in its entirety… First to get it… Old school…. Hopefully you will have no big leaks in your house Ed my man in the next two weeks…. Part of the joy of the chase is making the effort to succeed in getting it folks… Not when it lands on your phone, Bono… ‘Cos that just makes it disposable spam my friend… unfair on your two years of slog, toil, tears, rows and revelations… The record you put your heart and soul into deserves to be treated with respect… Like midnight openings respect… Like punters showing up for midnight openings respect…. Aretha you had it baby…

Yep we will be open …Me and Bobs at 12 midnight, Thursday March 2nd…..Everyone who gets into us will get a bespoke Ed Sheeran/Music Zone signature card… With the main dudes signature on it, and me and Bobby can sign it as well if ye like.. The Big News : Everyone will also be entered into a draw on the night for a pair of tickets to see Ed at his sold out 3Arena Dublin gig…… So if 10 turn up…. Good chance…50…. Ok less of a chance…. 100…Well still a 1% chance…. Brilliant… We are delighted about it…. It allows  us to wave a flag and say we are a record shop and we are here.. Loads more could happen yet on the night in question… Who knows?… The night is dark and full of….
You can pre order the album on three formats here :
CD https://musiczone.ie/product/ed-sheeran-%C3%B7-divide-cd-pre-order/
Deluxe CD https://musiczone.ie/product/ed-sheeran-%C3%B7-divide-deluxe-cd-pre-order/
Vinyl https://musiczone.ie/product/ed-sheeran-%C3%B7-divide-lp-pre-order/

Nice gig in St  Luke’s next friday night the 24th … A bit of info here… Still some tickets left I think… The corporation are heading up… Flagan in coat…. Bushing in a church with a few tunes… Sins of the future…. Well definitely a sin of the past…

Sin e for this week so i suppose,

Paul Simon was about  to get it, but I’ve ran out of energy… Time enough for that.

Thanks for listening,

Ray.

www.musiczone.ie

Hi Everyone,

Hope all is good with ye…

Nice few bits hit the shop floor today with us including the debut from RAG N BONE MAN…a slide on steptoe and son i think….the beautiful BOWIE sound and vision picture disc…nearly exactly 40 years to the day…originally released on the 11th of Feb 1977…one of my own favourite Bowie tracks …the reissue of the three studio albums also out, station to station, young americans and diamond dogs as well as the live albums from the mid 70s….the studio albums are 18 euro each…we all crib about pricing but in this instance we can’t really crib…tough for us i know…..not cribbing that is….some of us anyway…like how one cannot get car insurance for one’s 98 fiieeesstiiiii deluxe….what’s that about like….one may be forced into selling one’s prized yacht….or……hats, scarves or headbands…anyone for the last few Harrison boxsets…hats, scarves or headbands….last few choc ices…

Also out today are some more PRINCE 12” singles, some more DEPECHE MODE reissues and some REPLACEMENTS reissues on LP.

Moving on to releases for next Friday the 17th of Feb...the big one really is the new RYAN ADAMS album…prisoner…the preorder price is still in place if anyone is interested….gonna do the draw for the five red ones tomorrow…which is today now….i one finger type this on a thursdaynight and my IT department tidy it up on a friday ( Bobby most weeks but Shane this week as the Bob man is away in London town for a well earned weeks holidays…) so the five names for the red vinyl are Billy Coleman, Paul customer, Matthew Cullen, Joe Flynn and Dave O Conner….there was some very good customers names not pulled out of the hat….it was a fair draw picked by an 8 year old girl and her mam in the shop at 17.20…so sorry… Flor, Frank, BOD, Keith O D, Eddie O D, Donal B, Peter L, Brendan M and Kieran  O Reilly….it was a fair draw lads….i hope i will get 5 red ones now!!

UNIVERSAL

Universal have a new album by AMY MACDONALD out next week also called under stars, a new album from KID CUDI  his 6th, the Danny Elfman score to the Tim Bruton classic “ a nightmare before christmas” on 2LP , THE BRITS 2017 3 CD set and some STEVE WINWOOD LP reissues including “ arc of a diver” and “ talking back to the night” .

Lastly from UMG for next week are some really limited PETE TOWNSEND reissues…his album with Ronnie Lane bassist of THE SMALL FACES on 180g red vinyl…500 only i think UK and Eire…as is his solo album “ who came first” ….a quiet listen…. on white vinyl this one…same numbers.

SONY

Sony have a reissue of IGGY AND THE STOOGES “ raw power” on LP for next week.

MUSIC ON VINYL

Music on Vinyl have a repress of Total Madness by MADNESS,  a greatest hits as ye know….first 1000 pressed are on red vinyl…i hope to have some.

Seen as im on a roll with the limited, numbered coloured stuff Shellshock have THE BEATLES live on air 1963 on coloured or picture disc…2,000 pressed of each….THE BEATLES outtakes LP from 1963 on coloured vinyl and THE WHO “ radio sessions” on coloured or picture disc ….again limited to 2000 world wide.

The smiling assassin is back with avengence!

Did i mention the Harrison box is limited to 1000….ouch….only saying like….!!

I’m here to give info…thats all im doing…well not all im doing…a few smiles thrown in.

WARNER

Warner for the 17th have some PANIC AT THE DISCO LP reissues including “ pretty odd” and “ a fever you can’t sweat out” as well as THE DAMNED reissue of “ damned, damned, damned

PIAS

PIAS have a new album by BING & RUTH…..instrumental , beautiful stuff altogether…composer/pianist David Moore…piano, bass, woodwinds….have a little taste here if you think its your cup of cha

…indies only clear vinyl…i could sit in a dark room on my own no problem and listen to this….happy out….i am someway even minded i think

PIAS also have the physical release of the LONDON O CONNOR album “ circle/triangle” after its soundcloud success.

PIAS also have a new JENS LEKMAN album, reissue on Domino of MAGNETIC FIELDS “ the wayward bus” with its predecessor “ distant plastic trees” as a 2 in 1 purchase…..the tour edition of the new ANTHRAX album “ for all the kings”  is out on CD and a six by seven reissue of the closer you get.

CARGO

Cargo have some Gary Numan live CD reissues.

Republic of Music have the ANGELO BADALAMENTI “ twin peaks – fire walk with me” on 2LP cherry red vinyl…its 55 euro so i didn’t buy it …i to have to draw a line also at times…if i think its too dear, not good enough value…i wont buy it…if anyone is interested, let me know….Bowie young americans record 18 euro…death waltz soundtrack 55 euro….

RED/ESSENTIAL have the new SON VOLT called “ notes of blue” …if you like our americana.

PROPER

PROPER have the RAY DAVIES DVD “ return to waterloo” in which Davies wrote, directed and composed the movie…the dialogue is told through lyrics and music….pharrell for the upbeat parts and williams in a schindlers mood for the downbeat bits

Proper also have the new DEADMAU5 LP…

On the local scene we have a couple of lovely live instores coming up….

We hope to do more and more instores as the year progresses to hopefully nearly land at one a week….i know we have been slow to get on the bike this year with them…but we are off and running with two beauts…( we really do appreciate people showing up to support the artist ….really really appreciate it…take a chance on some of these…. the quality is there if you give it a chance….anyway speech over…)

Two beauts to start with…

JOE CHESTER first up on Friday the 3rd of March at 4 pm

Here’s a little bit about Joe if he is new to you…http://www.joechester.com/

Followed by AUGUST WELLS on Saturday the 4th of March at 1 pm…

Two quality instores…i hope ye might consider timing your visit to us with the instore…consider is all we ask…

Sin e for this week folks..

Its been a good week…much loved additions and surviving deluxe fieesstiiieeesss

Thanks for listening,

ray