Hi! Sorry, we're a day late - what happened?! Must be a holiday hangover. No new releases this week so we will include a few best of lists from some of our employees and friends - with more lists coming next week, too! We will be CLOSED on New Years Day. Thanks for all your amazing support of local business and physical music this entire year - without you we can't exist! Happy new year! It's Back: Landlocked's Excellent Giftcard Upgrade Program! (aka LEG-UP) This holiday season, if you receive some gift cards that you don't want, stop by the shop & we'll take em & turn em into something you want to use - A Landlocked Gift Certificate! Just bring in your unwanted giftcards to the counter before you start shopping & we'll have a Landlocked store credit waiting for you when you check out that is equal to the amount ya traded in. And, let's face it, Best Buy's selection of Os Mutantes, Zero Boys, Sun Ra and Sonic Youth has dwindled lately - but ours hasn't! * LEG-UP * yes, of course there's a catch or 2... (1) The card must be from a chain competitor (Best Buy, Amazon, etc). Not Borders- they are out of biz! We don't take trade on indie stores' gift cards (Soma, Boxcar, Upland, etc) becuase we want you to support them too! We also don't take iTunes cards. Eww. But we'll take a card from Staples! (2) The card's value must be verifiable via phone, meaning we can only accept the card if it has a 1-800 number - usually on the back. (3) The gift card must not expire for at least 6 months from the date of exchange. .................................................. Best Releases of 2010, alphabetical (Tyler) .................................................. Actress - "Splazsh" CD/2LP (Honest Jon's) Caribou - "Swim" CD/2LP (Merge) Tom Carter - "Numinous" CS (Prairie Fire) Circuit Des Yeux - "Ode To Fidelity" 7" (De Stijl) Dust From 1000 Years - Marble Memo CD (Moon Jaw) Paul Flaherty/Bill Nace - "An Airless Field" LP (Ecstatic Peace!) Though the cover of "An Airless Field" is adorned with a full-frontal nude photograph of a woman, her face obscured, the picture gracefully evades the accusation of pornography and instead invokes thoughts of a particularly reverent beauty - not unlike the music housed within the sleeve. Those expecting the blown-out fracas of Nace's Vampire Belt and Northampton Wools or Flaherty's skronkier lashings take note: this LP, while it does have moments of untamed fire, burns more brilliantly in its moodier passages where it's more likely to warm your hands than fry your brain. Flower-Corsano Duo - "You'll Never Work In This Town Again" CDr (self-released) It has become utterly tedious to sift through the silt of the free/noise/improv world as of late; many of these artists champion the delirious notion - or, rather, have fallen ill with the 'symptom' - that they should release every-goddamn-thing-their-mind-conceives, often leaving us listeners with mere pyrite when, naturally, we're on an expedition for gold. Thankfully, these two possess a magick-al quality-over-quantity filter. Mick Flower & Chris Corsano, now five documents deep as a duo at the time of this CDr release, continue to curate releases of truly discerning quality...never mind the format, though - this may be their finest document to date. They're still hurtling headlong into their transcendent improvisations, and have yet to lose sight of their initial foundation - a 'capture and release' die cast with honest-to-god enthousiasmos. Having your mind flayed has never been such a cause for jubilation. Flower Man - "House of Cards" CS (Flanger Magazine) Gunn-Truscinski Duo - "Sand City" LP (Three Lobed) Happy Birthday - s/t CD/LP (Sub Pop) As we all gladly guzzle down the bitter dregs of another winter, Brattleboro, VT's Happy Birthday (fronted by KING TUFF himself) serve up an eponymous debut of elated summertime vibes sure to cure any residual woes that ya just haven't been able to shake! Dub this one to cassette, shotgun a beer with yer buds and get hosed down in the front yard with some damn-near perfect pop reminiscent of the Vaselines, T. Rex, TV Personalities and The Fresh & Onlys. Rene Hell - "Lucifer Pt. II" CS (Arbor) Rene Hell/Three Legged Race - "Violin Petal {Auden}/Whipped Secrets" split LP (Arbor) Hisato Higuchi - "Henzai" LP (Family Vineyard) The delicacy of the work found on the latest document by Japan's Hisato Higuchi is of a quality rarely encountered, and may even rank among some of my favorite Loren Mazzacane Connors sides. An ethereal, fragile blues for the lonely hearts. Michael Hurley - "Blue Hills" LP (Mississippi) Although his career encompasses an impressive 45 or so years of music, what's more astonishing to realize is that Michael Hurley's vision has remained so singular and clear that one is hard pressed to locate which specific moment it was in those 45 years that any certain song was committed to record without the aid of an LP jacket. Hurley's compositions sound as fresh as ever, including a new and particularly forlorn rendition of "Tea," which originally stood among his first recordings in 1965. Blue Hills also finds him exploring sounds from the pump-organ and other keyed instruments that just might recall Sun Ra's unique approach to his Wurlitzer (the "Enlightenment" single comes to mind), reminding us of Hurley's ever-present talent of bringing the cosmic down-to-earth. Indian Jewelry - "Totaled" CD/LP (We Are Free) Kraus - "Faster Than the Speed Of Time" LP (Dilettante Courtoisie) Moon Duo - "Escape" CD/LP (Woodsist) Fevered, white-knuckle riding has strained the reflectors on the wings of the lunar freeway, exposing them as scorching, streaming tusks of luminescent ivory; You haven't slept in days - you haven't seen anyone in longer. Traces of this cosmic ephemera excite you and seize the inborn stargazer...The bike turns over on itself, on you. You're thrust upwards, outwards. Slowly the drift claims you as part of the eternal landscape and lulls you to sleep with the narcotic rhythm and the promise of a final, conclusive "Escape." Normanoak - "Elixir" CS (Magnetic South) Oneohtrix Point Never - "Returnal" CD/LP Bill Orcutt - "Way Down South" Single-Sided LP (Palalilia) Purling Hiss - "Public Service Announcement" LP (Woodsist) Gil Scott-Heron - "I'm New Here" CD/LP/Deluxe 2xLP (XL) Ty Segall - "Melted" CD/LP (Goner) Skullflower - "Strange Keys to Untune God's Firmament" 2xCD (Neurot) More psychic devastation from Matthew Bower. A harsh toke, but keep it down and you'll soar... Stellar OM Source - "Trilogy Select" LP (Olde English Spelling Bee) Stellar OM Source/Shabazz Palaces - "Gamers" split 7" (I Want You Magazine) Sun City Girls - "Funeral Mariachi" CD/LP (Abduction) A fine farewell from Rick, Alan and Charlie. This disc is as genuinely somber as it is self-aware, but still finds the Girls showcasing their idiosyncratic sense of humor and trademark absurdism. "Funeral Mariachi" is in no way the mere barrel-scrapings of passing legends; rather, it is a truly outstanding release to cap off the their undeniably monumental career. Get it while you still can. Tin Man - "Scared" LP (White Denim) "Scared" is the latest effort by Vienna-based Californian Johannes Auvinen; an LP etched deep with moody and abstract electronic music, suitably complemented by the minimal imagery of its jacket. The vocals, sometimes sung and sometimes spoken, yet never quite reaching above a mumble or whisper, convey an air of being truly detached when the vocoder powerfully surfaces on the a-side's haunting "Space Case." One gets the feeling that the music emerged from the malaise of a brain clouded with sleep deprivation, as the rhythms convey a synthetic propulsion that threatens to collapse at any moment under the weight of the fragile textures drifting above the surface. "Scared" is definitely a surprise highlight of the year. Total Abuse - "Mutt" LP (Post Present Medium) "Mutt" is the latest offering from the Whitehouse dwelling, Black Flag-waving hardcore shitstorm that is Total Abuse. Form, if you will, a mental yoke that bonds a love of skating mini-ramps and reading true crime in your filth-spattered dirt floor basement, and this is your new jam. RIYL: Watery Love, No Trend, Peter Sotos V/A - The Ecstatic Music of the Jemaa Al Fna LP (Sublime Frequencies)  .................................................. 2010 Best of List (James) .................................................. Albums: Deerhunter – Halycyon Digest – These fellas and their assorted projects (Atlas Sound, Lotus Plaza) have been making the most consistently great rock music of the last few years. This is their strongest album, with “He Would Have Laughed” providing a sudden and perfect ending. The Strange Boys – Be Brave – Snotty rock classicists from Austin who hide their crib notes from Dylan, the Stones and the Velvet Underground beneath a veneer of piss and vinegar. Pantha Du Prince – Black Noise – Really minimal and haunting house music from this German producer served as my soundtrack on a train ride across the Irish countryside. The Besnard Lakes – The Besnard Lakes are the Roaring Night – An epic rock band in indie rock clothing, these Canadiens offer intense live shows that do justice to the twisty and lengthy jams on this record. Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings – I Learned the Hard Way – Obviously they continue to be one of the great live bands on the planet. But this is their first album that feels strong all the way through, with Ms. Jones pleading more soulfully than she ever has. Sonny and the Sunsets – Tomorrow is Alright – California stoner pop at its finest. Short and simple ditties that remind us that music can be fun. Thee Oh Sees – Warm Slime – A typical head-fuck that moves from a 16minute long vamp to open the show to some of the tightest “pop” songs this band has done yet. It’s amazing that a band this prolific is so constantly rocking. Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty – So many songs that made me dance while driving, so this has to be the most dangerous album of the year for me. The Fresh & Onlys – Play It Strange – Another prolific San Francisco based garage rock band. This is my favorite record of theirs so far, a quick hitting psychedelic rush of nuggets. Cotton Jones – Tall Hours in the Glowstream – Real purty spacy country rock from a male/female combo. One of those really neglected records that have a ton of good songs on them. Tammar – I Live Here Now – Local favorites continue to reel off EP-length releases that promise a future full-length that will blow minds. Endless Boogie – Full House Head – Chooglin’ forevs, bro-ing out with horns in the air, just ridin the riffs till the fingers bleed or the beer gets warm. Art Museums – Rough Frame – Minimalist pop in the Beat Happening/early Magnetic Fields vein. The fourth San Francisco based band on this list. GO GIANTS!! Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek – Revolutions Per Minute – Still political and ardent, but a much more relaxed flow and better beats from Hi-Tek help make this the best thing Talib has done in a long time. The Liminanas – The Liminanas – Kitschy garage pop sometimes sang in French, but always rockin. Beach House – Teen Dream – Came out early in the year, so its easy to forget how much of a jump this felt for this band at the time. Just love her voice, especially on “Take Care.” Reissues and Compilations (James) .................................................. Kris Kristofferson – Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends: The Publishing Demos 1968-72 – The calling cards of a legend, with coughs and mic checks included. A particularly hazy and broke down version of “Me and Bobby McGee” hits hard. In the Storm So Long – Various Artists (Mississippi Records) – Really raw gospel soul compilation. Electric church music at its finest, brought to you by the most consistent reissue label out there. Gabor Szabo – Jazz Raga – Hungarian jazz-guitarist from the 60s whose trippy guitar effects sound really good opening Landlocked in the morning. Galaxie 500 – Today/On Fire/This is Our Music – The catalogue gets the gussying-up treatment with plenty of tasty bonus morsels. Broken Hearts & Dusty Windows: Songs of John Prine – Various Artists – Underrated comp of modern alt-country-rockers (My Morning Jacket, the Avett Bros., Lambchop, etc.) taking their stabs at the masterful story songs of Mr. Prine. Local Customs: Lone Star Lowlands – A curious offering from the great Numero Group label that offers proof that Texas was the home of many great 70s rock bands that never went nowhere but sounded great on their way. Fela Kuti – Zombie – Another in the long line of Fela reissues that don’t seem to stop, kind of like the endless beats on this classic. The Endtables - The Endtables – Short-lived Louisville punk/post-punk band from the late 70s reminds us that being different and pissed off is timeless. Songs (James) .................................................. Big Boi feat. Gucci Mane – “Shine Blockas” Sonny & The Sunsets – “Too Young to Burn” Beach House – “Take Care” Thee Oh Sees – “Warm Slime” Pantha Du Prince – “Stick to My Side” Deerhunter – “He Would Have Laughed” Windsor for the Derby – “After Love” The Strange Boys – “Be Brave” The Fresh & Onlys – “Waterfalls” No Age – “Fever Dreaming” Shows (James) .................................................. Freddie Gibbs at The Bishop – By far the best hip hop show I have seen in Bloomington. Gangsta Gibbs is the real deal and since he comes from Gary, we can only hope he comes back soon. Tuneyards In-Store at Landlocked – I heard about the possibility of buying stock in the future of films, and if they did that with music careers, I would invest heavily in this talented performer. She was stunning. Strange Boys/Apache Dropout at the Bishop – Drunk sloppy fun. And the bands were good too. Budos Band at The Bluebird Guided By Voices at The Bluebird .................................................. Dan Coleman, Spirit of '68 Promotions .................................................. Albums #1 Aloe Blacc, Good Things #2 Big K.R.I.T., K.R.I.T. Wuz Here #3 Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy #4 LCD Soundsystem, This Is Happening #5 Arcade Fire, The Suburbs #6 Janelle Monae, The ArchAndroid #7 The Roots, How I Got Over #8 T.I., Fuck A Mixtape #9 Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, I Learned The Hard Way #10 Gil Scot-Heron, I'm New Here Songs #1 Aloe Blacc, "I Need A Dollar" #2 The Arcade Fire, "Ready To Start" #3 Cee-Lo, "Fool For You" #4 Aloe Blacc, "Politician" #5 Kanye West, "Lost In The World" #6 LCD Soundsystem, "I Can Change" #7 Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, "Mama Don't Like My Man" #8 T.I., "Get Yo Girl" #9 Big K.R.I.T., "Country Shit" #10 Aloe Blacc, "Femme Fatale" .................................................. UPCOMING RELEASES (dates often subject to change, sorry) .................................................. Company - s/t (1/4) Generationals - Trust (1/4) Willie Mitchell - It's Dance Time [reissue] (1/4) Ann Peebles - Tellin' It [reissue] (1/4) Social Distortion - Machine Gun Blues (1/4) Bardo Pond - s/t (1/11) British Sea Power - Valhalla Dancehall (1/11) Tim Buckley - s/t [deluxe] (1/11) Cage the Elephant - (1/11) Cake - Showroom of Compassion (1/11) Ducktails - Arcade Dynamics (1/11) Minks - By the Hedge (1/11) Punk: Attitude DVD (1/11) Queens of the Stone Age - s/t reissue (1/11) Tapes N Tapes - Outside (1/11) T-Model Ford - Taledragger (1/11) White Fence - Is Growing Faith (1/11) Wire - Red Barked Tree (1/11) VA - Wretches & Jabberers OST (1/11) Gregg Allman - Low Country Blues (1/18) The Decemberists - The King is Dead (1/18) Disappears - Guider (1/18) Fergus & Geronimo - Unlearn (1/18) Jayhawks - reissues (1/18) Daniel Martin Moore - In the Cool of the Day (1/18) Robert Pollard - Space City Kicks (1/18) Smith Westerns - Dye it Blonde (1/18) Social Distortion - Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes (1/18) Tennis - Cape Dory (1/18) White Lies - Ritual (1/18) .................................................. Upcoming Bloomington shows that we're excited about: 12/31 - Rev Peyton's Big Damn Band @ The Bluebird 1/5 - Murder by Death @ Russian Recording 1/8 - Black Swans @ The Bishop 1/13 - Brothers Gross @ 902s 1/14 - Lia Ices @ The Bishop 1/30 - 3 Inches of Blood / Medusa @ The Bluebird 2/10 - The Wailers @ The Bluebird 2/21 - Paul Collins / Half Rats @ The Bishop 2/23 - Akron/Family @ The Bishop 2/26 - Say Hi @ Video Saloon We have tickets and additional information for many of these wonderful performances. Stop in and buy em beforehand! -------------------------------------------------- Each month we highlight five titles for a month in our listening station. Each album has a review and enables you to listen to the entire album before you buy it. Give 'er a spin! The Black Angels - Phosphene Dream (Blue Horizon) .................................................. Phosphene Dream marks a giant leap forward for The Black Angels. Produced and mixed by Dave Sardy (Oasis, Wolfmother, Black Mountain) over a period of six months in Los Angeles, the album shows off both sonically and musically a bold new direction for the band, a fresh take on the neo-Psychedelic movement they've been at the forefront of for years. Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer (Elektra) .................................................. Elektra recording artist Cee Lo Green's first solo work in more than six years sees the endlessly inventive singer/writer/rapper/producer continuing to push hip-hop and soul's creative envelope, this time working with a highly acclaimed and star-studded cast. Released recently via Green's official YouTube channel, the blockbuster first single "F**k You" caused an instant viral commotion, drawing more than 2 million plays in its first five days online. Along with its phenomenal popular success, the single has also received ecstatic critical acclamation from coast to coast. "One of the greatest songs in the history of humankind," declared The Dallas Observer's "DC9 At Night" music blog. The Greenhornes - 4 Stars (Warner Bros) .................................................. Third Man Records is excited to release The Greenhornes' first full length LP of new material since 2002's Dual Mono. This new album produced by The Greenhornes and John Curley may be their strongest collection of songs yet. It's diverse yet very concise, from the dark pop of lead single "Saying Goodbye," the bubble glam of "Song 13," to "Cave Drawings" moody psych; it's an eclectic and mature work and very much The Greenhornes own. Bruce Springsteen - The Promise (Columbia) .................................................. "Darkness was my 'samurai' record," Springsteen writes, "stripped to the frame and ready to rumble. But the music that got left behind was substantial." For the first time, fans will have access to The Promise - two discs containing a total of 21 previously-unreleased songs from the Darkness recording sessions - songs that, as Springsteen writes, "perhaps could have/should have been released after Born To Run and before the collection of songs that Darkness on the Edge of Town became." Daft Punk - TRON: Legacy Soundtrack (Walt Disney) .................................................. Grammy award-winning Daft Punk, who takes music as seriously as TRON fans take computer references, scored TRON: Legacy. It's no accident that the group's two visionary musicians are TRON fans, too. Having grown up with an admiration for the ground-breaking TRON film, the critically acclaimed French duo composed and produced the album. They assembled a symphony of 100 world class musicians in London and recorded the orchestra at Britain's premier scoring facility, AIR Lyndhurst Studios. -------------------------------------------------- More information about shows and more on the horizon is available for the technologically inclined at http://www.landlockedmusic.com/ or http://myspace.com/landlockedbton or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Landlocked-Music/24299970219 or http://twitter.com/landlockedmusic We are looking to buy/trade all your old unwanted CDs & LPs! Bring 'em in and we'll make an offer. We are also ready, willing and able to special order anything for you. Email us or drop in and we will hook you up with whatcha need. Feel free to forward this to all your lovely friends that need to know whats going on, we'd love to have them join our little party here on the newsletter. Tell us what you think, what you desire. -------------------------------------------------- BFF, Jason & Heath and the whole LL crew info@landlockedmusic.com Landlocked Music 202 N. Walnut St. Bloomington, IN, 47404 http://www.landlockedmusic.com/ http://myspace.com/landlockedbton http://indiana.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2385198570 http://twitter.com/landlockedmusic (812) 339 - 2574 Hours of Operation: Monday - Saturday : 11:30am - 7:30pm Sunday : Noon - 5pm