Tracks Of The Week, 19/04/14 - Record Store Day Special!

In celebration of Record Store Day 2014, I thought it would be appropriate to focus on the special releases/re-releases of the day for this week’s TOTW… Taking on this task, I didn’t realise quite how many songs there would be to choose from (about a gezillion), and unfortunately have not had the opportunity to listen to/know about each and every one. I therefore decided to narrow it down to the ten releases I’m most excited about, consisting of artists I already know and love, and so please excuse the absence of many a good song/record…

RADKEY – 9 LIVES AT THE 100 CLUB (Live album)

Still in their teens, the Radke brothers have caused quite a stir over the last year, and deservedly so. In the last year, they’ve released two EPs, played at SXSW and headlined their own UK tour. To celebrate their success, these three teenage brothers from Missouri are releasing a limited edition cassette-only live album of their headline set at The 100 Club: ‘9 Lives At The 100 Club’ (Little Man Records).

Recorded at The 100 Club on 5th March this year, this release perfectly captures the raw energy and exhilarating buzz of the band’s live shows. Having been lucky enough to be there, I can vouch that this show was indeed, as Isaiah Radke himself has said, ‘amazing’ (in fact he said it was ‘one of the coolest nights’ of his life!)

If, like me, you were lucky enough to be there, I highly recommend you get your hands on this exclusive souvenir of the night; and if you missed it, then here is the perfect opportunity to capture some of the frenzied teenage vigour and exuberant energy of Radkey’s breathtaking live shows.

Including tracks from both their EPs, as well as a cover of Misfits’ classic ‘Last Caress’, there will only be 500 copies of the ‘9 Lives in London’ cassettes available for Record Store Day worldwide; keep your eyes peeled for them!

Bombay Bicycle Club – To The Bone/Reign Down

Everybody’s favourite North London Lads see in Record Store Day this year with a limited edition 7”, featuring ‘To The Bone’ – from the So Long, See You Tomorrow boxset, along with ‘Reign Down’, a never heard before version of the album’s title track – as the B-side.

An insight into Bombay Bicycle Club’s softer side, this acoustically recorded release is just lovely, and will tug at the heart strings in all the right ways.

Bombay Bicycle Club have just finished a tour of the UK and will next play a run of shows in North America, before returning home for the festival season, playing Latitude, Reading & Leeds and T in the Park.

Catfish And The Bottlemen – Kathleen

Gigslutz favourites, Catfish And The Bottlemen, are joining the RSD shenanigans with the release of a 7”, limited edition, one track white vinyl of the punchy track, ‘Kathleen’. This latest offering to come the Welsh indie-rockers is filled with their characteristic buoyancy and relentless, raw post-punk sound. Another compelling indie anthem to come from Van and co.

Chrissie Hynde – Dark Sunglasses

The quintessentially cool Pretenders front-woman is back, just in time for RSD, with the release of limited edition 7”, appropriately (in keeping with her coolness) named ‘Dark Sunglasses’. A taster of what’s to come from her new ‘power pop’ album, the track oozes Hynde’s charisma and gravelly tones, with an addictively catchy chorus and a reassuringly retro vibe.

Conor Oberst- Hundreds Of Ways/Fast Friends

Having always had a weakness for all things Bright Eyes, I was excited to discover that Conor Oberst will be releasing a new solo album next month. As a prelude to this, new single ‘Hundreds Of Ways’ along with another track, ‘Fast Friends’ will be released on RSD as a limited edition 7”. More uplifting than your average chillingly beautiful Bright Eyes song, ‘Hundreds Of Ways’ seems to hark back to the days of ‘I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning’ with more than hint of country and bright, folky melodies.

Garbage with Brody Dalle – Girls Talk Shit/Time Will Destroy Everything

Two of my favourite ladies in rock have united for a Record Store Day treat… And, although I haven’t yet been able to listen to the new track from Garbage with Brody Dalle, I am pretty excited about it!

After having worked together on Dalle’s latest album, ‘Diploid Love’, Manson has now enlisted the help of her friend on the vocals of ‘Girls Talk Shit’, the A side of this 7” disc, with ‘Time Will Destroy Everything’ – an outtake of the ‘Not Your Kind Of People’ sessions – as the B side.

‘Girls Talk Shit’, along with ‘Time Will Destroy Everything’, are two new tracks from Garbage ahead of their album to be released later this year. This release of the songs together is a RSD exclusive, only available on the day, with only 500 available in the UK and Ireland, thus limited to one per person – I’ll be queuing for my copy, that’s for sure!

Nirvana – Pennyroyal Tea

Although having, sadly, not been with us for twenty years now, Kurt Cobain and co. are finally able to release the single ‘Pennyroyal Tea’, as original plans for its release in 1994 were cancelled due to the infamous grunge star’s early death.

Now, on Record Store Day twenty years later, probably my favourite Nirvana song is being released exclusively on 7” vinyl, along with B Side, ‘I Hate Myself and Want To Die’, on Geffen records.

This moving song, from Nirvana’s third album – ‘In Utero’ – showcases Cobain’s overwhelmingly powerful ability to connect with his listeners.

Investing in this one off release of one of the most influential bands of our time is surely an opportunity not to be missed!

Richard Hawley – Rollin’ and Tumblin’

Pulp guitarist and everyone’s favourite soulful crooner, Richard Hawley, joins in the RSD celebrations with a limited edition 10” vinyl of new single, ‘Rollin’ and Tumblin’’ (Parlophone) – this will be the first new material from the quiffed troubadour since his 2012 LP, ‘Standing at the Sky’s Edge’.

Originally recorded by blues artists such as Elmore James and Muddy Waters, Hawley’s rendition of Rollin’ and Tumblin’ oozes that traditional heartfelt blues vibe, but with a refreshingly contemporary, psychedelic edge. Hawley said of the release that he feels he owes it to Record shops to get involved in the day: “to be a small part in trying to keep record shops going is mint. Record shops have kept me going for so long it’s time to pay a little of that back.”

A must have for lovers of one of Sheffield’s biggest icons, Rollin’ and Tumblin’ will be available on 10 inch only, and features a limited edition etched Parlophone logo.

TIM BURGESS – OH MEN

Charlatans front man, Tim Burgess, issues a limited edition 7” and 12” in lieu of this year’s RSD. Written alongside Kurt Wagner of Lampchop, ‘Oh Men’ offers a pretty epic taste of Burgess’s latest creations.

Strewn with soulful sax, serene melodies and chilled out beats, ‘Oh Men’ oozes shades of jazz, and also features the handiwork of New York composer, Peter Gordon. All in all, a beautifully sunny creation – the perfect accompaniment for your bank holiday weekend.

Along with B Side, a wonderful cover of Arthur Russell’s ‘I Couldn’t Say It To Your Face’, ‘Oh Men’ will be released for RSD on Tim’s own OGenesis label.

EDWYN COLLINS – GORGEOUS GEORGE (album re-release)

After success of the preview of new docu-film ‘The Possibilities Are Endless’ created by James Hall and Edward Lovelace, about his recovery from a stroke, and rediscovery of music, Edwyn Collins celebrates RSD 2014 with the re-release of his pivotal 1994 album, Gorgeous George.

Along with containing the infamous classic, ‘Girl Like You’, in Gorgeous George we also see Collins express contempt for the music industry of the time in the fantastically crafted ‘Campaign For Real Rock’. My favourite song of the album however, is the deeply moving ‘Low Expectations’ – a song initially written about Edwyn and his wife’s situation at the time, but whose lyrics now hold a striking resonance in relation to Collins’ recovery.

Twenty years since its original release, Gorgeous George will now be available, once again, on vinyl, after having not been available for many years. The release also features the album on CD.

Edwyn will also be playing acoustic sets at both Rough Trade East and Sister Ray records on Saturday – it’s sure to be wonderful.