MATT PRYOR “Confidence Man” LP coke bottle green vinyl

In a weird set of circumstances, I have been in direct contact with Matt Pryor, lead vocalist of the Get Up Kids, New Amsterdams, Terrible Twos, and a damn fine solo singer/songwriter. We were put in touch with each other by a friend who had worked with the band prior to signing with Vagrant. Matt and I spoke about a number of things, one of which was the possible release of “Confidence Man” (Matt’s most recent solo album) on vinyl. If you ask me, Matt Pryor is making some of his best music now and “Confidence Man” was one of my most played albums of 2009. If you have been a fan of any of his other works, I think that this album is as good or better than anything he has done with Get Up Kids or New Amsterdams. Originally released by Vagrant records, Matt got the ok to self-release the album on vinyl. He has pressed up the album and will be doing a pressing of 500 copies, all on coke bottle green vinyl. We have 100 copies in the store right now. Test pressings have been approved and we are expecting copies between the 1st and 2nd week of March.

I highly recommend this album and hope it does well for Matt. I know that he is currently sitting on another full length album that he is planning to self-release. I have a copy of it and it is equally amazing.

Matt has been so kind as to offer us a test pressing for a contest. If you pre-order this album, you will be entered to win. Good luck. As a long time fan of Matt and his many projects, I am really honored to be involved with this pre-order.

Listen to and download 2 mp3s from our friends at Can You See the Sunset who reviewed the album and posted a few tracks here.

SUBURBAN HOME RECORDS Mix Tape Volume 2 “Greetings From The Left Coast” CD (5 Copies for FREE)

Hopefully you were able to get a copy of our first Suburban Home Records’ Mix Tape, “Raising Hell and Living Cheap”. If you didn’t, visit these guys. We were very proud of that first Mix Tape and are just as excited about our 2nd Suburban Home Records’ Mix Tape, “Greetings from the Left Coast”. The title was borrowed from a Micah Schnabel lyric from his new album, “When the Stage Lights Go Dim”, which was the inspiration for the mix tape. “When the Stage Lights Go Dim” ’s re-release will be out in early March. We will post the pre-order for the CDs next week and will be posting pre-orders for the vinyl when we get test pressings. The 20 song mixtape begins with 2 songs from Micah’s new album, a live Two Cow Garage cover of the Beatles “Oh Darling”, and my favorite song off of Two Cow Garage’s “Speaking in Cursive”, “Skinny Legged Girl”. Out of the 20 song mix tape there are 10 tracks by Suburban Home artists including new, old, and live tracks by Jon Snodgrass, Drag the River, Yesterday’s Ring, Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, and more. The other 10 tracks are by some of our favorite non-Suburban Home artists including Glossary, Slobberbone, PJ Bond, justin Townes Earle, and more. This time, the liner notes feature an interview with Micah Schnabel with questions by yours truly and Andy Thomas. Brandon Proff did the art design and we all picked songs for the mix tape.

We’ve decided not to publish the track listing because we think the world needs more surprises. I will say that if you are a fan of Micah Schnabel and Two Cow Garage, you will find a number of familiar favorites and I promise that this compilation will turn you onto at least a few new acts that will soon find their way into your music library.

Just like last time, you can get 5 copies for FREE. We ask that you please keep 1 and give 4 to friends. We also ask that you only order 1 set of mix tapes so there are more people who can get them. We believe that music is meant to be shared. If you hear an artist that you like, please consider finding their releases and see if they are touring through a town near you. You will just need to pay for shipping.

We encourage you to pick up a few releases when you pick up the mix tapes, but you are welcome to order only the mix tapes. Act fast as there are only a small number of mix tapes being made.

If you can help us spread the word about these mix tapes, we would be eternally grateful. Please post this on your Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Blog, etc. Thanks.

RED CITY RADIO/THE GREAT ST. LOUIS split 7″

Our friends at All In Vinyl in the UK are about to release a new 7″ split by Red City Radio and the Great St Louis. This is their 3rd release (we still have available splits by HOW DARE YOU/ JUST PANIC and HE SCARE/ OK PILOT. The 7″s will ship from the UK this week and if all goes well we will have copies in 2 weeks. We will be posting a stream shortly.

TONY SLY / JOEY CAPE s/t 7″ PRE-ORDER

Armed with years of experience writing songs and fronting two of the most respected and longstanding bands in the punk scene, Tony Sly (No Use For a Name) and Joey Cape (Lagwagon, Bad Astronaut) have recently been testing the waters as solo artists. With each having a full-length of solo material due out very soon, as well as extensive tours booked together, the guys decided to team up and release a split 7” together too. Having already successfully combined forces in the past with the release of Acoustic, Joey and Tony are no strangers to working together. This time around they will be collaborating not only musically, but artistically as well. Tony and Joey both drew each other’s side of the 7”cover as Joey Cape recently divulged, “Tony Sly is a great artist…and by artist I mean illustrator. Just look at that cover art.” The fun doesn’t end there as both sing backup on one another’s song. With each track being exclusive to this 7”, fans of both Joey and Tony will be elated by this unique and collectable release.

Side A – Chemical Upgrade (Tony Sly)
Side B – The Contortionist (Joey Cape)

SMOKE OR FIRE “Prehistoric Knife Fight” 7″ PRE-ORDER

After the relentless tour schedule in support of their last full-length This Sinking Ship, Smoke or Fire decided to let the dust settle and slip under the radar for a bit. Much to the jubilation of their fans, the guys didn’t do much resting during the down time. In fact, they were busy writing new material and making plans for their return to the spotlight. With a bevy of new songs in their cache and spots booked at Harvest of Hope and SXSW (not to mention, a whole bunch of stops in between), Smoke or Fire figured they would wet our collective appetite with the two brand new tracks on the Prehistoric Knife Fight 7”. With one listen to the new material it is overtly apparent that the guys haven’t lost a step. Prehistoric Knife Fight definitely stokes the flames of interest for Smoke or Fire’s upcoming full-length while simultaneously satiating the long-growing desire for new material. Fans will find that this was well worth the wait.

We will have copies around the first week of March

JOANNA NEWSOM “Have One On Me” 3xLP

Joanna Newsom releases her first album since late 2006’s Ys, making up for lost time with a disc for 2008, one for 2009 and one for today. Featuring Ryan Francesconi and Neal Morgan from Joanna’s Ys Street Band, Have One On Me is an extravagantly packaged (and extravagantly nicely-priced) collection of fantastic new Joanna Newsom songs — her most colorful record to date.

Joanna Newsom’s music is not for everyone. I liked her last album quite a bit, “Ys”, but I did get some cringes from the office any time I tried to play it. I have yet to see her play, but Brandon said it was nothing short of amazing.

We should have copies around Feb 20th, the street date is Feb 23.

APPLESEED CAST “Low Level Owl Volumes ” triple LP silver vinyl PRE-ORDER

One shot pressing of 1000, only 500 copies in distribution! SILVER, 150g vinyl in a gatefold Stoughton jacket including NEW artwork! Released to promote the band playing both albums back to back over 38 shows between February and April!

CAPITAL “Blind Faith” 7″ pink vinyl
CAPITAL “Blind Faith” 7″ red vinyl

“Blind Faith” is the latest effort from Long Island, New York’s Capital. A record grappling with religion, corporate greed, and personal politics. With honest, relatable lyrics and driven, fast music you can’t beat it. Featuring ex and current members of Silent Majority and Thieves And Assassins.

Back in 2006, Capital released their debut on Iron Pier and dropped their sophomore on the mighty Revelation. These songs were originally slotted to appear on a split with Crime In Stereo, but after that release got shelved Just A Audial and Iron Pier joined forces to bring these neglected and unheard songs to the world. Features a cover of Dag Nasty’s “I’ve Heard”.

PRESSING INFO: 100 on white (50 record release covers), 100 pink, 300 clear red (we have 10 copies on pink and 10 copies on red coming).

Copies are already pressed, should have copies in a little over a week.

MIKE HALE / MIKE REED split 7″

Mike Hale and Mike Reed are best known for their loud rock bands, Gunmoll, In The Red and Small Brown Bike, Able Baker Fox, respectively. In April 2009, the two collaborated on a pair of acoustic songs for a 7″ that shows the stripped down, quieter side of their songwriting. The end result is two honest and sincere songs that bring together two friends who respect and admire each other’s music.

Digital download included.

Vinyl History:
284 Green/Black
300 Red/White/Black

We should have these records around the first week of February.

THE ALBUM LEAF “A Chorus of Storytellers” LP

A Chorus of Storytellers was recorded by Ryan Hadlock in the frosty month of February 2009 at Bear Creek Studio just outside of Seattle. It was mixed in the decidedly warmer month of June in Reykjavik, Iceland by Birgir Jon Birgisson. Those paying attention will notice that this is nearly the same way their last album Into the Blue Again was recorded. There is, however, one fundamental difference between this and every other album The Album Leaf has ever recorded. For the first time in five albums, The Album Leaf recorded as a whole band. In the past, almost every instrument was performed by principal songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jimmy LaValle. This time the whole band was invited to participate and the result is their best record yet.

We will have copies in hand early next week.