Give Up 10th Anniversary Edition by The Postal Service
Shit, we're getting old. First Lebowski turns 15, then Dazed and Confused hits 20, and now this. Completing a trifecta of cultural touchstone anniversaries, Give Up 10th Anniversary Edition by The Postal Service ($35) celebrates the decade that's passed since this seminal recording's release. The multidisc set (Vinyl or CD, and also digital download) includes all the original songs, remasterd, plus 15 bonus tracks, among them two brand new songs — "A Tattered Line of String" and "Turn Around" — that provide just a glimmer of hope that we might actually see another album from the likes of Gibbard and Tamborello (and sometimes Lewis). But don't get your hopes up, because the first one was such a process.
Amok by Atoms For Peace
Anyone who's listened to Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke's solo album The Eraser knows that playing it live must be a challenge — a challenge met by Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, Joey Waronker on drums, and Mauro Refosco as a secondary percussionist. Amok by Atoms For Peace ($10) is the first effort from the band, taking Yorke's complex electronic compositions and turning them into recordings using real instruments. There's still plenty of electronic noise to go around, of course, and Yorke's voice is as unmistakable as ever — so if you were waiting on an Eraser followup, this is likely as close as you're going to get. It drops on February 28, but you can stream it for free right now.
The Beatles Stereo Vinyl Box Set
Hear the Fab Four like never before on The Beatles Stereo Vinyl Box Set ($400). Not content to simply slap recent pressings of the set's 14 albums into a box and call it a day, the audio wizards at Abbey Road decided to create new versions using the 24-bit remasters created for the recent CD and digital release. After much trial, error, and testing, they're now ready for you to enjoy, manufactured on audiophile-quality vinyl with original liner notes, artwork, and other surprises, and accompanied by a 252-page hardbound book. If you want in, you'd best hurry — the set is limited to 50,000 copies worldwide.
Johnny Cash: The Complete Columbia Album Collection
Sure, a lot of younger folk might remember the Man in Black for his final records with Rick Rubin, but Johnny Cash made his name — and spent the bulk of his career — on Columbia. Johnny Cash: The Complete Columbia Album Collection ($265) celebrates this 32-year stint by including all 59 original albums on CD, as well as a 2-CD collection of singles that didn't originally appear on albums, and a 28-song collection of tracks from his Sun Records years — which includes "Folsom Prison Blues" and "I Walk The Line" — all in a single box set.
Timberland Earthkeepers Casco Bay Canvas Shoe
Prepare for casual summer days with Timberland's® Earthkeepers® Casco Bay Canvas Shoe. These lightweight, laid-back kicks will add a stylish pop of color to any no-sock, warm-weather look. Choose either a fun slip-on style or the one-eye moccasin style, with a choice of four colorways ranging from blueberry to poppy. See the entire collection here.
Banks by Paul Banks
For those of you who aren't Interpol junkies, Paul Banks is the man who gives the dark New York rockers their distinctive voice. Now he's readying his second solo effort, Banks by Paul Banks ($10). With a slightly more electronic sound than the typical Interpol record, this ten-track album is dropping on October 23, and if the lead track "The Base" is any indication — you can get a free taste of it now — it'll be a perfect soundtrack for the cooler, more gloomy weather ahead.
Port of Morrow by The Shins
After a five-year hiatus which included the Danger Mouse collabo Broken Bells, James Mercer is back with Port of Morrow by The Shins ($10). Recorded with a slightly refreshed lineup, Morrow still contains plenty of the band's signature sound, and while it's a little darker than your typical "soundtrack to the summer" fare, it'll no doubt be getting plenty of play around Uncrate HQ.
Reign of Terror by Sleigh Bells
Prepare your speakers for another sonic assault courtesy of Reign of Terror by Sleigh Bells ($8). This sophomore album from the Brooklyn-based duo includes plenty of the distorted guitars and pop-ready vocals you'd expect, along with a healthy dose of dream sound to help differentiate it from their more direct debut.
Bob Dylan Archive
If you're having trouble finding a suitable home for your encyclopedic collection of Dylan albums, it's time to check out the Bob Dylan Archive ($90). Designed with the most discerning collectors in mind, the Archive consists of a showcase box, a storage book designed to hold all 43 "official" albums, a 228-page album artwork hardbound book, and a softcover book with a full color discography and excerpts from album reviews and classic advertisements.
El Camino by The Black Keys
Fresh off a kickass performance on SNL, Ohio's favorite rock duo are back with their seventh studio studio jam. El Camino by The Black Keys ($10) offers up eleven new tracks from Auerbach and Carney, two of which we've heard, and the rest of which we're confident won't suck. Pre-order now for happy, hassle-free delivery to the electronic listening device of your choice tomorrow.
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Also known as the slightly less irritating half of Oasis' brotherly duo, Noel Gallagher was the main writing force behind the band. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds ($12) is the eponymous debut from his new solo project, packed with songs that sound familiar, yet somehow different — and we're guessing it's due to the lack of Liam's nasally voice overpowering the proceedings. Not exactly a classic, but perfectly listenable — and that counts for a lot during a season of crappy Xmas pop.
Mylo Xyloto by Coldplay
Parachutes it's not, but Mylo Xyloto by Coldplay ($10) isn't the worst thing you could play through your speakers this fall. Produced by committee and featuring an appearance by unlikely collaborator Rihanna, this fifth studio album continues the band's juxtaposition of seemingly meaningful lyrics with vaguely bland orchestral accompaniment, making it perfect background music for dinner parties or consumer electronics commercials. Not that that's a bad thing — it's worked great for Moby.
The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams
Left behind in the wake of Hank Williams' untimely death was a briefcase filled with papers, just papers... which also happened to be covered in lyrics. The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams ($12) gathers together some great artists — including Bob Dylan, Alan Jackson, Jack White, Merle Haggard, and Sheryl Crow — in an effort to bring these unheard songs to life, resulting in twelve tracks that rival William's best in songwriting quality while greatly surpassing them in spookiness.
[Scouted by Mark]
