NEW DVD/BLU-RAY: 'DJANGO UNCHAINED'

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April 16, 2013 - The Record Exchange Blog - by The Record Exchange - No Comments

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And while words such as “reserved,” “high-brow,” and “refined” have always failed to find purchase amidst the wit of Tarantino’s gritty ditties, like one man sawing another’s ear off while spouting obscenities, it’s almost impossible to turn a blind eye when Quentin is at work. Gratuitous violence, greasy characters, ludicrous scenarios, and a hero that is always ten degrees below the coolest cool, Tarantino infuses Django with all of these hallmarks, exposing the horrors of the slave-owning closed-minded mentalities of the 1850’s and contrasting it nicely against the hardened steel of Django’s six-shooter draw. Foxx, Waltz, and DiCaprio kick up cloud after cloud of violence, dirt and racial slurs as they dance their derogatory dances, lashing out with dark-humored blows and pausing only when a properly polished word exchange is needed. And while Django could easily inhabit the specific genres of both Spaghetti and dramatic Westerns respectively, the Tarantino-combo decisively adds another level of thrilling entertainment. For such a powerhouse title, the extras menu is surprisingly small, with two promotional panders – both for Tarantino’s recently released XX Blu-ray Collection and the Django Unchained soundtrack – taking up two usually coveted menu slots. And while the “Reimagining the Spaghetti Western” and the 10+ minute exploration of “The Costume Designs of Sharen Davis” are both fine features, displaying nicely the conception and craftsmanship of Davis’ costume design and peering briefly into the production’s stunts and animal protection, as much as Tarantino loves to yammer on and on it’s entirely out of character for a title under his banner to forego a commentary. A respectful feature about the untimely death of production designer J. Michael Riva is also included, with a collection of brief interviews featuring Riva. Riva’s Oscar nominated work is displayed in countless films, most recently in the Iron Man franchise and in ‘The Amazing Spiderman,’ as well as ‘The Color Purple,’ the film for which he was nominated. So leaving a trail of blood-soaked corpses dead on their feet, and drawing fast on action that will clear a street, “Django Unchained” screams free-at-last with every shotgun blast. –Geek Exchange

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THE VINYL WORD: IRON & WINE 'GHOST ON GHOST'

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April 16, 2013 - The Record Exchange Blog - by The Record Exchange - No Comments

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After expanding his intimate indie folk sound about as far as it could go on the last Iron & Wine album,Kiss Each Other Clean, Sam Beam (and trusty producer Brian Deck) take a step back on Ghost on Ghost and deliver something less suited for large arenas and more late-night jazz club-sized. The arrangements on that album were stuffed with instruments and seemed built to reach the back row; this time there are still plenty of horns, violins, and female backing vocals in the mix, but they are employed with a much lighter touch. Working with jazz drummer Brian Blade and a standup bass and mixing together elements of country, jazz, indie rock, and soft rock, the album has a much more intimate feel that suits Beam’s quietly soulful vocals much more naturally. It’s still very slick and pro-sounding, but not to the point of distraction. It sounds like the work of two highly skilled craftsmen making the kind of album they should make, instead of guys trying to make something relevant and “big.” Beam’s songs this time are more diverse than usual; he delivers the kind of songs an Iron & Wine follower would expect, nocturnal and hushed confessionals (the echoing “Joy,” “Winter Prayers”) and cinematic ballads (“Baby Center Stage”) that sound like they would have fit in well on the last couple albums. Balancing these against gritty and intense songs that seethe with barely controlled drama and emotion (“Grass Widows,” “Lover’s Revolution”) and a couple almost happy-sounding uptempo tracks (like the rambling, very Belle & Sebastian-influenced “Grace for Saints and Ramblers”) shows that Beam is really expanding the kind of songs he is writing and doing it with a large degree of success. Anyone who has been with I&W since the beginning might find it hard to believe they would ever record a song as lightly soulful and sweet as the almost jaunty “The Desert Babbler” or as easy on the ears as “New Mexico’s No Breeze,” which sounds like a dusty indie pop take on Seals & Crofts, or as musically complex as the very hooky “Caught in the Briars.” Bringing the scale back down to something human while injecting some jazz and sunshine into the I&W sound proves to be a very good strategy for Beam, and it makes Ghost on Ghost one of the most satisfying albums the group has done to date. –All Music Guide

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STEVE EARLE & THE DUKES 'THE LOW HIGHWAY' & OTHER NEW CD RECOMMENDATIONS

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April 16, 2013 - The Record Exchange Blog - by The Record Exchange - No Comments

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Steve Earle‘s status as American legend keeps growing, helped by a recent role in David Simon’s ‘Treme ‘and a book deal for his memoir and a second novel. He covers his musical spectrum on this 15th album, beginning with a stark gaze at America’s decline on the wistfulcountry rock of the title track, a theme picked up on ’21st Century Blues’, where “millennium” is rhymed with “bare minimum”. There are blazing rock-outs (Calico County), down-home bluegrass (Warren Hellman’s Banjo) and three tuneful songs from ‘Treme’. Earle’s vocals are often a cryptic Texan growl, but the playing is immaculate and the songcraft admirable. –The UK Guardian

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NEW RELEASE OF THE WEEK: THE FLAMING LIPS BRING 'THE TERROR'

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April 16, 2013 - The Record Exchange Blog - by The Record Exchange - No Comments

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Some would argue that we all have a dark side. We may not ever choose to embrace it, but it’s still there, lurking just below the surface. It may sneak out in the form of an angry outburst, or it might manifest as a passing thought, its malicious nature surprising even to you, and which you would share with no one. The Flaming Lips have always been cognizant of the fact that there is plenty of darkness in the world. They constantly acknowledge it in their music, but the fearless freaks usually choose to look on the bright side of things. However, everyone has a breaking point, and it seems The Flaming Lips have finally reached theirs with their 13th record, The Terror.

“Look… The Sun is Rising” may seem like an optimistic enough title, but the tone of The Terror’s first track is quite bleak both musically and lyrically. The rising sun is not a good thing—no, not good at all. The song features many Lips tropes like images of U.F.O.s and celestial bodies, but not in the feel-good manner they’ve been used in the past. Here, they are much more foreboding. Coupled with a reference to MK-Ultra, the CIA’s two decade-long foray into unethical mind-control experiments, and lyrics like “Love is always something / Something you should fear,” it becomes clear that the band is taking a stab at embracing their dark side.

In many ways, The Terror is very reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s meditation on madness, Dark Side of the Moon. Both records are hypnotizing, trance-inducing explorations of dark themes. Extended, psychedelic instrumental breaks are prevalent on both albums, and the songs that make them up flow from one to the other flawlessly. Hell, The Terror even features psychotic voiceovers similar to those found on Floyd’s classic record. It would almost be safe to say The Flaming Lips have hit closer to the classic record here than on the Dark Side cover album they released a few years ago.

The lyrical content of the album is very philosophical, like much of The Flaming Lips’ music (e.g. “Do You Realize??”), but the philosophy here seems much less defined than in previous work. Perhaps this is because The Flips don’t fully understand the themes under scrutiny either. This record is made up almost entirely of questions rather than answers. And the questions posed are not rhetorical—the Lips seem to be pleading with the listener for some sort of explanation to ease their frightening uncertainty. Instead of spouting truths like “it’s hard to make the good things last” or “life without death is just impossible,” the band is asking questions like, “Did God make pain so we can know the high that nothing is?”

The Terror isn’t all doom and gloom, though. There are at least a few vague notes of optimism. “Be Free, A Way” at least seems to slightly suggest there might, just maybe, be a way to escape the existential crises that plague them, but it doesn’t offer anything concrete. It’s a different record for The Flaming Lips, but an exceptionally interesting one. It takes the same ideas they’ve been exploring for years, but this time they’re examining the other side of the coin. The record’s closing track, “Always There, In Our Hearts,” seems to kind of sum up all the issues The Terror explores. It asserts that there is a balance in world. Sure there is pain, but there is also love. Our hearts are filled with happiness, but you can’t have that without the sorrow. We have no control over it, and sure, it can be a little overwhelming. But that’s the way it is. The sun rises, and the sun sets. The universe began, and someday it will end. –Paste

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NEW RELEASE TUESDAY 4/16: STEVE MARTIN AND EDIE BRICKELL WITH FREE PIE HOLE PIZZA AND RAFFLE DRAWING!

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April 15, 2013 - The Record Exchange Blog - by The Record Exchange - No Comments

The Record Exchange’s New Release Tuesday series continues on April 16 with Steve Martin and Edie Brickell‘s Love Has Come for You! The album — available on vinyl April 16 and CD April 23 — will be featured during our weekly listening party at 6 p.m.! Enjoy free pizza from our New Release Tuesday partners Pie Hole and enter to win our New Release Tuesday raffle prize!

Are you a proud owner of a Radio Boise KRBX Card? Bring it in every Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. and receive 20% off gift shop items and used CDs, vinyl, DVD/Blu-ray and cassettes (excluding collectibles – individual items $100 and over).

Speaking of our beloved community radio station, their Radio Boise Tuesdays series at Neurolux features local and touring bands as well as a Radio Boise DJ after each show. Radio Boise receives 20% of drink sales from every Radio Boise Tuesday show. You receive the benefit of DRINK SPECIALS at each one. The music kicks off at 7 p.m. — right after you’ve filled your belly with pizza and heard some new music at the RX!

Check out the Radio Boise Tuesdays performance schedule HERE.

Here’s a quick look at the bright and shiny new releases this week at The Record Exchange:

CD

The Flaming Lips – The Terror

Iron and Wine – Ghost on Ghost

Steve Earle and the Dukes (and Duchesses) – Low Highway (deluxe edition also available)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Mosquito (deluxe edition also available)

Ghostface Killah and Adrian Younge – Twelve Reasons to Die (deluxe edition also available)

Jessie Ware – Devotion

J.J. Grey and Mofro – This River

Ghost B.C. – Infestissumam (deluxe edition also available)

Willie Nelson – Let’s Face the Music and Dance

The Thermals – Desperate Ground

Meat Puppets – Rat Farm

Greyboy Allstars – Inland Emperor

Jonny Fritz – Dad Country

Fall Out Boy – Save Rock & Roll

Anciients – Heart of Oak (deluxe edition also available)

Halestorm – The Strange Case Of (deluxe edition also available)

Sarah Brightman – Dreamchaser

David Bowie – Aladdin Sane 40th Anniversary

Shuggie Otis – Inspiration Information/Wings

Dead Can Dance – In Concert

Dead Confederate – In the Marrow

Whitechapel – Somatic Defilement

Kim Richey – Thorn in My Heart

Iced Earth – Live in Ancient Kourion (deluxe edition also available)

Blind Melon – Blind Melon/Sippin’ Time Sessions

Major Lazer – Free the Universe

Andrew Wyatt – Descender

Missionary Position – Diamonds in a Dead Sky

Born Ruffians – Birthmarks

Futurebirds – Baba Yaga

Infamous Stringdusters – Silver Sky (deluxe edition also available)

Dengue Fever – Venus on Earth

Various Artists – Way to Blue: The Songs of Nick Drake

Carla Bruni – Little French Songs

John Coltrane – Sun Ship: The Complete Sessions

The Lonely Forest – Nuclear Winter

The Lonely Forest – We Sing the Body Electric

Tera Melos – X’ed Out

Musgraves – You That Way I This Way

Art Brut – Top of the Pops

Simple Minds – Celebrate: Greatest Hits (deluxe edition also available)

Various Artists – Arts and Crafts: 2003-2013

Shouting Matches – Grownass Man

Jane Monheit – Heart of the Matter

Granger Smith – Dirt Road Driveway

Jeff Loomis – Plains of Oblivion (Tour Edition)

Kobra and the Lotus – Kobra and the Lotus

Skid Row – United World Rebellion: Chapter One

Drivin’ N Cryin – Songs from the Psychedelic Time Clock

Flotsam and Jetsam – Ugly Noise

Spacehog – As It Is On Earth

VINYL

The Flaming Lips – The Terror

Iron and Wine – Ghost on Ghost

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Mosquito

Steve Earle and the Dukes (and Duchesses) – Low Highway

The Replacements – Songs for Slim

Punch Brothers – Ahoy!

Jonny Fritz – Dad Country

Steve Martin and Edie Brickell – Love Has Come For You

Various Artists – The Music is You: A Tribute to John Denver

The Strokes – All the Time/Fast Animals

Tenacious D – Tenacious D (12th Anniversary Edition)

Dead Confederate – In the Marrow

Willie Nelson – Let’s Face the Music and Dance

Kings of Leon – Aha Shake Heartbreak

Kings of Leon – Because of the Times

Kings of Leon – Rarely

Kings of Leon – Youth and Young Manhood

Dead Moon – Stranded in the Mystery Zone

Dead Moon – Strange Pray Tell

The Thermals – Desperate Ground

Ashley Monroe – Like a Rose

Meat Puppets – Rat Farm

J.J. Grey and Mofro – This River

The Avett Brothers – I And Love and You

Snoop Lion – No Guns Allowed/Lighters Up

Buddy Guy – Live at Legends

Tera Melos – X’ed Out

Bibio – Tout a L’Heure

Cannibal Corpse – Bleeding (picture disc)

Black Label Society – Blessed Hellride

Black Label Society – Mafia

Saint Vitus – Lillie F-65

Infamous Stringdusters – Silver Sky

Infamous Stringdusters – Well Do It Live

Rory Gallagher – Blueprint

Doobie Brothers – What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits

Foreigner – Records: Greatest Hits

Dr. No Soundtrack

Goldfinger Soundtrack

Live and Let Die Soundtrack

Rich Ristagno – What Would It Be Like To Be Rich

DVD/BLU-RAY

Django Unchained DVD and Blu-ray

Repo Man (Criterion Collection) DVD and Blu-ray

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NEW DVD/BLU-RAY: 'DJANGO UNCHAINED'

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THE VINYL WORD: IRON & WINE 'GHOST ON GHOST'

STEVE EARLE & THE DUKES 'THE LOW HIGHWAY' & OTHER NEW CD RECOMMENDATIONS

NEW RELEASE OF THE WEEK: THE FLAMING LIPS BRING 'THE TERROR'

NEW RELEASE TUESDAY 4/16: STEVE MARTIN AND EDIE BRICKELL WITH FREE PIE HOLE PIZZA AND RAFFLE DRAWING!