It's Record Store Day friends!
instead of bogging you down with a bunch of how do you do's and what have you's, we'll just cut straight to the chase.  so get on with your bad self.

Record Store Day Exclusives:

Akron/Family - "Everyone Is Guilty" b/w "Total Destruction" 7" (Dead Oceans)
Here's your chance to hear the first single from Akron/Family's new album Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free (May 5th), "Everyone Is Guilty" available on a limited run 7" with an exclusive B-Side not found anywhere else.
Akron/Family - "Everyone Is Guilty" (live)


Blitzen Trapper - "War Is Placebo b/w "Booksmart Baby" 7" (Sub Pop)
Blitzen Trapper remind me of Elliott Smith in a strange way. Like if E.S. decided to not stab himself in the heart (sic) and instead picked up a slide, drank a gallon of whiskey a day, and played the best fucking country-tinged ballads the world had ever known.  That said, both tracks are exclusive to this release and are well worth you taking the time to pick one up.
On Pink & White Swirl Vinyl! Comes With MP3 Code!

Cursive/Ladyfinger (ne) - Split 10" (Saddle Creek)
Cursive has been a favorite of mine for a long time, and while "From The Hips" is taken from their most recent (amazing) album Mama, I'm Swollen, it also pairs it up with "Universal Shrug", an exclusive b-side for this limited picture disc.
Cursive - "From The Hips"

As for Ladyfinger (ne), this was my introduction, and goddamn am i amazed.  Pretty much full throttle rock with enough tortured whine and palm muting to make any living body pump their fist and tap their toes.  As with the Cursive side, Ladyfinger (ne)'s side contains the song "Little Things" from their most recent album Dusk with the exclusive addition of the  insanely rocking "Old News".
Ladyfinger (ne) - "Little Things"


Sonic Youth/Beck - "Pay No Mind" / "Green Light" split 7" (Matador)
I'm surprised it's taken this long for Beck and Sonic Youth to make a split record, but it finally has and we should take it for what it is.  With this release Sonic Youth offer up their take on Beck's '94 opus "Pay No Mind", and Beck responds with a chilling rendition of Sonic Youth's paranoia inducing 1986 gem "Green Light".

Elvis Perkins in Dearland - "Lorraine, Lookout" b/w "I'll Be Arriving" 7" (XL Recordings)
My introduction to Elvis Perkins was through a live show while living in Seattle.  I had been offered a job as driver for the band on an upcoming tour and was to meet them that evening.  What i didn't expect was to be blown away, but that's what had  happened.  Sadly the tour didn't work out, but the band kept on with their ways and continued making captivating music.  "Lorraine Lookout" is a new song exclusively recorded for this 7" with the B-Side "I'll Be Arriving" from his most recent LP Elvis Perkins In Deerland.

Magnolia Electric Co. - It's Made Me Cry 7" (Secretly Canadian)
Holy Shit! This may be my favorite record Jason Molina and co. have ever released. His familiar warble sometimes straining for Orbison heights but staying within his own territory of fluctuating melancholy while the band plays on with eerie strings and plodding drums. This four song set barely clocks in at 8 minutes leaving the listener feverishly waiting for more.  This is what 7"s should be, dazzling displays of a band at their most fine-tuned.

Vetiver - "Wishing Well" b/w "Pay No Mind" (Sub Pop)
Vetiver remind me of middle period Kinks when they had finally shaken that teeny bopper image and started churning out ambitious concept albums. This 7" contains two brand new songs exclusive to this record, grab one while you can.
Blue Marble Vinyl!  Comes With MP3 Code!

Flight of the Conchords - "Pencil In The Wind" b/w "Albi The Racist Dragon" 7" (Sub Pop)
Does this really need a description?
Two exclusive new favorites from the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords.
Comes With MP3 Code!
Flight of the Conchords "Albi The Racist Dragon"


Obits - "I Can't Lose" b/w "Military Madness" 7" (Sub Pop)
Two brand new songs from this new project by the legendary Rick Froberg (Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes).  Not to be confused with his past projects, Obits comes across sounding like a more garage rock version of Superchunk, with a little more snarl than the Chapel Hill kids could muster.  I back this single hard.
Cherry Red Vinyl! Comes With MP3 Code!

Camera Obscura - French Navy 7" (4AD)
The first single from the Brill Building inspired outfit Camera Obscura's fourth album My Maudlin Career. I can't say enough nice things about this single.  Beautiful pop with production reminiscent of Phil "Shot her in the face" Spector.  This record is a real treat.

The Smith- The Headmaster Ritual/Oscillate Wildly 7"
First time this single has been released in the U.S. exclusively for record store day! Classic tracks from one of the landmark bands of the 80's.

The Stooges - 1969 7"
A repackaging of the Stooges classic anthem "1969" on 7" with a new picture sleeve.

MC5 - Kick Out The Jams b/w Motor City Is Burning 7"
A reissue of the incendiary single from punk's grandfathers.  Right now, right now, we want you to KICK OUT THE JAMS MOTHERFUCKER!

Jenny Lewis - Carpetbaggers 7"
The A-side is from her most recent LP Acid Tounge, while the flip side shows off her taste with an Elvis Costello cover.  This is well worth your time.

New Order - Temptation b/w Hurt 7"
Another re-issue, this time around from the classic post Joy Division outfit from Machester.

Green Day - Dookie LP
Remember 1994?  This vinyl re-issue should have everyone with their eyes closed thinking back to those golden days before Punk was a buzz word and Blink 182 were just a twinkle in the eye of teeny boppers everywhere.

Talking Heads - '77 LP
The 180 gram Vinyl edition of The Talking Heads classic debut is finally available just in time for record store day!

Regina Spektor - Begin To Hope LP
For the first time since it's release nearly two years ago, Regina Spektor's now classic begin to hope is finally found it's way to vinyl.  You can release the collective sigh now.

Booker T. - "Warped Sister" b/w "Reunion Time"(Anti-)
Booker T. (of & The M.G.'s fame) has just released some driving ass instrumental blues rock that is blowing my mind as i type this.  "Warped Sister" is nothing like the "Green Onions" we've all come to know and revere as something almost otherworldly, this is an older, wiser, dare i say it, more focused attack coming from years of hibernation and frustration.  I don't know what pissed him off but goddamn, it suits him.  "Reunion Time" on the other hand finds itself coming across more like a Japancakes b-side with the use of slide guitars and subtle soothing melodies.  What's not to like?

Pretenders - "Break Up The Concrete b/w "Love's A Mystery" (Shangri-La)
"Break Up The Concrete" is the first single from the newly reformed Pretenders, while the B-Side is a previously unreleased version of "Love's a Mystery", sounding more like The Pretenders of years gone by than the current output.

Tom Waits - Live from The Glitter & Doom Tour 7" (Anti-)
Two songs ("Lucinda" & "Ain't Goin' Down To The Well")from the much talked about Glitter & Doom Tour stop in Atlanta, Ga.  followed up with a side of majestic beauty ("Bottom of the World") from the European swing in Edinburgh, Scotland.  Get it while you can.

Bad Religion - Bad Religion 7" (Epitaph Records)
A complete reproduction of the very first Bad Religion 7".  This is the classic punk record that began the mighty Epitaph Records nearly 30 years ago. WOW!

Andrew Bird/Loney Dear - Split 7" (Polyvinyl)
These two toured together earlier this year and the culmination is this lovely 7".  One new song from each artist, exclusive solely to this release.
Comes With MP3 Code!

Jay Reatard/Sonic Youth - Split 7" (Matador)
One new song from each artist, Sonic Youth deliver "No Garage" a perfect example of the unpredictable instrumental noise blasts this band is capable of yet for some reason this reminds me of Pussy Galore without the hate-fuck vibe.  Meanwhile Jay Reatard comes out the gate four on the floor with "Hang Them All",  a raging rocker with traces of late period Husker Du and early Sweet for all the kids to get crazy about.  I fully support this record. Fuck Yeah!

Pavement - Live Europaturnen MCMXCVII LP (Matador)
This is one of my favorite things to come out as part of Record Store Day, the long lost live LP from Pavement's '97 European Tour in support of their Brighten The Corners album.  As Pavement rank as one of my favorite bands and the memories of seeing them live having my mind blown each and every time, it's nice to finally have an official document on vinyl that captures the genius of latter era Pavement that shows off the playfulness and chaotic abandon they let loose every time they took the stage.

The Jesus Lizard - Inch 9x7" Set (Touch & Go)
Shit your pants now.  Every Jesus Lizard 7" conveniently reprinted and housed in special plastic packaging that when unfolded can be hung from the wall as the most bad ass poster ever conceived.  This is only in an edition of 2000, so grab it now, because these will not be available EVER AGAIN.

and if that shit doesn't get you amped, tonight at 7 pm will see the rebirth of True White Brother, show up early and stake out a claim for yourself.  but that's not all, following at 8 pm at The Monolith you can catch Furnace, Finisher, Mako, The Flood, and Operator Dead Post Abandoned.  And if that still doesn't get your motor revved, there's always Unwed Sailor at the Soundpony at 10pm with Fiona Forte and Volcano.  Today is shaping up to be an awesome day!
We'll see you soon.
-the jaysus