.New and Reissued Vinyl

Indie pop, garage, and punk.

The new, quiet revolution is found on Sub Pop. First it invaded Beachwood Sparks’ Once We Were Trees, which united No Depressionists and shoegazers. Then came the Shins’ Oh, Inverted World. And now, the soft voice and demure guitar of Iron and Wine‘s Samuel Beam is yet another example of the label’s silent subversion. Like Mississippi folk blues, I&W’s The Creek Drank the Cradle showcases a man alone, pouring his heart onto a four-track. This is extremely lo-fi, mostly featuring Beam’s whispering voice over American steel guitar, banjo, and lap slide. Cradle‘s out on vinyl now, where it sounds best — plus, when you buy the LP, you get an extra 45 inside.

Two special-edition LPs currently lurk in Bay Area stores: Jackie O Motherfucker‘s tour edition of Changes (U-Sound Records), and the self-titled debut from Detroit’s woozy Slumber Party (Yakamishi/Dulc-i-tone). JOMF handcrafts ambient folk music — droning, slow-yearning, spacious, and tense. Slumber Party, the all-female-hottie Detroit band, drenches its sound in slow reverb and loads of echo.

Finally, in the loud rock department, Norwegian superheroes Turbonegro have released a 45 so great there may not be a hi-fi system powerful enough to transmit its pure rock fury. Out on Burning Heart Records, “F**k The World (F.T.W.)” has slain all singles in its path with the homoeroticism of Accept and the Village People, mixed with the Detroit showmanship and swagger of Alice Cooper. It’s got it all: huge, distorted guitars laid upon a bed of symphonic strings, and a message of love and power.

Other notes: Detroit disco mooks Electric Six have finally released its debut album on XL Records — the single, “Danger! High Voltage,” can be found on 45. The tune is a big hit in the UK, and probably belongs on a mix tape in your collection. Finally, shop in the used bin: I found a split 7-inch from Built to Spill and Marine Research. And look for Kelly Stoltz‘ limited edition, hand-painted Antique Glow LP. Very hard to find.

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