This Is Book's Music

Derek Webb is an artist from Nashville who feels that his new album should be heard by as many people as possible. Or more specifically, the album as originally intended since the label he was with didn’t approve of one of the songs, so for a short time he’s giving away for free.

Stockholm Syndrome is an album that continues to show development of this contemporary Christian artist who became known first as a member of Caedmon’s Call. He left the group for awhile to devote himself to a solo career, but joined them again a few years ago. His style of music is pop with Christian overtones but not overly so, with electronic-based production, so it’s addictive for all the right reasons.

Webb found himself in a bit of controversy when one of the songs from the album, “”What Matters More”, was considered too much by his record label, as it points the finger at Christians who may believe one thing but may speak hate towards the actions of others, more specifically one’s sexuality. It may be “expected” from pop or rock artists of the secular world, but a protest song in Christian music? Blasphemy indeed.

Webb has decided to release the uncensored album for free. You can make an optional donation for the download, or if you love the album, show some support by buying a hard copy, which you can do so here. The store also includes a DVD documentary on the making of the album called Paradise Is A Parking Lot. Since Webb is also open to people creating remixes of his work, the DVD also features isolated multi-track stems so you can bring his music into your world (some remixes have already been made and can be heard on his Soundcloud page.

Cloud Nothings is a one man band in the studio, the “group” identity of one Dylan Baldi. His 2009 debut album was released last year on Bridgetown on CD and cassette. Today (February 23rd), Turning On makes its vinyl debut through Speakertree Records (order here.) The vinyl version features one extra song not on the CD/cassette version, and comes with a download code so you can have the entire album as MP3′s.

Cloud Nothings is keeping busy with a brand new 7″ 45 on the Group Tightener label called “Morgan”/”Another Man”, with “Another Man” being a non-LP B-side (nice). Only 250 copies of the 7″ have been pressed. You can download “Morgan” as an MP3 from the Gorilla vs. Bear blog.

Defeated Sanity are a German death metal band who have been around for about 16 years. They have a number of albums to their name, and they’re about to present their style of death this year with an album called Chapters Of Repugnance. To be released by Willowtip, the songs on their MySpace page show the kind of brutality they have been known for, and it seems this time around they are about being ruthless.

Pre-orders for the album on vinyl and CD can be done now, with the vinyl version being limited only to 500 copies. Willowtip are also selling the LP and CD versions as bundle deals with T-shirts and other items, you can find out more about them by clicking here

According to a post at Twitter (@willowtip), a test pressing of the vinyl LP has been approved:

Pre-orders will be mailed out on the last week of April, with a street date of May 4th.

Josh Ritter‘s new album So Runs the World Away is complete and ready to go, but vinyl junkies will be able to have a first crack at buying it.

The LP version will be released on Record Store Day, which is April 17th. Participating stores will sell the album on that day, a few weeks before the official U.S. release, and to make it interesting, Ritter will be doing two live shows at two of his favorite record stores during Record Store Day weekend:
April 16… Long Beach, California, Fingerprints (7pm)
April 17… Boise, Idaho, The Record Exchange (7pm)

The vinyl version will also come with a CD of the album.

Those in Ireland will get to hear the album when it is released there on April 23rd. Those who don’t have a decent record store near you on Record Store Day will have to wait until May 4th to buy it. If you love Ritter’s music and there is a store within reach, make the effort and show some support.

2010 will most likely be a very active year for Minus The Bear. The band recently signed with Dangerbird Records, who will be releasing the already-completed 4th album from the band, called OMNI.

According to a Tweet on the @minusthebear, the album is being mastered at The Lodge in NYC (you may have seen ads for them in TapeOp) and because of the length (said to be longer than their last album), it will be released in vinyl form as a double LP.

The band will be doing a small handful of shows for the next few month, you can see dates here. One of the shows will be a spot at this year’s Sasquatch Music Festival, held at The Gorge in George, WA, they will play on Saturday night (May 29th). Summer dates are probably being set-up right now as they get closer to the album’s release date of May 4th. Like ELO, Minus The Bear fans can hold on tight.

Color is the name that Josiah Schlater records music under, which had taken me awhile to figure out since I wasn’t sure of Schlater was Color, or if the name of his debut album was a part of his name. The name of that album is called Electritribe, with cover art by his brother, Felix Schlater. It is being released on a new vinyl-only label out of the Bay Area called Make Records. The music is indie rock and pop, you will not hear any corny Nickelback overtones or latter-day Green Day although you might like it if you are a fan of “La Dolly Vita”-era Smashing Pumpkins or Foo Fighters.

The album will be available this week, and those who order the LP will also receive a download code if you wish to have the tracks in digital form. Head here to pre-order.

Those in or around the DC area may have heard or are familiar with the band Phoresis, who call themselves “a moody psychedelic journey through mind and space, analog textures with soulful vocals and striking beats.” They released their debut album, Letters To Canberra on CD and MP3 form click here at CDBaby to purchase them. Now the group will be releasing it on vinyl, and it’s a nice overall package.

The album is being released by Red Shift/Blue Shift Records, so it seems natural for them to release this on red and blue vinyl. Since the band are dedicated to showing their psychedelic and trippy sides, the cover and artwork insert is being printed on blotter paper. To top it off, the LP’s also come with the CD of the album, so you can have one for the car or for ripping purposes, and then the LP’s to play in relaxation mode at home.

After hearing the material on their MySpace page, it is safe to say that these guys will get a lot of attention with the right push.

“In The Sun” b/w “I Can Hear Music” is the new 45 by She & Him on Merge Records. It is being sold digitally as MP3′s and FLAC lossless, but also as a nice 7″ 45 with custom sleeve. The A-side features help from Tilly and the Wall (whose album I reviewed last year in my column), while the non-LP B-side is a cover of The Ronettes song.

“In The Sun”, which is the Single of the Week this week on BBC Radio 2, is a preview of She & Him’s forthcoming album, Volume Two, to be released on March 23rd (a month from today). It will be released on vinyl with a download code, along with CD. You can pre-order your copy of the album by clicking here.

Dick Dale is very much “the king of the surf guitar”, someone who brought a bit of his Lebanese background into his love of guitar playing and created history. Most people of the last 30 years may only know him for his cover of “Misirlou”, but the man recorded and released music on his own Deltone label before getting signed by Capitol Records.

Sundazed Records released and remastered five classic Dale albums a few years ago on compact disc. In late March they will be pressed up on 180-gram audiophile quality vinyl with the original artwork restored. They include:
Surfers’ Choice
King of the Surf Guitar
Checkered Flag
Mr. Eliminator
Summer Surf

This vinyl reissue series will also include the 1965 album Rock Out with Dick Dale and his Del-Tones (Live at Ciro’s), and a brand new double LP called Singles Collection ’61-65, which combines 14 singles from the time period, 28 songs total, all in beautiful mono. Many of these single mixes are different from their album counterparts, and the original 45′s are not easy to find in decent form.

The albums were mastered from the original analog reels, and even if you have the original Capitol pressings of these albums (which can be easy to find), they have never been pressed in this form and most likely never will again.

You will be able to buy each of the albums individually, but Sundazed are offering a Dick Dale 7 album bundle deal where you’ll be able to save a few dollars. A compact disc bundle will include the five CD reissues that came out a few years agom which can be ordered here. Those five albums will also be available as digital downloads from Sundazed, but if you want to hear Rock Out with Dick Dale and his Del-Tones (Live at Ciro’s), and Singles Collection ’61-65, you’ll have to buy a turntable or dust off the one in your garage.