Much to the dismay of my audiologist, there are two things I consciously (and maybe even a bit defiantly) do that I probably shouldn’t. The first being that I don’t wear ear plugs when I go to shows and the second being that I position myself as close to the stage speakers (crowd-willing) as possible. My need to experience sound in its pure unfiltered form is just too strong to deny, and this has certainly been the case any time I’ve seen the once heralded “loudest band in New York” that goes by the name A Place to Bury Strangers.

But the decibel abuse/overdose doesn’t stop there with me, oh no. The trio’s latest album is a tortured and manic valentine that ought to be played at maximum volume for its virtues to truly be appreciated. And Exploding Head is a perfect title for this collection of seething, hypnotic and anxiety-inducing jams that are all things tension, distortion, feedback and reverb. Perfect because there is actually a medical condition known as Exploding Head Syndrome and sufferers of which “experience a tremendously loud noise as originating from within his or her own head, usually described as the sound of an explosion, roar, waves crashing against rocks, loud voices or screams, a ringing noise, or the sound of an electrical short circuit (buzzing).This noise usually occurs within an hour or two of falling asleep, but is not necessarily the result of a dream and can happen while awake as well.”

And I though having tinnitus was bad.

So if you’re going to melt your speakers and do some inner-ear damage for a record, let Exploding Head be responsible.

(And yeah, it was totally ironic that while supplies lasted we issued APTBS-brand earplugs with orders for this record, but rest assured I kept a pair for novelty purposes only.)

For more information click HERE

If there’s one indie label that doesn’t need much of an introduction, it’s Merge Records.

Let’s see which of your favorite bands are on their current roster - Spoon, Arcade Fire, Superchunk, Polvo, M.Ward, Lou Barlow…and you definitely can’t forget the classics - Magnetic Fields and Neutral Milk Hotel.

With a 20-year history like that, which isn’t looking like it’s slowing down anytime soon, how could you not want to know how it all happened firsthand from label founders/Superchunk members Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance.

This is a serious must have for anyone who has a serious love of indie rock and almost moved to Chapel Hill because of it.

For more information click HERE

I love Beat Happening. They are one my most favorite bands ever actually.

I also love design-y things. And while I may not be the biggest design nerd in the world, I feel like I know good design when I see it.

Forever, I have resisted liking band-oriented design series - because I always felt like when there was a band in the collection that I really liked, I hated the design, and vice versa, I would love a design and hate the band.

Well, good thing Mike Perry and the Insound 10 Classic have come along to restore my faith in great design. Not only did he kill the design (actually the whole collection is amazing), but he paired the best design in the collection with one of my personal favorites.

Kudos Mike on the Insound 10 Classic!

For more information click HERE

So first of all, this isn't really a new release, but a re-issue that came out this year (on Dark Entries Records). And the way this record came about, according to the blogosphinternet, is a great story / new music model example. Self-released in 1986 in upstate NY, in an edition of five hundred copies on vinyl; more recently a blog (A Viable Commercial) ripped the vinyl and a lot of people loved it; original band member also found the tracks online and was psyched more people were hearing the music; blogger's friend decides to start a record label and re-masters the record (on vinyl again, natch) with beautiful (new) silkscreened art. Everybody wins (and the band even makes money)! It's basically the same process that got Dave Bixby's Ode to Quetzalcoatl into my eager little hands, and that's probably been my favorite reissue of the year (besides Townes, obviously). So what does it sound like? Well, those of you newly (or old-ly) into that dark gothic coldwave sound should be pretty excited. Sweet bass lines, dramatic new romantic vocals, and GREAT synths - very dancy overall. And most importantly when it comes to re-issues, incredibly solid songwriting that certainly deserves to be heard again. Definitely for fans of New Order, The Cure, Depeche Mode, poppier Cold Cave stuff, and probably more precisely a bunch of other obscure likeminded bands that I know nothing about, ha. I'll throw in a plug for Soror Dolorosa too (more goth), which we don't carry yet but is SO. GOOD. And hopefully more people out there will take the initiative like Dark Entries did and keep digging up those forgotten gems!

For more information click HERE

The second release from this one man slice of Mississippi fuzz cake would be well worth the purchase price alone based on his deft splicing of distortion and pop hooks but add in the Fangoria cover art up there and you got yourself a deal. Seriously, if that's not the greatest bit of post-zombie-ism cover art you've ever seen then you can leave my party and take your haughty attitude with you.

Four songs of spring-loaded, fuzzy garage with hooks large enough to reel in marlin with your uncle George, that's what's going on in this sweet little 10" package and you know that means you need it. Hell your turntable's practically begging to get its needle in this groove and your speakers are giving you the death stare because you haven't abused them lately with some ripping waves of fuzz. Make your stereo happy! Choose Flight!

For more information click HERE