The Body : "Shelter is Illusory" (via Thrill Jockey Records/Bandcamp) No One Deserves Happiness by the body The Raveonettes : "The World is Empty (Without You)" (via Tell All Your Friends PR/YouTube) Pet Sun : "Mrs. Warp" (via Tell All Your Friends PR/ Exclaim /YouTube) The Ocular Audio Experiment : "Alive" (via Findings of the Other Eye/YouTube) Earthless : "End to End" (via Tee Pee Records/ Noisey /Soundcloud) Zun : "Burial Sunrise" (via Earsplit PR/ Small Stone Records /Bandcamp) Burial Sunrise by Zun Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

So, this is a long time coming. Three Men and a Baby is the combined work of the Melvins and godheadSilo 's Mike Kunka , billed as Mike and the Melvins .  It was supposed to be released in 1999 and it looks as though this album will finally see the light of day on April 1st, (April Fool's Day coincidentally).  Info regarding the release was provided by Sub Pop.    You can also check out the single, "Chicken 'n' Dump."  The track premiered at Noisey . Mike and the Melvins to release the long-awaited Three Men and a Baby on April 1st worldwide through Sub Pop Listen: “Chicken ‘n’ Dump” via Noisey http://u.subpop.com/1QyZxAg On April 1st, 2016, Sub Pop will release Three Men and a Baby , the long-awaited collaboration between Mike Kunka ( godheadSilo, Enemymine ) and the Melvins . The 12-song album features the highlights “Chicken ‘n’ Dump” and “Limited Teeth.” Most of Three Men and a Baby was recorded in 1999 at Louder Studios by Tim Green (...

A couple weeks ago via social media, Tankcrimes Records announced that they would be reissuing Sweatin' To The Oldies and Sweatin' 3: Skatin', Satan & Katon, the long out of print and extensively padded powerviolence compilations from SPAZZ .  The good people at Earsplit PR have come through with the info.  Sweatin' To The Oldies and Sweatin' 3: Skatin', Satan & Katon will be released on March 11th on both digital and CD formats.  There will be no vinyl.  Sorry, kids.  More info is available below. SPAZZ: Tankcrimes Records To Reissue Sweatin' To The Oldies + Sweatin' 3: Skatin', Satan & Katon From Iconic Hardcore Punk/Powerviolence Unit This March The volume assassins at Tankcrimes Records are pleased and honored to reissue Sweatin' To The Oldies and Sweatin' 3: Skatin', Satan & Katon from iconic, now-defunct hardcore punk/power violence trio, SPAZZ, on CD and digitally this Spring. Originall...

Boris may currently be the most versatile rock/metal band, somehow managing to adapt to multiple musical disciplines in order to either cultivate some new territory for themselves to explore or to assume collaborative/backing band roles seamlessly.  Lately, they've been somewhat of a pop kick, but seem to be retreating from this a bit with a new release working with a familiar partner, Merzbow .  The results of this union, Gensho , is an ambitious 4-LP set being released by Relapse Records on March 18th.  Based on the strength of the lead single, a highly distorted and wildly scrambled drone track called "Huge," I'm looking forward to giving this monster a listen.   You can sample the track "Huge" below and also check out a trailer for the release. All info comes courtesy of Earsplit PR. BORIS With MERZBOW Announce Details Of New Collaborative Album Gensho ; Premiere Live Video + Trailer   Renowned Japanese innovators BORIS and MERZBOW have ...

Tiny Knives : "Cowschwitz" (via Earsplit PR/ Eolian Empire / New Noise Magazine /Soundcloud) Chin of Britain : "Last Seen Alive" (via Mutante/Waltz Time Records/Soundcloud) Naked Lights : "New Carrion" (via Terrorbird Media/ Consequence of Sound /Soundcloud) Immix Ensemble & Vessel : "What Hath God Wrought?" (via Julian T. Schoen/ Erased Tapes/ Soundcloud) DIIV : "Is the Is Are" (via Captured Tracks/Soundcloud) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

David Bowie ★ (a.k.a. Blackstar ) RCA/Columbia Released: 1.8.16 Since Monday, January 11 th , I’ve been listening to David Bowie ’s Blackstar nonstop, unable to separate it objectively from its context as the artist’s last and final effort.   I hang on every word, distilling phrases clearly meant to convey Bowie’s handling of his mortality, fascinated by his musical choices and his continued interest in extracting modern musical ideas and incorporating them into his design.   This “parting gift,” as longtime collaborator and producer Tony Visconti put it, is a tragic thrill, which makes it difficult to completely appreciate on one level and damn near impossible to criticize on another.   As many of us have over the past week since Bowie passed away, Sunday, January 10 th , a mere two days after turning 69 years of age and releasing Blackstar , I’ve been immersing myself in articles filled with Bowie-related remembrances and dedications, all-day radio...

So Pitted Bully METZ First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, 1.12.16 Philadelphia's first snow of the season interestingly coincided with the evening's METZ gig at the First Unitarian Church Tuesday night, some chilling wind and flakes whipping viciously through the handful of cold individuals huddled outside the basement's stairway. Some concertgoers had voluntarily arrived without coats, anticipating the eventual warmth that would ensue once the amps were plugged in and the inevitable movement of the all-ages crowd began emitting heat, so their endurance was certainly put to the test. We filed into the venue once the doors were opened. Everyone found their spots on the floor and began ceremonially cracking open cans of PBR. The hall went black save for the backlit glow of blue light that cut silhouettes of the members of So Pitted , an abstract punk trio whose direct sonic assaults somehow aligned with their moments of noise-laden oddity. Watching So Pitted, I...

Realization of some bad news was slow this morning as I scanned through social media, seeing picture upon picture of David Bowie , all his personalities and alter-egos through the years on display, captioned with variations of #RIP .  My ability to comprehend this information finally set in, followed by shock.  And now, like many, I’m sad and confused.  David Bowie, following a very private 18-month bout with cancer, has passed away.  He’d turned 69 on Friday, January 8th, the same day he’d released Blackstar , his latest and final album.  Producer Tony Visconti said the following: "He made Blackstar for us, his parting gift. I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn't, however, prepared for it. He was an extraordinary man, full of love and life. He will always be with us. For now, it is appropriate to cry." It’s hard to know where to begin.  David Bowie, to me, stood as an iconoclast to every convention, remarking on the absurdity of...

A Troop of Echoes : "Small Fires" (via Us-Them Group/ Echoes and Dust /YouTube) Savages : "Adore" (via YouTube) Seven Sisters of Sleep : "Gutter" (via Earsplit PR/Relapse Records/ SPIN /Soundcloud) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

What did you get under your tree?  Here's what was under mine: Transformers: The Movie Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Volcano/Legacy Released: 11.27.15 (Record Store Day - Black Friday) This is just cool.  For last year's Black Friday iteration of Record Store Day, the soundtrack for Transformers: The Movie was given the reissue treatment for its 30th anniversary.  I felt bad opening this to be honest.  It's a four-panel gatefold, double LP.  The albums are single sided translucent vinyl, both red and purple/red marble albums and appropriately etched on the flip side with Autobot and Decepticon symbols.  And the artwork!  These images don't do it justice. The Decline of Western Civilization Collection Directed by Penelope Spheeris Reissued: 6.30.15 The landmark documentary series, The Decline of Western Civilization , all directed by filmmaker Penelope Spheeris , was reissued this year as a four-disc set.  I felt th...

Signor Benedick The Moor Maiden Voyage Suite EP Released: 1.4.16 Signor Benedick The Moor ’s 11-plus minute “Maiden Voyage Suite” is a multi-tiered protest song, its topical stanzas and overall tone enhanced heavily by some venturesome instrumentation and production decisions.  As a virtual A-side of a two-track digital EP, Benedick’s efforts are comparable at times to the more creatively aspirational selections of Outkast ’s discography, his flow syllabically urgent overtop wiry guitar sounds and zippy synthesizer arpeggiation.  The rhythmically schizophrenic “12:00AM” features Jonathan Snipes and Daveed Diggs of clipping. , the track itself a prog-centric smattering of tonal and compositional liberty.  While the generative mood of the song is dark overall, the changes enable its performers to play a little with their delivery, showcasing well their versatility.  It also doesn’t hurt that they threw in a nice little Curtis Mayfield reference. You can s...