For the Record
Muse - Simulation Theory
Vinyl LP pressing. 2018 release. Simulation Theory is the eighth studio album by Muse. Co-produced by the band with Rich Costey, Mike Elizondo, Shellback, and Timbaland, it is a synth-rock album with themes of simulation and centering on the idea of "fantasy becoming real". Contrasting the band's previous three albums which dealt with darker themes, the band sought lighter influences from science fiction and 1980s pop culture and produced the album one track at a time without a focus on a greater narrative or theme. Recording began at AIR Studios in London in early 2017 with Elizondo, creating three tracks before embarking on a midyear tour of North America. Production restarted in Los Angeles in late 2017 with Costey, who had co-produced the band's 2003 album Absolution and 2006 album Black Holes and Revelations. "Era-blending" juxtapositioning and the contemporary political climate of the United States informed the album's music and lyrics.
The Revivalists - Take Good Care (Ltd. Ed. red vinyl)
2018 release from the New Orleans rockers. The Revivalists worked with multiple producers and co-writers on Take Good Care. Dave Cobb, Andrew Dawson and Dave Bassett each collaborated with the band on the 14-track effort. Sessions were held in New Orleans as well as at Nashville's iconic RCA Studio B. Marked by songwriting that is both intensely personal and also an escape, Take Good Care is brimming with sonic complexity, celebration, and catharsis. Sometimes raising more questions than answers, it is a reflection of the up-and-down journey of life that we're all on together. Take Good Care is the first Revivalists album since the group's breakthrough 2015 release Men Amongst Mountains.
Daniel Romano - Finally Free (Ltd. Ed. green/red vinyl)
"Finally Free is a lucid plea. It is a final apology and an attempt at the unwarranted reconciliation between us and everything in our path (including ourselves). It is an exploration of how to cope with the certain end created by our own hand. And/Or, it is the enlightenment of change and the promise of all possibilities in all circumstance. The celebration of all things mystical and unknown. Accepting the unknown with grace and humility, one can illuminate in spirit and trudge forward through the remaining landscape. Maybe even see it's beauty for the first time." - Daniel Romano
December Spotlight Record - Chris Cornell - Chris Cornell
Chris Cornell commemorates his life and legacy not only as a singer, but as a poet and one of the most prolific writers and greatest voices of the modern rock era. Vicky worked extensively with Chris’ bandmates and friends to compile a collection of material from the late artist’s expansive career, showcasing his contribution to music history with selections culled from the deep catalogs of his three influential bands— Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog and Audioslave— as well as songs from his solo career. She turned to producer Brendan O’Brien, who was a trusted partner to Cornell over the years and Jeff Ament who created the packaging for Chris Cornell.
The Runaways - The Best of the Runaways
From the all-female rock band The Runaways comes an updated vinyl compilation featuring 13 of the band's top hits. The Best Of The Runaways includes remastered audio and the career defining single "Cherry Bomb", the song that took singer Joan Jett's career to the next level.
The Marcus King Band - Carolina Confessions (180g)
When you hear Marcus King and his mighty band, you hear the guitar precision of a player with 30+ years of experience on the fretboard. His voice is raspy and soulful, as if he's had a two pack a day habit for the better part of his life. So it's a little surprising to find out the kid is 22. Marcus King began playing guitar at age 8 and was performing in clubs with his own band by the time he was a teenager. In 2015, the group released their first album Soul Insight. Finding the ears of former Allman Brothers Band member Warren Haynes (Gov't Mule), the album was eventually reissued on Haynes' label Evil Teen Records and charted on the Blues Albums Chart at #8.
Mumford & Sons - Delta (Ltd. Ed. sand color vinyl, 2xLP)
British folk pop rock act Mumford & Sons formed in London in 2007. The lineup consists of lead singer and guitarist Marcus Mumford, keyboardist Ben Lovett, Winston Marshall on banjo, and Ted Dwane on bass and backing vocals. Rising to prominence in the West London folk scene alongside artists like Noah and the Whale and Laura Marling, Mumford & Sons toured the UK in 2008, appearing in the Glastonbury Festival.