Fresh Spins, NIN reissues and more!

Hey Backbeaters! Let’s start the week off by checking out some of the recent new vinyl releases to arrive. We’ve got new albums from Sharon Jones, Angel Olsen and Low Lumens. The standard vinyl edition of Childish Gambino’s latest “Awaken, My Love!” has dropped along with the amazing soundtrack from 1988’s stellar film Akira, this one was only ever released on vinyl in Japan in 1988 (and it’s not cheap!) so we’re pretty stoked they’ve finally decided to reissue it. Cypress Hill, Nine Inch Nails and the soundtrack from the movie Christine round out the latest reissues to arrive. Some pretty great titles to sink that stylus into!

A list of our restocks and additions will be at the bottom of this page.

Let’s get on to the new releases.

Low Lumens – The Distant, Everyday

The Distant, Everyday is the first full-length album by Low Lumens, the recording alias of visual artist and musician Danny Bracken.

The sound of ringing church bells mix with swelling synthesizers in the expansive opening track, “Santa Clara.” In many ways, the meditative song sets the tone for the ten track album, a record that is simultaneously complex and spacious. There is an undeniable sense of upbeat repetition, something reminiscent of dance or electronic music. Yet, with bits of voice and acoustic instruments, the compositions retain a sense of humanness. Throughout, a subtle tension weaves: there’s a crackle in the woodwinds, slight feedback in a synthesizer, and a confused auto-tuned brass ensemble lying just below the polished surface.

Angel Olsen – Phases

Phases is a collection of Olsen’s work culled from the past several years, including a number of never-before-released tracks. “Fly On Your Wall,” previously contributed to the Bandcamp-only, anti-Trump fundraiser Our First 100 Days, opens Phases, before seamlessly slipping into “Special,” a brand new song from the My Woman recording sessions. Both “How Many Disasters” and “Sans” are first-time listens: home-recorded demos that have never been released, leaning heavily on Olsen’s arresting croon and lonesome guitar.

The b-sides compilation is both a testament to Olsen’s enormous musical range and a tidy compilation of tracks that have previously been elusive in one way or another. Balancing tenacity and tenderness, Phases acts as a deep-dive for longtime fans, as well as a fitting introduction to Olsen’s sprawling sonics for the uninitiated.

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – Soul of a Woman

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ final studio album, Soul of a Woman is a lush, orchestral masterpiece. A true testament to the life and career of Daptone’s fearless leader and one of the world’s greatest performers.

In the year prior to her death from pancreatic cancer in 2016, Sharon Jones toured and performed tirelessly, and was also the subject of Miss Sharon Jones!, an acclaimed documentary by Oscar-Winning director Barbara Kopple. Yet somehow, the beloved and heroic soul singer found time to complete a studio album. Soul of a Woman features eleven songs which reveal that the emotion, dynamics, and drama of Jones’ voice remained at full power until her final days

Restocks and Additions to our mighty fine new vinyl selection here at Backbeat.

Against Me – Transgender Dysphoria Blues
Alice In Chains – MTV Unplugged
Alice In Chains – Dirt
Alice In Chains – Jar Of Flies/Sap
Arcade Fire – Reflektor
Arctic Monkeys – AM
Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am
Bjork – Homogenic
The Black Keys – The Big Come Up
Art Blakey – Moanin
Mariah Carey – Merry Christmas
Clash – London Calling
Coldplay – Parachutes
John Coltrane – A Love Supreme
Bing Crosby – Merry Christmas
Death Grips – Money Store
Father John Misty – Fear Fun
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes / Sun Giant
Foo Fighters – Concrete And Gold
Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Lift Your Skinny Fists…
Gorillaz – Gorillaz
Green Day – Dookie
Vince Guaraldi Trio – A Charlie Brown Christmas
Guns and Roses – Appetite For Destruction
Iron & Wine – Creek Drank The Cradle
Iron & Wine – The Shepherd’s Dog
Iron & Wine – Endless Numbered Days
Jackson 5 – Christmas Album
Killers – Wonderful Wonderful
Mazzy Star – So Tonight That I Might See
Nirvana – Nevermind
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Into the Great Wide Open
Pink Floyd – Animals
Pink Floyd – Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
Portishead – Dummy (import)
Radiohead – OK Computer
Rage Against The Machine – Rage Against The Machine
Jeff Rosenstock – Worry
The Shins – Oh Inverted World
Frank Sinatra – A Jolly Christmas From
Sloan – One Chord To Another
Smashing Pumpkins – Adore
Soundgarden – Badmotorfinger
Phil Spector – A Christmas Gift For You From
Tragically Hip – Road Apples
Tragically Hip – Up To Here
Tragically Hip – Man Machine Poem
Walter Trout – Were All In This Together
Various Artists – How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Various Artists – A Very Special Christmas
Various Artists – American Epic: The Best of the Blues
Various Artists – Ultra Lounge: Christmas Cocktails, Vol. 1
Velvet Underground – And Nico
White Stripes – Get Behind Me Satan
Amy Winehouse – Back To Black
Neil Young – Hitchhiker

Snow!