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NEW ALBUM OF THE YEAR??? MISSING PINTS OF GUINNESS AND CDS NOW ON SITE!

Posted on by musiczoneadmin

Hi Everyone,

How’s the form with ye all…

Hope ye enjoyed the break from me ….!

Blissful….i could say the same….no offence meant.

Back to normal this week or attempting to get back there anyway.

Loads going on with the impending move to Douglas Village happening now in early August….under the duvet never looked better Monday morning last….i did look hard there but alas up and at it…..i’m sure ye have had that feeling

The place was in safe hands with Bobby and the lads keeping the ship afloat…nice newsletters from the Bob man also.

Excited about the move….loads to be organised so it’s a bit nerve wracking and daunting and a bit scary but excited all the same….we hope to put our own stamp on the place and make it a nice shop….that’s the plan anyway…twil be great in one sense to get the move under way….it’s dragged since Jan 29th this year.

Releases in the shop for tomorrow include the new BIFFY CLYRO, DEAD CAN DANCE, BOB DYLAN, JOHNNY CASH, ELVIS PRESLEY, AVALANCHES, ROISIN MURPHY and MILES DAVIS.

A few heavy hitters there to be fair.

 

So, moving on to releases for the the 15th of July, the biggest arguable is the new MICHAEL KIWANUKU album, his second, called “ Love and Hate” on CD and double gatefold LP on Polydor records.

This one could be a surprise packet of the year….maybe one of the albums of the year in my opinion by the time the year ends…….worth checking out….. again in my opinion…people have been interested in this album from months back….here’s a taster to save you a few key taps….we are a world of key tappers now really aren’t we….key tapping and red tape….automated cars that tumble into  traffic…

UNIVERSAL

Steven Tyler ( Aerosmith ) has a solo offering coming out next friday the 15th also….his maiden solo journey…Universal also have have a couple of FRANK ZAPPA CDs reissued “ zappa for president” and “ the crux of the biscuit” ….both of these reissues have previously unreleased material.

UNIVERSAL also have the next batch of PETER GABRIEL vinyl reissues, these include the fairly obviously excellent “ SO”  as well as triple LPs “ UP” and “US” …. All of these are limited and numbered with codes also.

On codes…..codes should be a given….end of story….Mr. record company man, make codes a given….i have seen cost prices of some good selling catalogue vinyl like THE STONE ROSES debut album increase 20% since the turn of the year….greedy guts creeping in….least you can do is throw in a code….sometimes code not mentioned on  the cover and the code is in there, other times it is not there…..CODES SHOULD BE A GIVEN.

 

Universal also some LP reissues from THE HUMAN LEAGUE and SONIC YOUTH  as well as some DVDs from MARVIN GAYE, OZZY OSBOURNE, JONI MITCHELL and a new album from supergroup DEAD DAISIES “ make some noise” on red vinyl.

 

PROPER

Proper for the 15th of July have a new album from GOOD CHARLOTTES, a 2CD/2DVD  ofTREXs born to boogie and a new album from DAVID CORLEY….went to see David, last year now id say, in the mighty Coughlan’s and got chatting with him at the bar….asked him would he like a drink…..a whiskey please….no bother….a guinness and a whisky so please mr bartender….two minutes later David and i say good luck after a nice chat as he leaves with a Guinness and a whiskey!! Sound lad David twas  just an honest mistake…( if even five of ye even get that quip it would be a result….best ignore me i think… i got too much sun in Shanagarry)

WARNER

Warner have a new JEFF BECK album out next friday called “loud hailer”.

 

Those reading these ramblings for a couple of years notice the lull in releases in the height of summer….july and august mainly.

 

SONY

Sony have  new CDs out next week from PITBULL and 9ELECTRIC as well as Vinyl releases from JUDAS PRIEST “battle cry” and ASAP FERG “ ALWAYS STRIVE AND PROSPER” gets its LP release also.

Struggling a small bit to find my mojo this week so apologies if i was brief ( ye could be delighted!)

Just one more quick note… We have now started started selling CD on the website. Same scenario as LPs, 1 or 2 copies 5EUR shipping, free on 3+ bought.. Only a small few up now, but hoping to have most of the shop up in around 6-8 weeks so keep and eye..

So,

Sin e for this week….

David Corley has a song called just an honest mistake in case ye think i’m completely sun stroked…

Thanks for listening…

ray.

FLASH MAY BANK HOLIDAY VINYL RECORD SALE, AND MR. SULK IS BACK ON

Posted on by musiczoneadmin

Hey everyone,

 

How’s the form? Hope all is well..

 

Releases in the shop for today include THE STAR WARS : FORCE AWAKENS PICTURE DISC, ROB ZOMBIE, DEEP PURPLE, BOZ SCAGGS, VINYL ON VINYL, THE JAYHAWKS, JESU / SUN KILL MOON, and KING GIZZARD amongst them.

 

The video is back this week, for those who prefer the visual medium!

 

So moving on to releases for the 6th of May…

UNIVERSAL

Universal have the new GREGORY PORTER album, the guttural, soulful jazz singer’s new album is available on CD / 2LP / CD + DVD..

 

Universal also have a deluxe version of the stunning debut by RYAN ADAMS ‘Heartbreaker’ on 4LPs / DVD, or 2CD / DVD, featuring the legendary New York show at the Mercury Lounge in 2000. The set also includes rare and unseen photos… None from that famous night in Tung Sing Chinese in the city… Unfortunately…

Universal have the LP reissue of RICK WAKEMAN’S ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’, as well as some STEVE EARLE vinyl reissues including some gems like ‘Copperhead Road’, and ‘Guitar Town’.

WARNER

Warner for next week the 6th of May have a few bits and pieces of note including THE RIDES second album ‘Pierced Arrows’ on Provogue Records. THE RIDES consist of Stephen Stills, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Barry Goldberg, and this release in on CD, Deluxe CD and LP with codes.

 

Warner also have a vinyl reissue of DIANA KRALL’s debut record ‘Stepping Out’, on a double LP with codes… (most have codes to be fair these days, my own personal opinion.. My thinking on the way forward if the record companies want to support the physical formats… Single LP new releases should have a 20 Euro price point with CD included in a little slip case and access to a code also if you want it… Do not penalise the physical buyer, give them the lot..)

 

Warner also have some more good vinyl reissues including NATALIE MERCHANT’S ‘10,000 Maniacs’, ‘In My Tribe’, and ‘Our Time In Eden’, the great soundtrack to JACKIE BROWN gets a reissue, THE CARS ‘The Best Of’ on double LP and some MOTLEY CRUE reissues including ‘Dr. Feelgood’, and ‘Shout at the Devil’.

Lastly from Warner for next week is a GORDON LIGHTFOOT ‘88  Sony 4CD set….

 

Tesco Ireland were in the high court in the last week… Brought there by their Dublin based supplier of CDs and DVDs, Beaumex.. Beaumex have supplied Tesco stores in this country for nearly 20 years now… Neither a great friend of this corporation… But that’s neither here nor there… Beaumex are suing Tesco for fraudulent concealment saying that Tesco are deliberately making it hard for Beaumex to work out what they are owed… The amount of money in question is up to 4 Million Euro… It is alleged by Beaumex that Tesco have made 16,000 deductions to invoices… That’s 16,000 invoices tampered with… i.e, we only got 5… Invoice charged for 10… Only then pay for 5… But how many were received??? That’s a deduction payment.. Nice guys to be doing business with if that’s the case..

 

Beaumex are only a third party distributer but when you have 108 Tesco accounts waiting on the new Adele album, i’d imagine you can get it at a fairly good price.. Things seemed to have turned fairly nasty there…

 

If Beaumex are correct… That’s incredible behaviour from Tesco and it also begs the question how Beaumex missed it… I remember a rep from Proper Music telling me some years ago about a big release they had.. (Can’t remember what it was now).. Tesco got in touch, they wanted it.. How much did it cost Tesco wanted to know (very simplified version here..) They were told the price that it could be sold to them for (which took into account the size of the order).. Tesco came back and said that wanted it 10% cheaper than that… Proper hummed and hawed and finally agreed.. For Tesco to turn around and say ‘actually we want it another 10% cheaper’.. Proper hummed and hawed again but this time they said NO.. Fair play to them.. They have never sold a CD to Tesco since.. What a way to operate… They want to rule the world…

 

I heard a story (true) during the week about a high profile Irish band who were thinking of putting their new album up on iTunes. They were on a small indie label I deal direct with.. iTunes offered them 40 cent on album sale.. I kid you not.. 40 cent out of a tenner.. They have to try recoup the cost of making the record which ain’t just a few pound.. 40 cent… At least through a shop or through their website they will recoup a far higher amount.. In our / this case 66% goes back to the band… 23% to Mr. Taxman.. And 11% to us.. It’s better than 40 cents.. Anyway, i’ve bored ye close to death at this stage i’d say with my anecdotes and tales for the grandchildren, so I am going to move on.. Yipee they say

SONY

Sony for next Friday the 6th of May have the new JEAN MICHEL JARRE record ‘Electronical’, as well as the vinyl reissues (again) of MICHAEL JACKSON’s first three solo records… I’d say ye probably know the ones.

 

Essential for the 6th of May have the ne MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER album.

PIAS

PIAS for the 6th of May have the ASSOCIATES reissues including ‘Fourth Drummer Down’, ‘The Affectionate Punch’, and of course ‘Sulk’ (which is probably in danger of becoming my nickname), and also the new Yeasayer album ‘Odd Blood’..

At Music Zone Towers (just off President Donal Trump Plaza), we are having a bit of a VINYL SALE… Not everything i’m afraid.. Just stuff that we have too much of.. So here’s the gig :

 

15% OFF RSD 2016 stock left on the racks.

20% OFF BLACK FRIDAY 2015 stock left on the racks.

20% OFF 3 OR SO BOXES OF VINYL STOCK (located by record players at counter).

Worth a nose if you’re passing..

 

On the local scene, aboveDat have a debut single coming out next Friday the 6th. aboveDat consist of Stevie G and Ian Ring (one half of Young Wonder), with vocals beautifully and soulfully put on this track by Christina Underwood. Check it out here :

 

https://soundcloud.com/abovedat

 

Sin é for this week…

Thanks,

Ray.

www.musiczone.ie

8 Sleeps to RSD and the return of Polly Jean plus loads more…

Posted on by musiczoneadmin

Hey everyone,

 

Hope the form is good….

 

Links to new releases in the shop include THE LUMINEERS, PRIMAL SCREAM, MEGADETH, DEFTONES, PARQUET COURTS, VIOLENT FEMMES, NIGHT MOVES, FRIGHTENED RABBIT and we finally got a few WHITE STRIPES albums back in….maybe a year since we had them….pressing plants and all that…..Jack has his own plant….productivity not a prerequisite there one presumes….he’s dead right. ( id say hes a busy boy to be fair to him, dowtcha Jackie boy)

So 8 sleeps to RECORD SHOP DAY, excitement is building with us, a theme of celebration ( were still alive!!!) this year, like every other year, we’re still going….i think this is Music Zone towers 6th RSD….I think i got about 6 records the first year in ( was not stocking vinyl at the time) to maybe 30 records in 2012 to this year where we are getting nearly 800 records across 300 titles……so bring your wallets ( !!!) leave your car…. if you wish….booze and buns shall be provided…we hope to give everyone in the early booze

morning  queue a pressie….LP/ 7INCH/ CD/BIT OF MERCH/LOCK OF BOBBY’S HAIR ( some of ye in need of it) things like that up for grabs…definitely for the first 30 to 40 anyway. My RSD fill of records was good enough, a few disappointments though as usual but hey that’s the nature of the beast …..a lot of the smaller UK labels don’t seem to be overly fair when it comes to supplying the Irish shops for RSD, I feel they sell them in the UK first and if they dont sell out, then we get a shot at it….whereas the majors in fairness, yes in fairness i said, give Ireland 10% of the UK/IRELAND quantity….so if there is 500 units of the DOORS record for the UK and IRELAND…then Ireland get 50 copies….TOWER and GOLDEN DISCS would probably eat up 20 of them, GD qty spread across a few shops….30 units then left for the likes of me, Willie in ROLLERCOASTER in Kilkenny ( we don’t really talk about sport, well the one that matters anyway, no, we don’t really talk about it, i may inquire about Brian Codys health from time to time but generally we keep it to the music ) OMG in Galway, BEN O NEILL in Dungarvan, CLASSIFIED up in Louth and maybe a few others….so the rest of us can get a few each i.e i have 6 of that DOORS record….ah the Doors….pour moi….numero uno….JIMBO and the lads…6 brilliant records in less than five years, musically and lyrically class

Words dissemble

Words be quick

Words resemble walking sticks

Plant them they will grow

Watch them waver so

I’ll always be a word man

Better then a bird man

 

I’d say you liked the birds as well now Jim  boy to be fair…

Anyway , sidetracked, apologies, RSD commences at 9am on Saturday the 16th of April and we have an independant mini music festival in the shop on the day also…
Kicking us off at 11am are a fine rock band with roots in Scotland and Cork, RAISING JUPITER…they will definitely warm us up with some cracking tunes like this beauty…thanks for doing it RJ

Next up at 12 pm is ANDERSON who in fairness to him is  travelling down from Dublin to do RSD for us….Daniel played a lovely set around the launch of his album PATTERNS a few months back, so really looking forward to this one….ANDERSON plays Cypress avenue the following weekend Friday the 22nd…thanks for doing it Danny.

 

1 PM brings us CRY MONSTER CRY…..these boys are class so really looking forward to seeing them…Simon & Garfunkel vibe going on…class..can’t wait…thanks for doing it lads….

2 pm brings us the supremely talented local lass ANNA MITCHELL with a little bit of help from John Blek,  Anna’s voice is startlingly beautiful backed up by some fine self penned songs…talented girl….one not to miss…..thanks for doing it Anna

Last up at 3 PM are local young fellers and talented boys CROJAYN….the Music Zone corporation thinks a lot of these boys….an awful lot….pop in and see for yourself….you can brag in years to come that you saw them play in a record shop at the start of their journey…check this out…

We like, we like, we like…

 

All these artists are doing this for a drop of whiskey and a bun, maybe a record…. so bula bos for getting behind us and the spirit of RSD… hats off to ye Lady and Gents…thanks.

Right so onto releases for the day before RSD, friday the 15th of April which sees the return of the unconquerable Polly Jean Harvey….i like the tunes i heard from this record….reports of stock issues, firm reports, not bullshitting here…my LP order was cut way back…second press wont be in till may 20th…forewarned is forearmed and all that yada yada…

 

UNIVERSAL

Universal also have the new CATE LE BON and a new ANDRE RIEU.

 

PIAS

PIAS have some BERT JANSCH LP reissues from the original analogue master tapes , from 1968 “ birthday blues “ and from 1967 “ NICOLA” ….1967….man 1967…what music…THE DOORS debut, PEPPERS, SURREALISTIC PILLOW, LOVES “ FOREVER CHANGES” ….these JANSCH tapes have not being used for nearly 50 years….
There is a DEAD CAN DANCE release also that day says he hedgingly ( if that’s a word) “anastasis” is being reissued on green vinyl….30 copies for Eire….so potluck for me and hence ye….Gerrard and Perry were some duo….

SAM BEAM and JESCA HOOP have an album also on the 15th on sub pop.

 

WARNER

 Warner have the next in the batch of PHIL COLLINS reissues as well as new albums by GRAHAM NASH and STURGILL SIMPSONS , his third album….this one an open letter to his first child from start to finish….

Republic of Music have the new album “ person A”  ( 4th) by californian 10 piece EDWARD SHARPE AND THE MAGNETIC ZEROS as well as JOHN CARPENTERS follow up “ lost themes 2” some of these on purple and white swirl coloured….make an nice ice cream.

 

SONY

Sony have the lost album from 2001/02 by J.DILLA  as well as some vinyl reissues by THE DIXIE CHICKS “ home” and “ taking the lead” and PARADISE LOST “ in requeim”

 

ESSENTIAL have the new SANTANA album….all original members back for this one….

 

PROPER

Proper have the second album by Dublin band THE YOUNG FOLK outnext Friday also.

And last but not least Cork music gods THE FRANK AND WALTERS are to release a new album next Friday….should have stock for RSD THE 16TH….really looking forward to that one….we are, we are, we are the….

franks

So LOADS of releases to bring people into the record shops over RSD weekend….hope you enter one and who knows maybe your grandkids will enjoy that experience also some day…anyway enough of my preaching for one week…

 

Sin é for this week folks…

 

Check us out here on what’s coming and going

 

www.musiczone.ie

 

And thanks for listening as always,

 

Ray

BLACKSTARS, CHOICE NOMINEES AND OLD FOLKS HOMES

Posted on by musiczoneadmin

There is a black star on the horizon from the star man,  choice nominees and talks of old folks homes

Hi Everyone,

Happy new year and all that Jazz….
Hope all went well and that all is good.
Traditionally a quiet enough time  except for ARCTIC MONKEYS debut release in 2006 and the boy wonder with his birthday release 3 years ago now.

youngbowbowmanbowieee

Image result for david bowie blackstar vinyl

And the birthday boy wonder BOWIE is back with a new record again…album of the year i’d say no doubt about it…..so far this year anyway.
Only playing lads, ( the Bowiehead lads i am referring to ) i really likeBLACKSTAR  , the jazz influence easy to hear, avant garde style, vocally very good for a fella 80 next year, ( another jab lads, getting closer yerselfs now sure)
The lead single is an absolute cracker in my opinion a wonderful piece of music that improves listen after listen…needs a few of those listens though, and i have listened 6 or 7 times to the album in the shop and it’s starting to resonate with me, thats a great song, jays thats a great song as well type of thing….very impressed i must say.

villagerses

Moving on from the birthday boy so, the new VILLAGERS record is out tomorrow also….well not exactly a new record, reworkings of songs from the first three records, recrafted and sounding succulent, talented boy is our own Mr. O Brien….available via Domino on CD and for a short time only limited green Vinyl record….its a lovely listen.

Also in the shop are HATEFUL8 OST, some SPOCKS BEARD , the vinyl record release of the new JUSTIN BIEBER album and the newestELVIS release is back in on Vinyl.

The Corporation ( my address to you shareholders) had a good enough Christmas…in the positive direction by 2.5 % fuelled largely by the aul Vinyl record….vinyl up about 40% in 2015 against 2014…DVD still in a lot of decline….the two of them nearly balancing each other out…shop for the year was a mirror of the Christmas…2% increase….look, happy days….shit load more work than the good times , the bertie bowl era, our great leader of the past….but hey right direction…take that.

ham sandwich

The Choice music nominees were announced during the week, which as you know are considered to be the ten best Irish records this year…well 2015….list is GIRL BAND, HAM SANDWICH, GAVIN JAMES, JAPE, LE GALAXIE, COLM MAC CON LOMAIRE, ROISIN MURPHY, SOAK, VILLAGERS and YOUNG WONDER.

Strong list to be fair, a couple of notably exceptions in my opinion, THE NORTH SEA and HEDGE SCHOOLS records are excellent in my opinion and never the made the list and locally THE HARD GROUND and JOHN BLEK AND THE RATS must count themselves unlucky also, as must Danny ANDERSON.
The last five i mentioned have one thing in common, they are unsigned, not in bed with a record company, and that’s just the mechanics of the industry, i buy into those mechanics everyday, i have to….i depend on record companies….they will get by fine without me…..but there was never going to be more than two unsigned bands in the 10….thats just the way it is….2 is good in fact i would argue….but i personally would have to question whether the 10 best Irish albums are on display….but hey thats the way it works….

Next week the 15th , there’s is not a huge amount happening…
PIAS have the second album by DAUGHTER on 4AD…
Universal have the SKUNK ANANSIE record ( their sixth now) with one of the best front women around in SKIN and UNI also have the iconic soundtrack for BACK TO THE FUTURE on PICTURE Disc…is it RECORD STORE DAY….( not long now folks!!, what a marketeer)

Here is an interesting piece from BBC RADIO 4 on sound and compression…both sides of the tale given…if you like your sound and have a spare half an hour, this is for you, if not it may bore the liathroidi off you…worth a listen in my opinion….game of opinions as ye know though
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06tvgp1#play

might bring the aul video back all going well….some of ye are lyrically, some visual…

Serious, thanks for all the support over Christmas and all year, please god we will rock on….

sin e for this week,
thanks for listening,
Ray.

http;//musiczone.ie

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