Double Decker Records , located in Allentown about 40-45 minutes from my place of residence, is a store I normally go to when in pilgrimage mode, which is to say any visit is going to be an expensive, albeit fruitful, one. I met up with a good friend and proceeded to comb through the stacks for a couple of hours, leaving the store with an uncomfortable and somewhat heavy 12" x 12" brick nestled beneath my arm. I'm slowly working my way through these. Here are the first two:  feedtime Cooper-S Released: 1988 Rough Trade Partially integral to the development of sounds specific to the pacific northwest, or just Mudhoney's sound in general, feedtime of Syndney, Australia is muck-borne blues punk. Hyper slop'd and urgent,  Cooper-S , which was originally released in 1988 via the now-defunct Australian label  Aberrant Records , is a covers album that boasts some gravelly interpretations of "Fun Fun Fun" by The Beach Boys, three Rolling Stones tracks (my favori...

Guy Blakeslee of Entrance has released a new protest track called, "Not Gonna Say Your Name," a folk-blues penned as indictment of our President-elect, Donald Trump .  Blakeslee is offering the track for $1 with all proceeds being funneled directly to Planned Parenthood , an organization currently under threat of having its funding cut by the incoming administration.  You can check out the track here: Not Gonna Say Your Name by ENTRANCE From Thrill Jockey Records: With the Presidential inauguration almost upon us, ENTRANCE releases brand new protest song 'Not Gonna Say Your Name' All proceeds donated to Planned Parenthood Buy it here now ENTRANCE's warming new album Book of Changes out February 24th on Thrill Jockey  Today Los Angeles based musician Guy Blakeslee (aka ENTRANCE ), releases a new track, 'Not Gonna Say Your Name,' in advance of the President-elect’s impending inauguration. Blakeslee says of the song, “I really wanted to...

Tom Waits : "The Soul of a Man ( Blind Willie Johnson cover)" (via Big Mouth Publicity/Soundcloud) Graves at Sea : "Dead Eyes" (via Earsplit PR/ Decibel Magazine /Soundcloud) Hooded Fang : "" (via Force Field PR/ The FADER /Soundcloud) Some Gifts : "All Washed Up" (via The Deli Magazine /Soundcloud) Orouni : "The Peanut Specialist" (via Orouni /Soundcloud) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Goatsnake Black Age Blues Southern Lord Recordings Released: 6.2.15 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Anjou: "Sighting" (via Rarely Unable PR/ Kranky /Soundcloud) Trance Farmers : "Lone Star" (via Julian T. Schoen/ Stones Throw /Soundcloud) Melted Toys : "Always" (via Force Field PR/ Noisey /YouTube) Dope Body : "Hired Gun" (via Rarely Unable PR/ Drag City /Soundcloud) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

I was on vacation last week, (and offline for the most part), so I didn't get to post about this until today. Howard Wuelfing of Howlin' Wuelf Media sent over two press releases with info about some new Superior Viaduct reissues, the most exciting of which is The Gun Club 's Fire of Love , which has been out of print for quite some time. Also reissued are A Minute to Pray a Second to Die by The Flesh Eaters , the 1972 self-titled release from Brigitte Fontaine and Allez-Téia by Heldon (a.k.a, Richard Pinhas ).   As mentioned, but shall reiterate for the sake of credit being properly given, all info has been provided by Howlin' Wuelf Media.  The Flesh Eaters is the name behind one Chris Desjardins aka Chris D. Taking his stage name from a 1964 cult film, Chris D. wrote for legendary fanzine Slash in the late '70s and assembled the first of many Flesh Eaters line-ups from heavyweights in the burgeoning L.A. punk scene. After releasing a ravenous EP an...

Arto Lindsay : "The Prize" (via Northern Spy Records /Soundcloud) Dead Dream : "Sleepwalker" (via Wondering Sound /Soundcloud)   Se Delan : "Tonight" (via Snapper Music/ Kscope /Soundcloud) Veda Rays : "Wait For Teeth to Show" (via Veda Rays /YouTube) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Granted the arena rock blues jam and Jethro Tull vocal that courses through the six-something minutes of Wolf People 's "When the Fire is Dead in the Grate," the title track from the band's upcoming four-song single release, seems an unquestionably authentic throwback to decades ago.  Still, somehow to me it sounds modern, and I think this is owed to the guitar sounds, which sound splintered next to the tracks rather clean rhythm section.  Check out the info on the release, which was provided by Sure Shot PR.  Wolf People announce New 12" When the Fire is Dead in the Grate on Jagjaguwar Start Debut US Tour and Announce End of Year UK and European dates Wolf People have announced their brand new limited vinyl 12", When the Fire is Dead in the Grate for 2nd December. The release includes two brand new tracks – ‘Become the Ground’ and ‘All Returns Part II’ alongside, ‘When The Fire Is Dead in the Grate’ and ‘All Returns’ which have become huge fan...

1970s soul singer Swamp Dogg ( Jerry Williams Jr. ) is still active and currently reissuing a series of relatively obscure soul and blues albums from the 1970s as part of a collection called Swamp Dogg's Soul & Blues Collection . A very unimaginative title, but it looks like it's worth checking out. The first two reissues featured in the collection are from Wolfmoon (or, Little Tommy ) and Sandra Phillips . Check out some singles and then read the info provided to you by Pavement PR. NEWLY RE-RELEASED & REMASTERED VERSIONS OF WOLFMOON'S SELF-TITLED ALBUM & SANDRA PHILLIPS' TOO MANY PEOPLE IN ONE BED OUT OCT. 1ST AS PART OF ALIVE NATURALSOUND RECORDS' ONGOING SWAMP DOGG SOUL & BLUES COLLECTIONAVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON VINYL SINCE THEIR ORIGINAL RELEASES IN THE EARLY 1970S! FREE MP3S OF WOLFMOON'S "MY KIND OF PEOPLE" AND SANDRA PHILLIPS' "MY MAN AND ME" CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO & SHARE WOLFM...

A bit of Southern-laced, slow rock to warm the blood — "Lioness," the latest single from Iron Tongue 's upcoming LP, The Dogs Have Barked, The Birds Have Flown , evokes the 70s hard rock spun by groups like Deep Purple and Cactus , though it's hard to discount the stoned rage of bands like Goatsnake and Sleep .  Really sweet bass tone. All info comes courtesy of Earsplit PR. IRON TONGUE Unleash Soulful Southern Jam "Lioness" Via Classic Rock Arkansas southern rock rabble-rousers IRON TONGUE have unleashed another soulful hymn from their forthcoming album, The Dogs Have Barked, The Birds Have Flown , which is set for release in North America via Neurot Recordings on May 28th. One of the standouts of the record, “Lioness” draws listeners in from the opening stoney, groove-laden bass wizardy of Andy Warr and Stephanie Smittle 's alluring backing vocals, before the ultra-bottom heavy guitars and Chris Terry 's rugged, blues-stained vocals com...

Singer/composer, Gemma Ray , has released Down Baby Down , which consists of compositions and instrumentals mostly influenced by film scores and drive-in era rock arrangements.  A trailer featuring snippets of the release is available below as is the track, "Baby Goes Bad." All info comes courtesy of Seriés Aphōnos/Bronze Rat. Watch/listen to a trailer of Down Baby Down , a new album of 'fantasy soundtracks' by Gemma Ray, available to buy now on vinyl and download now on vinyl and download on Seriés Aphōnos /Bronze Rat. Recorded in a few days at Candy Bomber (housed in the former CIA headquarters wing of Berlin’s intimidating Tempelhof Airport) with Thomas Wydler (of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds ) on drums, Rory More on organ, and Wilhelm Stegmeier on bass, it is 30 minutes of largely instrumental compositions coated with choral enhancement and ominous vocal motifs. Gemma herself takes care of all vocal, guitar, piano, clavioline, glockenspiel, melodica and...

If you didn't know that you needed some 60s era psych blues to close out your Monday, Wolf People 's "All Returns" will convince you that this was the case.  "All Returns" is the first single from the band's upcoming new album, Fain .  All info below comes courtesy of Jagjaguwar. Wolf People's Fain Coming in April - Stream "All Returns" Wolf People : (L-R) Tom Watt , Jack Sharp , Joe Hollick , Dan Davies Jagjaguwar will release the second full-length studio album by England's Wolf People, Fain , on April 30th (29th in the UK). Recorded in a beautiful and isolated house in the Yorkshire Dales, Fain is the sound of a band at the peak of their creative powers. It’s an honest and natural album that allows its stories, its melodies, its themes and structures to breathe. The album draws on more traditional English and Scottish folk melodies than anything they’ve done before, but not straying from the drop-out fuzz-rock route ...

Not much to say, other than I just really dig this song.  Video and information provided by Mute Records. Cold Specks has just released her latest Hoxton Hall Session video , “Hector”. The second of this four-part series filmed at the fame venue in London, “Hector” can now be viewed on the Cold Specks website along with the first video for “Winter Solstice." The final two videos will be revealed shortly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ropZ1apYo6U Also announced today, Cold Specks has been short-listed for the Polaris Music prize, along-side Grimes , B,C D and many more of Canada’s most talented musicians. Past winners include Arcade Fire , Caribou , F*cked Up , and Final Fantasy . The awards take place September 24th in Toronto. Cold Specks will be playing a string of North American dates this August, including August 1st in New York, August 16th in LA and August 15th show in Seattle. COLD SPECKS TOUR DATES: July 27th & July 28th - Calgary Folk Festival –Ca...

I haven't heard I Predict A Graceful Expulsion , the newly released new album from Cold Specks .  However, I was very impressed with a version of Swans ' "Reeling The Liars In" she'd recorded for a Record Store Day exclusive, Dancing Coins EP.  Perfect voice for this kind of song, just a haunting and world-weary tone.  Excellent cover; please give it a listen. Via New Music United . This is a video for her single, "Blank Maps." Links were provided by Mute Records. NEW TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED FOR NEW YORK, MONTREAL, TORONTO AND LOS ANGELES NEW VIDEO FOR “WINTER SOLSTICE” FROM THE HOXTON HALL SERIES  KEXP’S #1 MOST PLAYED SONG OF THE WEEK IS "BLANK MAPS" Debut album, I Predict A Graceful Expulsion out May 22nd “ Haunting doom-laden soul” -Vogue “When she begins singing, you understand the fuss…” -Pitchfork "I can tell you without a doubt that Al Spx is going to be a superstar before year’s end." -YVYNYL “...

Issue #17 is up for your perusal with features on Lee Renaldo , Xiu Xiu and Pop. 1280, live reviews of performances by Field Music and The Men , and reviews for Robert Pollard , Pulp , Of Montreal and Shearwater . Mark Lanegan Band Blues Funeral 4AD Released: 2.6.12 Kicking Against The Pricks review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Leonard Cohen is 77 years old.  His is a singing style he's managed to carry through decades, his voice a bass conversational delivery that requires the least amount of melody to work.  Here, Cohen sings "The Darkness," a country-blues song as timeless as any, but better than most, (which, of course, applies to the genre's more recent manufacturing of pop-riddled, disposable, line-dancing shit). Cohen's new album, Old Ideas , is out today. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

I'm too familiar with the off-key noise rock blues of Australia's feedtime , though after hearing a few songs I'm more than interested in becoming better associated with their output.  Sub Pop will be releasing a 4 CD or LP compilation documenting their years with Aberrant Records and have provided all the information and linkage you see below.  Read on and sample some tracks. Sub Pop Records to release limted edition 4 CD & LP box set of the Aberrant years by feedtime on March 13, 2012 Photo Credit: Caroline Birkett "Interpretation is the master key" – Rick Click here to listen to your favorite feedtime songs according to Mark Arm . It starts around ‘78 or ‘79 in Sydney, Australia. feedtime evolved from this point. There was no “formation,” it just crept through a few people who believed in the same purpose. Rick and Allen met each other in February 1970 and became friends through circumstance and necessity. Both shared a connection to mu...

A new single from the Mark Lanegan Band 's upcoming album, Blues Funeral , has been released. “The Gravedigger’s Song” carries Lanegan’s lengthy breaths with a pulsating persistence, a contrast of sounds between his raspy prosaic guts, which rock blues-like over a sturdier means of conveyance, and the song's barrage of electro-thuds that mimic high tempo waddling. The song provides, for me anyway, a wave of anticipation for 2012, this being my first real preview into the coming year and what gifts it could possibly hold.  I found this track via Stereogum . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

A cold Saturday and some free time prompted a 45 minute ride over to West Chester's Chester County Book & Music Company so I could spend a few gift certificates and lighten the back burner.  Most of my purchases were stragglers from 2010, a few things I've always meant to acquire and acquisitions based on some reconsideration. Chester County Book & Music Company , West Chester, PA: Menomena Double Seven Inch Barsuk Released: 7.27.10 I thought this was interesting find: Two edited singles from Menomena 's 2010 release, Mines , along with two unreleased tracks.  I haven't had the chance to give either single a spin just yet, though. Dinosaur Jr. You're Living All Over Me Merge Records Reissued: 3.22.05 Maybe I've become the 90s version of baby boomer arrogance and self-indulgent nostalgia, two things I've tried mightily to avoid.  All I know is I really wasn't ever a fan of Dinosaur Jr.   Ever.  It was never an outright hatred, mi...

T-Model Ford is ninety years old and could probably mop the floor with our current roster of auto-tuned R&B hacks. Though I'd rather not belabor the point about old vs. young, hearing a ninety year old blues man strum a guitar and kick out something genuine makes you wonder when popular culture lost the plot and settled for third-rate. Check out "Comin' Back Home" and listen to an old man play some good music. Via Pavement PR: 90-YEAR OLD BLUES LEGEND T-MODEL FORD TO RELEASE NEW TALEDRAGGER LP WITH GRAVELROAD JANUARY 11TH ON ALIVE RECORDS T-MODEL FORD HEADS BACK OUT ON THE ROAD FOR A FEW SOUTHERN JUKE/DIVE SHOWS IN DECEMBER BEFORE EMBARKING ON ADDITIONAL TOUR DATES IN 2011 Recorded during a 14 show US tour this year, the groove on this new studio album is pure T-Model Ford. Backed by his regular touring band GravelRoad , and with stellar guest appearances by Brian Olive and Matthew Smith , Taledragger is a perfect party album with the feel and h...