MANSON, CHARLES The Summer Of Hate - The '67 Sessions (Arte Lupo) cd 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
After a few years, back in stock! Just in time for summer!
We reviewed the Charles Manson Sings disc on ESP a while back, and everyone kinda freaked out. We couldn't keep 'em in stock. Cuz beyond being a psycho, and a cult leader, and the mastermind behind a handful of gruesome killings, he was also some sort of musical visionary, a damaged folk troubador, obsessed with music, and with becoming an actual musician like his pals in the Beach Boys, his songs were dark and brooding, but strangely beautiful, haunting, intimate and personal. He had a really unique voice to, throaty and velvety smooth, like a raspier Nick Drake.
This set of songs was recorded after just getting out of a prison stretch in the '60s, almost a year before he recorded his first and only proper album, and another year before the Tate / Labianca murders that would seal his place in history forever.
The sound is rough and raw and lo-fi, but only adds to the strange power of these songs and performances. We described the recordings on Sings as "reverb drenched beatniky psychedelic freekfolk" and while there is some of that here, the sound here is much more stripped down and traditional sounding. Barebones and simple, it's all about Manson's voice and the guitar, and both sound divine. Moody and melancholy, slightly hippy, dark and thoughtful and really intense and pretty. Sure serial killer obsessives will be all over this, especially because most of the tracks have Manson going off on weird little rants after or before each song, stories, jokes, philosophies, usually delivered with a self conscious giggle, snippets of conversation with the guy recording these sessions or whoever else happens to be in the room. There's even a three minute interview included. It's definitely a bit creepy, especially knowing how everything would end up.
But the music, taken on its own, is still super powerful, some gorgeously raw chunks of raw acoustic folk. Fans of classic stuff like Nick Drake, Townes Van Zandt, Bill Fay, as well as folks into Banhart, Vetiver, Espers, Fursaxa, Wooden Wand and any of the more song oriented modern freakfolks will definitely dig this like crazy, and probably oughta pick up the ESP disc as well...
MPEG Stream: "Devil Man"
MPEG Stream: "True Love You Will Find"
MPEG Stream: "She Done Turned Me In"

MANSON, JEFFREY Dozing in The Abandoned Gunnery (Recolote Music) 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.
Jeffrey Manson is a new indie folk troubadour from right here in SF. This lo-fi home recorded album is filled with rootsy, rough hewn tunes which seems very much inspired by the earnest heart baring voice of Jeff Mangum. Best listened to in the great outdoors, far from the roar of the city. Dozing In The Abandoned Gunnery was released on the new indie label Recolote Music whose roster already includes a number of other likeminded homespun Bay Area artists such as Chinatown Bakeries, Ryan Stively & His Poison Band, and Port O'Brien. They release mostly limited run cdrs in lovingly handmade packaging.
MPEG Stream: "Commanding Eye"
MPEG Stream: "Corn Husk Head"

MANSON, MARILYN Holywood (Nothing) cd 16.98
Like it or not, Marilyn Manson has become a prophet for the white teenage disenfranchised, preaching all sorts of ill-conceived / anti-establishment messages against the existence of God, the authority of family, school, or state, and anything that the right wing of mainstream America would qualify as morally upstanding. It would be another thing if Marilyn Manson the prophet could actually incite revolutionary thought or action, rather than highly theatrical shock tactics, but he doesn't. Marilyn Manson is pure entertainment, and there's no way that he could deny that.
I think it's a stretch to discuss Manson within the discourse of the Gothic, simply because in my opinion, he fails to invoke terror or horror (except in the minds of the right wing -- but what doesn't startle them?). It would be far more repulsive, abject, and grotesque if all of the things which Manson professes to worship were done within a belief system which attempted to understand the nature of God and of divine punishment. Then the damnation which he has already put upon his head would actually mean something.
Without any guiding belief system or agenda of existential questioning, Marilyn Manson is nothing but a run of the mill Relativist, which -- while antithetical to Christianity -- does not make Manson a Satanist or the Anti-Christ.
Musically is where Manson has the better chance of success -- and yeah, it's pretty catchy -- sorta like a pop grindcore version of Adam Ant. Lead single "Disposable Teens" is a carbon copy of "Beautiful People". But no, it's certainly not scary.

MANSON, MARILYN Mechanical Animals (Nothing) cd 15.98
I really wonder how much the goth subculture will be altered by this album, as very little of the doom & gloom found on previous Marilyn Manson releases is present. Nonetheless, his / their new visual aesthetics of anthropomorphic plasticity (which is not too far from a Photoshop version of Matthew Barney's weird prosthetic fusions with goats, sheep, fish, etc...) recall the electro glam posturing of Gary Numan and are matched by the new wave electro on the album.

MANTERA Same Here (Invisible) cd 14.98
The prolific Mick Harris (Scorn, Painkiller) and an Italian guy (different from the Overload Lady one) as a collaborator...

MANTLES s/t (Siltbreeze) lp 14.98
Long awaited full length debut from these local purveyors of druggy jangly psych pop after two super limited and now out of print ep jams, this new one though is by far the best sounding and most fully realized of the three. Falling somewhere beteen the current crop of lo-fi garage pop weirdos, and more classic space jammers, the Mantles create blissed out grooves, wrapped in tons of hazy reverb, the drums are a simple pound, the vocals a weary shadow, the guitars though, they drive these songs, they're thick, and crunchy, sometimes angular and jagged, sometimes shimmery and melodic, there's some warm whirring organ here and there, a classic rock vibe infuses the whole thing, the Velvets of course, the Doors (in the way the Shjips channel the Doors), as well as eighties New Zealand pop, nineties college rock slouch and jangle a la Sebadoh, catchy and groovy and psychedelic, not fucked up or far out, just propuslive and intense, and as the record progresses, the songs seem to get more and more ragged, often erupting into full on garage psych jams. These guys play all the time with bands like Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall and those sorts of cats, so odds are if you dig that stuff, you'll dig these guys too.
Comes with a printed lyric sheet and a digital download card.

MANTLES, THE Burden Walk With Me (Dulc-I-Tone) 7" 4.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

MANTLES, THE Pink Information (Mexican Summer) 12" 26.00
Latest from the Mexican Summer label, in their ongoing campaign to seemingly release at least one record by every one of the coolest bands around these days, which has been a pretty serious success so far (barring the always inordinately OUCH-worthy Mexican Summer pricetag), and continues to be, with this, a brand new ep from SF power pop drone rockers The Mantles, who with the opening track, "Cascades", a brief two minute blast of some seriously perfect pop, render the aforementioned pricetag a non issue, cuz, you NEED this track, and if there was ever a $26 jam, this is it. Easy, the shortest, sharpest, catchiest track the Mantles have produced, it's still got some of that Velvet Underground swagger, but it's doused in power pop perfection, a crazy killer main melody, some sweet "ooooooh" background vocals, propulsive drumming, all wrapped in a dreamy haze, we'd be surprised if you didn't find yourself playing that one track over and over and over. But once you've got that out of your system, you can dig a bit deeper, the very Wipers sounding "Situations", all dour and minor key, the sun dappled hypnorock of "Lily Never Married, sounding a bit like a slightly more upbeat Spacemen 3, "Summer Read" all fuzzy and retro, with another cool tangly guitar melody, the sound crunchy and raw and urgent, a little Swell Maps, and still a lots Velvets, and finally, "Waiting Out The Storm", a brooding dirgey slowpop gem, all minimal drumming, and super distorted low slung riffage, laconic vocals, laid back and woozy and druggy, think Loop or Spacemen 3 again, but even slower and more washed out and lysergic, the sort of jam that live could get stretched out forEVER... Rad stuff. Way recommended. But remember, it's on Mexican Summer, so it's limited and odds are it will be gone in a flash...

MANTLES, THE Raspberry Thighs (SDZ) 7" 8.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Freshly back from Europe, these SF locals offer up another couple short sharp blasts of their jangly dreamy retro pop, the first release on French label SDZ. The A side is a woozy, washed out, laid back bit of hazy sixties style murk pop, woozy organ laid over crunchy guitars, shuffling rhythms, the vocals dreamy and way down in the mix, a Velvetsy bit of druggy jangle and crunch, the sort of song you'll find yourself playing over and over and over.
The B side, while still sunshiney and jangly, is a bit darker, the guitars are a bit more buzzy, the vibe a bit broodier, sounds like the Wipers, or maybe some lost Flying Nun NZ pop band, all angular crunch, sung/spoken vox, low slung, everything blurred and buzzy, the whole sound lo-fi and fantastically muddy and murky, with an awesome, mid-song, psychedelic guitar squall, that returns at the end for a final blow out, the sort of inspired freakout that should have gone on for another 10 minutes (maybe live they stretch it way out).
Regardless, two great new jams from one of our favorite local pop combos, which should tide you over until their upcoming Slumberland full length.
MPEG Stream: "Raspberry Thighs"

MANTLES, THE Trust (Mt. St. Mtn.) 7" 9.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Second 7" from local San Francisco power pop group The Mantles, who will soon have their debut full length released on Siltbreeze. Not sure why this is called Trust, as that title is not mentioned anywhere, and the songs are "Don't Lie" on the A-side and "Secret Heart" on the B-side. But this is a band that likes to play with a bit of mystery, often sounding like they're from the seventies or eighties. Garnering comparisons to The Clean, or Big Star, they have also been called San Francisco's answer to The Crystal Stilts, which is apt as they seem to be mining similar retro sounds, although with the singing less mournful than you find on the Stilts releases. Engineered by Jason Quever from The Papercuts, this 7" is sure to please folks into the current wave of garage-pop bands on Woodsist, Slumberland, In The Red and of course Siltbreeze.

MAOGOJIATA s/t (self-released) cd ep 4.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
With a name that's quite a mouthful, this new SF band bursts forth with more than an earful of complex pop smarts. Imagine a right-on blend of Archer Prewitt, Thingy and Built To Spill (recently though, they were witnessed in kick-ass live mode adding a considerable dose of angstful energy much like BTS' Doug Martsch's old band Tree People)! Piqued your interest? Indeed! Making smooth and swift shifts from incredibly pretty lilting melodies to intricate mathy rhythm terrain and back again, the four individuals craftily flesh out the Maogojiata sound. Buoyant acoustic and crunchy electric guitars weave around the tight rhythm section's twists and turns while vocals swoop from high emotive wail like that of New Pornographers' Carl Newman to a soft, boyishness reminiscent of Sea & Cake's Sam Prekop. A very refreshing debut!
MPEG Stream: "The Spark"
MPEG Stream: "1983"

MAOW The Unforgiving Sounds Of... (Mint) cd 16.98
Attention Neko Case fans!!!
After a couple of tour drumming stints with her Vancouver pals Cub got her feet wet and got her music wheel spinning, Ms Case launched her own ass-kickin' girl trio with two other awesome ladies C.C. Hammond and Tobey Black. This was years before The Boyfriends! Hammond, Black and Case were originally known as Meow, but there was apparently another band who'd already laid claim to that moniker, so Maow it was! Kept their fans in stitches... no, not from their fierce kick-boxing skills but moreso from their hilarious rough'n'tumble stage banter and garb, unforgettable press photos, and blisteringly catchy garage pop tunes. Released in 1996 on Mint Records, The Unforgiving Sounds Of Maow was their only album, and a fleetingly short one at that - clocking in 14 songs in just over twenty minutes! A little bit country and a little bit rock'n'roll, but there ain't no chance of these naughty hellions being mistaken for Donny and Marie. You definitely don't wanna miss "Ms Lefevre"! Come and get it, fans and funseekers!
Psst, we've also just gotten in a few other new and new-to-us titles on this fine Vancouver indie label by The Awkward Stage, Buttless Chaps and Immaculate Machine!
MPEG Stream: "Ms Lefevre"
MPEG Stream: "Mean Mean Man"

MAP OF WYOMING Trouble Is (Blue Rose) cd 11.98

MAQUILADORA WITH KAWABATA MAKOTO Kiss Over (Acid Mothers Temple) 2cd 21.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
We previously heard from San Diego indie rural-psychsters Maquiladora on the Acid Mothers Temple n' friends 3cd compilation Do Whatever You Want a while back. Now here's a Japanese import cd featuring them jamming with the Acid Mothers Temple's number one guru, guitarist Kawabata Makoto (and also ex-AMTer Cotton Casino). Over these two discs is sprawlingly spread a lot of lovely, drifting, droning, gentle, largely instrumental cosmic bliss with a slight desert-sunset, country-psych feel (hints of Maquiladora's rootsy roots come through with some plantive home-on-the-range harmonica that appears alongside the less rustic instrumentation of analog synth, glissando guitar, Hammond organ, piano, vibraphone, etc.). Maybe it's due to Makoto's usual magic, but this is surely good enough that now we'll definitely have to check out Maquiladora's own couple of previous records! Real nice, mellow, moody.
MPEG Stream: "Sound Is Over"
MPEG Stream: "UFO Goozu"

MAR The Silence (Ring Road) cd 7.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
**SALE **SALE* *SALE**
Although they didn't start out that way, for this album, the musical entity that goes by the name Mar has become a mini super group of glistening glacial proportions. Its central figure is one Mr. Kyle Reidy originally from Arkansas, but its guest membership here includes Jimmy Lavalle of The Album Leaf and Mum's Samuli Kosminen. Recorded at Syrland Studios in Iceland (that would be Sigur Ros' studio!), The Silence is a drowsy drifting affair with whispery male vocals that not unsurprisingly nestles in perfectly with the Lavalle and Kosminen's main projects. Reidy mines the aching emotional depths with such a delicate touch countered with a grand regality that has become the trademark of Icelandic bands -- articulating both the monumental and the minute, the mighty and the frail in single sweeping elegant gestures. Guess it goes without saying that we'd highly recommend this to fans of Mum and The Album Leaf (and probably Sigur Ros too)... and/or folks who like their music to seek out the heartstrings in a most shimmery fashion. Lovely!
MPEG Stream: "Silence"
MPEG Stream: "Bows"

MARAH Kids In Philly (Artemis) cd 15.98

MARCH, APRIL Triggers (PIAS) cd 15.98
Aah, we haven't heard the sweet sweet voice of Ms April March in years! Her last album Chrominance Decoder came out back in 1999! Her records have always been warmly received for their kicky kitten-heeled retro French stylings. Often resembling a '60s ye-ye girl, she's never fails to deliver the delightful pop in spades. Which is why the first track off of her newest full length is such a jarring jolt. It's a very mid/late '90s-ish electronica number that overwhelms her vocals and comes off sounding like a weak loungey downtempo track. Ick! Fortunately things promptly take a turn for the better after that -- achieving more of a balance between her old crunch'n'jangle guitar bounce, grand Bacharach-esque escapades and her newer electronic leanings. With her English/French vocals and the sleek Euro-pop sounds courtesy of her frequent collaborator Bertrand Burgalat (he played a multitude of instruments, mixed and produced this album), this often veers close to Stereolab and Broadcast territory. So if you enjoy the lighter sides of those two bands, you just might find yourself smitten by Ms March.
MPEG Stream: "Somewhere Up Above"
MPEG Stream: "Coral Bracelet"

MARE s/t (Hydra Head) cd ep 11.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
D'you like Isis? Cult Of Luna? Maybe some Radiohead and Neurosis and Mogwai and 20th-century choral music? Got 12 bucks and at least 25 minutes to spare? Then this Hydrahead debut from Toronto's Mare is just perfect for you!! Seriously, this is great stuff for fans of the above. Mare combines post-rock dynamics, elephantine tones, droning ambience, screaming metalcore angst, all those light and dark shades into one moody, arty package. 'Nuff said, it's good!
MPEG Stream: "They Sent You"

MARIACHI EL BRONX s/t (Swami / White Drugs) cd 13.98
The first Bronx record had us at first sight, it's rad blood dripping fangs front cover, and then we threw it on and were blown away, the perfect blend of punk rock and pop, not pop punk, but a gnarled heaviness that had hooks galore with out sacrificing any of its ferocity. We described their sound as being a bit like a metalcore Strokes, or a poppier Coalesce, or the bastard offspring of Rocket From The Crypt, Quicksand, and the Hives. Sounds killer? It is. Err.. was. Three records, all of them heavy and catchy and punky and poppy. We were super psyched to discover a brand new Bronx record, but weirdly enough, the name on the record was Mariachi El Bronx, and there was a big crab on the cover, with the bands name on it in big gold letters, we sort of just assumed that the band were taking the piss, but lo and behold, we threw it on, and whattayaknow, no punk rock, none at all, straight up, real mariachi music.
The band live in L.A. and grew up around Mexican culture and mariachi music, and found some of those sounds sneaking into their music, so apparently they decided to go for it and bam, Mariachi El Bronx was born. At first we were definitely a bit put off, and weren't sure what to make of it, but the first two tracks stuck in our heads immediately, and we found ourselves returning to this record over and over again, and listening to more of it and constantly, and it's sort of become one of our new favorites. And this is not like a punk mariachi record, or dudes messing around, this is serious mariachi music, from the instrumentation, to the vocal harmonies, it's pretty amazing that a punk band could pull something like this off, but they do, big time. Just listen to the samples, odds are you'll be as smitten as we were.
And again, be warned, there is nothing weird or freaky or far out about this record, other than it's being played by a bunch of punk rockers, this is just a gorgeous collection of super catchy mariachi music, and we dig it big time!
MPEG Stream: "Cell Mates"
MPEG Stream: "Litigation"
MPEG Stream: "Despretador"

MARIACHI EL BRONX s/t (II) (ATO) cd 12.98

MPEG Stream: "48 Roses"
MPEG Stream: "Great Provider"
MPEG Stream: "Mariachi El Bronx"

MARIANAS Onward + Upward (Elastic Heart) cd 13.98
Finally back in stock!
Think of a melding of the goodness of Japancakes, Mogwai and a smidge of The Notwist (AQ faves one and all!), sound good to you? Well, you don't have to imagine it! Just give this new cd by Marianas a spin. Very dreamily atmospheric and pastoral from start to finish -- the final track "Last Minutes Of The Day" perfectly captures the feel of the fading light of dusk. Sooo lovely!
MPEG Stream: "Hunting & Pecking"
MPEG Stream: "Last Minutes Of The Day "

MARILYN DECADE (Freek) cd 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
British import. A pair of guitars speak quietly and eloquently whilst you drift off to sleep. Somewhat akin to the solo Roy Montgomery albums, but more folk, flowery, emotional, and English. Almost completely instrumental, just breathtakingly lovely and warm. Highly recommended.

MARILYN MANSON Eat Me, Drink Me (Interscope) cd 14.98
If you shudder at the thought of braving the wilds of Hot Topic at the mall, then you should know that yes, you can get the latest Marilyn Manson cd from us. Although he's returned to his more vampiric, finely attired guise, musically he still hasn't hit the spot like he did on Antichrist Superstar. Blame it on what you will -- the absence of Pogo, Twiggy, what-not -- but this is ultra self absorbed and slicked back with ample snake oil and fake blood. Then again, isn't that what's desired and expected of mainstream-wading glitz rock from Hollywood? He's still one of the most savvy and clever modern rockers around, but in today's sensory-numb climate, even his over-the-top attempts to shock fall on the deaf ears of his blase teenaged audience. Antichrist Superstar, we beckon thee.
MPEG Stream: "If I Was Your Vampire"
MPEG Stream: "Just A Car Crash Away"

MARINE GIRLS Lazy Ways / Beach Party (Cherry Red) cd 17.98
We have a certain soft spot for that brief period of early 80's British underground female-fronted new wave pop that has been getting revived a lot lately. Namely on Cherry Red Records, the label that championed such sounds to begin with. We made Young Marble Giants a record of the week a while back, and in its influential wake the whole face of British music had seemingly changed. Bands like Antenna, Carmel, Everything But the Girl, The Gist, Weekend, and The Marine Girls had kept up post-punk's DIY enthusiasm, but tempered its urgency into breezy and soft, almost loungey acoustic pop. The Marine Girls were a three girl band started by Tracy Thorn, later of Everything But the Girl. All the members sang with simple bossanova-style guitar and bass arrangements with no drums, each song clocking in at under three minutes. This CD compiles the Marine Girls only two recordings, Lazy Ways from 1983 and Beach Party from 1981 before Thorn left to do a solo record and then join Ben Watt in EBTG. Fans of Nouvelle Vague, Liliput, Cub, The Raincoats, as well as contemporary bands like Pillows, Beach House and Finches will find lots to love here.
MPEG Stream: "A Place In The Sun"
MPEG Stream: "20,000 Leagues"
MPEG Stream: "Marine Girls"

MARINE RESEARCH (Where It's At Is Where You Are) 7" 3.99
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
New single from new band composed of everyone from Heavenly except the drummer, who is no longer with us.

MARINE RESEARCH Sounds From The Gulf Stream (K) cd 13.98
The first full length from the formerly-known-as-Heavenly-who-were-formerly-known-as-Tallulah-Gosh gang, Marine Research. Faithful fans of Amelia Fletcher and co. will be happy to find that very little has changed with their candy-coated songs and sound. Here they bring you more very, very sweet songs that sound like Japanese girl pop mimicking UK girl pop. With the delicate origami horseys on the cover, solipsistic comes to mind.

MARINE RESEARCH / BUILT TO SPILL split (k) 7" 3.99
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Wherein Built to Spill cover a Heavenly song ("By The Way"), and the ex-Heavenly people now known as Marine Research do a Built to Spill cover ("Sick & Wrong").

MARINEVILLE Ready For The Dance (Oak Park Records) cd 11.98
Not new (it actually was released in 2001), but new to AQ thanks to a visit by band member Mark Williams all the way from New Zealand. If you were to only hear the opening two songs on this Marineville album, you might peg these New Zealanders as a slightly eccentric, subdued country quartet... but venture past those first couple and the ride gets considerably darker and rockier. Many of the later songs are definitely dominated by some stoner/space rock leanings -- very loose strung and low slung with Sonic Youth-esque brooding dissonance - but even so, they're still grounded with some twangy, earthy warmth. The eighth song brings it all together and is quite reminiscent of Yo La Tengo particularly around the time of their Painful album... which is a good thing. Released on their own label Oak Park Records.
MPEG Stream: "Ghost Of Bobby Forster"
MPEG Stream: "Hey Predator"

MARK Chocolate Covered Bad Things (Catsup Plate) cd 10.98
For fans of Neutral Milk Hotel and other bands ripe with raw emotion and seemingly stream of consciousness lyrics. At times strange and obtuse, Vancouver-based Mark has ventured beyond his usual acoustic-leaning guitar and lonely vocals approach to encorporate more styles, instruments, and voices. Much like Jeff Mangum & co., he enlists the help of his friends to fulfill his musical vision. When it is Mark himself singing, you can be sure he's singing his heart out. Moments of greatness when it all falls together just right.

MARK LANEGAN BAND Blues Funeral (4AD) cd 14.98
If we had to pick a favorite rock voice Mark Lanegan would definitely be way at the top of the list. Even back in the days of his first band The Screaming Trees, Lanegan's voice was the first thing anybody noticed, deep and raspy, smokey and whisky soaked, and over the years, if anything it's only gotten better. And barring the occasional misstep, we have to say we can't think of a Lanegan record we didn't dig. What we can say, is we can't remember one we dug nearly as much as Blues Funeral, which is exactly the sort of title you'd expect from Lanegan, and sonically, you might not be surprised if once you pushed play, a dark brooding blues creep oozed out of the speaker, but what WILL surprise you is opener "The Gravedigger's Song", which explodes out of the gate with dense tribal drumming, thick fuzzed out bass, pulsing synths, bursts of white noise crunch, and those vocals, it's the heaviest and darkest we've heard Lanegan in years, psychedelic, strangely poppy, a little bit new wavey, but holy shit. The rest of the record flits all over, from sound to sound, the new group not shying away from anything, whether it's drum machines (especially drum machines!), synths, jangly pop, whatever, the deft songwriting, Lanegan's voice, and a dark sonic streak holds all the disparate parts together, just check out "Ode To Sad Disco" which somehow sounds like Depeche Mode crossed with Justice, all dark electro synth pop, but still impossibly moody and brooding, but weirdly enough, it's that seemingly out of place synth pop element and the drum machines that really make this record so cool and weird and special, and definitely makes it one of our favorite Lanegan records yet.
MPEG Stream: "The Gravedigger's Song"
MPEG Stream: "Bleeding Muddy Water"
MPEG Stream: "Ode To Sad Disco"

MARK LANEGAN BAND Blues Funeral (4AD) 2lp 22.00
If we had to pick a favorite rock voice Mark Lanegan would definitely be way at the top of the list. Even back in the days of his first band The Screaming Trees, Lanegan's voice was the first thing anybody noticed, deep and raspy, smokey and whisky soaked, and over the years, if anything it's only gotten better. And barring the occasional misstep, we have to say we can't think of a Lanegan record we didn't dig. What we can say, is we can't remember one we dug nearly as much as Blues Funeral, which is exactly the sort of title you'd expect from Lanegan, and sonically, you might not be surprised if once you pushed play, a dark brooding blues creep oozed out of the speaker, but what WILL surprise you is opener "The Gravedigger's Song", which explodes out of the gate with dense tribal drumming, thick fuzzed out bass, pulsing synths, bursts of white noise crunch, and those vocals, it's the heaviest and darkest we've heard Lanegan in years, psychedelic, strangely poppy, a little bit new wavey, but holy shit. The rest of the record flits all over, from sound to sound, the new group not shying away from anything, whether it's drum machines (especially drum machines!), synths, jangly pop, whatever, the deft songwriting, Lanegan's voice, and a dark sonic streak holds all the disparate parts together, just check out "Ode To Sad Disco" which somehow sounds like Depeche Mode crossed with Justice, all dark electro synth pop, but still impossibly moody and brooding, but weirdly enough, it's that seemingly out of place synth pop element and the drum machines that really make this record so cool and weird and special, and definitely makes it one of our favorite Lanegan records yet.
MPEG Stream: "The Gravedigger's Song"
MPEG Stream: "Bleeding Muddy Water"
MPEG Stream: "Ode To Sad Disco"

MARK LANEGAN BAND Bubblegum (Beggars Banquet) lp 15.98
Originally released way back in 2004, now reissued on vinyl!
Mr. Lanegan sure invited all his buddies to be in his Mark Lanegan Band. Just check this roster out: Joshua Homme and Nick Oliveri (Queen Of The Stone Age), PJ Harvey, Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan (Guns'n Roses/Velvet Revolver), Greg Dulli (Afghan Whigs and Twilight Singers), Dean Ween and Chris Goss (Masters Of Reality)! Pretty hot shit! And whether rocked up (as on the album's first single "Sideways In Reverse") or slow'n'smoldering (check out "Wedding Dress"), the overall results are absolutely smokin'. The only wrinkles in the album are minor ones. First, Harvey's vocal performance on the second song "Hit The City" seems oddly detached, almost as if her backing vocals were an afterthought with her singing along over a finished recording. Their duet on "Come To Me" fares much much better. More troublesome are the occasional way-out-of-place soul diva background vocals that also marred earlier Twilight Singers records, and seem like some weird requisite big budget addition when an artist makes the shift from hyped indie veteran to hyped major label hopeful. That said, Bubblegum reveals Lanegan's broadest scope to date, incorporating elements from all the stages of his lengthy career (early trippy grunge-y rock to funereal dirge-twang). Throughout the fifteen songs, his unmistakable deep smoky rasp of a voice is in particular top form. Awesome!
MPEG Stream: "Sideways In Reverse"
MPEG Stream: "Come To Me"

MARK, CAROLYN Nothing Is Free (Mint) cd 16.98
Long associated as the 'other Corn Sister' (Neko Case is the other half of that vivacious duo) and collaborator with many other Canadian indie music luminaries, Carolyn Mark shines in her own spotlight on this, her fifth full length. She's a Canadian city slicker with comforting hillbilly charm, a goddess with gusto dishing out country pop delectibles with her trademark infectious spice of life. She's your closest bosom buddy. A perpetual hostess with the mostest, it's a well known fact that she can tell a baudily hilarious tale and then turn on a dime for a genuine forlorn heartbreaker and she can also down the hooch with the big boys. Who doesn't heart Ms Carolyn? She throws in a curve ball this time around, closing the album with something a little different, the Massive Attack-esque drowsily downtempo "Destination: You". It's a nice change, revealing yet another facet of this dynamo. A wonderful voice that comes as much from the gut as from the heart!
MPEG Stream: "The 1 That Got Away (With It)"
MPEG Stream: "Pink Moon And All The Ladies"

MARK, CAROLYN & N.Q. ARBUCKLE Let's Just Stay Here (Mint) cd 15.98
Yeah, we know it must get kinda tired, and it must be a blessing and a curse for Carolyn Mark to always have another artist mentioned in her albums' reviews even if that artist is a friend and collaborator. But if it helps get people to check out her great music, we hope she'll understand! The vivacious namesake of her pal Neko Case's early rollicking tune "Karoline", Carolyn Mark strikes a balance between the bold and the gentle, the ribald and the romantic. The lyrics of that song really nail it, "The path you walk is on fire, so wild and unashamed with a passion you inspire" and "The web you weave is so tender I'm tangled by your gaze". Spend a few moments in her presence and you'll be captivated and charmed too. She's such a great storyteller, both in spoken word and music, both in off-the-cuff impromptu and more composed settings. She can have your guts aching with laughter, and then your heart aching with sorrow.
Mark delivers the goods with her latest album, a collaboration with the awesomely named N.Q. Arbuckle who are not a person, but a band from Toronto. As you may know, Ms Mark has amassed quite an impressive body of homespun Canadiana all by her lonesome as well as in collaboration with her many incredibly talented musical friends. Over the years she's proven to be a splendid hostess, welcoming all into her musical kitchen with a giddy batting of her big false lashes, a generous glass of cheer, her home cookin' (psst, she makes cookbooks filled with her pals' and her own recipes too!) and plenty of song of course. You might recall the Tribute To Nashville cd re-enactment of the soundtrack to Robert Altman's 1975 film which she orchestrated a few years back. Such a curiously wonderful labor of love. So needless to say, any news of fresh collaborations with this lady is good news! Here, she and N.Q. Arbuckle make a great pairing, definitely kindred spirits. Despite the title, there's actually a sense of travel (she anecdotally namechecks Canadian cities along the way. Yes, you get a little geography lesson on each of her albums!), of movement, of restlessness, but also a yearning for the warm embrace of home. Call us crazy, but some of the songs (such as "Officer Down") conjured imaginings of a countrified Fleetwood Mac (Hmmm, we just noticed on the shrinkwrap sticker it sez "Carolyn lovingly calls it her Rumours". So we're not crazy!), while others (such as "Downtime") recall the electrified earthy hey day of Uncle Tupelo (but then again maybe that's because Neville Quinlan's voice is a deadringer for Jay Farrar's!). Both are very good points of reference in our books! Recommended.
MPEG Stream: "Officer Down"
MPEG Stream: "The 2nd Time"
MPEG Stream: "Canada Day/Toronto"

MARK, CAROLYN & N.Q. ARBUCKLE Let's Just Stay Here (Mint) lp 0.00
Now on vinyl! Yeah, we know it must get kinda tired, and it must be a blessing and a curse for Carolyn Mark to always have another artist mentioned in her albums' reviews even if that artist is a friend and collaborator. But if it helps get people to check out her great music, we hope she'll understand! The vivacious namesake of her pal Neko Case's early rollicking tune "Karoline", Carolyn Mark strikes a balance between the bold and the gentle, the ribald and the romantic. The lyrics of that song really nail it, "The path you walk is on fire, So wild and unashamed with a passion you inspire" and "The web you weave is so tender I'm tangled by your gaze". Spend a few moments in her presence and you'll be captivated and charmed too. She's such a great storyteller, both in spoken word and music, both in off-the-cuff impromptu and more composed settings. She can have your guts aching with laughter, and then your heart aching with sorrow. Mark delivers the goods with her latest album, a collaboration with the awesomely named N.Q. Arbuckle who are not a person, but a band from Toronto. As you may know, Ms Mark has amassed quite an impressive body of homespun Canadiana all by her lonesome as well as in collaboration with her many incredibly talented musical friends. Over the years she's proven to be a splendid hostess, welcoming all into her musical kitchen with a giddy batting of her big false lashes, a generous glass of cheer, her home cookin' (psst, she makes cookbooks filled with her pals' and her own recipes too!) and plenty of song of course. You might recall the Tribute To Nashville cd re-enactment of the soundtrack to Robert Altman's 1975 film which she orchestrated a few years back. Such a curiously wonderful labor of love. So needless to say, any news of fresh collaborations with this lady is good news! Here, she and N.Q. Arbuckle make a great pairing, definitely kindred spirits. Despite the title, there's actually a sense of travel (She anecdotally namechecks Canadian cities along the way. Yes, you get a little geography lesson on each of her albums!), of movement, of restlessness, but also a yearning for the warm embrace of home. Call us crazy, but some of the songs (such as "Officer Down") conjured imaginings of a countrified Fleetwood Mac (Hmmm, we just noticed on the shrinkwrap sticker it sez "Carolyn lovingly calls it her Rumours". So we're not crazy!), while others (such as "Downtime") recall the electrified earthy hey day of Uncle Tupelo (but then again maybe that's because Neville Quinlan's voice is a deadringer for Jay Farrar's!). Both are very good points of reference in our books! Recommended.
MPEG Stream: "Officer Down"
MPEG Stream: "The 2nd Time"
MPEG Stream: "Canada Day/Toronto"

MARK, CAROLYN & THE ROOM-MATES Terrible Hostess (Mint) cd 14.98
I can assure you that the title is by no means auto-biographical. Ms Carolyn is the lovely hostess with the most-est. Talk about a party girl! She along with her room-mates Tolan and Garth surely whip everyone else up into the mirthful merriment. Each on his or her own possesses a down to earth ease at entertaining that's something to behold, and together? Well, let's just say "get ready for the good times." Some of the best storytelling stage banter around. Her second album makes leaps and bounds from where her rough'n'tumble debut Party Girl left off. For one thing it's all studio recorded as opposed to her more lo-fi, song-in-every-city-across-Canada-in-a-Honda adventure. Since that album, she's performed a whole bunch in an ever-expanding range of venues and continued to play in the Corn Sisters with her good pal Neko Case (who, by the way, wrote a song about her - "Karoline" - on The Virginian). A much more polished, sophisticated lady who can still whoop it up and whomp yer butt! Much like fellow Canadian k.d. lang (yeah I know, aren't all Canadian female country artists compared to her?), she's able to slip gracefully from down home hillbilly stomp to elegant torch balladry and back again with nary a false step. This is most apparent on a particular three song stretch on this album ("Dirty Little Secret" through "Catscan"). With its warm horns, piano recorded in an old church across the street from the studio, a male chorus, there's an ever-present old tyme feel, bringing to mind the stage of the Grand Old Opry with its dapper gents and bouffanted ladies. The duet vocal interplay on "Catscan" rings with a fond familiarity much like that of George Jones and Tammy Wynette or Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty. Very nice!
RealAudio clip: "Dirty Little Secret"
RealAudio clip: "Inevitable"
RealAudio clip: "Catscan"

MARKOWSKI, VINCENT Dirty Capsules (DC Recordings) 12" 13.98

MARQUIS DE TREN AND BONNY BILLY Get On Jolly (Palace Records) cdep 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
The beloved Bonny Billy (a.k.a. Will Oldham / Palace) returns just in time to completely redeem his reputation after the rather unremarkable EP with Rian Murphy. On this new EP, Oldham collaborates with amazing guitarist Mick Turner (of Dirty Three fame). The results are six of the most beautifully elegant songs we've heard from Mr. Oldham in many moons. The dark overtones of "I See a Darkness" coupled with Turner's sparse, fractured melodies, delicately plucked -- and no twang, just stark atmosphere. The lyrics are adapted from a book of Indian love poems called GITANJALI (hence the play on words in the album title). Overall, a very, very beautiful record. Forget how sick you've gotten of Oldham, this is really lovely.
A sample of the lyrics:
when you ask me to sing
it feels like my heart
could burst with pride
when i look at your face
tears come to my eyes
i know you take pleasure
in my singing
i know that only when i sing
do you hear me

and drunk with the joy of singing
i forget myself
and call you my friend


RealAudio clip: "25"
RealAudio clip: "64"

MARR, JOHNNY AND THE HEATERS Boomslang (Artist Direct) cd 16.98
Upon first sight of this cd, we were taken aback by the odd identicalness of the band members' mouths. Byram proclaimed that they looked like seagulls flying off in the distance - thin inky curving lines - and they absolutely do. But enough about their petulant embouchures, this album marks not only the debut of Johnny Marr's new band but also of his premiere as a lead vocalist and frontman. As well, all but one of the songs are credited to Marr as the sole songwriter. The lone exception is "Inbetweens" which was co-written with bandmates bassist Alonzo Bevan (ex-Kula Shakur), guitarist Adam Grey and drummer Zac Starkey (who is indeed Ringo's son). Generally this is standard Brit rock fare (think watered down Stone Roses or Oasis) made notable only by the presence of Marr's name on it. Unfortunately the one thing we all hoped would be the highlight and defining factor of Boomslang is all in all absent - that is, Marr's guitar playing. Alas!
RealAudio clip: "The Last Ride"
RealAudio clip: "Inbetweens"

MARS The Complete Studio Recordings (Important) lp 17.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Of the four bands that graced the No New York compilation, Mars has always been the most enigmatic, having only recorded 32 minutes of music in the studio. Yet, their sound has been vastly influential upon the development of bands like Sonic Youth and the Swans as well as every single band that seeks to embrace the No Wave spirirt. In their very short career (spanning something like 18 months), the Mars sound was defined by psychotic / narcoleptic investigations into thoroughly damaged improvisations; yet, their early ventures into structured songs (i.e. "3E," "11,000 Volts," and "Helen Fordsdale,") are so jaw-droppingly energetic, complex, and curiously catchy that their evolution into the abstract can be a bit frustrating. Yet, it is precisely this tension between the the proto-Daydream Nation, avant-punk riffs they clearly had a knack for and the delirious throbs of noise that became Mars signature and that has made Mars so compelling after all these years. For die-hard Mars fans, these recordings are in fact the original masters that bassist Mark Cunningham found a few years back. The earlier Mars retrospective 78+ originally released on Lydia Lunch's Widowspeak and later on Atavistic found Jim "Foetus" Thirlwell reconstructing many of the recordings which had been considered lost. Regardless, Mars was an amazing band who was well ahead of their time, and this document clearly proves that. This deluxe LP is limited to 1000 copies, athough it is still available on cd as well.

MARS The Complete Studio Recordings NYC 1977-1978 (No More) cd 15.98
Of the four bands that graced the No New York compilation, Mars has always been the most enigmatic, having only recorded 32 minutes of music in the studio. Yet, their sound has been vastly influential upon the development of bands like Sonic Youth and the Swans as well as every single band that seeks to embrace the No Wave spirirt. In their very short career (spanning something like 18 months), the Mars sound was defined by psychotic / narcoleptic investigations into thoroughly damaged improvisations; yet, their early ventures into structured songs (i.e. "3E," "11,000 Volts," and "Helen Fordsdale,") are so jaw-droppingly energetic, complex, and curiously catchy that their evolution into the abstract can be a bit frustrating. Yet, it is precisely this tension between the the proto-Daydream Nation, avant-punk riffs they clearly had a knack for and the delirious throbs of noise that became Mars signature that has made Mars so compelling after all these years. For die-hard Mars fans, these recordings are in fact the original masters that bassist Mark Cunningham found a few years back. The earlier Mars retrospective 78+ originally published on Lydia Lunch's Widowspeak and later on Atavistic found Jim "Foetus" Thirlwell reconstructing many of the recordings which had been considered lost. Regardless, Mars was an amazing band who was well ahead of their time, and this document clearly proves that.

MARS VOLTA Amputechture (Universal) cd 15.98
The Mars Volta, the still relatively youthful captains of the league of recent prog progeny, have consistently presented themselves as a very promising sonic entity of cryptic cerebral progressive substance. However despite what they themselves might believe, it seems the shoes they're trying to fill still might require some growin' in. With Amputechture, they've sure shorn the last of their At The Drive-In-ness (both musically and appearance-wise including one large 'fro). Really, on paper it all sounds fantastic... sci-fi inspired, Latin salsa infused prog rock, but what comes out of the speakers sounds more like aimless prog-styled noodly guitar solos and ill-conceived pretentious posturing that lacks the direction, composition and fortitude of its forefathers. And to be honest, there are a million bands doing this modern metallic prog thing a whole lot better. Weirder, heavier, more complex, more energetic, more inspired, take your pick, Chiodos, Circa Survive, Coheed And Cambria... And while we love John Frusciante (at least his fucked up solo records, his presence on the album doesn't help matters much if at all. A high falutin' disappointment.
MPEG Stream: "Tetragrammaton"
MPEG Stream: "Day Of The Baphomets"

MARS VOLTA Amputechture (Universal) lp 19.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
The Mars Volta, the still relatively youthful captains of the league of recent prog progeny, have consistently presented themselves as a very promising sonic entity of cryptic cerebral progressive substance. However despite what they themselves might believe, it seems the shoes they're trying to fill still might require some growin' in. With Amputechture, they've sure shorn the last of their At The Drive-In-ness (both musically and appearance-wise including one large 'fro). Really, on paper it all sounds fantastic... sci-fi inspired, Latin salsa infused prog rock, but what comes out of the speakers sounds more like aimless prog-styled noodly guitar solos and ill-conceived pretentious posturing that lacks the direction, composition and fortitude of its forefathers. And to be honest, there are a million bands doing this modern metallic prog thing a whole lot better. Weirder, heavier, more complex, more energetic, more inspired, take your pick, Chiodos, Circa Survive, Coheed And Cambria... And while we love John Frusciante (at least his fucked up solo records, his presence on the album doesn't help matters much if at all. A high falutin' disappointment.
MPEG Stream: "Tetragrammaton"
MPEG Stream: "Day Of The Baphomets"

MARS VOLTA Francis The Mute (GSL) 3lp 27.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Now on vinyl in the form of this ultra deluxe triple lp set!!!
Uh oh. Here we are again, with the band that creates lovers or haters more than any other I know. Although, I have to say, personally I'm kind of on the fence about them! Jon Theodore is one of the most amazing drummers I've ever seen or heard. Their live show is absolutely entertaining, especially when joined by John Frusciante, who's contribution of a second incessant guitar solo seems to make their music make sense. As well, Omar and Cedric's pants are just so tight, it is unbelievable. Their Tremulant EP was shocking. It was this full-on indie-power-prog, like nothing I'd heard before. Their music went somewhere... and kept on going... though, I don't think I understood exactly "where". Their debut full-length, Deloused In The Comatorium (with its odd name and pretty terrible artwork) was still totally beyond me. Not truly prog, not truly indie-pop... someplace in between, with technical insanity, near-constant meter-changes and polyrhythm incessantry. A lot of people seemed to take MV as though they were a total mess of music: ornate, pompous, not at all worthy of any ounce of praise, let alone the legions of "extreme" fans all over the world.
Now, Frances The Mute, their second full-length, is monolithic at 77 minutes long. Despite that length, it seems to be a bit more digestible. I would certainly have something that felt like jet-lag if I had to listen to the whole thing in one sitting, but to dedicated fans, of which there are many, this will hardly be enough power-progtastic-indie-pop. And of course, MV still features Lars Ulrich's and my favorite drummer, Jon Theodore.
MPEG Stream: "The Widow"
MPEG Stream: "Cassandra Geminni: A. Tarantism"

MARS VOLTA Inertiatic ESP / Drunkship Of Lanterns (Picture Disc) (GSL / Erika) 12" Picture Disc 12.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Hey Mars Volta completists! Here's another striking picture disc from these post-prog cool kids. Not the place to start if you're just getting acquainted with these fellows. Head straight for their Tremulant EP first. Limited pressing of 5000.

MARS VOLTA Octahedron (Warner Bros. ) cd 13.98
This latest release from modern prog heroes Mars Volta finds them at their orchestrated and organized best. Omar Rodriguez Lopez lays on the guitar effects while Cedric Bixler Zavala's vocals soar above and beyond into the stratosphere. There's a lot of extended build ups (as one has grown to expect) and some really crazy drum work on this record (especially on "Cotopaxi"). Though most of the eight tracks rock almost beyond belief, there are a couple sloooow, dreamy jams that almost require closed eyes and a doobie to fully appreciate.
MPEG Stream: "Since We've Been Wrong"
MPEG Stream: "Teflon"
MPEG Stream: "Halo Of Nembutals"

MARS VOLTA Octahedron (Rodriguez Lopez Productions) 2lp 38.00
Now on not so cheap vinyl (special for this Saturday's Vinyl Record Store Day)... This latest release from modern prog heroes Mars Volta finds them at their orchestrated and organized best. Omar Rodriguez Lopez lays on the guitar effects while Cedric Bixler Zavala's vocals soar above and beyond into the stratosphere. There's a lot of extended build ups (as one has grown to expect) and some really crazy drum work on this record (especially on "Cotopaxi"). Though most of the eight tracks rock almost beyond belief, there are a couple sloooow, dreamy jams that almost require closed eyes and a doobie to fully appreciate.
MPEG Stream: "Since We've Been Wrong"
MPEG Stream: "Teflon"
MPEG Stream: "Halo Of Nembutals"

MARS VOLTA Scabdates (GSL / Universal ) cd 14.98
Eeep, that rather gnarly album title and one particularly excessive guitar solo in the 11th track aside, this live album from nouveau world proggy youths The Mars Volta will surely please their many fans (hell, maybe those two things won't bother you). Although it clocks in at just under 74 minutes (not really all that long for a prog-rock journey, is it?) of tripped-out jams, more structured songs and surprising little crowd noise, some of us found Scabdates to be somewhat long-winded and self-indulgent... but we're sure for the diehards the time will fly by. Not the first nor best place to start if you're just now getting around to a first encounter with these fellows though (if that's the case, check out their awesome debut Tremulant cdep -- a tight concise workout to launch you into the MV orbit).
MPEG Stream: "Abrasions Mount The Timpani"
MPEG Stream: "Cicatriz Pt. 3"

MARS VOLTA Televators (Picture Disc) (GSL / Erika) 12" Picture Disc 12.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Hey Mars Volta completists! Here's another striking picture disc from these post-prog cool kids. Not the place to start if you're just getting acquainted with these fellows. Head straight for their Tremulant EP first. Limited pressing of 5000.

MARS VOLTA The Bedlam In Goliath (Universal) cd 14.98
Over the past six years The Mars Volta has always torn it up. Their roster has boasted some serious players with amazing chops, but their songs could be long-winded, self-indulgent and overtly wanky (example: 2006's Amputecture). Still, you can't knock 'em too hard. Since their awesome Tremulant debut back in 2002, they've tirelessly brought their often seemingly impervious ethno-proggy sounds to the youthful masses who in turn have devoured them and continue to clamber for more. Starting the year off with a fierce bang, The Bedlam In Goliath is this tight, well-oiled music machine's most infectious and accessible work since that first ep. Yet, it's still driven by the epic, the techy and the cerebral. Sure to please their devotees and win them some new ones too. Pssst, a little aside: Cedric's vocals are sounding their most pitchshifted-up-up-up into the shrill Chipmunks stratosphere. As far as we know they aren't processed but they are totally crazy!
MPEG Stream: "Goliath"
MPEG Stream: "Ouroborus"