MIRAH (A)spera (K) cd 14.98
Yeay! This record is most definitely Mirah's best release since her brilliant sophomore outing Advisory Committee. While some artists would be better off by employing a less is more philosophy, when it comes to Mirah we think she shines brightest when it's more more more. More lush arrangements, more movements within a song, more experimentation with instrumentation and electronics. Of course she does sound just fine all spare and stripped down, but it's when she gets ambitious and shoots for the stars that her real magic takes form. And with (A)spera that magic is glowing brightly. The opening track "Generosity" might be her most pleasing single since the infectious "Cold Cold Water" and the entire album has a sureness of vision that resonates from start to finish. While we could see this being the kind of record that wins her a new set of fans, it should still very much please those who fell in love with Mirah way back when. Taking inspiration from folkies, twee popsters and indie rock, as well as wide-eyed dreamers (imagine Lois merging musical minds with Bjork and Lisa Germano) Mirah has carved out a sound that is truly her own!
MPEG Stream: "Generosity"
MPEG Stream: "Shells"

MIRAH (A)spera (K) lp 17.98
Yeay! This record is most definitely Mirah's best release since her brilliant sophomore outing Advisory Committee. While some artists would be better off by employing a less is more philosophy, when it comes to Mirah we think she shines brightest when it's more more more. More lush arrangements, more movements within a song, more experimentation with instrumentation and electronics. Of course she does sound just fine all spare and stripped down, but it's when she gets ambitious and shoots for the stars that her real magic takes form. And with (A)spera that magic is glowing brightly. The opening track "Generosity" might be her most pleasing single since the infectious "Cold Cold Water" and the entire album has a sureness of vision that resonates from start to finish. While we could see this being the kind of record that wins her a new set of fans, it should still very much please those who fell in love with Mirah way back when. Taking inspiration from folkies, twee popsters and indie rock, as well as wide-eyed dreamers (imagine Lois merging musical minds with Bjork and Lisa Germano) Mirah has carved out a sound that is truly her own!
MPEG Stream: "Generosity"
MPEG Stream: "Shells"

MIRAH Advisory Committee (K) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
An ambitious sophomore album from Ms Mirah. Thirteen songs that expand on the recent "Cold Cold Water" ep and follow her impressive debut "You Think It's Like This But Really It's Like This". At times lonely and sorrowful, at others uplifting and empowering, the music has a predominantly old west, folkish feel, but is definitely not country, often it's much more of an indie Morricone sound. Not to be kept pinned down, Mirah follows her muse wherever it may lead her - traversing much musical ground, be it chamber music or a cabaret-ish mode or music box melodies or pulsing casio programmed beats or straight-up indie pop. Building and bounding slowly like a tumbleweed, kicking up a small cloud of dust each time it brushes the earth. And you'll find you too are swept up into her world - her songwriting and performance capturing a sense of both immediacy and intimacy. Her voice slipping effortlessly from shy, frail whisper to mournful wail, sort of like Helium before Mary Timony was whisked away to the land of wizards and castles. Once again she's joined by fellow indie pop adventurer The Microphones' Phil Elvrum. Very recommended.
RealAudio clip: "Cold Cold Water"
RealAudio clip: "The Garden"

MIRAH Advisory Committee (K) lp 10.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
An ambitious sophomore album from Ms Mirah. Thirteen songs that expand on the recent "Cold Cold Water" ep and follow her impressive debut "You Think It's Like This But Really It's Like This". At times lonely and sorrowful, at others uplifting and empowering, the music has a predominantly old west, folkish feel, but is definitely not country, often it's much more of an indie Morricone sound. Not to be kept pinned down, Mirah follows her muse wherever it may lead her - traversing much musical ground, be it chamber music or a cabaret-ish mode or music box melodies or pulsing casio programmed beats or straight-up indie pop. Building and bounding slowly like a tumbleweed, kicking up a small cloud of dust each time it brushes the earth. And you'll find you too are swept up into her world - her songwriting and performance capturing a sense of both immediacy and intimacy. Her voice slipping effortlessly from shy, frail whisper to mournful wail, sort of like Helium before Mary Timony was whisked away to the land of wizards and castles. Once again she's joined by fellow indie pop adventurer The Microphones' Phil Elvrum. Very recommended.
RealAudio clip: "Cold Cold Water"
RealAudio clip: "The Garden"

MIRAH C'mon Miracle (K) cd 14.98
Ahoy kids! We've got a Mirah double whammy! It's mighty clear she's been keeping herself knee-deep in music with not only this solo album but also her collaborative efforts with her Black Mountain Project partner Ginger Brooks Takahashi and the Black Cat Orchestra on the Yoyo Records album called To All We Stretch The Open Arm (to be reviewed next time).
On each of her releases, Mirah has consistently (and seemingly effortlessly) crafted wonderful earthy storytellin' pop songs. Yet, on this brand new album she seems even more confident. Her songs are more composed and less ramshackle folksy -- branching out stylistically and expressively with a little more sass in her singing too. There's some absolute homespun beauties here. For instance, the second to last song "Promise" is a spartan, deeply moving piano and voice number. Imaginative indie pop of another time, this would probably sound amazing and not at all out of place coming out all of an old Victrola. Lilting and lovely!
MPEG Stream: "Promise"
MPEG Stream: "(Exactly Where Were From)"

MIRAH Cold Cold Water (K) cd 10.98
Mirah's contribution to K Records' long-running International Pop Underground Series is a glimpse at what would become a grand cowboy folk-inflected affair... her second full length just-released album "Advisory Committee". It contains twelve tracks in all, four of them actual songs including two versions of the album's lead-off track "Cold Cold Water", two other alternate versions of album songs plus eight additional "excerpts". She writes in cursive, moving tales of tragedy and heartbreak. One part Bjork's swooping, soaring vocals, one part Mary Timony's white knights and chariots (well, in Mirah's case, let's make 'em bandits and covered wagons), one part Juliana Hatfield/Frente/That Dog childlike voice. Mash all this together and you'll get something close to Mirah, but she's definitely walking her own dusty trail. With Phil Elvrum of the Microphones. Recorded by Calvin Johnson.
RealAudio clip: "Make It Hot"

MIRAH Cold Cold Water (K) 7" 4.50
Mirah's contribution to K Records' long-running International Pop Underground Series is a glimpse at what would become a grand cowboy folk-inflected affair... her second full length just-released album "Advisory Committee". She writes in cursive, moving tales of tragedy and heartbreak. One part Bjork's swooping, soaring vocals, one part Mary Timony's white knights and chariots (well, in Mirah's case, let's make 'em bandits and covered wagons), one part Juliana Hatfield/Frente/That Dog childlike voice. Mash all this together and you'll get something close to Mirah, but she's definitely walking her own dusty trail. With Phil Elvrum of the Microphones. Recorded by Calvin Johnson.
RealAudio clip: "Make It Hot"

MIRAH Don't / The Tears That Fall (Mississippi) 7" 8.98
Back in stock!!
**MISSISSIPPI RECORDS ALERT** **MISSISSIPPI RECORDS ALERT** **MISSISSIPPI RECORDS ALERT**
Taking a break from obscure reissues, lost world music artifacts, and unearthed country and folk and blues treasures, Mississippi looks to long time aQ fave Mirah for a brief two song blast of fuzzy, horn flecked reverby sixties girl group sounds. Yep, not what we usually expect from Mirah, but we're loving it. The first clue is the cover photo, which features Mirah in fishnets and knee high boots on an old motorcycle in a grafitti'd alley, and once inside, that's exactly what it sounds like, warm washed out old school 'Leader Of The Pack' style jangle and croon, shuffling rhythms, loads of delay and reverb, soulful horns, plenty of back ground "oooooh's and 'aaaaah's, total Lesley Gore, Supremes worship.
The flipside is another soulful groover, this one more sultry, a woozy sexy after hours sixties soul ballad, Mirah's voice lush and smoky, the horns warm and languid, all wrapped around an irresistible main melody, at once total old school, but somehow re-envisioned as a modern bit of retro garage groove, so good.

MIRAH The Old Days Of Feeling (Modern Radio Record Label) cd 11.98
While folks like Teegan & Sara and Feist have used a similar yet much more slick aesthetic to achieve big success and relative fame, our hearts will always be with Mirah when it comes to interesting, introspective and bittersweet indie pop/folk. The Old Days Of Feeling compiles lots of hard to find tracks from cassettes, 7"s and other releases as well as a handful of unreleased tracks. Kimya Dawson might have been the lucky one to get the call from Juno filmmakers and become the latest former underground lo-fi rocker to hit the bigtime, but it could have just as easily been Mirah getting that call as her songs are just as honest, endearing, and heart wrenching. With lots of these songs recorded on 4-track with bare bones production it's a great reminder of how strong the core of Mirah's songwriting really is and how her charisma shines whether with an orchestra by her side or alone in her bedroom.
MPEG Stream: "The Place"
MPEG Stream: "Heat Gets Hotter"
MPEG Stream: "Get It?"

MIRAH You Think It's Like This But Really It's Like This (K) cd 14.98
Super sweet pop from the Pacific Northwest, just like you'd expect from K Records. The female singer with the crystal clear voice sounds just like the Nina Persson of the Cardigans. Very pretty!

MIRAH & GINGER Songs From the Black Mountain Project (K) cd 14.98
This album compiles the bountiful fruits of Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn and Ginger Brooks Takahashi's month-long musical stay at a friend's grandmother's home in the small town of Black Mountain, NC. If you enjoyed Mirah's last album, the adventurous indie epic Advisory Commitee, you'll surely take a shine to this home-spun delight. The plucking of a ukelele echoes the plink plonk of raindrops in a washtub. The scrape of a bow across a cello's strings chirps like a cricket's evening song. And the area's natural ambience found its way onto the recordings too - the welcome sound of cicadas and birds crept in around Mirah, Ginger and their friends' keyboards, drums, guitars and voices. Ah, the voices! They ring so strong and clear even when the women are singing ever so softly. As with most everything Ms Mirah lends her hand to, this is a glorious and empowering project. Proceeds from this album are going to The Pentridge Children's Garden (a community garden for children in Philadelphia cared for by volunteers) and the Rock'n'Roll Camp For Girls (it's exactly that! ... a music and art day camp in Portland, OR for girls age 8-18).
MPEG Stream: "Rock Of Ages"
MPEG Stream: "Oh! September"

MIRAH & SPECTRATONE Share This Place (K) lp 13.98
Now on LP... Oh how we love Mirah and her dreamy acoustic indie pop! Her recordings are always such a joy -- imbued with a comforting warmth, the feeling of a close knit yet welcoming indie pop community. On Share This Place, Mirah's unmistakable ageless voice has never sounded sweeter as she harmonizes angelically with herself. She clearly works well on her own as well as in collaboration with others. You might recall the recordings that she's done with other likeminded indie folksies such as Ginger and The Black Cat Orchestra. This time she is joined by Spectratone International who are actually a new incarnation of The Black Cat Orchestra. These lovely insect-themed recordings were originally intended to be accompaniment for a collection of filmmaker Britta Johnson's animated works. We can't comment on the films 'cause we haven't had a chance to see them yet, but we can definitely recommend the music! Hushed and gently winding.
MPEG Stream: "Following The Sun"
MPEG Stream: "Love Song Of The Fly"

MIRAH AND SPECTRATONE INTERNATIONAL Share This Place (K) cd 14.98
Oh how we love Mirah and her dreamy acoustic indie pop! Her recordings are always such a joy -- imbued with a comforting warmth, the feeling of a close knit yet welcoming indie pop community. On Share This Place, Mirah's unmistakable ageless voice has never sounded sweeter as she harmonizes angelically with herself. She clearly works well on her own as well as in collaboration with others. You might recall the recordings that she's done with other likeminded indie folksies such as Ginger and The Black Cat Orchestra. This time she is joined by Spectratone International who are actually a new incarnation of The Black Cat Orchestra. These lovely insect-themed recordings were originally intended to be accompaniment for a collection of filmmaker Britta Johnson's animated works. We can't comment on the films 'cause we haven't had a chance to see them yet, but we can definitely recommend the music! Hushed and gently winding.
MPEG Stream: "Following The Sun"
MPEG Stream: "Love Song Of The Fly"

MIRAH WITH THE BLACK CAT ORCHESTRA To All We Stretch The Open Arm (Yoyo) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Ahoy kids! We've got a Mirah double whammy! It's mighty clear she's been keeping herself knee-deep in music with not only this her collaborative albums with her Black Mountain Project partner Ginger Brooks Takahashi and here with the Black Cat Orchestra, but also her C'mon Miracle solo album (reviewed last list). This woman eats, sleeps, dreams and breathes music.
To All We Stretch The Open Arm is a particularly potent and moving collaboration in that as the folks at YoYo Records describe it "(the songs) were chosen, arranged, and performed... because these times call for such songs. These songs come from places and decades that have seen dissent, passion, and revolution... Simply, this is an album of what would have once been called protest songs."
It wonderfully displays her broad scope of style and delivery. Dramatic and dynamic yet very sensitive and down to earth, Mirah flits and flirts with haunting folk, jaunty old style musicals, and slinky cabaret -- singing in Spanish, Italian and English. For those familiar with her last few of releases, it's no surprise that she does so with ample impressive flair. Seattle's Black Cat Orchestra keep perfect step right along with her for the length of this album. This collection features their versions of songs originally by such artists as Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, and Kurt Weill, as well as her own song "Monument" from her fine last album Advisory Committee. When asked for a Mirah cd preference, we'd definitely lean more towards her most recent three (Advisory Committee, C'mon Miracle and this one), but we'd be hard-pressed to choose just one 'cause they're each quite special unto themselves. Nonetheless, recommended!"
MPEG Stream: "The Light"
MPEG Stream: "Bella Ciao"

MIRI Okkar (Kimi) cd 16.98
Surveys show that, like, 25 percent of Icelanders believe in elves. And we're pretty sure the other 75 percent fervently believe in post-rock. Actually, there's probably a lot of overlap there... Here's the first album from Miri, "four guys from the remote east fjords of Iceland" who play a mostly instrumental form of indie pop post-rock, with a knack for pretty melodies amidst their moody mathiness. What we weren't expecting - and what immediately grabbed us - was how the very first track is chock full of dubby attacks, everything suddenly all awesomely echo-effected out. Love that!!
Other interesting production twists exist throughout the album, courtesy of Icelandic electronica artist Curver, who similarly also added a lot of cool glitch to a disc we liked long long ago by metalcore act Minus. And in addition to the electronic studio trickery of Curver, this is graced by guest musicians, among 'em members of Mum and Benni Hemm Hemm, who expand the group's instrumentation to include harmonica, vibraphone, flute, and marimba. Also, we noticed Brooklyn's Scotty Hard (of WordSound fame) namechecked in the credits, we don't know what he had to do with this exactly (since we're not fluent in Icelandic) but were were surprised to see him there, or maybe not, what with that aforementioned dubbiness!!
Sometimes noisy yet sunshiney, mildly mathy yet melodic, often calming but also rhythmically compelling (do Icelandic elves dance to stuff like this?), Miri's Okkar is definitely a contender for post-rock record of the month. Heck, let's declare it post-rock album of the winter (it's not even winter yet, but they're from Iceland so it's appropriate... plus this will keep us warm then, with its bright, mesmeric grooves).
MPEG Stream: "Goda Konan"
MPEG Stream: "Draugar"
MPEG Stream: "Drekar"

MIRRORRING Foreign Body (Kranky) cd 14.98
Finally a Grouper related release that we can actually list and not fear that it will go out of print in two minutes (knock on wood!!).
Mirroring is the collaborative duo of Liz Harris (Grouper) and Jesy Fortino (Tiny Vipers), and this crushworthy duo deliver all the dark and smoldering sonic goods that one would expect from such a dream team. At first listen, one might assume this to be a split release rather than a collaboraton, as the opening track, "Fell Sound" begins in distinct Grouper territory with a muddy slow motion haze and Harris's barely there singing low in the mix. The next song, "Silent From Above" has a more dark folk vibe with acoustic guitar and Fortino's more emotive voice making itself present. But as things progress, the distinctive aspects of each player begin to meld, shift and play off of each other. Harris is given room to come out of her shell a bit more, and Fortino shows more restraint. After awhile, it becomes unclear just who is doing what, but the sound itself is darkly lyrical and contemplative and beautifully mesmerizing.
Hmm, now what did we say above about it going out of print? 'Cause there's an lp version of this too, but we were shorted, hopefully we'll get more next week...
MPEG Stream: "Fell Sound"
MPEG Stream: "Mine"
MPEG Stream: "Cliffs"

MIRRORRING Foreign Body (Kranky) lp 14.98
Now here on vinyl too!!!
Finally a Grouper related release that we can actually list and not fear that it will go out of print in two minutes (knock on wood!!).
Mirroring is the collaborative duo of Liz Harris (Grouper) and Jesy Fortino (Tiny Vipers), and this crushworthy duo deliver all the dark and smoldering sonic goods that one would expect from such a dream team. At first listen, one might assume this to be a split release rather than a collaboraton, as the opening track, "Fell Sound" begins in distinct Grouper territory with a muddy slow motion haze and Harris's barely there singing low in the mix. The next song, "Silent From Above" has a more dark folk vibe with acoustic guitar and Fortino's more emotive voice making itself present. But as things progress, the distinctive aspects of each player begin to meld, shift and play off of each other. Harris is given room to come out of her shell a bit more, and Fortino shows more restraint. After awhile, it becomes unclear just who is doing what, but the sound itself is darkly lyrical and contemplative and beautifully mesmerizing.
MPEG Stream: "Fell Sound"
MPEG Stream: "Mine"
MPEG Stream: "Cliffs"

MIRRORS Hands In My Pockets (Overground) cd 15.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Rare tracks from this band of punk rock new wave misfits. Active for about three years in the about-to-be-obscenely-fertile Cleveland punk rock scene, the Mirrors formed in 1972 and were broken up by 1975, just as Cleveland was poised to unleash a barrage of snotty punky new wave mayhem on an unsuspecting public in the form of the Dead Boys, Rocket From The Tombs, The Electric Eels, the Pagans, Pere Ubu and more!
Think early punk rock mixed with a little Velvet Underground. Thirteen unreleased tracks and two exclusive tracks!
RealAudio clip: "Cheap and Vulgar"
RealAudio clip: "Muckraker"

MIRRORS Something That Would Never Do (Violet / Hovercraft) lp 24.00
A killer vinyl sort-of best of from these legendary Cleveland punk rock new wave misfits. The Mirrors were only active for about three years in the mid seventies, in the about-to-be-obscenely-fertile Cleveland punk rock scene, breaking up just as Cleveland was poised to unleash a barrage of snotty punky new wave mayhem on an unsuspecting public in the form of the Dead Boys, Rocket From The Tombs, The Electric Eels, the Pagans, Pere Ubu and more!
Think early punk rock mixed with a little Velvet Underground. Awesome stuff. LIMITED TO 800 COPIES. Maybe sold out already, we have a small handful...

MIRRORS, THE 13 Patient Flowers (Birdman) cd 14.98

MIRZA Anadromous (Darla) cd 14.98

MIRZA Iron Compass Flux (Darla) cd 11.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

MIRZA Last Clouds (Ba Da Bing!) cd 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
It's strange how often instead of a proper album, a band's posthumous live/odd-n-ends release often ends up being my favorite (sez Allan), like A Minor Forest's "So, Were They In Some Sort of Fight", This Heat's "Made Available", Devo's "Hardcore Devo Vol. 1", half the stuff Faust ever released, and now Mirza's "Last Clouds" cd.
"Last Clouds" collects a bunch of early and unreleased material from the now-defunct San Francisco space-rock / drone-core ensemble Mirza (which was Glenn Donaldson, Brian Lucas, Steven R. Smith, and Mark Williams). Specifically, the disc includes the four tracks from Mirza's debut 12" inch (orginally released by Autopia in 1996) and seven previously unreleased tracks recorded from 1995-98 -- live improvisations from shows and rehearsals we think.
Glenn (who remains very active in the post-Mirza outfit Thuja, as well as other projects like The Knit Separates, Blithe Sons, Skygreen Leopards, etc.) describes these recordings as sounding like early Skullflower. And it's true that there's a psychedelic density of sound shared by both Mirza and Skullflower, but Mirza was prone to meander where Skullflower's structured moments were much more brutal and unrelenting than these sensitive boys could ever be -- although some of these tracks come mighty close! On these disc, Mirza plays around with various drugged-out psych-rock riffs that get incrementally heavier throughout each track, rhythmically emulating the best Krautrock grooves that doubtless occupied a lot of their listening. Inspired stuff, in all senses. This material will definitely come as a bit of a surprise to those who know Mirza from their more "ambient, bliss-out" styled stuff on the Darla label! Also fans of Thuja's gorgeous drone-jams, or Steven R. Smith's lovely solo releases, may be astonished at how noisy, loud, heavy and rocked-out some of this is, but we're sure they can dig it. More proof that Mirza and their whole extended musical family were/are something for us here in San Francisco to be quite proud of, in the realm of worldclass psychedelic drone improv rock. And look out for the brilliant new Thuja album "Ghost Plants" coming in January on the Emperor Jones label for further confirmation of this fact.
RealAudio clip: "West"
RealAudio clip: "Acts/Volcano of Birds"
RealAudio clip: "Nostalgia"

MISERY SIGNALS Of Malice and The Magnum Heart (Ferret) cd 14.98

MISFITS Static Age (Caroline) cd 16.98
These spooky punks earliest recordings, for the first time available outside of the coffin box set!

MISS BLISS Warm Sounds From A Cold Town (Meltdown) cd 10.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

MISS HIGH HEEL Split Wax Cylinder, Inscribed: The Beast 661 (B Sides) cd 13.98
Noisy "no-wave" shenanigans from the "combined talents" of Tom Smith (To Live & Shave in L.A.), Marlon Magas (Lake of Dracula, Couch), AZ (Scissor Girls), Mike Green (Peach of Immortality), and all of the Flying Luttenbachers. Can you stand it?

MISS LANA REBEL All I Need (Wantage USA) cd 13.98
This dusty country gem, now available on cd!
Not sure how many of you remember Last Of The Juanitas, but they were a super bad ass, noisy and sloppy, wild and heavy post rock / math rock band from San Diego, who were legendary for their raucous live shows, and who put out a handful of awesome records, with a sound falling somewhere between Don Caballero, Drive Like Jesu, the Champs, June Of 44, that sort of thing. they never really got their due, but those records are definitely worth tracking down.
Also notable was their bass player, Lana, who besides being a bass ass bassist, was also pretty much everybody's inde rock crush, ourselves included. But here we are years later, and Miss Lana Rebel is a genuine country music chanteuse. And we're not talking No Depression, or alt country, this is genuine, minor key, twangy, heartbreak country music and it's so good. If there's any justice, everyone who loves Jolie Holland and Patsy Cline and everyone in between, will discover Miss Rebel and shower her with the love and affection that was denied her in Last Of The Juanitas.
Her voice is sweet and soulful, but just appropriately rough and raw, plenty of slippery lap steel, dobro, upright bass, even musical saw, the songs simple and striking, melancholy melodies, plenty of twang, so so so gorgeous. Country music fans, new and old, should definitely check this out.
Includes a song book complete with liner notes, lyrics and chords so you can play along.
MPEG Stream: "When I'm Gone"
MPEG Stream: "Loneliest Love Song"
MPEG Stream: "Dreaming Of You"

MISS LANA REBEL All I Need (Wantage USA) lp 14.98
Not sure how many of you remember Last Of The Juanitas, but they were a super bad ass, noisy and sloppy, wild and heavy post rock / math rock band from San Diego, who were legendary for their raucous live shows, and who put out a handful of awesome records, with a sound falling somewhere between Don Caballero, Drive Like Jesu, the Champs, June Of 44, that sort of thing. they never really got their due, but those records are definitely worth tracking down.
Also notable was their bass player, Lana, who besides being a bass ass bassist, was also pretty much everybody's inde rock crush, ourselves included. But here we are years later, and Miss Lana Rebel is a genuine country music chanteuse. And we're not talking No Depression, or alt country, this is genuine, minor key, twangy, heartbreak country music and it's so good. If there's any justice, everyone who loves Jolie Holland and Patsy Cline and everyone in between, will discover Miss Rebel and shower her with the love and affection that was denied her in Last Of The Juanitas.
Her voice is sweet and soulful, but just appropriately rough and raw, plenty of slippery lap steel, dobro, upright bass, even musical saw, the songs simple and striking, melancholy melodies, plenty of twang, so so so gorgeous. Country music fans, new and old, should definitely check this out.
Beautiful chipboard, silkscreened sleeves, each one stamped, numbered (LIMITED TO 208 COPIES!!) and signed by Miss Rebel herself. Also included is a song book complete with liner notes, lyrics and chords so you can play along.

MISSION FOR CHRIST The Complete Sessions (Ektro) cd 14.98
One of TWO new rad reissues on this week's New Arrivals list on Jussi from Circle's Ektro label: the other one, a long overdue reissues of the debut lp from legendary eighties NY noise rockers Rat At Rat R, and this one, a collection of everything ever recorded (we think) from this SUPER obscure DC hardcore outfit, who shared some connection (and at least one member) with the late great No Trend. We consider ourselves at least a little bit punk savvy, and we had never heard of these guys. They did get a mention in the American Hardcore book but beyond that they were pretty much a mystery. This cd gathers up their 1983 demo (from which came their sole single) and a handful of unreleased tracks, all recorded by Government Issue's Tom Lyle, and while we were expecting just straight forward blasts of harDCore, which would have been just fine, this is WAY weirder and cooler, and it's easy to see why Jussi dug it enough to release it.
Sure there's plenty of blasting pounding punk rock, but that's only a small part of MFC's sound, they spend much of their time unfurling weird droned out atonal guitars, dense tribal drumming, thick buzzing bass, the vibe almost more gloomy and gothy than punk rock, check out "He And She", which almost sounds like it was accidentally plucked from the Rat At Rat R reissue, the same sort of gloomy noise rock weirdness. Or "Pennies From Hell", which is sort of funky, but still noisy and angular, rife with jagged guitars and a weird heavily effected warbly bassline, or "Penny Dub" which is exactly what it sounds like, an instrumental version of "Pennies From Hell" with the occasional bit of vocal chopped up and delayed and sent careening into the ether. Some of the tracks are dirgey and crusty and slither ominously, others seem to be typical punk blasts, but start out with weird dubbed out drums, and then have strange sing songy vocals, while still other tracks sprawl into dub-punk space jams, and even at its most punk, inevitably the band twist it all up into something seriously and gloriously fucked up.
WAY recommended, includes a fold out poster style insert with extensive liner notes.
MPEG Stream: "Pyscho"
MPEG Stream: "He And She"
MPEG Stream: "Smash The Rich"
MPEG Stream: "Pennies From Hell"

MISSION OF BURMA A Gun To The Head (Rykodisc) cd 15.98
Hot on the heels of seminal post-punk band Mission Of Burma's triumphant return to the recorded realm ONoffON, comes this 'best of their Ace Of Hearts era' collection compiled by the band members themselves. If you're a little rusty on what that M.O.B. era was, please allow us to refresh your memory -- 1981's Signals, Calls & Marches, followed the next year by VS. and onward to The Horrible Truth About Burma in 1985. That's right, the good years! The sixteen tracks include two live recordings. Fans undoubtedly already have the aforementioned albums. Heck, their copies are probably worn thin, so they might find this appealing in a 'fave mixtape' sorta way. For the uninitiated, this is a great place to become acquainted with the greatness of M.O.B.
MPEG Stream: "Academy Fight Song"
MPEG Stream: "Peking Spring (Live version)"

MISSION OF BURMA ONoffON (Matador) cd 14.98
Wow, has it really been over two decades since this band's last studio album? Yes, 'tis true! And it's been almost half a decade since their albums received their very welcome reissues, and two years since their reunion tour. Seminal, cerebral post-punks Mission Of Burma have returned to the recorded domain, putting many newer bands to shame and sounding as fresh and dynamic as when they themselves were in their youth. Much like the recent return of fellow veteran greats Killing Joke, fueled by much fierce, dissonant energy, M.O.B. rise again to do battle after a lengthy absence. Fortunately they haven't done what many other reunited bands make the mistake of doing -- that is, attempt to modernize their sound or keep up with the young pups. Clearly none of that was needed. From the very first song on ONoffON, M.O.B. come tearing out of the gates, and only gets better as the album progresses. Heavy, churning and expressive, the guitars chop and sear, the bass rumbles and boils, the drums propel and punctuate with expert precision. Indeed, the last few songs are arguably the album's best -- also a bit reminiscent of the angular art-punk of NoMeansNo or Wire. Note: The vinyl version contains a bonus song, a cover of The Dils' "Class War"!
MPEG Stream: "Fever Moon"
MPEG Stream: "Absent Mind"

MISSION OF BURMA ONoffON (Matador) 2lp 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Wow, has it really been over two decades since this band's last studio album? Yes, 'tis true! And it's been almost half a decade since their albums received their very welcome reissues, and two years since their reunion tour. Seminal, cerebral post-punks Mission Of Burma have returned to the recorded domain, putting many newer bands to shame and sounding as fresh and dynamic as when they themselves were in their youth. Much like the recent return of fellow veteran greats Killing Joke, fueled by much fierce, dissonant energy, M.O.B. rise again to do battle after a lengthy absence. Fortunately they haven't done what many other reunited bands make the mistake of doing -- that is, attempt to modernize their sound or keep up with the young pups. Clearly none of that was needed. From the very first song on ONoffON, M.O.B. come tearing out of the gates -- heavy, churning and expressive -- and only gets better as the album progresses. Indeed, the last few songs are arguably the album's best. Note: The vinyl version contains a bonus song, a cover of The Dils' "Class War"!
MPEG Stream: "Fever Moon"
MPEG Stream: "Absent Mind"

MISSION OF BURMA Signals, Calls, and Marches (Matador) cd 15.98
Remastered, reissued, and with bonuses.

MISSION OF BURMA Signals, Calls, and Marches (Matador) lp 25.00

MISSION OF BURMA The Horrible Truth About Burma (Ryko) cd 15.98
Remastered, reissued, and with bonuses.

MISSION OF BURMA The Horrible Truth About Burma (Matador) cd 15.98

MISSION OF BURMA The Horrible Truth About Burma (Matador) lp 25.00

MISSION OF BURMA The Obliterati (Matador) cd 13.98
Once post-punk legends Mission Of Burma got their engines all revved back up and running at full throttle (with 2004's potent studio album ONoffON) after about two decades of silence, there was nothing that was gonna shut 'em down. These guys are determined to keep churning out their unmistakable kick ass rock. The Obliterati definitely keeps up the fevered propulsive energy of its predecessor and perhaps ups the ante even further -- The album reconfirms these Bostonians' vitality and once again lays many of their younger counterparts to waste. This is music with heft and wisdom, both lyrically and musically. Seldom is raging so articulate. Listen, learn and love 'em.
MPEG Stream: "Man In Decline"
MPEG Stream: "The Mute Speaks Out"

MISSION OF BURMA The Obliterati (Matador) lp 16.98
Once post-punk legends Mission Of Burma got their engines all revved back up and running at full throttle (with 2004's potent studio album ONoffON) after about two decades of silence, there was nothing that was gonna shut 'em down. These guys are determined to keep churning out their unmistakable kick ass rock. The Obliterati definitely keeps up the fevered propulsive energy of its predecessor and perhaps ups the ante even further -- The album reconfirms these Bostonians' vitality and once again lays many of their younger counterparts to waste. This is music with heft and wisdom, both lyrically and musically. Seldom is raging so articulate. Listen, learn and love 'em.
MPEG Stream: "Man In Decline"
MPEG Stream: "The Mute Speaks Out"

MISSION OF BURMA Unsound (Fire Records) cd 17.98
Unsound is album number 4 in the 'second career' of Boston's muscular art-punk quartet Mission Of Burma, whose first batch of albums and singles from 1979-1983 still stand as some of the greatest and most influential recordings of the American punk movement. Always an adventurous proposition, Mission Of Burma democratically allotted the vocal duties to the three traditional musicians - Clint Conley, Roger Miller, and Peter Prescott - with the original fourth member being the enigmatic Martin Swope, handling tape manipulations and engineering duties. When the band reunited in 2002, Swope declined to participate; and the trio recruited Shellac's Bob Weston to wrangle with tape and sound design for the band. The Weston / Swope factor in Mission Of Burma was something of a secret weapon in how the band shapes their sound. It's not uncommon to hear an asynchronous tape loop grabbing a swarm of feedback here or a propulsive rhythm there that would crash against the anthemic punk melodies. Weston's contributions here (perhaps more than ever before) stand out in the mix, with his bellowing trumpet getting warbled and mangled amongst his tape manipulations; but Unsound thrives on the strangled basslines, angular / spitfire guitars, and start-stop rhythms that have been at the heart of the Mission Of Burma sound. While the band has yet to author another 'hit' like "Academy Fight Song" or "That's When I Reach For My Revolver," they've still got plenty of twists and detours to offer on the art-punk formula. Well worth checking out, especially if you dug the more adventurous moments of Mission of Burma's early career.
MPEG Stream: "Semi-Pseudo-Sort-Of Plan"
MPEG Stream: "Second Television"

MISSION OF BURMA Unsound (Fire Records) lp 32.00
Unsound is album number 4 in the 'second career' of Boston's muscular art-punk quartet Mission Of Burma, whose first batch of albums and singles from 1979-1983 still stand as some of the greatest and most influential recordings of the American punk movement. Always an adventurous proposition, Mission Of Burma democratically allotted the vocal duties to the three traditional musicians - Clint Conley, Roger Miller, and Peter Prescott - with the original fourth member being the enigmatic Martin Swope, handling tape manipulations and engineering duties. When the band reunited in 2002, Swope declined to participate; and the trio recruited Shellac's Bob Weston to wrangle with tape and sound design for the band. The Weston / Swope factor in Mission Of Burma was something of a secret weapon in how the band shapes their sound. It's not uncommon to hear an asynchronous tape loop grabbing a swarm of feedback here or a propulsive rhythm there that would crash against the anthemic punk melodies. Weston's contributions here (perhaps more than ever before) stand out in the mix, with his bellowing trumpet getting warbled and mangled amongst his tape manipulations; but Unsound thrives on the strangled basslines, angular / spitfire guitars, and start-stop rhythms that have been at the heart of the Mission Of Burma sound. While the band has yet to author another 'hit' like "Academy Fight Song" or "That's When I Reach For My Revolver," they've still got plenty of twists and detours to offer on the art-punk formula. Well worth checking out, especially if you dug the more adventurous moments of Mission of Burma's early career.
MPEG Stream: "Semi-Pseudo-Sort-Of Plan"
MPEG Stream: "Second Television"

MISSION OF BURMA Vs. (Ryko) cd 15.98
Remastered, reissued, and with bonuses.

MISSION OF BURMA Vs. (Matador) cd 15.98

MISSION OF BURMA Vs. (Matador) 2lp 25.00

MISSUS BEASTLY Bremen 1974 (Garden Of Delight) cd 21.00

MISSUS BEASTLY s/t (Garden Of Delights) cd 21.00

MIST s/t (Amethyst Sunset) lp 17.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
We thought these to be long gone, but a surprise restock of this Emeralds side-project reappeared a month or so after we originally pegged it as out of print. Do NOT expect this to remain in print for much longer!
Mist is the Ohio-centric retrograde electronics duo featuring John Elliott of Emeralds and Sam Goldberg, who runs the Pizza Night tape label. This is actually the third outing for Mist, as the two have mustered a couple of other cassettes, released earlier this year which disappeared before we even had the chance to grab any. Fortunately, we did manage to snag some of this LP on Amethyst Sunset. The Elliott / Goldberg authored electronics here don't veer too much from the Emeralds spaced-out electronics that reflect the best in the realm of late '70s / early '80s progressive electronics (e.g. the more abstracted moments from Kraftwerk and the Eno collaborations with Fripp and Cluster). It's not quite as dark or as melancholy as Emeralds and thus sounds like those sci-fi percolations that fellow knob-twiddler Oneohtrix Point Never and Pulse Emitter have rejuvenated in recent years. Certainly, these are elegant passages of arppegiating analogue electronics and heavily sequenced patterns that intertwine nicely into chiming, sparkling, bubbling zone-tripping. Recommended for sure!

MIST AND MAST Action At A Distance (self-released) cd 6.98
Hurrah, here's the sophomore self-released album from Mist And Mast, fronted by Mr. Jason Lakis (formerly of The Red Thread and Half Film)! Action At A Distance almost sounds like it was plucked from some secret lost treasure trove of '90s college radio ready indie rock. We say "almost" because the very tastefully embellished and very modern recording production gives its true age away. Still, the strummy electric guitars, slightly elliptical and mathy melodies, and slouchy boyish vocals feel cozily familiar like a well-worn and beloved sweater. Some things are simply untethered to trendiness, and genuine heartfelt earnest indie rock songwriting is one of them! That's why Lou Barlow, Joe Pernice, Rob Crow and Jason Lakis and his crew are still goin' strong. Definitely recommended...
MPEG Stream: "In Public"
MPEG Stream: "Elm Street"
MPEG Stream: "X-Ray"

MIST AND MAST Follow A Bad Map (OPZ) cd-r 9.98
Latest record from this local indie rock combo (number three by our count), fronted by aQ pal Jason Lakis, who back in the day was also the frontman for a couple other aQ fave outfits, the Red Thread and Half Film, and while those bands tended toward the more brooding melancholy slowcore side of the spectrum, Mist And Mast traffic in more of a classic indie rock, a sound that to our ears is totally timeless, although perhaps it's more that the sounds are of a different time, specifically the nineties, an era that old folks like us look back upon wistfully, lamenting the passing of the days when bands like Mist And Mast got the sort of attention they deserved. Cuz holy cow, this record is great, and this band just keep getting better with every release, the songs here more fully realized than ever, deftly crafted and meticulously recorded, the sound lush and layered, rife with subtle impossibly memorable hooks, crazy catchy melodies, all wed to a gorgeous dark and dreamlike jangle, not to mention some awesome guitar harmonies, and Lakis's vocals sound better than ever, this is the sort of classic pop that fans of groups like Built To Spill, the Comas, the Shins, Modest Mouse and all the rest, should be flipping out over. If there's any justice, this will be the record that finally perks up the ears of all the folks who should already be listening to these guys. WAY recommended for anyone into classic pop, indie rock and warm wistful jangle. Stick around for record closer, "Red, Right, Returning", which finds Lakis taking Mist And Mast into some haunting, darkly brooding Earth / Barn Owl / Morricone territory, and it definitely suits them!
Beautifully packaged in handmade digipaks, each one adorned with a different map, and each one hand stamped and silkscreened. Also includes liner notes / lyrics also printed on an old map. Nice!
MPEG Stream: "Free Tons"
MPEG Stream: "Getting Out Soon"
MPEG Stream: "Fuyr"