TOM WAITS “Orphans” 3XCD
This collection goes far beyond a simple career retrospective, with over thirty new songs, from his own versions of songs he gave to other artists to things recorded in the garage with his kids. Also includes Tom’s unique interpretations of songs by such diverse talents as The Ramones, Daniel Johnston, Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht, and Leadbelly. Each of the three CDs is separately grouped and sub-titled “Brawlers”, “Bawlers” and “Bastards” to capture the full spectrum of Waits’ ranging and roving musical styles. “Brawlers” is chock full of raucous blues and full-throated juke-joint stomp, “Bawlers” contains Celtic and country ballads, waltzes, lullabies, piano, and classic lyrical Waits’ songs, while “Bastards” is filled with experimental music, stories, and jokes. The beautifully designed booklet reproduces Tom’s lyrics in the style of a book of old poetry, with twenty pages of never before seen photos. The limited edition deluxe package contains a hardcover-bound 94-page booklet.
The Shins “Phantom Limb” CD single
I love this band and I am pretty sure most of the universe does too. In my book, they can do no wrong. This single is a sample of what you can expect from their upcoming album which will be in stores in January. The new songs take the band in a new direction, but trust me when I say that is just as amazing as anything else they have ever done. If we lived in a just world, the Shins would be dominating the airwaves and not half the bands that actually do. 3 tracks including an alternate version of Spilt Needles. Damn, I love this band.
FREE Mix CD Club CD by Adam Rupert of Fear Before the March of Flames
Hannah and Seabron have been contacting bands around the world to have them make mix CDs for the Dead Format mix CD club. A number of interesting bands have already said they would do one, but this one by Adam of Fear Before the March of Flames is the first one we received. I just listened to it and there are so many awesome songs. Some of the track listing includes Bear Vs Shark, Fire When Ready, Rocky Votolato, Cursive, Cardinal Sin, These Arms are Snakes, Thom Yorke, Sigur Ros, Saves the Day, Nada Surf, Gatsbys American Dream and more. Thanks Adam!
You can pick up Adam’s mix for free with your order by adding it to your cart. Expect other band submitted mix CDs in the near future from bands like These Arms Are Snakes, Ghost Buffalo, Static Age, and more!
Free Mix CD Club CD by Brian Conway “The Sea is for Lovers”
We just received another Free Mix CD Club CD. This time, Brian Conway, was kind enough to put together a Pirate-themed mix he named “The Sea is For Lovers”. There are a lot of great songs and a lengthy write-up on the songs he selected. Tracks include The Black Keys, Crystal Skulls, Against Me, Decemberists, Dwarves, Cursive, Turbonegro, Rumbleseat, and more. Thanks Brian!
Free Mix CD Club CD by Ralph Eberhard “Keep Listening to Cream Your Jeans”
Our good buddy Ralph made a rad mix. The mix contains tracks by bands like the Draft, Zolof, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Descendents, Against Me, Laymen Terms, Drag the River and more. Great stuff.
Don’t miss out on the fun, make your own Mix CD and join our club!
Bad Astronaut “Twelve Small Steps, One Giant Disappointment” CD
Originally intended as a one-off studio project,put together by long time friends Joey Cape(Lagwagon front-man), former Lagwagon drummerDerrick Plourde, and Marko 72 (Sugarcultguitarist), Bad Astronaut quickly grew into muchmore. A musical consortium of seven members,Bad Astronaut currently find themselvespreparing for their third release, Twelve SmallSteps, One Giant Disappointment. Three yearsinto the making of the album, the band wasdealt a crippling blow with the untimely death ofDerrick Plourde. Over the past year, they’veworked in their downtime between other bandsto complete this album, one of Derrick’s finalmusical ventures. Twelve Small Steps, OneGiant Disappointment trades in a bit of theexperimental focus of the last full length for amore straight forward rock approach. Fear not,for Bad Astronaut continue to put their owntwist on indie rock with the use a wide array ofinstruments, utilizing everything from from celloto timbales, allowing them to achieve a soundthat’s truly their own.
I am excited that there have been a handful of you taking the time to send us their Mix CDs. I realize there is a lot of work in compiling the songs, typing everything up, and mailing us a copy of your mix, but we all really appreciate it. The two latest mixes include:
Free Mix CD Club CD by Andy Thomas “Totally Dope Mix CD”
Tracks by Planes Mistaken for Stars, Hot Water Music, Drag the River, Wolf Parade, Descendents, Cardinal Sin, and more.
Free Mix CD Club CD by Kasey Karen “Kiki’s Kick-ass Compilation”
Tracks by Refused, A.F.I., Interpol, Thrice, Tiger Army, Bayside, Against Me, At the Drive In and more.
You can pick either of the mix Cds or any of the ones in the Mix CD section for free with any purchase you make at Dead Format. While you are thinking about it, consider making one too as you could possibly win a $100 gift certificate at Dead Format dot com if you get us your mix CD and have it selected more than the other Mix CD Club CDs.
Speaking of contests, we have less than one week left for the Suburban Home mix CD club contest. Hannah is in the lead with me and Kyle right behind her. The winner of the Staff mix cd contest will get a $50 gift certificate to the place of their choice.
Thanks Andy and Kasey for posting your mixes.
I asked Lee Roehrig, maker of the incredible Mix CD Club mix, “Irony is for Suckers” if he would be so kind as to write an Absolutely Essential piece for us. Here is what he wrote. Thanks Lee!
American Steel “Jagged Thoughts” CD
When you think of Lookout Records surely classic albums by Green Day, Operation Ivy and Screeching Weasel immediately come to mind. However a lesser known band when compared to those standards released an album in June 2001 that I hold in the same company.
American Steel “Jagged Thoughts” cannot only be defined as a great Lookout album or as a great punk rock album; it’s a great album period. While the first two albums the band produced (“S/T” and the equally amazing “Rogues March”) offered a faster yet still melodic approach to Bay Area punk rock, this album slowed down the tempo a bit and showed a more refined, soulful sound.
Make no mistake about it; this was the bands “London Calling” if you will, an album that broadened the definition of what punk rock sounds like. It’s always a fine line when a band decides to change its sound especially when the old sound worked so damn well. However the album isn’t overly ambitious and after one listen you will find yourself singing along and perhaps wearing down the repeat button. The vocals are so genuine and unique, the lyrics thoughtful and beautiful, and the music has a level of warmth and shines so bright.
On a personal level the album represents a growth for me and my tastes musically. As a child music was always playing around my household or on car rides from point a to b. There were no labels or genres to my young ears, just sounds that fascinated me to no end. However as I hit those crucial teenage years I started to listen to things that only fit into a certain category. A certain “punk rock bible” (Maximumrocknroll) was my guide and anyone not gaining the approval of the elite was not worth my time. As I grew older and supposedly wiser, I learned again to trust those child’s ears. It was freeing to enjoy music again for the sake of enjoying music. The teenage version of myself might have scoffed at this album but I know the child in me would have celebrated the contrasting and vibrant sounds offered. I can honestly say this album is in my top ten favorite albums of all time and it never grows old or sounds dated.
No matter what genre or genres of music you enjoy, this album has something for you. If this album were released today it would probably have a huge sticker proclaiming “If you love Against Me!, The Clash or The Police you will LOVE this!” Don’t trust stickers on cds. Don’t trust reviews. Don’t even trust a single word I’ve said. Just listen to this album and trust your ears. The child inside will thank you.
William Elliott Whitmore/Jenny Hoyston “Hallways of Always” CD
William Whitmore is a God! I love everything he does and this duet’s CD is just another fantastic title.
With a shared passion for classic Nashville recordings, Erase Errata’s Jenny Hoyston and ex-roommate William Whitmore have created ‘Hallways as Always’, a strikingly honest collection of alternative country maybe best compared to June Carter & Johnny Cash. Hopefully Cash’s recent surge in popularity will see this mini-album reaching a few more ears than usual, but it really carries off the style with grace and a clear passion. You can tell from seconds into opener ‘First of a Thousand Beasts’ that the two veteran musicians and old friends know exactly what they’re doing as acoustic guitars jangle along tirelessly and an old saw is bowed in the background. This is a record that strangely enough manages to sound vaguely contemporary while still holding a torch for recordings of the past, which is no mean feat. It never once sounds retro-fetishist or old fashioned, rather it sounds like Hoyston and Whitmore have an understanding for the musical forms they are re-creating.
