Can breakup songs be for more than wallowing? And can you reclaim music that conjures harsh memories?
California-based mega-retailer Amoeba Music, the last big record store on the block, has moved into the digital age with both feet, with its inauguration of a revamped website. And possibly the most intriguing element of that site, and a direct reflection of Ameoba’s dig-deeper philosophy, is the so-called Vinyl Vaults section — thousands of rare and out-of-print LPs, 78s and 45s that flow through the company’s three outlets in any given week — now available for sale via download.
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— Currently there are about 1,000 digitized vinyl titles available, including some rare Louis Armstrong 78s and 144 Sun Ra records.The cost for the ripped tracks: 78 cents per track for MP3s, 80 cents for Lossless M4As and $1.50 for WAVs. — Heidi (via Variety)
Terrific job, Amoeba Music. If I didn’t love those stores already, I would now.
(via nprmusic)
Next Wednesday, Absolute Punk will be streaming the new 4-way split!
Exciting news! Next Wednesday, Absolute Punk will be streaming the new CYLS 4-Way split. For those of you keeping track, this is number three. The first two are still available in our webstore. This one features Dikembe, Hightide Hotel, Jet Set Sail, Monument! We will also be taking pre-orders. Available on black or gold. Here is what the cover looks like:
I know most of the people playing on this split, and it’s probably going to be really great.
Also, support your local DIY label. Scratch that, support every DIY label.
Best of 2012
So. Remember that time I said I would work on updating this blog more and then promptly forgot…. Sorry. But, that being said, since the end of 2012 is here, it’s time to boil down what I loved and what I didn’t, and etc.
Top 5 Records of 2012 (In no particular order)
- Hop Along - Get Disowned (Hot Green)
- Tallest Man On Earth - There’s No Leaving Now (Dead Oceans)
- Everyone Everywhere - Everyone Everywhere (Self Released)
- Field Report - Field Report (Partisan)
- Gregory + The Hawk - Come On (Self Released)
Runners Up/Notable 2012 Releases
- R. Kelly - Write Me Back (Warner Bros)
- Kaki King - Glow (Velour)
- Delicate Steve - Positive Force (Luaka Bop)
- Sharon Van Etten - Tramp (Jagjaguwar)
- Sigur Ros - Vitoli (XL)
- Cody ChesnuTT - Landing On A Hundred (Vibration Vineyard)
Best 7”s/EPS of 2012
- Broadcaster - Tightrope Walker (Jumpstart)
- Slowdance - “Boyfriend” (White Iris)
- My Dad - Stunts
- Trust Fall - My Thoughts Exactly
BIggest Disappointments of 2012
- Cursive - I Am Gemini (Saddle Creek)
- DIIV - Oshin (Captured Tracks)
- Minus The Bear - Infinity Overhead (Dangerbird)
- Slingshot Dakota - Dark Hearts (Topshelf)
- Lemuria - “Varoom Allure” (Bridge 9)
Records You Might Have Missed, But Should Definitely Go Check Out
- Menahan Street Band - The Crossing (Daptone)
- Night Moves - Colored Emotions (Domino)
- Lee Fields & The Expressions - Faithful Man (Daptone)
- Tim Maia - World Psychedelic Classics, Vol. 4: Nobody Lives Forever; The Existential Soul of Tim Maia (Luaka Bop)
- Black Marble - A Different Arrangement (Hardly Art)
- Tamaryn - Tender New Signs (Mexican Summer)
- forgetters - s/t
- MewithoutYou - Ten Stores (Pine Street)
I feel like I should apologize for my long, long absence. Since moving to New York, things have really taken off. Working in the music industry really hasn’t provided me unbiased opinions about the music I’d be listening to. However, I think that there’s a good chance that I can set my biases aside. I’d like to get this joint back up and running, so here’s to more populated futures!
Aspiga To Release New Full-Length Every Last Piece Via Paper + Plastick Nov. 20, New Tour Dates Announced
Great friends making a great splash. Do yourselves a favor and check these guys out.
Three-piece New Jersey punk-rockers Aspiga have announced a new full-length record, titled Every Last Piece, that will be made available via Paper + Plastick Records on vinyl and digital formats on Nov. 20. The band has also announced a two-week tour with Broadcaster that begins this week.
Recommended If You Like: The Weakerthans, Jawbreaker, Japandroids, Against Me!
Every Last Piece is Aspiga’s third full-length release and debut for Paper + Plastick. It follows up the band’s 7” split with Hanalei, which came out via Jump Start Records. The new album is seven songs long, amounting to 24 minutes of runtime, during which Aspiga ranges from slower, emo-indie parts to heart-racing, yelping punk portions.
Founded in 2006, Aspiga’s three members are no newcomers to playing music, but Every Last Piece is the first proper, thought-out recording for the band in its six years of existence. While previous releases have been rushed or simply recorded in basements, vocalist / guitarist Kevin Day says that Every Last Piece is the most real representation to date of Aspiga’s true sound.
“I think this is going to be great for us in two ways,” Day says. “First, this is going to be a release that truly represents the way that this band sounds. Second, we are working with a label that is going to allow more people to hear this album. My goal for this record is to connect with other people. Whether it’s one person or a 2000 people, I just want people to put this record on and say, ‘Hey, I’ve felt this way before.’”
The trio recorded its new album in late January of 2012 with producer Dave Downham at Gradwell House in Haddon Heights, N.J., a studio that Day calls a staple in the southern New Jersey scene. While there, Day, drummer Ray Solowij and bassist Alec McVey focused on fleshing out songs that were conceived in Day’s room and composed in Ray’s basement.
“The three of us had never entered a professional studio before and actually laid down any music together,” Day says. “As a three piece band, we were looking at ways to avoid having a thin sound but also trying to avoid massive layers of instrumentation that we wouldn’t be able to replicate live. I think we did a great job at making sure both of these ideals were met. In all honesty, I think this is the first true representation of how this band is supposed to sound; it’s raw and it urges the listener to feel something.”
Aspiga’s Every Last Piece will come out on Nov. 20 via Paper + Plastick Records. Please post the album announcement, with the album art and tracklisting below, on your websites. Please also post the tour admat with the dates for the band’s tour with Broadcaster. Be sure to email Thomas Nassiff at exit384media@gmail.com to set up an interview or feature. If you’d like to be added to the press list for an advance copy of Aspiga’s new record, please email Joshua Martin at joshua.martin@paperandplastick.com.Aspiga - Every Last Piece
November 20, 2012
Paper + Plastick Records
1. Save Your Spit
2. Welcome To the Sympathy Party
3. Winter Cleaning
4. Users
5. Parade On Me
6. On The Defensive
7. The Excavation
New Frightened Rabbit single from their upcoming State Hospital EP.
