Ever since an early Obongjayar demo first surfaced on SoundCloud in 2016, it’s been clear that StevenUmoh possesses a completely unique talent. The Nigerian-born, London-based musician pens stirring and spiritual lyrics, while commanding a distinctive voice that flits between rap, song and spoken word. With afrobeats, soul and hip-hop influences, he has created a bold, genre-defiant musicality.
While C’mon You Know pulsates with the traits that have made Liam such an iconic figure – raucous rock ‘n’ roll anthems topped by his signature snarl – it’s also a strong step forward in terms of both attitude and audio. It’s layered with unexpected sonic touches (gospel backing vocals, Moog synths) and lyrics, rather than being combative, brimming with positivity and the joy. As Liam openly admits, “I’m sick of being tough.”
Best known as the singer of the Hold Steady, Craig Finn combines literary influences like Jack Kerouac and John Berryman with the musical influences of Bruce Springsteen and fellow Minnesotan Paul Westerberg, Finn's highly descriptive lyrical style has a strong focus on narrative, crafting whole worlds for the people in his songs to exist within. *Vinyl Available 8/5*
Floating On A Dream is the full length solo debut from Avi Kaplan. Produced by GRAMMY Award-winner Shooter Jennings (Brandi Carlile, Tanya Tucker, American Aquarium), the album’s steadfast musical foundation showcases Avi’s signature baritone vocals. Includes feature guest Joy Williams on the track “All Is Well.” *Available on Indie Exclusive Black Ice Vinyl*
The Purple Rain Tour performance that has since gone down in history as one of the most iconic live recordings in pop and rock history. Available on vinyl for the first time, this powerful performance by Prince and The Revolution has been entirely remixed from the original 2” multitrack master reels. Available on 3 black LPs with a 16-page book with never-before-seen photos of the Purple Rain Tour and new liner notes.
Crossing genre lines as well as language barriers, Apollo’s first full-length showcases even greater musical diversity from the already boundless creator. Despite being at this pivotal moment in his career, Omar feels like he's just getting started. The artist who once called himself “just a kid from Indiana” is breaking new ground, abandoning all comfort zones, and never looking back.
After two successful albums, both of which reached number 1 in the UK, it was time to return to heart and hearth, with an album written and produced entirely in London with longstanding collaborator Joel Pott. With Gold Rush Kid, Ezra has created a reviving, and invigorating collection of songs.
On her sophomore album, S.G. Goodman brings a series of powerful vignettes to life, with a sound that builds off her Southern roots but ventures deeper into indie rock and punk. Teeth Marks is about what love actually is: its psychological and physical imprint, its light, and its darkness.
Fitzgerald's "Songbook" records - with her peerless renditions of the best songs from iconic composers from Irving Berlin to Rogers & Hart to Cole Porter to George & Ira Gershwin - are the cornerstone of the Verve catalog and the standard for jazz vocal recordings. This record, discovered in a private collection, will make the first time a live Songbook has been released from the First Lady of Song.
Originally released in 2003 with 30 tracks, UMe has updated the classic Sounds Of Summer compilation by The Beach Boys. The Expanded Edition 6 LP set features 80 key tracks from their storied career (all newly remastered) with 24 new stereo mixes, including two first-time stereo mixes. Limited pressing on 180-gram vinyl with updated photos and liner notes.
Norah Jones’ seminal debut album, Come Away With Me, became a global phenomenon reaching #1 in 20 countries, selling nearly 30 million copies, and sweeping the 2003 GRAMMY Awards with 8 wins including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. The remastered 20th Anniversary Edition captures the emergence of a singular talent on this now-classic album.
Adrian Quesada (Black Pumas) presents a celebration of the super funky, slightly delirious and deeply soulful sounds that transcended the cultural boundaries of Latin America throughout the late '60s and early '70s. Featuring iLe, Gabriel Garzón-Montano, Girl Ultra, Angelica Garcia, Gaby Moreno, Marc Ribot and Money Mark (Beastie Boys).
Super Deluxe edition contains 8 LPs on 180-gram heavy vinyl showcasing the newly remastered album from the original analog tapes along with 4 complete concerts on the Nevermind Tour from Amsterdam, Melbourne, Tokyo and Del Mar, California. Also included is a first-ever 7-inch for “Endless, Nameless” with B-sides “Even In His Youth” and “Aneurysm,” and a 40-page hardcover book with unreleased photos.
The 4 LP box set includes a 40-page booklet with introductions by Elton and Bernie, photos and a full essay featuring interviews with many who helped make the album, a reproduced 1971 poster, plus memorabilia and artwork from the Rocket Archive. LP 1: Remastered version of the album. LP 2 & 3: Piano demo version of the album + live and alternate versions. LP 4: BBC Sounds for Saturday concert, first aired in 1972.
Back From The Dead quickly evolved from songwriting exercises into a matter of survival for the band, taking the listener through, “a journey of navigating mental health, debauchery, survival, redemption, and rediscovery, while still maintaining faith in humanity,” says frontwoman Lzzy Hale. Produced by Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Mastodon, Alice in Chains).
Amaryllis is a six-song suite performed by a newly formed sextet of master improvisers. The Mivos String Quartet joins for three of the songs, making this the largest ensemble for which Halvorson has written to date. The suite showcases Halvorson’s many musical influences from jazz, experimental, new music, and beyond.
Crooked Tree explores Tuttle’s love of bluegrass, which she discovered through her father, a music teacher and multi-instrumentalist, and her grandfather, a banjo player. Across these thirteen tracks, she honors the bluegrass tradition while also pushing the genre in new directions. Features collaborations with SierraHull, OldCrowMedicineShow, MargoPrice, BillyStrings, DanTyminski and GillianWelch.
Produced from the original 1/4” analog master reels, GarciaLive Vol. 18 presents this previously uncirculated performance captured at the Bay Area’s vaunted Keystone Berkeley. Garcia and Saunders are joined by John Kahn, Martin Fierro and Paul Humphrey for genre-bending explorations of R&B, reggae, jazz, and rock classics.
Mt. Joy’s bold, brilliant energy reemerges with an album representing joy in its purest form. "When you hear this, we hope it makes you happy," says lead vocalist and guitarist, Matt Quinn. "We wanted something that found beauty in the fact that the world has always been crazy. We've been through some shit together to the point where we have become a family."
Flume is an artist that has remained uncompromising in his vision and artistry since the beginning, and Palaces is no exception. Featuring a diverse range of artists from rising stars like Caroline Polachek, to established tastemakers like Damon Albarn, this album spans across genres, igniting his fan base and taking him to new heights, creating the perfect launch pad for his upcoming world tour.
Recorded live, Inside Problems is a rather less meticulous and more spirited band set that examines the questions that keep Bird awake at night, in ear-snagging songs shot through with ‘70s country rock, chamber pop, Balkan and Appalachian folk and Tin Pan Alley eccentricity. It charms as a whole, but highlights include a sweety urgent “Fixed Positions” and the easy-swinging, VU-like “The Night Before Your Birthday”.
Before Chester Bennington sang, screamed, and serenaded audiences of millions in Linkin Park, the frontman cut his teeth from 1993 to 1998 in his first proper band: Grey Daze. Working at LA’s iconic Sunset Sound Studios, the band really focused on being true to the group's original sound and all their 90s influences. The Phoenix marks the creative completion of their mission to complete Chester’s dream. Play it loud!
The Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) is a national level organization comprised of the best independent record stores in America. CIMS was founded in 1995 with the goal of uniting like minded independent store owners, giving them a more powerful voice in the music industry. The stores that make up CIMS are all very different, but we share the same desires – to be the heart of our communities, to super-serve our customers, to support and develop artists, and to share our love of music.
For more information about CIMS and the stores in our organization, please visit cimsmusic.com or find us through social media with the #cimsmusic hashtag. And please remember to always shop local by supporting your neighborhood record store.
