We’re midway through the year in music and liking what we’ve heard so far. We’re excited for what’s to come, but here at the midpoint, we’re taking pause to talk about our favorite releases of the first half of 2016.
Here’s Glenn’s picks:
1. Gabriel Mervine – People
2. You Won’t – Revolutionaries
3. Parker Millsap – The Very Last Day
4. Astronautalis – Cut the Body Loose
5. The Dead Tongues – Montana
Here’s a quick look at the bright and shiny new releases this week at The Record Exchange:
CD
Jeff Beck – Loud Hailer
The Dirty Heads – The Dirty Heads
Needtobreathe – Hard Love
Michael Kiwanuka – Love and Hate
The Earls of Leicester – Rattle and Roar
Aaron Neville – Apache
Clams Casino – 32 Levels
Frank Zappa – The Crux of the Biscuit
Frank Zappa – Frank Zappa for President
Steven Tyler – We’re All Somebody From Somewhere
David Nail – Fighter
Jack and Amanda Palmer – You Got Me Singing
Scour – Scour
The Temperance Movement – White Bear
Orbs – Past Life Regression
16 – Lifespan of a Moth
The Tubes – Young and Rich/Now
Hater – Hater
Sadat X – Agua
Heliotropes – Over There That Way
Martin Barre – Back to Steel
Marley’s Ghost – The Woodstock Session
Confederate Railroad – Lucky to Be Alive
Various Artists – Ghostbusters Soundtrack
VINYL
Various Artists – Drive (gold colored vinyl)
Dave Matthews Band – Crash Anniversary Edition
A$AP Rocky – Always Strive and Prosper
Clams Casino – 32 Levels
Jeff Beck – Loud Hailer
The Dirty Heads – The Dirty Heads
Sonic Youth – Murray Street
Sonic Youth – Rather Ripped
Sonic Youth – Sonic Nurse
Michael Kiwanuka – Love and Hate
The Vandals – Hitler Bad, Vandals Good
The Vandals – Live Fast Diarrhea
The Vandals – Look What I Almost Stepped In…
The Vandals – The Quickening
Big Business – Command Your Weather
Various Artists – Napoleon Dynamite Soundtrack
Host – All Night Every Night/State of Your Soul
Lifted Bells – Overreactor
Hater – Hater
Diana Krall – Various Reissues
Vince Gill – Down to My Last Bad Habit
The Aggrovators – Dubbing at King Tubby’s
The Aggrovators – Dubbing at King Tubby’s 2
Asschapel – Total Destruction (1999-2006)
Bahamadia – Kollage
We’re midway through the year in music and liking what we’ve heard so far. We’re excited for what’s to come, but here at the midpoint, we’re taking pause to talk about our favorite releases of the first half of 2016.
Here’s John O’s picks:
1. Porches – Pools
2. Hayes Carll – Lovers And Leavers
3. Elizabeth Cook – Exodus Of Venus
4. Wax Idols – American Tragic
5. Margo Price – Midwest Farmer’s Daughter
I am not the biggest fan of midyear best-of lists, but I thought it would be interesting to stop and take stock a little bit. First of all, I can’t believe we are halfway through the year already. And, despite the usual death knells being sounded for the music industry, there is more great stuff being released than ever! So, I am grateful for that.
1. Porches: I saw them at Treefort this year, and this album has gotten heavy play ever since. It’s synth-heavy, kind of intimate, like you are eavesdropping on this guy singing to himself in his room through a paper-thin wall. It’s gauzy that way. It’s an eighties sounding record, without sounding archaic. Well, at least the eighties music I used to like.
2. Hayes Carll: This is a masterpiece, by a modern-day master. He’s an heir apparent to Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt. The words are heavy, and repeated listening reveals more layers and surprising twists.
3. Elizabeth Cook: Speaking of heavy, this record is a monster. I’ve always been a fan, but she has jumped several levels here, channeling Emmylou and heartbreak. But not giving in.
4. Wax Idols: Another band I loved at Treefort. So much swagger! This touches on glam rock, with gothic echoes, and tons of attitude.
5. Margo Price: There are touches of country and country rock in her record, but it’s unmistakably her songs, and her sound. Memorable, catchy and heart-wrenching all at once. So looking forward to her show at the Olympic in October.
I have to mention a.k.a. Belle.’s I Hear It Now. It’s an EP, but 4 of their songs are worth 10 of most people’s songs. I am not very objective when it comes to their work. I feel very close to it, and to them. The song “Mustangs” brings tears to my eyes. Also, Thomas Paul released Singalongs this year, and I am not very objective about him either. Complex music from a complex writer, thinker and musician. Thomas and Catherine are lifers. They humble me with their talent and genius.
French electronic duo Air is celebrating two decades of music making with a tour and compilation Twentyears, and The Record Exchange has a copy of Twentyears on vinyl and double CD to give away!
To enter the drawing, send an email with the subject “Air” HERE by midnight Thursday, July 14. We will draw names and notify the winners on July 15.
* One entry per person, NOT per email address. If you have 16 email addresses and you enter with each address, we’ll just delete 15 of them. We have the technology. To be eligible to win, you must live in the Boise metro area and be able to pick up your prize at the store.
The Twilight Sad stopped by in June while on tour with The Cure and gave us some 2014 tour posters (including their Knitting Factory show) and a couple of signed LPs to give away!
To enter the drawing, send an email* with the subject “The Twilight Sad” HERE by midnight Thursday, July 14. We will draw names and notify the winners on Friday, July 15.
* One entry per person, NOT per email address. If you have 16 email addresses and you enter with each address, we’ll just delete 15 of them. We have the technology. To be eligible to win, you must live in the Boise metro area and be able to pick up your prize at the store.