VOICE OF THE SEVEN THUNDERS s/t (Holy Mountain ) lp 14.98
NOW ON VINYL, via Holy Mountain!!!
Some of you aQ folk-headz out there might remember Rick Tomlinson's first project Voice of the Seven Woods. Well Tomlinson is back with a slightly new band name and a drastically different sound. Voice of the Seven Thunders have plugged into some big amps and expanded into a fiery, heavy rocking trio. A huge shift from the quiet woodland finger-picking of Tomlinson's old outfit, the addition of a bassist and drummer bring the project to a whole new level of pretty straight-shootin' rock. Bluesy baselines plod on and on into a Blue Cheer-type groove, layers of strummed guitar add to the bed of fuzz that shimmer below soaring, neverending solos... Really, the ripping solos never end, not sure if that's a good or bad thing. The trio touch on some more ethnic or Eastern sounding territory, we're hearing a touch of North African flair, think Sublime Frequencies meets Sylvester Anfang.Ê We love the few, nice quiet moments of acoustic reflection that break up the heavy rockin' momentum of most of the tracks. "Cylinders", one of the quieter pieces, opens with distant flute and slowly rising synth wash, only to slowly crescendo into a strummy, cosmic commune jam. The album comes to a close with "Disappearances", a conventional classic rock sounding jammer, complete with proper lyrics and vocal harmonies.ÊThough the band have made quite a drastic aesthetic shift, we think fans of VOT7W will be just as enthusiastic about VOT7T, I mean who can really deny some heavy, old fashion blown out psychedelic rock n' roll?
MPEG Stream: "Kommune"
MPEG Stream: "Out Of The Smoke"

VOID Hit & Run / Condensed Flesh Demos (Weekend Punk) lp 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Holeeee Shit. THIS RULES!
Void were one of the original DC Hardcore bands (though they were actually from Columbia, Maryland, making them the only other non-DC band besides Lungfish to wind up on Dischord - they were that good), sharing a legendary split with fellow gods the Faith. Aside from some tracks on Dischord's Flex Your Head comp, nothing else was ever released in the band's lifetime from 1980 to 1983. Fortunately, other recordings have been floating around for a while, which leads us to this essential document of great raw sounding demos and live tracks from one of the craziest and most fucked up early hardcore bands out of the whole lot.
Trying to describe this band's music is no easy task. First off, they were totally insane and unhinged sounding, with the witchy shrieking vocals of John Weiffenbach standing WAY out from any other singers of the era, and probably the best hardcore guitarist after Greg Ginn in the form of Bubba Dupree, who was capable of wringing the most evil sounds out of his axe. The rhythm section of of Chris Stover (bass) and Sean Finnegan (drums; R.I.P.) held things together, just barely, and one can imagine that nobody else would have been physically capable for this job. At times, Void seem like they will collapse within the tornado of evil sounds they create, and the results are almost psychedelic in intensity, not to mention unbelievably noisy. It would be easy, but perhaps misguided, to draw comparisons to early black metal (still a few years to go before crawling into existence...), mostly because of the creepy woodcut images of death and pestilence in their artwork. At the same time, the chaos and fury of Void are, in a way, very, well... METAL. All the talk of "fucked up" metal bands that goes on around these parts DON'T MEAN SHIT when you throw on a Void record. One of the most underrated and one of the best, Void tapped into a sound that continues to confuse and inspire in the best ways imaginable.
Would totally be a highlight on this list, if we had few more copies, but we only scored a few.

VOID Sessions 1981-1983 (Dischord) cd 11.98
FUCK YEAH.
The mighty Void, OG hardcore godfathers, legendary outsiders, and one of the most frenzied sounding bands... EVER... finally see their long unreleased material given an official home under the most sensible imprint: Dischord. It's certainly about time, not only because these songs have been known of and bootlegged for ages, but also because the world seems, in the last few years, to be in the midst of something resembling a hardcore "revival", despite the fact that this type of music has never gone away and always flourished in the depths of the underground. Case in point, THIS album. Void, though from Maryland, were part of the storied and uber-influential DC scene of the early '80s, a small but tight knit community of likeminded angry young men (mostly) who would play a prominent role in defining the course of independent music as an identity that carries on to this day. Still, pigeonholing Void as merely a "DC HarDCore" band doesn't do much to inform virgin ears what to brace themselves for. Their sound was darker, noisier, and more extreme than most other bands operating in the early '80s, and these guys, to this day, sound unlike anyone else - they're untouchable - and their legend and rabid fanbase continue to grow and grow. Indeed, the evil sounds of Void will be most thrilling to new listeners while old fans will find plenty of reasons to rejoice upon seeing the Dischord logo on the back of a new archival album from one of the label's most beloved bands.
The material here, a whopping 34 songs, spans the entirety of Void's brief but fruitful (at least in terms of actual recorded output) career, and contains the legendary demo session recorded at Hit and Run Studios in November '81, two sessions done at Inner Ear Studios the following month and in June '82 (the bulk of which, not contained here, ended up as the band's contribution to the monumental Faith/Void split), and a couple of live songs, including what the Ian MacKaye penned liners presume to be the last song the band ever played. All the classics turn up, sometimes more than once - "War Hero", "Condensed Flesh", "Time To Die", "My Rules", and so on. The fidelity here - raw and upfront - is perfectly suited to the mean sounding hurricane of noise Void whips up, while between song banter reveals a band that appears to be having one hell of a good time making their magic. And suffice to say, they still hold their own within the hardcore genre as one of the most unique, original, and crazed bands, even 30 years later.
Along with Dischord's also recently reissued edition of Faith's Subject To Change (which includes that band's first demo - we promise to list this one soon), it's sort of like Christmas 2.0 here at aQ, at least in terms of classic hardcore punk. What else do you need to hear other than the record itself?
FYI, the vinyl version happens to be out of stock, hoping we'll get more...

VOIVOD Kronik (Candlelight) cd 9.98

VOIVOD The Outer Limits (Metal Mind Productions) cd 17.98
Ok, maybe this is weird to admit, but you know how sometimes you get to thinking about your own inevitable death? And all the things you'd miss about being alive? Well, I (Allan) can remember back in 1993 having such morbid thoughts, and specifically thinking how one major bummer about being dead would be that I'd never ever get to listen to THIS particular album again. I mean, it's not like I was thinking that The Outer Limits by Canadian cult metallers Voivod was, like, a reason to live, it didn't prevent me from trying suicide or anything dramatic like that. But it was something that, when contemplating my own mortality, I knew I'd miss. Considering my endless spinning of this when it came out, maybe that's no surprise. The riffs, the lyrics, the artwork, there was a lot to obsess over here!
Now, 15 years later, it's finally been reissued. And so of course I've got to recommend it, maybe you won't like it as much as I did (and still do) but do you really want to go to your grave without ever finding out? It's the Voivod album that followed their somewhat controversial leftfield stab at college radio alt-metal Angel Rat (1991), and for this Voivod fan turned out to be exactly what I wanted to hear from them, becoming my favorite Voivod ever next to their to their previous masterpiece Nothingface (1989), putting their psych, punk, and prog influences - from Pink Floyd to Iggy Pop - together in a practically perfect package. It took the avant-thrash complexities of Nothingface and mixed 'em with the more accessible, trippy melodicism of Angel Rat, making for a polished, technically brilliant album of individually memorable songs. Can't really even pick favorites among 'em, every one of the nine tracks here is so great, from the soaring, storming opener "Fix My Heart" to the the creepy "Le Pont Noir" to the album's 17-minute epic sci-fi centerpiece "Jack Luminous" (PROG!) to the groovy dark rocker "Wrong-Way Street". They also do another great Pink Floyd cover (after Nothingface's version of "Astronomy Domine"), this time powering up "The Nile Song".
The whole album has a majestically moody, ominous, vaguely sinister vibe, especially so when you pay attention to the narrative of such songs as "The Lost Machine" (one of the heavier numbers here, which could have appeared on Nothingface for sure, as could have the punkishly frantic "We Are Not Alone"). And, at the same time, these songs are all super catchy - in a quirky Voivod way, sometimes, or just plain catchy a la classic '70s rock like Alice Cooper. The Outer Limits sees Voivod perfecting their ability to totally rock out whist remaining spacey and psychedelic, with lyrics to match, with both "Time Warp" and "Moonbeam Rider" being great examples of this. Well, I could go on and on, talk about Snake's unique, compelling vocals and Piggy's stellar guitar playing and all, but instead let's leave it at that, for old Voivod fans and curious noobs! I will mention drummer Away's artwork - he provides evocative illustrations for each song in the cd booklet. Not only are they done in a cool, retro sci-fi style, but they, like the his cover drawing, are all in 3-D. And this numbered, limited edition, digipacked, digitally remastered, gold disk (whew!) reissue does indeed come with lil' red and blue 3-D glasses with which to properly view and appreciate Away's art!
MPEG Stream: "The Lost Machine"
MPEG Stream: "Le Pont Noir"
MPEG Stream: "Time Warp"

VOLCANO SUNS All-Night Lotus Party (Merge) cd 13.98
Been meaning to review these for ages now, finally getting around to it, the first two records from this legendary Boston band, originally released on the legendary and now defunct Homestead Records label, and who are often compared to Husker Du and Mission Of Burma (the band that drummer / vocalist Peter Prescott played in before the Volcano Suns), the latter especially appropriate since Prescott's drumming was a big part of MoB's sound, as was his occasional singing, and it definitely sounds like some of Burma's songwriting stuck with him.
But Volcano Suns were much more of a pop band, meant to be more fun and a little bit more light hearted than Burma, the songs catchy, the riffs super memorable, but that doesn't keep much of the music from being brooding and intense and complex, super rhythmic, and hypnotic, with long instrumental passages butted up against super catchy choruses, like the Merge website says, these songs are so good, and so memorable, that they really do sound like greatest hits records. We hadn't listened to either of these in ages, but throwing them on recently, we remembered pretty much all of these songs, 20 years later! And they still sound pretty fresh considering how much indie rock has changed over the last two decades.
All-Night Lotus Party was the band's second record, originally released in 1986, and found the band getting a bit darker, and a little more aggressive, the guitars heavier, but without sacrificing any of the pop smarts that made the first record so awesome, and like that record, pretty much every song here is a could have/should have/would have been hit. Catchy as all get out, but super rocking and intense.
This is the first time either of these records has been available on cd. This reissue includes a ton of bonus tracks, B-sides, etc., including some really odd covers, including the Beatles' "Polythene Pam", the Amboy Dukes' "Journey To The Center Of The Mind" and Leonard Nimoy's "The Ballad Of Bilbo Baggins"(!!)...
MPEG Stream: "White Elephant"
MPEG Stream: "Cans"
MPEG Stream: "Room With A View"

VOLCANO SUNS The Bright Orange Years (Merge) cd 13.98
Been meaning to review these for ages now, finally getting around to it, the first two records from this legendary Boston band, originally released on the legendary and now defunct Homestead Records label, and who are often compared to Husker Du and Mission Of Burma (the band that drummer / vocalist Peter Prescott played in before the Volcano Suns), the latter especially appropriate since Prescott's drumming was a big part of MoB's sound, as was his occasional singing, and it definitely sounds like some of Burma's songwriting stuck with him.
But Volcano Suns were much more of a pop band, meant to be more fun and a little bit more light hearted than Burma, the songs catchy, the riffs super memorable, but that doesn't keep much of the music from being brooding and intense and complex, super rhythmic, and hypnotic, with long instrumental passages butted up against super catchy choruses, like the Merge website says, these songs are so good, and so memorable, that they really do sound like greatest hits records. We hadn't listened to either of these in ages, but throwing them on recently, we remembered pretty much all of these songs, 20 years later! And they still sound pretty fresh considering how much indie rock has changed over the last two decades.
The Bright Orange Years was the Volcano Suns first record, and was originally released in 1985, very reminiscent of Mission Of Burma, a killer collection of classic indie rock, equal parts that classic Homestead sound, with a little SST thrown in for good measure, the songs range from jangly and hooky, to dense and rocking, to noisy and chaotic, but all of them super catchy. We loved this record back in the day, and we're loving it all over again now.
This is the first time either of these records has been available on cd. This reissue includes a ton of bonus tracks, B-sides, etc., including a pretty cool live cover of Prince's "1999" that transforms the original into a weirdly angular post punk jam...
MPEG Stream: "Jak"
MPEG Stream: "Descent Into Hell"
MPEG Stream: "Truth Is Stanger Than Fishing"

VOLCANO THE BEAR One Burned Ma (Misra) cd 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
After an odd album on United Daries (a home to many an odd album), Volcano The Bear's third disc destroys perfect pop songs in the best way, blowing them wide open and letting all their grimmy guts fly free. For fans of Village of Savoogna, Shadow Ring, Sun City Girls, No Neck Blues Band, and other likeminded sonic transgressors.

VOLCANO THE BEAR Catonapotato (Digitalis) cd 14.98

VOLCANO THE BEAR Classic Erasmus Fusion (Beta-Lactam Ring) 2cd 15.98
Weird jazz. That's what your grandmother or 12 year old cousin might say this sounds like, some kind of weird jazz. Not quite though. True, horns trill, squawk and skronk here. But turntables glitch out as well, and electronics moan, and there's lots more going on besides, as Dada / Surrealist inspired sonic mischief-makers Volcano The Bear from England (featuring Daniel Padden) return with a very impressive, sprawling double cd set. With their kitchen sink instrumental arsenal they engage in some dense improv picture-painting (the kind of pictures with melting clocks in 'em) but also can get under your skin with "real" composed songs with a folky feel...and lots of not-so-folky distortion and weirdness on top (like in disc two's wonderfully droning folk-pop piece "Last Song Of Norway"). Elsewhere with scraping drones and toys and electronic fx, their music becomes a slow squeak on such tracks as "Ong Pate". This moody combination makes this an album of chaotic yet calm, ceremonial-sounding avant-acid folk, something sorta NWW, I mean new, for Volcano The Bear. Very cool and recommended to the (a)typical adventurous AQ customer, especially those who already dig the likes of Vibracathedral Orchestra / Richard Youngs / Devendra Banhart / Sunburned Hand Of The Man and want to follow that sort of sound down the rabbit hole...
MPEG Stream: "The Merry Potter"
MPEG Stream: "Russian Milk"
MPEG Stream: "Last Song Of Norway"

VOLCANO THE BEAR Egg And Two Books (Vivo) cd 14.98
More shambolic weirdness from this noisemaking, Nurse With Wound approved UK outfit. Recorded at a live show in Leicester, England June 2006, this starts off just as intense as they've ever been, with a wailing ceremonial-sounding piece, like some sort of 20th century classical freakout, or a droning witches' sabbath... then during subsequent tracks, things calm down into more improv-y regions. The drones become more broken, with "jazz" horns in the mix, clattering rhythms, and occasional vocal turns that suggest a twisted, psychedelic cabaret and/or damaged folk balladry. It's a disjointed mix of bedlam and beauty, with twilight soon approaching, the ominous darkness threatened by the first track being kept at bay for only so long...
MPEG Stream: "My Favorite Tonguues"
MPEG Stream: "Hello Graham"
MPEG Stream: "Military"

VOLCANO THE BEAR The Birth Of Streisand (No-Fi) 7" 5.98
2006 release from this surreal British experimental rock outfit, limited to 150 copies - we've still got 3 'cause we never listed it!

VOLCANO THE BEAR The Idea Of Wood (Textile) cd 16.98
We've been meaning to list this for ages but we hadn't been able to get enough copies until now. On the same label that brought us the amazing Daniel Padden record, which makes sense since Mr. Padden just so happens to be a member of Volcano the Bear. We have to admit that occasionally in the past, Volcano The Bear has definitely tread dangerously close to the too purposefully weird. The musical equivalent of that old joke: How many surrealists does it take to change a lightbulb? A fish! Yep, a little too "Look at Me!! Isn't this stuff CRAZY?" But the fact is, they ARE weird, and the music they make is genuinely strange. On the Idea Of Wood, VTB has managed to make a record that is at once genuinely weird, totally damaged and utterly otherworldly, but at the same time absolutely hauntingly lovely. Delicate and subtly ominous. Clinking clanking percussion, creaking acoustic guitars, ghostly falsetto vocals, carnivalesque melodies, creeping lugubrious tempos. A haunting Eastern European alien gypsy folk music constructed from brittle acoustic instruments, wheezing and straining and warbling, crumbled trumpet melodies, warbling violins, snatches of ambient found sound clatter and choirs of insect like vocals. So nice!
MPEG Stream: "She Whistles, I Cough Like A Tiger"
MPEG Stream: "Golden Hot Bite"

VOLCANO! Beautiful Seizure (Leaf) cd 14.98

VOLK BROS. Rock With The Volk Bros. (Dionysus) cd 14.98
Been yearning for the '50s? You can always count on the folks at Dionysus to satisfy in that department. Unearthing and blowing the dust from these recordings, most of which have not been available for 40 years or more. The spotlight this time is on the sounds of the Volk Bros. Pretty groovin' guitar licks sounding a bit like sassy stripper music from the 50's. Lovely! Other moments sound as though they've been tuned in right off an oldies AM station. I favor the instrumental numbers most. In their time, the Volk Bros ran the gamut from surf (very Link Wray), country, boogie, folky rock (think Everly Bros) and tough 50's garage rock (a la The Sonics).
RealAudio clip: "What'd I Say"
RealAudio clip: "There's Gonna Be A Rockin' Party Tonight"
RealAudio clip: "Baby I Say Get Up"

VOLT Rorhat (Exile On Mainstream) cd 13.98
The sinewy, scary sounds of The Jesus Lizard, Melvins, Rapeman? All sorta rolled into one?? Yes, that's the kind of punch that this new German trio packs. And they're not shy about it. If you have a soft spot for that style of post-HC noise-rockin' heaviness, with whipcrack rhythms, angular guitars and rubbery bass brawniness, backing up some wretchedly angsty vox, you'll get a kick out of Volt. Indeed, they'll be kicking you in that soft spot with a steel-toed boot!
The noise-rock scene that apparently inspired Volt may have peaked way back in the early '90s but these kids (along with Noxagt) are bringing it back with a vengeance. This debut album exhibits an energetic, precise, metallic attack that grabbed us as soon as we heard it, and almost didn't believe it. Then we were like, cool!
MPEG Stream: "Griffel"
MPEG Stream: "Stativ"

VOLUMEN Cries From Space (Wantage) cd 14.98
Volumen traffic in a weird sort-of peppy happy mod / brit pop. Reminiscent of The Housemartins or The Jam, and sometimes even Dexy's Midnight Runners. Now that might tantalize some of you but BEWARE. This record has some insanely cheezy lyrics, brutally bad vocalising and even some funk breakdowns and ska sassiness, yeeeeesh. It occasionally just sounds like bad college rock. Occasionally there's a good riff or keyboard line, and your think 'oh this is kinda rad' but then BAM!!! some horrible singing starts and embarrasses us all. Too bad.
RealAudio clip: "Daddy's Other Finger"
RealAudio clip: "Sexy Astronaut"

VOLUMIZER Gaga For Gigi (Mint) cd 12.98
The music world sure is packed with "whatever happened to?" mysteries, isn't it? And while VH1 has answered quite a few of 'em for us, there's still countless others who've left us hangin'. Well, if you were a fan of the late '70s/early '80s Pacific Northwest / Brit-influenced pop punk new wave sounds of bands like the Pointed Sticks (who were signed to Stiff Records, and heavily inspired bands like the fab power popsters the Fastbacks), the obtuse octet UJ3RK5 and the raw female punk trio The Dishrags from Vancouver, the aforementioned question might've crossed your mind at some point. Former Pointed Sticks guitarist Bill Napier-Hemy has returned to the performance side of pop music after years of academic pursuits (he's a music teacher) and production work. He's joined by fellow guitarists Jade Blade (also an art history professor, and former Dishrag), and Rodney Graham (ex-UJ3RK5). The catchy, slightly world-weary female vocals come courtesy of multimedia artist Shannon Oksanen, and together with the trio of crunchy guitars, they swiftly brought to mind the Rondelles' The Fox album (a very good thing!), not to mention the cult classic flick "Ladies And Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains". Still retaining some of the ol' spit and spirit of their past bands, but with a more powered up rock sound. Sound good to you? Me thinks this would make a great punky addition to your summer soundtrack, right alongside Portland, OR's Epoxies. Recorded by John Collins (New Pornographers) at his JC/DC Studios.
RealAudio clip: "Two Words"
RealAudio clip: "What's You Problem?"
RealAudio clip: "Nowhere To Hide"

VOM / GUMMY STUMPS split (Winning Sperm Party) lp 12.98
We were pretty into Vom's Primitive Arts record from a while back, which we described as a "depressive, atmospheric, super distorted sort of gothic cold wave", and who we likened to groups like Soror Dolorosa, Sixx, Factums and Cold Cave, but whose particular version of sound was a much more raw and primitive beast, sort of crusty and filthy, from the production to the actual instrument sounds, even the atmosphere, it was as if a metal band or a noise band or somehow both, decided to make a gloom pop record, and failed spectacularly, and came up with something way meaner, weirder and more amazing.
This brand new split teams Vom up with another group of sonically like minded Scots with the awesome name Gummy Stumps, each group taking a whole lp side. Vom offer up more of the same, their sound driving and darkly post punky, the guitars thick and jagged, the bass fuzzed out and super distorted, the drums almost like some weird strain of motorik krautpunk, the vocals an effects drenched bellow, the group locking into long stretches of buzzing, snarling, minor key hypnorock, that sound like a goth rock Circle, pounding away relentlessly, the guitars unfurling slippery slithery melodies, over churning riffage and gloomy gothic bombast. But it's an epic, so the band sort of cobble together a songsuite, equal parts crash and burn, drift and smolder, shimmer and creep, the sound managing to be surprisingly lush while retaining its raw power. At one point haunting soundtracky synths drift in and transform the sound completely, before the band works its way up into another psychedelic cold wave gloom punk blowout. These guys are so fucking good, it's a crime they're not more well known.
With a name like Gummy Stumps, these guys had our hopes pretty high, and while they're not as grim or gloriously noisy, they're definitely a good match, their sound more of a Messthetics sort of post punk, all jagged angular guitar crunch, frenetic rhythms, and dueling call and response vocals. But again, like Vom's side, there's lots of space to fill, so the band stretch way out, slipping from murky psychedelic shimmer, to something that sounds like way more punk Arab Strap, to blown out drum heavy noise rock crunch, to surprisingly catchy punk pop and right back again to the angular post punkiness that started it all off.
Housed in super swank silk screened covers, with printed insert, cool lyrics booklet, and we're guessing it's pretty dang limited too...
MPEG Stream: VOM "B"
MPEG Stream: GUMMY STUMPS "A"

VON BINGEN s/t (Amen Absen) lp 22.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Early '70s krautrock stylings by way of Canada circa 2009, all the while channelling the visionary plainsongs from the 12th Century abbess Hildegarde Von Bingen! This Von Bingen began when two members of an East Coast psychedeliclatter project called Hildegard moved to Canada, met up with one of satellite members of Jackie O Motherfucker, and rebranded themselves. While the nature of the earlier band has escaped us, this Von Bingen has emerged fully formed, crawling out from the same primordial soup that spawned the likes of Amon Duul II, Hawkwind, Psychic Ills, Bardo Pond, and The Wooden Shjips. Yeah, they're pretty damn good!
A subdued yet motorik rhythm sets the stage for the opening track circled with interlocking guitars, electronics, and bass right out of the songbook of Faust IV, all of which are brought into relief with a sporadically used melodic jump out of the dronerock mentality. A paranoiac piece of incidental music links these grooves with droning lament for flute, giving way to a subterranean plod that almost sounds like a Throbbing Gristle piece remade a decade earlier as a transgressive piece of psychedelia laced with weird horns and Arabesque guitar leads. The flipside begins with an extended piece of cosmic ritualism through sustained mod synth drone and church organ tones twisting along side more of that wistful flute and gradually coalescing into a proto-Suicide pulsation of psychedelic electronics and downer melodies. The finale of the album centers upon a dazed guitar riff coming in and out of focus amidst the druggy atmosphere of synth drones, simple bouts of percussion, freeform flutes, and squeals of electricity. To say this is a trip is quite the understatement. Do not let this one pass you by!

VON BONDIES Pawn Shoppe Heart (Sire) cd 14.98
Up until now, the Von Bondies were best known as the band whose singer got his ass kicked by Jack White of the White Stripes. You could do worse as far as free publicity goes I guess. But let's not get distracted from how seriously kick ass this record is. Not sure what it is exactly, but this record is just so catchy and so goddamn rocking we can't stop playing it. Hard to describe, but imagine the White Stripes with Glen Danzig on vocals, or maybe some demented hybrid of the Hoodoo Gurus, the Rock-A-Teens and Samhain. Super well-produced (by Jerry Harrison of The Talking Heads) garage rock with super wailing throaty vocals, catchy songs, occasional snotty girl vocals, tribal drumming and cool unlikely arrangements. The vocals are actually reminiscent of Modern English or the Fixx in a weird way, but the music is all heavy three-chord grunged out garage rock, but with some serious major label production sheen! This is definitely one of our favorite records this year!
MPEG Stream: "No Regrets"
MPEG Stream: "C'mon C'mon"
MPEG Stream: "Tell Me What You See"

VON BONDIES, THE Love Hate And Then Theres You (Major Domo) cd 15.98

VON HAZE s/t (Hippos In Tanks) lp 8.98
Debut ep from this Brooklyn based boy girl duo who traffic in gloriously blissed out, slo-mo, witch house-y synth-wave nu-gaze dream pop, the sound super minimal and stripped down, like Portishead crossed with oOoOO, a bass and synth heavy electro brood, that creeps and drifts, smoldering and sexy, swirly and darkly abstract. A series of glacial electro ballads, that pulse and throb, washed out dark wave slither slipping sinisterly from cold wave, to new wave, to trip hop and back again.
The basslines thrum, the synths whir and wheeze and shimmer, all beneath deep, smokey chanteuse like vox, each track, a thick undulating synthscape, minimal and moody, skeletal and spidery. Here and there arise bits of psychedelic squall, of metallic buzz, and effects drenched swirl, but for the most part the record drifts moodily and dreamily, the perfect late night, last drink, dark bar, drift off, lights low, bliss out, come down jam.
The first track on the B side mixes things up a bit with a blast of feral post punk energy, sounding a bit like a more fiery Strokes, lots of guitar crunch and real drum pound, distorted weary boyvox, the whole thing sweaty and fuzzy and intense, and then as if to make up for that sonic transgression, the rest of the record is dialed even further down, mostly just synths and vocals, various keyboards, wheezing organs, a droney minimal dreampop drift, softly buzzy and druggy, like a disembodied, even more stoned Velvets or Spacemen 3, perhaps a bit more modern and electronic, but just as lysergic and laid back.
Super thick vinyl, nice heavy full color gatefold and printed full color inner sleeve.
MPEG Stream: "Get Me Alone"
MPEG Stream: "Sooner Or Later"
MPEG Stream: "Sad Girls"

VON IVA Girls On Film (Stickfigure Recordings) 12" 12.98
Have to admit, we were a bit disappointed to find out that these ladies didn't bust out a cover of Duran Duran's saucy early hit on their latest 12" of the same name. Instead we s'pose they're maybe giving a hearty nod to their recent activities (you might've spotted them in the Jim Carrey movie Yes Man?). They've honed their party and playing chops plenty from heaps of touring, and the trio packs quite a wallop... not to mention a soulful stomp and a tribal thump. This ep features six songs - three new ones and three from their 2007 full length Our Own Island!

VON IVA Our Own Island (Ruby Tower) cd 14.98
Von Iva's music is impassioned, loose and fun! These three ladies seem always party primed. That's right, we said three! Since their last release the band bid a fond farewell to bassist Elizabeth Davis Simpson. As a result, their sound has become far more minimal with Kelly's primal drum beats, Jillian's sultry vocals and some of Becky's stark keyboard lines filling in for the departed basslines. Seemingly inspired by ESG and Tina Turner, Our Own Island's ten tracks are ultra retro sounding and electro funky. Jillian continues to keep brows and loins fevered with her super-soul pipes. These gals don't perspire, they sweat! And we suspect they'll get you all hot'n'bothered too.
MPEG Stream: "Guise"
MPEG Stream: "No Resistance"

VON IVA s/t (Cochon) cd 12.98
These four gals have been raising a ruckus 'round town for a couple years now. You might recognize two of them as being former members of the short-lived SF synth-wave band Clone as well as 7 Year Bitch. Live, they've had their hot nights and ones less so, but when they're 'on', their shows can be a super sassy time with equal parts sweat and lipgloss. Really, a major part of what makes them cool is also what can be their downfall, and that is their unbridled swagger. 'Cuz of course when you're rockin' the blues you can't be all uptight, but you also can't be so loose that you're downright messy. Now on record, they've successfully captured the feel of one of their fiery, saucy good nights on tape. When taken sans vocals, Von Iva rock out a straight-ahead by the books dance punk sound with their two-note arpeggiated keyboard and basslines. However, add in the ballsy soulful female vocals and it's quite a different animal. They definitely provide the distinct personality to this band. A flamin' cocktail brewed up from an ample shot of blues rock, a dollop of disco, a scoop of new wave and a dash of batcave.
MPEG Stream: "Same Sad Song"
MPEG Stream: "Feel It!"

VON IVA s/t (Cochon) lp 12.98
Yes, now on vinyl! Here's what we said about the cd:
These four gals have been raising a ruckus 'round town for a couple years now. You might recognize two of them as being former members of the short-lived SF synth-wave band Clone as well as 7 Year Bitch. Live, they've had their hot nights and ones less so, but when they're 'on', their shows can be a super sassy time with equal parts sweat and lipgloss. Really, a major part of what makes them cool is also what can be their downfall, and that is their unbridled swagger. 'Cuz of course when you're rockin' the blues you can't be all uptight, but you also can't be so loose that you're downright messy. Now on record, they've successfully captured the feel of one of their fiery, saucy good nights on tape. When taken sans vocals, Von Iva rock out a straight-ahead by the books dance punk sound with their two-note arpeggiated keyboard and basslines. However, add in the ballsy soulful female vocals and it's quite a different animal. They definitely provide the distinct personality to this band. A flamin' cocktail brewed up from an ample shot of blues rock, a dollop of disco, a scoop of new wave and a dash of batcave.
MPEG Stream: "Same Sad Song"
MPEG Stream: "Feel It!"

VON SUDENFED Tromatic Reflexxions (Domino) cd 15.98
In case you hadn't heard, Von Sudenfed is the collaboration between Mark E. Smith and Mouse On Mars. Given that Smith had once quipped that The Fall could involve anybody's grandmother on bongos accompanying Smith and his cantankerous slurred vocals, it's a bit surprising that this isn't considered a Fall project. Nonetheless, Tromatic Reflexxions is clearly the best album that Mark E. Smith has been part of in years. The same goes for the Mouse On Mars side of the equation. We're not going to stray too far from the conventional wisdom regarding Tromatic Reflexxions, as we basically agree that it really does sound like LCD Soundsystem, even though Mark E. Smith wants nothing to do with any of those comparisons. Musically, the combo produces a smarty-pants concoction of post-everything rhythms with dubstep density, disco-punk punchiness, and electro grooviness all mashed up into an infectious squelch, which clearly resembles the LCD Soundsystem singles of a couple years back. Smith is just as cranky, irritable, and insufferable as he's ever been on any give Fall recording. Perhaps not surprisingly, Smith's presence in an electronica context offers an obvious comparison to James Murphy's smug delivery on the LCD Soundsystem recordings. Many of us here hadn't thought that this collaboration would work in the least, but more than a handful have been clearly won over. In all likelihood, Tromatic Reflexxions will stand out as one of the best art-rock / electronica albums of 2007. Well worth checking out.
MPEG Stream: "The Rhinohead"
MPEG Stream: "Flooded"

VON THRONSTAHL E Pluribus Unum (Cold Spring) cd 16.98
Found a few of these tucked away in the closet, one of our favorite records from this mysterious industrial martial folk neoclassical goth pop combo, 2001's E Pluribus Unum. While on all of the various VT records, the band does get seriously industrial, that side of their sound is balanced by their tendency to craft sort of woozy dour gloom pop that at its songiest sounds like some hybrid of the Doors, Spacemen 3, This Mortal Coil, and at its most abstract sounds like some darkly chilling soundtrack music, to some forgotten Dario Argento thriller, or some classic German art film.
The record starts off with tolling bells, and then a guitar riff, wait, it's AC/DC's "Hell's Bells", sampled, and looped, over and over and over, but instead of launching into the song, the riff becomes a weirdly mesmerizing groove, that main riff wrapped in strummed acoustic guitar, and softly swirling effects, laced with pounding martial drumming, all supporting a dreamy dramatic crooned vocal. Fans might remember the track on their Sacrificare record, where they took the Who's "Pinball Wizard" and similarly transformed it into their own weird sort of industrial goth pop.
The rest of the record is more traditionally neoclassical / neofolk, with mournful strings, swirling synths, militaristic drums, haunting samples, snippets of speeches, occasional gouts of crumbling distorted guitar, or growled demonic vox, it's a darkly gorgeous pseudo historical soundscape, a mysteriously varied, epic and majestic collection of otherwordly war songs, hazy sonic propaganda, and blackened doom pop.
MPEG Stream: "Bells"
MPEG Stream: "Mitternachtsberg"
MPEG Stream: "Inthronisation"

VON THRONSTAHL Imperium Internum (Cold Spring) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
A long overdue reissue of this miltaristic ambient industrial folk, cinematic masterpiece originally released in 2000. Very much in the vein of Folkstorm, Toroidh, Der Blutharsch and the like, the music of Von Thronstahl was conceived, in the band's own words, with the idea of making "music & art which would be more attached to a real European heritage and not to a freemasonary, anarchic tradition of false liberty, which means lawlessness and rootlessness." Oof. Heavy. Well, no need to agree, or to even understand to dig this record. An expansive, orchestral, dark hued journey through European History, Fascism, War, life and love and loss. Huge sweeping minor key strings, over mournful melodies, plaintive piano, martial percussion, snippets of found sounds, snatches of old songs and speeches, ominous whispered vocals. Very intense and ominous and emotional, and weirdly reminiscent of UK outfit In The Nursery with the big strings and occasional pounding militaristic percussion, and even some once-in-a-while playful gipsy melodies. But the occasional lighthearted vibe aside, Imperium Internum is a raw and harrowing record, majestic and epic, but ultra personal, full of sorrow and misery, darkness and light. So great.
MPEG Stream: "Imperium Internum"
MPEG Stream: "Vorwarts, Die Raben Der Endzeit"
MPEG Stream: "Schwarz, Weiss, Rot"

VON TILL, STEVE A Grave Is A Grim Horse (Neurot) cd 14.98
A dark and thick and beautiful as a scrying pool of molasses! This is the third solo album from the formidable Steve Von Till (Neurosis, Tribes Of Neurot). He sounds like a man mustering his last shreds of battered hope and dusty breath as dreams fade with the sunlight into dusk. On the surface it may seem quite akin to many other somber country and folk contemporaries, however much like that of his band (whose music traverses terrain so far beyond the bounds of the 'metal' genre in which they are usually slotted), Von Till's music evokes something more -- an expression beyond common man world weary melancholia. The hushed strum of an acoustic guitar offers some comfort as the haunting slink of slide guitar threads its way around Von Till's bristly deep voice cresting into ominous swells of electric guitar grit and distortion. Recommended.
MPEG Stream: "A Grave Is A Grim Horse"
MPEG Stream: "Looking For Dry Land"

VON TILL, STEVE As The Crow Flies (Neurot) cd 14.98
This is the first solo record from Steve Von Till, guitarist/vocalist for bay area tribal teutons Neurosis (in fact I think it's the first 'solo' record by anyone in Neurosis). It is a dark and somber affair, as you might expect, but what might surprise you is it's restraint and fragility, just voice, acoustic guitars, and occasional strings. The sounds on this record were hinted at on the last Neurosis record; droning and hypnotic, whispery balladry, replete with cellos and violins (courtesy of Amber Asylum who definitely share some sonic qualities here). Steve's voice is a gruff whisper, abrasive, but subtley melodic, bringing to mind Michael Gira, Nick Cave and Tom Waits.

VON TILL, STEVE If I Should Fall To The Field (Neurot) cd 14.98
You may be accustomed to hearing this gritty growl of a voice on Neurosis records, or maybe seen Steve Von Till onstage with them -- he's the scary looking Viking guy (although his pals here at AQ prefer to think of him as a teddy bar slash garden gnome) playing guitar. This second solo album treats us to a glimpse of Von Till's folksy side. With only the sparest of accompaniment -- a single fiddle, or acoustic guitar, or Hammond organ -- he whisper-growls tales of barren fields, blood red moons, howling beasts, broken anvils. The pace is very slow, the chord changes warm and emotional, and the mood is despondent. Reminds me at times of former Swans leader Michael Gira's recent solo work. Fans of Black Heart Procession might even take a risk on the metaller side of sensitive. Includes a Neil Young cover and a few minutes of Von Till's grandfather reciting verse.
RealAudio clip: "This River"
RealAudio clip: "Breathe"

VON WILDENHAUS, BEN Great Melodies From Around (Riot Bear) cd 9.98
We reviewed a super limited tape a while back by Ben Wildenhaus, former guitarist from Northwestern garage rockers Federation X, and an occasional collaborator with members of the Reeks And The Wrecks, and as we mentioned in the review of that tape, Wildenhaus has since transformed into a bit of an avant guitarist, now living on the east coast, and managing the Instrumental Quaalude blog, on which he weekly posts new recordings, always instrumental, always under 5 minutes. That tape, Great Melodies From Around, has now been reissued both on cd (and yeah, a real cd, not a cd-r), and vinyl, with a download coupon, and while there is new artwork and the curious addition of 'Von' to Wildenhaus' name, Great Melodies From Around is presented in these new formats, sonically identical to it's early cassette tape iteration...
Great Melodies From Around seems, in fact, to be an extension of Wildenhaus' Instrumental Quaalude blog, as it is a moody and sonically surreal collection of similarly dark, gorgeously instrumental excursions, assembled from lush layered drones, Appalachian style steel string guitars, woozy twangy slide guitar, strange murky percussion, bits of vocals (NOT singing) employed as more texture, wheezing organ, sinewaves, minimal drumming, subtle electronics, bits of glitch and hiss, amp buzz, a little noise here and there, the occasional sample... The sound is smokey and dark and ominous, dreamy and hauntingly lovely, a distinctly Lynchian soundtrack vibe for sure, late night, lights low, everything dusty, and dark, and lonely, and lit by the streetlights outside, hazy, gauzy, fuzzy, and totally and fantastically lovely.
MPEG Stream: "The Orientalist"
MPEG Stream: "Geebz"
MPEG Stream: "The Limping Axeman"
MPEG Stream: "Only Fool"

VON WILDENHAUS, BEN Great Melodies From Around (Riot Bear) lp 14.98
We reviewed a super limited tape a while back by Ben Wildenhaus, former guitarist from Northwestern garage rockers Federation X, and an occasional collaborator with members of the Reeks And The Wrecks, and as we mentioned in the review of that tape, Wildenhaus has since transformed into a bit of an avant guitarist, now living on the east coast, and managing the Instrumental Quaalude blog, on which he weekly posts new recordings, always instrumental, always under 5 minutes. That tape, Great Melodies From Around, has now been reissued both on cd (and yeah, a real cd, not a cd-r), and vinyl, with a download coupon, and while there is new artwork and the curious addition of 'Von' to Wildenhaus' name, Great Melodies From Around is presented in these new formats, sonically identical to it's early cassette tape iteration...
Great Melodies From Around seems, in fact, to be an extension of Wildenhaus' Instrumental Quaalude blog, as it is a moody and sonically surreal collection of similarly dark, gorgeously instrumental excursions, assembled from lush layered drones, Appalachian style steel string guitars, woozy twangy slide guitar, strange murky percussion, bits of vocals (NOT singing) employed as more texture, wheezing organ, sinewaves, minimal drumming, subtle electronics, bits of glitch and hiss, amp buzz, a little noise here and there, the occasional sample... The sound is smokey and dark and ominous, dreamy and hauntingly lovely, a distinctly Lynchian soundtrack vibe for sure, late night, lights low, everything dusty, and dark, and lonely, and lit by the streetlights outside, hazy, gauzy, fuzzy, and totally and fantastically lovely.
MPEG Stream: "The Orientalist"
MPEG Stream: "Geebz"
MPEG Stream: "The Limping Axeman"
MPEG Stream: "Only Fool"

VON ZAMLA 1983 (Cuneiform) cd 12.98
Never before released live recording from Von Zamla's 1983 European tour, taken from two dates in Germany. Featuring Michel Berckmans [oboe & bassoon], Eino Haapala [guitar], Lars Hollmer [keyboards], Hans Loelv [keyboards], Wolfgang Salomon [bass], Marten Tiselius [drums], and performing tracks from No Make Up, Zamlaranama, and a Samla track. Challenging yet still filled to the brim with toe-tapping melodies and great playing.

VOODOO GLOW SKULLS & HICKEY (Pro4nbe Records) 7"+booklet 2.99
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Completely successful prank details Hickey's righteous theft of the Glow Skulls' $4000 trumpet, the subsequent fallout and mayhem, and Hickey's hilarious explanation which makes for a good 24-page read.

VOODOO SHOCK Marie's Sister's Garden (Exile On Mainstream) cd 14.98
Wino-esque doom from Germany.

VOTOLATO, ROCKY A Brief History (Second Nature) cd 12.98
Rocky Votolato's debut EP has been out of print for ages... until now! Yes, let's holler a big "Hooray!" 'cause it's been reissued with new artwork. Then let's settle down to enjoy his gentle, subdued Spartan folksy pop stylings. If you share our love for his full length titled Makers which came out on Barsuk Records in 2006, you've probably been on the look out more mellow, restful Rocky. Fortunately Second Nature Recordings felt the same way releasing this seven song EP to satiate our craving. So good...
MPEG Stream: "These Old Clothes"
RealAudio clip: "Plastic Jesus"

VOTOLATO, ROCKY Makers (Barsuk) cd 13.98
Ahhh, the lonely ballad of the singer songwriter. A lone troubadour, pouring out their heart and soul, naked and alone, with no band to hide behind, no crashing guitars and pounding drums to shield their delicate psyche.
There was a time when being called a singer songwriter was a badge of honor. But now, we might just as well turn tail and run. Sure the legacy of singer songwriters is a mighty one, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Gordon Lightfoot, Janis Ian, Cat Stevens, Jim Croce, James Taylor, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Donovan, Bruce Springsteen, but you'll notice a serious dearth of more -modern- musicians in that league. That's not because there aren't singer songwriters anymore, it's just that now, we typically equate singer songwriters with commercial radio, faceless pap, bad top 40, coffee houses, guys who couldn't start a band so decided to just 'do it themselves'. We're definitely generalizing, sure. There have definitely been some notable exceptions, Iron And Wine's Sam Beam, Damien Jurado, Edith Frost, Elliott Smith, Joel Phelps, Devendra Banhart, Cat Power's Chan Marshall, Simon Joyner, Fiona Apple, Jeff Mangum, Sufjan Stevens, Will Oldham, and now you can add Rocky Votoloto to the list. Now the funny thing is, as we mention again and again and again, if Votoloto had chosen to release this record under the name Waxwing (the name of his previous band) it probably wouldn't get lumped in with the singer songwriters at all, and might eeven get a bit more attention, even if it sounded exactly the same. That's why it's always better to make up a band name even if it's just you. We've said it before, we'll say it again. No matter how cool you think your name is, unless it's Van Halen or something like that, think again! Try this out: "I'm going to see John Smith". Or "I'm going to see Black Dungeon Firefly". Or "Strangle Flanger". Or whatever. You get the idea.
Anyway, before this review loses any more of its momentum, let's just say this is one of the most beautiful records we have heard in ages and mere months into the year has most definitely secured a spot on some of out 2006 top ten lists!
Votoloto has a gorgeously husky, whiskey soaked voice, and has an amazingly deft touch with melody and harmony. The first track is a dead ringer for Iron And Wine, delicate steel string guitar, hushed breathy vocals and sweet sweet harmonies, but the rest of the record is not nearly as restrained. Votolato's vocals are too rough and raw and powerful to be tiptoe-ing and shuffling sad boy style. No, the rest of the record sounds more like that Nirvana Unplugged record, Votolato's vocals the centerpoint, raw and ragged, but thick and warm and completely intense and emotional, more raspy and sandpapery like Cobain or Spoon's Britt Daniel or even Pete Searcy from Squirrel Bait. Not to say that he can't get all smooth, cuz there are plenty of dark and delicate tracks, where the vocals glide smoothly over sweet mournful melodies and hushed melancholy moments. But as with all "singer songwriters" (sigh) it's all about the songs, and this record is so chock full of amazing songs. Dark and dreary, warm and weary, folky and twangy, hushed and indie, a perfect mix of Iron And Wine, Ryan Adams, Elliott Smith, Uncle Tupelo, Spoon, and all that stuff we love. Acoustic guitars, harmonica, lapsteel, organ all woven into perfect chunks of dark and dreamy pop and twang.
MPEG Stream: "White Daisy Passing"
MPEG Stream: "Portland Is Leaving"
MPEG Stream: "She Was Only In It For The Rain"

VOTOLATO, ROCKY Makers (Second Nature) lp 16.98
Finally, this former Record of The Week gets a vinyl release! Here's what we said about it the first time:
Ahhh, the lonely ballad of the singer songwriter. A lone troubadour, pouring out their heart and soul, naked and alone, with no band to hide behind, no crashing guitars and pounding drums to shield their delicate psyche.
There was a time when being called a singer songwriter was a badge of honor. But now, we might just as well turn tail and run. Sure the legacy of singer songwriters is a mighty one, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Gordon Lightfoot, Janis Ian, Cat Stevens, Jim Croce, James Taylor, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Donovan, Bruce Springsteen, but you'll notice a serious dearth of more -modern- musicians in that league. That's not because there aren't singer songwriters anymore, it's just that now, we typically equate singer songwriters with commercial radio, faceless pap, bad top 40, coffee houses, guys who couldn't start a band so decided to just 'do it themselves'. We're definitely generalizing, sure. There have definitely been some notable exceptions, Iron And Wine's Sam Beam, Damien Jurado, Edith Frost, Elliott Smith, Joel Phelps, Devendra Banhart, Cat Power's Chan Marshall, Simon Joyner, Fiona Apple, Jeff Mangum, Sufjan Stevens, Will Oldham, and now you can add Rocky Votoloto to the list. Now the funny thing is, as we mention again and again and again, if Votoloto had chosen to release this record under the name Waxwing (the name of his previous band) it probably wouldn't get lumped in with the singer songwriters at all, and might eeven get a bit more attention, even if it sounded exactly the same. That's why it's always better to make up a band name even if it's just you. We've said it before, we'll say it again. No matter how cool you think your name is, unless it's Van Halen or something like that, think again! Try this out: "I'm going to see John Smith". Or "I'm going to see Black Dungeon Firefly". Or "Strangle Flanger". Or whatever. You get the idea.
Anyway, before this review loses any more of its momentum, let's just say this is one of the most beautiful records we have heard in ages and mere months into the year has most definitely secured a spot on some of out 2006 top ten lists!
Votoloto has a gorgeously husky, whiskey soaked voice, and has an amazingly deft touch with melody and harmony. The first track is a dead ringer for Iron And Wine, delicate steel string guitar, hushed breathy vocals and sweet sweet harmonies, but the rest of the record is not nearly as restrained. Votolato's vocals are too rough and raw and powerful to be tiptoe-ing and shuffling sad boy style. No, the rest of the record sounds more like that Nirvana Unplugged record, Votolato's vocals the centerpoint, raw and ragged, but thick and warm and completely intense and emotional, more raspy and sandpapery like Cobain or Spoon's Britt Daniel or even Pete Searcy from Squirrel Bait. Not to say that he can't get all smooth, cuz there are plenty of dark and delicate tracks, where the vocals glide smoothly over sweet mournful melodies and hushed melancholy moments. But as with all "singer songwriters" (sigh) it's all about the songs, and this record is so chock full of amazing songs. Dark and dreary, warm and weary, folky and twangy, hushed and indie, a perfect mix of Iron And Wine, Ryan Adams, Elliott Smith, Uncle Tupelo, Spoon, and all that stuff we love. Acoustic guitars, harmonica, lapsteel, organ all woven into perfect chunks of dark and dreamy pop and twang.
MPEG Stream: "White Daisy Passing"
MPEG Stream: "Portland Is Leaving"
MPEG Stream: "She Was Only In It For The Rain"

VOTOLATO, ROCKY The Brag And Cuss (Barsuk) cd 13.98
One customer thought this was Jeff Tweedy, while another could have sworn it was Ryan Adams, but no, it's Rocky Votolato! He might be a bit lesser known, but in addition to the vocal resemblance we'd also venture to say that his songwriting chops are pretty on par with those two fellows' too.
Hell, as far as we can tell Rocky's not prone to sonic experimentation nor alternate identities, which makes him generally more even-keeled temperamentally and stylistically speaking than both of them.
As you may well know, we absolutely loved his last album Makers -- it was our record of the week back in January 2006 -- and we recently got in the reissue of his debut ep A Brief History. So we were primed and ready to hear some new Rocky tunes. We'd heard there were a few changes brewing with his new album, but despite its title, don't be expecting The Brag And Cuss to fill your ears with expletives and bombastic exclamations. No, it's nothing but hushed earthy twang pop... an ol' reliable! Whereas Makers was considerably barebones and intimate, this album was recorded with a full band featuring James McAllister (who also plays with Sufjan Stevens), Bill Herzog (who is also in Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter), Pedro The Lion's Casey Foubert and Rick Steff (who also accompanies Cat Power and Hank Williams Jr.). They play together beautifully, complementing each other with nuanced performances. There's definitely more heft to the production, but it doesn't crowd his songs. If anything the company adds to the emotional gravity of his lonesome words. Real good!
MPEG Stream: "Lilly White"
MPEG Stream: "Postcard From Kentucky"

VOXTROT s/t (Playlouder) cd 14.98
Folks have been asking for Voxtrot lately, and we're happy to oblige. They've had a handful of eps released over the last few years which have amply whetted appetites across the nation for a full length debut... and here it is! Our initial impression of this Austin, TX band is that they're sorta like a hybrid of The Arcade Fire and a more stable Fiery Furnaces, but with perhaps an even broader appeal that at times is quite reminiscent of The Kinks circa "Lola". Super exuberant and catchy! We predict this'll surely be blasting outta the hip kids' boomboxes at the beach all summer long.
MPEG Stream: "Kid Gloves"
MPEG Stream: "Blood Red Blood"

VSS Nervous Circuits (Hydra Head) cd+dvd 14.98
Words can't describe how fuckin' happy we are to see this! Finally, The VSS's long out of print (and pretty hard to track down even when it was in print!) 1997 album Nervous Circuits has been remastered and reissued... and how! The new edition is bursting at the seams in sound and visuals with tons of bonus historical documentation packed on the cd and dvd!
The VSS = a short-lived yet incredibly influential and genre defining band from Southern California / Colorado in the mid-90s.
The VSS = Josh Hughes' deeply textured apocalyptic air-raid guitars, Andy Rothbard's lithe double fisting of snaking bass guitar and Juno 60 synthesizer, Dave Clifford's fevered muscular drumming, and Sonny Kay's clenched spewed vocals delivering cryptic wordplay and caustic socio-politically charged lyrics (mind you, due to his impassioned expulsionary singing style they're pretty unintelligible, you'll need to refer to the lyric sheet!).
The members of The VSS surfaced from the ashes of legendary post-punk band Angel Hair, burned incredibly hot and bright for only a couple years, and then later went on to other mighty bands Slaves, Pleasure Forever, Year Future, Rabbits, Red Sparowes and solo projects (Andrew Douglas Rothbard!) and an independent record label (Gold Standard Laboratories).
These days on paper, the marriage of post-punk, hardcore, synth-wave, electronic rock and metal is nothing short of commonplace. It's become a hip lifestyle genre, but this wasn't the case back then. And even so, this album still sounds fresh and immediate eleven years after its original release! Seeming at once wild and untethered and totally in control, it's a remarkably composed aural assault with plenty of quick shifts in mood, atmosphere and tempo that still stands head and shoulders above the rest of the pack.
The dvd offers what criminally few were able to witness in person back in the day... a young band who absolutely slayed in the live setting! There's nine song clips from various stops on their '97 U.S. tour as well as three sets in Brooklyn (six songs), Boulder (seven songs) and Berkeley (four songs). Be forewarned though, the quality of a lot of the footage is pretty poor -- having been culled from many fans' handheld home camcorder vhs tapes -- but our eyes have become accustomed to this sort of grainy, shaky stew a la murky cellphone-shot YouTube clips. Nevertheless a welcome electrically charged video document.
Yeah, definitely recommended!
MPEG Stream: "Death Scene"
MPEG Stream: "In Miniature"
MPEG Stream: "Nervous Circuits"

VSS, THE 21:51 (Gold Standard Laboratories) cd 9.99
A re-issue of this 1996 collection of 7" tracks by the amazing but unfortunately now-defunct VSS. Not quite as excellent as their full-length "Nervous Circuits" (which is rumoured to be on it's way to a re-issue also. Fingers crossed!), but definitely offers many a glimpse at the awesomeness of this band. The sound? Dissonant, angst-y and very Roland Juno 6 synth-driven. Totally furious and ass-kicking. FYI: Andy, Dave and Josh are now the excellent Portland based Pleasure Forever (formerly SF band Slaves), Sonny now heads the very label on which this release appears.

VSS, THE Nervous Circuits (Honeybear) cd 12.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
So good! An awesome textured guitar and thick Roland Juno 6 synth attack combined with some very angsty vocals sputtering out peculiar thoughts and phrases. This rocks.

VUE Babies Are For Petting (RCA) cd ep 7.98

VUE Find Your Home (Sub Pop) cd 14.98
Vue are a five piece from San Francisco who previously went by the moniker The Audience. Very much of the retro 70's sweaty, bluesy rock ilk, this record sounds so much like the Rolling Stones it's eerie... in a good way, all high energy and sexed up. Rex is an awesome frontman. They're definitely good at what they do, but it's hard because what they do falls into this vein of music that is so abundant and a tad overhyped as of late. I'm trying not to be jaded and let the trend turn me off, but actually their last album ran with the same crowd, but was a much more tightly-wound, dynamic and hook-laden record. And as a follow-up to that strong debut, this unfortunately falls a few steps short. They are a good rock'n'roll band, damn it, but I'd definitely recommend their previous album over this.
RealAudio clip: "Hitchhiking"
RealAudio clip: "You Can Take Her Now"

VUE s/t (Sub Pop) cd 11.98
San Francisco kids Vue (formerly known as the Audience) have taken their 60s inspired rock sound to Sub Pop following a brief stint on the indie style makin' label Gold Standard Laboratories. Raw, feisty blues rock riffing with sinewy keyboard lines. On this their debut album, Vue deliver a quite good Suicide cover, Phil Ek production, and a sound that fans of The Make-Up might really dig.

VULCAN'S HAMMER True Hearts and Sound Bottoms (Radioactive) cd 17.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
"The hottest Psych - Prog - Garage - Punk reissues are on Radioactive", or so say the stickers that adorn the cover of each and every release on the Radioactive label out of England. Well, it's true they have uncovered some good ones, like The Nova Local and Francisco, but really out of what seems like the hundreds of "rare collector's items" they dig up out of the vintage vinyl graveyard every month, only a small handful seem all that worth bothering to reissue at all... some things are rare and obscure for a reason!
Vulcan's Hammer, though, we feel is should get a mention, as this British band's 1973 private press LP is actually nice to have on cd, if you're into acoustic hippy trad UK folk of the era a la Pentacle, Steeleye Span and Mellow Candle... Very rustic stuff, with both male and female vocalists singing in harmony, doing traditional tunes as well as their own material in a similar vein, as for instance on track 11, which has lyrics about hobbits and Gandalf! We love that sort of thing. Sadly, Radioactive didn't bother to include the track listing anywhere on this package (we don't know, but we'd assume the original LP must have had a track listing) so we don't know what that song is called. Or any of others here either. But they're all pretty nice, putting us in the mood of some of the material on the Wicker Man soundtrack, without the sinister undertones...
MPEG Stream: "track 10"
MPEG Stream: "track 3"