It’s Wildflowers New Vinyl Thursday at The Vinyl Underground at 7th Heaven. Check out this week’s list of new vinyl arrivals:
Artemis – Artemis
Ari Lennox – Shea Butter Baby
Back To The Future – Music to the Original Motion Picture [180 gram Vinyl]
Beabadoobee – Fake It Flowers [Red Colored Vinyl]
Black Sabbath – Paranoid [180 Gram Vinyl, Deluxe Edition, Box Set]
The Beatles – Abbey Road
The Beths – Future Me hates Me [Yellow Colored Vinyl]
The Budos Band – Long In The Tooth
Batmobile – Big Bat: Their Classic Hits With Horns Added! (10-Inch Vinyl)
Champs – Go Champs Go
Coriky – Coriky
Cybotron – Colossus
Deftones – Ohms
Dire Straits – Studio Albums 1978-1991 [180 gram Vinyl, Box Set]
Frank Zappa – Hot Rats [50th Anniversary, Clear & Pink Vinyl]
Frankie and the Witch Fingers – Monsters Eating People Eating Monsters
Freddie Hubbard – Artistry of Freddie Hubbard
Fuzzy Duck – Fuzzy Duck [140 gram Vinyl]
Foxboro Hot Tubs “Stop Drop and Roll” (Green Vinyl)
The Flaming Lips – American Head
Weekly Review:
Oklahoma City’s finest psychedelic rockers the Flaming Lips burst into the new century with a streak of
the best albums of their career. More recently, they’ve released several interesting experimental albums
that all had their moments, but never burrowed into your brain as deeply as “Race for the Prize” or “Do
You Realize.”
American Head doesn’t have any songs as good as those two, but it does boast some of the band’s best
and most accessible songwriting in ages. Kacey Musgraves provides a wordless melody on “Watching
the Lightning Bugs Glow,” like an Okie version of “The Great Gig in the Sky.” The staccato-laden ballad
“Brother Eye” is a gorgeous tribute to family members who died too young.
Throughout the album, lead singer Wayne Coyne looks back at his time growing up in Oklahoma in the
‘70s revisiting his days selling weed and working at Long John Silver’s through a heavy filter of late-
period Beatles, Dark Side Floyd and Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie. If you wandered away from the Lips
for a while, this is a great time to come back. If you wondered what the fuss is about, American Head is a
fine portal into their wonderfully twisted world. -Joel Francis
Glass Animals – Dreamland [Blue Colored Vinyl]
Glass Animals – Zaba
Japandroids – Massey Fucking Hall
Jimi Hendrix – Stone Free: Jimi Hendrix Tribute
John Coltrane – A Love Supreme
Weekly Review:
Exalted saxophonist John Coltrane made too many life-changing albums to pick just one as his best, but
you could make a strong case for A Love Supreme. The 1965 album is one of the last Coltrane made with
his classic quartet and – to my ears at least – his most successful avant garde release. There is enough
happening on A Love Supreme to generate a lifetime of reflection and discovery. But the music is also
tuneful and soulful enough that melody never gets lost in the exploration.
The four-part (three track) suite runs just over half an hour, but it is one of the most exhilarating and
fabulous 34 minutes of life imaginable. Written as a hymn to the Almighty and as a spiritual celebration
for finally being free of drugs and alcohol, Coltrane pours his soul into his horn and brings the rest of the
band along with him. The album is consistently mentioned as one of the best of all time, regardless of
genre and is also one of the best-selling jazz albums.
If all of this sounds like hyperbole and leaves you skeptical, go over to YouTube right now and call up A
Love Supreme. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t listened to jazz or think you don’t like jazz – just do it. If
you’re not ready to jump in the car and pick this up before the album is done it will be because either (a)
the store is closed or (b) you want to hear it again. -Joel Francis
John Coltrane – Ballads [180 gram vinyl]
John Prine – Prime Prine: The Best of John Prine
Johnny Griffin – Blowin Session
Johnny Griffin – Introducing Johnny Griffin
Johnny Griffin – Lady Heavy Bottom Waltz
Johnny Griffin – Man I Love
Johnny Griffin – Sextet [180 gram Vinyl, Gatefold LP Jacket]
Justin Townes Earle – Saint Of Lost Causes [150 gram Vinyl, Gatefold LP jacket]
John Lennon – Gimme Some Truth
Weekly Review:
It is hard to believe, but John Lennon has been gone for as long as he was alive. In honor of the
legendary artist’s 80 th birthday, Capital records is gifting fans with this 36-track collection of remixed
favorites. I know what you are thinking about the word remix and your skepticism his warranted.
However, in this case you can relax.
Each song here was selected by Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon and each recording track was remastered.
The songs were then mixed from scratch, making this the best we have ever heard this long-loved music
before. The remixes are very much in the spirit of the recent White Album and Sgt. Pepper’s remix
projects. The adjustments made were done to enhance the spirit of the music, not to alter it.
The biggest change is that Lennon’s voice has been brought forward on most songs. The effect makes
“Cold Turkey” feel more primal and “#9 Dream” more intimate. I heard an acoustic guitar part tucked
neatly behind the piano on “Love” I never noticed before. If you don’t care about fidelity, you’ll be just
as happy with a used copy of the excellent Lennon collection Legend. Otherwise, do yourself and your
ears a favor and pick this up.-Joel Francis
Kanye West – Late Registration
Kellee Patterson – Maiden Voyage
Kevin Morby – Sundowner
Lana Del Rey – Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass
Weekly Review:
Lana Del Rey’s follow-up to last year’s excellent NFR! is a collection of spoken-word poetry. You may
have been a fan since her first single, “Video Game.” Maybe you have forgiven – and possibly learned to
enjoy – her appearance on Saturday Night Live. Perhaps you are a more recent convert.
Whatever your affiliation, it is probably not enough for Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass, a 40-
minute production that sounds like lit club poetry backed by arrangements that sound like they were
pulled from ancient radio melodramas. Take this example from the ponderously titled “Past the Bushes
Cypress Thriving”: “Georgia O’Keefe/Georgia peaches/Doing nothing but your painting/For forever/
Forget teachers/Forgive him for ever leaving.”
Del Rey is an excellent songwriter. Jack Antonoff, her producer here, was behind the boards for NFR!
and has made many great pop songs with other artists. The two of them clearly know what they are
doing. The problem here is what they are doing isn’t very good. A strong melody will mask even the
most inane lyrics. There’s not much poetry in the chorus to, say, “Land of 1,000 Dances” or “Brown-Eyed
Girl.” We sing along to those songs because of the energy in the performance. Spoken aloud against a
flat backdrop, they would fall apart. The same goes with the material here. Turn some of the poems into
songs with proper arrangements and they might flourish.
It is possible there are layers to Violet that surface after several listens. It is possible that some of these
pieces would work sprinkled amongst other songs on a playlist. It is also possible that exploring these
potential outcomes is not worth your time.
Fortunately, Del Rey has strongly suggested another pop album before the end of the year. Save your
time and money and wait for it.-Joel Francis
Lauryn Hill – Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Little Howlin’ Wolf – The Guardian
Marcos Valle, Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad -Marcos Valle
Mariah Carey – Mariah Carey
Misfits – Misfits Collection
Nina Simone – The Hits [Special Edition, 180 gram Vinyl, Gatefold LP Jacket]
Nina Simone – Ultimate Collection
The Nude Party – Midnight Manor
Weekly Review:
The Nude Party’s second album confidently introduces itself with two minutes of the most frenetic
boogie woogie piano since Jerry Lee Lewis. The album barely slows down from there, coasting to the
finish line with the tongue-in-cheek honky tonk closer, “Nashville Record Co.”
Midnight Manor is rooted firmly in the ‘70s and completely unafraid to display its roots while keeping
the fiesta moving. “Easier Said Than Done” sounds like a lost track from Bat Out of Hell, while “Shine
Your Light” is a gem Todd Rundgren might claim. “What’s the Deal” has a definite Stones vibe. Lead
singer Patton Magee even does a good Mick Jagger impersonation on the track.
But the driving force between these dozen songs is a six-piece band that brings everything from pedal
steel guitar to kazoos to the party. The performances are raw but rarely ragged and its not hard to
imagine these numbers performed live. And while it’s fun to play spot-the-influence listening to
Midnight Manor, but the only reason it works is because the music is so good and so fun. Put this on and
teleport back to another time, if only for a moment.-Joel Francis
Nathan Davis Sextet – Peace Treaty
Prince – Sign O’ The Times (Super Deluxe Edition With DVD, Boxed Set)
Paul Rogers – Muddy Water Blues (A Tribute) [Orange Colored Vinyl]
Panic! At The Disco – A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out
Panic! At the Disco – Death of a Bachelor
Paul Chambers – Paul Chambers Quintet [180 gram Vinyl, Gatefold LP Jacket]
Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher
Pink Floyd – The Final Cut [180 gram Vinyl, Gatefold LP Jacket]
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
Portishead – Dummy
Purity Rings – Shrines
Radiohead – Ok Computer [180 gram Vinyl]
Radiohead – The Bends
Shock – Electrophonic Funk [180 gram Vinyl, Limited Edition, Clear Vinyl]
Sonny Clark – Cool Struttin
Sonny Clark – Sonny Clark Trio
Sylvan Esso – Free Love [Blue Colored Vinyl]
Talking Heads – Speaking In Tongues [180 gram Vinyl]
Tom Petty – Wildflowers & All The Rest (Deluxe Edition, Boxed Set, Remastered)
Tom Petty – Wildflowers & All The Rest (Remastered)
Tal Ross – Giant Shirley
Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown – Pressure [Red Colored Vinyl]
Tool – Lateralus
Tool – Opiate
Tyler The Creator – Flower Boy [150 gram Vinyl, Gatefold LP Jacket]
Various – Blue Note Re:imagined
Weezer – Pinkerton
Westside Gunn X Mr. Green – Flygod is Good… All The Time
William Shatner – Shatner Claus (Picture Disc)
The Weeknd – House of Balloons
X – Alphabetland
XTC – Nonsuch [200 gram Vinyl]
Yo La Tengo – Sleepless Nights
Weekly Review:
Not even a pandemic can slow down steadfast indie rockers Yo La Tengo. Sleepless Night is the trio’s
second EP this year, after their ambient project We Have Amnesia Sometimes. On Sleepless Night, the
band covers favorites by Bob Dylan, the Byrds and others, with a new original for good measure.
From their 1990 album Fakebook to 2015’s Stuff Like That There, cover songs have played an important
part of the band’s catalog (and personality). The gentle harmonizing between husband and wife Ira
Kaplan and Georgia Hubley makes “Blues Stay Away” feel like a lullaby sung by a campfire. Dylan’s “It
Takes A Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry” becomes a droning Velvet Underground number. New song
“Bleeding” fits in well with the hushed, ambient feel the band has cultivated over the past couple
records.
Ultimately, Sleepless Night isn’t a big statement release, but it will tide fans over until the next proper
album. Judging by the band’s eager schedule, it shouldn’t be too long.-Joel Francis
FLASH SALE!
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Here’s where we talk about the virus. We are all freaked out. We are all nervous and anxious. We are OPEN. If you want to come shop in person put on your mask and we will say hello, give you a virtual high five- a virtual hug if we know you that well- and we will keep our distance. We love all of our customers and are glad to keep this little bit of normalcy in these crazy times. With that being said, we will also offer various other ways to get your vinyl fix. We have always shipped music and we will continue to do so. We also offer curbside pick up. Call us, pay, call us when you are outside and we will deliver your freshly sanitized purchase to your car.
Thanks for reading this week’s Wildflowers New Vinyl Thursday post! Mention that you did before you check out and we will take 20% off of ANY one item in the store! Offer good through 10/15/20.
Enjoy the music and we will see you soon. Your loving Vinyl Underground at 7th Heaven staff:
Sherman, Gordon, Cat, Matt, Dylan, Doyle, Heather and Max
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