CASH, JOHNNY Love (Sony) cd 12.98
See? We told you that you could get these three cds separately! Originally released as a three disc set, the career-spanning God, Love and Murder themed cds were compiled by the Man In Black himself. As one of the last masters of the Southern morality tale, Cash through his commanding voice sang songs of good and evil under the ever vigilant eyes of God, who hands down the mercy of justification right along with the misery of the sinner. From his earliest Sun recordings to the latest Rick Rubin produced work, almost every facet of his career is chronicled here. Cash's work exhibits variations in production techniques, but retains the singular voice that could only be Johnny Cash. While the Murder disc is easily the most complex, Love and God are really necessary to complement his violent tales. Soooo, fyi... after some consideration, if you do want the set in its entirety it's still available for $30.00.

CASH, JOHNNY Love / God / Murder (Columbia / American) 3cd 38.00
The Man In Black himself compiled this career-spanning anthology of his work with each of the cds reflecting the major themes of Cash's songs - Love, God, and Murder. As one of the last masters of the Southern morality tale, Cash through his commanding voice sings songs of good and evil under the ever vigilant eyes of God, who hands down the mercy of justification right along with the misery of the sinner. From his earliest Sun recordings to the latest Rick Rubin produced work, almost every facet of his career is chronicled here. Cash's work exhibits variations in production techniques, but retains the singular voice that could only be Johnny Cash. Each of these discs are also available individually for 12.98, and while the Murder disc is easily the most complex, Love and God are really necessary to complement his violent tales.

CASH, JOHNNY Murder (Sony) cd 12.98
See? We told you that you could get these three cds separately! Originally released as a three disc set, the career-spanning God, Love and Murder themed cds were compiled by the Man In Black himself. As one of the last masters of the Southern morality tale, Cash through his commanding voice sang songs of good and evil under the ever vigilant eyes of God, who hands down the mercy of justification right along with the misery of the sinner. From his earliest Sun recordings to the latest Rick Rubin produced work, almost every facet of his career is chronicled here. Cash's work exhibits variations in production techniques, but retains the singular voice that could only be Johnny Cash. While this one, the Murder disc is easily the most complex, Love and God are really necessary to complement his violent tales. Soooo, fyi... after some consideration, if you do want the set in its entirety it's still available for $30.00.

CASH, JOHNNY My Mother's Hymn Book (American) cd 17.98
Attention Johnny Cash fans, be forewarned: This is actually Disc Four from the Cash Unearthed cd boxset released all by itself with no special changes, omissions or additions. So, if you bought the box, you've already got this. However, if the fact that Unearthed was five discs long and the $79 price tag proved to be too daunting, My Mother's Hymn Book is a definite highlight of the collection and a stunning, resonant album all on its own. The title says it all. The gospel songs, clearly so close to his heart and deeply rooted in his being, are indeed drawn from his mother's hymnal. It's perhaps one of the most profound and most personal historic documents of the life of Johnny Cash. All extraneous elements are stripped away, the spotlight shining squarely on Cash's voice and guitar. Truly mighty.
MPEG Stream: "Where We'll Never Grow Old"
MPEG Stream: "If We Never Meet Again This Side Of Heaven"

CASH, JOHNNY Personal File (Columbia) 2cd 23.00
It's to be expected when a legendary recording artist passes away that any recording studio that had the minutest relationship with said artist will unearth from their vaults lost or unreleased recordings, alternate takes, demos, b-sides and what have you. But it is much rarer to see that the unearthed vaults containing the unreleased recordings belonged to the artist himself. And that's just what we have here: 49 tracks on 2 CDs from the personal file of Johnny Cash recorded at the House of Cash circa 1973. With just acoustic guitar and voice, these stripped down songs and stories are prescient of the American Recordings he made with Rick Rubin 20 years later. Though they lack the impending weight of death that hovered throughout the Rubin sessions, nevertheless these are some of the most intimate recordings of the post-Man In Black era. He even unwittingly adds his two cents to the Da Vinci Code debate on "If Jesus Loved A Woman". Walk the Line, indeed!
MPEG Stream: "Jim, I Wore A Tie Today"
MPEG Stream: "The Cremation of Sam McGhee"
MPEG Stream: "If Jesus Ever Loved A Woman"

CASH, JOHNNY Sings Hank Williams (Get Back) lp 14.98

CASH, JOHNNY Sings The Ballads Of The True West (Columbia) cd 12.98
1965 concept album (his first?) resulting from Cash's growing obsession with the stories of the old west. Along with several originals by Johnny Cash which were inspired by historic tales, there are plenty of standards like "I Ride An Old Paint", "The Streets of Laredo", "Bury Me Not On the Lone Prairie" (but not "Cool Water" oddly enough), as well as several tunes from such heavyweights as Carl Perkins ("Ballad of Boot Hill"), Ramblin' Jack Elliott ("Mister Garfield"), Harlan Howard ("The Blizzard"), June Carter ("The Road To Kantuck") and much more. The choruses, strings, guitar, bass, drums, the occasional banjo (or "five-string lute" as it's diplomatically called here) and heaping helpings of reverb on Johnny's voice might be a little too rich of a production for some people's blood. The lush mid-sixties production sounds more like what one would expect from an Eddy Arnold or Marty Robbins record. But for those who enjoy the occasional over-produced country record, this is definitely worth checking out. The omni-present pulsing bass is a warm accompaniment to Johnny's sometimes singing, sometimes narrating voice. Along with all the session musicians involved, there are appearances from Johnny's family of friends The Carter Family and The Statler Bros. Includes two bonus tracks not included on the original LP.
RealAudio clip: "The Road To Kantuck"
RealAudio clip: "Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie"

CASH, JOHNNY Story Songs of the Trains and Rivers (Get Back) lp 14.98

CASH, JOHNNY The Man Comes Around (American IV) (American) cd 13.98
Johnny Cash has done a pretty great job of both remaining relevant and making consistently great music. This album is pretty wonderful. It's got a healthy mix of Cash originals (indeed "The Man Comes Around", based on the Book of Revelations, is one of the best songs he's ever written, IMO) and covers of such unlikely sources as Nine Inch Nails, Paul Simon, Sting, Depeche Mode, the Eagles, etc. To Cash, if a given song is exceptionally well-written and suited to his stylistic interpretation, then he'll do it. No genre snobbery here. He infuses all the songs with an epic, anthemic tone some of them didn't know they had in 'em! (There are only a couple duds -- a stiff "Danny Boy" and an ill-chosen Beatles tune.)
The guest musicians are also unlikely, and as much as I hate random celeb-littered projects, believe me they're not annoying at all. Guests include Fiona Apple, John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), the legendary Billy Preston on piano, Roger Manning Jr (Jellyfish), etc. This is a really nice record, classic and modern and smart at the same time. Recommended!
RealAudio clip: "The Man Comes Around"
RealAudio clip: "Hurt (Trent Reznor)"

CASH, JOHNNY Unchained (American) cd 17.98

CASH, JOHNNY AND ROSCOE HOLCOMB Pete Seeger's Rainbow Quest (Shanachie) dvd 16.98

CASH, JUNE CARTER Wildwood Flower (Dualtone) cd 14.98
No, this is not a new release by the legendary June Carter Cash -- it came out last year -- but we were listening to it the other day and thought we oughta list it 'cause we hadn't already. These are her final recordings captured on tape shortly before her passing in May 2003. However, Wildwood Flower is by no means a solo effort, it features a number of Cash relations. A wonderful family gathering, it conveys the down-home warmth and true love of the Cash clan. Such a rare and wonderful thing to behold. In addition, some of the non-music recordings included on this album are a total hoot such as Lady June's tale about Lee Marvin. Oh my!
MPEG Stream: "Temptation"
MPEG Stream: "Big Yellow Peaches"

CASHMORE, MICHAEL The Snow Abides (Durtro Jnana) cd 12.98
ANTONY alert!!! CURRENT 93 alert!!
OK, now that we have your attention, we can tell you about this gem of an ep recorded over a few years back in '99-'01 and now finally seeing the light of day. Michael Cashmore is best known for his stellar contributions to Current 93 over the years. Playing a major role on C93 classics like Thunder Perfect Mine, Soft Black Stars, All The Pretty Little Horses and the latest C93 outing Black Ships Ate The Sky. Last year he released an amazing solo album of guitar and bass compositions, and now we have The Snow Abides, which finds him collaborating with one of our favorite vocalists, Antony of Antony & The Johnsons. Antony croons in his immediately recognizable style with David Tibet providing the dark and moving lyrics, oh what melancholy bliss! Piano, violin, oboe, cello, flute and percussion all woven into a gloriously dramatic whole with grace and style, making the instrumentals on the record just as captivating as the tracks with Antony's show stopping vocals. So nice!
MPEG Stream: "The Snow Abides"
MPEG Stream: "My Eyes Open"

CASINO, COTTON 100% Pure Cotton (Riot Season) 7" 7.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
You know you want this you Acid Mothers obsessives you. Too bad we only got a handful of these. So act fast or be banished to the dark realms of eBay forever. Two blasts from the Acid Mothers Temple Starship courtesy of AMT's lone female ass kicker Cotton Casino, whose surly onsatge demeanor, beer in one hand cigarette in the other, would have you expecting some leather clad Hawkwindy biker space rock. Instead we're presented with one track of dreamy Japanese folk, lilting and foresty, under a starry sky of space-y swooshes. The flipside sounds just like a cheesy seventies sci fi soundtrack (sort of like the music during the credits of a Japanese B-movie) but with plenty more of those AMT swooshes and swirls and blips and bleeps. White vinyl with cover art by Pete Fowler!

CASINO, COTTON We Love Cotton (Sillyboy) cd 15.98
The adorable Acid Mothers Temple chanteuse steps out all on her own with this truly solo album (no guests, no sidemen). It's got a bold title, but hey, who doesn't love Cotton? Rather than try to demonstrate that she can match the mothership's psychedelic overload freakout intensity all by herself, she veers off into a more intimate, personal realm of J-pop inflected, melodic voice-and-synth tunesmithery. It's airy and breathy and embellished with the quietly burbling and swooshing sci-fi keyboard sounds she wields so effectively in AMT. Definitely very different from the general run of Acid Mothers side projects, that's for sure! Recommended, if you're in the mood for some gently psychedelic, spacy pop with a wistful feel and exotic ambience.
MPEG Stream: "Melt Down"
MPEG Stream: "Silence"

CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE (Trainbridge Recordings) 7" 2.99
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Owen of fanzine has crafted a debut single with Casio, drum machine, and sweetly doleful vocals -- all of which combine to remind us of more (relatively) famous mopes like Sentridoh and Peter Jefferies. Recommended.

CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE Answering Machine Music (Tomlab) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Originally released on the Cassingle label, the debut album from AQ fave one-man band Casiotone For The Painfully Alone now happily gets reissued on Tomlab (also home to his dreamy, sweet second full length "Pocket Symphonies For the Lonesome Subway Cars"). What can we say? It still gives us the warm fuzzies. If you require a more in depth description... here's what we said the first time around: Owen Ashworth has set his ruminations on the awkwardness of crushes and infatuation with rock stars to music. With just a couple of casio keyboards, a distortion pedal or two, and a 4-track, Owen's Casiotone for the Painfully Alone somehow succeeds, teetering between affected bedroom-rock naivete, and excerpts from a musical diary never meant for strangers' probing eyes. A recommended album for fans of early Sebadoh and Magnetic Fields, and especially the legendary early Mountain Goats cassettes.
MPEG Stream: "When The Bridge Toll Was A Dollar"
MPEG Stream: "Casiotone For The Painfully Alone Joins The Foreign Legion"

CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE Bobby Malone Moves Home (Tomlab) cd ep 8.98
Even though Bobby Malone Moves Home is credited to CFTPA, the moniker Owen Ashworth, AKA Mr. Casiotone, has used for numerous releases of his perfectly doleful dreamy casiocore, Ashworth shakes things up a bit on this new 5-song cdep (note: there is also a 2-song 7" vinyl version). For one thing, he's opted for a full band with acoustic instruments this time around. There's piano, guitar, cello, drums and other vocalists too. In addition to the charming title track, there are four live tracks with the audience demonstrating their hushed yet warm appreciation. Particularly of note is the lively "It Wasn't The Same Somehow". Ashworth seriously rocks out! The rest is more characteristically soft and pretty and utterly sincere. So nice.
MPEG Stream: "Bobby Malone Moves Home"
MPEG Stream: "It Wasn't The Same Somehow (Live)"

CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE Bobby Malone Moves Home (Tomlab) 7" 7.98
Even though Bobby Malone Moves Home is credited to CFTPA, the moniker Owen Ashworth, AKA Mr. Casiotone, has used for numerous releases of his perfectly doleful dreamy casiocore, Ashworth shakes things up a bit on this new 2-song 7" (note: the cd version includes three more live tracks). For one thing, he's opted for a full band with acoustic instruments this time around. There's piano, guitar, cello, drums and other vocalists too. In addition to the charming title track, there are four live tracks with the audience demonstrating their hushed yet warm appreciation. Particularly of note is the lively "It Wasn't The Same Somehow". Ashworth seriously rocks out! The rest is more characteristically soft and pretty and utterly sincere. So nice.
MPEG Stream: "Bobby Malone Moves Home"

CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE Etiquette (Tomlab) cd 14.98
Yaaay, a new album from our dear pal Mr. Casiotone For The Painfully Alone (aka Owen Ashworth)! Seems like it was only yesterday that his last full length Twinkle Echo was released, but it was actually 2003. Wow, time sure flys! Anyhoo, Etiquette picks right up where that album left off, even in the cover art department with another lovely, enchantingly odd painting by his pal Heidi Anderson. Tho' Ashworth might portray a perpetually bashful, lovelorn teenager in his lyrics and stage presence, the musical manner in which he conveys his heartfelt confessions and sentiments has blossomed and flourished with each subsequent album. Yes, his beloved trademark bedroom-y lo-fi quality of bittersweet valentines being played out on thriftstore-scored toy electronic keyboards still surfaces here and there, but the compositions have gotten increasingly ambitious. Indeed this is his most grand (but still unmistakably CFTPA) to date. No longer a one man band (or at least not for the time being), he has a bunch of friends joining in the musicmaking fun which certainly contributes a good deal to the breadth of the recordings. Lots of different voices singing and playing a much more varied array of instruments.
One thing tho' that we must take issue with is that while there are times and places when the phrase "menstrual blood" should be mentioned, a Casiotone song ("Love Connection") seems like the last place you'd want to hear it... sung. It sure made us hit the brakes and go, "Whoa!" Don't get us wrong, we're not squirmish, but when we spend the better part of a CFTPA album getting up to 'holding hands' speed, it's a bit of a nasty jolt to be reminded of that time of month. Maybe they should've taken a cue from the same song's later lyrics "Some things are best left unsaid"? Perhaps somewhat unfortunately that's also the album's final song. Ah well, just press 'play' once more. You'll be right back to the beginning again, and all will be well.
MPEG Stream: "New Year's Kiss"
MPEG Stream: "Scattered Pearls"

CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE Etiquette (Tomlab) lp 14.98
Now on vinyl too! Yaaay, a new album from our dear pal Mr. Casiotone For The Painfully Alone (aka Owen Ashworth)! Seems like it was only yesterday that his last full length Twinkle Echo was released, but it was actually 2003. Wow, time sure flys! Anyhoo, Etiquette picks right up where that album left off, even in the cover art department with another lovely, enchantingly odd painting by his pal Heidi Anderson. Tho' Ashworth might portray a perpetually bashful, lovelorn teenager in his lyrics and stage presence, the musical manner in which he conveys his heartfelt confessions and sentiments has blossomed and flourished with each subsequent album. Yes, his beloved trademark bedroom-y lo-fi quality of bittersweet valentines being played out on thriftstore-scored toy electronic keyboards still surfaces here and there, but the compositions have gotten increasingly ambitious. Indeed this is his most grand (but still unmistakably CFTPA) to date. No longer a one man band (or at least not for the time being), he has a bunch of friends joining in the musicmaking fun which certainly contributes a good deal to the breadth of the recordings. Lots of different voices singing and playing a much more varied array of instruments.
One thing tho' that we must take issue with is that while there are times and places when the phrase "menstrual blood" should be mentioned, a Casiotone song ("Love Connection") seems like the last place you'd want to hear it... sung. It sure made us hit the brakes and go, "Whoa!" Don't get us wrong, we're not squirmish, but when we spend the better part of a CFTPA album getting up to 'holding hands' speed, it's a bit of a nasty jolt to be reminded of that time of month. Maybe they should've taken a cue from the same song's later lyrics "Some things are best left unsaid"? Perhaps somewhat unfortunately that's also the album's final song. Ah well, just press 'play' once more. You'll be right back to the beginning again, and all will be well.
MPEG Stream: "New Year's Kiss"
MPEG Stream: "Scattered Pearls"

CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE logo t-shirt (self-released) tshirt 11.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Mr. C.F.T.P.A. himself Owen Ashworth just brought these new snazzy t-shirts in! Two color combos: navy blue with silver print of his hand-drawn logo, and baby blue with red print. Assorted sizes. Stock varies depending on whether Owen's in town or on the road, so please ask for size availability.

CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE Pocket Symphonies For the Lonesome Subway Cars (Tomlab) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
AQ's sweetest pal Owen Ashworth moved from SF to lo-fi pop haven Portland, OR a short time ago. And we've dearly missed his quiet, but completely passionate enthusing over our mutual pop faves -- in particular, Young Marble Giants. The minimal, sweet music that he creates under the moniker Casiotone For The Painfully Alone is certainly lo-tech and lo-fi, but totally high on shy boy romance and earnestness. 'Pocket Symphonies' (released on German label Tomlab) maintains the intimate bedroom recording feel of his debut 'Answering Machine Music'. Owen's soft vocal delivery once again really brings to mind the Mountain Goats' John Darnielle, but also Mike Donovan of SF's Church Steps, with the barely audible, almost spoken, hesitant vocals, programmed drumbeats and occasional static-y casio-noise bursts... or, I imagine, Stephin Merritt (Magnetic Fields, Sixths, etc) as a young schoolboy. If you haven't seen Owen play live, you're missing a precious experience, this big bespectacled boy behind tiny synths, one heel shyly pivoting left and right to keep time. Super simple but with an undeniable catchiness. Sixteen fragile'n'pretty, electronic toybox heartstring pullers.
MPEG Stream: "Lesley Gore On The TAMI Show"

CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE Pocket Symphonies For the Lonesome Subway Cars (Tomlab) lp 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
AQ's sweetest pal Owen Ashworth moved from SF to lo-fi pop haven Portland, OR a short time ago. And we've dearly missed his quiet, but completely passionate enthusing over our mutual pop faves -- in particular, Young Marble Giants. The minimal, sweet music that he creates under the moniker Casiotone For The Painfully Alone is certainly lo-tech and lo-fi, but totally high on shy boy romance and earnestness. 'Pocket Symphonies' (released on German label Tomlab) maintains the intimate bedroom recording feel of his debut 'Answering Machine Music'. Owen's soft vocal delivery once again really brings to mind the Mountain Goats' John Darnielle, but also Mike Donovan of SF's Church Steps, with the barely audible, almost spoken, hesitant vocals, programmed drumbeats and occasional static-y casio-noise bursts... or, I imagine, Stephin Merritt (Magnetic Fields, Sixths, etc) as a young schoolboy. If you haven't seen Owen play live, you're missing a precious experience, this big bespectacled boy behind tiny synths, one heel shyly pivoting left and right to keep time. Super simple but with an undeniable catchiness. Sixteen fragile'n'pretty, electronic toybox heartstring pullers.
MPEG Stream: "Lesley Gore On The TAMI Show"

CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE The First Two Albums By Casiotone For The Painfully Alone (Tomlab) cd 14.98
Dear friends, now that Casiotone's first two albums are out of print individually do not despair! They've magically reappeared together here on one disc!
And here's what we said about both albums back when they were first released...
Answering Machine Music: Originally released on the Cassingle label, the debut album from AQ fave one-man band Casiotone For The Painfully Alone now happily gets reissued on Tomlab (also home to his dreamy, sweet second full length "Pocket Symphonies For the Lonesome Subway Cars"). What can we say? It still gives us the warm fuzzies. If you require a more in depth description... here's what we said the first time around: Owen Ashworth has set his ruminations on the awkwardness of crushes and infatuation with rock stars to music. With just a couple of casio keyboards, a distortion pedal or two, and a 4-track, Owen's Casiotone for the Painfully Alone somehow succeeds, teetering between affected bedroom-rock naivete, and excerpts from a musical diary never meant for strangers' probing eyes. A recommended album for fans of early Sebadoh and Magnetic Fields, and especially the legendary early Mountain Goats cassettes.
Pocket Symphonies For Lonesome Subway Cars: AQ's sweetest pal Owen Ashworth moved from SF to lo-fi pop haven Portland, OR a short time ago. And we've dearly missed his quiet, but completely passionate enthusing over our mutual pop faves -- in particular, Young Marble Giants. The minimal, sweet music that he creates under the moniker Casiotone For The Painfully Alone is certainly lo-tech and lo-fi, but totally high on shy boy romance and earnestness. Pocket Symphonies (released on German label Tomlab) maintains the intimate bedroom recording feel of his debut Answering Machine Music. Owen's soft vocal delivery once again really brings to mind the Mountain Goats' John Darnielle, but also Mike Donovan of SF's Church Steps, with the barely audible, almost spoken, hesitant vocals, programmed drumbeats and occasional static-y casio-noise bursts... or, I imagine, Stephin Merritt (Magnetic Fields, Sixths, etc) as a young schoolboy. If you haven't seen Owen play live, you're missing a precious experience, this big bespectacled boy behind tiny synths, one heel shyly pivoting left and right to keep time. Super simple but with an undeniable catchiness. Sixteen fragile'n'pretty, electronic toybox heartstring pullers.
MPEG Stream: "When The Bridge Toll Was A Dollar"
MPEG Stream: "Casiotone For The Painfully Alone Joins The Foreign Legion"
MPEG Stream: "Lesley Gore On The Tami Show"

CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE Twinkle Echo (Tomlab) cd 14.98
Everyone's fave one-man band Owen Ashworth returns with his third full length. In the two years since he departed SF and shortly thereafter released his sophomore effort Pocket Symphonies For the Lonesome Subway, he's become one very well-travelled fellow (actually as we speak, he's over in Japan touring with Xiu Xiu!), and it definitely shows in his new music. Twinkle Echo reveals a much more mature, self-assured, finely tuned Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, and proves to be a smooth progression onward from his past two albums. No big detours though, it's all simply more of his deeply heartfelt, lo-fi Casio-driven odes, but they've been captured on record much better this time. Wonderfully warm and intimate. The only thing that you might notice a difference in is Owen's vocals. His formerly hesitant near-whisper delivery has taken a slightly deeper, hoarser and more insistent tone, but never fear, it still fits very well amid the sweet-tart, woozy toy keyboard melodies and tick-tocking preprogrammed rhythms we know and love so well. Sure to please the growing circle of CFTPA devotees.
MPEG Stream: "Blue Corolla"
MPEG Stream: "Twinkle Echo"

CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE Twinkle Echo (Tomlab) lp 14.98
Everyone's fave one-man band Owen Ashworth returns with his third full length. In the two years since he departed SF and shortly thereafter released his sophomore effort Pocket Symphonies For the Lonesome Subway, he's become one very well-travelled fellow (actually as we speak, he's over in Japan touring with Xiu Xiu!), and it definitely shows in his new music. Twinkle Echo reveals a much more mature, self-assured, finely tuned Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, and proves to be a smooth progression onward from his past two albums. No big detours though, it's all simply more of his deeply heartfelt, lo-fi Casio-driven odes, but they've been captured on record much better this time. Wonderfully warm and intimate. The only thing that you might notice a difference in is Owen's vocals. His formerly hesitant near-whisper delivery has taken a slightly deeper, hoarser and more insistent tone, but never fear, it still fits very well amid the sweet-tart, woozy toy keyboard melodies and tick-tocking preprogrammed rhythms we know and love so well. Sure to please the growing circle of CFTPA devotees.

CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE Young Shields (Tomlab) cd ep 6.98
Hot on the heels of the split 7" Casiotone For The Painfully Alone did with Fox Pause comes another short'n'sweet C.F.T.P.A. release (this one's available on 2-song vinyl and 4-song cd)... And just in time for Valentine's Day, no less! This one man band (aka Owen Ashworth) seems to have a bottomless heart-shaped box of schoolboy lo-fi pop-tronic bonbons. On the first two tunes of this cd (the two that make up the 7" version), his trademark rudimentarily programmed drumbeats and perky Casiotone keyboard melodies once again make us muse as to whether or not Ashworth and Stephin Merritt might be long lost brothers. That said, in more ways that one, the standout track is definitely the somber finale on the cd version. An alternate version of his song "The Subway Home", its plucked cello strings bring to mind the final droplets of rain that fall from leaves after a stormy night. Moody loveliness.
MPEG Stream: "When You Were Mine"
MPEG Stream: "The Subway Home"

CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE / FOOT FOOT Split (Oedipus) 7" 5.98
Limited pressing of 500

CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE / FOX PAUSE split (Stationary (Heart)) 7" 5.25
We just got these brand new Casiotone For The Painfully Alone 7" records straight from the man himself! It's a split 7" with his pal Sara Han aka Fox Pause. His side has three of his wonderfully doleful heartache tunes with his trademark deep boyish near-spoken delivery and his comparatively spritely percolating Casiotone rhythms and melodies.
Her side has four much more peppy twee songs. She sings in the opposite end of the octave range from him. High, sugary sweetness.

CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE / YOUNG SHIELDS Young Shields (Tomlab) 7" 6.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Hot on the heels of the split 7" Casiotone For The Painfully Alone did with Fox Pause comes another short'n'sweet C.F.T.P.A. release (this one's available on 2-song vinyl and 4-song cd)... And just in time for Valentine's Day, no less! This one man band (aka Owen Ashworth) seems to have a bottomless heart-shaped box of schoolboy lo-fi pop-tronic bonbons. On the first two tunes of this cd (the two that make up the 7" version), his trademark rudimentarily programmed drumbeats and perky Casiotone keyboard melodies once again make us muse as to whether or not Ashworth and Stephin Merritt might be long lost brothers. That said, in more ways that one, the standout track is definitely the somber finale on the cd version. An alternate version of his song "The Subway Home", its plucked cello strings bring to mind the final droplets of rain that fall from leaves after a stormy night. Moody loveliness.
MPEG Stream: "When You Were Mine"

CASKET LOTTERY Survival Is For Cowards (Second Nature) cd 12.98
The Casket Lottery was borne of the mighty Coalesce, but their sound is far removed from Coalesce's pummelling metalcore. More a bizarre hybrid of emo, power pop, weird almost-prog, new wave and just balls-out rock. Huge emotive swells of thick rich chords, gorgeous harmonies (thanks to the two vocalists with similarly keening, whiny sad boy vocals, but whose voices are different enough to give the music some extra breadth), and an amazingly inventive rhythm section. Imagine a mix of Death Cab For Cutie, Appleseed Cast, Heavy Vegetable, Built To Spill, and Joy Division. Or something like that. Heartbreakingly catchy songs with heavily chorused wandering bass lines, huge, booming drum lines (with occasional dubbed out snares and clattery percussion), and guitars that wander freely between metallic crunch and wispy post rock strum, offering up delicate, chiming harmonics and driving riffage in between. This is sooooo good. Everyone who flipped for those Appleseed Cast records should definitely check this out. The Casket Lottery are like Appleseed Cast's older brother, still innocent and optimistic, but a little more well travelled and with a few more broken hearts under his belt. This record is driving in your shitty old van across country, mix tape for that girl you like, laying in the tall grass thinking about the future, getting lost in your feelings, bobbing your head and air guitaring without meaning to, finding solace for that hole in your heart, perfect pop/rock/punk/emo/whatever-you-want-to-call-it record.
RealAudio clip: "Code Red"
RealAudio clip: "The Bridge"
RealAudio clip: "Searchlights"
RealAudio clip: "Since You"

CASKET LOTTERY Survival Is For Cowards (Second Nature) lp 10.98
The Casket Lottery was borne of the mighty Coalesce, but their sound is far removed from Coalesce's pummelling metalcore. More a bizarre hybrid of emo, power pop, weird almost-prog, new wave and just balls-out rock. Huge emotive swells of thick rich chords, gorgeous harmonies (thanks to the two vocalists with similarly keening, whiny sad boy vocals, but whose voices are different enough to give the music some extra breadth), and an amazingly inventive rhythm section. Imagine a mix of Death Cab For Cutie, Appleseed Cast, Heavy Vegetable, Built To Spill, and Joy Division. Or something like that. Heartbreakingly catchy songs with heavily chorused wandering bass lines, huge, booming drum lines (with occasional dubbed out snares and clattery percussion), and guitars that wander freely between metallic crunch and wispy post rock strum, offering up delicate, chiming harmonics and driving riffage in between. This is sooooo good. Everyone who flipped for those Appleseed Cast records should definitely check this out. The Casket Lottery are like Appleseed Cast's older brother, still innocent and optimistic, but a little more well travelled and with a few more broken hearts under his belt. This record is driving in your shitty old van across country, mix tape for that girl you like, laying in the tall grass thinking about the future, getting lost in your feelings, bobbing your head and air guitaring without meaning to, finding solace for that hole in your heart, perfect pop/rock/punk/emo/whatever-you-want-to-call-it record.

CASKET LOTTERY, THE Possiblies and Maybes (Second Nature) cd 14.98
A little odds and ends collection from one of our favorite emo bands. Lots of soaring, sad boy vocals, BIG guitars, almost-metal riffery, melancholy melodies, and catchy punky pop. Think Sunny Day Real Estate, the Get Up Kids, and that sort of thing. This disc collects all the Casket Lottery's tracks from comps and splits, a handful of unreleased tracks, some demos, and lots of wicked covers, the Cure, the Police, Government Issue, Kill Creek, Shudder To Think and a brutal spot-on cover of Helmet's In The Meantime with vocals courtesy of Coalesce's Sean Ingram. Nice.
MPEG Stream: "In The Meantime"
MPEG Stream: "Synchronicity II"
MPEG Stream: "A Priest Walks Into A Bar"

CASSERLEY, LAWRENCE Labyrinths (Sargasso) cd 15.98
The labyrinth is the common concept linking the four pieces on Casserley's record, which is dominated by dark breathy drones and fragments of ambiguously located piano, ring modulator, flutes, percussion, and guitar. If you're familiar with his collaborations with avant saxophonist Evan Parker, you won't be dissapointed by this album.

CASSETTEBOY Dead Horse (Barry's Bootlegs) cd 17.98
Not sure what it is exactly that makes Cassetteboy manage to sidestep being nothing more than an overplayed bad joke, but there is most definitely SOMETHING. Most mashups, cut ups, Negativland style wacky plunderphonic records get played out in no time at all, the sort of records you -maybe- put on a mix tape now and then or throw on at a party, but ultimately they end up at the bottom of some pile gathering dust. But we find ourselves listening to Cassetteboy all the time, over and over, and laughing our asses off. Random bits of dialogue, movie clips, all manner of music, and lots of immediately recognizable voices, all chopped up and mixed up and re-assembled into super snarky, bitter, fuck the world sound snippets and song fragments, rife with anti-social sentiments, anti-government propaganda, some truly messed up Harry Potter porn, a crazy funny, awesome anti-Streets track, and all manner of perplexing non-sequitur humor, and loads of peurile silliness. Just give the sound samples a listen. If the Harry Potter clip doesn't make you laugh out loud, well, then this is probably not the record for you, but if it does, then you are in for a treat, as there is plenty of stuff even sillier, more outrageous and way more offensive.
MPEG Stream: "Lambonaise Tonight"
MPEG Stream: "Clever Girl"
MPEG Stream: "Gownday"
MPEG Stream: "Saltgrain"
MPEG Stream: "From This Day On"
MPEG Stream: "Yer Little Pipedream"

CASSETTEBOY Mick's Tape (Antidote / Sanctuary) cd 19.98
As much as we feel like we oughta hate this stuff, Cassetteboy are just so good at their schtick that we can't seem to get enough. This is a bit like Negativland, only with that dry British humor and a much wider self deprecating streak. Most bands who do the whole cut and paste, spoken word taken out of context, weird sound bites over dance music thing end up sounding stupid and like they're trying way to hard to be funny and cool and hip and still somehow failing miserably. Cassetteboy on the other hand, sound like they're just fucking around, and thus there's no hipster weight to what they're doing, but the stuff they're doing is so perfect, and so funny, we can't help but dig it. Cassetteboy sound like blokes you'd want to have over, and sit around listening to crazy fucked up music. Mick's Tape is indeed a mix tape, made up of CB's wacky and sometimes tasteless chop jobs, turning innocent speeches and silly folks songs and instructional recordings into laugh out loud nasties. Then some bizarre and random actual songs (Ivor Cutler, Curtis Mayfield, Ramsey Lewis, Astrud Gilberto, Fennesz, Happy Mondays, Fela Kuti, Shalamar) as well as somekiller tracks from MF Doom, Jaylib, and Squarepusher. It's basically the ultimate aQuarius mix, tons of insane weirdness and laugh out loud silliness, some killer classic tunes, some super dope hip hop, some way out experimental noise, all woven together into a somewhat cohesive but joyously chaotic whole!
MPEG Stream: CASSETTEBOOB "This Woman Stinks!"
MPEG Stream: IVOR CUTLER "Good Morning, How Are You, Shut Up!"
MPEG Stream: CASSETTEBABY "Cobblers"
MPEG Stream: CASSETTEBOTHERED "C U In Court"
MPEG Stream: CASSETTEBELLYUP "Gopher It"
MPEG Stream: CASSETTEZZZZZZZZ "Hoes Down"

CASSETTEBOY The Parker Tapes (Barry's Bootlegs) cd 16.98
The newest exercise in plunderphonia comes from merry old England in the form of Cassetteboy! Taking cues from People Like Us, Negativland, Tape-beatles, and John Oswald, Cassetteboy excel in the art of making people say naughty things. As such The Parker Tapes is probably not the best disc for those who don't enjoy the baser and more puerile forms of humor (or channel surfing style editing.) But for those who do revel in such things, Cassetteboy is the best source for your plunderfix. Unlike most of the artists who work in the realm of media reappropriation, Cassetteboy is decidedly un-musical. Which isn't a rib against them. Though there are bits of music sampled in the course of events, it's the narrative of television and radio voices that are the primary focus of Cassetteboy's wrath. The 98 tracks crammed onto this disc don't lend themselves to much in the way of instrumental interludes. But goddamn is this stuff funny, from subtly changing Bowie's lyrics to "here I am shitting in a tin can.... and farting in a most peculiar way...." to Bill Gates admitting that Microsoft gets in to schools to control our kids... to an awesome monkey themed montage to... well, you get the idea. Relentless and stupidly brilliant. EVERYTIME this is played in the store, customers are either silently chuckling, laughing uproariously or coming up to find out what the hell we're listening to! This is the party cd/mix tape/answering machine message record of the year!!
RealAudio clip: "[Track 24]"
RealAudio clip: "[Track 38]"
RealAudio clip: "[Track 51]"
RealAudio clip: "[Track 58]"

CASTANEDA, LETICIA On The Verge Of Redundance (C.I.P.) cd 11.98
Leticia Castaneda is a sound artist who hails from Los Angeles, where she has lurked around with the likes of Solid Eye, Mitchell Brown, and other LA dadaists who continue the Frankensteinian experiments of Destroy All Monsters and the Los Angeles Free Music Society. On The Verge Of Redundance marks her first released recordings, which offer a somewhat quieter take on the phantasmagorical collages produced by many of her colleagues. Nevertheless, a sense of disembodiment courses through Castaneda's abstractions of field recordings, home-built circuitry, abused consumer electronics, and primitive dronescraping. Bells, bleeps, metallic rumblings, and plenty of unrecognizable sounds spiral into interlocking patterns which ultimately mutate, dissolve, or otherwise disintegrate into soft droning fields of low-key gestures. Nicely done.
MPEG Stream: "Memories Of Being Lost"
MPEG Stream: "Statue"

CASTANETS Cathedral (Asthmatic Kitty) cd 14.98
Castanets bring us gentle slightly-jangly psych-country all the way from San Diego with, technically, their second album, Cathedral. Fans of the Gris Gris, The Dirty Three, and Six Organs of Admittance will love this. Castanets' leader, Ray Raposa, reigns in some of San Diego's favorites, members of Tristeza, Pinback and Rocket From The Crypt to create music that's pretty darn epic in its simplicity and sensitivity. We look forward to hear the first album, previously a cd-r only given out to friends and at live shows, which should be out on Asthmatic Kitty soon.
MPEG Stream: "You Are The Blood"
MPEG Stream: "The Smallest Bones"

CASTANETS First Light's Freeze (Asthmatic Kitty) cd 14.98
Shhhh! The subdued hush of San Diego's Castanets' latest contemplative folk album can be ever so easily drowned out by the sounds of the city, but if you can find yourself a quiet time and place to listen to First Light's Freeze you'll be pleasantly rewarded. In songs such as "A Song Is Not The Song Of The World", the sensitive boy vocals at times bring to mind those of Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock, Built To Spill's Doug Martsch or Mountain Goats' John Darnielle. Now imagine those vocals atop some slightly off-kilter and psych-tinged which brings them into company with current abstract folk groups such as Wooden Wand & The Vanishing Voice. Nice!
MPEG Stream: "A Song Is Not The Song Of The World"
MPEG Stream: "Good Friend, Yr. Hunger"

CASTANETS In The Vines (Asthmatic Kitty) cd 14.98
Castanets' new album warms our cockles with its brothy aural stew. Soft bristling hazes of electrified dissonance and icy slide guitar drift across their woozily weaving acoustic melodies with the kind of mumble-murmurred woebegone emotive singing that lets flow once your defenses are down after a shot or two of hard liquor and weed. As In The Vines progresses it settled into a more traditional indie country twangy comfiness. A bit withered, a bit ghostly, a lot lovely!
MPEG Stream: "Rain Will Come"
MPEG Stream: "Sway"

CASTLE PROJECT Diaries Of A Broken Heart (White Whale) cd 15.98
Another Canadian delight! Imagine a meeting between Broken Social Scene, Built To Spill and Coldplay, and you just might discover The Castle Project. Their fine debut album Diaries Of A Broken Heart more than holds its own alongside the recent works of those mighty musical forces. Main man Ryan Ostiguy's richly emotive vocals slouch and soar in all the right places. He's struck a well executed balance of lush chamber pop stylings, gentle acoustic strummery and big rock guitars. Really gorgeous. Really good. Really recommended!
MPEG Stream: "Celebrate The End"
MPEG Stream: "Hearts At The Door"

CASTOR, JIMMY The Everything Man: The Best Of Jimmy Castor (Rhino) cd 10.98
Awesome collection of stuff by this '70s funk master.

CASTRO, NICK In The House Of God (Records Of Gauhd) cd 14.98

CASUAL DOTS, THE s/t (Kill Rock Stars) cd 14.98
I've been a fan of Christina Billotte ever since her days in all-girl Dischord act Slant 6. Previous to that she was in Autoclave, and after that, Quix*o*tic. Now here she comes with a new project. The Casual Dots are a carefully quirky garage rock trio, playing sorta punkish '60s-ish pop, with clomping drums and two guitars -- one's twangy and surfy, the other all bumblebee fuzzed. And of course a big facet of their sound are the distinctive and (to my ears) enchanting vocals of Ms. Billotte, whose singing is showcased especially on the Etta James cover they do, "I'll Dry My Tears". '50s rock diva LaVern Baker also gets covered, while the rest are Dots originals, including an instrumental or two. Catchy, cool, retro fun.
MPEG Stream: "Derailing "
MPEG Stream: "Flowers"

CAT FIVE On The Rise (self-released) 12" 14.98

very very limited pressing of 300!

CAT POWER Could We (Matador UK) 7" 3.98
Cat Power completists! Here's two lil' ditties from Ms Chan Marshall released by the UK wind of Matador Records (hence the slightly more hefty price tag). One is the languid "Could We" taken straight from her latest album The Greatest, and the other is a dreamy cover of the Everly Brothers' "All I Have To Do Is Dream" (mysteriously titled "Dreams" here). Sigh-inducing. but all too short! That's right Matador, just keep us wanting more...
MPEG Stream: "Dreams"

CAT POWER Could We (Matador UK) cd single 9.98
Cat Power completists! Here's two lil' ditties from Ms Chan Marshall released by the UK wing of Matador Records (hence the slightly more hefty price tag). One is the languid "Could We" taken straight from her latest album The Greatest, and the other is a dreamy cover of the Everly Brothers' "All I Have To Do Is Dream" (mysteriously titled "Dreams" here). Sigh-inducing. but all too short! That's right Matador, just keep us wanting more...
MPEG Stream: "Dreams"

CAT POWER Dear Sir (Plain Recordings) cd 14.98
Ms Chan Marshall's debut album!