I’m back…can ye not feel the joy rising from your device…
It’s going to be a swift one folks (the sunny south east was the berries) for a number of reasons…it’s a messy and different week this week…the corporation were asked to do the merch stand in the Opera House Tuesday and Wednesday night and then we were busy on Thursday night with our gig in Coughlans…so a fair bit of ducking and diving having to be done this week…so thats one reason the random blurb is brief, secondly, and stop me oh oh oh stop me, stop me if you think that you’ve heard this one before…because it’s summertime and the releases are iffy
(Shane, me, typer extraordinaire, will also ad a bit of beef to Ray’s pre prepared stew, sorry vegetarians!)
So releases for the 21st of July include from Warner, ‘Live at Wacken 2016 – 27 Years Faster, Harder and Louder’, MARILLION, ‘Misplaced Childhood’ Deluxe Edition as CD/Blu Ray or 4LP set, SUICIDE self titled reissue on LP, the B52s ‘Summer of Love’ LP Reissue, THE RAMONES ‘Leave Home’ 40th Anniversary edition on CD or CD/LP, and lastly, there is an indies only coloured LP repress of VAN MORRISON’s ‘Astral Weeks’. Side note from Shane: might be something to interest the collectors or just a bonus for anyone looking to get a classic album!
Sony, for the 21st have the newest NOW Compilation…97…getting old…feeling old… a third reason for my brevity tonight…at my age now I can only creak back up the horse nice and slowly …a debut album by a young dude with a big future maybe….DECLAN MCKENNA is the lads name and he is writing some well thought out songs…only a youngfella…will be listening…indies only LP on this one.
Universal for next week have LANA DEL REY’s new album, ‘Lust for Life’. Side note from Shane: Always liked her sound, laid back, cinematic and very good lyrics. Will definitely be giving it a few spins in the shop!.
Also on Universal, the new and third album by PAUL HEATON AND JACQUI ABBOTT of BEAUTIFUL SOUTH etc fame….the last two records from these two were beautiful listens so looking forward to it, always good melodies and clever songs…available as a CD or CD/DVD with the DVD being a live show, and a gatefold LP also.
Universal also for the 21st have new albums by DIZZEE RASCAL, DAMIAN MARLEY, MATT WILLS, some CURE CD resissues as 2CD formats.
On the VINYL RECORDS front from Universal on the 21st of July we have ROXY MUSIC represses, ‘Avalon’, ‘Country Life’ and ‘For Your Pleasure’, and ELTON JOHN’s ‘Don’t Shoot Me I’m the Piano Player’. Side note from Shane: A regular in the shop was telling me to check out more of Mr. John’s early stuff recently, I had only heard bits and pieces, and overlooked it because his later stuff is a bit middle of the road, and I was pleasantly surprised. Touch of glam rock about it. If there are any younger people out there reading (might be a bit of a stretch I know) his early 70s stuff is very good!
Proper for the 21st of July have the new CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD album on CD and DLP.
The rest don’t really have a whole pile for the 21st of July and I’m finding it a tad difficult to find my mojo and the week has slipped away on me so apologies…
Side note from Shane: Jaysus, he’s very boring tonight! Only messing boss haha. It must be hard to keep it original every week, and it is very entertaining and natural every week.
The gig last night in Coughlan’s was a huge success by all accounts. Ray said HAPPY ABANDON were one of the best he’s ever seen and Joe from the Cork City shop just down from us in the centre said it will be hard to top. SMALL DOSE put on a good show too and Bobby was happy. They are meant to be doing a bit of recording soon so keep eyes and ears peeled.
HAPPY ABANDON are releasing their new LP in September I believe.
Ray abandoned me earlier this afternoon cos he was dying! And Bobby is MIA too. Good nights were had no doubt though.
Ray was telling me about his hangover earlier and said he ‘enjoys making them…a bit like the kids!’
So I’m looking after the shop for the evening, all is good, there was a small fire started over in the corner by yere box sets, but there was a bit left in the fire extinguisher so all grand. It’s a bit quiet in the shop of late, the sun isn’t great for busyness, but what harm, not the end of the world.
Hope all is well! Final week of the Bob man’s ramblings for ye, back to the real boss man next week as his holidays come to a finish. The shop hasn’t burned down while he was away which is a big plus.
A very good win in the Cross last night for our boy-o’s, gutted I didn’t head down. One of the best atmosphere’s in the Cross in year’s i’ve been told, backed up by one of the best performances in a City shirt from Maguire, who’s last game is Sunday. *sad face*. So the lads push on into the next round of Europe with a nice 6-2 win over two legs.
Not all good news though, i’m afraid. A very upset worker from the Cork City shop ran distressed into me during the week. He had tickets bought for an upcoming gig, a gig of the ages he said, but because of results in other games leading to multiple matches being played in Cyprus on the night of the gig, Cork City were put into a draw (and lost), with the home fixture re-arranged, and now being played on the night of said gig.
He looked truly gutted to be missing ‘the best support act of all time, even better than Nirvana in ‘91 Sir Henrys’. (They mightn’t have been his exact words, might of been more along the lines of ‘Bob, i’m gonna miss your gig but will make the main act i’d say, might catch the end of your set’. Nonetheless, I could see the tears being held back).
So yes folks, our gig in COUGHLAN’s is on next Thursday the 13th of July, with doors at 9PM, which is now the same date as the Cork City match in The Shed. These things happen, but we’ll still have a cracking night gan aon dabht! Something we often comment on in the shop is the strong relationship between soccer and music that runs amongst customers in the shop. Both a huge passion for so many of our customers. Quick visit to the Cork City shop, quick visit to Ray, good day out. But what a night out ahead heh? See City hopefully thrash Larnaka, and then into a gig of the ages!
The doors for the gig are 9PM with my own band Small Dose playing support for Happy Abandon over from the US of A. Tickets are 5EUR in the shop (may be some left on the door but looking unlikely, our Twitter will keep ye updated during the week if it sells out!). Hopefully those who are going to the City match will still catch the end of our set, but for sure will see all of Happy Abandon, who are ace. You can check out an EXCLUSIVE link to their full album below, which isn’t out until August. The perks of having friends in high places! Wouldn’t get this service from the big boys in the clouds!
Anyway, enough ranting, better do my job and try sell ye things. We’ll start with Universal for July 14th, but another quiet enough week ahead. Jake Steadman of Bombay Bicycle Club has his first debut album out next Friday under the name MR. JUKES on CD and Vinyl, and there’s also a new ALICE COOPER 7’’, a new STATUS QUO live album entitled ‘Last Night of the Electrics’, and a reissue of THE COMMODORES debut album on vinyl.
Sony for next week have a new Summer Holiday compilation, a CD/DVD version of PAUL SIMON’s ‘Concert in Hyde Park’, and the 20th Anniversary of PARADISE LOST’s ‘One Second’ on LP and CD.
Warner for the 14th of July have the mono reissue of LOVE’s classic self titled album, a 2LP PETER, PAUL and MARY ‘Best Of’ compilation and the adventurous debut album by OFFA REX. Offa Rex are a new supergroup formed by multi-instrumentalist Olivia Charey, and The Decemberists, and the album entitled The Queen of Hearts focuses on English, Irish and Scottish folklore.
PIAS for next week have VIC CHESNUT’s ‘Ghetto Bell’s reissued on the aul’ vinyl, as well as a SONNY ROLLINS, CLIFFORD BROWN AND MAX ROACH vinyl reissue. Biggest piece from PIAS next week (literally the biggest, in size, everything else is only opinion!) is the STRANGER THINGS SEASON 1 4LP Vinyl Boxset. Heavy synth, 80s TV throwback soundtrack but a great listen. It’s done by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein. (Being 100% honest, watched this TV show myself a few months back and it didn’t do much for me, but was very very impressed with the soundtrack and use of sound effects and synth throughout. One of my majors for my final year in college was film music, and still this stands out as one of the best since i’ve seen / heard since I finished).
Will rattle out the last couple nice and quickly for ye. Republic of Music for the 14th of July has an ELVIS ‘Rock N’ Roll’ 5CD set, or the same title as a 1LP release
The Orchard for the 14th have the new album from EXCRETION, as well as an LP reissue of the new album (well out a few months but couldn’t get the vinyl) from modern blues player FANTASTIC NEGRITO. Interesting stuff from him!
Finally, Proper for next week have a couple of NICK LOWE vinyl reissues, and a KURT VILE reissue.
So that’s it from me guys! Remember, our gig will take place in Coughlan’s next Thursday 13th of July, with tickets priced at 5EUR in-store. It’s gonna be a great night out for the shop, we’re proper excited! Well the lads are, i’m proper nervous.
That’s it from me folks, a bit shorter this week!
Ray-Man will be back next week, he’s wondering is there any volunteers to clean his yacht after his trip away?
Probably one of the biggest albums of the year is being released on the 10th of Feb by debutant RAG N’ BONE MAN, or Rory Graham to his neighbours… This fella could do the biz alright… All his own stuff… A powerful, bluesy, soulful voice… Good melodies and words… Some of ye were on this ages back… Take a bow Donal B…
This dude has the talent and image id say to go a long way in this game and a massive hit single will help also… Only 100 million youtube hits on the single ‘Human’… It’s great to see some real fresh talent… Let’s see what the album is like I suppose, but I predict big things here…
Available here via Columbia / Best Laid Plans as a 12 track standard CD, deluxe 19 track CD, or 12 track vinyl record.. Looking forward we are…
Sony also has some more DEPECHE MODE LP reissues on the Legacy Label, including ‘Music for the Masses’, ‘Ultra’, ‘Playing the Angel’, ‘Exciter’, and ‘Sounds of the Universe’…. New Mode album this year…. Modeys and Cureheads are strong memories from my early teenage years… I liked them both (a lot) but that was kind of against the rules… ‘Tis one or the other boy…
Lastly Sony have a reissue of LONG DISTANCE CALLING ‘Satelite Bay’ on LP.
UNIVERSAL
Universal have quite a bit out next Friday the 10th including the LP release ‘Starboy’, the latest release from THE WEEKND, as well as a limited version of THE WHO’s ‘My Generation’ as a 3LP set in Mono… LP1 is the album in Mono…. LP2 consists of bonus tracks in Mono, and LP3 is 11 Pete Townshend Demos…… Price is 35 euro for the set…
Universal also has a reissue of ‘Razorblade Suitcase’ by BUSH on 2LP black and white swirl vinyl, with four bonus tracks as well as a live ELVIS COSTELLO record ‘My Flames Burn Blue’ on, you guessed it, nice blue vinyl with codes… There is also a BON JOVI Vinyl Boxset out next Friday..
UMG also have new albums by THUNDER entitled ‘Rip It Up’ on Ear music as a triple CD or DLP, and UNA HEALY, the Irish girl from the SATURDAYS, has a new album out, as well as the soundtrack to FIFTY SHADES DARKER also making an appearance.. There is a new DEF LEPPARD ‘And There Will Be A Next Time” Live 2CD/DVD or Bluray on EagleRock from Detroit last year coming from Universal next week also.
Staying with Universal for a minute more… Thanks a million for the nice response to the RYAN ADAMS pre-order… I only learned this week that I will have a handful of indies only red vinyl …4 or 5 maybe…. There’s 11 of ye pre-ordered the LP so it will be a names in the hat job for the red ones….2 quid more also….if you paid online already and get a red one… We know where you live.. The sheriffs are booked to collect the two quid …. If you’re not arsed about a red one let us know it increases the chances for the others… For those who are still interested, you can pre book the Vinyl or CD at the following links
If you’re in get back to us by next weds the 8th please… I know it’s a serious amount of dollars but if you’re tempted we’d like to get your dollars…. Rather than give it to some other corporation or rather than you buying food or other un-necessaries…. Seems to be anywhere between 420 and 450EUR anywhere else i’ve looked…. One guy coming into the shop calls me the Smiling Assassin…… Moi??…
This is probably more regular though when folks see something unexpected and then want it… ‘Ray you’re some f**ker’…
Let me know by next Weds if any of ye are calling me a f**ker…
Republic of Music have a new record by SINKANE ‘Life and Living It’, on yellow indies only vinyl, and I hope to maybe have the TEENAGE FANCLUB ‘I’m In Love’ 7” single in also…. Only 600 worldwide being pressed.. Fine album that from last year…. The new ELBOW album is a very pleasant listen as is the new MARK EITZEL album… Very polished and mellow.
ESSENTIAL have the second album by AMBER RUN on Indies only white vinyl as well as some OMEN reissues…
Warner have some nice goodies as well for the 10th…. The year is starting to rev up… Prince and Bowie day a bit… Plenty for Valentine’s… Sure all ye want is a Musiczone.ie gift voucher… I hope my jedi mind trick works… A Musiczone.ie gift voucher…!!
The next batch of PRINCE 12”s are with us next Friday, including ‘Cream’, ‘If I Was your Girlfriend’, ‘Kiss’ and ‘You Got The Look’…
Most of the albums from the last Bowie box set are released individually next Friday also… They are now up for pre-order to have home delivered for release day next Friday if the order is placed before 3PM on Thursday 9th..
One of the yachts is off the water for a service you see so i was thinking of trading in and looking to upgrade to a 60 metre super yacht… They don’t buy themselves folks…
Staying with the BOWIE man we have the next in the series of 40th anniversary 7” Picture Discs … This time it’s the brilliant ‘Sound and Vision” from the equally brilliant ‘Low’…
‘Originally released in the UK on February 11th, 1977 SOUND AND VISION was taken from the groundbreaking album LOW, the first of the so-called ‘Berlin Trilogy’ of albums… The song gave its name to Bowie’s anthology boxset and it’s accompanying greatest hits tour in 1990 and is the only track actually performed by him in his stage play LAZARUS…
The A-side features a brand new remaster of the track and the flip side sees the first physical release of the 2013 remix of the song. The stripped back remix by Sonjay Prabhakar was originally done for a Sony Experia advert and utilises the original lead vocals and Mary Hopkin’s backing vocal with a new piano part…’
WARNER also have an AVENGED SEVENFOLD 3LP ‘Best Of’ , RHIANNON GIDDENS grammy nominated EP ‘Factory Girl’ gets it’s physical release, as well as KRIS KRISTOFFERSON’s ‘The Austin Sessions’ Expanded Edition on Rhino on CD and LP…. Loads of great guests on it.. Lastly from Warner is BIG STAR’s ‘Complete Third Volume 2’ on LP.
Goodies in the siopa for release today include the reissue of the first BOB DYLAN Bootleg Series, THE WHITE STRIPES ‘Get Behind Me Satan’ on vinyl for the first time…. Well not the exact truth…. There was a few thousand done on coloured vinyl a few years back for Record Shop Day (RSD…. Three letters you will be hearing a lot about it in the coming months)..
Or as always, you can watch this week’s video here :
Also be sure to keep an eye on our website, Twitter or Facebook for New Releases… All new releases will be up by Wednesday afternoon onto the site, and if ordered before 3PMon Thursday, you will have the record for release day for Friday! There is free shipping on 3+ LPs bought in Ireland. You will have it before anyone else can get it to you, and even better, it comes from Cork!… The year is nipping along already… Onto releases for Friday the 3rd of Feb now.
The biggest release I feel is the new ELBOW album ‘Little Fictions’ on CD and gatefold LP with codes…. The string section of the HALLE ORCHESTRA are heavily involved on this record.
These boys have been knocking around a long time now… Earned their spurs the hard way.. Plenty of knocks along the way… Tthey got a record deal with Island in the mid nineties i’d say… Recorded an album…. Island got bought up by Universal who decided to streamline….. Universal cleaned house and dropped loads of bands including Elbow…. Island still exist obviously says ye but Universal is the big bossman in the relationship now…. That must have been tough for ELBOW… Record deal…. Yeahhh… Made an album… Yeaahhh…. New owner says bye bye… No more yeahhhs for a while…. So fair play to them for keeping at it.
Lead single from the new record is quite good in my opinion…
Have a listen here…
One of the few attractions down the Marquee this summer for me are Elbow… Isn’t great overall so far again is it, the Marquee?
I see FUTURE ISLANDS are to play Iveagh Gardens in the summer…. They might be one I could see announced maybe… Fleet foxes are maybe another…. What about the ROSES in the Marquee…. Dreaming i’d say, am i?… These are the types of bands that will have to be attracted to the city if/when the 6,000 seater event centre gets done….
It has become a bit jaded of late I feel… Same aul faces.. Not that there is anything wrong with those faces but nothing to exciting or different to enthuse…. Maybe there is a few nice surprises awaiting us…
Universal (who ended up taking the Elbow boys back via their Fiction label after three independently released albums) also have a nice limited edition of MUMFORD & SONS ‘Live in South Africa’
Chronicling the first meeting of South Africa with its favourite British band, Mumford & Sons, award-winning director Dick Carruthers gets to the very heart of what makes Mumford & Sons such a special act. Filmed live against the beautiful Pretorian outback, the band performs their most recent material and classic hits in front of an exhilarated crowd. Filmed in stunning 4K and presented in DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio and Dolby Atmos. The limited deluxe editions includes ‘Dust And Thunder’, ‘We Wrote This Yesterday’ and a CD with selections from ‘Dust And Thunder’. It is bound in a hardback red leatherette cover with dark gold foil, with a 20-page booklet including exclusive never-before-seen photos printed on uncoated paper.Total Running Time: 94 + 66 + 63 mins approx.
UNIVERSAL also have a 13 CD VANGELIS boxset, some more EMPEROR reissues and some new music by DEEP PURPLE …. New EP out next Friday just on CD entitled ‘Time For Bedlam’..
WARNER for the 3rd have some FRANCOISE HARDY LP reissues and not a whole pile more in my opinion to be honest… Essential for the third have the new album by LOWER THAN ATLANTIS.
SONY have new album by all girl electronic dark pop group MUNA , a reissue of JUDAS PRIEST ‘Turbo’ as a 30th anniversary edition remastered on 3CDs or LP, and vinyl reissues of ALAN PARSONS ‘I Robot’, and STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN’s ‘Texas Flood’.. They also have the new Ministry of Sound trance compilation.
CARGO have a new CD by JULIAN COPE out next Friday also called ‘Drunken Songs’ … I think i’d like that, first part anyway…… He wrote this album, I was told, for it to be played at his funeral…. Nothing beats a bit of planning huh… Fail to prepare and all that..
We are teaming up with Universal to offer a pre-order, promo price on the new RYAN ADAMS album ‘Prisoner’, which is out February the 17th…. Basically if you get back to me by next Thursday at lunchtime you can get the CD for just 10 euro or the LP 23 euro… Best prices unless you’re my mam ….. The LP seems to be about 23 sterling or 28 euro elsewhere I looked… A positive step in the right direction regarding pricing…. Without the extra discount this would be 27 euro on the shelf…. So if you want your name on one please let us know….. Sounds mighty fine to me,this track anyway… It’s another break up album i’m told from a reliable source…… OFFER IS ONLY ON PRE ORDERS…. Would you like fries or won tons with that pre order?
Ryan has a stipulation re-entering the promotion …. If you have ever upset Ryan in a Chinese restaurant in Cork and harassed him so much that he had to eat his Chow Mein on Patricks Street in the cold night air… Then you are omitted from entry…. Don’t want to lose the sale though so maybe your wife or someone can enter on your behalf…. Like who bothers a fella when he is about to tuck into his grub… I’d get a doggie bag as well… Surprised he came back to Cork at all… Proper has a new ELIZA CARTHY album with the 12-piece Wayward Band, plus a 10CD American folk box set including Dylan, Baez and Peter Paul and Mary and a new ROBERT MIZZELL album.
MUSIC ON VINYL have a few nice reissues for next week including MATTHEW SWEET ‘Girlfriend’, and CAROLE KING’s ‘Living Room Tour’
Loads and loads of stuff coming at ye in next week’s newsletter…
On the local front, for any metal fans we now have Doom group Soothsayer’s two EPs in stock.. Free stickers with purchase, worth checking them out.. We also will have flyers in-store for the upcoming Cork Quarter Block Party which is happening in the city from Friday 3rd Feb – Sunday 5th Feb.. Great acts once again all weekend.. Check out any more information here
I must apologise for a few typos last week …. The time to be outside Pro Musica should have read 5.15… Sorry about that one…
Seriously though …. Did anyone chance them I wonder at about 8 o’clock?
I have not got a telling off yet this week about it… No one probably listened anyway and ye’d probably be right!
Here’s hoping they do a second gig somewhere in the country…
Who knows, they might do a surprise instore in some record shop for record shop day or something to make up for it … Ah the boy who cries wolf…
Moving on to releases for next week the 27th of Jan… Bit of a slow news week even though the schedule is decent enough for the year…. The ED SHEERAN album should be massive for the music retail sector … Out on the 3rd of March.. We hope to run a preorder competition with a good prize of something bespoke by Mr Sheeran… He is Mr. Sheeran to me now… Out with the Mr. Bonos (might change my mind if you announce a Cork gig like) and in with the Mr Sheerans….. No sticking albums for free onto your phones without asking(!!) from Mr Sheeran …. Will keep ye posted on the competition.
Sorry…. Small tangent over…. Friday the 27th sees the release of the new TRAINSPOTTING soundtrack.. On CD only for now…. LP is June i think…. Fine looking soundtrack again… THE RUBBERBANDITS have a track on it…… Talk about fitting the bill!
Universal also have ARCADE FIRE ‘Reflector Tapes’ on DVD or BLURAY, CREAM’s ‘Fresh Cream’ on 3CD/BLURAY, a few more FALL OUT BOY LP reissues and some ALEX HARVEY BAND LP reissues, as well as the marvellous BLUE BREAK BEATS Compilations Volumes One to Three getting the vinyl reissue treatment.
Lastly for next week again via Universal but signed to SPINEFARM records are Killarney natives GREYWIND…. Here’s a quick bio… And a tune…
Greywind’s home of Killarney, Ireland is a beautiful town and a popular tourist destination. For young people passionate about music – like the O’Sullivan siblings Steph (vocals) and Paul (guitar) – it’s a place of limited opportunity. Inspired by the likes of Thrice and Jimmy Eat World, the O’Sullivans would dream of a bigger future: But a dearth of other local musicians meant that their dreams of forming a band never really progressed beyond that. The turning point came following the suicide of their uncle. Grasping the shortness and fragility of life, Steph and Paul decided to forge ahead despite their lack of a conventional band line-up. On an ordinary Wednesday night, the pair polished off the lyrics to their first completed song Afterthoughts and recorded a demo of it the following day. They uploaded it on the Monday and were then immediately deluged by a flood of industry interest. Radio 1 quickly took notice when Daniel P. Carter played the demo and Zane Lowe soon followed suit by picking it as his Next Hype. Within six weeks, Greywind had inked a deal with Raw Power Management and were on their way to record and album with Jason Parry (Don Broco, McFly, Kids In Glass Houses) in Texas. Featuring lyrics which address the dark heart of the human condition, the resulting album possesses the visceral crunch and the soaring hooks of the bands that have so inspired them. Dynamically, however, they move in ways more mysterious than that template would suggest…The album’s continuing rush of highlights suggests a band with years of experience behind them.
Proper Music Group have the 10th Anniversary reissue of FRANK TURNER’S debut album ‘Sleep is For The Weak’ as a 2LP or 2CD… Contains the original album plus 6 tracks of previously unreleased demos with side 4 etched with the FTHC logo.
Proper also have a JERRY LEE LEWIS compilation album taken from the original analogue tapes pressed on 10“ with 1000 cyan coloured ones only being done…. LEWIS was probably the first wild man of rock n’ roll… Ye probably know the story of when he had to support Chuck Berry at a show one night… Lewis wasn’t happy to be number two on the billing…. So he mixed petrol in with a bottle of coke and as he played his last song he poured the concoction over his piano and set a match to it, whilst legend had it continuing to finish the song as the piano was in a great ball of fire… He left the stage and as he passed Chuck said …. ’Follow THAT Chuck’…. Well rumour has it, it was a racial slur rather than the word Chuck was used…. Lord of the smelly feet would be out of a few dollars today if Lewis was around… He would have being perfect for DJT’s bash today… Definitely american enough i’d say… Ah man… Where are we going?
Proper also have a new JOHN MAYALL album with guest Joe Walsh… LP to arrive late Feb as well as a couple of budget CD releases by STAN GETZ and ELMORE JAMES.
Essential for the 27th have some AMON AMARTH LP reissues…first two albums i think.
SONY have a reissue of the very first BOB DYLAN Bootleg Series (1 to 3) as a five LP set on 180 gram with a book… First repress since original press in 1991… We have an original pressing in the shop for 200 yoyos but we will let you out with the new repress for 60 yoyos if you want.
Cargo for next week have the new MICHAEL CHAPMAN album ‘50’.
Republic of Music have the BRUNO NICOLAI OST to ‘The Night Evelyn Came Out Of The Grave’ on DEATH WALTZ Records….. Limited and coloured.. They also have DEAF HAVANA’s new album…
I am promised a few visits from lads high enough in their respective record companies (the major ones anyway) in the next 6 to 8 weeks…. They want to tell me how great everything is.. I plan to get a few answers if I can to pricing and to codes or lack of them… If anyone else has any serious bug bearers you would like me to try an address send me a mail….
A good regular lad bought 8 records from us last Saturday to go home and find download codes in only 3 of them… Penalised nearly for supporting physical product and the whole industry…. Download codes should be a given when you buy a record… End of story..
Let me know what to add to my one man crusade folks…
Shellshock have the new MARK EITHEL record out next Friday….I think he is in CYPRESS AVENUE on the 11th of Feb..
This new one is receiving really strong reviews … Bernard Butler’s (Suede) fingerprints are all over it having produced the record and played Guitar, bass and keys on it…. Lovely limited to 500 Vinyl with a 12 track CD of unreleased songs… If i get any that is…
Warner have a SEPULTURA 6 CD or 6 LP boxset of their Roadrunner albums on coloured vinyl, plus new ones from KEHLANI and JAPANDROIDS as well ANNIHILATOR 3 CD set and a nice CD Reggae Compilation on VP.Sorry folks I probably kept the biggest release of next week til last … From Pias via Third Man Records is the repress of THE WHITE STRIPE’s ‘Get Behind Me Satan’… As a DLP… PIAS also have a new TY SEGALL…. They also have an Indies only, coloured ‘Live In Paris’ by SLEATER KINNEY, the new KREATOR album on a load of formats as well as GUY CLARK ‘Live from Austin Texas’ on CD/DVD or DLP.
Quiet enough on the local scene at the moment… But as promised, we now have the Riptide Movement in-store from late last year up on the website for your viewing pleasure! Another cracker of an in-store.. Thanks again to Tim our video guru, to the band, and to everyone who came in and made it a great day in the shop.. Relive it here! https://musiczone.ie/videos/
Quite a bit happened I suppose in the last week with U2 announcing Croke Park and the Choice Music Prize nominations.
Pairc Ui Chaoimh next for the U2 boys on their Joshua Tree tour….???
The Joshua Tree concept seems to have really hit a nerve…. Savage interest in it on the shop floor all week….. Tempted myself i must say.
The rep tells me there’s another gig to be announced lunchtime Monday but it looks like Dublin again but is there a third night somewhere else.. I wonder…. No pressure builders to get the Pairc done…. Be nice wouldn’t it…. I grew up with U2 and will always have huge time for them.
I have a tip for tickets which people generally overlook in Cork… I’m giving away a state secret here now, so some of you may want to shoot me… Again this week… Pro Musica on Oliver Plunkett Street has been a Ticketmaster outlet for about 30 years i’d say….. 8.15 monday morning, hot cup of tea…. 45 minute wait.. I think you’ll get two U2 tickets…. Think i said…. Sorry to those whose secret i’ve spoiled…. Maybe it wasn’t a secret at all… It’s not now anyway!!
As usual you can check out the video this week, a nice little story in this week’s one for you as well..
THE XX and THE FLAMING LIPS are two nice listens from what I heard yesterday and today… Could be wrong (didn’t read the sleeve notes) but I think there is a voice over on the Lips album by Darth Vader.
On so to releases for the 20th of jan… We will get back to the choice nominations a little later on…. First up this week is the reissues of the first two PAUL WELLER solo albums… The self titled debut and “Wildwood”…. Pity folks about the pricing… A new level again really…only a single LP with a poster i think some colour stickers and the lyrics…. But it will be on the shelf at 38 euro… Same or worse everywhere else I think.. I asked why it was so expensive but I did not get a reply… I don’t know why it’s so dear… Pity two nice ones and all.
Universal also have a reworking of the third MIKE OLDFIELD album “Ommadawn” aptly called “Return to Ommadawn”.
Ommadawn, was released in 1975, and remains one of his favourite of all his releases. Connecting with his Irish roots, the original 40-minute suite has long been much-loved by his fans.
From his studio in the Bahamas, Mike has crafted two suites of music that incorporate the past and the present, recording with acoustic, analogue and faithful reproductions of 1970s instruments all together in sweet harmony. For the first time in many years, Mike has hand-played every instrument (22 in total) on the recording himself, and in a nod to its 42-year old predecessor, crafted new vocal sounds and effects from the original Ommadawn. With its fabulous fantasy gatefold illustration by Rupert Lloyd-Smee, who designed the sleeve for Mike’s critically-acclaimed The 1984 Suite, for an artist truly synonymous with progressive rock, it all marks a return home. A Return To Ommadawn. FORMATS: HALF-SPEED MASTERED BY MILES SHOWELL AT ABBEY ROAD. 180GM HEAVYWEIGHT VINYL. GATEFOLD SLEEVE. 24”x 24” POSTER • CD/DVD SET: DVD INCLUDES EXCLUSIVE MIKE OLDFIELD 5.1 MIX; FOLD-OUT SLEEVE, 12 PAGE BOOKLET• CD: JEWEL CASE: 12 PAGE BOOKLET.
UNIVERSAL have quite a few more reissues on LP for next week, also including the brilliant PORTISHEAD with the self titled album from 1997 and the reforming album “THIRD” from 2008…
A couple also from DUSTY SPRINGFIELD including “In Memphis” and “The Silver Collection” compilation.
Uni also have the GARY MOORE reissue of “Wild Frontier” on LP, and the LP release of the score from “ASSASSINS CREED” done by Jed Kurzel… Brother of the director i’m told, and they have a new album by metallers A.F.I, and a live MARILLON album called “Marbles In The Park”.
Proper Music have the reissue and limited, deluxe and numbered edition of T- REX “The Slider”…. Coloured as well actually… Silver and red.. They also have the new record by ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO “Burn Something Beautiful”… Great star studded band with him…. Produced by Peter Buck.
Quick little story… You will only find this funny if you listen to this song first.. Well the first twenty seconds is all you need to hear…… I thought this story was a beaut, hence i’m sharing it….
I was playing Swoon in the shop during the week….. Random choice i know….. Great pop record I think, you might agree, when a regular lad came in….. ‘Ah christ i loved that album’ he said…. ‘I used play it and play it…on tape’ (tape was the tipple of choice at the time), ‘great album’ he said and then he told me how he walked into his bedroom to find his two and a half year old son with the tape wrapped around himself, ala DANIEL DAY LEWIS In The Name Of The Father (I added that for effect)… My man wasn’t too happy and gave a small giving out…. You can’t do that type of thing, to which the two and a half year old replied… .’NO MORE Bo Bee…No More Bo Bee’…..
No more Bowie (separate to above) … It’s still hard to believe really…. I think we all probably played some Bowie in the last week or watched some Bowie TV…. My five year old asked me to play Starman again last sunday morning as Ziggy was on the record player… Ah the wheel will turn forever there my friends.
Sony for the 20th have EURYTHIMICS ‘Greatest Hits’ LP reissue.. MEAT LOAF ‘Bat Out OF Hell’ reissue on LP, and the new album by FIREWIND ( GUS G’s band… Gus was OZZY’s guitarist in recent years), as well as some FIREWIND reissues…
ESSENTIAL have the new RUN THE JEWELS record out next Friday also… ‘3’ it’s called and on CD and DLP….
Warner have the second and last pressing im told of the KATE BUSH“Before The Dawn” 4 LP set…. Out next friday also the 20th..
Warner also have some cracking reissues… Good, young folk reading this ramble.. Ye would not go far wrong with these next few reissues if you like, rock, punk, alternative rock… First up is the masterpiece by THE STOOGES “FUNHOUSE”, and to entice ye even more it’s on limited Orange and black vinyl and it’s 20 bucks… not far wrong at all…. Also there are some reissues by a really underrated band called THE REPLACEMENTS from America in the late 70s…. Alternative rock, punk band… Great songs…. “Tim” is a fine album.
WARNER also have a Picture Disc 50th Anniversary of THE GRATEFUL DEAD’s debut .
Pias have MICK HARVEY “Intoxicated Woman”, the next in his series of SERGE GAINSBOURG songs, a NIGHTWISH live 2CD from Wacken and lastly a VISAGE compilation called “WILD LIFE”…
Moving back to the Choice Nominations and every single person will have their own opinions…. I’m saying it a long time… It’s a game of opinions… One mans meat yada yada yada….
We would know 7 of the ten albums reasonably well to very well and we could not fault their inclusion… Fine records… Great to see WALLIS and ALL TVVINS on it.. Both friends of the siopa… Fully deserved as well (WALLIS is upstairs in the OLIVER PLUNKETT Friday Jan 27th)….. There is lots of fine music being made on these shores and it is a really positive note in my opinion that RTE, the state broadcaster has got involved…. Maybe it can move to a live TV show for a couple of hours next year to showcase the talent.. Live on radio this year with a one hour highlights show a week later on TV…. So that is a great step…. Forgive me while I put my blood and bandage hat on for a few minutes and gush about THE FRANKS (fine album…My top five of year…) JACK O’ ROURKE, BRIAN DEADY and MICK FLANNERY’s albums which would not have been at all out of place on that list…. All of them ! (Lucky im not a judge!!) …. But every lad or lady in every county probably would have their own lists… Four really fine albums though in my opinion…. The Franks are an institution…. Deady and O’ Rourke are two talented dudes where hopefully the sky is the limit…. And Mick… Sure Mick is Mick… In my opinion one of the most talented singer-songwriters this country has ever produced and five albums in, and to my knowledge no nomination…. Consistent, high quality stuff …… I’m sure it doesn’t require it, but Mick wouldn’t want or know how to kiss any bums……. Anyway all in all the Choice are a great thing…. More exposure please for our talent.
And sticking with brilliant Irish talent, we have now uploaded the brilliant DECLAN O’ ROURKE in-store to our website video page.. What a day in the shop that was, Declan played his hits from ‘In Full Colour’ with a string quartet, and a huge crowd of ye made it a very special day… Check it out!
We hope to have THE RIPTIDE MOVEMENT In-Store uploaded for next week for you all, which should be in the newsletter again!
Sin e for this week from me…
As always,
Thanks for listening….
Ray
(I think Bobby might have the competition results written up under here for me…..)
Thanks to all of you for entering our Top 10 Albums of 2016, the results are finally in! First up, a congrats to Ronan Condon on winning the 25EUR voucher, which will be in the shop for you next time you’re in. And how we worked it, any album which was voted #1 received three points, #2 got two points, and #3 got one point.. So here are the results..
How’s the form this evening?.. A late start for me at 22:43, so no moaning or groaning, just open, friendly, transparent attempts to sell ye folks some records, a bit like DJT.. Make Music Zone Great Again!… I’m getting the flyers printed up as I write this.. Roger Waters is calling in to give me a hand, and Freddie is going to sing ‘Who Wants To Live Forever’ as our swan song.. DJT.. What a world.. Anti-Establishment votes a lot and crass voters a lot, but for the anti-establishment surely not DJT… Surely NOT DJT…
Check out the new release video here if you’d like!
Moving on to releases for next Friday the 18th of November and we feel Santa and the Christmas songs breathing down our necks.. Ho ho ho! The 18th really is the week when it starts a bit… Lots of releases including the new album by METALLICA ‘Hard Wired To Self Destruct’.. Up there with Bowie, Radiohead and Nick Cave as one of the biggest releases of the year..
We are going to start names on the METALLICA LP so if you are interested, drop me a mail.. The reason we are taking the names is because there is an Indies only coloured double LP exclusive… Gatefold with codes.. 30EUR.. Hence the name taking.. So if you want one, let us know..
The METALLICA release is also available as a 2CD or 3CD digipack, or as a super deluxe boxset which includes the double LP (not coloured though), an exclusive 12’’, the 12 track CD, button badges, and exclusive prints.. It will be the metallers 11th studio album, first in eight years.. Definitely one of the biggies..
Slightly moving away (just slightly) MARTY WHELAN has a new Christmas CD out next week through Uni, as well as NOW 95 hitting the shelves, the biggest selling chart series of all time.. Ever.. Part 95.. I won’t knock it, it works for us so it does.. Universal have a 20th anniversary edition of ANDREA BOCELLI’s ‘Romanza’, a GREGORY PORTER ‘Live in Berlin’ 2CD or DVD, and there is also a UB40 ‘Unplugged’ CD…
Okay, stop for breaths… Universal also have the 25th anniversary edition of R.E.M’s classic ‘Out Of Time’, on 3CD/Bluray, 2CD, or 3LPs.. THE HUMAN LEAGUE anthology is out next Friday on the same three formats as the R.E.M release.. BRIAN MAY of QUEEN has curated a new AIR GUITAR ANTHEMS CD which gets released, and there is also a 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe box of THE WHO’s ‘My Generation’, which has 79 tracks, a lot of unreleased demos, and an 80-page book..
Universal also have a reissued of SOUNDGARDEN’s ‘Badmotorfinger’ on Super-Duper Deluxe boxy thingy, 2LP or 3CD.. Another breath…. Universal also have RICHIE BLACKMORE’s RAINBOW ‘Memories of Rock – Live in Germany’.. The TAYLOR SWIFT catalogue gets the vinyl treatment, the JUNGLE BOOK Original Soundtrack will be available as a picture disc vinyl, and we will fill ye in later on the Universal Black Friday releases which will hopefully land in with us this year..
Warner for the 18th of November have the TORI AMOS ‘Boys for Pele’ LP reissue, PINK FLOYD’s ‘Animals’ on vinyl, the new album from BRUNO MARS, and finally a new compilation album of TERRY WOGAN’S ‘Favourite Tunes’.
Republic of Music have THE LEVELLERS ‘Levelling The Land’ boxset 25th anniversary, printed on blue vinyl as well as a 2CD/DVD version, or a 2LP version..
Some DVDs with us on the 18th also worth mentioning.. THE BEATLES ‘Eight Days A Week’ will join OASIS’ ‘Supersonic’ on the shop floor as new music DVDs for this Christmas, as well as the new TOMMY TIERNAN, STAR TREK, and GHOSTBUSTERS DVDs hitting the floor.
Sony for the 18th have the LOU REED LP Boxset (CD landed a few weeks back), THE KINKS have a ‘Mono Collection’ LP Boxset, with new albums out also from SOULBURN, SOLANGE KNOWLES, and LITTLE MIX on CD.. There is a DEPECHE MODE ‘Video Collection’, and BRUCE’s ‘Chapter and Verse’ on blue vinyl.. Wrong wrong wrong…. Give the limited one to me day one, not 10 or 12 weeks later when the fans have bought the black one.. WRONG WRONG WRONG #DJT..
PIAS for the 18th of November have some new HELLOWEEN vinyl reissues, and a new album by LAMB OF GOD entitled ‘The Duke’.. Also out is a first timer on vinyl for LISA HANNIGAN’s ‘Passenger’, which is a fine listen no doubt, and a LOW ‘Christmas’ LP reissue from back in 1999.. As they said, ‘Despite the commerce, we hope you will consider this our gift to you’..
We are going to rattle off some RSD Black Friday releases that are available to us and should mainly / hopefully be in the shop on Friday the 25th of November.. Usual story folks.. We can only try.. If something interests you let us know and we will do our best to have in store for the day.. Here’s the bit of a list, not huge as always with the Europe for Black Friday, as we can only get certain items.. Need orders in first thing Monday morning so let us know..
UNIVERSAL
1) The Rolling Stones ‘Ride Em On Down’ : 10″ Coloured – EUR15 A one track limited edition electric blue 10’’ with a track from their upcoming album, on which they honor the music of their roots. The track on this Record Store Day Black Friday 10″ is Eddie Taylor’s “Ride ‘Em On Down” originaly recorded by Taylor in Chicago on 5 December 1955 for the Vee-Jay Label and released as VJ 185.
2) Soundgarden ‘Satanoscillatemymetallicsonatas’ : Purple 12″ – EUR 18
25th anniversary release of ‘Satanoscillatemymetallicsonatas’ on 180 gram purple heavyweight vinyl. This EP included three covers, an unreleased original song, and a live version of ‘Slaves & Bulldozers’.
3) Frank Sinatra ‘White Christmas/The Christmas Waltz’ : White 7″ EP – EUR15
White coloured Frank Sinatra 7″ Single for the Christmas season!
WARNER
1) Jethro Tull ‘Ring Out, Solstice Bells’ : 7” Black Vinyl E.P – EUR 15 The new 40th anniversary tracklisting includes two Steven Wilson remixes – Solstice Bells, and a mix of the previously unreleased Magic Bells (Solstice Bells) possible Christmas single, in the end they reverted to the original version. The original EP was issued on Nov 26th 1976.
2) Neil Young ‘Official Release Series 8.5 -12’ : 5 Album Box set (6 LPs) – EUR 140
Next in the Neil Young Official release series vinyl box sets, includes Long May You Run 1 x LP 180gm / American Stars “N” Bars 1 x LP 180gm / Comes A Time 1 x LP 180 gm / Rust Never Sleeps 1 x Lp 180 gm / Live Rust 2 x LP 180 gm
3) Ramones ‘Live at the Roxy, Hollywood, CA (8/12/76)’ : 180gm Black Vinyl – EUR 30 Live at the Roxy, Hollywood, CA (8/12/76) the best of both sets from the two Live At The Roxy shows compiled by Craig Leon.
4) The Cars ‘Just What I Needed’ : 7’’ Picture Disc – EUR 20
7″ vinyl picture disc reissue of 1978 picture disc
5) Extreme ‘Pornograffitti Live 25 / Metal Meltdown’ : 2xLP – EUR 30
Double LP version of the 25th Anniversary show recorded in Las Vegas
6) Motley Crue ‘Kickstart My Heart / Home Sweet Home’ : Shaped 7’’ Disc – EUR 27
This commemorative piece is a one-of-a-kind, Limited Edition 7” vinyl, shaped picture disc of Motley Crue’s Logo, containing two of their biggest ever hits: “Kickstart My Heart” and “Home Sweet Home”.
7) Refused ‘Servants Of Death EP’ : 12″ Black Vinyl – EUR 18
This special limited edition vinyl EP features 6 tracks; 4 live recordings of classic Refused tracks, along with 2 additional studio tracks. “Servants of Death” – from the Freedom album and “Stolen Voices”, a bonus track never before released on vinyl.
PIAS
1) Faith No More ‘Cone of Shame’ – 7’’ Vinyl Colour – EUR 12
Universal for the 4th of November have a few releases including our own JOHN SPILLANE…reworkings of Irish songs we learned in school and more Irish songs….reissued once again…which is great as people always look for it…we could not keep it on the shelves when it came out the first time…I think it sold 70,000 copies over counters…double CD this time for the price of a single, so a nice Christmas pressie for some.
We hope to get John in some day to belt out a few tunes.
Universal also have QUEEN on Air out next week…six sessions from the BBC recording from early 73 to Oct 77 as a 2CD set, a 6 CD set or a 3LP set.
An early nineties classic by BLACK GRAPE …(mid nineties maybe!!)…’It’s great when your straight’ gets a reissue on LP and 2CD/DVD.
Universal also have new albums by JIM JAMES (My Morning Jacket), KUNGS and ALFIE BOE/MICHAEL BALL as well as some nice reissues from CROWDED HOUSE including the debut, Woodface and Together Alone…these are taken from the original analogue tapes.
Lastly from Universal are 8 ROXY MUSIC LP reissues as half speed remasters on 180g with codes and very lastly MOTHER LOVE BONE gets a reissue…but the pricing is crazy wih a capital C.
This is one of the reasons I am cranky with a capital C…just one mind you…here at ground zero, front counter, I hear and see people’s concerns and frustrations over pricing every day…
As the vinyl revival increased so has the cost to Joe the consumer…do not get me wrong here, I will say again and have stated in the past …the vinyl revival is the main reason I am still open for business…but a serious word of WARNING to any big knobs (as we say in Cork) who read this blog…Bigi curamach with the vinyl pricing…Joe normal reissue €30…standard back catalogue €25…new deluxe LPs €40…the MOTHER LOVE BONE reissue is a 3LP set….I would be retailing it at €200 if I bought it (I didnt) check Amazon on it…it is £195…there are numerous other examples….that one got the treatment because when it’s current to tonight’s releases….there are plenty others…Emmylou Harris ‘Red Dirt Girl’ reissue (standard vinyl) €28…
Seriously the powers that be have to take stock and think about the consumer with a long term plan in place…short termism cash cowing (if ye know what I mean) ain’t the answer…it is only going to piss people off …I hear it every day…people pissed off over it.
I’m not advocating deflating the product to the extent the CD was deflated…nearly a race to the bottom at one point when the supermarkets were heavily involved…that’s no good either…but a fair price for a great product is my suggestion…standard reissues on the shelf €20 rrp…back catalogue €20….cream of the crop releases and doubles 22-25 euro and the deluxe with 7” or 12” or freebies or CD included 25-30…the most expensive outside the boxsets.
If one record company can have a RRP of €20 on a limited, numbered, coloured double LP…how come the next company is €30?? There’s only the few plants we are all told…It needs to be addressed I feel…Paul Pogba comes to mind as well….there is another record (sought after) coming out soon and it is a double LP…it’s a reissue and it’s costing me about €26 plus VAT…if I retail it at €40…pay the VAT it’s down to €32…I get €6 out of the €40…the price of the record , 2 records is €26 from the record company…someone somewhere is making a tidy profit on it and get JOE the consumer pissed having to pay out €40 for a double LP when he can illegally get it or buy the CD for ⅓ of the price…I have noticed a subtle change in the shop in the last few months…a slight change to CDs from a few guys…I have vinyl is their number 1 format but they can’t justify it…bills to pay…kids to feed…if this continues in the same vein as Belle and Sebastian so aptly put it “Mr. Record Company company man, I won’t be coming for dinner”…ok ok in a different light but I hope ye get my drift….
I feel strongly about it …I have a bit to lose if the powers that be make a balls of it…I don’t fancy having to concentrate on selling kid’s DVDs to jumped up supervisors in convenience stores, half my age who finish every sentence with the word YEAH…that’s a second reason I was cranky this evening…more about that some other evening maybe…
Back to the tunes, Warner have SUPER FURRY ANIMALS ‘Fuzzy Logic’ 20th Anniversary for the 4th November, as well as a best of on CD, EVA CASSIDY 7LP boxset as well as two class reissues….PINK FLOYD, D.S.O.M. and STEVIE NICKS ‘Bella Donna’…the Floyd reissue in fairness is ok money at €24 (after all my giving out).
PIAS for the 4th November have new albums from SHIRLEY COLLINS and also from VADER.
Red Essential for the 4th have the new HAMMERFALL album ‘Built to Last’.
The last crowd I had as my credit card terminal provider keep stealing €20 out of my bank account every month, even though the account is closed and clean since the 23rd of August…they keep stealing €20 from my account…does anyone regulate these w**kers…PAYZONE is their name…do not use them…this goes on wholesale contract closed…let’s tole another month or two from the sucker…nothing will happen sure…make it so diffcult for them to even try get it back that they will give up.
I just want them to stop robbing me at this stage…allservice providers are at the same craic as far as I can see…jup through hoops to cancel the bloody thing and they still steal from you afterwards…thing about it is it is easily stopped by COMREG…fine the shower of …I have an email from them saying it has been cancelled on the 23rd of August, yet they still took payment on 22nd Sept and 22nd of October…€40 stolen…fine the fuckers €1000…that would quickly stop all that bullshit…but COMREG not worth a shite either I’d say…and that was another reason I was cranky today when I saw them steal another €20 when I was guaranteed one month ago I was out…
Anyway, small fry in the scheme of it all…really small fry…
Music On Vinyl for the 4th of November have reissues from NAS ‘Nostradamus’, CYPRESS HILL ‘Til Death Do Us Part’ and BLIND WILLIE MCTELL ‘Atlanta 12 String’.
Not much else happening for next week… THE RIPTIDE MOVEMENT were instore Saturday at 3pm…tunes, talk and signing…another great gig…their new album is a really good record again…they should be really proud of it….if they were born 20 years earlier when the industry was in a bit better shape I reckon they could have been huge altogether…globally…here’s hoping they still will…and also, great friends of the shop, RAISING JUPITER were instore to play some tunes on Monday, Halloween at 2pm…rocked the place as always.
Sorry if I was a tad cranky tonight but I had a stressful two weeks dealing with a couple of BOWIE zealot nuts…will leave ye with a giggle I hope…I can’t decide if myself and MICK FLANNERY are at an instore in the shop, a pre-fight weigh in for a UFC title match, a staring competition or thinking about going in for a shift in Spiders Nightclub.
Hot off the press, exclusive content for the new METALLICA album has been offered to us from the record company via a unique code on a Halloween mask for the METALLICA website, which will give exclusive content for the new album. We are told we have to follow strict rules with this and we only have 20…Here’s what you need to do:
· There will be Metallica Halloween masks made, based on the album artwork, that we would like you to place in your independent record stores. (artwork below)
· These can be in the Metallica section or on the counter depending on where the stores would like.
· These can be put in the stores from Friday 28th October
· Fans can then go into these stores and ask for their ‘trick or treat’ to get one mask each.
· On the back of each mask will be a website and a unique code.
· Once logged in, fans will see a countdown until roughly 20minutes before 8pm GMT (exact time tbc). At that point the official video for ‘Atlas, Rise!’ will play and give these fans the chance to be the 1st to see it.
· This will be messaged through Metallica’s own social channels
This week a nice few gems have hit the shop floor.. The local boy himself returns with his fifth offering.. As strong as ever.. Maybe even stronger to be honest…. Greatly crafted tunes once again.. Five albums in now, MICK FLANNERY has a lovely catalogue of work… This new one is a bit more edgy in parts, the usual exemplary balllads, and even a hint of disco and drum and bass in parts! Great listen once again..
MICK is with us to play a few tunes from the new record next Friday the 21st at 1PM. Say hello and sign a few records as well… I Know the time may not be the Mae West but if you can’t make it and want a copy of the CD or LP signed, pop me a mail with your little message and we shall organise.. This is Mick’s third in-store with us… He has never said no to us… Drunken texts or no drunken texts, that tells it’s own story folks…
Also in the shop today are new albums by the excellent BELL X1, KINGS OF LEON (I like BTW), TOM CHAPLIN of Keane fame has a solo album, and a new album by CONOR OBERST. Some class reissues also from the mightyDEPECHE MODE, BEASTIE BOYS, and OASIS to name a few… The video will give a full update of what’s new.. I forgot a few no doubt! Be sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel!
On to releases for next Friday the 21st of October… The biggest being the Original Cast Recording of LAZARUS on 3LP or Double CD which debuts three tracks from the MCCASLIN / BOWIE ‘Blackstar’ sessions.. Blackstar is still one of the albums of the year for me..
It has been a turbulent 27 hours (as I write this… About 48 hours before ye read it..) in the Music Zone Corporation… A great crime was committed on Wednesday evening after the shop closed… I received a horrifying email from an organisation known as the Blackstar Liberation Front with a subject matter of HERESY!! It shook me to my core.. It read :
‘MUSICZONE, we have your poster of the TRUE ONE. Remember, it is written in the laws of the universe that you cannot expect to blasphemies against BOWIE and not suffer retribution…’ It was signed in what looked like blood… ‘BLACKSTAR LIBERATION FRONT’.
I was distraught… I couldn’t eat my dinner.. What had I done… Then it dawned on me… I Had lightly and loosely mentioned the strong rumour that Donny McCaslin was the creative and musical force behind the Blackstar album…. I suppose Bowie was on his deathbed at the time to be fair..
Since Wednesday night I have received two more menacing and threatening emails and one mocking one, where they took David to the cinema, the bookies and the boozer..
I really don’t know what these characters are capable of… Is there a possibility of violence? I have contacted the Gardaí about the matter, who told me these zealots whom they reckon probably are not the most intelligent characters in the world, did have one brainwave by disabling the CCTV cameras on the mall…
If anyone has any information please contact the Gardaí in Douglas at 021-4857670..
There is one image of the criminals after becoming known to the Gardaí in recent hours… It has currently been scanned through Interpol’s Database, and the Gardaí are running it through PULSE as well.. RTE’s Crimewatch has been sent on the photos as well… If anyone recognises either of these criminals please report it to the Gardaí.. DO NOT TRY AND APPREHEND THEM.. Maybe it is someone’s grandfathers?… I hope interrogating and common sense will prevail and Bowie will be returned to his rightful home…
Back to the releases! Also out from Sony for next week is the brilliant Mr. LEONARD COHEN with his 14th studio album… CD only next week.. LP late November now… Sounds f**king great!! JIMMY EAT WORLD has a new album, and there is also a new JOE COCKER compilation out..
Proper for next week have the new JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN on CD or LP, with poster + CD..
Cadiz have the new KING KING live album…
Republic of Music for the 21st have the BRIGHT EYES studio album boxset, ‘2000-2011’.. Limited to 1000LP, or 5000CD worldwide.. LPs are coloured.. Republic of Music also have a new BELLE AND SEBASTIAN compilation, ‘Jeepster Singles Collection’, as well as the new TEENAGE FANCLUB single..
Universal for the 21st of October have the new RIPTIDE MOVEMENT album.. Fine rock n’ roll band… Irish also… Could very well be an exciting announcement about Riptide and Musiczone very soon… Hopefully I will confirm next week..
Universal also have JOE DOLAN ‘With The RTE Concert Orchestra’, STATUS QUO’s second acoustic album in the series, a new PRETTY RECKLESS album, the mighty SANTANA ‘Live At The House Of Blues’, a new DAVID CROSBYalbum ‘Lighthouse’, plus some 5CD sets on Bluenote by the likes of HERBIE HANCOCK, WAYNE SHORTER and ART BLAKEY….
Universal on the vinyl front have a bunch of reissues by BON JOVI, six CHEMICAL BROTHERS reissues, JOHN MARTYN’s classics ‘Grace and Danger’ and ‘One World’, and there are three more in the Abbey Road Half Speed Master Series, ELBOW’s ‘Cast of Thousands’, AMY WINEHOUSE’s ‘Back To Black’, and THE WHO ‘Live at Leeds’…
Warner for the 21st have a new PRETENDERS record ‘Alone’ on CD, and LP, as well as a new RUMER CD, a new OBITUARY live album, and a reissue of EMMYLOU HARRIS’ ‘Red Dirt Girl’.. Also from Warner is the new CD from Michael Bublé..
Be warned Bobby, Cormac and Shane… Christmas is getting close, the corporate bastard comes out in the boss man, and the Bubmeister has a new one out… One dash of the Bubmeister turns people of a certain set to jelly and outs dollars into the till.. Ho ho ho!!
PIAS have the new AGNES OBEL album, as well as the second album on Indies only red and orange splattered vinyl by AMERICAN FOOTBALL.. 17 years now since album one.. Lastly from PIAS is the exquisite ‘69 Love Songs’ by the equally exquisite THE MAGNETIC FIELDS as a 6 x 10’’ vinyl boxset..
Lastly today, but certainly not least, WINDINGS came in to play tracks from their brilliant new album ‘Be Honest and Fear Not’.. As I said before, this record is up there with any Irish record this year gan aon dabht.. It is excellent in my opinion… It was a great little intimate acoustic gig from Steve.
I’ve had a week of critical onslaught! Friends and family included.. My newsletters are gone boring… I’m not angry enough anymore… I don’t ever mention U2… My musical taste is shite… I sell prerecorded music (records) for a living…. A rock critic journalist I ain’t! Just to address the U2 crib…. Weren’t they a great band in their day!….
So moving on to releases for next Friday the 14th of October we have the new record by the KINGS OF LEON brothers and cousin… I quite like the two new tunes i’ve heard from it (could get bashed for it…. Not a patch on the first album… Maybe so… But I think they are good tunes… Game of opinions folks..) Sony have it and it’s on CD and LP…
Sony were also to have the ELVIS with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Part 2 as such, entitled ‘The Wonder Of You’… First one sold 1.5 million physical copies worldwide… It’s been pushed back one week now though to the 21st of October…
If I was in trouble this past week it’s nothing to next week i’d say after these next few lines… Sincere apologies… No messing, sorry… Totally out of my control and jack sh*t I could do about it…. (Still don’t make it okay…) Sony are reissuing the BOWIE ‘Reality Tour’ boxset on 3LP for about half the price that Friday Music released it for about 4 months ago…. Sorry about that.. Not good enough really to be fair… I was only aware it was happening about one month ago when I had Friday copies in the shop…. The Friday copies are coloured vinyl.. Expensive colours though at 20Euro a record….
Sony have some nice LP reissues including THE CLASH ‘The Clash’, BILLY JOEL ‘Piano Man’, KINGS OF LEON ‘Youth and Young Manhood’, and the mighty (again in my opinion) DEPECHE MODE ‘101 Live’, ‘Violator’, ‘Songs of Faith and Devotion’, ‘Black Celebration’ and ‘Music For The Masses’…. Sony also has the new Rebecca Ferguson album out next Friday..
Proper for the 14th of October have the new record by one of the finest Irish bands this century if not of all centuries BELL X1… The record is called ‘Arms’ and it’s available on CD or LP… Lead single is a cracker again in my opinion lads as ye know!.. 7th record by the lads whom as ye know started with Damien Rice in a band called Juniper a fair few moons ago..They have furrowed a lovely path of tunes since those days… Really looking forward to this one…
Proper also have a new album by DARKTHRONE, ‘Arctic Thunder’, as well as a STIFF LITTLE FINGERS combo CD/DVD pack.. Also through Proper is SUEDE’s ‘Coming Up’ on LP, a double coloured edition with one disc a B-Sides collection…
Lastly from Proper is the DONNY MCCASLIN album…. His last one was really good… Ye’d remember it i’d say.. Back in January… Blackstar it was called… Ouch… Sorry.. I take it back.. Up to this point I was probably only going to get a beating or two for my behaviour.. That jab could be like signing your own death warrant…
Republic of Music have an interesting one.. (My opinion… That’s like a warning sign on a jab… Shall abbreviate to IMO)… This one’s from BAYONNE called ‘Primitives’ on CD, LP and limited LP.. Electronic stlye stuff and Republic of Music also have MOBY and the Void Pacific Choir album… The boy MOBY has gotten very angry on this record by his own accounts…
If you want a really excellent 25 minute performance, our good friend Timothy done a marvellous video of the recent JACK O’ ROURKE in store performance with us.. It was great, and features tracks from Jack’s brilliant debut album ‘Dream Catcher’ as well as a Bowie cover and a Fleetwood Mac cover.. Give it a watch if you fancy, and give it a share if you like it!
Universal for the 14th of October have the debut solo album by TOM CHAPIN (Keane Singer… not a keen singer… but the singer of Keane… fine singer too, to be fair like)… Available as a standard CD, a Ltd 2CD with hardback book and a 2LP gatefold…
Universal also have a new album by THE GAME, as well as BRYAN ADAMS ‘Live at Wembley Stadium’ DVD, a new ANDRE RIEU DVD, and a reissue of THE SEX PISTOLS classic ‘Nevermind The Bollox’ on yellow vinyl… How many times… How many times… It must be the most reissued album of all time… Top 5 anyway for sure…
Lastly from Universal is a LP reissue of the BEASTIE BOYS ‘Licensed to Ill’, their debut I think and the first Rap album to top the Billboard Charts… Uni also have a Dr. John live tribute album on 2CD/DVD..
PIAS have the new LEE HARVEY OSWALD BAND album and a new EP from SLEAFORD MODS (recently signed to Roughtrade)… New 5 track EP… Heard one, very good IMO…
Music on Vinyl has the SUICIDE SQUAD soundtrack on vinyl, a SHANE MCGOWAN ‘Snake’ LP reissue, the GAME OF THRONES Season 6 Soundtrack release on vinyl, and DEREK TRUCKS BAND ‘Round Songs’ on 2LP…
Essential for the 14th of October have a new SUZANNE VEGA record and DILLINGER’s ‘Escape Plan’ album on CD and limited blue vinyl..
Warner have the new CONOR OBERST (Bright Eyes) album ‘Immuinations’ via Nonesuch Records on CD and LP… The lads from County Down, TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB are back with a new album also on a good few formats including a limited, deluxe vinyl copy..
Reissues by Warner on LP for next week include FACE ‘First Step (RSD stores only, coloured vinyl), andSTOOGES ‘Stooges’ (once again, RSD stores, coloured only), and finally MOTLEY CRUE’s ‘Greatest Hits’ on vinyl…
BLACKBERRY SMOKE have a new album on Earache, called ‘Like an Arrow’.. There are signed CD copies available and it’s also on limited blue vinyl…More new albums from Warner incude new BETH HART and KATIE MELUA releases, and there is a PHIL COLLINS singles collection on 2CD, 3CD Deluxe or 4LP Set…
The bould MICK FLANNERY will be instore FRIDAY THE 21ST OF OCTOBER (two weeks today) playing tunes from his new album, signing copies and saying hello if you are around… Heard a new track last night, very impressed again.. Here ‘tis..
Video lovers, Bobby is back this week! Check it out here!
Do ye know the way I am always trying to tease , torment , cajole and gently ease the Johnny Cash from ye’r pockets? ( I hope i do it in a friendly and professional manner though if that’s any consolation).. Well I also hope that an odd time I point ye in a direction ye may not otherwise have seen.
Of course, I am always saying, that’s good and this is good and the other is good as well… All completely a matter of taste… Who the hell am I or anyone else for that matter to tell anyone what they should like… I’m trying to sell stuff (that’s my job) but i do shout a bit louder if I really (personally) like something.
Block your ears cause you know what’s coming…
I heard a record during the week that completely stopped me in my tracks…. I can’t remember the last time it happened to me….Not for a few years…. Was it just my mood at the time?….. I happened to listen to it whilst I exercised which I hadn’t done for about six months so maybe it was the long lost endorphins talking… Did the music just resonate with me personally? (It was stuff i’d like, indie rock n roll, dash of psych, hint of punk, guitars, keys, synths and strings all in use…) But it stopped me… Totally… I thought it was fantastic from the opening chord to the last chord and every bit in between.
7 days ago, the truth be told I did not know who this band were…. Now ye guys have to block ye’r ears I am shouting so loud….
After my first full listen to the album I got off my exercise bike and stood and clapped (endorphin buzz surely?)… A one man standing ovation…. Bravo, chapo, comhghairdeas…. Well fecking done gentlemen that was excellent.
Bobby will find a link for ye to listen to the record….Vinyl I hope will be with us very soon (that’s the cunning , cajoling bit done)
The band are from Limerick and their name is WINDINGS.. The record is called ‘Be Honest and Fear Not’… I personally think it is one of the best Irish records I have heard in quite a while and one of the best records of the year for me.
Ok…. You can unblock your ears a bit…
On to releases for next friday the 7th of October…. Santa getting close folks… Ho ho ho!
Sony has a new studio album by BARRY GIBB (as ye know the BEE GEES), as well as a deluxe version (22 tracks) of JEFF BUCKLEYS ‘Grace’ … MILES DAVIS get his own ‘Essential’ release on vinyl, andBOB DYLAN ‘Pure Dylan’ which is also a greatest hits is released… More of a compilation really… Interesting one though… Quite a few rare tracks on it… Sony also have ELVIS ‘Christmas Album’… Ho ho ho… I warned ye…. If BT can do it so can we… Only taking the piss… Ye knew that didn’t ye?
Sony also has a LOU REED Boxset .. The CD set is 17 discs with an 80 page book, 5 prints and a poster, or there is a six LP SET… I think the LP is pushed back till November now… Will be on high fidelity vinyl with a 30 page book… Albums on it are ‘BERLIN’, ‘TRANSFORMER’, ‘CONEY ISLAND BABY’, ‘ROCK N ROLL ANIMAL’, ‘THE BLUE MASK’ and ‘STREET HASSLE’.. Sony lastly have a STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN ‘Essential Collection’ on Vinyl..
Universal for the 7th of October have a new ONE REPUBLIC album on deluxe or standard CD called ‘Oh My My’… NORAH JONES has a new album ‘Day Breaks’ on CD, Deluxe CD or LP.. Universal are doing a ‘Best Of’ PLACEBO 2CD to mate up with a new 6 Track 12’’ EP of unreleased tracks called ‘Life’s What You Make It’.;.
Universal have a few more 5CD set at reasonable money including T-REX and THE CRANBERRIES…
DAMIEN DEMPSEY has a CD out next week called ‘No Force on Earth’… Damo’s celebration and commemoration of the 1916 Rising.. Damo maybe is an acquired taste but I like him… A fine songwriter.. ABBA ‘Arrival’ is getting the Abbey Road ½ Speed Mastering treatment and also 4 picture disc singles from the album also…
Lastly from Universal next week is a BLINK 182 Vinyl boxset… A lot of these records have been very hard to get, maybe never even printed… They include ‘Cheshire Cat’, ‘Dude Ranch’, ‘Enema Of The State’, ‘Take Off Your Pants and Jacket’, ‘The Mark, Tom and Travis Show’, ‘Blink 182’, and ‘Neighbourhoods’..
Warner have the new GREEN DAY album ‘Revolution Radio’… The band are together 30 years I was told in the shop during the week.. Lead single is very good.. Warner also have a new SEASICK STEVErecord, a new ERIC JOHNSON record which is a live, acoustic album on Provogue, and a really niceOTIS REDDING ‘Dictionary of Soul’ on 2LP and 7’’..
Warner are also doing a special run of stuff with Rhino that will be exclusive to Indie shops only… First up is ZZ TOP’s ‘Eliminator’ on Red Vinyl… Lastly from Warner for next week is the incrediblePRINCE album ‘Sign Of The Times’ on 2LP…
Republic of Music have the limited run of the ‘Planet of the Apes’ soundtrack… 400 in total…
Cargo have the new GOAT album called ‘Requiem’ on coloured vinyl for indies only and on CD… They are calling it their folk album..
Essential have the new C. DUNCAN LP on pink vinyl, as well as a new FEEDER album, and new albums from ALTER BRIDGE, and THE PRIESTS.. Slight contrasts in style there with the latter two to say the least..
PIAS for next week have the 3rd OASIS ‘Be Here Now’ album on reissue… Third in the series of remastered super editions.. Much maligned at the time.. Few great tracks on it though.. As a 2LP or 3CD or Super Duper Boxy Thingy also… PIAS also have new albums from WHITE LIES and MESHUGGAH, as well as some MARK LANEGAN LP reissues..
On the kinda local scene, MALOJIAN release their third album next week… ‘This Is Nowhere’ is the title.. This record is being put out by the guys in Rollercoaster Records in Kilkenny.. We have Malojian’s record on CD in the shop and it’s a fine listen.. The new tunes here sounds great as well…
Last bit of news, great news really… The boy Flannery has agreed again to do an instore around the launch of his new album… New song is a belter… Edgy, rocking and pure class.. Mick has always supported us.. Will fill in next week with the dates.. Think it’s Friday October 21st at IPM.. Will confirm next week… So thanks Mick, again… Hopefully I won’t send anymore late night well oiled texts of thanks your way… Sorry about that…Could be worse, could be sending the drunken texts to women… Anyway, before I get into more trouble i’m off..
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..
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.
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..
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