HIM New Features (Bubble Core) lp 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Very well executed, but somewhat bland contemporary jazz grooves from the seemingly relentless percussionist Doug Scharin (former member of Codeine, Rex, June of 44). While Him's previous effort 5/6 In Dub was a very good, short and sweet take on a sort of millenial Afro-funk sound (albeit filtered through a white guy in Brooklyn), this record stretches out the grooves into unneccessarily long (like 9 - 18 minutes!) wanky sessions that sound uninspired whereas the action coulda been packed into five interesting minutes. Still, fans of Miles Davis' really mellowed out fusion jazz material might like this. And fans of Tortoise' last album too.

HIM Our Point Of Departure (Perishable) cd 14.98
Doug Scharin.

HIM/THE DYLAN GROUP (Bubble Core) split cd 11.98
Dub/Tortoise-y stylings. Him is the drummer of Rex by the way.

HINDLE, JAMES WILLIAM s/t (Badman) cd 13.98
Dark and lilting acoustic pop ala Red House Painters. No surprise as he is a friend of Mark Kozelek's, plays Kozelek's guitars, the record is produced by the same guy who produced the last Red House Painters record, and Hindle made his debut on Kozelek's recent tribute to John Denver. But all that said, there are some differences. Hindle has a high, crystalline voice, almost fey at timesand the instrumentation is sparse, often just an acoustic guitar. There's a gorgeous cover of the Bee Gees' 'I Started A Joke' and a great vesrson of Glen Campbell's 'Less Of Me'. Guests include Paula Frazer from Tarnation and Tim Mooney from American Music Club. And features photography by bad boy filmmaker Harmony Korine. Really pretty nice.
RealAudio clip: "I Started A Joke"
RealAudio clip: "Remember My Markings"

HINT Wu Wei (Pandemonium) cd 13.98
This is one of the most amazing new bands we have heard in a while, and they're from France! This is Hint's second album and it's a bit more varied than last year's ultra pummeling and quite brilliant Dys. On Wu Wei, the punishing brute rock is stretched and twisted, advancing from huge thunderous dirges to sampler/turntable-heavy 'musique concrete' (hey, that's a french word) to soaring cinematic soundscapes. This band destroys so many other bands with their amazing versatility, musicianship and sheer breadth of scope.

HINT/UNSANE (Pandemonium) 7" 3.99
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
U: NY 'core noise rock/metal.
H: Hypnotic and rythmic drone rock ala Circle. Easily the best, perhaps the only, noise rock song featuring Tuvan throat singing.

HIROSHIGE, JOJO Kimi Ga Shinette Ieba Shinu Kara (Alchemy) cd 21.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Solo album from Hijokaidan guitarist.

HIRSCH, BETH Early Days (Studio K7) cd 16.98
As the packaging notes, this is "the voice and co-writer behind the AIR classic "All I Need". Now, I'd agree that song is quite good, but how it got "classic" status is beyond me. Anyways, this album is much more in the territory of Kate Bush meets the mellower side of Alanis Morissette. If that piques your interest, check this out!

HIS NAME IS ALIVE Can't Always Be Loved (4AD) cd 9.99

HIS NAME IS ALIVE Detrola (Silver Mountain) cd 14.98
Wow, initially we thought His Name Is Alive had taken another huge shift in stylistic direction, but actually it's more of a bringing together of their past and recent selves. Detrola vacillates between their last album's path of soft lounge funk and their earlier angelic pop romps, and ends up coming across as a somewhat fucked-up Magnetic Fields. We've adamantly placed our votes for the lattermentioned sweetness. To be frank, we've tried, but can't help but find the funky fusion-y jaunts utterly cringeworthy. Yes, Lovetta Pippen has a breathtaking voice, but on the music side of things Warn Defever occasionally sounds a bit out of his element or at least a bit confused as he mashes together thick synthesizer blats into delicate acoustic guitar pluckery. That said, this stylistic jumble does seem to be what many fans dig about Defever and co., so perhaps you might not find it as problematic as we did. In a sense Detrola is a hit or miss H.N.I.A. musical grab bag, a sort of overview of all the little nuts and bolts that have made up the band's ever-evolving sound over the years. Some of the dreamier pop songs have a woozy feel as though someone's playing with the speed controls or as though the record's gotten warped at opportune moments. Nice. Those are the songs we've already gone back to a few times for repeat listens, and made us wanna dust off our almost ten year old Stars On E.S.P. album. Sigh.
MPEG Stream: "You Need A Heart"
MPEG Stream: "Seven Minutes"

HIS NAME IS ALIVE Early Music (Time Stereo) cd-r 11.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Reissue of early His Name Is Alive tape releases from 1985 to 1989. Tracks are taken from the first four tapes, earlier versions of tracks that would appear on "Livonia", plus lots of previously unreleased tracks. Totalling in at over 70 minutes, you really get your money's worth here of His Name Is Alive. This is totally great, a lot like the "Livonia" era cuts with more of a raw 4-track, tape experiment feel to them.

HIS NAME IS ALIVE Emergency (Time Stereo) cd-r 11.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

HIS NAME IS ALIVE King Of Sweet (Handmade Birds) 2lp 29.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
One of two new Handmade Birds titles this week, the other, an amazing triple 10" boxset from Finnish folky weirdos Key reviewed elsewhere on this week's list, and this one, a long overdue reissue of this long out of print rarity from long time aQ faves His Name Is Alive. There was a time when HNIA were THEE aQ band, their Stars On E.S.P. record still ranks as one of our all time favorites (but gets short shrift on the aQ site, as it came out in the early days of the list), a sort of mad scientist, Beach Boys influenced outsider 4AD flecked dream pop, laced with strange noises, and fantastic atmospheres, gorgeous vocals, and some of the most amazing hooks EVER. The band eventually transformed into something else entirely, not as much to our liking, but back then, they were unbeatable.
This record right here, is from back then, 1993 to be exact, and was originally released on Perdition Plastics as a 'fake' bootleg, a compilation of tracks from various cassettes, consisting of demos, outtakes, and alternate versions, as well as unreleased tracks and a handful of sonic experiments, all woven into a twisted chunk of weirdo pop. Out of print for years, recently remastered and now available again as a limited edition double lp on Handmade Birds, and wow, does this have us drifting back, these sounds so reminiscent of that other time, but sounding so fresh and relevant to NOW.
Guitars buzz, drums shuffle, harmonics chime and drift, female vox all lush and dreamy drift over the top, while way off in the background other vocals swirl and shimmer, choruses crash, acoustic guitars strum, strange bits of percussion shuffle and clatter, harmonies hover and fade, tape speed shifts, speeds up and slows down, it's definitely not the absolute weirdest HNIA, but these wistful indie pop drifters are definitely laced with strange production, mysterious sounds, are sometimes chopped up and rearranged into strange arrangements, the vibe is definitely hazy and shoegazey, washed out and dream poppy, the guitars occasionally getting a little buzzy and crunchy, and the sound sometimes crumbles into strange collages, or bursts of crumbling distorted noise, but at its core, this is a fantastic pop record, just twisted and fractured enough to make it something more.
LIMITED TO 250 COPIES! Already sold out at the label, these are the LAST copies we'll ever be able to get! Housed in super deluxe full color gatefold jackets.
MPEG Stream: "Around"
MPEG Stream: "Bears"
MPEG Stream: "Blue-Eyed"
MPEG Stream: "Driftin"

HIS NAME IS ALIVE Last Night (4AD) cd 14.98
We've always loved His Name Is Alive, Warn DeFever and his rotating cast of likeminded musicmakers. For a while he's been moving in a direction away from the pristine pop confections of the Stars on ESP album and more towards a sort of "white soul" sound (you know Warn must be a r 'n b fan), and that transformation is completed here on Last Night. Like the cocktail torch singer "jazz" of Everything But the Girl and the simplistic pop of The Beautiful South, the tone is clean and unpretentious. The female lead singer's pleasant voice is double tracked for more lushness, and is accompanied simply by guitar, piano, bass, drums. I can't say it's the greatest thing I've ever heard, but it's inoffensive and you might like it. A couple songs feature some worrying funky whah guitar and a dreadful afro-groove, but their pale (ahem) experiments aren't as cringe-inducing as Yo La Tengo's ill advised recent foray (Nuclear War).
RealAudio clip: "Last Night"
RealAudio clip: "Someday My Prince Will Come"

HIS NAME IS ALIVE Nice Day (4AD) cdep 6.50
More mature pop from the talented Warren Defever and co., as opposed to the crystal sweetness of their earlier stuff. Detroit soul influenced...

HIS NAME IS ALIVE Radio LP (Time Stereo) cd-r 11.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
This is a cdr (not an LP!) jam-packed (19 tracks!) with recordings of HNIA live radio performances from 1992 to 1998. Leading into their radical shift into torchy soul jazz territory of the late '90s, the songs here are mostly of the raw, folky pop kind. Included in the array are some sessions at the BBC, WDET Detroit, REV105 Minneapolis, KCRW Los Angeles, and two Mexican radio ads.
RealAudio clip: "Sand"
RealAudio clip: "Mexico"

HIS NAME IS ALIVE Stars On E.S.P. (4AD) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Their new effort is gorgeous as usual, with those precious female vocals. You oughtn't be surprised there's a song called "Beech Boys" on here... As anticipated, Stars is 4AD-flavored sweet pop, yet more disonant at times and thus interesting than the last HNIA album. Warren Defever slices on some of the noisy layered stuff (his other band) Princess Dragon Mom likes to cook up.

HIS NAME IS ALIVE Sweet Earth Flower - A Tribute To Marion Brown (High Two Recording Co. ) cd 16.98
Without knowing why or how, the idea of the recently more soulful, perpetually Beach Boys obsessed pop group His Name Is Alive tackling a record of tracks by legendary jazz saxophonist Marion Brown, seems not just unlikely but maybe even ill advised.
So we were pretty surprised and thrilled when we finally wrapped our ears around this disc. A dark smoldering expansive ambient jazz sprawl, His Name Is Alive, seriously channeling the spirit of Marion Brown, in such a way that is at once totally faithful but also, quite modern and radical.
Most of the tracks are languorous and laid back, and sometimes sound like a jazzier No Neck Blues Band, a sort of fluttering free folk, the sounds drifting like smoke, the percussion sizzling and shuffling, the horns moaning softly, lots of tinkling chimes and little flurries of piano, gorgeously soft focus and hypnotic.
There are a few live tracks, which is where the band really cut loose, and embrace the noisier side of Brown's oeuvre, "Capricorn Moon" the first live track, is much boppier, the drums and bass locked into a sort of muted exotica, while the horns bleat wildly over the top, the sound very African, and dipping into some serious Ethiopiques territory here and there. The next few songs return to the blissy jazzy tranquility of the first few, until "Bismillahi 'Rrahmani 'Rrahim", which starts off all dreamlike, but by the end, is a squall of thick distorted guitars and skronky saxes, a serious free jazz duel.
The two part "Geechee Recollections" is another slow burning jam, all exotic percussion and thick rubbery basslines, wailing sax, shuffling skittery drum lines, moody meandering piano, the second half a super minimal late night jazzy sprawl, like a less repetitive Necks, but the same sort of mysterious murky swirl.
The record finishes off with a live version of the opening track, sticking close to that same smoky late night shimmer, but with the horns more active and up in the mix, the drums a bit more propulsive, some wah guitar, managing to sound just a bit more fierce, but without losing that blurry blissy sultriness...
This is so good. We used to love love love His Name Is Alive. They even played an instore here, which was a blast. They sort of lost us though lately with their ever intensifying soul leanings, but this record is absolutely gorgeous, and has definitely restored our faith in Warn Defever and company, plus anyone so into Marion Brown is aces in our book.
A portion of the proceeds of the sale of this cd goes to the Nepalese Youth Opportunity Foundation, which is also quite cool...
MPEG Stream: "Sweet Earth Flying"
MPEG Stream: "Juba Lee Brown"
MPEG Stream: "Geechee Recollections I"

HIS NAME IS ALIVE Ten Years Long Time (Time Stereo) cd-r 11.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

HIS NAME IS ALIVE Ten Years Long Time (Time Stereo) cd-r 11.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
A HNIA ten year anniversary concert recorded on November 18, 2000. And of the many sounds that have come from the HNIA camp over the past decade- from swirling, ethereal, lush pop to lo-fi rootsy folk acoustic to gospel to loungey r'n'b balladry with Hendrix-y guitar macrame - it's the latter that marks this milestone for Warn Defever and co. with vocalist Lovetta Pippen's slinky soul-edged delivery dominating the proceedings. But come the 13th track the proceedings are abruptly disrupted as the stage is hijacked by the band called Whales whose ragged, feedback-laden guitar assault ends the performance.
RealAudio clip: "Last Affair Forever"
RealAudio clip: "Can't Hide"

HIS NAME IS ALIVE When the Stars Refuse to Shine (Time Stereo) cd-r 11.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
People have been waiting for what seems like forever for a new His Name Is Alive. Released as a cd-r on AQ favorite label Time Stereo (who released the absolutely brilliant Steps), this is to tide everyone over until their next 4AD full length. HNIA continue on their questionable path toward full on SOUL, due in no small part to vocalist Lovetta Pippen, who also sang on the last record. We all loved 'Stars on ESP' from a few years back, which was a completely inspired and magical pop record. Unfortunately HNIA haven't really been able to pull that off since. All the trademark weirdness is gone, super creative production, samples, all gone, and in it's place, a sort of watered down wannabe soul. If you liked the last record, you might dig this one, if you were waiting for another 'Stars On ESP', then I think you may be quite disappointed. Features an absolutely painful version of 'Moon Dance'.

HISS & HUM / RACOONS split (self-released) cassette 4.98

HISS & HUM / RACOONS split (self-released) cassette 4.98

HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER Jesus Shot Me Through The Head / Jesus Dub (Tompkins Square) 7" 6.98
Got just a tiny handful of this special Record Store Day release left, a teaser of sorts for a brand new full length (already in stock, and hopefully being reviewed on the next list), from this post Court And Spark combo, who have taken the druggy dusky twang of their previous outfit and wedded it to swirly seventies Laurel Canyon style songsmithery and stretched out Grateful Dead like jams, M.C. Taylor's voice warm and welcoming as always, the band laying down a lush landscape of twang flecked folk pop on the A side, which on the flipside is stretched out into some woozy, drowsy twang flecked dub, dark and dreamily tripped out!
Housed in a plain white sleeve, and extremely limited. These are the last remaining copies.

HITCHCOCK, ROBYN Black Snake Diamond Role (Yep Roc) cd 13.98
Let's get straight to the heart of the matter, and it is exactly that! Robyn Hitchcock knows the inner workings of matters of the heart, but he never panders to valentine cliches to get the sentiments across. Nope, time and time again, he comes up with some crazily inventive turn of prose to express an observation of something commonplace. Then he backs his wizened delivery of wry wisdom with an equally quirksome crunchy guitar melodic twist -- a holdover from his Soft Boys days? Often so wonderfully obtuse and cryptic, but also somehow so clear and true! Genius songwriting.
Anyways, this is our longwinded way to let y'all know that we are super pleased as punch that the fine folks at Yep Roc Records have recently reissued three of this venerable troubadour's albums Black Snake Diamond Role, I Often Dream Of Trains and Eye, each complete with hella unreleased bonus tracks. The latter is perhaps our personal fave. If you have one Hitchcock album in your library, make it this one. Plus at the same time, they've released the three albums together in a retrospective box set titled I Wanna Go Backwards which also includes an exclusive pair of additional cdeps of odds'n'ends from 1981-88! Awesome and super recommended.
MPEG Stream: "Acid Bird"
MPEG Stream: "City Of Shame"

HITCHCOCK, ROBYN Eye (Yep Roc) cd 13.98
Let's get straight to the heart of the matter, and it is exactly that! Robyn Hitchcock knows the inner workings of matters of the heart, but he never panders to valentine cliches to get the sentiments across. Nope, time and time again, he comes up with some crazily inventive turn of prose to express an observation of something commonplace. Then he backs his wizened delivery of wry wisdom with an equally quirksome crunchy guitar melodic twist -- a holdover from his Soft Boys days? Often so wonderfully obtuse and cryptic, but also somehow so clear and true! Genius songwriting.
Anyways, this is our longwinded way to let y'all know that we are super pleased as punch that the fine folks at Yep Roc Records have recently reissued three of this venerable troubadour's albums Black Snake Diamond Role, I Often Dream Of Trains and Eye, each complete with hella unreleased bonus tracks. The latter is perhaps our personal fave. If you have one Hitchcock album in your library, make it this one. Plus at the same time, they've released the three albums together in a retrospective box set titled I Wanna Go Backwards which also includes an exclusive pair of additional cdeps of odds'n'ends from 1981-88! Awesome and super recommended.
MPEG Stream: "Cynthia Mask"
MPEG Stream: "Beautiful Girl"

HITCHCOCK, ROBYN I Often Dream of Trains (Yep Roc) cd 13.98
Let's get straight to the heart of the matter, and it is exactly that! Robyn Hitchcock knows the inner workings of matters of the heart, but he never panders to valentine cliches to get the sentiments across. Nope, time and time again, he comes up with some crazily inventive turn of prose to express an observation of something commonplace. Then he backs his wizened delivery of wry wisdom with an equally quirksome crunchy guitar melodic twist -- a holdover from his Soft Boys days? Often so wonderfully obtuse and cryptic, but also somehow so clear and true! Genius songwriting.
Anyways, this is our longwinded way to let y'all know that we are super pleased as punch that the fine folks at Yep Roc Records have recently reissued three of this venerable troubadour's albums Black Snake Diamond Role, I Often Dream Of Trains and Eye, each complete with hella unreleased bonus tracks. The latter is perhaps our personal fave. If you have one Hitchcock album in your library, make it this one. Plus at the same time, they've released the three albums together in a retrospective box set titled I Wanna Go Backwards which also includes an exclusive pair of additional cdeps of odds'n'ends from 1981-88! Awesome and super recommended.
MPEG Stream: "Uncorrected Personality Traits"
MPEG Stream: "Heart Full Of Leaves"

HITCHCOCK, ROBYN I Wanna Go Backwards (Yep Roc) 5cd 50.00
Let's get straight to the heart of the matter, and it is exactly that! Robyn Hitchcock knows the inner workings of matters of the heart, but he never panders to valentine cliches to get the sentiments across. Nope, time and time again, he comes up with some crazily inventive turn of prose to express an observation of something commonplace. Then he backs his wizened delivery of wry wisdom with an equally quirksome crunchy guitar melodic twist -- a holdover from his Soft Boys days? Often so wonderfully obtuse and cryptic, but also somehow so clear and true! Genius songwriting.
Anyways, this is our longwinded way to let y'all know that we are super pleased as punch that the fine folks at Yep Roc Records have recently reissued three of this venerable troubadour's albums Black Snake Diamond Role, I Often Dream Of Trains and Eye, each complete with hella unreleased bonus tracks. The latter is perhaps our personal fave. If you have one Hitchcock album in your library, make it this one. Plus at the same time, they've released the three albums together in a retrospective box set titled I Wanna Go Backwards which also includes an exclusive pair of additional cdeps of odds'n'ends from 1981-88! Awesome and super recommended.
MPEG Stream: "August Hair"
MPEG Stream: "I Wanna Go Backwards"

HITCHCOCK, ROBYN Robyn Sings (Editions PAF) 2cd 22.00
Robyn Hitchcock's remarkable body of work (both as a solo artist and with his band the Soft Boys) spans over a quarter of a century and is truly something to be cherished. Wry, witty, intelligent, eccentric, and definitely one of a kind. Now, he pays tribute to a fellow songwriting great - the one he credits as being his original musical inspiration. Robyn Sings is comprised of two cds full of Mr. Hitchcock performing the songs of Bob Dylan live in concert. In these sixteen renditions, he keeps relatively faithful to the originals but not without bringing his own unmistakable vocal inflections and personality to each. The first disc called "Stripes" (after Hitchcock's own trademark shirts) is mostly acoustic, just him singing and playing his guitar. It's graced with two versions of "Visions Of Johanna" - the one song that spurred him to become a musician - as well as "Desolation Row", "Not Dark Yet" and "Dignity". On the second entitled "Dots" (after Dylan's trademark shirts), he takes a fuller, more rocked-up approach presenting the songs in the running order of Dylan's Royal Albert Hall performance. It includes "Ballad Of A Thin Man", "Tell Me Mama" and yes... "Like A Rolling Stone". This entire collection is steeped with Hitchcock's immense respect and love for Dylan's work, very much like that which his own recordings have stirred from artists and fans alike.
RealAudio clip: "Visions Of Johanna"
RealAudio clip: "One Too Many Mornings"

HITCHCOCK, ROBYN Spooked (Yep Roc) cd 16.98

HITCHCOCK, ROBYN & THE VENUS 3 Ole! Tarantula (Yep Roc) cd 14.98
Robyn Hitchcock rules, doesn't he? Yes, he does. Never disappoints, never falters, just goes about his unerringly fine songsmithery with little or no regard for current trends. His wry, witty brain-twisting stories/lyrics, creative guitar lines, catchy choruses and singing voice are all unmistakable. And while his pop supremacy hasn't gone unnoticed -- he's definitely influenced legions of young artists over the years -- it sure deserves a whole lot more. Listening to Ole! Tarantula reminded us not only of how much we dig his music but also of how many more recent artists sound like him (The Decemberists and Jets To Brazil to name just a couple). These days there's precious few artists of this high caliber and staying power. Actually the only ones who immediately come to mind are The Minus Five's Scott McCaughey and the Go-Betweens (Grant McLennan RIP). The former is one of the musical luminaries that make up Hitchcock's backing band The Venus 3. The rest of the trio are Peter Buck and Bill Rieflin. Additional guests include The Soft Boys' Kimberley Rew, Morris Windsor (also of The Soft Boys and The Egyptians), Presidents Of The United States Of America's Chris Ballew, Harvey Danger's Sean Nelson and Ian McLagan of Faces. Stellar!
MPEG Stream: "Underground Sun"
MPEG Stream: "Museum Sex"

HITMEN, THE Is It What It Is (Savage Beat) 2cd 24.00

HITMEN, THE s/t (Savage Beat) 2cd 24.00

HIVE MIND Death Tone (Hanson) cd 14.98

HIVES, THE Barely Legal (Gearhead) cd 13.98
"Barely Legal," the debut album from Swedish garage rockers The Hives, gets its domestic release on none other than Gearhead Records, whose catalog includes numerous full-throttle punk rock bands including The Pattern and Red Planet. This cd was originally launched back in '97 on Swedish hardcore label Burning Heart Records (where it's still available in Europe). Have to admit though that the recorded Hives is nothing compared to the live Hives -- seriously raging! If you've been fortunate enough to witness their live rock action, then you know I'm not whistlin' dixie. If you haven't, then for the time being you'll just have to settle for their cd incarnation.
RealAudio clip: "Here We Go Again"

HIVES, THE The Black And White Album (A&M) cd 12.98
While The Hives definitely continue to fly the anthemic party rock flag on their latest album, it also seems like they took a silly pill while in the recording studio. The Black And White Album boasts one of the dorkiest songs we've heard in a long time! For one thing, it's self-congratulatory (the chorus features the line "We rule the world!"), it's got spelling ("H-I-V-E-S"), the vocals are delivered in an ultra nerd nasalness, plus the backing tracks are some uncharacteristic cheez-tronic synths and programmed rhythms. The latter three elements reappear on the second most dorky song "Giddy Up!" Weird and strangely endearing. Nonetheless, while the goofy songs are worth a couple of listens at most before they start to grate, the band's more familiar bombastic, blistering guitar pop rocks are still very much intact and gleefully make up the rest of the album. What's "Paaaarty!" in Swedish? "The Hives!"
MPEG Stream: "T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S."
MPEG Stream: "Return The Favour"

HIVES, THE Tyrannosaurus Hives (Interscope) cd 14.98
How can you not love the Hives?! They're Swedish to begin with. And they look great, matching suits and all that. Plus the bandmembers have names like Chris Dangerous, Nicholaus Arson, Vigilante Carlstroem, Dr. Matt Destruction. And Dr. Matt Destruction just happens to be the most rocking guy to ever sport a serious paunch, a big ol' moustache and a combover. And besides all that, they totally rock. And they write great songs. Obviously if you like the White Stripes and other sort-of-garage MTV bands (Von Bondies, the Kills, etc.) you'll love or already love the Hives. But don't let the hype put you off. All you Stooges / sixties / obscure psych reissue obsessives might find you actually dig something from 2004!
MPEG Stream: "Abra Cadaver"
MPEG Stream: "Walk Idiot Walk"

HIVES, THE Veni Vidi Vicious (Gearhead) cd 16.98
Sweden's The Hives finally fire up a second full length after a three year wait. And quite an awesome, rockin' one it is! Since their debut, they've clearly honed their rock style, stance and power. This album was released in 2000 in Europe on the Burning Heart label, and now Gearhead Records brings it stateside. Certainly they initially appears to be just another band in the sea of garage rock revivalists whose aim isn't to break any new ground, however The Hives have succeeded in setting themselves apart from the pack not simply because of their geographic origin, but with their completely amped, sweaty, unrelenting, awesome punk power.
RealAudio clip: "Die, Alright!"

HNY Here You Can Touch The Sky (Amethyst Sunset) lp 19.98

HOAHIO Peek-Ara-Boo (Tzadik) cd 16.98
The Hoahio girls are back with their second release for John Zorn's Tzadik label's New Japan series. As before, this trio concoct exciting, experimental pop music that's at once both very strange and very charming. However, Sachiko M's sine-wave sampler is no longer present in the group, which now consists of avant-vocalist Haco, koto virtuoso Yagi Michiyo, and new member Era Mari on multifarious percussion: marimba, vibes, xylophone, etc. Yet even without Sachiko, a big electronic element remains, as Haco toys with various synths, effects, and thermin (along with playing electric mandolin on several songs). Sundry other samples and sound sources -- a speed-skating broadcast in one song, crickets in another -- mix with Haco's lovely, supple voice. Some tracks are delicate, atmospheric and folky, while others utterly rock out with quirky, spunky abandon. Bravo Hoahio!
MPEG Stream: "DJ Hashimoto"
MPEG Stream: "My Sister, The Wind"

HOCHENKEIT I Love You (Road Cone) cd 11.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
The wise folks at Revolver distro and/or Road Cone summed this one up pretty well: "The debut album from these Nor'west out-edge dream sailors. A delightful calm of Near East folk melodies, crafty electronic daze, Krautrock-inflected sound collages, musique concrete and percussive drones. Features such nifty sound machines as Theremin, harmonium and cumbus (Turkish banjo-mandolin) as well as staples like guitar, bass and percussion. Nine uniquely beautiful songs featuring some former members of [old AQ-faves] the Irving Claw Trio." We won't argue. Recommended.

HOCHENKEIT omu4h 4aholab / 400 boys (Road Cone) cd 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Second album from this Pacific NW combo, folks who've seen the same lights in the sky witnessed by the likes of Six Organs of Admittance, the Sun City Girls, and the Davis Redford Trio (whose Mr. Lobdell engineered this disc). Their debut, "I Love You", was all about exotic/ethnic instrumentation, folky drone, and druggy low-key musique concrete. With this oddly-titled follow-up, it seems that they've moved out of the confines of their bedroom studio into the practice space to kick out the jams a little bit more, for a groove-laden, rock-of-the-kraut-persuasion experience. Still very exotic sounding, just more head-nodding at spots. Psychedelic pick of the week.
RealAudio clip: "Give Them To The Ants"

HOFFMAN, KAY Floret Silva (Robot Records) cd 16.98
RennFaire gone Rock In Opposition? Italian prog meets medieval madrigals?? We're still puzzling about how to describe this wonderful, wonderful disc, a remastered cd reissue of a rare LP (long awaited by some, totally new to us but very welcome -- thanks Robot!) which was recorded by composer Kay Hoffman in Florence, Italy in 1977, though not released until 1985, on vinyl in Japan only! On Floret Silva, Hoffman and her collaborators, including members of the very excellent and arty Italian prog band Pierrot Lunaire, took a trove of medieval Latin poetry known as the Carmina Burana -- poems written by anonymous authors around 1200AD that are both religious in nature as well as very earthy and real, about such subjects as love and money -- and set them to music. The settings are diverse (as befits the variety of these texts), and the results are often eerie and pretty and even a little bit groovy, with quirky chamber ensemble/prog rock backing and even the use of field recordings. Utterly magical for the most part, most especially due to the delicate vocals of Jacquline Darby. One song reminds us strongly of Stereolab, others call to mind (rather more obscurely) that Flamen Dialis album we've raved about before. This should appeal to experimental psych-folk fans for sure, even if this unique treasure is really something outside almost any genre designation you'd care to come up with!
MPEG Stream: "Iste Mundus"
MPEG Stream: "Tempus Instat"

HOJAS Mis Suenos Piden (Lion Productions) cd 15.98

HOLD STEADY Stay Positive (Vagrant Records) 2lp 28.00
NOW ON VINYL!
The Hold Steady follow up their widely embraced third album Boys And Girls Of America with a mountain of more burly college radio ready rock that harkens back to the glory days of Husker Du, The Clash and The Replacements. Y'know what we're talkin' about - crunchin' electric guitars strummed by mannish fists, vocals sung through husky workin' man beards, and gang-style backing vocals probably contributed by everyone who was in the building at the time. However, The Hold Steady show their softer side getting a little more fancy pants with the addition of horns and harpsichord among other pleasantries. In fact, we'd might even liken them to the bleak weathered Scottish romantics The Arab Strap. All of these are of course good things in our books!
MPEG Stream: "Sequestered In Memphis"
MPEG Stream: "Lord, I'm Discouraged"

HOLD STEADY, THE Boys And Girls In America (Vagrant) cd 14.98
If you read any rock magazines, Rolling Stone, Spin, whatever, or watch MTV or whatever channel they have now that shows videos, you've probably heard of the Hold Steady by now. This is their second or third record already, but they're only now being touted as the next big thing. But with a weird angle. They've been really pushing the 'bar band' or 'club band' angle. As if every young band didn't spend all their time rocking little clubs all over. But in this case it seems to be more that they 'sound' like a classic American rock band, heartland, beers, and after work parties, old pickups and Pabst Blue Ribbon. That sort of thing. We weren't really sure what to expect, it is on Vagrant after all, so maybe we were feeling a little Get Up Kids or something, but holy shit! This really is modern American roots rock bar rock bandanna rock and roll. Lots of piano and organ, simple drumming, big crashing guitars, and a vocalist who has a weird lazy drawl, and who sort of slurs more than sings. And while that combo is totally infectious, and the songs are hooky as all get out, we don't hear the Replacements and Soul Asylum (Dave Pirner guests on a few tracks!) and other classic Midwest rockers that often get mentioned. Nope. We hear lots of Springsteen, and as hard as it may be to believe, a whole lot of Eddie And The Cruisers!!! Sounds funny but it's true, and in no way is that a bad thing. Bad ass working class rock and roll, every song a tale of workdays and weekends, cars and chicks, life and love, but given a modern day, Vagrant Records, big guitar emorock spit shine, but without losing the rootsy goodness and working man shit kicking get drunk and rock hard vibe. Definitely makes us want to head down to the local watering hole, sidle up to the bar, and spend the night getting sweaty to loud wild rock and roll, and hopefully not going home alone...
MPEG Stream: "Stuck Between Stations"
MPEG Stream: "Chips Ahoy!"
MPEG Stream: "Hot Soft Light"

HOLD STEADY, THE Boys And Girls In America (Sabot) lp 12.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Now available on vinyl!
If you read any rock magazines, Rolling Stone, Spin, whatever, or watch MTV or whatever channel they have now that shows videos, you've probably heard of the Hold Steady by now. This is their second or third record already, but they're only now being touted as the next big thing. But with a weird angle. They've been really pushing the 'bar band' or 'club band' angle. As if every young band didn't spend all their time rocking little clubs all over. But in this case it seems to be more that they 'sound' like a classic American rock band, heartland, beers, and after work parties, old pickups and Pabst Blue Ribbon. That sort of thing. We weren't really sure what to expect, it is on Vagrant after all, so maybe we were feeling a little Get Up Kids or something, but holy shit! This really is modern American roots rock bar rock bandanna rock and roll. Lots of piano and organ, simple drumming, big crashing guitars, and a vocalist who has a weird lazy drawl, and who sort of slurs more than sings. And while that combo is totally infectious, and the songs are hooky as all get out, we don't hear the Replacements and Soul Asylum (Dave Pirner guests on a few tracks!) and other classic Midwest rockers that often get mentioned. Nope. We hear lots of Springsteen, and as hard as it may be to believe, a whole lot of Eddie And The Cruisers!!! Sounds funny but it's true, and in no way is that a bad thing. Bad ass working class rock and roll, every song a tale of workdays and weekends, cars and chicks, life and love, but given a modern day, Vagrant Records, big guitar emorock spit shine, but without losing the rootsy goodness and working man shit kicking get drunk and rock hard vibe. Definitely makes us want to head down to the local watering hole, sidle up to the bar, and spend the night getting sweaty to loud wild rock and roll, and hopefully not going home alone...
MPEG Stream: "Stuck Between Stations"
MPEG Stream: "Chips Ahoy!"
MPEG Stream: "Hot Soft Light"

HOLD STEADY, THE Stay Positive (Vagrant) cd 15.98
The Hold Steady follow up their widely embraced third album Boys And Girls Of America with a mountain of more burly college radio ready rock that harkens back to the glory days of Husker Du, The Clash and The Replacements. Y'know what we're talkin' about - crunchin' electric guitars strummed by mannish fists, vocals sung through husky workin' man beards, and gang-style backing vocals probably contributed by everyone who was in the building at the time. However, The Hold Steady show their softer side getting a little more fancy pants with the addition of horns and harpsichord among other pleasantries. In fact, we'd might even liken them to the bleak weathered Scottish romantics The Arab Strap. All of these are of course good things in our books!
MPEG Stream: "Sequestered In Memphis"
MPEG Stream: "Lord, I'm Discouraged"

HOLDEN, RANDY Population II (Hobbit) lp 17.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Finally back in stock, but who knows for how long?!?!
Recently we reviewed -- and have been selling hella copies of -- the debut album by Om, the band formed by two-thirds of local revered stoner rockers Sleep. Om are just two guys, just bass and drums, dealing out the pot-fueled heaviness. Well coincidentally (?) we also just got these, the absurdly-long-awaited reissue of the truly legendary Population II album by guitarist Randy Holden, recorded in 1969 shortly after his brief but fruitful stint in San Francisco's Blue Cheer, playing only on the killer side two of that band's third album, New, Improved!
The connection? Well, as you might guess from the album's title, Population II is also a two-piece effort, just Randy on guitar (bass also on the album) and Chris Lockheed on drums (and bass pedals live). Beyond some sort of spiritual bond of two-piece heaviness, though, there's of course one major, obvious difference: Om's got NO guitar, whereas Holden's album is ALL ABOUT guitar. Heck the first track is simply called "Guitar Song". And he's a self-proclaimed 'guitar god' for a reason. On "Guitar Song" the lyrics are basically all about how he's in love with electric guitar playing, and loud. And as much as we enjoyed the Om album, Population II definitely reminds us that WE love guitar too!
Randy, with his trusty guitar and an ominous array of amp-stacks, conjures up some of the heaviest rock n' roll sounds heard on Earth up to that point in time for sure. Blue Cheer of course are a close comparison ("Fruit & Iceburgs" from side two of New, Improved! is reprised here) as well as Hendrix and Iron Butterfly...and soon enough Black Sabbath would up the ante further. But in the history of heavy, this album deserves some major recognition.
It's super trippy, doomily plodding, Randy's reedy vibrato voice calling out over the wail of his guitar. This rocks in the sludgiest sorta way for the day. And speaking of loud, you want Sunn amps? Randy's got Sunn amps! Check out the live shot on the back cover, these two assuredly blowing the roof off some San Francisco ballroom.
Not just a reissue, but actually the record's first OFFICAL, Randy Holden-approved release. And they're hand numbered and autographed by the man himself in gold marker just to make it really, really offical. Limited to 2000, pressed on 180 gram wax, this is a holy grail (or facsimile edition of a holy grail anyway) for all of you for whom "heavy" is akin to religion.

HOLE Nobody's Daughter (Mercury) cd 12.98
Oh Courtney.....