Past Releases

Cross Record "Cross Record (Ba Da Bing!)"

The third full-length from Cross Record (self-titled) is a meditative, unnerving, gorgeous mystery of an album. It commands your attention, yet it spends most of its time just out of reach-lying in the space between… hmmm. Here’s the part where I wrote myself into a corner by trying to compare Emily Cross’ music here with someone else’s, and I’m coming up blank. It’s so singular and nuanced, you really need to hear this one to believe it (thanks for the advice Ripley’s Believe It Or Not). The closest I can get is… I dunno… Sade covering Radiohead? Does that make sense? Check out “Y/o Dragon” and let me know it if does.

Ty Segall "First Taste (Drag City)"

I can only assume that the title of Ty Segall’s new LP is a little tongue in cheek. First Taste (Drag City) is certainly not our first taste. In fact, we have a whole pantry-full of Ty’s tastes. But please don’t think we are complaining here, as we will take all the servings Mr. Segall is willing to dish out to us. We’ve been hooked on his psych-garage gems for many a year now, and this is one is as good as it gets. The energy is high here, with James Gang-esque drum breaks and squelchy bass lines, in-the-red noise, and everything else you love about T.S.-except guitar. Wait, what? Yup. That’s right. His normal instrument of choice is largely missing here. Replaced by all manner of weird instruments.Also, not ALL the songs are that in the red. Some might even be considered kinda folk-y or even ballad-y depending on who you ask? So maybe this a first taste of what’s to come from Ty? Either way, taste your first taste of First Taste with “Taste.”

Florist "Emily Alone (Double Double Whammy)"

The name says it all. Emily Alone (Double Double Whammy). Though this is the third LP from the band Florist, this is not an album by the band Florist. This IS a solo album of sorts from the driving force behind Florist, Emily Sprague, who performs every instrument and vocal track on the album, as well as some mixing. So its not surprising that this is as deeply personal an album as you are likely to ever hear. As  astutely wrote in their “Album Of The Week” review “Emily Alone isn’t an indie rock album, or a singer-songwriter album, or a folk album, or anything as easily pigeonholed as that. It’s an inward excavation, not a genre exercise. Really, it only reminds me of one album. Emily Alone is soft and soothing and beautiful, like Nick Drake’s Pink Moon. And like Nick Drake’s Pink Moon, it’s utterly immersed in depression and oblivion.” Woah. I know, right? Check out “Shadow Bloom.”

Kool Keith "KEITH (Mello)"

“Hmmm… let’s see what’s next up for me to blurb about…. uh…. WHAT!?! THE NEW KOOL KEITH!?!?!” Yup. That was me 15 minutes ago. Seems so long ago. I can barely remember a time before I started listening to the new Kool Keith record. If you are already a fan of his, then KEITH (Mello) won’t be a total surprise, at least lyrically. Is he still, um, sex obsessed? Well, if you listened to Dr. Octogon as much as I did in ’96 then the answer is an obvious “YES” but don’t let that come off as dismissive. This is John Waters levels of creative dirty-ness. But also, that’s not the only motif here. Trying to guess what Keith is up to next is an exercise in futility. Just know that his rhymes and verses are as creative as ever, with songs covering all sorts of topics. The production here is also as creative as ever, which finds beats slightly trap-influenced and skewing towards sorta horror-tinged sounds. This is a heady, late-era instant classic in Keith’s 30+ year career. Check out the anthemic “Turn the Levels.”