Staff Picks

“These songs should make you want to fall in love with somebody, or miss somebody, or want to do something outrageous with your life,” says Justin Furstenfeld, vocalist and lyricist for the unstoppable alt-rock band Blue October. He’s talking about the tracks on the quintet’s tenth studio album, This Is What I Live For, releasing in September 2020. The first single, ‘Oh My My,’ is sure to make a lasting impression.

Vinyl LP pressing. Raised alongside the California coastline in Santa Barbara, Chris Shiflett kicked off his career in seminal pop-punk groups like No Use For a Name and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. As the '90s gave way to the 2000s, he joined the Foo Fighters' lineup. He's since become one of the band's longest-running members, flying the flag of modern rock & roll for two decades. Hard Lessons follows West Coast Town as the second solo record to bear his name alone, and it's perhaps the most Shiflett-sounding album in his entire catalog, with songs that nod to the classic Bakersfield sound one minute and Keith Richards' greasy guitar style the next. Recorded between Foo Fighters tours, Hard Lessons reunites Shiflett with Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb, who also oversaw the tracking sessions for West Coast Town. It was Cobb's idea to track down a Marshall JCM800, a vintage guitar amp that became a popular piece of gear during the '80s hard rock scene. Plugging his Telecaster Deluxe and Les Paul Gold Top into that amplifier added a heavy dose of grit to Shiflett's material, which he'd written while touring and during songwriting sessions with co-writers like Elizabeth Cook, Brian Whelan, Kendell Marvel, and Aaron Raitiere.

Double vinyl LP pressing. 2019 release. "As Snow Patrol recorded the album they discovered new things in some of their older songs and wrote some new stuff. The record contains three brand new songs - including 'I Think of Home' - and 13 songs that we've reworked. For us, it's like hearing all our favorite tracks with fresh ears!"

Every Kingdom is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter Ben Howard.

Limited 180 gram vinyl LP pressing. Evil Empire is the second studio album by Rage Against the Machine, released on April 16, 1996 by Epic Records. It's title refers to a term used in the early 1980s by President Ronald Reagan and many American conservatives to describe the former Soviet Union. Evil Empire debuted at #1 on the US Billboard 200, and their song "Tire Me" won a 1996 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance; "Bulls on Parade" and "People of the Sun" were also nominated for Grammys for Best Hard Rock Performance. Formed in 1991, Rage Against The Machine consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello, and drummer Brad Wilk. Rage Against the Machine is well known for the members' revolutionary political views, which are expressed in many of the band's songs.

GRACE is a masterpiece. The critically acclaimed breakthrough is filled with sweeping choruses, bombastic arrangements, searching lyrics, and above all, the richly textured voice of Buckley himself.

UNPLUGGED (Two-disc set on 180-gram vinyl; Bernie Grundman Mastering) Eric Clapton's UNPLUGGED was responsible for making acoustic-based music, and unplugged albums in particular, a hot trend in the early 90s. Clapton's concert was not only one of the finest Unplugged episodes, but was also some of the most genuine, heartfelt music the guitarist has ever committed to tape.

Director J.J. Abrams once again takes viewers on an epic journey to a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the riveting conclusion of the seminal saga, where new legends will be born and the final battle for freedom is yet to come. Features a returning cast that includes Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac. A powerful score by Academy Award winning composer John Williams. 2-disc LP available on 180g vinyl.

BORN AND RAISED, is the new album from Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and musician John Mayer. Mayer produced BORN AND RAISED with Don Was, who worked on albums for acts such as the Rolling Stones, B. B. King and Bonnie Raitt. Rock legends David Crosby and Graham Nash provide vocals on the title song. Musicians joining Mayer on the album and on the road include highly-regarded keyboardist/pianist Chuck Leavell-who has worked with the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and the Allman Brothers Bandas well as previous collaborators Sean Hurley on bass and Aaron Sterling on drums. Mayer's previous albums ROOM FOR SQUARES, HEAVIER THINGS, CONTINUUM and BATTLE STUDIES-have sold more than 12 million copies combined. He has been honored with seven Grammy Awards and an additional 11 nominations. He has also been included in Time Magazines annual Time 100 list of the most influential contemporary thinkers, leaders, artists and entertainers, and twice been featured on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazines annual Guitar issue.

Remastered on 200-gram, heavyweight vinyl at legendary Abbey Road Studios using the Direct to Metal Mastering (DMM) audiophile copper plating process, all from original analogue masters. Rush's eighth studio album, Moving Pictures, was originally released in February, 1981. Moving Pictures was also the band's biggest-selling album in the U.S., rising to #3 on the Billboard charts (and #1 in Canada) and one of the first discs to receive the RIAA's first-ever multi-platinum designation, scoring 4 million sales to date in the U.S. on the strength of classics like 'Limelight,' 'Tom Sawyer' and 'Vital Signs.'

Having commemorated their tenth anniversary with a year-plus run commencing with In Your Honor (a double album the New York Times called an "unexpected magnum opus"), sold out rock arena shows and a toned down intimate theater trek, and a headlining gig at London's Hyde Park for a crowd of 85,000, the question looms larger than any in the Foo Fighters' career to date: What do they do for an encore?!? The answer comes in the form of "The Pretender," the first single from the band's sixth studio album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, out on Roswell/RCA. Produced by Gil Norton, who last worked with the band on 1997's double-platinum The Colour and The Shape (recently reissued in deluxe 10th anniversary form), Dave Grohl, bassist Nate Mendel, drummer Taylor Hawkins and guitarist Chris Shiflett have crafted a 12-track milestone that showcases and reconciles the band's every strength and sensibility in the most complex and confident Foo Fighters album to date.

Together At Last is a new album by songwriter and guitarist Jeff Tweedy. It features the Wilco bandleader performing eleven of his own songs, culled from the Wilco catalog as well as from side-projects Loose Fur and Golden Smog, in a solo acoustic setting. Recorded at Tweedy’s Chicago recording studio The Loft, Together At Last showcases Tweedy’s accomplished and intricate guitar playing and his expressive, plaintive voice, and while audiences have experienced Tweedy live onstage as a solo performer for years, this is the first studio recording of its kind for the acclaimed musician.

Leon Bridges is the 'out of almost nowhere' story that only comes along once in a while. Awareness of Leon Bidges and his unique craft continues to grow authentically and consistently. It was only last summer that Leon was singing open mics in his hometown Fort Worth, TX. One of those open mics was attended by Austin Jenkins and Josh Block of the notable indie band White Denim who were absolutely floored by Leon's voice, songs, and creative vision.

Arriving on a wave of well-earned hype rooted in tight chops and a confident swagger, The Strokes offer a Rock & Roll antidote to the plague of boy bands, teen divas, and petulant rap-rock outfits. Despite this quintet's prep-school background, their sound comes from the same primordial ooze that spawned Big Apple legends like the New York Dolls and the Velvet Underground. Clocking in at 36 minutes, IS THIS IT packs it's perfect length with stellar songs that draw inspiration from all over the map. Among the many highlights are "Last Nite" with it's insistent Motown backbeat and choppy Johnny Thunders-like guitar solo, "Barely Legal," sounding like 1980's-era Cure fronted by a saucy Iggy Pop, and the jangly "Someday" with it's hairshirt of vulnerability from a bad break-up. While frontman Julian Casablanca's (son of Elite Models founder John) drawls like Lou Reed through a busted intercom, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr.. do Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd proud as their sinewy chords intertwine to great effect on the angular "The Modern Age" and equally neurotic "Alone, Together." Thanks to The Strokes, rumors of Rock & Roll's demise appear to have been greatly exaggerated.

Vinyl LP pressing. 2002 debut album from the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter. The album's critical and commercial success was a breakthrough for Jones in 2002, as it reached the top of the Billboard 200 chart and several jazz charts. The album also topped many critics' "albums of the year" lists and gathered major music awards in the process, including eight Grammy Awards. Following initial sales, Come Away with Me was certified diamond by the RIAA on February 15, 2005 having shipped over 10 million copies in it's first three years of release.

Limited vinyl LP pressing including digital download. Digitally remastered edition of the 1999 debut solo album from the Grammy-winning, Golden Globe- nominated singer/songwriter and Soundgarden/Audioslave frontman. The album's title has been restored to the originally intended Euphoria Mourning (he had been dissuaded from this original title and reluctantly dubbed it Euphoria Morning). Euphoria Mourning was Cornell's only album between the split of Soundgarden until he joined members of Rage Against the Machine in forming Audioslave. The album was a collaboration with Alain Johannes and Natasha Shneider of the band Eleven, who appeared on the album, co-wrote five of the tracks and were credited as co-producers, engineers and mixers with Cornell.

Jack Johnson returns with a brand new album. Features the hit single 'Sitting, Waiting, Wishing'. Universal. 2005.

Black Pumas have unveiled a deluxe edition of their Grammy-nominated self-titled debut album via ATO Records. Features original album plus 11 bonus tracks, three new original songs and four cover tracks, plus unreleased live material. Double LP pressed on one gold vinyl and one red/black splattered vinyl. Packaging has new artwork, contains unpublished studio & live photographs. Includes a bonus 7” Single LP.

Limited double 150gm vinyl LP pressing including digital download. Audioslave is the eponymous debut studio album by American rock supergroup Audioslave. The band consisted of Soundgarden lead singer/rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell and Rage Against the Machine members Tom Morello (lead guitar), Tim Commerford (bass/backing vocals), and Brad Wilk (drums). The album was originally released on November 19, 2002, by Epic Records and Interscope Records. The album features the hit singles "Cochise", "Show Me How to Live", "What You Are", "Like a Stone", and "I Am the Highway". The album was later certified three-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in the United States. "Like a Stone" was nominated for a 2004 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.

Limited 180gm audiophile vinyl LP pressing in gatefold jacket. Deluxe 25th Anniversary edition includes bonus tracks 'Euro-Trash Girl', 'I Ride My Bike' & 'Kerosene Hat' (Acoustic Version). With the well-known hit single 'Low' from the album Kerosene Hat' Cracker gained widespread notice. Their alternative country rock sound is drained in their humorous lyrics. The album was everywhere during the summer of 1991 and with both the music and lyrics on the mark the record achieves something close to greatness. The catchy tunes and amazing solos sets the course for the different songs on the album. Besides their hit classic 'Low' songs like 'Kerosene Hat' and 'Sick of Goodbyes' gives you a good impression of the quality of each individual band member. Cracker was formed in 1991 and led by singer David Lowery and guitarist Johnny Hickman.

Vinyl LP pressing. Digitally remastered edition of the Alt-Rock quartet's 1991 debut album. Features 'I Am One', 'Rhinoceros', 'Siva' and more.

Soundgarden-Badmotorfinger - Badmotorfinger is the third studio album by American rock band Soundgarden and was released through A&M Records. Soundgarden began the recording sessions for the album with new bassist Ben Shepherd in the spring of 1991. The album maintained the band's heavy metal sound while featuring an increased focus on songwriting as compared with the band's previous releases. Considered the album's music to be "surprisingly cerebral and arty"; alternative tunings and abnormal time signatures were present on several of the album's songs, and lyrics were intended to be ambiguous and create imagery. Limited Edition import-only vinyl LP repressing of this album. Universal. 2007.

At long last, the definitive version of With Teeth, meticulously prepared by Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross & NIN art director, John Crawford. Remastered in 2019 on 180-gram vinyl, with lots of details attended to that you may never notice but we care about.

Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing includes digital download. 2014 release, a 10-song virtual "greatest hits" set of acoustic renditions of songs from across the BOH catalog, recorded at Nashville's legendary Ryman Auditorium over two magical nights in April 2013.