CHICAGO UNDERGROUND DUO 12 Degrees of Freedom (Thrill Jockey) cd 13.98
"Some serious gas-baby free-flowing jazz action from long playing hepsters Chad Taylor and Rob Mazurek of ISOTOPE 217. Drums, vibes, cornet, piano, and bamboo flute are the tools to tap the influence of one force. Guest help from Jeff Parker (TORTOISE/ISOTOPE 217) on guitar. Nine songs, mixed and editied by Casey Rice."--description by El Bobo at Revolver Distribution

CHICAGO UNDERGROUND DUO Axis And Alignment (Thrill Jockey) cd 14.98

CHICAGO UNDERGROUND QUARTET s/t (Thrill Jockey) cd 14.98
The Chicago Underground Quartet consists of Rob Mazurek, Chad Taylor (of previous Chicago Underground releases), Jeff Parker (of Tortoise, Isotope 217) and Noel Kupersmith (of Brokeback). Recorded by John McEntire. It's a nice jazz record with many moods. For Fans of Tortoise, of course.

CHICAGO UNDERGROUND TRIO Slon (Thrill Jockey) cd 15.98

CHICKS ON SPEED 99¢ (EMI Germany) cd 19.98
Euro-scenesters Chicks On Speed host a wild electro-rock, disco-punk party on their somewhat-inaccurately titled new album 99¢, inviting such friends as Peaches, Tina Weymouth, Le Tigre, Kevin Blechdom, Miss Kittin, Mika Vaino and others to get down with them. Now, while fashion/design/music collective Chicks On Speed are considered cutting edge, it may be that their visual aesthetic is more advanced than their musical mode -- which, despite the laptops and advanced Austrian electronica technology, is less 21st century than 1983. Of course, that's the idea. Sheer good times retro dance floor fodder, with an edge. It's fun and hip and sure to please fans of the CoS, Peaches, Blectum From Blechdom, Ladytron, all that sorta thing. It's hard to tell if the lyrics are supposed to be clever or dumb, but since when did anyone have a problem with disco having dumb lyrics? Includes video clip for the track with Peaches, "We Don't Play Guitars" (for which we're also selling the cd single, $6.98, fyi).
MPEG Stream: "Shooting From The Hip"
MPEG Stream: "We Don't Play Guitars, featuring Peaches"
MPEG Stream: "Wordy Rappinghood"

CHICKS ON SPEED Chix 52 (Chicks on Speed Records) cdep 8.98
The Chicks on Speed return with more of their stupid art school crap. "Chix 52" finds these talentless morons covering the B-52s ("leave the B52s alone, dammit!"), and ending up sounding even worse than the Kathleen Hanna electronica project Julie Ruin. Yeah, it's that bad. Heck, even if you liked Julie Ruin (as some here did), this is bad. Do not buy this, unless you want to be stuck with the worst album of the year. I'm fucking serious.

CHICKS ON SPEED Re-releases of the Unreleased (K) cd 14.98
The Chicks on Speed return with more of their stupid art school crap. "Chix 52" finds these talentless morons covering the B-52s ("leave the B52s alone, dammit!"), and ending up sounding even worse than the Kathleen Hanna electronica project Julie Ruin. Yeah, it's that bad. Heck, even if you liked Julie Ruin (as some here did), this is bad. Do not buy this, unless you want to be stuck with the worst album of the year. I'm fucking serious.

CHICKS ON SPEED We Don't Play Guitars (Chicks On Speed) cd single 6.98

CHICKS ON SPEED Will Save The World (Chicks On Speed Records) cd 15.98
Stupid art-school crap. That's all this is. Don't say we didn't warn you. Dunno why The Wire devoted a page to 'em, except that they have some connection to the Mego / Mille Plateaux scene. There's a bunch of special guests on this record but we'll refrain from embarrassing any of these Austrian electronic-nerds further by naming them. A horrific cover of "Warm Leatherette" seals their fate.

CHICKS ON SPEED / KREIDLER s/t (Chicks On Speed) cd ep 8.98
Berlin-based art school pop darlings Chicks On Speed team up with Dusseldorf post-Kraftwerk electro craftsmen Kreidler for four arty synthpop anthems. As expected, the collaboration quickly becomes a throwaway novelty as the Chicks' ridiculous post-ironic, Smack The Pony comedic style gets old after one listen. Yet, the catchy "Frequent Flyer Lounge Song", in which the phrase "Dance music... Do you want to dance?" becomes an infectious guilty pleasure. A warbled, sinister, and strangely Coil-esque cover of Nick Cave's "Where The Wild Roses Grow" closes the disc. The cd version also includes a quicktime video clip of the sessions.
RealAudio clip: "Frequent Flyer Lounge Song"
RealAudio clip: "Where The Wild Roses Grow"

CHICKS ON SPEED / KREIDLER s/t (Chicks On Speed) 12" 7.98
Berlin-based art school pop darlings Chicks On Speed team up with Dusseldorf post-Kraftwerk electro craftsmen Kreidler for four arty synthpop anthems. As expected, the collaboration quickly becomes a throwaway novelty as the Chicks' ridiculous post-ironic, Smack The Pony comedic style gets old after one listen. Yet, the catchy "Frequent Flyer Lounge Song", in which the phrase "Dance music... Do you want to dance?" becomes an infectious guilty pleasure. A warbled, sinister, and strangely Coil-esque cover of Nick Cave's "Where The Wild Roses Grow" closes the disc. The cd version also includes a quicktime video clip of the sessions.

CHICKS ON SPEED AND THE NO HEADS Press The Space Bar (Chicks On Speed) cd 14.98
A very different Chicks On Speed greets us when we press the play button. For the first track, the aptly titled "Household Song", it seems like they've taken ample cues and inspiration from the seminal minimal art-punk of The Raincoats' Ana Da Silva (whose fine solo debut album they just released on their own label), stripping away their usual clutter and tidying things up a whole bunch. However for the second song they revert back to their raucous angular selves with crunchy rudimentary guitars, throbbing bass, clunky drum machine rhythms, cryptic samples and barked-out hystrionic vocals shouting out their socio-political lyrics. Yes, their sonic sisterhood with Le Tigre is still in full effect, but they strike us as being far less self-important and much more willing to cut loose and do whatever tickles their fancy... no matter how retarded, like naming a song "Wax My Anus". That said, the second song "Mitte Bitte" did sorta make us wanna bounce around the living room like a delirous Muppet. Some of this is genuinely fun, while some of it is just plain painful. Ah, but some folks have a penchant for painful. 'Tis an acquired taste.
MPEG Stream: "The Household Song"
MPEG Stream: "Mitte Bitte"

CHICKS ON SPEED/DMX KREW Smash Metal (Go Records) 2x7 12.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
A double seven inch from the DHR electronica realms of low IQ punk fury thrown onto 808s and powerbooks. Chicks on Speed follows Cobra Killer's alienated and blatant sampling in a new wave context... DMX Krew (the same who did those cheese-ball electro cuts for Rephlex???) cranks out the punk rock songs, literally.

CHICO MAGNETIC BAND s/t (Nosmoker) lp 32.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
J.P. Massiera related! Hendrix-y French heavy psych.
MPEG Stream: "Pop or No Pop"

CHIE, MUKAI & GARY SMITH Eight + (Paratactile) cd 23.00

CHILD PORNOGRAPHY The Beatles (Deathbombarc) cd 13.98

CHILD READERS Boy On A Cliff (Jewelled Antler) cd-r 9.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
An increasingly prolific body of work is emerging from a loose collective of San Francisco artists and musicians, a group that has spawned such neo-psychedelic improvisers as Thuja, Mirza, The Knit Separates, The Blithe Sons, and now The Child Readers. Self-described by the ever talented Loren Chasse (who is half of The Child Readers and released this cd-r through his Jewelled Antler imprint) as "Jandek meets Francisco Lopez," The Child Readers is somewhat of a metaphysical extention of the campfire sing-a-long. Alongside the spontaneous songwriting ability of Jason Honea (who sounds as if having equal parts Nick Drake, Martyn Bates, and yes, Jandek), Chasse filters into the mix empathic field recordings of fire crackle, birds, wind, and snapping twigs, as well as his lonely harmonium. The production techniques of The Child Readers are quite unusual, as they'll record something (possibly an action of scraping rocks or a floating vocal harmony from Honea) and then play it back through a cheap boombox and / or car stereo which would in turn get further augmentations. The resulting abstractions add a gritty richness which nicely complements Honea's often baroque voice. A strangely evocative record.
RealAudio clip: "Darkness Beneath The Trees"
RealAudio clip: "Reading For Winter"

CHILD READERS Dark Laughter (Jewelled Antler) cd-r 9.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
In the ongoing stream of releases, the Jewelled Antler collective continues to offer new facets to their signature of hazy, psychedelic improvisations; but of all of their productions, none are as risktaking as The Child Readers. The collaboration between Loren Chasse and Jason Honea, The Child Readers juxtaposes the detail oriented field recordings that Chasse brings to his numerous projects with Honea's idiosyncratic songs that center on Honea's fluttering falsetto. For those 'purists' in the field recording community, Honea's voice, uttering stream of consciousness lyrics of wide-eyed wonder and innocence, may be an irritation within the time-based narratives that Chasse builds though his seemless collages of crows, airplanes, and campfire cracklings. Yet, there is a strange logic that exists in The Child Readers, which seeks to reconcile Chasse's field recordings and Honea's voice by blurring everything into expressions of natural sound. The Child Readers cares little for semantic distinctions, preferring to concentrate on listening to each other and what they bring to the collaborative process and wandering wherever inspiration takes them. "Dark Laughter" is sloppy, obtuse, and occasionally stumbles; but even in those falterings, The Child Readers could be one of the more rewarding projects you will find.
MPEG Stream: "Perfect Rainbow"

CHILD READERS Memory and Fantasy (Mallard Lake) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
"It's not magic, it's music". The Child Readers are the duo of Jewelled Antler mainstay Loren Chasse and vocalist Jason Honea of The Knit Separates. This, their third album (the two earlier ones were cd-rs on JA, now out of print) is something like an audio postcard from their own far-off fantasyland... They give free reign to their creativity, with tracks here ranging from textural noise/drone of near Merzbowian dimensions to the folky acoustic song-fragments seemingly recorded on a picnic in the woods...We hear child and adult voices mingling, alongside tape spooling and twinkling tinkling toy piano or chiming music box sounds...Honea's sensitive, melodic vocals might be accompanied equally by sparsely strummed guitar and the burble of a brook. Lyrically, he could be taking inspiration from children's stories -- that is, stories BY children. Such as the weirdness of "The Shark Airplane". Other tracks, like "Sexual Anguish (including The Psychic Castle)" can only be the work of grown up children. Full of interesting textures and real emotion, this is yet another excellent Jewelled Antler-related release, something like Honea's inner child being babysat by the Blithe Sons. Euro import, limited.
MPEG Stream: "Voyaging (The Reds, Pinks And Purples)"
MPEG Stream: "The Shark Airplane"

CHILD READERS Music Heard Far Off (Soft Abuse) cd 14.98
Yay, 'tis time for another delightful dose of Jewelled Antler goodness... these dusty gems aren't strewn about the twiggy forest floor as much as they used to be (back in the day of Jewelled Antler's prolific cd-r production), so it's with even greater pleasure that we regard this latest from Jewelled Antler potentate Loren Chasse (Of, Ov, Thuja, Blithe Sons, Franciscan Hobbies, The Knit Separates, etc.) and his compatriot, and Berlin-based expatriate, Jason Honea (The Shitty Listener, Teenage Panzerkorps, Chord Fort, The Knit Separates, Franciscan Hobbies).
The usual hazy Jewelled Antler soundworld of abstruse natural field-recordings, fragmented folky melodies, and the textural droning of acoustic instruments (and non-instruments) is utterly entered into here, with the gentle, lullaby-like vocals of Mr. Honea softly taking you by the hand to wander in wonderment through it all. The music glistens and shimmers and sighs like the soughing sound of wind in the trees, and Honea's voice does too... it's some sort of lo-fi, fairytale indie-rock, though not very rock - the angular outset of the track "A Loved Thing/Gull's Blood" being the most raucous, rock-like thing here, almost Swell Maps-ish, reminding us, as much of this does, of likeminded New Zealanders Pumice... mostly though, while replete with much buzzing noise and sudden shiftings, this certainly on the dreamier and driftier side of things! Imagine Martyn Bates magically transported into the musical context of a Charles Burchfield landscape painting, perhaps... yet with this duo's "weird dude energy" keeping things interesting and unexpected (for instance, "A Poem In One Song" features indistinct background groanings that we recognize as Loren being silly).
Jason's intimate, close-miced vocals provide distorted textures of their own to go with the rather abstract music-making, always melodic and soothing even if you never bother to puzzle out the imagery of his improvised, stream-of-conciousness lyrics, some of which probably have to do with his new experience of fatherhood!
There's a sweet sixteen audio tracks here, plus four MPG4 video clips as a bonus! A few guests drop in to join Chasse and Honea on some of the songs, including Rob Reger (Thuja), former AQer Christine Boepple (Ov, Skygreen Leopards, Whysp), and Mark Williams (Mirza, Father Beard). Meanwhile, the videos take you out in the field with the Child Readers, each one a perfect visual analog to the accompanying music (four non-album tracks), full of natural scenery and more of that "weird dude energy", Jewelled Antler style. For these alone this is probably a must-buy for any Jewelled Antler fan or follower - if it wasn't already - since this fourth Child Readers disc (after 2 cd-rs on JA and a cd on Mallard Lake, all seemingly years and years ago) is perhaps our new favorite. Sometimes it's hard for us to express how much we like these records, 'cause we're friends with these guys and we feel weird gushing to much, but this IS fantastic. So glad the Child Readers are still up to their (un)usual hijinks. Recommended!!
MPEG Stream: "Young Worlds-Try To Hear!"
MPEG Stream: "Son Of Man"
MPEG Stream: "Starlight Veering"

CHILDISH, BILLY 25 Years Of Being Childish (Damaged Goods) cd 21.00
Billy Childish has been playing garage, writing poetry and painting for going on 25 years now. This retrospective documents his prolific and ever awesome garage rocking career, featuring tracks by The Pop Rivits, The Milkshakes, Thee Mighty Caesars, Thee Headcoats and right up to now with the Buff Medways as well as solo tracks and a bit of poetry.
He is also the genius behind the all-girl bands the Delmonas and the Thee Headcoatees, who both make an appearance. The 2 discs are in chronological order, so the first disc is crazy lo-fi fucked up punk rock before it slowly progresses into a little cleaner, better recorded garage. One of my favorite things about Mr. Childish is his knack for picking great songs to cover., all those old mean rock 'n roll songs from the '50s that one may never have heard if it wasn't for Billy. I (Sadie) am a true fan. I love this guy in all his phases and this is a great retrospective.
RealAudio clip: DELMONAS "I Feel Like Giving In"
RealAudio clip: THE MILKSHAKES "Pretty Baby"
RealAudio clip: THEE HEADCOATS "All My Feelings Denied"

CHILDISH, BILLY Is Dead (Cherry Red) dvd 30.00
Everything you ever wanted to know about Billy Childish? Perhaps. With no filmmaking experience but a desire to document the life of the enigmatic, emphatically non-commercial artist, Graham Bendel was granted access to a few months of Childish's day to day life to gather footage for his film "Billy Childish Is Dead" subtitled "a fascinating insight into the world of Billy Childish -- painter, musician, poet and writer". And indeed, it is! Fans of Childish will surely find much that pushes their intrigue and interest buttons. He candidly chats about a plethora of topics including (but not at all limited to) his childhood and his artistic pursuits. On the music side of things, there's plenty of footage and discussion about all of his garage rock bands Thee Headcoats, Thee Mighty Caesars, Thee Milkshakes, and The Buff Medways as well as interviews with his musical chums Holly Golightly and Shane MacGowan. There's also a good deal presented on his incredible body of writings and paintings. Contrary to the title (which Childish came up with himself), this documentary reveals the gent to be very much alive and his work to be as vital as ever.

CHILDISH, BILLY My First Billy Childish Album (Damaged Goods) cd 14.98
Oh Billy, how your music bristles with wonderfully wry snarkiness in true blue vintage garage rock tradition! Not always pretty, not always kind, but always a down'n'dirty kick in the pants for those who're feeling a bit sluggish both mentally and physically. With raw, screamin' yowl vocals and guitars to match, this unholy terror is as punk as hell. He darn near breathes fire. If your ears have somehow missed being touched by Childish's torrent of garage rawk over the last quarter century, by all means, make this YOUR first Billy Childish album. This cd compiles songs from a whole bunch of his musical projects... and there have been many! The Buff Medways, The Pop Rivets, The Chatham Singers, The Buffets, The Delmonas, Thee Mighty Caesars, Thee Headcoats and their female counterpart Thee Headcoatees are all included here (hey, why no Milkshakes?!). Whew. Be sure to keep a cold flannel nearby to cool your fevered brow and feet.
MPEG Stream: "Fun In The U.K."
MPEG Stream: "Loathsome 'N' Wild"

CHILDISH, BILLY & HOLLY GOLIGHTLY In Blood (Wabana) cd 15.98
While we've always loved us some Billy Childish, there's something about when he and Holy Golightly collaborate that just takes it to the next level for us! And maybe it's because as much as we love Billy we love love love Holly Golightly! She's without a doubt one of the strongest, sexiest, and most confident singers of her generation. She possesses a timeless poignancy that we think will make her even more revered and appreciated as time goes on. Luckily her inclusion on The Broken Flowers soundtrack helped her reach a well deserved wider audience. When she joined The Headcoatees in 1991 she became a part of one of the best garage bands of that decade. She and Childish side by side are like a grittier version of Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra. This is a reissue of the pair's 1999 album and it still packs a serious punch. Primal blues soaked rockabilly with a garage pop sensibility. It don't get a whole lot better than this!
MPEG Stream: "You Got That Thing"
MPEG Stream: "Demolition Girl"

CHILDISH, WILD BILLY AND THE BLACK HANDS Play Capt. Calypso's Hoodoo Party (EM Records) cd 21.00
Billy Childish is a man of many hats -- writer, painter, rocker -- and his three decade spanning body of work while wearing each of those chapeaux has proven to be remarkably varied. Nothing would really surprise us, but Childish and EM Records have thrown us for a loop with this reissue of a rare album from 1988. Calico Jack alias Wild Billy hooked up with his backing band The Blackhands (aka Bill, Ludella, Kyra, Richard, Dave, and Seamus) to slip into, of all things, a calypso kind of mood! Fear not diehard fans, he's still got his trademark reckless snarl though as he rambles through loose and light hearted renditions of "Rum And Coca Cola", "I Love Paris" and "Anarchy In The U.K." Raw and gritty, and recorded with one microphone. Rad! EM does it again!
Oh, and EM fans, look out for this summer's "EM Under Water Series" of five surfing-related reissues from '60s/'70s Australia, all really cool stuff.
MPEG Stream: "I Love Paris"
MPEG Stream: "Anarchy In The U.K."

CHILDREN Death Tribe (Kemado) 12" 12.98
Just have two of these in stock. Children are a pretty cool new thrashy metal three piece from NYC, ex-members of Early Man we think, who just have this 12" out on Kemado. We saw 'em play when they opened for The Sword and Slough Feg a few months back. Good stuff, some crazy twin guitar action and raw energy. Note we said twin guitar, and they're a trio... which means, a la The Champs, no bassist! But they're pretty heavy nonetheless, and the shred never stops. Does that (and their long-haired but hipster/skaterish appearance, and label affiliation, membership pedigree, etc.) make 'em not "true" metal? Maybe, but they put on a damn good show and this 12" is worth a spin, headbangers!! Includes download card for free mp3s of these songs, too...

CHILDREN Hard Times Hangin' At The End Of The World (Kemado) cd 13.98
First encountered this NYC trio opening for The Sword and Slough Feg on tour out here last year. And it was an excellent match, if you like either of those bands, there's a good chance you'll dig Children too. Featuring ex-members of Early Man and S.T.R.E.E.T.S., these hipster longhairs have got some of that currently cool psychedelic indie ironic image stuff happening (they claim they play "peace metal" ferinstance, and probably wear more American Apparel than black leather)... but then when you press play, blam, the headbanging is ON. With abundant energy, galloping beats, raging riffs, rapidfire thrash technology, and a weensy bit of left field (for metal) artsiness! Plus, most crucially, plenty of Champsy guitar harmonies - and like the Fucking Champs, there's no bass, just two guitars and drums. Though, the band these kids remind us the most of is their labelmates SF's Saviours, with similarly badass blazing leads and gruff, not-so-melodic singing/screaming.
Yeah, there's some SWEET guitar action here, from the one mellow quasi-classical instrumental "H.T.H.A.T.E.O.T.W." to the extended dual guitar widdly-ness that makes the epic (nearly 10 minute) album-ender "Time Is The Living" so magnificent. Actually, these guys love to stretch out jamming on their axes all over this disc, with the likes of "Nuclear Bummer" over 7 minutes long, and opener "Advanced Mind Control" clocking in at 9:41. Inveterate air guitarists will wish they were even longer. Heck we'll take our ripping, indulgent metal where we can get it. If it's a so-called "hipster" metal band on Kemado, that's just fine if they shred like these guys do! We like their style.
MPEG Stream: "Subterranean Cities"
MPEG Stream: "Advanced Mind Control"
MPEG Stream: "Power Spirit"

CHILDREN Hard Times Hangin' At The End Of The World (Kemado) lp 14.98
NOW ON VINYL, all the better to appreciate the colorful cover art!
First encountered this NYC trio opening for The Sword and Slough Feg on tour out here last year. And it was an excellent match, if you like either of those bands, there's a good chance you'll dig Children too. Featuring ex-members of Early Man and S.T.R.E.E.T.S., these hipster longhairs have got some of that currently cool psychedelic indie ironic image stuff happening (they claim they play "peace metal" ferinstance, and probably wear more American Apparel than black leather)... but then when you press play, blam, the headbanging is ON. With abundant energy, galloping beats, raging riffs, rapidfire thrash technology, and a weensy bit of left field (for metal) artsiness! Plus, most crucially, plenty of Champsy guitar harmonies - and like the Fucking Champs, there's no bass, just two guitars and drums. Though, the band these kids remind us the most of is their labelmates SF's Saviours, with similarly badass blazing leads and gruff, not-so-melodic singing/screaming.
Yeah, there's some SWEET guitar action here, from the one mellow quasi-classical instrumental "H.T.H.A.T.E.O.T.W." to the extended dual guitar widdly-ness that makes the epic (nearly 10 minute) album-ender "Time Is The Living" so magnificent. Actually, these guys love to stretch out jamming on their axes all over this disc, with the likes of "Nuclear Bummer" over 7 minutes long, and opener "Advanced Mind Control" clocking in at 9:41. Inveterate air guitarists will wish they were even longer. Heck we'll take our ripping, indulgent metal where we can get it. If it's a so-called "hipster" metal band on Kemado, that's just fine if they shred like these guys do! We like their style.
MPEG Stream: "Subterranean Cities"
MPEG Stream: "Advanced Mind Control"
MPEG Stream: "Power Spirit"

CHILDREN OF BODOM Are You Dead Yet? (Spinefarm) cd 14.98

CHILDREN OF BODOM Are You Dead Yet? (Spinefarm) cd 14.98

CHILDREN OF BODOM Bloodrunk (Spinefarm Records) cd 14.98
Children of Bodom are back yet again with more melodic thrash metal. For a second time, the band is joined by former Stone member and legendary Finnish guitarist Roope Latvala. The kids are continuing their move even further away from extreme metal, with an ever increasing keyboard presence, more prog, and catchy, straight-forward riffs. Still, there is that little bit of Death gleaming through. So, yeah, melodic-prog-thrash that remains heavily indebted to Chuck Schuldiner. Basically, if you're into exclusively kult black metal bands, or something else equally insular, then this isn't going to do it for you. But, you probably already know that. What we're saying is that this will fit nicely next to your copy of In Flames' Clayman or something of that nature, but probably not so well with your dubbed, internationally traded cassette of Von rehearsals - but if that exists and you have it, please let us know. However, if you, like many of us here at the store, grew up on metal and you can get into metal for the sake of metal, then turn it up.
MPEG Stream: "One Day You Will Cry"
MPEG Stream: "Done With Everything, Die for Nothing"

CHILDREN OF BODOM Follow The Reaper (Nuclear Blast) cd 13.98
The third brilliant album from Finland's finest purveyors of keyboard-intensive, fist-in-the-air METAL. Mixing melodic death metal (in the vein of Gothenburg greats like In Flames and At The Gates) with light-speed neo-classical keyboard runs and accompanying Yngwie-style guitar heroics, Children of Bodom (rhymes with "modem", apparently -- don't say "bottom") have crafted a sound all their own. Raspy black-metal style vox, rock n roll attitude, brutal riffing and -- most importantly -- fleet-fingered instrumental interplay are the hallmarks of this band. Imagine a cross between Destruction and Return To Forever... This is a band those who find most of the current wave of European power metal too "lite" (with the usual wimpy vocals and choruses) but kinda like it for that genre's usual head-spinning virtuosity, speed, and headbanging metal purity. Conversely, Children of Bodom is also a band for those who find Norwegian black metal too dark and monotonous and want something with a bit more melodic "sparkle", where the keyboardist is utilized for more than just "atmosphere" (Children of Bodom's keyboardist even released his own mostly-instrumental solo album last year). In other words, they are the current metal masters at splitting the difference between "brutal" and "noodle". Their short career now already spans three albums, and, as this disc and those of us who saw 'em at this years' Milwaukee Metalfest (that'd be Allan and Andee) will attest, they're still kicking ass. Bonus track: an nonessential-but-fun WASP cover.
RealAudio clip: "Bodom After Midnight"
RealAudio clip: "Hate Me!"

CHILDREN OF BODOM Hate Crew Deathroll ( Spinefarm) cd 15.98
Fast and furious as always, these Finnish metallers are the kings of over-the-top guitar and keyboards duels. They'd almost be "power metal" if it wasn't for the extreme black and death elements (the vocals, the attitude). This new record looks to be their biggest yet, with a commercial edge but not nu-metal. Think Judas Priest's "Painkiller" meets Pantera, but with a Swedish melodic death metal component (In Flames, Soilwork...), hopped up on Red Bull and Rock Star energy drink cocktails. Yep, "Hate Crew Deathroll" is a massive, heavy attack, crammed full of melodic leads, snarling vox, catchy choruses, unexpectedly doomy parts, Zakk Wylde style pick squeals, pop synth bits, brutal drumming, electronic frills, and Rammstein stomp. Shred guitar shrapnel explodes in all directions, in much the same way that these songs are all over the place, and in your face. Absurd, undeniable metal madness! It's all a bit relentless, but if you're metal enough you'll take it.
NB. bears a copy protection notice.
MPEG Stream: "Sixpounder"
MPEG Stream: "Chokehold (Cocked'n'Loaded)"

CHILDREN OF BODOM Hatebreeder (Nuclear Blast) cd 15.98

CHILDREN OF BODOM Something Wild (Nuclear Blast) cd 14.98

CHILDREN OF THE SIXTH ROOT Songs From The Source (Drag City) cd 14.98
We were pretty excited when we heard that Drag City was releasing a recently unearthed, 35 year old recording by members of Father Yod's Source Family commune, who are experiencing a revival of sorts nowadays what with the publication of Isis Aquarian's the book The Source and the reunion of their communal band Ya Ho Wha 13 for live performances (we also have an LP that just came out, The Feather Of Wisdom, which documents the show they played at Cafe Du Nord here in San Francisco after they, Isis, and a bunch of other Source Family members did a book signing here at Aquarius the afternoon of 11/18/07). Having heard the Children Of The Sixth Root Race now, though, we're not -quite- so excited, as we'll explain...
The songs on this disc were recorded by The Source's musical unit Spirit of '76 (who later would morph into the Ya Ho Wha 13) during rehearsals for a 1973 gig at LA's Whisky A Go Go. The sound is excellent, with a few minor distortions, it sounds like a "real" studio album not merely practice tapes.
Those familiar with the contents of the 13-cd God And Hair box set know that records by Father Yod's flock could vary from the utterly cosmic to the unintentionally comic. That the music of a New Agey commune from LA in the '70s would be sometimes sorta cheesy is perhaps no surprise, but at their higher key best, the Ya Ho Wha 13's throbbing, out-there psychedelic garage improvs on albums like Penetration: An Aquarian Symphony and I'm Gonna Take You Home made 'em the closest American equivalent to the krautrock likes of Amon Duul and German Oak. So that's what we were hoping for on this record, of course... but instead, these are mostly zippy, uplifting psych-pop-prog productions with choruses of female vocals and funky guitar licks, that sound like they could be showtunes intended for a churchy, hippie musical theatre production along the lines of Hair or Godspell. The mellower numbers are also dated-sounding preachy pop ballads. It's all quite catchy, but also kinda corny. There IS entertainment value to be had, if you're into hippy kitsch. And Ya Ho Wha obsessives will want to check it out for sure. But the bottom line is, it's on the amusing, rather than amazing, side of Ya Ho Wha audio documentation. It surely ain't no Penetration. The closest they come to that sort of thing is on the apocalyptic track "Catastrophy" which makes predictions of nuclear war - to occur in "1975, maybe 1976" - and other disasters based on information from an ancient Egyptian pyramid. This prophecy is discussed over a bed of "Ya Ho Wha, Ya Ho Wha" chanting (prevalent all across this album) and chaotic sound FX. Oddly enough, this dire news segues directly into an energetically positive track called "Go With The Flow", laced with flute and acid rock guitar, that promises salvation from the Earth's upcoming catastrophies via the blessings of Yahowa. Actually, we do find ourselves getting into the groove of these somewhat more freaked out tracks towards the end of the disc...
In the liner notes, Djin Aquarian (who wrote most of this music, and still lives a very spiritual, Source Family/Rainbow Gathering lifestyle up by Mt. Shasta) mentions that after the Whisky gig, Father Yod disbanded the Spirit of '76 in favor of the "totally spontaneous, unrehearsed, channelling band" Ya Ho Wha 13, featuring Yod himself on vocals, gong, and kettle drum... a wise move by the wise man, we think. Djin also says that the same tape that was found with this material on it also, on the other side, featured "a great recording of a spontaneous jam with the Spirit of '76 backing up Father Yod"... c'mon Djin and Drag City, we want to hear that!
MPEG Stream: "Godmen"
MPEG Stream: "A Lady"
MPEG Stream: "Catastrophy"

CHILDREN OF THE SIXTH ROOT Songs From The Source (Drag City) lp 15.98
We were pretty excited when we heard that Drag City was releasing a recently unearthed, 35 year old recording by members of Father Yod's Source Family commune, who are experiencing a revival of sorts nowadays what with the publication of Isis Aquarian's the book The Source and the reunion of their communal band Ya Ho Wha 13 for live performances (we also have an LP that just came out, The Feather Of Wisdom, which documents the show they played at Cafe Du Nord here in San Francisco after they, Isis, and a bunch of other Source Family members did a book signing here at Aquarius the afternoon of 11/18/07). Having heard the Children Of The Sixth Root Race now, though, we're not -quite- so excited, as we'll explain...
The songs on this disc were recorded by The Source's musical unit Spirit of '76 (who later would morph into the Ya Ho Wha 13) during rehearsals for a 1973 gig at LA's Whisky A Go Go. The sound is excellent, with a few minor distortions, it sounds like a "real" studio album not merely practice tapes.
Those familiar with the contents of the 13-cd God And Hair box set know that records by Father Yod's flock could vary from the utterly cosmic to the unintentionally comic. That the music of a New Agey commune from LA in the '70s would be sometimes sorta cheesy is perhaps no surprise, but at their higher key best, the Ya Ho Wha 13's throbbing, out-there psychedelic garage improvs on albums like Penetration: An Aquarian Symphony and I'm Gonna Take You Home made 'em the closest American equivalent to the krautrock likes of Amon Duul and German Oak. So that's what we were hoping for on this record, of course... but instead, these are mostly zippy, uplifting psych-pop-prog productions with choruses of female vocals and funky guitar licks, that sound like they could be showtunes intended for a churchy, hippie musical theatre production along the lines of Hair or Godspell. The mellower numbers are also dated-sounding preachy pop ballads. It's all quite catchy, but also kinda corny. There IS entertainment value to be had, if you're into hippy kitsch. And Ya Ho Wha obsessives will want to check it out for sure. But the bottom line is, it's on the amusing, rather than amazing, side of Ya Ho Wha audio documentation. It surely ain't no Penetration. The closest they come to that sort of thing is on the apocalyptic track "Catastrophy" which makes predictions of nuclear war - to occur in "1975, maybe 1976" - and other disasters based on information from an ancient Egyptian pyramid. This prophecy is discussed over a bed of "Ya Ho Wha, Ya Ho Wha" chanting (prevalent all across this album) and chaotic sound FX. Oddly enough, this dire news segues directly into an energetically positive track called "Go With The Flow", laced with flute and acid rock guitar, that promises salvation from the Earth's upcoming catastrophies via the blessings of Yahowa. Actually, we do find ourselves getting into the groove of these somewhat more freaked out tracks towards the end of the disc...
In the liner notes, Djin Aquarian (who wrote most of this music, and still lives a very spiritual, Source Family/Rainbow Gathering lifestyle up by Mt. Shasta) mentions that after the Whisky gig, Father Yod disbanded the Spirit of '76 in favor of the "totally spontaneous, unrehearsed, channelling band" Ya Ho Wha 13, featuring Yod himself on vocals, gong, and kettle drum... a wise move by the wise man, we think. Djin also says that the same tape that was found with this material on it also, on the other side, featured "a great recording of a spontaneous jam with the Spirit of '76 backing up Father Yod"... c'mon Djin and Drag City, we want to hear that!
MPEG Stream: "Godmen"
MPEG Stream: "A Lady"
MPEG Stream: "Catastrophy"

CHILLED BY NATURE Musical Box (Big Chill) cd single 10.98

CHILTON, ALEX 1970 (Ardent) cd 15.98
Post-BoxTops, pre-Big Star finally on disc.

CHIN CHIN We Don't Wanna Be Prisoners (Mississippi) 7" 6.50
MISSISSIPPI ALERT!
Another post-punk gem has been unearthed thanks to the dedicated heads of Mississippi Records. This all-girl punk-pop trio from the early eighties Swiss Punk scene has been timely rediscovered as we're in the midst of a current girl-group revival. Fans of recent groups like The Girls At Dawn, Black Tambourines, Vivian Girls, Dum-Dum Girls or their early eighties predecessors, Girls At Our Best, Shop Assistants, Bow Wow Wow or Lilliput (who came from the same Swiss scene as Chin Chin) will definitely want to check this out. Three self-penned songs from 1984 released on the band's own Farmer Records label, "We Don't Wanna Be Prisoners", "Desires Only", and "World's Burning".
Urgent punk lyrics with catchy pop hooks and harmonies, look out for their upcoming full length release to be reissued in a label collaboration between Mississippi and Slumberland records!!!!
So good!!!!!!! As always with Mississippi's 7"s, this will be gone before you know it, so you know the drill!!!

CHIN UP CHIN UP This Harness Can't Ride Anything (Suicide Squeeze) cd 14.98
The immediately likeable Chin Up Chin Up follow the tried and true indie rock template set by bands like Pinback, Modest Mouse, Built To Spill with the punchy upstart attitude of bands like Hot Hot Heat and Maximo Park. Extra boyish and extra catchy on this their third full length, these Chicago based fellas have got it down! And wouldn't you know it, this was recorded by Brian Deck who's also worked his studio magic on Modest Mouse and Iron & Wine so you know he's well-versed in traversing this terrain.
MPEG Stream: "Islands Sink"
MPEG Stream: "Blankets Like Beavers"

CHINATOWN BAKERIES Rise Wide Open (self-released) cd-r 4.98
There are no chashu bao nor any egg tarts coming from these Chinatown Bakeries (at leats not that we know of!). Instead, it's the non-edible, gentle sounds of this new SF neo-folk band -- two brothers Jon and James Sterling Pitt along with Keryn Sovella and Ryan Stively. They follow the enchanted forest path frequented by the likes of Devendra Banhart, Vetiver and Iron And The Albatross. This quartet's lo-fi homespun music nestles itself in comfortably among those artists -- a bit less high-strung than the former and a bit more barebones than the latter. Earnest, unrestrained male vocals atop banjo and guitar plickety-pluck, some flute, keyboards and harmonica too. A very promising debut. (Note: if you dig this, we also have Stively's fine solo cd-r here too).
MPEG Stream: "Hawks Overlook"
MPEG Stream: "Some Women Sometimes"

CHINATOWN BAKERIES Sleeps (self-released) 3" cd-r 3.98
The Bay Area's Brothers Pitt and company quickly follow-up their Chinatown Bakeries debut cd-r Rise Wide Open with this lil' guy. This disc might only be 3" in size, but it's filled to the gills with twenty one minutes of music. Simply put, Sleeps is more homespun, folksy goodness. Perhaps a bit more trippy -- in a Jandek or Wooden Wand And The Vanishing Voice sort of way -- than their last offering. Nonetheless, fine stuff once again!

CHINE NUAL Tomorrows Leaders Are Busy Tonight (Plate Lunch) cd 12.98
While this is technically not new, we still figured we ought to list it since it somehow managed to fall through the cracks when it initially came out. Released in 2000 on Germany's Plate Lunch label, Chine Nual is beloved AQ customer Rick Kitch, composing, manipulating and recontextualising source material (courtesy of Randy Grief, Jeph Jerman and Steve Brand) into hypnotic, lazy-hazy drones, quietly propulsive krautrockish electronica, and burbly atmospherics. Gorgeous and dreamy soundscapes occasionally dotted with minute clicking rhythms, rumbling, serene drones with washes of gentle hum. Really excellent. My new favorite late night record. Fans of Gas, good Eno and the like will love this.
RealAudio clip: "Machine Manual"
RealAudio clip: "Charityware"
RealAudio clip: "More Free Than Welcome"

CHINESE RESTAURANTS, THE River Of Shit (S.S.) 7" 6.98
Another band of NY lo-fi new wave noiseniks, the Chinese Restaurants dip one toe into gothy, gloomy, retro wave, and another into something distinctly more angular and punk rock, with muted muddied riffing, pounding minimal drums, and whiney, dramatic vocals, reminding us of groups like the Electric Eels, until all of a sudden, out of nowhere, Barack Obama begins to speak, a sample of a speech maybe, but it's SO random, the band keep chugging along, it almost sounds like you're listening to two different radio stations at once, the best part is the fact that as he speaks, his remarks are peppered with strange moans and groans from the singer, which makes the whole thing seem weirdly warped and whatthefuck.
The flipside is sample-free, and is gorgeously gothic and dirgey, the guitars syrupy and swaddled in crumbling distortion, the main melody, warped and minor key, the whole thing laced with strange swooshes and unexpected bursts of noise and static and glitchy effects, the vocals still frantic and dramatic, the second track ups the energy, pounding a bit harder, getting more punk rock, but still staying plenty snotty and new wave and lo-fi. These guys definitely dwell on the fringe of the current retro cold / new wave resurgence, but fans of releases on Sacred Bones and Captured tracks will probably dig these guys as well...

CHINESE STARS, THE A Rare Sensation (Three One G) cd 14.98
Following the pretty cool star-shaped cdep these guys released last year on Skin Graft, here's the debut full-length (for them, clocking in at a hectic half hour) from this Providence, RI outfit featuring ex-members of Arab On Radar and Six Finger Satellite. Spastic dance punk skronk stuff that ought to appeal to fans of Erase Errata.
MPEG Stream: "Cheap City Halo"
MPEG Stream: "Electrodes In Captivity"

CHINESE STARS, THE Listen To Your Left Brain (Three One G) cd 14.98
2nd full-length from this Providence outfit, featuring ex-Arabs on Radar and Six Finger Satellites, kickin' out the slightly spazzed dancerock. Cool kids layin' down the synth-laced late night beat, singing about "Drugs And Sunshine" (an anthemic lead-off track, that one), getting high and being in love/lust. If we squint while listening, the vocals somehow remind us of the Afghan Whigs' Greg Dulli, fronting Erase Errata, but not quite.
MPEG Stream: "Drugs And Sunshine"
MPEG Stream: "Cold Cold Cold"

CHINESE STARS, THE Listen To Your Left Brain (Skin Graft) lp 14.98
2nd full-length from this Providence outfit, featuring ex-Arabs on Radar and Six Finger Satellites, kickin' out the slightly spazzed dancerock. Cool kids layin' down the synth-laced late night beat, singing about "Drugs And Sunshine" (an anthemic lead-off track, that one), getting high and being in love/lust. If we squint while listening, the vocals somehow remind us of the Afghan Whigs' Greg Dulli, fronting Erase Errata, but not quite.
MPEG Stream: "Drugs And Sunshine"
MPEG Stream: "Cold Cold Cold"

CHINESE STARS, THE Turbo Mattress (Skin Graft) cd ep 14.98
#1 cool thing about this band: This debut cd ep of theirs is shaped kinda like a Chinese throwing star! The music is equally jagged and dangerous, totally angular and (intentionally) aggravating, art punk spazz in that currently happenin' Erase Errata neo-retro '80s new wave/no wave 'danceable' punk style. Whiny vocals, nervous energy, fucked up groove. More cool things: they have cowbell. They're made up of ex-members of Arab On Radar and Six Finger Satellite. And Load Records deemed them too annoying to sign, so they went with Skin Graft where they definitely belong. Seriously, this IS pretty cool. 5 songs, 14 minutes, great packaging.
MPEG Stream: "Arson Hotline"

CHIODOS Bone Palace Ballet (Equal Vision) cd 14.98