COACHWHIPS Peanut Butter and Jelly : Live at the Ginger Minge (Narnack) cd 14.98
Who doesn't love the Coachwhips? All this recording makes me want to do is see them live. Right now! With it's noisy, Olneyville Sound System-infused, bluesish garage rock, PB&J : Live at the Ginger Minge sounds a bit like a well-behaved Zen Guerilla. At least on record, cuz it's hard to capture this sort of spit and spittle garage noise on wax! As the Coachwhips' fourth release, it seems to be way less of an all out heart-attack and much more a set of fully formed songs on a fully formed album. Still totally rockin', just a little more matured.
MPEG Stream: "Body And Brains"
MPEG Stream: "I Made A Bomb"

COACHWHIPS / A TENSION Ghost Of A Chance / Begin With The End In Mind (Kimosciotic) 7" 2.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

COALESCE Ox (Relapse) lp 24.00
Also on now vinyl! Super limited! We only have a few...
Who would have thought we'd ever see a new Coalesce album, ever again? After a spate of unbelievable records, and a fairly acrimonious breakup, we figured we'd have to make do with Give Them Rope and Revolution In Just Listening and Functioning on Impatience, which hell, is the sort of 'making do' most bands would kill to be able to offer their faithful. But this new Coalesce pretty much picks up right where the last one left off, after a 10 year break, the sound is immediately recognizable, churning chugging super complex mathy post hardcore metal fury, stop start arrangements, lurching mosh worthy blowouts, the guitars massive, the drumming relentless, and the vocals, how can Sean Ingram still sound like this ten years later? Actually how can he even speak after a decade of vitriolic bellowing. But for all that stayed the same, a lot has changed in the decade since Revolution. On "The Comedian In Question", the band break down into a sort of droned out lope, and the vocals slip into some clear crooning, the sound is definitely sort of Alice In Chains, but on Coalesce it sounds so good. Great in fact.
Then there's the beginning of "Wild Ox Moan", a total lo-fi distorted blues jam, again with clean vox, the guitar clangy and clean, some slippery slide slipped in as well, before the band erupts into another furious pounding anvil to the skull. Long stretches of reverbed nylon string guitar butt up against some of the heaviest punishment these guys have ever doled out, which is saying something considering they're old enough to be the parents of most of the kids in the crowd (not counting us old guys), cool angular Drive Like Jehu high end guitar melodies wind around bizarre vocals and spill over into a weirdly groovy churn that sounds as much like Pantera as it does Coalesce, some stripped down jazzy moodiness, and at least one track that is so awesomely off kilter and slippery and dizzy, the whirling woozy guitars constantly causing the listener's head to spin, and while all the weird shit sticks out the most, it's really not the most prevalent stuff going on here, although the weirdness does seep into most of the more classic Coalesce sounding riffage, even so, the majority of this record IS in fact classic sounding Coalesce, just a bit more twisted, still heavy as fuck, and still weirdly catchy, maybe more so then ever, the weird stuff only makes it cooler and more fun.
MPEG Stream: "The Plot Against My Love"
MPEG Stream: "The Comedian In Question"
MPEG Stream: "Wild Ox Moan"
MPEG Stream: "Designed To Break A Man"

COALESCE OXEP (Relapse) cd ep 11.98
The return of metalcore gods Coalesce was one of the coolest and most unexpected musical surprises in recent memory, and the band's mighty Ox record from earlier this year kicked our asses just like we were hoping it would. The 7 songs on this little bro ep pretty much bring things to their brutal as fuck yet melodic, catchy, and just plain rocking conclusion in a way that only this band could deliver. Never ones to keep it plain and simple, the boys from Kansas City, MO (I know, right?) spice things up with moments of thoughtful experimentation and beautiful acoustic ditties that exhibit the same sort of dark twang as current day Earth. It always helps when the musicians effortlessly ascend to the next level of musical ability and comprehension, and yeah, Coalesce are up for the task. The hardcore songs here are like the unholy lovechild of the Jesus Lizard and Converge, or maybe more appropriately, like, uh, Coalesce. They're pioneers for sure, and it's nice to have them back making pretty much everything else of this ilk irrelevant.
MPEG Stream: "The Blind Eye"
MPEG Stream: "Joyless In Life"
MPEG Stream: "Through Sparrows I Rest"

COALESCE There Is Nothing New Under The Sun + (Hydra Head) cd 14.98
Whoo-hoo, Led Zeppelin rules! Coalesce too. Together (sort of), look out. Coalesce are one of the best metalcore bands, standard bearers for that scene, next to Converge. Oddly enough, though, it's an all-covers album they did a few years back that's probably our favorite of theirs. And now Hydra Head has reissued it with tons of bonus tracks! Here's what we said about this originally:
A pummeling, ultra heavy take on the lumbering dinosaur that is Led Zeppelin. These Kansas City, Missouri, post hardcore kids are playing some of the heaviest and most brutal metal around and doing their short haired, Gap wearing brethren proud. Some will be disappointed by how *un*fucked up these covers are, at least by Coalesce standards, but man oh man, these versions still destroy the originals (said with just a smidgen of cheekiness on our part of course).
This reissue adds a bunch more rare/unreleased tracks, not more Zep, but stuff like their Black Sabbath cover "Supernaut" (a sop to those like Allan who prefer the Sabs over Zeppelin?), covers of Boy Sets Fire, The Get Up Kids, and more. Sweet. And it's been repackage in a striking deluxe miniature-lp style gatefold sleeve with psychedelic lookin' artwork as well.
MPEG Stream: "Whole Lotta Love"
MPEG Stream: "Heartbreaker"

COASTAL Winter (Dreams By Degrees) 10" 9.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Coastal comes from the slowcore / sadcore school of US bands who loved Creation Records (i.e. Ride, My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive), but didn't want to delve too much into the production aspects of sculpting sound through the processed guitar. Almost taking the opposite approach to their heroes, Coastal applies a very dry production to their already very spartan songs, leaving plenty of room for the notes to seek drama, theatricality, and tension. This is particularly true in their cover of "Primitive Heart" by the Cocteau Twins, in which all of Robin Guthrie's oceanic guitar has been completely removed in favor of a sparse piano and vocal melody. Certainly for those who need more Red House Painters or Codeine in their lives.

COBRA KILLER s/t (Digital Hardcore) cd 22.00
Either you'll love it or hate it, but that may be the case with most stuff from Digital Hardcore. Cobra Killer is the collaborative effort from Gina of EC8OR and Annika of Shizuo (whom you may remember as the woman from Shizuo's recent tour grinding relentlessly to Shizuo's music on stage and exposing herself to the audience). Taking 60's Blue Note soul records and purposefully arrhythmic beats, Cobra Killer does not groove in the least. Instead they take Throbbing Gristle's gleeful antagonism to rock & roll, electronica, whatever... and scream like Lydia Lunch (age 16) over top. A very stupid record.

COBRA KILLER s/t (Digital Hardcore) lp 18.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Either you'll love it or hate it, but that may be the case with most stuff from Digital Hardcore. Cobra Killer is the collaborative effort from Gina of EC8OR and Annika of Shizuo (whom you may remember as the woman from Shizuo's recent tour grinding relentlessly to Shizuo's music on stage and exposing herself to the audience). Taking 60's Blue Note soul records and purposefully arrhythmic beats, Cobra Killer does not groove in the least. Instead they take Throbbing Gristle's gleeful antagonism to rock & roll, electronica, whatever... and scream like Lydia Lunch (age 16) over top. A very stupid record.

COBRA KILLER Uppers And Downers (Monika 666) cd 15.98

COBRA VERDE Copycat Killers (Scat) cd 14.98
Not sure what happened to Cobra Verde, but whatever it is we like it. We always remembered Cobra Verde as being the Scat Records house band, just a pretty good rock band, not as popular as Guided By Voices, not as depressingly mysterious as My Dad Is Dead, just a pretty cool band (we also figured that a Scat employee was probably in CV as well). But it seems like at some point, the guys in Cobra Verde got weird, and we mean weird in a good way. Started taking lots of crazy drugs, practicing with only the black light on, trading in their jeans and t-shirts for leather pants and feather boas, cowboy hats and sequined shirts. Their midwest rock and roll started mutating into a druggy spacey fucked up glam rock and suddenly they are a super cool weirdly messed up band who are suddenly way more exciting than their labelmates. This here newest Cobra Verde record is all covers, and a bizarre selection of covers at that. Some of the choices make perfect sense, in light of CV's new drug-space-glam sound, but some make absolutely no sense at all, which makes them all the more perfect. How about a hazy, drone-y drugged out version of Pink's "Get The Party Started"? Sounds way better than it sounds if you know what we mean. Lurching and hypnotic, a jangle guitar loop, mumbled vocals and all sorts of spaced out guitar FX. Or how about a murky, fuzzed out propulsive take on Donna Summer's "I Feel Love", all distorted drums, surf guitar and squiggly synths? It's a dizzying ride from there on out. Messed up and messed with versions of tracks by New Order, Hawkwind, the Troggs, the Rolling Stones, the Undertones, the Flamin' Groovies, The Fall, Leonard Cohen, Mott The Hoople and the Easter Monkeys.
MPEG Stream: "Get The Party Started"
MPEG Stream: "I Feel Love"
MPEG Stream: "Play With Fire"

COCK ROBOT / KATZENMALLETS (Roger ) split 7" 2.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
A local no-wave gimp assault: two tracks from Cock Robot and seven (that's right, seven!!!) from Katzenmallets. Note: the sheet of plastic opti-bubbli-llusion stuff for the sleeve art is pretty neat all by itself.

COCKER, JARVIS Further Complications (Rough Trade) cd 13.98

COCKER, JARVIS Further Complications (Rough Trade) 2lp 16.98

COCKER, JARVIS Jarvis (Rough Trade) cd 15.98
When a front man steps away from his main band to go solo, his loner works will oftentimes resemble a single key facet of said band or conversely it will escape madly in a diametrically opposite direction. However, Pulp's Jarvis Cocker is infamous for not being one to go with the flow. Why start now? With Pulp on indefinite hiatus, he took full advantage of his footloose and fancy freedom tacklin' a little of everything for this solo album. Yet even despite this, as well as the fact that he's done plenty of guest and collaborative work in recent years with the likes of Charlotte Gainsbourg, Nancy Sinatra, Marianne Faithfull and Harry Potter (well, not really... he did do some songs for one of the HP movies), his voice is inextricably synonymous with Pulp.
That said, the overall results are a little odd even by the notoriously willful and eccentric Cocker standards. To be honest, we initially weren't sure what to think of this. What's particularly unexpected is just how 'normal' this usually outrageous, cocky and irrepressible gent comes across at times. He applies various mostly American '70s rock tropes -- from the all-out anthemic (the strangely uplifting refrain of "Don't Let Him Waste Your Time") to the solidly straightforward and straight laced ("I Will Kill Again" which features sober piano reminiscent of Carole King, Carly Simon or The Carpenters) to the voluptuously glammy (hey, is that the melody from "Crimson And Clover" in "Black Magic"?). However, we eventually came to the conclusion that this uncharacteristic normalcy seems to be Cocker's sly 'wolf in sheep's clothing' guise. His trademark enigmatic charisma, absurd braininess and glinting razor-sharp black humor (check out "Fat Children"... 'nuf said) make their presence felt throughout. Oh Jarvis, how could we have ever doubted you? Silly us! Give this one time, it'll surely lay down some roots, and prove itself to be a dear favorite. Recommended.
MPEG Stream: "Don't Let Him Waste Your Time"
MPEG Stream: "Black Magic"
MPEG Stream: "Fat Children"

COCONUT Coconuts (Land and Sea) lp 14.98
While this is not the first time we listed Bay Area based art-pop group Coconut, this is the first time the band has made a full length release on vinyl and with their new fully-formed incarnation as a four-piece band. Their cd debut was a sprawling 3 cd set of pop experiments between the two main men, Tomo Yasuda (Tussle, Hey Willpower) and artist and publisher Colter Jacobsen, which was originally intended to be one half of a boxed set that was designed to become an actual box when put together, but that second half never materialized. We guess they have been busy playing a lot more live shows and because of that had to enlist two more full time members, the Japanese keyboardist and vocalist, Keiko and bass player Justin Loney. But this development has given the songs more polish and more dynamic focus, while still keeping a loose and fun playfulness to the proceedings.
The sides of the record are split into day and night moods with the day side featuring covers of Leiber and Stoller's "Searchin' " and a slammin' version of Arthur Russell's post-disco classic "Is It All Over My Face". Like a folkier version of Deerhoof, but also channeling groups such as Young Marble Giants and Slapp Happy, the album is not without its experimental explorations, especially on the "night" side. Such a great and beautifully realized record. Released by Oakland-based art-publishing concern, Land And Sea on various colors of vinyl (we have purple and black swirl vinyl in stock). Limited to 300 copies, and highly recommended!

COCONUT Half Hoof / Sassafras (Land And Sea) 7" 9.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
The first Coconut release, Rain / Cocoanut / Hello Fruity, was a low-key handmade behemoth 3cd-r set that was the first of 2 parts of a planned box set (the idea being that both sets would form a cube. box set, get it?). That quickly sold out and went out of print and while the band tells us the second part is still planned, they are taking their sweet time. The core duo of visual artist Colter Jacobsen and multi-instrumentalist Tomo Yasuda, who also plays bass for Tussle, are busy folks after all, making both art and music, releasing hand-pressed books and exhibiting art or curating shows or touring and playing everywhere in various musical incarnations. They have recently expanded their line-up to a foursome, and released this vinyl debut for local artist-run production house Land and Sea, who make small runs of artist made books and records and plan art-centric gathering events in various places such as the Berkeley Art Museum, the mountains of Ukiah and most recently Grace Cathedral where this 7" was released. Coconut performed with a full choir for that event which was quite beautiful in the setting, with lit candles and a projection of a dark cove looking out toward the ocean behind them. They musically move in many directions from fragile folk songs to chamber pop to more rhythmically inspired mantras and experimental noise excursions, often pulling lyrics from found poems or pop songs that can be quite off the cuff and humorous. For this 7", the two songs are in a folk-pop vein sounding like the mesmerizing Latin-tinged folk of Jose Gonzalez mixed with the angular structures of Deerhoof, or comparable in style to the Tenniscoats and Tape collaborations for which Coconut share similar affinities. These are on "random-colored" vinyl (sort of a washy silvery grey with specks of pinks, blues and greens - each one different) and come in handsewn sleeves with a beautiful nest drawing by Jesse Schlesinger on the cover. Limited to 100, we have 10 and not sure we'll be able to get more. So Nice!

COCONUT Rain / Cocoanut / Hello Fruity (Allone Co.) 3cd-r 19.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Eschewing the "less is more" aesthetic of most DIY outfits, local SF-based duo Coconut has made an ambitiously beautiful lo-fi debut, comprising of not just one album but three. This would be a big gamble for most bands, but with Coconut, it seems to make sense. You see, Coconut has long been the side project of visual artist and drummer Colter Jacobsen, who also has played in bands Window Window and Steeple Chase and multi-instrumentalist, Tomo Yosuda who is a member of both Tussle and Hey Willpower. Recording at home over a period of three years, Coconut has been the kitchen sink for all the ideas they haven't been able to place in their various other projects: Deconstructed Appalachia guitar, melancholic pop, pretty long-form experimental electronic compositions, disembodied vocals, musique concrete, druggy rhythm excursions, and sprightly angular guitar anthems. It's all here but with a solid consistency throughout that doesn't seem like it's a bunch of one-off ideas. Sort of like Deerhoof meets Gastr Del Sol.
The first of the three discs, Rain, is about 29 minutes, and it's perfect for a rainy day with shimmering electronics, percolating percussive elements and acoustic guitar with far off drifting vocals. Cocoanut (note the added a) is the second disc and is the most far out experimentally especially with the nearly 13 minute electronic mindmelt centerpiece "Dubbud". Running at about an hour, it is also the longest of the three. While the third disc, Hello Fruity, is about 30 minutes and is the most song-oriented, featuring guest appearances from members of Tarentel and Deerhoof. Part overview and part artwork, this 3 cd set is housed in a handmade triple folded cardboard stock with spray painted stenciled images of clouds, crescent moon, and lemon drops and includes a folded insert of drawings and credits. Conceived as half a box set, with another 3 cd set in the works, so that both sets put together will comprise a hand painted cardboard cube. Odd, Sweet, Beautiful, and Totally Recommended!!!!
MPEG Stream: "P"
MPEG Stream: "Tide Sun 7th Generation"
MPEG Stream: "Dubbud"
MPEG Stream: "Human Nature"

COCONUTS s/t (No Quarter) cd 13.98
The quietly menacing, and curiously mesmeric, NYC-by-way-of-Australia trio Coconuts (that's plural, not to be confused with SF band Coconut, singular... nor should it be confused with what you probably THINK a band called Coconuts might sound like, either!) offer up what we'll assume to be their debut, on the always interestin' No Quarter label (home to Burning Star Core, Circle, Psychic Paramount, and many other faves). This self-titled disc comprises 5 tracks, mostly all but one of 'em pretty long (but not in the double digits or anything), 34 minutes or so total. When it's on, though, you'll sink pretty deep into their sounds, that it'll seem like it would take much longer to swim back to the surface, helplessly drifting with the wave-action of their heavy plodding rhythms, Coconuts' semi-skronked, but not un-melodic, keening guitars like the plaintive calls of homeless, strung-out whales...
We noticed they thank Blues Control, we can see how they'd fit in with those guys, this has got an abstract, similarly droned-out vibe, darker though, and more spare, maybe like void-travelling Moon Duo, stripped down and spooky, a downer-dosed slo-mo krauty psych groove, spacey and druggy. The vocals are hushed moans, drafty exhalations to go with the droney murk and mope of the music, which slowly throbs and buzzes, the percussion an echoing thud, the electric guitar an avant acid blues wash... The confusional element of all this is perhaps accentuated by the digipak packaging, which is oriented with the spine on the longer side, what's normally the top, or bottom... some of us here (ok, it was Allan) griped that this means when you file it on a standard cd shelf, you won't be able to fit it there with the spine facing out, you'll have to have it facing either up or down, so the name of the cd won't be visible, which is normally one of the functions of the spine, but whatever, not a big deal, at least it fits on a cd shelf at all unlike a lot of other cd packaging options. In any case, it's a cool disc!
MPEG Stream: "Lost Bitches"
MPEG Stream: "Dark World"
MPEG Stream: "Dean's Blues"

COCONUTS s/t (No Quarter) lp 15.98
The quietly menacing, and curiously mesmeric, NYC-by-way-of-Australia trio Coconuts (that's plural, not to be confused with SF band Coconut, singular... nor should it be confused with what you probably THINK a band called Coconuts might sound like, either!) offer up what we'll assume to be their debut, on the always interestin' No Quarter label (home to Burning Star Core, Circle, Psychic Paramount, and many other faves). This self-titled disc comprises 5 tracks, mostly all but one of 'em pretty long (but not in the double digits or anything), 34 minutes or so total. When it's on, though, you'll sink pretty deep into their sounds, that it'll seem like it would take much longer to swim back to the surface, helplessly drifting with the wave-action of their heavy plodding rhythms, Coconuts' semi-skronked, but not un-melodic, keening guitars like the plaintive calls of homeless, strung-out whales...
We noticed they thank Blues Control, we can see how they'd fit in with those guys, this has got an abstract, similarly droned-out vibe, darker though, and more spare, maybe like void-travelling Moon Duo, stripped down and spooky, a downer-dosed slo-mo krauty psych groove, spacey and druggy. The vocals are hushed moans, drafty exhalations to go with the droney murk and mope of the music, which slowly throbs and buzzes, the percussion an echoing thud, the electric guitar an avant acid blues wash... The confusional element of all this is perhaps accentuated by the digipak packaging, which is oriented with the spine on the longer side, what's normally the top, or bottom... some of us here (ok, it was Allan) griped that this means when you file it on a standard cd shelf, you won't be able to fit it there with the spine facing out, you'll have to have it facing either up or down, so the name of the cd won't be visible, which is normally one of the functions of the spine, but whatever, not a big deal, at least it fits on a cd shelf at all unlike a lot of other cd packaging options. In any case, it's a cool disc!
MPEG Stream: "Lost Bitches"
MPEG Stream: "Dark World"
MPEG Stream: "Dean's Blues"

COCOROSIE Adventures Of Ghosthorse And Stillborn (Touch And Go) cd 15.98
Incorporating more elements of Hip-Hop and even trip-hop on their third album, Cocorosie have found themselves a seriously dedicated and loyal following, as demonstrated by the amount of these we've already sold without even getting a chance to review it. So at this point you probably already know where you stand on Cocorosie as they tend to have quite a polarizing effect on folks. There is their growing by the minute fan base who are completely enamored with their fairytale like sparkling electronic tinged neo-folk, hip-hop moments, music box tenderness, and carnival weirdness all wrapped in dayglo colors and over the top quirkiness. And there are folks on the other side who are easily annoyed by their mishmashing of styles and delivery. On repeated listens we've found this to definitely be an interesting step in the evolution of this duo, who while seeming to grow in popularity each day, also tend to be even more difficult for lots of folks to get into. Listen to the sound samples and you make the call...
MPEG Stream: "Japan"
MPEG Stream: "Rainbow Warriors"

COCOROSIE Adventures Of Ghosthorse And Stillborn (Touch And Go) 2lp 14.98
Incorporating more elements of Hip-Hop and even trip-hop on their third album, Cocorosie have found themselves a seriously dedicated and loyal following, as demonstrated by the amount of these we've already sold without even getting a chance to review it. So at this point you probably already know where you stand on Cocorosie as they tend to have quite a polarizing effect on folks. There is their growing by the minute fan base who are completely enamored with their fairytale like sparkling electronic tinged neo-folk, hip-hop moments, music box tenderness, and carnival weirdness all wrapped in dayglo colors and over the top quirkiness. And there are folks on the other side who are easily annoyed by their mishmashing of styles and delivery. On repeated listens we've found this to definitely be an interesting step in the evolution of this duo, who while seeming to grow in popularity each day, also tend to be even more difficult for lots of folks to get into. Listen to the sound samples and you make the call...
MPEG Stream: "Japan"
MPEG Stream: "Rainbow Warriors"

COCOROSIE Grey Oceans (Sub Pop) cd 14.98
Much like Xiu Xiu, uttering the name CocoRosie will garner very extreme and polarizing reactions from people. They seem to be one of those bands that people either obsess over and love or are totally annoyed by and hate with equal passion. While the record cover will only fuel the fire for the latter, its the music that we should be talking about and while we're definitely equally split here at AQ, some of us are finding lots to like on Grey Oceans. Tender and delicate childlike tales with a vocal delivery that's kind of like the freak-folk equivalent to Billie Holiday. They do have a tendency to come off a bit forced in their desire to be 'weird' and 'haunting' but on lots of these songs they do really create a mood that's both chilling and playful. And as much as people have been freaking out about Gonjasufi as of late some of us here think that his voice is sort of similar to the women of CocoRosie. Probably not the record that's going to convert the CocoRosie haters, but fans will no doubt find Grey Oceans a perfectly imperfect addition to their canon.
MPEG Stream: "Lemonade"
MPEG Stream: "Trinity's Crying"
MPEG Stream: "Hopscotch"

COCOROSIE Grey Oceans (Sub Pop) lp 16.98
Much like Xiu Xiu, uttering the name CocoRosie will garner very extreme and polarizing reactions from people. They seem to be one of those bands that people either obsess over and love or are totally annoyed by and hate with equal passion. While the record cover will only fuel the fire for the latter, its the music that we should be talking about and while we're definitely equally split here at AQ, some of us are finding lots to like on Grey Oceans. Tender and delicate childlike tales with a vocal delivery that's kind of like the freak-folk equivalent to Billie Holiday. They do have a tendency to come off a bit forced in their desire to be 'weird' and 'haunting' but on lots of these songs they do really create a mood that's both chilling and playful. And as much as people have been freaking out about Gonjasufi as of late some of us here think that his voice is sort of similar to the women of CocoRosie. Probably not the record that's going to convert the CocoRosie haters, but fans will no doubt find Grey Oceans a perfectly imperfect addition to their canon.
MPEG Stream: "Lemonade"
MPEG Stream: "Trinity's Crying"
MPEG Stream: "Hopscotch"

COCOROSIE La Maison De Mon Reve (Touch & Go) cd 14.98
Our first listen brought one easy description immediately to mind: "the female Devendra Banhart". Wait, no make that "Devendra Banhart meets Macy Gray"! Or maybe Beth Gibbons of Portishead. Seriously. And we think a lot of people are gonna go googoo for this, actually. The two girls (sisters, actually: Bianca and Sierra Cassady) who make up CocoRosie are definitely onto something. It's a bit precious and twee, sure, but also very very lovely. Their sometimes mumbled, sometimes soulfully soaring vocals adorn music that's nicely sparse and understated... Murky (sampled?) beats. Wind and rain. Acoustic guitar folk-blues. Sleepy, lilting melodies. Add several layers of their fragile whispering and achingly sweet crooning, delivering cryptic lyrics that you hope they're singing to or about you, and you've got La Maison De Mon Reve (The House Of My Dream), quite a nice debut from these two, we have to say. Recommended.
MPEG Stream: "Terrible Angels"
MPEG Stream: "By Your Side"
MPEG Stream: "Good Friday"

COCOROSIE La Maison De Mon Reve (Touch & Go) lp 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
At last, here's the vinyl version of an album that's been selling pretty steadily here on cd since it came out practically a year ago. If you're one of the few folks who hasn't already picked up the digital version, now you've got an analog option! Here's what we said about this before:
Our first listen brought one easy description immediately to mind: "the female Devendra Banhart". Wait, no make that "Devendra Banhart meets Macy Gray"! Or maybe Beth Gibbons of Portishead. Seriously. And we think a lot of people are gonna go googoo for this, actually. The two girls (sisters, actually: Bianca and Sierra Cassady) who make up CocoRosie are definitely onto something. It's a bit precious and twee, sure, but also very very lovely. Their sometimes mumbled, sometimes soulfully soaring vocals adorn music that's nicely sparse and understated... Murky (sampled?) beats. Wind and rain. Acoustic guitar folk-blues. Sleepy, lilting melodies. Add several layers of their fragile whispering and achingly sweet crooning, delivering cryptic lyrics that you hope they're singing to or about you, and you've got La Maison De Mon Reve (The House Of My Dream), quite a nice debut from these two, we have to say. Recommended.
MPEG Stream: "Terrible Angels"
MPEG Stream: "By Your Side"
MPEG Stream: "Good Friday"

COCOROSIE Lemonade (Sub Pop) 7" 5.50
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

COCOROSIE Noah's Ark (Touch and Go) cd 14.98
Musically they're still developing their eccentric persona as the bastard child of Billie Holiday and Devendra Banhart (who incidentally shows up on this album, not surprising as one half of Cocrosie is Banhart's better half!), whereas appearance-wise they've groomed themselves into the bastard child of Indigo Girls and Kajagoogoo! That said, there is one song that stands head and shoulders above the rest, and it comes early in the album. It is the second song "Beautiful Boyz" featuring Antony (of And The Johnsons). Soooo good!
Like "La Maison De Mon Reve", "Noah's Ark" features little kid noises like what sounds like canned ["the rooster says..."] barnyard animals; maybe some of Noah's snuck into the studio along with the album's many guest stars? Some of the noises seem stuck on like band-aids without any real scrapes underneath but it all plays out with a charm that is as cute as it is smoky-old-theater dark. The sisters warble and whisper and coo creating a unique sound that is playful and bewitching. All in all, some quite impressive progressions have developed from their debut last year, made only more so by the well-chosen, adventurous and skilled cast of guests.
MPEG Stream: "Beautiful Boyz"
MPEG Stream: "Noah's Ark"

COCOROSIE Noah's Ark (Touch and Go) lp 14.98
Musically they're still developing their eccentric persona as the bastard child of Billie Holiday and Devendra Banhart (who incidentally shows up on this album, not surprising as one half of Cocrosie is Banhart's better half!), whereas appearance-wise they've groomed themselves into the bastard child of Indigo Girls and Kajagoogoo! That said, there is one song that stands head and shoulders above the rest, and it comes early in the album. It is the second song "Beautiful Boyz" featuring Antony (of And The Johnsons). Soooo good!
Like "La Maison De Mon Reve", "Noah's Ark" features little kid noises like what sounds like canned ["the rooster says..."] barnyard animals; maybe some of Noah's snuck into the studio along with the album's many guest stars? Some of the noises seem stuck on like band-aids without any real scrapes underneath but it all plays out with a charm that is as cute as it is smoky-old-theater dark. The sisters warble and whisper and coo creating a unique sound that is playful and bewitching. All in all, some quite impressive progressions have developed from their debut last year, made only more so by the well-chosen, adventurous and skilled cast of guests.
MPEG Stream: "Beautiful Boyz"
MPEG Stream: "Noah's Ark"

COCTAILS Let's Enjoy... (Presspop Music) 10" 15.98
Ultra limited Japanese tour 10" released by the Presspop gallery / label (the same folks that brought us the cool Bob Moog doll reviewed elsewhere on this list) with awesome cover art courtesy of Mr. Archer Prewitt. Eight tracks of that perfect Coctails pop, quirky and slightly off kilter, always with a slightly melancholy undercurrent. Lots of banjo, harmonica, warm warbly organs, occasional squelchy synths, simple shuffling rhythms and sweet vocal harmonies. The sound here is a bit more experimental, sort of Beach Boys meets Martin Denny, but it never strays far from that bouncy Summery pop we love so much. We only managed to get a handful of these so they will most likely be gone pretty quick.

COCTAILS Popcorn Box (Carrot Top) 3cd 42.00
We sort of forgot how much we loved indie rock, but recently, there've been a handful of re-issues that definitely remind us what was so fucking great about that whole early nineties / college rock / DIY / indie rock scene. Most importantly the bands were just amazing. And they actually wrote amazing songs. Pavement, Guided By Voices and of course the Coctails. The Coctails had all the makings of a joke band, goofy instrumentation, a definite love of all things kitsch, they even performed in the beginning in cheesy yellow tuxedos as if they were the house band in some Catskills resort. The sound was sort of jazz, sort of lounge, a little bit pop. But the Coctails were unbelievably talented songwriters AND players. So whatever type of music they tackled, it sounded great, and eventually sounded like the Coctails and nobody else. Their 'sound' definitely leaned heavily in the jazz direction, but as they progressed, they became quite the pop songsmiths, and not the sort of pop you would always expect from a goofy bunch of dudes in a band called the Coctails, no, more a moody, brooding, dark and warm pop. Not that they couldn't goof it up and whip out some of the funniest silliest stuff you've ever heard, but they were capable of bringing a room of jaded indie rockers to their emotional knees if the mood suited them. Those of you who have never heard the Coctails, might remember a handful of amazing records by a guy named Archer Prewitt. Well Mr. Prewitt just so happened to spend his formative years in those very same Coctails. His sweetly melancholic sunny pop definitely had its roots in the Coctails later years. This box set is really well done. Collecting loads of tracks from their out of print albums, as well as ALL of their singles, compliation tracks (of which there were many) and even their contribution to They Might Be Giants's monthly cd club from way back when. The Coctails tended to experiment more when they weren't making albums, so the singles tracks tend toward the more goofy and fun and flat out silly, but the album cuts balance those out perfectly, with their dark melancholia and sunny jazzy hopefulness. Plus the booklet is immense, with all sorts of amazing art and Coctails ephemera (they had to be one of the best merchandised bands ever, they even had cloth dolls of each band member! And purchasers of this here box are offered the chance to order the whole set!!) including extensive notes on each track from the band. Comes in a cool popcorn box like slip-cover.
MPEG Stream: "Steam"
MPEG Stream: "Monkeys And Seals"
MPEG Stream: "Penguin / Powerhouse"
MPEG Stream: "Woodbee"
MPEG Stream: "Working Holiday"

COCTEAU TWINS BBC Sessions (Ryko) 2cd 24.00
Almost all of the tracks from this massive collection of Cocteau Twins etherealism were recorded during their very prolific 1982 - 1984 period that produced three albums and four eps. As the best tracks ("Hearsay Please", "Dear Heart", "Blind Dumb Deaf", and "Hazel") on this collection are already featured on the 4AD import version of "Garlands", this is more of an historical document showcasing the giant leaps the band made in this two year period. The earliest tracks are a bit awkward as the limitations of John Peel's studios expose the primitive nature of their early songs, lacking the murky narcosis found on the aforementioned "Garlands" record. Yet these tracks also show the most variation from their album counterparts... As the progression from post-Siouxsie bleakness to their signature ethereal washes of guitars and vocals unveils itself, these BBC tracks shimmer with the meticulous detail of their early albums.
Unfortunately, there are seven tracks from 1996 which show how far in the wrong direction the Cocteau Twins have gone, veering dangerously close to Lilith Fair drudgery. But Cocteau Twins diehards (or those without the "Garlands" import) will still need this. If you are looking for new material by the Cocteau Twins, you might also listen to guitarist Robin Guthrie's mixed cd for the Drifting festival, or the production work that bassist Simon Raymonde brings to Rothko.
And no, Vaughn "4AD artist dude" Oliver didn't do the cover.

COCTEAU TWINS Blue Bell Knoll (Beggars Banquet) cd 10.98
To commemorate the reissue of this Cocteau Twins classic, we bring you word from former AQ resident goth Marc Kate:
Cocteau Twins' music creates the same bittersweet comfort as a feather stalk poking out of your pillow, candied anise, a scratchy wool sweater or the smell of your mother's hair. From any era, their sound is quite unmistakable. Their guitars issue luminous wires of platinum that reflect the singular sound of Elizabeth Fraser's vocals. Her vocals are unique, not only because of their their crystal clarity, but her lyrical style that drifts between glossolallia, a baby's earliest utterances and some elfin prayer. Blue Bell Knoll is by no means a departure from previous albums. Their career never involved any sharp turns, but rather a refinement of a sound. What's unique about Blue Bell Knoll is that previous albums were usually fairly dark, lit by dusk or moonlight whereas Blue Bell Knoll exists in a strange sort of joyous, daylight melancholy. The kind of joy that is so overwhelming that it spills into other emotions and brings tears to your eyes. At least that was my reaction the first time I heard this record when I was seventeen.
MPEG Stream: "Carolyn's Fingers"

COCTEAU TWINS Garlands (Beggars Banquet) cd 10.98

COCTEAU TWINS Head Over Heels (Beggars Banquet) cd 10.98
And now the third installment in our series of reviews of the recent Cocteau Twins' re-issues...
From the first two songs of Cocteau Twins' second album you get the feeling that this was perhaps the most haunting, mysterious and yes, goth album of their just shy of two decade long career - showcasing much dynamic and emotional depth. It's not until the third song that they suddenly release their firm shadowy hold on the dour, echoing catacomb depths, bursting forth with the glorious shimmer-pop number "Sugar Hiccup" and continuing the momentum on from there with much more aggressive guitars of "In Our Angelhood". With the departure of their fellow founding member bassist Will Heggie, the group was pared down to just the duo of Robin Guthrie and Elizabeth Fraser. Guthrie's guitarwork slinks, lurks sears and blisters through each of these ten songs. It's a perfect contrast to Fraser's unmistakable breathtaking fairy-speak vocal performance, and one that would only blossom and deepen immensely on following releases. Simply beautiful.
MPEG Stream: "Sugar Hiccup"
MPEG Stream: "The Tinderbox (Of The Heart)"

COCTEAU TWINS Heaven Or Las Vegas (Beggars Banquet) cd 12.98
Beggars has just reissued the Cocteau Twins catalog. We're gonna try to list 'em all, one by one...starting (why not?) with this one. Heaven Or Las Vegas was originally released in 1990. Their music swoops and floats as if conjured by the wings of the most lovely and magical deepsea birds. Somehow it's at once immensely majestic, deeply comforting and sweetly infectious. Robin Guthrie's glistening guitars and Elizabeth Fraser's voice spiral together effortlessly while Simon Raymonde forms waves of regal bass lines that anchor the proceedings. Features the beloved Cocteau Twins' hit "Iceblink Luck".
MPEG Stream: "Iceblink Luck"
MPEG Stream: "Heaven Or Las Vegas"

COCTEAU TWINS Stars And Topsoil: A Collection (1982-1990) (4AD) 2lp 22.00
Finally a good Cocteau Twins collection on vinyl! There has been plenty of anthologies and collections of this ethereal dream pop trio coming out since the band's 1996 break-up. We suspect that is partly to satisfy fans by collecting all the odds and ends the band recorded (they have 4 cds worth of singles and B sides alone), but perhaps also to get more fan influence to pressure the band to finally release their scrapped and abandoned last album. Here's hoping!
Stars and Topsoil is a vinyl reissue of an 18 song compilation originally released on cd in 2000 of the band's picks from their essential 4AD catalog, from Garlands to Heaven Or Las Vegas, including rare ep and single tracks. Diehard fans who already own the records will no doubt have this stuff already, but for new fans or the newly curious, this is as good as a place to start as any. You can hear so many recent artists (Beach House, Gang Gang Dance, Ulrich Schnauss, M83, Sleep Over, Grouper, Puro Instinct, to name but a few) in the gauzy DNA strains of this seminal group.

COCTEAU TWINS Treasure (Beggars Banquet) cd 10.98
And now we continue our re-visiting of the Cocteau Twins' recent reissues... Without question, on this the Cocteau Twins' third album originally released in 1984, Elizabeth Fraser's vocal performance nears the sublime. You may not be able to decipher a single word of her secret tongue, but waves of emotion crash and swirl gloriously around you nevertheless. Each element - guitar, voice, bass and percussion - is perfectly executed and arranged. Truly stunning and almost magical, it's an enduring classic that more than lives up to its name.
MPEG Stream: "Ivo"
MPEG Stream: "Lorelei"

COCTEAU TWINS Victorialand (Beggars Banquet) cd 10.98

MPEG Stream: "The Thinner The Air"
MPEG Stream: "Little Spacey"

CODEINE Barely Real (Sub Pop) cd 7.98

CODEINE Frigid Stars LP (Sub Pop) cd 10.98
Once in a while we like to step away from all the new (or newly reissued) music pouring in and devote our attention (and yours) to something that's not new, just an old favorite that hasn't gotten the full-on AQ review treatment. Here's a deserving example: the 1991 debut from Sub Pop slow-core specialists Codeine. Definitely one of those records that Andee, Allan, et. al. here will tell you, if you don't have it already, you oughta get one now...seriously. Emo, indie-rock, post-rock, whatever this is, it's a classic. A classic of majestic melancholia. For the Frigid Stars LP, this NYC-based trio consisted of Stephen Immerwahr on bass and vocals, Chris Brokaw on drums and guitar and John Engle on guitar. They employ the soft-loud dynamic that their former Sub Pop labelmates Nirvana already made famous (or would around that same year). Not that they sound much like Nirvana. They sound a bit more like Low, albeit a lumbering downtuned Low. Codeine's own brand of moody, melodic misery wouldn't, couldn't be an MTV hit. Indie-pop it was, but so sad and slow... The songs on here share slowly crawling tempos, and echoey drum hits and big distorted guitar chords crashing down to give extra weight to Immerwahr's weary vocals and love-lost lyrics. We've always wanted to hear a metal band do a cover of some track from this record, maybe "D". But even though this isn't really "heavy" in a metal sense, it still IS heavy. A great record for when you're sad and alone. Strange how something like this will make you feel better, but it will.
As a side note, Allan needs to mention that he first heard this album over the phone. Not the whole album, but sound clips much like the ones on our website. That's right, way back when before the internet and the mp3 and all that, somebody got the idea to do a dial-up music service where you'd get to check out new music over the phone, by calling a 900-number I think, and using a touch-tone phone to choose what you wanted to hear. It had something to do with the old Factsheet Five 'zine as I recall. I remember looking at the album cover reproduced in the 'zine -- a negative photo of black stars floating in white emptiness -- and hearing the long-distance sounds of those Frigid Stars like a transmission from that deep space void... even under those circumstances, maybe especially under those circumstances, Codeine were so effective. I think I might have selected it to listen to on the basis of the album cover and title alone, and was not disappointed.
MPEG Stream: "D"
MPEG Stream: "Cave-In"

CODEINE Frigid Stars LP (Numero Group) 2lp+cd 28.00
While we wait for the repress of the entire awesome 6lp+3cd When I See The Sun Codeine boxset, and while we're still reveling in their recent visit, and mind blowing Great American Music Hall reunion tour performance, we might as well take a second to focus on this, their breathtaking debut, now re-released individually, separate from the boxset, fleshed out with a handful of bonus tracks, Peel Sessions, demos and rarities, thus totally essential for obsessives like us (or you?) - well, at least those among us who haven't already gone whole hog and bought the boxset. But for all you vinyl freaks who have been waiting to check these guys out, this is the perfect introduction, to one of the most beautiful, intense, moving, and hauntingly lovely chunks of slowcore indie rock EVER, the 1991 debut from Sub Pop slow-core specialists Codeine. Definitely one of those records that Andee, Allan, et. al. here will tell you, if you don't have it already, you oughta get one now...seriously. Emo, indie-rock, post-rock, whatever this is, it's a classic. A classic of majestic melancholia. For the Frigid Stars LP, this NYC-based trio consisted of Stephen Immerwahr on bass and vocals, Chris Brokaw on drums and guitar and John Engle on guitar. They employ the soft-loud dynamic that their former Sub Pop labelmates Nirvana already made famous (or would around that same year). Not that they sound much like Nirvana. They sound a bit more like Low, albeit a lumbering downtuned Low. Codeine's own brand of moody, melodic misery wouldn't, couldn't be an MTV hit. Indie-pop it was, but so sad and slow... The songs here share slowly crawling tempos, and echoey drum hits and big distorted guitar chords crashing down to give extra weight to Immerwahr's weary vocals and love-lost lyrics. We've always wanted to hear a metal band do a cover of some track from this record, maybe "D". But even though this isn't really "heavy" in a metal sense, it still IS heavy. A great record for when you're sad and alone. Strange how something like this will make you feel better, but it will.
As a side note, one aQ-er first heard this album over the phone. Not the whole album, but sound clips much like the ones on our website. That's right, way back when before the internet and the mp3 and all that, somebody got the idea to do a dial-up music service where you'd get to check out new music over the phone, by calling a 900-number, and using a touch-tone phone to choose what you wanted to hear. It had something to do with the old Factsheet Five 'zine as we recall. We have vague memories of looking at the album cover reproduced in the 'zine - a negative photo of black stars floating in white emptiness - and hearing the long-distance sounds of those Frigid Stars like a transmission from that deep space void... even under those circumstances, maybe especially under those circumstances, Codeine were so effective. We might just have selected it to listen to on the basis of the album cover and title alone, and were not disappointed.
MPEG Stream: "D"
MPEG Stream: "Cave-In"

CODEINE When I See The Sun (Numero Group) 3 x 2lp + 3cd box set 83.00
Finally repressed, so we can review it! We had been waiting for this FOREVER, a gorgeous, super deluxe comprehensive career retrospective from slowcore legends Codeine, a group who most aQ-ers count as all time faves, and whose sound most definitely influenced a legion of slo-mo outfits that would surface in their wake. This box collects both their albums proper, Frigid Stars and The White Birch, as well as the Barely Real ep, and on top of that, piles on TONS of rarities, single B-sides, compilation tracks, unreleased demos, live songs, Peel sessions, essentially everything they ever recorded, all housed in an impossibly lavish box, which includes SIX lps and THREE cds, as well as a huge booklet which includes essays by Sub Pop's Jonathan Poneman, Love Child's Alan Licht, and the Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne and Steven Drozd. There was originally an oral history compiled as well (Please Kill Me style), which included our very own Andee, but for some reason, that was not included, and will supposedly show up in print somewhere else eventually. But really, it's all about the music, and Codeine's music is truly breathtaking. Their recent reunion show here in two was one of the best shows we've seen. And even at that show, these boxes were sold out! But for now, we have a few in stock, and should hopefully be able to get more. But you never know...
We recently reviewed Codeine's debut, Frigid Stars, on its own, but that review most definitely also describes their body of work as a whole, and barring some subtle sonic shifts over the years, applies to all three of their records, which combined, exist as one of the most beautiful, intense, moving, and hauntingly harrowing collections of slowcore indie rock EVER. Definitely one of those bands that Andee, Allan, et. al. here will tell you, if you don't have all of their records, you oughta get them now... seriously. Emo, indie-rock, post-rock, whatever Codeine is, it's totally classic. A classic of majestic melancholia. They employed the soft-loud dynamic that their former Sub Pop labelmates Nirvana already made famous (or would around the same time). Not that they sound much like Nirvana. They sound a bit more like Low, albeit a lumbering downtuned Low. Codeine's own brand of moody, melodic misery wouldn't, couldn't be an MTV hit. Indie-pop it was, but so sad and slow... The songs share slowly crawling tempos, and echoey drum hits and big distorted guitar chords crashing down to give extra weight to vocalist/bassist Stephen Immerwahr's weary vocals and love-lost lyrics. We've always wanted to hear a metal band do cover Codeine. But even though this isn't really "heavy" in a metal sense, it still IS heavy. The perfect music for when you're sad and alone. Strange how something like this will make you feel better, but it will.
Highest recommendation!
MPEG Stream: "D"
MPEG Stream: "Cave-In"
MPEG Stream: "Tom"
MPEG Stream: "Sea"

CODEINE White Birch (Sub Pop) cd 10.98

MPEG Stream: "Tom"
MPEG Stream: "Sea"

COFFEY, DENNIS Big City Funk (Vampisoul) cd 17.98
It should come as no surprise that on his extensive musical resume Dennis Coffey can boast to scoring blaxploitation films as well as session playing on numerous Motown records and other soul and funk outings from his hometown of Detroit. Big City Funk compiles tracks from his four studio albums released on the Sussex label over the years 1971-'74. His fried and fiery delivery of instrumental funk has been a mainstay with crate diggers forever. In fact over the years he's been sampled by the likes of the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy and LL Cool J. When he's on, his tracks are on fire, reminding us at times of such disparate sounds as the Childrens Television Workshop and groups like Stark Reality. The overall sound and feeling of Coffey's songs would make the perfect soundtrack for a wild cop car chase or for those soft focus slow tease moments in classic '70s porn. Really fun and oh so '70s!
MPEG Stream: "Son Of Scorpio"
MPEG Stream: "Outrageous"

COFFEY, DENNIS Big City Funk (Vampisoul) lp 22.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
It should come as no surprise that on his extensive musical resume Dennis Coffey can boast to scoring blaxploitation films as well as session playing on numerous Motown records and other soul and funk outings from his hometown of Detroit. Big City Funk compiles tracks from his four studio albums released on the Sussex label over the years 1971-'74. His fried and fiery delivery of instrumental funk has been a mainstay with crate diggers forever. In fact over the years he's been sampled by the likes of the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy and LL Cool J. When he's on, his tracks are on fire, reminding us at times of such disparate sounds as the Childrens Television Workshop and groups like Stark Reality. The overall sound and feeling of Coffey's songs would make the perfect soundtrack for a wild cop car chase or for those soft focus slow tease moments in classic '70s porn. Really fun and oh so '70s!
MPEG Stream: "Son Of Scorpio"
MPEG Stream: "Outrageous"

COGAN, ORA The Boggy Mire (Isolated Now Waves) cassette 4.50
If the earthy dusk beauty of Ms Cogan's most recent full length The Quarry charmed your ears, you won't want to miss this special treat... and don't dilly dally, this limited edition cassette is sure to be gone in a flash. Only 50 copies were made, and we got a scant five from the lady herself! So, once they're gone, it's most likely that'll be it.
Although a boggy mire sounds like a rather unpleasant place to be, we think it might not be so bad with Ora by our side. She exudes a quiet strength and warm presence both in person and on record. Here, she covers the songs of legendary country, folk and blues artists Elizabeth Cotten, Dock Boggs, Bonnie Raitt, Irma Thomas, Don Gibson and Skip Spence, as well as more recent numbers by Sonic Youth and Rio En Medio, and tucks in a couple of old traditionals too. Lovely stuff!

COGAN, ORA The Quarry (Isolated Now Waves) cd 9.98
West Coast songstress Ms Ora Cogan is back with a pair of new releases... this, a full length titled The Quarry (on cd and lp), and a cassette called The Boggy Mire (it's not yet reviewed, so please ask if you are interested!). So lush yet rustic, The Quarry is perhaps a bit darker in tone and haunting in mood than her previous recordings. Deeply moving, but not despairing, each word is drawn out into almost non-verbal utterances which at times seem as much inspired by old tymey Appalachian folk as by Canadian aboriginal music vocalizations and Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser. Cogan's voice lilts and swoops amid her delicate finger picked and strummed guitar along with some dreamy dulcimer, violin, and fleeting moments of droney dissonance too. The dozen numbers take an unhurried pace, gradually winding their way into your heart. A lovely and deceptively potent aural elixir!
MPEG Stream: "The Quarry"
MPEG Stream: "Gather"

COGAN, ORA The Quarry (Isolated Now Waves) lp 12.98
West Coast songstress Ms Ora Cogan is back with a pair of new releases... this, a full length titled The Quarry (on cd and lp), and a cassette called The Boggy Mire. So lush yet rustic, The Quarry is perhaps a bit darker in tone and haunting in mood than her previous recordings. Deeply moving, but not despairing, each word is drawn out into almost non-verbal utterances which at times seem as much inspired by old tymey Appalachian folk as by Canadian aboriginal music vocalizations and Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser. Cogan's voice lilts and swoops amid her delicate finger picked and strummed guitar along with some dreamy dulcimer, violin, and fleeting moments of droney dissonance too. The dozen numbers take an unhurried pace, gradually winding their way into your heart. A lovely and deceptively potent aural elixir! Limited pressing of 500!
MPEG Stream: "The Quarry"
MPEG Stream: "Gather"

COHEED & CAMBRIA The Second Stage Turbing Blade (Equal Vision) cd 13.98
We raved and raved about the new Coheed And Cambria record a few lists back. It even made a couple of our best of the year lists. Totally epic and proggy emo metal core. Heavy on the prog. With ridiculously amazing vocals somewhere between Geddy Lee from Rush, Freddie Mercury, Jeff Buckley and the guy from Shudder To Think. 10+ minute songs, ridiculous time signatures, hooks galore and that distinctive wail. So fucking great! Andee and Jim still listen to it in the store all the time! Andee and Jim -also- loved it enough to go to Bottom Of The Hill and check them out in person. And it was so awesome. Not only was it all ages so the place was packed with kids in their best emo finery, but EVERYONE was singing along to EVERY song at the top of their lungs. Even the kids in the pit. Every 'Woahhhh' and 'La La' was a deafening roar. The best part was the band though. Sort of drunk, a bit sloppy, they were a dishevelled, bearded, un-emo looking mess. Every between song break was met with screams for more, and the band would just deflect the requests with the explanation "We're fucking old. And tired. Let us take a fucking break. I can barely breathe up here." It was so satisfying, being old guys ourselves. The singer even had to go get his glasses to read the set list. So cool! But the real point of this story is, they played a bunch of songs neither of us recognized, but that instantly got stuck in our heads, all of which are thankfully on this here record, and all of which kick serious ass. Not nearly as polished or well produced as the new one, but it hardly matters because the songs are so goddamn good. If you haven't bought the new one, In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3 maybe start there, but you certainly won't regret starting here either. Hell, buy both. You won't be sorry.
MPEG Stream: "Devil In Jersey City"
MPEG Stream: "Everything Evil"

COHEED AND CAMBRIA Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV Vol.I (Sony / BMG) cd 16.98

MPEG Stream: "Welcome Home"
MPEG Stream: "Ten Speed (Of God's Blood & Burial)"
MPEG Stream: "Crossing The Frame"