Touch and Go Records continues its reissue streak, announcing today that there are plans for two new Brainiac reissues: the Electro-Shock for President EP and Hissing Prigs in Static Couture LP. Both are limited edition color variants with bundle options that include a t-shirt. And, there's news of a documentary as well.  The release info and links below were provided by Touch and Go Records. To coincide with Eric Mahoney 's upcoming 2019 Brainiac documentary, Transmissions After Zero , we are excited to announce these limited edition reissues of Electro-shock for President EP on white vinyl and Hissing Prigs in Static Couture full-length on blue swirl vinyl. From now until February 11th, you can bundle your pre-order for Electro-shock for President white vinyl or both Electro-shock for President white vinyl and Hissing Prigs in Static Couture blue swirl vinyl with a NEW limited edition Brainiac t-shirt. The limited edition t-shirt will not be av...

Axebreaker : The Whited Sepulcher  The Whited Sepulcher by Axebreaker Ultravox : "Passing Strangers" Magazine : "Vigilance" Tangerine Dream : "Betrayal (Sorcerer Theme)" Die Kreuzen : "Wish" Paul McCartney : "Temporary Secretary" U.S. Girls : "National Anthem" & "Pearly Gates" The Jesus Lizard : "Bloody Mary" Goblin: "L'alba Dei Morti Viventi" Oh Sees : "A Few Days of Reflection" OCS : "Cannibal Planet" Sleep : "Marijuanaut's Theme" Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Touch and Go Records is reissuing Big Black 's Headache , a four-song EP originally released in 1987. Now past its thirty year mark, I'm aware of  Headache  thanks to the  The Rich Man's Eight Track Tape  compilation, which pulled together tracks from the EP as well as  Atomizer   and the "Heartbeat" single.  I expect these remastered tracks to sound much better than they do in the  Eight Track Tape  compilation.  Big Black's Steve Albini , ever the critic of digital technology, had no qualms with illustrating the limitations of first-gen CD systems by intentionally building this CD-only release from analog masters.  Consequently, the tracks don't have much depth or bottom.  In fact, they sound crispy.  So, I'm hoping for a richer, more intensified listening experience once this EP becomes available. The EP's most noteworthy inclusion is likely "My Disco," though the piercing, up-tempo "Grinder," the dilemma-rich...

Thee Oh Sees/Purling Hiss gig, 9.12   Thee Oh Sees "Help" In The Red Released: 4.28.09   Purling Hiss Weirdon Drag City Released: 9.23.14 Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of seeing Purling Hiss and Thee Oh Sees perform at the Underground Arts in Philadelphia.  While the experience of seeing both bands perform for a very rowdy and obnoxious crowd of intoxicated rock fans was enough to top off an excellent Saturday evening, the opportunity to add a couple releases to my library was an added bonus.  So, thickening my collection of Thee Oh Sees releases by one, I grabbed a copy of the 2009 LP, Help .  I also picked up Weirdon by Purling Hiss, which I reviewed for No Ripcord in 2014.  You can find that review here . Locrian/Sannhet gig, 9.11 Locrian & Mamiffer Bless Them That Curse You SIGE Released: 2.21.12 Locrian , whom I've waxed on and on about pretty consistently over the years, were the opener for the post...

Shellac Dude Incredible Touch and Go Records Released: 9.16.14 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Slint Spiderland Box Set Touch and Go Released: 4.15.14 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Do you remember the moment the natural course of your mind had suddenly been disrupted by a piece of music?  For many, it was February 9th, 1964 as a well-known television show host introduced the most important band in the world to the thousands of enthusiastic American youth.  Two such youths were my Mom and Dad, and their love of this band would be passed to me.   Growing up a fairly introverted suburban kid interested in sci-fi, superheroes and art, my more vivid memories as a child involved a radio, an album, a cassette or a music video.  Before I understood that my head was being completely undone and rebuilt by much of what I'd listened to as I grew up, I'd become attached to my Dad's record collection, which was a long set of LPs that seemed to span the length of our third floor bedroom. I spent a lot of time up there, mostly listening to Beatles LPs while slowly being changed. My very beat up U.S. editions of A Hard Days Night and Beatles '65 . My...