| ARTIST & TITLE |
COMMENTS |
ALBUM COVER ART |
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TORI AMOS
Abnormally Attracted To Sin
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NEW: Latest studio release from the US singer-songwriter now based in Cornwall. She's thrown off the Kate Bush-lite tag and this album is full (ober an hour long) of intriguing and beguilding sounds. |
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BONZO DOG BAND
Pour L'Amour Des Chiens
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NEW: A fine 4-CD set from the recent UK tour of the reformed Bonzos: there's a bunch of new material in here supported by fascinating live versions of great old numbers - several with fine guest singers. |
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ERIC CLAPTON & STEVE WINWOOD
Live From Madison Square Garden
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NEW: The virtuoso duo have been touring recently and this is a fine live 2CD set from the legendary Madison Square Gardens in New York. All the likely susoects are included. |
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THE CLASH
Live At The Shea Stadium
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NEW: The Beatles played there - and so did the Clash. The stadium - and the Clash - sadly are no longer with us, but this is a great live remembrance of these high-energy punks. |
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GRAHAM COXON
The Spinning Top
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NEW: Latest solo album from Blur bassis Coxon - and just in time for the forthcoming low-key Blur comback gigs prior to their festival appearences thi summer. |
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CURVED AIR
The Best Of
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RE-ISSUE: A fine 2-CD set bringing together a choice selection of tracks from this superb progressive-jazz-rock band. Most date from their 70s heyday and feature the wonderful vocals of Sonya Krystina. |
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MILES DAVIES
On The Corner
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NEW: An admirable box-set which truly does justice to the jazz maestro. The full title is "The Complete On The Corner Sessions" and in this 6-CD set, 1972's On The Corner is replayed with plenty of supporting sessions and a bunch of contemporary performances which were later to form the basis of Big Fun (1973) and Get Up With It (1974). |
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DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE
Something About Aeroplanes
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REISSUE: This is a fine re-issue of the US indie-rockers' debut album from 1998. It comes in a 2CD remastered format with a pile of bonus tracks. |
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BOB DYLAN
TOGETHER THROUGH LIFE
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NEW: Brand new album from veteran artist - and pretty good it is too. With a great blues vibe, fine keyboards from The Zim himself and his vocals - at last his cracked and tortured voice is just right for his material. |
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EELS
END TIMES
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NEW: Fine new album from quirky US indie band headed up by Mark Everett. |
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ENYA
THE BEST OF
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NEW: Latest collection of atmospheric and occasionally new-age Celtic sounds from acclaimed Irish songstress
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FALL OUT BOY
Folie A Deux
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NEW: Rather good new release from the Chicago-based pop-punk band. |
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FOALS
Antidotes
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NEW: A debut album that all the music press are raving about - the band are from Oxford and great exponents of modern indie music. |
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FLORENCE & THE MACHINE
Lungs
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NEW: Hyped to the hilt but definitely worthy new songstress - touch of Kate Bush and Tori Amos, but up to date modern sound too. |
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THE FRATELLIS
Here We Stand
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NEW: Fine new album from the louder and cheekier indie band from the same locale as Franz Ferdinand. There's a great vibe to this release. |
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PETER GABRIEL
Big Blue Ball
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NEW: Well, new in the sense not previously released. This is a collection of fine musicians that Peter Gabriel put together at stages in the early 1990s to fuse the best of rock and world music. A range of great songs. |
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MELODY GARDOT
MY ONE AND ONLY THRILL
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NEW: Second album from excellent US singer-songwriter - jazz tinged and highly recommended. |
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DAVID GILMOUR
Live In Gdansk
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NEW: This is a great 3-CD/2DVD set from former Pink Floyd front man David Gilmour. It contains a fine mix of material from his recent solo album Island and plenty of Floyd updates too. |
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GUNS 'N ROSES
Chinese Democracy
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NEW: They return with their first studio album in some 15 years. You can't argue with the history - it's due in October, so let's see whether they're still up to it. |
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EMMYLOU HARRIS
All I Intended To Be
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NEW: Excellent new rootsy-Americana release from the wonderful Emmylou Harris. Now that she's out several years of song-writing behind her, it seems to become a lot more naturally to her. Recommended. |
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JIMI HENDRIX
Live At Monterey
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NEW: From the first of the major pop festivals, Monterey in 1967, this is the full performance from Jimi Hendrix, this time put down on CD with a decent cover and no bits missing. The movie shows what he was capable of, flaming guitar and all, but this is actually a rather excellent recording and will be an essential addition to any rock fan's collection. |
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IMAGINED VILLAGE
Empire & Love
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NEW: Second studio album from stellar folk collective |
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JOAN AS POLICEWOMAN
To Survive
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NEW: Joan Wasser returns with her second solo album and continues to impress with her writing and vocal skills. Understated in parts, it's definitely recommended |
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KASABIAN
West Ryder Pauper
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NEW: Fine new studio album from UK indie rockers - packed full of great music and highly recommended. Also comes in a special CD/DVD package if you have the cash. |
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THE KILLERS
Day And Age
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NEW: This is the third proper studio album from the US rockers who have built their sound based on their lobve of UK music. It's a return to the more stadium-focused material of their first album - but it's pretty good stuff as evidenced by the first single, Human. |
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DAWN KINNARD
The Courtesy Fall
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NEW: Fine new singer-songwriter from Pennsylvania - this is her rather excellent debut release here in the UK. |
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LADY GAGA
The Fame Monster
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NEW: Debut album re-issued with bonus disc of 8 new tracks - one of the highlights of 2009. |
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K D LANG
Watershed
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NEW: First studio album for a while from excellent Canadian singer songwriter. It's a fine collection of songs from the heart, especially Shadow & The Frame. |
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ANNIE LENNOX
THE COLLECTION
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NEW: Excellent collection of former-Eurythmic singer Lennox's solo career - includes two new numbers. |
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JENNY LEWIS
Acid Tongue
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NEW: Second solo album from the wonderful lead singer of Rilo Kiley - one of the albums of the year. |
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KAISER CHIEFS
Off With Their Heads
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NEW: The third album from the lively Leeds rockers named after a South African soccer team. Early signs augur well for a great success. |
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KINGS OF LEON
Only By The Night
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NEW: Some say that Kings Of leon are the new Creedence Clearwater Revival: they are actually an accomplished indoe-rock band with a great line in dirving rock and melody - recommended. |
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KOOKS
Konk
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NEW: Fine second album from indie rockers, The Kooks. Apparently named after the famous Konk studios where it was recorded - the studios set up originallyl by ray Davies and The Kinks. |
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LITTLE BOOTS
Hands
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NEW: Debut release from much-hyped Blackpool songstress and keyboardist, Little Boots. With two sessions on Jools Holland's TV Sghow, it's definite that there is some rare quality at work here - recommended. |
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ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW
Low Rider - The Very Best Of
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NEW: Former Amen Corner front man and superlative singer-songwriter ever since sees the release of a spell-binding "Best Of" collection - and he's still at it, recording and touring and a great live act he is too. |
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MANIC STREET PREACHERS
Journal For Plague Lovers
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NEW: Latest release from the Welsh indie-rockers - and an odd hybrid album: the song lyrics were written some years ago by Richey Edwarads, former lead singer who went missing in the 1990s and is presumed dead. The remainng band - who have plopughed a successful furrow ever since - have written the music and created this fascinating album. |
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AIMEE MANN
@#%& Smilers
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NEW: Strange titled album from excellent US singer-songwriter Aimme Mann who started out in Til Tuesday all those years ago. |
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LAURA MARLING
Alas I Cannot Swim
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NEW: Here's another late teenage female singer-songwriter - but in Laura Marling's case, she writes very self-assured and mature songs and as a great voice. She has attracted a lot of favourable industry comment and this is a fine debut album. |
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MOBY GRAPE
Moby Grape
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RE-ISSUE: Excellent re-issue of the debut album from the oftern over-looked San Franciscan rock band, Moby Grape. Along with Jefferson Airplane and The Grateful Dead, they truly personified the bay area in the summer of love and beyond. |
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MICHAEL MOORCOCK & THE DEEP FIX
The New Worlds Fair
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RE-ISSUE: SF and fantasay legend Michael Moorcock teamed up with various members of Hawkwind in the early 70s to become the short-lived band The Deep Fix. This is their only album - fascinating mix of psychedlia and fantasy, well worth your attention. |
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VAN MORRISON
Tupelo Honey
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RE-ISSUE: A whole batch of superlative re-issued from the Van Morrison back-catalogue - Tupelo Honey is my personal favourite, but you can also get It's Too Late To Stop Now, Wavelength, Into The Music, A Sense Of Wonder, Avalon Sunset and Back On Top |
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ALANIS MORRISETTE
Flavors Of Entanglement
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NEW: Promising new studio album from maverick Canadian singer songwriter: this may well project her baack into the limelight she enjoyed with Jagged Little Pill. |
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MOTORHEAD
Motorizer
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NEW: They're back! Lemmy and co still rocking at speed and volume with this excellent new studio set. |
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MOTOWN
50th Anniversary
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REISSUE: Unbelievably, it's 50 years since the legendary Motown Record Label was launched in Detroit. This 3CD Box Set brings together a wealth of the hits and artists associated with the label in its heyday. |
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NICKLEBACK
Dark Horse
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NEW: Hard on the heals of their last studio album (just a few months ago) comes this follow-up; It's more of their trademark melodic heavy rock and soaring vocals. |
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LAUR NYRO
More Than A New Discovery
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RE-ISSUE: An excellent and expanded re-issue of Laura Nyro's amazing debut release from 1967. This New York songstress left this world too soo, but you can re-live the power of her material on this timely release. |
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TOM PETTY
The Live Anthology
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NEW: 4 CD set covering a wide range of live material from Tom Petty's career |
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PINK FLOYD
Oh, By The Way
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NEW: Well, new in the sense of being a 16-CD Box Set of all their commercial releases, all in tasteful mini-vinyl reproduction style too. All in chronological order from 1967 to 1994. You might need to take out a bank loan. |
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KARINE POLWART
The Fairest Floo'er
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NEW: Excellent third solo album from Scots roots singer who took much of 2007 off to start a family. Full of fine traditional Scots music and songs, all sung in Polwart's clear and strong vocals. |
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PORCUPINE TREE
Nil Recurring
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NEW: To some prog-rock is a dead-end, a musical world inhabited by 60s and 70s dinosaurs - but as bands like Porupine Tree prove, prog is very much alive and doing interesting things. Fine new album. |
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GRACE POTTER & THE NOCTURNALS
This Is Somewhere
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NEW: If you've not caught up with Grace Potter before, then it's time you did! They are a fine band from Vermont, USA and are an unashamed rock and roll band with influences from The Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Band, Neil Young, The Who to Tom Petty: with superb vocals and great guitar - this album will impress even the most cynical old rocker. |
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THE RACONTEURS
Consolers Of The Lonely
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NEW: From out of nowhere comes the follow-up album to this Jack White helmed side-project - and what an album it is. Full of great variety, blues rock to folo rock and all points in between. |
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CHRIS REA
Return Of The Fabulous Hofner Bluenotes
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NEW: There was a danger that Chris Rea was giving up the music business, but it turned out it was just certain sorts of touring tht was getting him down. This is an excellent new boxset - unusually, it's 3 CDs og great music plus two 10" viny albums with new content you. Fascinating stuff. |
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LOU REED
Berlin
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RE-ISSUE: Re-mastered and with bonus tracks, this is Lou Reed from his Berlin days where he and David Bowie influenced each other hugely. |
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REM
Accelerate
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NEW: Well, here it is the first RE< studio album for 4 years and it's a return to form for the Athend, Georgia rockers. A fine mix of rock and wit, mixed in with some sounds reminiscent of their early days back in the 1980s. |
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RILO KILEY
Under The Blacklight
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NEW: Former child star Jenny Lewis took some time out a year or so back to do a solo album, but she's back with her band Rilo Kiley for this fine album. Harmonies, excellent songs, great guitars - it's a fine album all round. |
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KATE RUSBY
Sweet Bells
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NEW: Yorkshire based roots artist Kate Rusby is rightly lauded for her excellent songs and vocals stylings: this is a festive album, but at least it's packed full of more interesting traditional songs as well as her own material too. |
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RUSH
SNAKES & ARROWS
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NEW: Double live CD from the legendary Canadian prog-rockers: they're touring to promote it here in the UK and Europe right now. |
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THE RUTLES
The Rutles
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RE-ISSUE: At last the expanded version of The Rutles great album is available over here in the UK (having been out in the US for 10 years or more). One of the best pastiche albums ever with the masterful hand of Neil Innes on the songwriting (songs that sound so like the Beatles, it's unbelievable) and Eric Idle providing the whacky scenario for the whole exercise. |
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SIOUXIE
Mantaray
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NEW: Having left the Banshees far behind - and also ended her partnership with Banshee member Budgie, Siouxie Sioux steps out with her first solo album. Full of exciting sounds, some avant-garde, some punk-rock guitar and above all that, her terrific strident and soaring voice. |
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THE SLITS
Return Of The Giant Slits
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RE-ISSUE: A timely re-issue of The Slits second studio album. Not as ground-breaking as their debut, but still full of great punk-reggae sounds. This 2 CD set also includes a re-mix disc from UK reggae producer Dennis Bovell. |
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SONIC YOUTH
Daydream Nation
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RE-ISSUE: Key re-issue of Sonic Youth's breakthrough album. This comes as a special 2-CD edition, fully re-mastered with a collection of bonus tracks, out-takes and alternative versions. |
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REGINA SPEKTOR
Far
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NEW: Fourth "proper" studio release from USA-based Russian songstress - full of fine songs. |
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SPINAL TAP
Back From The Dead
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NEW: Aptly titled new studio album from veteran rockers: updated versions of old songs, plus new material too - prog, metal, rock - it's all there. |
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STEREOPHONICS
Keep Calm And Carry On
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NEW: Latest release from Kelly Jones and the chaps - needs a few listens before it grows on you |
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STONE THE CROWS
BBC RADIO SESSIONS
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NEW: Maggie Bell and company with a first class set of BBC radio sessions from 1969 and 1970 when this blues-rockband were at their best. |
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LINDA THOMPSON
Versatile Heart
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NEW: An all too rare new studio album from the wonderful Linda Thompson: recorded in the USA and supported by her son Teddy, daughter Kamila and family friend Rufus Wainwright, this is an excellent rootsy album from this great singer - and she contributes some excellent self-penned songs too. |
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RICHARD & LINDA THOMPSON
In Concert November 1975
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NEW: Inexplicably recorded but not released by Island Records in 1975, this excellent live album of Richard & Linda Thompson in their pomp is most welcome. Much of the material comes from their then new album Pour Down Like Silver, but there's plenty of other fine contributiuns from Hokey Pokey and I Want To see The Bright Lights Tonight. |
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TUNNG
Good Arrows
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NEW: Fine exponents of what some call nu-folk, Tunng have turned in a fine album which could be folk, could be roots, could be rock - but it's their unique take which is so fascinating: tyheir first album was great, this follow-up - which is more accessible - should get them a wider audience and greater appreciation. |
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UFO
Mechanix
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REISSUE: Several of rock band UFO's early albums are being re-issued in expanded format. This is fairly typical of their 1980s output (1983) and comes with bonus tracks and some live tracks too. |
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VAMPIRE WEEKEND
Contra
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NEW: Second album from US rockers - due out in January 2010 |
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VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR
Trisector
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NEW: Peter Hammill and the chaps have been around for decades in various guises, but came back with a vengeance 3 years ago: this is afurther new studio collection, very typical of the band - bit more accessible for non-fans, but full of intricate sounds and highly recommended. |
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MARTHA WAINWRIGHT
I Know You're Married But I Have Feelings Too
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NEW: She may have taken a back seat for some years whilst sibling Rufus took centre ground, but with her debut album 3 years ago, she certainly announced her quality. The second album - with the long title - is first class and really shows off her writing and vocal skills to the fore. |
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WILCO
Wilco (The Album)
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NEW: One of the world's top rock bands - and a fine, varied new album from these US guys. |
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