RSD2025 Everything Else

U.F.O.F. is the highly anticipated third record by Big Thief and their first on 4AD. U.F.O.F. was recorded in rural western Washington at Bear Creek Studios. In a large cabin-like room, the band set up their gear to track live with engineer Dom Monks and producer Andrew Sarlo, who was also behind their previous albums. Having already lived these songs on tour, they were relaxed and ready to experiment. The raw material came quickly. Some songs were written only hours before recording and stretched out instantly, first take, vocals and all. Others were explored in search of perfected moments of dynamic feedback and spiritual, rhythmic togetherness. A careful New Age sprinkle of mystical textures and stabs was added and kept in the mix only when all agreed that each element had become absolutely crucial to the tune. The completed palette feels classic, upfront and honest, with an occasional, welcome glimpse into the magic box. "Making friends with the unknown...All my songs are about this," says Adrianne Lenker (guitar, vocals). "If the nature of life is change and impermanence, I'd rather be uncomfortably awake in that truth than lost in denial."

1. Contact
2. UFOF
3. Cattails
4. From
5. Open Desert
6. Orange
7. Century
8. Strange
9. Betsy
10. Terminal Paradise
11. Jenni
12. Magic Dealer

Vinyl LP pressing. Damon Locks & Black Monument Ensemble's previous album, their 2018 debut Where Future Unfolds, had a best new music in Pitchfork, was a Top 50 Album of the Year in Wire Magazine, and was BBC DJ Gilles Peterson's unequivocal Favorite Album of the Year. NOW is the band's much anticipated follow-up, which carries on their unique brand of Choir-fronted Hip-Hop-meets-Gospel/Jazz Liberation Music ' very much a modern day echo of the Harlem Freedom Singers and/or Eddie Gale's Black Rhythm Happening. This new one is a bit heavier on the beats and drum machines, sounding almost like Public Enemy/Bomb Squad working with ESG. Clarinetist Angel Bat Dawid and cornet player Ben LaMar Gay are heavily featured on this album.

Tracks

1. Now (Forever Momentary Space)
2. The People vs The Rest of Us
3. Keep Your Mind Free
4. Barbara Jones-Hogu and Elizabeth Catlett Discuss Liberation
5. Movement And You
6. The Body Is Electric

John Williams wrote this suite for concert performance, and then worked with the National Philharmonic Orchestra to bring that experience to record. This fantastic long out of print album is reissued here on 180g LP and comes housed in a gatefold jacket with the original iconic Star Wars paintings by William Stout and images of John Williams, plus notes from author Ray Bradbury, composer and critic, Christopher Palmer, and the maestro himself. The Empire Strikes Back: Symphonic Suite has been out of print since its original pressing in 1980.

1. 20th Century Fox Fanfare
2. Main Title / The Imperial Probe
3. Luke's First Crash
4. Han Solo And The Princess
5. The Asteroid Field
6. The Training Of A Jedi Knight And "May The Force Be With You"
7. The Battle In The Snow
8. The Imperial March
9. The Magic Tree
10. Yoda's Theme
11. The Rebels Escape Again
12. Lando's Palace
13. Finale

All-Analog 180g Vinyl LP of Sonny Clark's My Conception Mastered from the Original Master Tapes by Kevin Gray & Pressed at RTI: Reference-Caliber Blue Note Reissue Helmed by Music Matters' Joe Harley

The soulful and elegant pianist Sonny Clark brings his A-game to My Conception, a program of all-Clark originals recorded in 1959 but not released until 1979. Joining the pianist are a cast of hard bop masters including Hank Mobley on tenor saxophone, Donald Byrd on trumpet, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Blakey on drums. Highlights from this session include the lead-off track "Junka," the fiery brilliance of "Minor Meeting," and Mobley's sublime soloing on "Royal Flush.

Blue Note Records' acclaimed Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series continues in 2021. Launched in 2019 in honor of the label's 80th Anniversary, the Tone Poet series is produced by Joe Harley (from Music Matters) and features all-analog, 180g audiophile vinyl reissues that are mastered from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray of Cohearent Audio. Tone Poet vinyl is manufactured at RTI in Camarillo, CA, and packaged in deluxe Stoughton Printing "Old Style" gatefold Tip-On jackets. The titles were once again handpicked by Harley and cover the crème de la crème of the Blue Note catalog along with underrated classics, modern era standouts, and albums from other labels under the Blue Note umbrella including Pacific Jazz and United Artists Records. Every aspect of these Blue Note/Tone Poet releases is done to the highest-possible standard. It means that you will never find a superior version.

"The LPs are mastered directly from the original analog master tapes by Kevin at his incredible facility called Cohearent Mastering. We go about it in the exact same way that we did for so many years for the Music Matters Blue Note reissues. We do not roll off the low end, boost the top or do any limiting of any kind. We allow the full glory of the original Blue Note masters to come though unimpeded! Short of having an actual time machine, this is as close as you can get to going back and being a fly on the wall for an original Blue Note recording session."
- Joe Harley

Musicians:
Sonny Clark, piano
Hank Mobley, tenor saxophone
Donald Byrd, trumpet
Paul Chambers, bass
Art Blakey, drums

Features:
• Blue Note Tone Poet Series
• Curated by Music Matters co-founder Joe Harley
• Audiophile-quality 180g vinyl LP
• All-analog mastering (direct from the master tapes) by Kevin Gray
• Manufactured at Record Technology Incorporated
• Deluxe gatefold jacket packaging

1. Junka
2. Blues Blue
3. Minor Meeting
4. Royal Flush
5. Some Clark Bars
6. My Conception

Best Selling Album of 2020 and Seventh Consecutive No. 1 Entry on the Billboard 200 Pressed on Gatefold Colored Vinyl 2LP!

The best selling album of 2020 and the only album to sell at least a million copies during the calendar year, Taylor Swift's eighth studio effort, Folklore also marks the singer/songwriter's seventh consecutive No. 1 entry on the Billboard 200. The indie-leaning collection, a surprise move away from the star's pop roots, was also one of the year's most critically acclaimed. Three of its tracks reached the top 10 of the official charts in eight countries including "Cardigan," "The 1" and "Exile."

Working with her longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff, Swift also enlisted the help of Bon Iver, and Aaron Dessner of indie darlings, The National to contribute to the album. Of the collaborators, Dessner co-wrote or produced 11 of the 17 songs, while Bon Iver co-wrote some songs and sang on the record as well. As the title and cover art suggest, Folklore is a stripped-down affair, a beautiful collection of contemplative, indie-folk songs that acts as a balm for these chaotic times.

"In isolation my imagination has run wild and this album is the result, a collection of songs and stories that flowed like a stream of consciousness," Swift shared. "Picking up a pen was my way of escaping into fantasy, history, and memory. I've told these stories to the best of my ability with all the love, wonder, and whimsy they deserve. Now it's up to you to pass them down."

LP1

1. The 1
2. Cardigan
3. The Last Great American Dynasty
4. Exile
5. My Tears Ricochet
6. Mirrorball
7. Seven
8. August
9. This Is Me Trying

LP2

1. Illicit Affairs
2. Invisible String
3. Mad Woman
4. Epiphany
5. Betty
6. Peace
7. Hoax
8. The Lakes

Double 180gm vinyl LP pressing with unreleased photos to enhance the packaging. Featuring songs from Led Zeppelin, The Who, Elton John, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beach Boys, Todd Rundgren, Rod Stewart, The Seeds, The Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, David Bowie, Clarence Carter, Cat Stevens, Thunderclap Newman, original score track by Nancy Wilson and "Fever Dog" by the film's fictional band Stillwater.

Tracks

LP1

1. America - Simon & Garfunkel
2. Sparks - The Who
3. It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference - Todd Rundgren
4. I've Seen All Good People: Your Move - Yes
5. Feel Flows - The Beach Boys
6. Fever Dog - Stillwater
7. Every Picture Tells A Story - Rod Stewart
8. Mr. Farmer - The Seeds
9. One Way Out (Live) - The Allman Brothers Band

LP2

1. Simple Man - Lynyrd Skynyrd
2. That's The Way - Led Zeppelin
3. Tiny Dancer - Elton John
4. Lucky Trumble - Nancy Wilson
5. I'm Waiting For The Man (Live) - David Bowie
6. The Wind - Cat Stevens
7. Slip Away - Clarence Carter
8. Something In The Way - Thunderclap Newman

Vinyl LP pressing. Digitally remastered edition. Bad Religion has become synonymous with intelligent and provocative West Coast punk rock and are considered one of the most influential and important bands in the genre. Over the past three decades the band has continually pushed social boundaries and questioned authority and beliefs armed only with propulsive guitars, charging drumbeats, thoughtful lyrics and an undying will to inspire and provoke anyone who will listen. Stranger Than Fiction is the eighth album from Bad Religion, and one of their most popular. First released in 1994, the album has been certified Gold and features hit singles" 21st Century Digital Boy", "Infected" and "Stranger Than Fiction." Features guest appearances from some of punk's greatest including Rancid's Tim Armstrong (vocals on "Television"), Jim Lindberg of Pennywise (vocals on "Marked") and Wayne Kramer of the MC5 (guitars on "Incomplete".)

• - Disc 1 -
• 1 Incomplete
• 2 Leave Me to Mine
• 3 Stranger Than Fiction
• 4 Tiny Voices
• 5 The Handshake
• 6 Better Off Dead
• 7 Infected
• - Disc 2 -
• 1 Television
• 2 Individual
• 3 Hooray for Me
• 4 Slumber
• 5 Marked
• 6 Inner Logic
• 7 What It Is
• 8 21st Century (Digital Boy)

25th Anniversary Vinyl LP Reissue with 9 Replica Polaroids/Lyric Cards!

Sony Legacy presents a vinyl LP reissue of Pearl Jam's platinum-certified 1996 album No Code in celebration of its 25th anniversary. Available on the format for the first time since its original release, it features recreations of the original packaging, including the set of nine replica Polaroids/lyric cards. The 1996 sessions for No Code featured longtime producer Brendan O'Brien (his third consecutive collaboration with the band) and drummer Jack Irons, who'd joined the group at the end of the Vitalogy sessions. PJ explored new approaches to writing and recording here, developing songs out of jam sessions and eschewing their stadium-grunge style for self-examining ballads, garage rock and even psychedelic sounds. No Code became the band's third consecutive No. 1 album, with lead single "Who You Are" topping Billboard's Modern Rock chart.

1. Sometimes
2. Hail, Hail
3. Who You Are
4. In My Tree
5. Smile
6. Off He Goes
7. Habit
8. Red Mosquito
9. Lukin
10. Present Tense
11. Mankind
12. I'm Open
13. Around The Bend

Operation: Mindcrime [2 LP] Operation: Mindcrime is regarded as one of the greatest concept metal albums of all time. The band's 3rd album, originally released in May 1988, is based around Nikki, a recovering drug addict, who becomes disillusioned with a corrupt society and joins a revolutionary group to assassinate political leaders. This new version was remastered at Abbey Road Studios and brings together all the available recordings to tell the story of this remarkable album on 2 LPs.

• - Disc 1 -
• 1 I Remember Now
• 2 Anarchy-X
• 3 Revolution Calling
• 4 Operation Mindcrime
• 5 Speak
• - Disc 2 -
• 1 Spreading the Disease
• 2 The Mission
• 3 Suite Sister Mary
• - Disc 3 -
• 1 The Needle Lies
• 2 Electric Requiem
• 3 Breaking the Silence
• - Disc 4 -
• 1 I Don't Believe in Love
• 2 Waiting for 22
• 3 My Empty Room
• 4 Eyes of a Stranger

Empire [2 LPs] Queensryche - Empire was originally released in August 1990 and features the Top 10 hit, "Silent Lucidity," which was nominated for 2 Grammys. Featuring brilliant and intelligent lyrics and songwriting complemented by incredible musicianship, with the songs ranging from beautiful ballads, strong melodic rockers, and classic heavy fist-pumpers. This version, newly remastered at Abbey Road Studios, brings together all the available recordings to narrate the story of this remarkable album on 2 LPs.

• - Disc 1 -
• 1 Best I Can
• 2 The Thin Line
• 3 Jet City Woman
• - Disc 2 -
• 1 Della Brown
• 2 Another Rainy Night (Without You)
• 3 Empire
• - Disc 3 -
• 1 Resistance
• 2 Silent Lucidity
• 3 Hand on Heart
• - Disc 4 -
• 1 One and Only
• 2 Anybody Listening?

Florence And The Machine Lungs on Vinyl LP

Florence Welch, an art-school dropout from South London, first gained fame at home with two bombastic singles; "Kiss With A Fist" and "Dog Days Are Over." Not two years after she was discovered while singing Etta James in a club bathroom, she was awarded the 2009 Brit Awards Critics' Choice. She found herself wowing attendee's with her incredible live performance and her now legendary set of pipes.

Her debut album is co-produced by Paul Epworth (Bloc Party, Maximo Park), James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, Last Shadow Puppets) and Steve Mackay (PULP, M.I.A), and has already amassed a hefty amount of critical acclaim in the UK. Lungs is made of harps, choirs, drums, quartets, strange electronic wailing, while incorporating countless other instruments and emotions along the way.

The songs are full of Gothic imagery and fairytale flights of fantasy. Her seven-piece band includes long-term collaborators; Rob Ackroyd (guitar), Chris Hayden (drums), Isabella Summers (keyboards) and Tom Monger (harp). Lungs was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize as one of the 12 best albums to be released in the UK this year.

Florence And The Machine Lungs Track Listing

1.  Dog Days Are Over
2.  Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)
3.  I’m Not Calling You A Liar
4.  Howl
5.  Kiss With A Fist
6.  Girl With One Eye
7.  Drumming Song
8.  Between Two Lungs
9.  Cosmic Love
10. My Boy Builds Coffins
11. Hurricane Drunk
12. Blinding

Clairo, the moniker of 20-year-old multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer Claire Cottrill, drops her debut album Immunity via the FADER label. Following-up her debut EP Diary 001, which featured the hit singles "Pretty Girl," "Flamin' Hot Cheetos" and "4EVER," Immunity sees Clairo team up with co-producer Rostam (Vampire Weekend) in a stunning glimpse into an artist's growth. Lead single "Bags" is a delicate and delightfully weird taste of the  record; the gently strummed track builds to a peak augmented by warped guitars and piano. Quite different from the jangled angst of "Bags," second single "Closer To You" finds Clairo emoting her desire through autotune and a stark, burgeoning beat.

1. Alewife
2. Impossible
3. Closer To You
4. North
5. Bags
6. Softly
7. Sofia
8. White Flag
9. Feel Something
10. Sinking
11. I Wouldn't Ask You

Limited double vinyl LP pressing. Baduizm is the 1997 debut album by neo-soul singer-songwriter Erykah Badu. The album won numerous accolades including winning awards for "On & On" and a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 40th Grammy Awards in 1998. Baduizm's success earned Erykah Badu popularity at the time and helped establish her as one of the emerging neo soul genre's leading artists. Recording sessions for the album took place from January to October 1996 at Battery Studios in New York City, Sigma Sounds and Ivory Studios in Philadelphia, and Dallas Sound Lab in Dallas. Continuing with its Respect The Classics initiative, UMe reissued this album in its entirety, on double vinyl LP for the first time.

Tracks

1. Rim Shot (Intro)
2. On & On
3. Appletree
4. Sometimes (Mix #9)
5. Next Lifetime (Radio Edit)
6. 4 Leaf Clover
7. No Love
8. Sometimes
9. Certainly (Flipped It)

Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood is the last album released by American horror punk band Misfits to feature founding member and lead vocalist, Glenn Danzig. Danzig released it on his Plan 9 label in December 1983, two months after he played his last concert with the band. It was noticeably harder and faster than their previous releases, showing more of a hardcore punk sound. Since it's release it has often been referred to as simply "Earth A.D." amongst fans. Originally released as a 9 song LP, it was later issued with the three tracks of the Die, Die My Darling EP incorporated into the track listing: "Die, Die My Darling", "Mommy, Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight?" and "We Bite". Glenn Danzig has said that the tracks "Bloodfeast" and "Death Comes Ripping" were originally intended for Samhain's first release, but were added to what would be the Misfits' final record in a last-ditch effort to save the band. Metallica covered "Die, Die My Darling" for their 1998 cover album Garage Inc, as well as "Green Hell", which was originally covered by Metallica for their 1987 album, Garage Days Re-Revisited, as part of a medley with "Last Caress". British extreme metal band Cradle of Filth covered "Death Comes Ripping" for their 1999 release From the Cradle to Enslave.

• - Disc 1 -
• 1 Earth A.D. 2:09
• 2 Queen Wasp 1:32
• 3 Devilock 1:26
• 4 Death Comes Ripping 1:53
• 5 Green Hell 1:53
• - Disc 2 -
• 1 Wolfs Blood 1:13
• 2 Demonomania 0:45
• 3 Bloodfeast 2:29
• 4 Hellhound 1:16

Rancid's self-titled first full-length and Epitaph debut came out May 1993 and was filled with the ferocity of three young men (Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, along with original drummer Brett Reed) still living in squats, getting around on bikes or in old beaters and viewing the world with all the hostility of the very young and opinionated. Rancid had seen the American dream dwindle and fade in their country and in their community, saw its end trickle down into their families, and their early songs, like "Whirlwind" were filled with vivid descriptions of the aftermath. Though free from any of Operation Ivy's signature ska/punk sound, Rancid took up the torch of social commentary and the examination of the local scene and instantly inflamed the newly revived punk community, setting the stage for what was to come.

1. Adina
2. Hyena
3. Detroit
4. Rats in the Hallway
5. Another Night
6. Animosity
7. Out of My Mind
8. Whirlwind
9. Rejected
10. Injury
11. The Bottle
12. Trenches
13. Holiday Sunrise
14. Unwritten Rules
15. Untitled Track
16. Get Out Of My Way

This digitally re-mastered version of "No Control" comes with new art and finally allows you to hear this album the way it was meant to be heard! "No Control" is one of the albums that helped bridge the band's more reckless earlier direction with their more focused (but just as pissed-off) '90s-era. The strength of such cuts as "Big Bang," "Automatic Man," the title track, and "I Want to Conquer the World." NO CONTROL is one of the bands best all-time albums and an archetypal blueprint for the genre. Bad Religion has been setting the standard for years; this album is yet another stone in the band's long road to identity and style.

• 1 Change of Ideas
• 2 Big Bang
• 3 No Control
• 4 Sometimes I Feel Like
• 5 Automatic Man
• 6 I Want to Conquer the World
• 7 Sanity
• 8 Henchman
• 9 It Must Look Pretty Appealing
• 10 You
• 11 Progress
• 12 I Want Something More
• 13 Anxiety
• 14 Billy
• 15 World Won't Stop