Bunch of releases in the shop this week which include the new BOWIE boxset on LP and CD…the debut album by the bould JACK O’ ROURKE….Few listens this week..It sounds really good… Really good….Jack was in the shop Saturday…was a quality performance as expected.
Right so onto releases for next Friday the 30th of September…. PIAS get the nod to lead the troops for this week….They have via Jagjaguwar the new BON IVER record ‘22, A million’ on CD, Cassette, LP and limited INDIES ONLY LP with 12”… Just 200 copies of this for our shores….So you know where i am if you want to be safe… Tis pricey though at 37 quid….Don’t shoot the messenger…. I know it’s limited and its a lovely piece of gear and musically very good I would imagine, but it is a hefty price tag…. Record companies have to be careful with the price tags… Don’t kill the golden goose , nurture it is my thinking.
PIAS also have the record from alt/rock legends PIXIES, ‘Head Carrier’ it is called and it is out on CD , LP and limited indies only vinyl with a slipmat… Getting mixed reviews but I kind of like what i have heard….One man’s meat blah de blah.
Pias also have the new DRIVE BY TRUCKERS record on CD and LP and the new OPETH album ‘Sorcercess’ on 2CD,CD, 2LP or picture disc LP as well as some ROY HARPER reissues on vinyl and a reissue of a special anniversary edition of the soundtrack to Cliff Martinez’s DRIVE on pink vinyl.
Universal have a few strong releases as well for next friday the 30th including second album from english punk duo SLAVES entitled ‘Take Control’ on CD and limited red vinyl for indies only with codes.
Universal also have the new studio album by VAN MORRISON…. Pop quiz…. How many studio albums does Van have?…. Isn’t google a bitch… Pop quizzes are with O’ Leary in the grave….If I could only trust ye not to tap for the answer I could have ran a competition to win the Leon Jackson album (sorry Leon, I hope you never read this and if you do I hope you appreciate there was no malice intended and you take it in the spirit it was meant… P.S, I could have told you SYCO was a bit of a langer like) ….I would have got it wrong ….36 studio albums… I would have been about 10 away… Anyway his 36th is out next week ‘Keep Me Singing’ is the title…. Is that like the opposite to a do not resuscitate order….Van was the man at a point to be fair…. Don’t know what this one is like.
ROLLING STONES first 10 years gets a 15 CD and 15 LP Mono Box Set treatment…. One for the hardcore fans.
WALLIS BIRD releases her 5th album called ‘Home’ on Carolina music….Underrated girl is Wallis especially here in her homeland…. Loads of talent so we wish her the best with the new record…. Free live CD if you buy the new album on CD or Vinyl from us week one of release….Two for the price of one… New album and live album for 14 euro…. Not bad at all… Wallis is due to do an instore in Jan with us when she is back in Cork again to play Cypress Avenue…. Sound bird as well you see….
TEMPLE OF THE DOG gets a reissue also next week on 2CD and 2LP plus a super deluxe box.
UNIVERSAL also have a superb STING vinyl boxset ….8 studio albums across 11 records for 145 euro…They are all individually released also….
Uni have reissues by MAROON 5 ‘Songs About Jane’ and HEAVEN 17 as well as the brilliant MASSIVE ATTACK new 12” single as a limited coloured vinyl…Bot sure if it’s the Mazzy star track or not… Will inform next week.
I done a talk recently for Tedex under the guise Cork Loves Music and man it was nerve-wrecking… Standing on a stage in front of about 50 or 60 people in seats.. People just looking at you… Talk fool talk as Mr. T might say…. My input was to be from an indie store owners perception of the world I live in… Man I could talk all day as some of ye know but this was tough… I will beef it out for ye more over the next week or two as I think it might be an interesting enough read.. Three facets to it… 1) Background 2) Why buy Physical? 3) What do we as Indie shops contribute to the world?.. I’m not sure if my crowd on the night got me…I could be wrong but I felt my crowd would have more interest in more worldly matters like the huge influence of the Hebrew Monks had on Bowie’s creation of Ziggy… Man!!
Sony for the 30th have the HENDRIX reissue ‘Machine Gun’, a live show with the Band of Gypsies from 1969 in the infamous Fillmore East in New York.. Cut from the original 8 Track master tapes..
Sony also have a number of really good vinyl reissues for next week including the following :
Warner for the 30th of September have the new REGINA SPEKTOR album ‘Remember Us To Life’ on CD, Deluxe CD or LP… ERIC CLAPTON ‘Live In San Francisco’ with JJ CALE is also out, as well as ‘Best Of’ CDs by ENTOMBED andMORBID ANGEL for any metal lovers out there..
Cargo have the new ULTIMATE PAINTING LP on Purple Vinyl for Indies only….
Some of the best wine till last this week…. The new JOHN BLEK solo album is on rotation in the shop the last few days and it’s out on CD, and Limited numbered vinyl next Friday the 30th… Sounds great, really really well crafted songs once again.. Check out the lead single ‘Little Sparrow’ underneath.. Lovely bluesy tone to the guitaring and great lyrics by John once again.
Or for those who prefer the video, Bobby is back on duties this week! Be sure to slate him in the comments, and subscribe to keep up to date with all releases!
Scintillating Savage September sizzles on (ah shut up Ray for Christ’s Sake) with crackers galore for next week the 23rd of September also..
First up is the second in the series of BOWIE boxsets.. This one is 13LP, or 12CD set covers 1974-1976… Some merch available as ye know with the pre-ordered sets.. So if you order a set (as some of you have done already) you can choose from two items from four.. The four items are the tee-shirts, mouse mat, slipmat, and record bag.. All beautifully Bowie branded.. Any two of the four with a set… (Sorry, I know I told ye this already, but a slight change with the merch.. So basically you can choose from two out of the four!)..
Warner also have a new BONAMASSA release for next week.. A live recording entitled ‘Live at the Greek’ where Joe plays or pays tribute to the three kings… Albert, Freddie and B.B.. This one is on 2CD, 3LP with Code, 2DVD + Blu Ray..
Warner also have two nice vinyl boxsets next week, starting with the great RAY CHARLES with his Atlantic Studio Albums reissued in Mono.. A 7LP boxset! Also out is the next instalment of the RANDY NEWMAN songbook via Nonesuch.. This one is a 4LP set..
Warner also have the next batch of PINK FLOYD reissues… This time it’s Atom Heart Mother, Meddle and Obscured By Clouds as well as a reissue of KD LANG’Sgreat album ‘Hymn of the 49th Parallel’, again on Nonesuch Records on 140gm vinyl..
Lastly for this week from Warner is the 10th Anniversary of MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE’s ‘Black Parade’, on 2CD or 3LP which has 11 previously unreleased demos.. There are also some TROJAN reggae releases..
Next up is a massive local release… Sandwiched between Bowie and Bruce (us Cork boys like to keep good company like) JACK O’ ROURKE releases his debut album, out next Friday the 23rd… Entitled ‘Dreamcatcher’.. We can’t wait to hear this one! The EP from last year contained 5 great tracks so really looking forward to hearing the album.. Even better news, Jack is coming in to us the following day, the 24th of September (Saturday) at 12 noon to perform songs from the new album… Say hello to a few people and sign a few albums all going well.. Racks coming out of the floor for this one so mark it in your diary, head, or wherever you mark things… Sat 24th, 12 Noon, Music Zone… T’will be great, Jack in our opinion is as big a talent as anyone in the country at the moment and certainly one of the best songsmiths.. Love love is over now, so on to Sony for the 23rd of September..
Sony for next Friday (not too shabby so far has it.. Floyd reissues only got about 3 lines..), have the companion album to BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN’s autobiography ‘Born to Run’… I’m sure Tom will drop in a signed copy of the book for display in the shop… Tom?… Tom?….
The album is called ‘Chapter and Verse’, and is basically a Best Of, with a slight twist… A song from each period of his life… On CD or Double LP…Here’s the sales notes :
‘Chapter and Verse,’ the audio companion to Bruce Springsteen’s extraordinary forthcoming autobiography, will be released Sept. 23 on Columbia Records. The career-spanning compilation will be released four days before Simon & Schuster publishes ‘Born to Run.’ Five of the album’s 18 tracks have not been previously released.
Springsteen selected the songs on ‘Chapter and Verse’ to reflect the themes and sections of ‘Born to Run.’ The compilation begins with two tracks from The Castiles, featuring a teenaged Springsteen on guitar and vocals, and ends with the title track from 2012’s ‘Wrecking Ball.’ The collected songs trace Springsteen’s musical history from its earliest days, telling a story that parallels the one in the book.
Recordings from Steel Mill and The Bruce Springsteen Band feature musicians who would go on to play in The E Street Band. Solo demos of “Henry Boy” and “Growin’ Up” were cut in 1972 shortly before Springsteen began recording his debut album, ‘Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.’
‘Chapter and Verse’ will be available as a single CD and double LP. The package will include lyrics and rare photos..
INSOMNIUM also have a new album called ‘Winters Gate’, on CD Deluxe and LP…
Red Essential (I hope you notice I don’t have much time for cribbing this week… too much going on… I’ll save up the rants for a quiet week) have the new album by PASSENGER on CD or CD/DVD or LP or 2LP… Quite a bit of interest being shown in this one… Red Essential also have a new BILLY BRAGG / JOE HENRY record called ‘Shine Alright’..
PIAS for the 23rd of September have WARPAINT’S third album called ‘Heads Up’ on Rough Trade records.. Played Dublin recently and supposed to have been very good.. Indies only black and pink vinyl for a limited time only folks… Roll up roll up… Don’t see double entendres where there are none meant folks…..
Quick side note… Great to have three strong new albums last week, not reissues… New material.. WILCO, TEENAGE FANCLUB, and NICK CAVE…. Three of the better albums of the year for me so far.. Top quality… All three… I think anyway!… Side note over….
PIAS also have a new IN FLAMES record, ‘Sounds From The Heart of Gothenburg’..
Universal for the 23rd of September have a new SHAWN MENDES album, a new album from AIRBOURNE and UB40 + DUSTY SPRINGFIELD 3CD ‘Best Of’ CDs…
Quick cap in the hand one here again…. The Rolling Stones Mono Boxset coming out on the 30th of September as a limited 15 CD set for EUR140 best price, or Limited 16LP set for EUR335 best price… Boxsets are all limited… Universal offering a free CD album from their catalogue as an incentive if anyone is interested! Let me know… I need to know by Monday 11AM… Sound!!
Just saw SKEPTA won the Mercury… Can’t say I know the album, and can’t say I like Grime either to be honest…. Is it the right decision?.. I dunno… Don’t know the album… Bowie was the sentimental choice you could say, but from the nine albums of the twelve nominated that I knew, Bowie would have got my nod, but the Skepta record, I don’t know it… Look, maybe it will bring a new genre of music to the forefront with the kids, and that would be no bad thing..
Thanks to those who read this …I appreciate it…I do put a bit of time into it…late on a Thursday evening usually…between 2 to 3 hours a week normally to do a bit of research and write it so sound to those who read it.
Here’s a link to our vlog if you’d prefer…
Firstly, this week loads of goodies in the shop today…bit of a feast to be honest…bad for your pocket but good for your soul…listened a lot to the jingly jangly pop brilliance of the Teenage Fanclub…it’s poptabulous…the new Wilco…Schmilco is a fine listen as well and the new Nick Cave has been played all day today…I can safely say all three will be played again in 12 months time…really good…
the Nick Cave is really really dark and melancholy, there is a kind of whirling, looping drone through the record that is so melancholy and intoxicating…one track has a single piano note every 15 seconds…one note only but it gives an eerie feel to it…I played it 5 or 6 times today but didn’t study it…it’s on in the background (I’m not really listening to it intently) and I am not going to try and dissect meanings from the great man’s pen…not yet anyway (until a proper listen) but the opening track is called ‘Jesus Alone’, and the album opens with the line. ‘He fell from the skies’…ah man…I could be wrong but I think 3 fine albums have been released today…the Nick one could be an all time classic given time…it’s early days for me with it but it’s powerful, interesting stuff.
Right, more out today are some great Neil Young reissues, the acoustic double album, Jack White, a live ZZ Top record, some Faith No More reissues, New Order singles collection on 4LP boxset, new record by Bastille (must listen tomorrow…could be another beaut), Verve reissue, Ramones boxset, new Okkervil River record, new one by D.A.R.K….so loads of new stuff in the man cave for the weekend…quality stuff a lot of it…
Right, moving on to arrivals in same man cave for next Friday the 16th of September (no disrespect in any shape, form or way to ye ladies with great taste who buy records or C.Ds from us…lady cave just ain’t got the same ring to it)…I better get out while the goings good…
Right, next week the biggie is definitely the Zeppelin BBC CD, LP set or super deluxe CD/LP set…a fine collection…thanks (big time) to those of you who were interested and pre-ordered from us (rather than elsewhere…go raibh maith agaibh)…Swansong/Atlantic/Warner being the providers of this beaut…the vinyl of the new Christine and the Queens reissued through Warner also for next Friday, LP also includes a copy of the CD which is a nice touch.
PIAS have the new album by PREOCCUPATIONS ( well, I suppose it’s their debut album…the same four lads from Canada were VIETCONG but changed their name to the aforementioned)…the first album was good, so looking forward to hearing the new one…there is an indies only coloured vinyl with this one…as for the name change, it was causing offence and promoters were getting grief over it also, and the band were losing shows over it as well…the lads from the band said basically and honestly that they were young and ignorant to the ramifications of the name…not too many bands out there with names of terrorist organisations to be fair….storm in a teacup or a real problem…that’s for everyone to have their opinion on…Christ why am I still writing about it..Enough said Raymond…Shane thinks it was a bit of punk rock, they should’ve kept it…new record next week, CD and Ltd LP.
PIAS also have the score to the TV series NARCOS on black and red swirly ice pop flavoured vinyl (sorry, three words in that description are not true…I got a bit carried away again)
I’m lucky to be here (last story I promise/I hope about this/ I thought my head was going to explode on Tuesday)…EIR were back or should we call them Freddy…man, they are a nightmare…because I closed a contract and opened a huge new contract…I had no package with eir so I had agreed a new package with them last week…watch your costs…watch your costs type thing which entailed them sending sending some some dude out to install a new broadband modem…all cool…eh..no…he left and the next day the phone line was dead…I am not over exaggerating too much when I say this but when the realisation hit me that my phone was not working…terror, fear and bile rose in my stomach…I had to ring EIR…man…it is torture…9 minutes on hold…the line goes dead…try again, 9 minutes before I speak to someone…he puts me on hold…another 7 minutes, he is back and wants to transfer me …I’m getting full at this stage so I ask him nicely is there any way he can call me back rather than me waiting…I am the customer I think?…eh no he replys…I say why not…Gareth tells me he is too busy…I kid you not…he is too busy to call me, the customer back…pop…head explosion…nop raised voice but a right asshole I turned into for a good minute…a right asshole…I’d say Gareth wished he’d said grand I’ll ring you back…
I spoke to 40 Gareths over the past month in EIR and pop…it happened…I thought I was out you see but you know what’s coming, they kept pulling me back in…Anyway a long story short and an even longer 38 minutes (in total), I was told there was a fault with the line and they would sort it but it would take 3 working days…to get a dude back out…brilliant..brilliant guys…I knew that 40 minutes ago…
Anyway, hopefully that’s the end of that sceal once and for all…back to the tunes…
Essential for the 16th have new albums by Seth LAKEMAN, HANDSOME FAMILY and DEAD VALLY.
Music On Vinyl have a few nice ones including DREAM THEATRE …2 and a half hours live from Paris…4 LP set…2000 copies on blue marbled ice pop flavoured vinyl…
MOV also have SUICIDE SQUAD OST on LP, NAS ‘I Am’ LP and MOVE ‘Looking On’ featuring Jeff Lynne.
Universal have new albums by ALANA GEORGE, MADELINE PEYROUX, SHAKIN STEVENS, the new BRIDGET JONES DIARY…quick side bar…was top of the charts in 2001 when the baby opened…I remember asking a colleague and friend of mine before I opened the shop…how many of that Bridget Jones soundtrack should I get in…25 she said…you’ll definitely sell 25 she said…she was right…a long time ago now…amazing how little things can stick in your mind .
Universal also have an ENIGMA Best Of CD reissue, EMINEM ‘Curtain Call’ 2LP reissue and PETER GABRIEL Live DVD.
Sony have a new WILLIE NELSON album – a tribute to Ray Price, and a new USHER CD.
On the local scene, The Sunshine Factory were in performing in the shop last Saturday at 1pm. Really good sound…Velvet Undergroundy…Brian Jonestown Massacre vibes…EP out in January/February.
Or for those who perfer the video, ye know the sceal!!
You’ve probably read enough madness last week but the real madness is about to commence says he hopefully….. the release schedule is really very strong for the next month….. All killer , no fillers as one might say…..i am some peddler for one peddler.
You are probably going to laugh at this but I am talking into a microphone on the laptop which is typing out the words for me on the screen….. Maiden voyage for both of us tonight…. I do have one little problem with my new friend, it does not seem to understand simple Cork like boy!!
So I am talking like an earl from Downton Abbey, If you could hear me now you would definitely have a giggle ….
So moving on to releases for the 9th of September , we will start with NICK CAVE’s new record called ‘Skeleton Tree’, his 16th studio album. I have searched online to try and find a couple of tracks from this release but to no avail…. this one seems fairly locked down for now which is quite refreshing to be honest.
One cannot begin to even imagine the pain this man and his family have endured over the last 12 months….Terrible terrible loss… This release is on CD and vinyl record and I’m sure it will be a powerful listen.
Warner Music have a load of crackers for next Friday including the truly wonderfulWILCO with his new album Schmilco…. I have never seen Wilco live but everybody who has that I have spoken to says it is a truly incredible experience…. They are one of the best around….mindblowing live i was told….. probably very underrated bands…. unnoticed to a lot of ears…. worth a listen..I suppose Yankee Foxtrot would be the most glorified record they had…
Warner also has some NEIL YOUNG vinyl reissues on 140 gram vinyl including Time Fades Away, On The Beach, Tonight’s The Night and Zuma. The first two here are quite reasonable priced but the latter two are more expensive this i am told is down to differing specifications and manufacturing costs. Say goodbye to my little friend….. We have decided to part company….it was a short but sweet romance but she just didn’t understand me and she hadn’t a great personality….that’s just the way it goes.
Moving on…NEW ORDER have a singles collection out via Rhino on 2 CD or a 4LP 180 gram in a lift top box…..fairly nice one.
Warner also has some FAITH NO MORE reissues again on Rhino ….Two major titles, ‘King for a Day, Fool For A Lifetime’ and ‘Album of the Year’ on 2 CD or 2 LP with download codes.
The 40th anniversary of the 29 minutes of punk bliss debut by the RAMONES…this genre defining record gets the deluxe treatment as a 3CD/LP ….. there are limited numbered copies available of this title…. I didn’t say how many! Disc two in the CD set has outtakes, demos, mixes etc etc and disc three has two full live shows one of which was never released before and the LP in the set is in the new mono mix….. Tempting!!
Lastly from Warner is a new ZZ TOP live album on CD and double LP as well as a new DANIEL LANOIS album and a 3 CD collection of TRIO….. Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris complete set.
Universal have the new and supposedly difficult second album by BASTILLE out for next Friday the 9th of September, on CD Jewel / Deluxe CD Digipack and Double LP.. I shall be giving this one a few listens..
Universal have the BEATLES ‘Live at the Hollywood Bowl’ on CD.. The LP will follow in November, as well as ‘The Man Who Fell To Earth’ soundtrack starring the seldom mentioned Mr. David Jones… The 2CD/2LP and the 2LP not out until the middle of November I think!
Universal also have some vinyl reissues from THE VERVE with ‘Urban Hymns’, and SONIC YOUTH’s ‘NYC Ghosts + Flowers’, and ‘A Thousand Letters’, as well as a new MEAT LOAF album.
Not going off topic for too long… It’s just I am afraid and concerned after our break up that I bored my typing pal to distraction, and hence we parted, so just to finish on last weeks rant on EIR, I got a bill today in the post for 274Euro, and about 195 of it had to do with closing an account and opening a new account (with the same company I might add!!!).. Aren’t they bloody gas like.. Now I did think I had to ring them once or twice during the process.. What a bunch of beauties… Big corporations putting their hands in small business, or Joe Soaps pockets and taking their money.. It’s all wrong like but am I going to crib somewhere where I might get noticed?.. No because it takes too long and it’s too much hassle.. This shower know it… Getty were the same a few months back.. F**king gangsters the lot of ‘em!..
Back to the tunes… Sony has a new album by TWIN ATLANTIC.. Scottish band which has a bit of Rage Against The Machine vibe going on..
Republic of Music have the new TEENAGE FANCLUB record out on the 9th of September.. I told ye things were hotting up.. Their 10th record on CD, LP and Cassette as well as a limited indies only LP on clear vinyl with posters and codes.. Republic of Music also have the Original Sound Track to TWIN PEAKS on Perth Waltz records… Again on coffee coloured vinyl..
New album out from D.A.R.K for next week which now includes Dolores O’ Riordan (Cranberries), as well as Andy Rourke (The Smiths) and Olé Koretsky.. On Couching Vinyl via Essential.. I think these lads have cancelled some tour dates so I hope Cork isn’t included in these cancellations..
Lastly on the tunes front tonight, CARGO have the new WEDDING PRESENTalbum called ‘Going, Going’ on 2LP / CD / DVD / 7’’.. That’s all one box!! Good value at 35EUR!.. Great if you’re a fan..
On the local scene, we are really delighted to announce that JACK O’ ROURKE will be doing an instore for us all to coincide with the launch of his new album ‘Dreamcatcher’… Jack’s EP last year was truly excellent.. A great listen and I for one can’t wait to get the new album.. So we are chuffed to have him coming in.. Saturday 24th of September at 12 noon.. Set ye’r alarms! The big gig launch is in the Everyman with the full band I think on Friday October 15th.. Jack’s debut album is released on Friday the 23rd of September.. We can’t wait!!
Also on the local instore scene, next Saturday the 10th of September we have shoe-gaze local lads THE SUNSHINE FACTORY at 1PM! Another one we’re really looking forward to so make sure to pop in if you are about! The lads debut single ‘Cruelest Animal’ is out through FIFA Records in the coming weeks so keep eyes peeled for that!
The video is back this week, so if you want to see the physical thing, check it out here!
Roll up, roll up… September is here… The bleak winter is over and the summer for records start.. Savage September i’m calling it! Starts slowly maybe… Only maybe.. Loads of tempting stuff all the same for next week..
First up is Universal which has the new JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW CD (Proper has the vinyl release on the same day.. Don’t ask… Purely because I dunno why!).. Third album from the Dubliner called ‘We Move’..
Universal also has the FREDDIE MERCURY singles collection entitled ‘Messenger of the Gods’ on 2CD, or on a coloured 7’’ singles boxset.. Limited 13×7’’ singles all individually coloured.. Booklet with photos, some unreleased, and codes for high quality downloads also..
JAMIE T has a new record out next Friday also, and Universal also have a newCARPENTERS collection..
Universal also have some lovely LP reissues from one of my one personal favourites THE CURE, including ‘Entreat Plus’ which is a live album from 1989 featuring nearly the whole ‘Disintegration’ album live (one of my favourite albums of all time, ‘Disintegration’.. If you don’t know it, check it out.. Dark, dreary.. I know I probably have had about 90 albums in my top ten.. Look, it’s a big top ten.. Great album..) Other reissues from THE CURE include ‘Pornography’, ‘Faith’, ‘Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me’, ‘Seventeen Seconds’, ‘Three Imaginary Boys’, and ‘The Top’. Also reissued is the side project THE GLOVE’S ‘Blue Sunshine’ with Robert Smith and Siouxsie’s Steve Severin… Blissfully melancholy goth.. All of them..
BLONDIE has a picture disc release of ‘Plastic Letters’ and there is also someULTRAVOX LP reissues from Universal next week..
Sony for next week, the 2nd of September have the 4th and 5th PEARL JAMrecords, ‘No Code’ and ‘Yield’.. Pushed back from about 6 weeks back, plus new albums from IZZY BIZU and WARD THOMAS, as well as some 5CD Sets from ROGER MCGUINN, and EXODUS among others..
Warner for next week the 2nd of September mainly have some nice Rhino vinyl Greatest Hits reissues from ARETHA FRANKLIN, CHICAGO, CHIC, LITTLE FEATand WARREN ZEVON, as well as a nice budget priced Country CD collection..
So, we are two weeks in the new gaff.. 95% srted there now.. Few bits to get finished, but no mad rush on them… Starting to settle in now, stressful few weeks or months really to be honest… The moving the stuff (the parts of the move we could control) were fine.. Hard work, and time required mainly..
But man, the stuff we did not control fully were torture at times… I must have spoke to EIR 1800601701 at least 50 times over the last month… I should have kept a diary.. Every phone call seemed to last at least 15 minutes, and I kid you not, I reckon I spoke to them 40/50 times in the last month…
You see I own a huge telecommunications company as well as the record shop empire, and I needed to transfer all that as well… I do in my liathroidí.. I simply (well, wrong choice of word from me), wanted to close the account for the phone and broadband in Douglas Court, and open one in Douglas Village… I did, however, throw a huge curve ball at Eir… I wanted to keep the number 0214895500.. I kid you not, each call was like somebody was plucking hairs individually from my skin… I won’t bore with the details.. It was truly torture.. Last piece of the puzzle today was getting a new package in the new shop.. 35 minutes on the phone for my name, address, business reg number, bank account number, sort code, email…. I think that was it… 35 minutes… Holy sh*te you can only laugh and ask the girl at the end why do you not just email me the form.. I know they are making money from one sitting on the other end of the phone, but christ, I would have paid them the 10 Euro upfront to not have to go through the torture sessions… Do they realise at the top of the food chain how inept they are, or do they not give a sh*te?…
A lot of ye know I have had great love for big corporations and banks so we can add Eir and the ESB to my list of lovers… Last Thursday, 6 days open, I had a visit from Khal Drogo himself, whom I didn’t realise moonlights as an ESB networks enforcer..
Drogo told me he had to put out my lights… I said why?… Drogo said there was no name on the unit.. I said I was only in the unit a few days and had a meter reading from when I took it over, but just hadn’t got around to putting my name on it.. ‘DO IT NOW’, said Drogo, or lights out.. So I did, rang Bord Gais Energy, got my name on the unit.. Jumped through their hoops as Drogo stared at me telling me he had 14 minutes to do this call… Job done…
Job was done.. Drogo spoke to Bord Gais to get the nod not to put my lights out. Everyone happy families… Fast forward to Monday… 1:15PM.. BANG.. Power gone.. Trip switch?… No, not that…Pink Panther concluded through CCTV footage that Drogo was back.. Went to the supply room and hit the switch… Lights out… Why?… My name from the previous Thursday had not gone through the system yet so there was still no name on the unit… No power for 4 hours… No apologies.. True story.. He came Thursday, was told it was okay, came back Monday and shut me down without even asking.. Can you believe that?.. What a country sometimes… He spent an hour of his day doing something completely unnecessary and uncalled for… Oooh Christ I dunno…
Sorry, ranting over.. Blood pressure tablets taken.. Back to the tunes!
PIAS for the 2nd of September have the new album from NEIL HANNON and THE DIVINE COMEDY, called ‘Foreverland’, on 2CD, CD or LP… PIAS also have the third album by ANGEL OLSEN on Jarjaruwar, on Purple vinyl for indie retailers like us! Talented lass..
PIAS also have reissues of IRON + WINE’S ‘The Shepherd’s Dog’, and THE SHINS‘Wincing The Night Away’, also! Very underrated band, The Shins..
On the local scene, Bobby’s band Small Dose played in Ziggy’s Saturday evening for this year’s 96/1 Festival in the City, which was dedicated to upcoming original Irish music all weekend in the city! Shop friends Raising Jupiter were also on the bill.
No rants next week folks, wall to wall releases only…
As well folks, if you are interested in the Zepp ‘BBC Ssession’ CD set, 5LP set, or Super Deluxe Vinyl set, orders need to be in by Wednesday so if you could help me out and let me know if you are interested in one, it would be great! Prices are as follows again, best best prices, no discounts i’m afraid :
3 CD SET best price 23 euro
5 LP SET best price 83 euro
LP /CD BOOK DELUXE BOXSET….best best price 140 euro
And the sales notes from Warner on each format :
Formats
Deluxe Edition (3CD) – Remastered original album plus a third disc of unreleased audio
Deluxe Edition Vinyl (5LP) – Remastered original album, plus a fifth LP of unreleased audio, on 180-gram vinyl
Digital Download – Remastered album and unreleased audio will both be available (MQ, MFiT & Standard)
Super Deluxe Boxed Set (3CD/5LP)– This collection includes:
Remastered album. 2 CDs, each in a replica sleeve
Unreleased audio on CD in a separate card sleeve
Remastered album on 180-gram vinyl
Unreleased audio on 180-gram vinyl
High-def audio download card of all content at 96kHz/24 bit
48-page book filled with photos of the band, the recording locations, BBC memorabilia, and session information
High-quality print of the original album cover, the first 30,000 of which will be individually numbered.
Phew.. Few deep breaths required here.. Well it’s done.. The move is over.. More or less.. The help, support, wishes, laughs and kind words will stay with me and the lads for a long time.. People (a lot of ye folks) were brilliant.. To many to mention here.. Those who showed up and boxed and lugged stuff with us.. Those who threw a few f**ks our way or a few words of encouragement.. Those who have put their hands in their pockets and supported us by buying stuff.. Those that made us laugh and those that made us cry… And those who done it all! THANKS!! With big, genuine, heartfelt sincerity.. I have said it before.. We are only in business because of a lot of ye.. Ye keep the blood flowing through the shop.. Look, all I can say is thanks!
I don’t want to thank everyone.. Namely Eir and the E.S.B but they are two stories for another day.. Tonight is all about dreamy positivity.. Well.. A good paradox really I suppose..
We’re in and so far it’s okay.. Today was great.. We had ALL TVVINS in, who were sound and class the whole time and sold a nice few records.. But in general it has been okay.. Not bad, but not great.. Alright, maybe good so.. The regulars (a lot of ye folks) have been like Magic Johnson on his best days but that’s half of the deal.. The passer bys have been okay.. But in truth that may take a bit of time.. Look I won’t bore ye to death.. It’s started reasonably well so work hard, keep at it, and it should Kool and the Gang… Hopefully
The first new vinyl record release video shot from the new shop is now up to watch! Quite a long one this week, covering the last 2 or 3 weeks of releases over the move.. Some nice bits after landing so worth checking out! Also be sure to hit that subscribe button to keep up to date with the new releases!
Cranky rants in later weeks! First up for today we have the latest (3rd) album from LISA HANNIGAN.. Arguably one of Ireland’s biggest female stars.. Did not get listening to this yet, but I have no doubt it will be musically beautiful once again.. First play in the morning it shall get.. Gan dabht! Produced by one of the Dessner boys from THE NATIONAL also.. Released on Play It Again Sam through PIAS..
PIAS also have the new RYLEY WALKER record on a fancy colour me thinks.. FAITH NO MORE’s ‘We Care A Lot’ deluxe edition, and NIRVANA ‘Bleach’ deluxe edition also out.. New ones from SCOTT WALKER (a soundtrack), as well as two new metal albums from SABATON and SOILWORK also out through PIAS..
PIAS for next week, the 26th of August have new album from JOSEPH, as well as a new ALL TIME LOW DVD for the pop-punk fans out there!
Sony have very little out, but next week they have new CDs from BRITNEY SPEARS, DJ KHALED, BARBRA STREISAND, CELINE DION and some newDEPECHE MODE L.P reissues. Including ‘A Broken Frame’, ‘Construction Time Again’, ‘Some Great Reward’, and ‘Speak and Spell’.. Fine band, enough said.. Sony also have a LP reissue of WATAIN’S ‘The Wild Hunt’.
Universal for today have a new album by ED HARCOURT, called ‘Furnace’, as well as a SEX PISTOLS ‘Live 76’ boxset on 4CD.. 4LP version pushed back until September 23rd.. There is also a new ANDRE RIEU CD in store today, as well as the next edition of the CHESS NORTHERN SOUL 7’’ sets.. Probably the biggest from Universal today is an initial, special run of blue coloured vinyl for THE LA’S album…To chose of a certain age.. Priceless.
Universal for next Friday the 26th have the second album from indie rock band GLASS ANIMALS.. BIG COUNTRY 5CD boxset including the classics also out, as well as a SANDY DENNY 5CD set, and a SCOTT WALKER 5CD set.. Some nice hip-hop cassettes also appearing.. I have been warning ye.. Old Fiesta’s with cassette players are all the rage.. Gaskets or not gaskets..
Universal for next Friday also have the ROLLING STONES ‘Charlie Is My Darling’ rockumentary on Bluray.. Based around the time of the boys Irish Tour of 1965.. Uni also have a live KISS CD/DVD or DVD/2LP on Eagle Rock from Vegas..
Lastly from Uni for next Friday the 26th are some vinyl reissues including FRANK ZAPPA’s ‘Hot Rats’, and SOUNDGARDEN’S ‘Louder Than Love’ and ‘Down On The Upside’..
Warner have the reissue of MADONNA’S ‘Bedtime Stories’ on LP, as well as a Monkees greatest hits on CD and on LP..
Warner for next week has reissues of PINK FLOYD’S ‘The Wall’, and ‘The Division Bell’, as well as a new album from CASS MCCOMBS (there has been a lot of interest in this one!), called ‘Mangy Love’, on CD and 2LP on Anti Records…
Couple of vinyl reissues also out including PRINCE ‘Parade’, and BLUR’s ‘Leisure’, as well as a BANKS + STEELZ new album called ‘Anything But Words’..
Proper for the 26th of August have the new DE LA SOUL album on CD and LP.. Samples taken from over 1,000 hours of live performance..
A huge thanks to ALL TVVINS for a great instore yesterday.. The first band to grace our new stage.. So hope there will be loads more to follow.. Thumbs up also to Tim, Bobby, Shane and Warner! Most important, thanks to those of ye who helped fill the shop.. Magic.. Thanks!!
It wasn’t the best of weeks as far as the new shop went… Best laid plans.. And fail to prepare.. Man plans, God laughs are a few that would spring to mind.. Basically, the drawings for the shop did not actually fit the shop.. Not enough room for the shelves in the middle of the floor so, (well there was enough room but you would have to jump / climb over them to get to the next part of the shop) shite here I am 2.45, last Monday afternoon throwing the plan in the bin… Nightmare for a few days… Where is this going to go?.. What about here?.. What about that?… The fire door is there!… You need more of this now.. And less of that…
Rip it up and start again… Now drawing on the back of a fag box type of thing… But the plan is taking shape a bit now.. I was a stress head for a day or two.. Step back now and it was not worth it… But you like to try to do it well… As well as your small budget allows anyway… But look it will be done just a bit differently than it was planned..
So on to releases for August 5th and we will start with PIAS who have the newBLUES PILLS album ‘Lady in Gold’ on Gold LP, CD/DVD or CD.. This is the second album from the young and very talented quintet.. Great singer, fine guitar player.. The first album was really good if that is your buy.. Fantastic cover yet again, great to see such effort going into record sleeves.
PIAS also have some early DAMIEN JURADO reissues… First timers on vinyl for these.. ‘Rehearsals for Departure’ and ‘Ghost of David’..
DINOSAUR JR are back with ‘Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not’ and it sound as good as ever.. This new record is out via Jagjaguar and there is an indies only purple vinyl.. WILD BEASTS also return with a new album entitled ‘Boy King’.. This one comes as a standard CD, Deluxe CD, or Limited LP, with a 7’’.. The Deluxe CD has a lot of bonus material including demos, acoustic versions etc..
Republic of Music have the mono reissues of JOHN WILLIAMS original soundtrack to HOME ALONE…
Bit of a PEARL JAM day from Sony for August 5th, as they reissue the 4th and 5th albums ‘No Code’ and ‘Yield’, as well as a double sided 7’’ from ‘No Code’, for ‘Who Are You / Hail Hail’ and ‘Off He Goes’, as well as singles ‘Given to Fly’ and ‘Wishlist’ from Yield.. Sony also have a definitive collection of ELVIS’ last studio recordings on CD+LP entitled ‘Way Down In The Jungle Room’..
We are closing in Douglas Court on Sunday the 7th of August, and moving lock, stock and barrel on Monday the 8th of August… I know a good few of ye kind souls offered help on the day… So if you want to help and are at nothing for 30 minutes on Monday the 8th, we are moving between 10AM and 8PM… There are a few conditions thoguh!
Condition 1
One car trip per helper… No more please.. If you are free and can spare the 30 minutes to do one trip with a few boxes great, but no more than one trip allowed.. I don’t want any cardiac arrests or broken hips on my watch
Condition 2
Without causing offence to anyone, we would kind of have to know ya! ‘I heard you wanted some records moved boi.. I’ll give you a hand sham, I love me records..’ Ye get my drift..
No seriously, if anyone who offered or wants to help, and wants to do one car load… Show up at some point during the day.. Cool and thanks! CRITICAL POINT.. Zero, I mean zero onus on anyone to do anything.. SECOND CRITICAL POINT.. Anyone who does show up.. Please make sure you have taken your angina meds before doing so..
Right, i’ll get off the horse.. Back to the music! Universal have the debut album byBLOSSOMS.. These guys hail from Stockport in England, and there has been a buzz in the MZ corporation for their EPs over the last few months.. I had never listened to them up to about 30 minutes ago and I must say I like their brand of Indie psychedelia tinged with some good old fashioned synthesiser pop music.. I like them.. Influenced by the Arctic Monkeys, The Verve and bands like that I think…
WILCO guitarist NELS CLINE has a solo record out next Friday with Universal… His first solo record..
TARJA has a new album out via Universal called ‘Shadow Self’.. There is a CD, CD/DVD, 2LP and Boxset formats..
Universal / Polydor are also reissuing the two TASTE albums (which have been missing from the shop for a good year or so now).. So ‘Taste’ and ‘On The Boards’ will be back with us very soon.. Lastly from Universal, the first two TAME IMPALACDs are getting reissued..
Warner for the 5th of August have a reissue of the very first GOV’T MULE recording, ‘The Tel-Star Sessions’ on Provogue.. This is a previously unreleased recording for you Mule fans.. From back in 1994 and it arrives as a CD or 2LP limited splattered vinyl..
DEEP PURPLE ‘Live in Concert 1972’ gets a reissue as a limited LP and 7’’ as well.. Warner also have the soundtrack to the hotly tipped summer blockbuster ‘Suicide Squad’ on CD..
There are some nice Jazz reissues out through Warner for next week through the Stateside label, including LOUIS ARMSTRONG / DUKE ELLINGTON, as well asMILES DAVIS ‘Amandla’.. Lastly from Warner for next week is the newest edition of the LIVE AT WACKEN set on CD/DVD or CD/BLURAY..
Small change with the date in relation to our upcoming instore performance for brilliant upcoming Irish act ALL TVVINS, which will now take place on THURSDAY AUGUST 18TH. We are really looking forward to this one, some cracking tunes worth checking out.. The boys were even featured on FIFA 16, which is great to see an Irish group on a platform that big.. More news on this in coming weeks! Check out the lead single below!
Ok so, sin é for this week.. Thunderbirds are nearly ready to go… 13 days to lift off..
How’s it going?… Hope ye’r all well.. Stop me ooh ho ooh stop me, stop me if you think that you’ve heard this one before…
Summertime and the releases are iffy… Third year in a row I think i’ve churned that one out… Tis a bit true for this coming Friday (July 29th), again i’m afraid, but improving in August.. Well that’s my weather forecast anyway..
Moving on to the 29th of July.. Music On Vinyl have a few nice ones that day including the debut by the INDIGO GIRLS, DEREK TRUCKS BAND ‘Joyful Noise’, and STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN’S ‘In Step’ LP.. For the younger reader who may not have heard of SRV.. He was one of the best blues / electric guitarists ever.. He died in a helicopter crash in 1990, with three of Clapton’s close circle at the time… It is rumored that Clapton was due to be the 4th passenger in the helicopter that day, but boarded a different one at the last minute… And Vaughan boarded the ill-fated one… When your luck’s out, your luck’s out… Or in for that matter..
Sony for the 29th of July have the debut album by NAO… Rising English soul, funk, and R&B star…
Essential for the 29th of July have the reissue of the JOHN PRINE classic duets album ‘In Spite Of Ourselves’, with all female singers like EMMYLOU, IRIS DEMENT and LUCINDA WILLIAMS.. This one is available as a double vinyl..
Essential also have the new POWERWOLF live album on CD/DVD or DVD/LP..
I’m not so sure you guys have much interest in the mechanics of the small music retail industry in this wee island of ours.. Well i’ll keep you filled anyway, whether ye have interest or not.. (No need to thank me..). The latest news is that Golden Discs (my old employer) are taking over supplying Tesco with their home entertainment products.. CD and DVD mainly… Some games I suppose.. Tesco are in a court battle with their last supplier (a Dublin based wholesaler) for fraudulent trading.. Excuse me if I have told you this before, I can’t remember.. The old supplier claims that Tesco falsified over 16,000 invoices over 7 or 8 years.. The lawsuit is for 3.5 million…
Now Golden Discs are taking on the task of supplying them.. (As ye know, I wish only well on Golden Discs, they were always good to me, good to work for and I always hope there is room for both of us).. Golden Discs have 13 stores nationwide now… So they are jumping from that to now supplying 93 stores (80 Tescos)… That’s a big change in any company I would have thought.. I suppose for Golden Discs it’s a bit of a case of can’t beat them, join them… And if it works for them it could be very worthwhile (which I genuinely hope it does, once it doesn’t affect me!)..
But from what’s on the grapevine.. Tesco ain’t interested in any participation except at the point of sale.. Basically they give Golden Discs the space and let them do what they want with stocking, racking, merchandising, returns, faulties, theft, overstocks…. Tesco don’t want to know… We give ye the space, and we take a margin at the till… So Golden Disc by one CD from Warner.. Put an RRP on it… Put it into Tesco… Golden Disc pay Warner… Tesco sell it (whenever and after Golden Disc have employed someone to put it in to the Tesco Shop), and Golden Disc make EUR1 a unit type of thing… I dunno… I have no idea of the numbers, i’m only guessing but what I do know is that it is a big undertaking and that Golden Discs will need a good team of people to do it right for them… Time will tell how it will all play out I suppose…
Big news as Warner have a new ZEPPELIN release just announced for September… The Complete BBC Sessions.. Here’s the sales note from Warner!
Nearly 20 years ago, Led Zeppelin introduced BBC Sessions, an acclaimed two-disc set of live recordings selected from the band’s appearances on BBC radio between 1969 and 1971. Later this year, the band will unveil THE COMPLETE BBC SESSIONS, an updated version of the collection that’s been newly remastered with supervision by Jimmy Page and expanded with eight unreleased BBC recordings, including three rescued from a previously “lost” session from 1969.
BBC Sessions was originally released in 1997 and has been certified double platinum by the RIAA. THE COMPLETE BBC SESSIONS builds on that collection with a third disc that boasts eight unreleased performances, plus “White Summer,” a recording that first surfaced in 1990 on the Led Zeppelin Boxed Set. In addition, the set includes extensive session-by-session liner notes written by Dave Lewis. For the first time ever, it provides accurate details and notes about all of the band’s BBC sessions.
Musical highlights on this new collection include the debut of a long-lost radio session that has achieved near-mythic status among fans. Originally broadcast in April 1969, the session included three songs: “I Can’t Quit You Baby,” “You Shook Me,” and the only recorded performance of “Sunshine Woman.”
Also included are two unreleased versions of both “Communication Breakdown” and “What Is And What Should Never Be.” Separated by two years, the performances vividly demonstrate the young band’s rapid evolution over a short period of time.
Jimmy Page spoke about the band’s growth in an interview with Guitar World: “The BBC Sessions show in graphic detail just how organic the group was. Led Zeppelin was a band that would change things around substantially each time it played…We were becoming tighter and tighter, to the point of telepathy.”
Speaking with Wall of Sound, John Paul Jones added: “We’d been on the road a lot by the time those sessions were recorded. The albums were always the starting point of the music, and then we’d take it out and expand it on the road. Then we’d come straight off the road into those BBC studios.”
Recalling the BBC experience in an interview with Mojo, Robert Plant said: “The whole thing was very quaint: the politeness of the audience, the technicians fumbling about, proper hallowed low-key introductions. Like there was some sort of holy moment about to occur.”
Formats
Deluxe Edition (3CD) – Remastered original album plus a third disc of unreleased audio
Deluxe Edition Vinyl (5LP) – Remastered original album, plus a fifth LP of unreleased audio, on 180-gram vinyl
Digital Download – Remastered album and unreleased audio will both be available (MQ, MFiT & Standard)
Super Deluxe Boxed Set (3CD/5LP)– This collection includes:
Remastered album. 2 CDs, each in a replica sleeve
Unreleased audio on CD in a separate card sleeve
Remastered album on 180-gram vinyl
Unreleased audio on 180-gram vinyl
High-def audio download card of all content at 96kHz/24 bit
48-page book filled with photos of the band, the recording locations, BBC memorabilia, and session information
High-quality print of the original album cover, the first 30,000 of which will be individually numbered.
I shall have pricing and more info in the coming weeks..
Great news for the shop with the confirmation of an instore by the excellent Dublin based group ALL TVVINS, who have just supported Foals at Live at the Marquee.. Thursday, August 12th at 5PM… More on that also in the coming weeks!
Their debut album is due out that day, August 12th.. Some cracking tunes on it from what i’ve heard… Here’s the Warner promotion for it again! :
After a succession of huge radio singles which have inspired glowing comparisons with the likes of Bloc Party, New Order, Haim, Chvrches and The Killers, ALL TVVINS are set to release their debut album ‘IIVV’ on August 12th on Warner Bros. Records. Throughout ‘IIVV’, the Irish duo counterpoint angular post-punk riffs with insistent energy, strident hooks and swathes of synths to create an unconventional blend of the anthemic and the unconventional. All of their singles to date feature on the album: ‘Darkest Ocean’ which has accumulated 3 million plays online; the striking debut ‘Thank You’ which was nominated for Irish Song of the Year at the Choice Music Prize; the dramatic and intense ‘Too Young To Live’; and the recent track massive radio hit ‘Resurrect Me’
Universal for the 29th of July have a deluxe edition of the SIMPLE MINDS classic ‘New Gold Dream’, from 1982.. A load of versions of this available including a super-duper fancy version…
There is a beautiful musical document left behind by VIOLA BEACH after their terrible tragic end along with their manager.. Well they will hopefully be remembered forever with their only 9 tracks committed to record.. Only started out in life.. Terrible
Universal have a fierce limited DISCLOSURE EP… I mean it, fierce..
Universal also have some nice reissues including R.E.M. ‘Dead Letters Office’, ‘Eponymous’, and ‘Lifes Rich Payment’.. Also out is TOM PETTY‘s ‘Greatest Hits’ on DLP, and Hole’s ‘Live Through This’..
Warner for the 29th have E.L.P (Emerson, Lake and Palmer) reissues.. The Debut LP, and ‘Tarkus’.. Also out from Warner is a new GAVIN JAMES 12’’, and some SEASICK STEVE reissues, including ‘I Started Out With Nothing’…
Lastly, Warner have GODFLESH ‘Selfless’ reissue… 1st time on vinyl for this one…
On the local scene, STEVIE G and IAN RING have a new single out, well worth checking out!
Also got in copies of blues / rock gods CROW BLACK CHICKEN on CD and LP, and got copies of the excellent TWO TIME POLKA new CD.. So you know where they are folks.. Both excellent..
Sin é for this week..
Thanks for putting up with me as always.. 20 days to the new shop opening!!
July 15th and not a child in the house washed….tick tock, tick tock….so much time, so little to do….come with me and we’ll be… in a world of pure unknownness.
Sick of me talking about the move yet…? ( give it another few weeks, you’ll know what sick feels like!)
Not a whole pile happening in the releases world again so yer stuck listening to my problems …as i’m sure ye have none of yer own like..
We plan to close in the current location in Douglas Court on Sunday the 7th or Monday the 8th of August and will be open on Thursday the 11th of August in Douglas Village Shopping Centre….The next chapter to commence….I will be quite sad leaving the shop in DC to be honest ( As i was in Carrigaline….That was a baby to me back then in 2001….I was only a baby myself …Just 27)….. Mainly because that unit was always a record shop (more or less from the very start) and i did enjoy my time there….But onwards and upwards hopefully….Feedback from joe public is positive…3 out of 4 people i would say are positive ( ye folks are not considered in the joe public category in case i cause offence….its the now 93 buyer, walking past, don’t really know them too well joe public, i was on about….so hopefully that will be the case….i’m kinda banking on ye guys finding us over there….no pressure like!)
HMV as ye probably heard are pulling out of Ireland as all remaining shops, the 4 or 5, are to be closed by the end of the year….i think all except one in Dublin will be gone well before year end….If some not gone already.
It’s kind of amazing really ….Such a powerful brand in this game of ours….No longer…It’s a pity as well…..Is there even 25 record shops in Ireland now…I’d say thats tops…One shop for every 200,000 people…. Where will it stop?….Who knows….. In 2007 there were over 100 record shops in Ireland.. In 2007 recorded music sales in Ireland amounted to 72 million… That figure in 2012 was 33 million …..The cull was well and truly under way…. I must try and get recent figures because for us after the years of hell above, we saw a bounce and have shown increases albeit slight enough last year….That’s why the HMV thing was a bit surprising , I thought they had weathered the storm also… But who knows the inner workings and the bills etc etc…..Anyway tis a shame.
Anyway, enough of all that says ye, what’s coming out Ray for christs sake…
Releases for next Friday the 22nd of July are a bit sparse again i’m afraid for ye folks but the Summer NOW compilation is out for us via Universal….94 for those of ye keeping count…
BEAR’S DEN new album is out next friday also on CD and LP.
Universal do have some nice ALLMAN BROTHERS Vinyl reissues including ‘At Filmore East , ‘Eat The Peach’, and the self titled album….. 8 LPs in total getting repressed.
Lastly, Universal have a NINA SIMONE vinyl box set ….7 LPs from her Decca time.
Essential are reissuing ORBITAL’s “Wonky” next week.
Sony for next week have a live OPETH LP from Shepherds Bush, London, called “LAMENTATIONS”.
Sony also reissue “Shades of God” by PARADISE LOST and they have a Dermot O Leary ‘Saturday Sessions’ CD.
I’m going off down the lane o sidetracks (Cork haunt) now again so please excuse me…. A few of ye from up the country including Tipp Lad will get a chuckle or a tear (of joy) from this… Cork hurling…
I’m going to put my spoke in (apologies music lovers).. There are about 20 things need to be remedied in Cork GAA for the young hurlers of the county to flourish again… I am going to mention one critical one in my opinion… I went to a Christian Brothers National school in the early eighties.. 80-85.. Going to hurling training was PART of school, even though it was AFTER school… You just had to go, or you took your chances and tried to avoid a few slaps otherwise… 9/10/11 year old kids are in school 5 days a week, 40 weeks of the year?.. That’s a lot of hurling being done when it’s PART of school / after school type thing.. Lay teachers in today’s world simply cannot give that time.. Everyone is busy… Collect the kids from the childminder, call here, pay that, do this…. Busy, busy, busy and i’d say a lot of kids today don’t want to do it maybe… So it’s an uphill battle.. You start national school in Kilkenny and you are given a hurley day one… It’s a different mindset.. It’s rural… It’s parist.. It’s more important to them.. Begs the question I suppose, how important is it?… Joe Canning of Galway recently said that he is trying to concentrate more on his new business because after all hurling is only a hobby… Still nice to bring Liam home every now and then though….
I do this newsletter mainly on a Thursday night (turned into blog on Wednesday) but cut it about 12:30AM, and Bobby or myself add the links, pictures, etc on a Friday and send it out… So here I am cribbing about hurling and as I finish this I see on Twitter what has happened in Nice… Isn’t it a disgusting world that we live in at times… Utterly disgusted.. Words fail me.. Disgusting filth..
Warner finally for the 22nd of July have a few EARTH WIND AND FIRE LP reissues, as well asCARCASS ‘Choice Cuts’, which is a best of 2LP gatefold.. Also out through Warner is a SUEDE best of on CD, and lastly the NEON DEMON O.S.T by Cliff Martinez (ex Chili Pepper) on 2LP Red and Blue Swirly Vinyl with code… His soundtrack for Drive is brilliant, so this could also be a great one.
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.
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…
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 ROSESdebut 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 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)
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…
We’ll start with probably the biggest release, which is the seventh studio record from Kilmarnock’s finest BIFFY CLYRO, entitled ‘Ellipsis’, out through Warner.. Now, many of ye probably know that I am a slight bit Biffy mad.. Well, totally Biffy mad.. So it’s a fitting week for me to be doing the newsletter!
This LP marks the start of a new era for the band, with the first three records showcasing the weird, math style metal that the band started with, and the second three records becoming the ‘epic’ rock records, filled with orchestras and mariachi bands.. While they have stripped back to the ‘bare essentials’, from what I have heard of the new record, it is a combination of both styles. It contains the heavy, riffy, weirdness of the first three albums, while mixing in the huge catchyness of the later three. Check out the single ‘Animal Style’ below, if you like guitar riffs, it should be one for you! (And at the end of the video they smash their gear, must have took Ray’s advice in the debate from a few weeks back!). One of the best rock songs of the last few years in my opinion. But different strokes for different folks as they say!
We will be getting the extremely limited clear Indie only vinyl of ‘Ellipsis’, with only 1000 being sent out worldwide.. On top of this, the kind folk at Warner have also included the ‘Wolves of Winter’ 7’’ single for every clear vinyl bought as a FREEBIE.. This 7’’ once again is extremely limited, and has only seen the light of day through a special deluxe box set which was exclusive to the band’s website, so it is a nice one! (Although, I think in the UK only HMV have got an exclusive of it, but it’s £8 without shipping.. Ohh the great beasts in the sky.. Sorry Ray, I had to!)..
Because this is so limited (we hopefully will get around 20), we will be taking names, with it being first come first served! So if you’re interested pop us a mail and we’ll stick your name down!
Also out from Warner next week for July 8th is the GONE IS GONE self titled debut LP.. Gone is Gone is a supergroup consisting of Troy Sanders, the singer and bass player from Mastodon, Troy Van Leeuwen, one of the guitarists for Queens of the Stone Age, Tony Hajjar, the drummer for At the Drive-In, and Mike Zarin, so looking forward to this one! Between this and Biffy it’s gonna be a head banging day in the shop next Friday! Also out from Warner for July 8th is three more BOWIE CD reissues, Earthling, Hours and Outside, which were previously done through Sony but have been difficult to get more recently..
The next of the PRINCE reissues is also out through Warner next week, with ‘Around The World In A Day’, which was Prince’s 7th studio album from 1985. Finally for Warner for July 8th is a deluxe reissue of K.D LANG’s third album from 1989, entitled ‘Absolute Torch and Twang’, which comes on LP with a lyric insert and a bonus 7” single which contains “Our Day Will Come” (K.D. Lang with Take 6) and “Three Cigarettes In An Ashtray” (K.D. Lang Live from BBC). The album hasn’t been out on vinyl for 25 years.
Not too much happening for Universal for July 8th. Their biggest release is the new album by ABC, ‘Lexicon of Love II’, which makes its vinyl debut after the CD was released a few weeks back, to great reviews. It only took 34 years since the release of the first ‘Lexicon of Love’ which stormed the 80s, and features 10 new tracks penned by Martin Fry! All you need is love!
Uni also have a couple of EMINEM reissues out on vinyl, including ‘The Slim Shady LP’, ‘The Marshall Mathers LP’, ‘The Eminem Show’, ‘Relapse’, ‘Recovery’, ‘Curtain Call’, and ‘Encore’. Most of these were near to impossible to get before this, and may never have been printed before, besides from the boxset which they released about 18 months ago. Uni also have the new LAWSON CD, entitled ‘Perspective’.
Sony for July 8th have some new series of artist’s greatest hits on vinyl, entitled ‘The Essential’. Some of ye might be aware of the series because they’ve had them on CD for the last few years, but this is the first time they will be printed on vinyl. I remember one of my first ever CDs that I bought with my pocket money was Bob Dylan’s ‘The Essential’ a good few years ago now.. For about a year I never turned off CD 1 because I thought it was the best thing ever.. I have since listened to CD 2, it is equally as good!
So in this series, next Friday we will have ELVIS PRESLEY ‘The Essential’, BOB DYLAN‘The Essential’, and JOHNNY CASH ‘The Essential’, all on vinyl!
A good few nice bits out next week from PIAS. First up is ‘Take Up Her Monto’, the highly anticipated follow up to last year’s Mercury Prize nominated ‘Hairless Toys’ from Ireland’s own ROISÍN MURPHY. I really enjoyed the last record, great electronic feel to it, with a great beat, which normally wouldn’t be my thing. Also caught some of her set at Glastonbury last weekend and looked like one of the highlights, a great performer. So looking forward to this one!
More electronic goodness from PIAS for next Friday includes THE AVALANCHES second studio LP, entitled ‘Wildflower’. The album has been in production since 2005, and is the group’s first album in almost 16 years.. Is Axl Rose a member?.. In all fairness, there is 21 tracks on this album, and features plenty of collaborations, including tracks with WARREN ELLIS, and FATHER JOHN MISTY. And the lead single is called ‘Frankie Sinatra’. It wins my vote over Democracy.. Sorry Axl! It is available as a DLP.
DEAD CAN DANCE, which is a duo consisting of Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard have a couple of vinyl represses from PIAS next Friday, July 8th. These include their debut self titled album, their second album ‘Spleen and Ideal’, and their sixth album ‘Into The Labyrinth’. ALEX SOMMES (Sigur Ros) has ‘Music From The Film Captain Fantastic’ also out through PIAS, this one on coloured vinyl and is housed in a handmade bespoke gatefold sleeve with rounded edges complete with digital download card.
PIAS also have a 12’’ reissue of MODEST MOUSE / 764 HERO’s ‘Whenever You See Fit’, on limited, coloured vinyl. Probably Seattle’s best outing at the time, a classic.. And finally through PIAS is the new APHEX TWIN EP, entitled ‘Cheetah’, which uses digital sound generation techniques combined with wave sequencing technology to bring you sounds with movement and depth rarely found on records today. (Thanks PIAS notes!).
And finally, Essential for the 8th of July have some JOHN PRINE CD reissues, including ‘Aimless Love’, ‘Lost Dogs / Mixed Blessings’, ‘Live on Tour’, ‘In Person, On Stage’, and ‘’The Singing Mailman Delivers’..
So, as ye know, the Bossman is back to the shop early next week. I hope ye all have enjoyed your short break from rants as much as he has enjoyed his holidays..
Hope you have enjoyed the last two newsletters! I’ll have to do another one sometime soon, when I come up with something to rant about, but until then…
Short and sweet from me this week but Bobby will add in his own younger better looking slant on it for a bit this week, and fully next week.. (And hopefully add in his performance video from his music course final exam also)..
Firstly, thanks to everyone for the kind wishes about the move…. I will keep ye abreast of our comings and goings when I get back from the sunny south east coastline…
Warner for the 1st of July have BLINK 182’s new record ‘California’, on CD/LP and limited indie only silver vinyl with code… The punk popes’ 7th album since 1992 I think… The band now have Matt Skiba (of Alkaline Trio) as singer after replacing Tom DeLonge from the group..Quick Bobby input : Tom came out during the week announcing his reason for leaving the group was to hunt UFO’s… Interesting to say the least.. Taking the newsletters ‘big beast in the sky’ recurrence to a whole new level! Who said rock n’ roll is dead?
Warner also have the new BAT FOR LASHES record again on a limited indie only pink vinyl for 5,000 copies worldwide (a double LP in fact) and CD and standard double LP.. ‘The Bride’ is a concept album by Bat For Lashes which follows the story of a woman whose fíancee has been killed in a crash on the way to the church for their wedding… (Must have nicked that idea from Morrissey somewhere along the way).
Warner also have a 3CD ERIC CLAPTON + GUESTS ‘Crossroads Revisited’, as well as some METRONOMY reissues on LP and a limited MUDDY WATERS Live LP, entitled ‘Hoochie Coochie Man – Live At The Rising Sun Celebrity Jazz Club’ on DLP.. This was meant to be released for RSD but it did not get out of the pressing plant in time…. But here it is now…
Now I pass the reigns to Bobby for his mini State of The Nation address this week, as well as the rest of the new releases for July 1st… Thanks all, see ye when i’m back please god..
Hey everyone! Due to the huge success of my brilliant vinyl video last week, we have decided it is time for me to take charge for a week or two, and try entertain ye with some fresh rambling! In the words of Planty, Ramble On!
First up for release for the 1st of July from Universal is the come back single ‘All For One’ by the mighty Stone Roses! Unfortunately it is a 1 track, 1 sided 7’’ with no B-Side, as is gonna cost 12EUR.. Bit sharp for a 1 track 7’’.. Who knows, maybe Mani is saving up for some UFO hunting kits..
Universal also have a new CD from sensational violinist NICOLA BENEDETTI, entitled ‘Shostakovich Violin Concerto No.1, Glazunov Violin Concerto’, as well as 6 CLASSIC albums reissued on LP, mastered at half speed for ultimate sound quality, including theROLLING STONES ‘Exile on Main Street’, CREAM’S ‘Disraeli Gears’, JOHN MARTYN’s‘Solid Air’, SIMPLE MINDS’ ‘New Gold Dream’, and finally THE POLICE ‘Ghost In The Machine’. All were cut by legendary engineer Miles Showell, of Abbey Road Studios.
Also out from Universal for July 1st is the new LP from grammy winning SNARKY PUPPY, entitled ‘Culcha Vulcha’, their first in two years.. If you haven’t heard these guys, well worth checking out! Hard to pin point a genre to them, ranging in everything from rock, R&B, funk, soul, jazz, bossa nova, and most importantly played by a band who you can tell absolutely love what they do! Had the pleasure myself of getting to see their keys and hammond organ player Cory Henry in Cyprus Avenue in May, and was completely blown away! He played alone with a drummer, on a day that happened to be Stevie Wonder’s birthday.. A special night! Have never seen a musician on that caliber before!
Sony for the 1st of July have a new album from MAXWELL, another R&B, Soulful type grammy winner. The album entitled ‘blackSUMMER’S Night’ is out on LP and CD. Prog Metal band FATES WARNING have a new album out through Sony as well for next Friday, called ‘Theories of Flight’, their twelfth record.. The video for the lead single ‘White Flag’ is an interesting one.. A close up, guitar playthrough video, with the band’s three guitarists just shot in one go playing the song.. The guitar nerd in me loves it, but can’t see MTV jumping on the bandwagon.. Surely the band saved a bit of money this way. Fair play. Maybe they’re saving for UFO hunting gear too..
Also out from Sony is another (yes, another!) couple of E.L.O reissues, of ‘Face the Music’ and ‘Time’, both on LP.. And finally from Sony is Swedish hard rock / metal group Pain Of Salvation, with ‘Remedy Lane : Revisited’, the remixed and relived take on the album will be on 2CD Digipack, and 2LP, which includes a new sonic take on the original LP, and a live album from a 2014 show.
Next up is PIAS, with not much happening for the 1st of July after their mammoth release of Radiohead last week.. Biggest release for them is the new SARA WATKINS LP, entitled ‘Young in all The Wrong Ways’. Watkins is most known for her role as fiddle player in the bluegrass group Nickel Creek, but has now ventured solo with the new LP being her third solo record.. ‘Young in all The Wrong Ways’ could be a nice title for this new, fresh newsletter?..
Proper for July 1st have a new CRADLE OF FILTH reissue, with 2011’s mini album ‘Evermore Darkly’ making its first appearance on the vinyl format.
And finally on the new release front for this week is the reissue of American alternative rock group NADA SURF’s fourth record from 2005, entitled ‘The Weight Is A Gift’.. This one is done by City Slang, through Republic of Music.
As Ray asked earlier, I better include the video from my final year performance with UCC Music.. The gig took place in the middle of May this year in Cyprus Avenue, with the theme of my performance being a dedication to Fender guitars, as the company celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. With that I attempted to showcase a chronological performance through the decades of guitarists who have used the Fender in a unique way to obtain their own unique sound, becoming icons of the Stratocaster. Starting with the ‘pure’ clean blues tone of Hank Marvin and the Shadows, moving right through to the thick, heavy distortion of Biffy Clyro’s metal influence, it is a collection of songs from the icons who have inspired me to play guitar myself! So if you have a spare half an hour some evening, here it is!
Hopefully I haven’t missed anything! (Sorry Ray if I have!)
If you have any enquiries over the next week, feel free to throw us an email even though Ray is away, and we will do our best to help! And if we can’t, all messages will be passed on to Ray once he is back!
Or for those who prefer the video, this week’s video is now up! (Which actually covers the last two weeks, the sun has made us lazy!)
Releases with us for next Friday the 10th include PAUL MCCARTNEY self titled compilation album of his solo work, Wings stuff and Fireman stuff on a deluxe 67 track 4 CD box set or a 4 LP set also.
U2 – ‘Innocence and Experience Live in Paris; on DVD, BLU RAY, Deluxe 2 disc DVD and a limited ( pricey) super deluxe box which has the DVDs , BLU RAY , USB lightbulb, 64 page hardback via book, individually numbered dog tags, stencil set, postcard set, sticker sheet, pin badges and download codes for more stuff is also next Friday via Universal.
BAND OF HORSE’s fifth album “ Why Are You Ok” is also out on CD and LP via Virgin/EMI.
Universal also have the 50th anniversary of considered one of the greatest albums of all time, ‘Pet Sounds’ by THE BEACH BOYS ( note of interest…..if you have not seen Love and Mercy, the Brian Wilson movie….try watch…its excellent….well i thought it was anyway….probably a bit of hollywood license…but really good insight into the man i thought anyway..) this one on double CD, mono and stereo LP versions of the album and a 4 CD/Blu ray pack.
STEVE EARLE and SHAUN COLVIN are releasing a album together and there are some Sinatra reissues on Vinyl are out next Friday including “ Strangers In The Night” “ The World We Know” and “Songs For Swinging Lovers”.
Lastly from Universal for next week are some more quality LP reissues including THE POLICE, DRAKE, WEEZER,DIRE STRAITS and NATURAL BORN KILLERS OST.
Sony for next week have the complete VAN MORRISON “ It’s Too Late To Stop Now “ performances on 3 CD/DVD…VOLUMES II, III, IV of these live performances from his mythic 1973 tour with the Caledonia Soul Orchestra….11 piece band with string section….Van at the very top of his game arguably….the original album is getting re issued also on CD and LP….it was the first or very nearly the first live album to have no overdubs….moondance got the chop because of one single bum note!
TOM ODELL has his follow up to his million selling debut album out next week also, there is an ELO studio album CD set, ELO ‘Very Best Of’ on DLP, STONE ROSES ‘Very Best Of’ on DLP also…nice track listing….why wouldn’t there be says you….the new one is growing on me a bit to be honest….has a hook that gets in your head…..PREFAB SPROUT give us a reissue of the poptastic “ Steve Mcqueen “ on LP and the HENDRIX EXPERIENCE give us “Smash Hits “ on LP also….all the above out via Sony
PIAS for the 10th of June have GARBAGE’s new album, their 6th entitled ‘Strange Little Birds’. Also through PIAS is the new Temper Trap album ‘Thick as Thieves’..
Samaris second album is out via One Little Indian called ‘Black Lights’, and lastly PIAS have a double ‘Best Of’ by John Holt..
Bowie Reality Tour 3LP Set is also now in with us, lovely set to be fair..
Warner for the 10th have MOTORHEAD’s – ‘Clean Your Clock’ on CD/DVD, CD/Blu Ray, + 2LP with codes.. Recorded in Munich just 3 or 4 weeks before Lemmy left…
Warner have a CARS 6LP coloured vinyl boxset.. All different colours.. Also a JOHN COLTRANE
‘Mono Years’ 6CD + 6LP plus 7’’… New documentary also coming later in the year called ‘Chasin’ Trane’, supposed to be good..
Rick Astley new CD ‘50’ is also out next week, written and played by himself (fully).. That surprised me… Fair play, looks like he’s never gonna give us up… Eh hemm.. Sorry..
I had a few reactions to last week’s newsletter when i suppose i asked the questions where’s the great stuff….where’s the top shelf stuff….kids , what are ye doing…..those questions….here’s one reaction from a good friend of mine and the shops.
“Morning Ray, Really enjoyed reading this weeks newsletter from the corporation and you raised some interesting points. I’d like to add my two cents worth so get ready for a ramble. In the letter you write of the industry still pushing the “old reliables” like the Stones, Beatles, Floyd etc. I understand the point that you are making but I don’t think that this ploy is necessarily a bad thing. I don’t believe you can dismiss the bands or their music just because it is old. If that were the case then logic would dictate that classical music has no place or relevance in todays world. We should object to the marketing strategy not to the bands or their music.
With regards to new bands and new music and that mythical band slaving away in the garage? I firmly believe that that band is out there but does anybody particularly care. Take our own John Blek for example. I make no apologies for stating yet again that his two albums with the Rats contain some of the finest music I have heard in a long long time. Great songs, great music and great lyrics. All the qualities we look for in this great garage band. Well here they are on our doorstep. But as previously stated, does anyone care. I would argue very few. If John was called Dizzie John Misty and came from Tombstone in America I bet you’d have people beating a path to Music Zone Towers to buy his album! But No, he’s from Cork, and he is one of many talented local musicians and that will always be their problem in one word…local.
As for Springsteen in Dublin, I cant knock it, up to a point. The guy still delivers and believes in the power and glory in music. Cant fault him. Back in the early 80’s when you had the likes of Queen, Elton John, Rod Stewart and our very own Foster and Allen and Joe Dolan playing dates in South Africa, Bruce took a political stand and said Fuck That,” I aint gonna play Sun City.” He helped form Artists against Apartheid and helped to overthrow an evil regime. Would Rihana or One Direction or any of todays acts do the same, or take a political stand on anything? I doubt it. Don’t rock the boat. And on the subject of Bruce in Croker, I guarantee you that at least half the crowds at the gigs are the same people who were Garth Brooks crazy a few years ago!!!! Coming back to the local scene again I always tend to put John Spillane and Bruce in the same bracket. Now I know that Bruce is streets ahead of John, I understand that. But they both chronicle what goes on in their hometown. John singing about his Dunnes Stores girl is as relevant and vital to Cork as Bruce singing about his Jersey Girl is to New Jersey. The geography is different is all. But both equally relevant. I don’t think that young people today feel or believe that music matters anymore. Does anyone take any notice of the charts.
I know when we were young the charts were everything. Music and football (and girls) was all we talked about in school. Where was your team in the league and where was your band in the charts? It was almost life and death. Not now. Not anymore. You see now people don’t have the time to put in to listening to new music (hence Beatles and Stones being re-issued) so they just download what they know and in some ways that’s no ones fault. Just ’cause something is popular doesn’t make it good. It often means people have no choice. Its just the way it is now. Many many years ago Bowie said that if he were a young kid today he wouldn’t be into music, he would be interested in the internet. That’s where the future was. Music doesn’t shock anymore. No revolution there. No danger. All that is now to be found online. In 1970 Gill Scott Heron said ” The revolution will not be televised.” He was right. The revolution, when and if it happens will be downloaded. The last time we spoke of Bruce, I said I was a dinosaur.
But Ray anyone, no matter what their age who walks into Music Zone and buys a physical copy of music, cd or lp is a dinosaur, just by buying something you can hold in your hand. All of us a dying breed. Its a different game now Ray, as you well know music is tailored to demographics. Record companies now look at different age groups, eg people in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and manufacture bands or music to suit that particular age group (One D, Ollie Murs, Il Divo). Music is made easily digestible for people. Nothing too out there or shocking. Bring back The Pistols please!! Most of these people do not go to gigs or clubs anymore. Sat at home in front of the t.v. waiting for the next big band/act from X Factor. People want music they can listen to over cocktails, and see Springsteen or Garth Brooks every two or three years to get that roc’n’roll experience. That’s rock and roll now, All wrapped up in a bow. So nothing too challenging. Just perfect sounding music produced to within an inch of its life. Check Beyonces new album, count the number of producers. There are 75 writers credited on the album, 17 on one track alone. I rest my case.
Jesus Ray I’v gone on enough and trust me I could go on even more about how punk and hip hop were the last two global movements in music in that they influenced fashion, writing, film and culture in general but that was 40 and 30 years ago. Nothing since. Oasis/Arctic Monkeys are /were really only average bands. Good because there was no one else. The biggest mistake rock and roll made was having a self destruct button. Once you went over 25 you were by the very nature of youth rebellion over the hill. But look at all the great Blues legends in their 70”s. Wouldn’t it have been great if the Stones had written and sung about aging in terms of rock and roll!!! And on that note Ray I’ll say “Its only rock and roll but I like it.”
There’s a lot to take in there and most of it has it’s merits.. Gan aon doubt… But I have to believe.. The next mind blower is out there.. Not that I have to believe… I do believe.. Not that some of our local stuff is not as good if not better that the stuff on mainstream radio.. I think you will agree that I have banged that drum for a long time.. But to get a break is so difficult even when you show quality.. Consistently it is so difficult to get noticed… So when you get your shot on The Late Late Show young and upcoming Cork bands, throw your guitar into the crowd at the end with venom, eat a dove, start to show your crown jewels to the 40 something plus audience.. Do something out of the ordinary.. Get seen… If the music is good enough then you shall be noticed after your stunt has been forgotten.. I do disagree with the point about young people today not feeling or believing that music matters anymore. I just think there has not been a whole lot for kids to relate to… To be honest… On a massive scale anyway.. Pockets of Strypes fans, Jake Bugg fans, Mumford fans.. All going about their business in a really worthwhile way… Strypes newest album, a fine record in my opinion from what are essentially only four kids… Hit the English charts at number 9 or something like that, but plummeted to 46 in week two.. These boys are one of the few great hopes out there.. But I saw little support really nationally here for them around the time of the album…
Maybe I am missing it…. What’s changed so dramatically this century that we, or more importantly young people, mainly have had no supergroup.. No Beatles, Zeppelin, U2, Oasis… There’s one from every decade prior to the millennium, and plenty more I could have mentioned…
I would love to know ye’r thoughts on this… Especially if you are under 25.. But everyone’s thoughts if you want to drop us a line… Is it the fragmentation of the way we consume music now? Is there too much choice, so support for bands gets diluted?… We are all lost in a fog?!!!
Is the cream at the top of the pile or if not, why can’t it rise there?
Some fierce interesting points made by my good pal TC but part of me does not want to believe them… For personal and business reasons! I would love to hear anybody else’s feedback, or hell maybe it just don’t matter..
The hurling is back… Thurles Sunday what’s the chances?.. Against the oldest enemy… Slim to none? Hard to call is my opinion.. Could, should be an interesting one.
Anyway… News on the RADIOHEAD white vinyl is better.. I am receiving 24 copies of it now… Better than 10… So still 6 copies available if anyone else is interested.. No luck at all on the single.. Got zero, zip, nada, nought… Crazy Ebay pricing now your only option (my advice, forget about it and don’t support the slippery quick buck merchants)…
Anyway, June 17th for the Radiohead… I have not listened at all to it yet..
Or for those who prefer the visual medium of a video, we have upgraded our camera in the Music Zone Towers, but unfortunately our camera man is still a bit on the shakey side! Be sure to hit the subscribe button on our YouTube channel in order to keep up with these weekly video new release updates! One customer got a fine chuckle from me during the week when he asked for me not to send him any more Vinyl Pornography.. Sorry, here’s more porn.. Be sure to subscribe for vinyl porn!
Moving on from that so… To releases for next Friday the 27th of May.. No major releases but still quite a few interesting ones.
Universal have the new CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN album on CD and Gatefold Vinyl via Island records..
Thirty four years on and the return of MARTIN FRY with the follow up to ‘The Lexicon of Love’.. Part II is out next Friday.. CD only for now.. LP will follow in coming weeks.
Universal also have a nice WILKO JOHNSON selected blues album CD… 40 tracks, 8 quid.. Entitled ‘The First Time I Met The Blues’.
There is a 9LP STEVE HACKETT vinyl boxset of his first 6LPs, plus previously unreleased ‘Live at the New Theatre, Oxford 1979’, and a double live LP ‘Live At Reading 1981’
Still more from Universal for next week, the third instalment of the MARVIN GAYE boxsets, this is an 8LP set again, covering records from 71-81, including the classics like ‘Let’s Get It On’, and ‘What’s Going On’, and the alimony acquired favourite ‘Here, My Dear’.
Universal have a reissue of TALK TALK’s ‘Laughing Stock’ and the NIRVANA live compilation ‘From The Muddy Banks of the Wishkah’ on double LP, and lastly there is a new ALAN PARSON’s triple live album.
Sony for the 27th of May have LACUNA COIL’s new album ‘Delirium’, limited edition CD and limited edition LP. Some nice Sony Legacy vinyl reissues also out, including titles from the brilliant JEFF LYNNE’S E.L.O, and the great bard himself MR. LEONARD COHEN… E.L.O titles include ‘A New World Record’, ‘El Dorado’, and ‘Out of the Blue’, and the Cohen titles are ‘Songs of Leonard Cohen’, ‘Songs From A Room’, and ‘Songs of Love and Hate’. Decent value on the Cohen’s at 18Eur each!
A good friend and customer of the shop, Tim Mc 2, put together a really fabulous video documentary of the shop on Record Shop Day… A brilliant piece in my opinion, really captured the day… Thanks Tim!
Tim and myself go back a while but inadvertently Tim is the reason MUSIC ZONE is here.. We worked together in McDonalds in 1991.. Tall ships race time.. Busy for the burgers, burnt fingers, work there, work anywhere… Tim got into GOLDEN DISCS just around the corner on Patrick Street. Tim always loved his tunes and I had him pestered if there was news on a job there, not to forget me… Low and behold, one day in trots Tim.. ‘I’m moving on Ray, will I put in a word for ya?’… True to his word.. Bod a bing, here I am… 23 years later, boring guys to death with my rambling notes.
If you can spare 40 minutes over the weekend have a watch.. We think it’s worth it.. Thanks to Ian, Frank, Stevie, Martin and Aaron for doing the auld interviews.. There are some lovely moments in the video.. I lightly chuckle when I see Arthur making his decision on his free CD from the box of freebies… The reaction is great I think (over Stevie’s shoulder during his interview!). Great document of a great day.. Thanks a million Tim.. And the rest of ye… Handsome devils for showing up… It was a Boyzone reunion audition in the man cave that day..
Proper for the 27th of May have new albums by BRONAGH GALLAGHER. The King of swamp rock, TONY JOE WHITE, has a new one via YepRoz.. MARK KOZELEK ‘Sings Favourites’, PINK FLOYD ‘London 66/67’, PET SHOP BOYS new 12 inch single on white vinyl.. Nice few bits.
Lastly from Proper is the second album by CIARAN LAVERY… I am really looking forward to hearing this one… Firstly he is Irish which is always a great starting point for me.. So much Irish music is as good, if not better, than any of the stuff we are being force fed, but it is so hard to get seen.. Radio in this country don’t help.. It’s all about the dollar.. Why can’t this song be played on 96FM?… Radio Friendly, surely?… You heard the quality of the local guys here from the video.. Top quality each and everyone of them, and deserve a shot at it..
This dude has a lot of talent, and deserves to be heard… And he starts from the right place… All for one and one for all, let’s hold hands and build a wall..
PIAS have new albums for the 27th by FLUME, on coloured vinyl for Indies only, the new I HAVE A TRIBE vinyl, as well as the new DEATH ANGEL record through Nuclear Blast… .DANIEL ROMANO’s new record on New West called ‘Mosey’ is also out… Being very well received by critics, LP is double gatefold at 45RPM in Mono, with codes.
Geoff Barrow of PORTISHEAD has the soundtrack to the ‘Couple In The Hole’ movie..
Plenty of reissues from PIAS also for next week including JOHN LEE HOOKER’S ‘Alive Volume 1’ and ‘Volume 2’, some MOBY vinyl reissues of ‘Animal Rights’, ‘Everything is Wrong’, and ‘Play’. Also reissued is MY MORNING JACKET’s ‘It Still Moves’, deluxe LP reissued with 13 track b-sides on ATO, and finally the 10th Anniversary of SPOON’s ‘Gimme Fiction’ on 2LP through Matador..
Republic of Music have the new GOLD PANDA record, their third on City Slang records.
Warner for the 27th of May have NEIL YOUNG’s ‘Rust Never Sleeps’ DVD and Blu Ray, which is a visual document of the tour of the same name… Also the Human Highway DVD for the first time ever.. It had a very limited cinema release back in the day… Neil has decided to let it out after years.. This has been described as The Wizard of Oz on acid…
Warner also have the new MONKEES album.. First in 20 years.. Also out is a BURT BACHARACH ‘Best Of’, and the new album by BAND OF SKULLS…
Sony gets the nod to start for the 20th of May. Dylan’s new album is out next Friday entitled “Fallen Angels”, another covers album, the first record really divided people, some saying it was as good as anything Dylan has ever done, others thinking it was pure tripe.. I’m praying to sit on the fence somewhere firmly in between both views… I thought it was a nicely produced, easy listening album, well arranged and for me, vocally quite nice… not great but not shite either. Bob has sold over 125 million records now… savage like… but I do wish he was writing his own songs and not doing these covers stuff. Must have a touch of writers block… can happen to the worst of us!
Story goes (probably not true at all), when Bono met Bob for the first time, Bono questioned Bob on his apparent ease with penning songs… Bono – “they say you can write a song anywhere, at any time, at the drop of a hat??”… Dylan – “Yeah, that’s about right”… Bono – “can you write a song now?” Dylan writes some lines on a napkin and shows Bono… Bono- “wow that’s unreal, can I have it?”… Dylan – “no, write your own songs”. As I said, probably not true at all.
Sony also have the brilliant MANIC STREET PREACHERS fourth album… commercially massive album… “Everything Must Go” on a deluxe reissue boxset as well as CD and standard LP. A cracking album in my opinion aside from the huge hits on it, some gems like “small black flowers” and the brilliant “all surface but no feeling”… in fact every track is strong on it… just like the new FRANKS album… its brilliant… not a weak song… really, really good… in case I didn’t tell ye already.
Sony also have the ADAM AND THE ANTS reissue of 1980’s “Kings of the Wild Frontier” on a fancy super dooper boxy thingy… I was a tad young for this at the time, only 6… but seems to be a lot of interest so I must have a proper listen.
Sony also have the new CHRISTY MOORE CD, his 25th solo album, “Lily”… lovely name… eh hem… same as the smallest… Christy wrote some of the songs on this one as well as songs written by Peter Gabriel, Declan O’Rourke and our own John Spillane.
Lastly from Sony is a new HIGHWAYMEN live one called “American Outlaws Live”… Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson. Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings… four fine lads lads I’d say would make Christy look like an altar boy even in his heyday… this one is a 4CD set.
Pias have a GRATEFUL DEAD tribute album created and curated by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of the National… it’s a celebration of the DEAD’s music over 6 hours and 59 tracks… CD only
Essential have the new RICHARD ASHCROFT album on CD and double vinyl record as well as the new SATYRICON CD and LP, “Nemesis Divina”.
I had to rush purchase the indies only, one press only, really, really limited RADIOHEAD vinyl on Monday last… I ordered a few… quite a few, but have been told by the rep to stop taking names at 10… that he would try and get me more than 10, but 10 was all he thought I would get… at this point 8 customers have contacted me about the record (the white version), so only 2 more kinda guaranteed to get them… if you want to throw your hat in the ring… its first come first served… if I get more than ten white ones, they will be allocated to the names in that position… sorry about this, I know it’s not ideal… if you’re not arsed about the colour, let me know also and I shall keep for you… released for Friday the 17th of June… I hoped I would get around 20/25 of the white, but looks like it will be around 10 copies… will keep ye posted next week on developments… just telling ye the sceal is all.
Warner for the 20th of May have the BOWIE “changes one Bowie” on CD digipack and 180 gram vinyl… random black or clear are the vinyl, 50% of each being pressed… like looking for willy wonkas golden ticket… you don’t know until you open the wrapper… bit of a gimmick really… the powers that be know a lot of Bowie fans are completists and the record company are not really looking after their customers… make it limited to a number so at least the early and more eager birds will get the worms… this way (50/50 way) is less fair but probably more lucrative… don’t kill the golden goose lads… vinyl is keeping the whole thing afloat… do not piss people off… treat them right…cornerstone of any relationship is honesty, trust and respect… not making people feel like they have been mugged … bigi curamach Mr. Record company man or I won’t be coming for dinner, I can hear some Bowie fans hum.
Warner also has the second album release by Tom Petty’s band MUDCRUTCH… they actually formed back in 1970 originally… took them a while to get the debut album out… 2008… Warner also have a reissue of DEATH’s debut album “scream bloody gore” on 2CD and royal blue vinyl with codes.
I did warn there was a bit tonight… is anybody awake still? Nearly there. Universal for the 20th of May have the new ERIC CLAPTON record called “I Still Do” on CD and LP… Bleeding Heart Pigeons have the CD release of their excellent debut “is” out next Friday. Ariana Grande has a new album… Bassist and a third of the JAM, Bruce Foxton has a new solo record… contributions by Weller. Sing Street gets its vinyl release and there are some nice Jazz 5CD sets by some of the greats like Miles, Coltrane and Bill Evans.
New song tonight by the Stone Roses… one of my favourite bands (who were never properly a band, if that makes sense). Probably, if there had been more productivity, would have been my numero uno, up there competing with THE DOORS, THE BEATLES, THE CURE and THE SMITHS, (note to upcoming bands, put THE at the start of your band name).
I was 15 when the debut album dropped… all the b-sides… sheer class… the tunes were class… still are… I love the second record also… it was a disappointment for a lot of people and the snobby purists will slag it off, but this snobby purist thinks it’s a fine record with some cracking tunes… so there for ya… must say though the new song… jury is out big time… lovely riff and playing all through by Squire, Mani with his northern soul influenced bass lines and Reni is driving the beat as only the beatmaster can but lyrically it is so weak… catchy, anthemic, but so weak lyrically… where are the lyrics that caught a 15 year olds imagination:
“as the miles they disappear,
see land begin to clear,
free from the filth and the scum,
this American satellite’s won”
from ‘Waterfall’ or
“kiss me where the sun don’t shine,
the past is yours but the future’s mine”
from ‘she bangs the drums’ or the adolescent awakenings from ‘going down’,
“Penny’s place, her crummy room,
her Dansette crackles to Jimi’s tune,
I don’t care I taste Ambre solaire,
her neck, her thighs, her lips, her hair”
Brownie was always a good man for lyrics, including his solo stuff like:
“fed up of excuses,
theres nothing more to say,
sands of your patience have surely drained away,
backed into a corner,
built of my design, peer into the future,
entwined is yours and mine,
I know this can’t go on if things remain the same,
drastic change is needed, its driving me insane”
… and I’m sure there will be finely penned songs off this album…just not this one…. maybe they felt they had to open with some kind of a singalong anthem … I still love them and always will but this is no ‘I am the Ressurection’… did I say I still love them though…
Anyway, for those still awake,
sin e for this week,
Thanks for listening,
Ray
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