The Fat Angel Sings

After more than 45 years, the American punk band X thinks it’s enough enough, but leaves with a bang, because their supposed swan song “Smoke & Fiction” has become a fresh, energetic and inspired sounding album. There aren’t many bands that were founded at the end of the 70s and still sound this energetic. The punk band X does it on the album “Smoke & Fiction” which, according to the band itself, is really the very last album. After all these years, the band is still loyal to punk. “Smoke & Fiction” contains mainly energetic and punky songs, which are rushed through at a brisk pace. However, the members of the band can play and the vocals on the album are also excellent. The punk of X sounds wonderfully melodic and pushes the boundaries here and there by adding a touch of Americana, but “Smoke & Fiction” also definitely deserves the predicate punk. It provides a beautiful and dignified farewell.

X was founded in 1977 and can be counted as one of the standard-bearers of the Los Angeles punk scene. The band was formed when bassist, singer and songwriter John Doe (real name: John Nommensen Duchac) had become acquainted with the New York punk scene in general and the music of The Ramones in particular and wanted to make this kind of music himself.

He found allies in guitarist Billy Zoom (real name: Ty Kindell) and singer Exene Cervenka (real name: Christine Cervenkova). The band wore out a number of drummers, until in 1978 D.J. Bonebrake appeared and the ultimate line-up of X was a fact. The band has made quite a few albums.

X’s farewell party, released its very last album this week. “Smoke & Fiction” received remarkably good reviews, especially in the United States, The members of X have now reached retirement age, but still sound surprisingly fresh on their band’s new album. “Smoke & Fiction” opens with a lot of energy and everything you expect from punk, The rhythm section pounds away nicely, the guitar riffs are simple but accurate and the vocals are nice and rough and energetic, but compared to the bands from the early days of punk, both the music and the vocals on X’s album sound a bit better. The punky songs of the band are raw, but also remarkably melodic and this also applies to the vocals of John Doe and Exene Cervenka that complement and reinforce each other in a beautiful way.

The members of the band may be quite old by now, but that is not to be heard on “Smoke & Fiction”, which sounds fresh and inspired for ten songs. After half an hour it’s over, but in that half hour your mood and your energy level get a big boost.

The love for the music of The Ramones is still audible in X’s songs, but the band from Los Angeles is now doing its own thing with the influences from the past and therefore sounds a lot more versatile than the great examples of yesteryear.

John’s intro: “Hi fans! Welcome to the furniture auction. Good evening, tables and chairs.”

Another great concert from the successful WDR Rockpalast series, recorded live on March 17th, 1983 at Audiomax, Hamburg (Germany) – plus bonus track “Look At That Girl” from “Die Aktuelle Stunde” (WDR) from October 12th, 1989!- John Martyn’s impassioned vocals and dazzling guitar make this an extraordinary concert performance John Martyn (born Iain David McGeachy on September 11th, 1948 in New Malden, Surrey, died January 9th, 2009 in Thomastown, County Kilkenny, Ireland) was an exceptional guitarist and accomplished singer/songwriter

 This stunning concert was recorded for German TV just after the release of his studio album “One World“.

Unfortunately the original master tape for “Singin’ In The Rain” could not be located and so this song has been omitted through necessity.

Green Day’s fortunes received a massive shot in the arm in 2004 with the release of “American Idiot”, the group’s second absolute classic of their career. Containing the huge hit singles ‘American Idiot’, ‘Boulevard Of Broken Dreams’, ‘Holiday’, ‘Wake Me Up When September Ends’ and ‘Jesus Of Suburbia’, this ambitious and brilliantly executed concept album inspired by the upheavals in American society post-9/11 shifted over nine million copies in the States alone. This 20th Anniversary edition contains B-sides and demos, a live show from Irving Plaza that year, and the 2015 documentary film “Heart Like A Hand Grenade”.

Green Day’s seventh studio album “American Idiot” was released in September 2004 and has since sold over 23 million copies worldwide. The album is a punk rock opera masterpiece that won the Best Rock Album at the 2005 Grammy Awards

This limited Edition Super Deluxe Box Sets (vinyl and CD), to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of this legendary album. The CD Super Deluxe contains 4 CDs which feature the original album and also includes 15 unreleased demos, a 15-song 2004 concert from Irving Plaza, NYC (9 songs previously unreleased), and 14 tracks that were released as B-Sides and bonus tracks. The box set is completed with two Blu-rays that feature the film “Heart Like A Hand Grenade”, 35 minutes of Green Day live at the BBC, and a new, unreleased documentary: “20 Years of American Idiot” plus a 48-page book, an enamel pin set, sticker sheet, and cloth patch.

8LP + 2x Blu-ray box set on Reprise. Includes a 36-page book, a large Green Day flag, and the iconic American Idiot red tie.

British indie pioneers The Loft split up in 1984 before they could become truly appreciated, but nevertheless were one of Creation’s earliest successes. In October 2023, the original line-up of Pete Astor, Dave Morgan, Bill Prince and Andy Strickland performed a four-track session for Marc Riley and Gideon Coe on their BBC Radio 6 Music show, rattling through three of their original classics plus their cover of Richard Hell’s ‘Time’.

The Loft notched up an impressive list of firsts for Creation Records artists back in the mid-1980s. First Creation band on TV, first to hit the top of the indie chart, first to be invited on to a major UK tour and, not least, first Creation band to record a coveted BBC radio session – for Janice Long’s Radio One show in 1984. Then they split up.

In October 2023, the band was invited by BBC Radio 6 Music’s Riley & Coe show to record its fourth BBC session at Maida Vale’s famous Studio 4, following their heralded appearance at the Glas-Goes Pop festival.

Featuring four classic Loft tracks and played by the original members the session confirmed the band’s standing as pioneering indie originals. On hearing the very first track broadcast, Nick Godfrey of Precious Recordings of London was messaging the band to bag the session for a full vinyl release.

The 10-inch vinyl EP features three band originals, ‘Beware’, ‘Worm In My Brain’ and ‘Ride’, plus their celebrated version of Richard Hell’s ‘Time’. The band have all contributed to the sleeve notes, describing what the session, and still playing together, means to them, with exclusive photos from inside Maida Vale taken by Ken Copsey.

10″ on Precious Recordings. Limited Edition of 500 copies,

King Crimson’s “Red” will be 50 next October 6th. In celebration of the anniversary of this classic King Crimson album, DGM and Panegyric will release a 50th Anniversary Edition on October 11th, By the time King Crimson entered the studio in July 74, the band had spent the best part of two years on the road, recorded two albums along the way (‘Larks’ Tongues In Aspic’ & ‘Starless & Bible Black’) & shed two band members en route; percussionist Jamie Muir having quit early 1973, and violin/mellotron player David Cross at the end of the US tour just a week prior to the recording of “Red”.

Crimson had built a reputation as one of the tightest, most powerful bands on the rock circuit. Recording as a trio in Olympic studios in London, with one improv piece (Providence) drawn from that final US tour & with contributions from former members & friends on saxophones, violin, and oboe, the group produced the last Crimson studio album of the 70s & one of the decade’s masterpieces – “Red”.

Available as a 4-disc boxed set (2 Blu-ray and 2 CDs) and as a 2-LP 200-gram vinyl set. 

 featured are a complete album’s worth of Elemental Mixes by long-time King Crimson producer (& band manager) David Singleton – using the original multi-track recordings to present a very different audio picture of the album, with greater separation of instruments & utilising many recorded elements recorded

This edition features completely new Dolby Atmos, 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio Surround & Stereo mixes by Steven Wilson taking the music to new levels of clarity & power. ‘Red’ was one of the earliest mixes undertaken by Steven Wilson in 2009 & King Crimson was the first of a number of classic band’s & artists to be mixed by Steven so it’s entirely appropriate that he return, some 15 years later, to take the album into the Dolby Atmos era.

“What I hear on “Red” is the best representation of 72-74 era line-up in the studio. In effect this is a power trio record and their sound is just huge.” – Steven Wilson

A new Jimi Hendrix box set is coming, and it features 38 unreleased tracks recorded by the late electric guitar legend at his Electric Lady studio months before his death. Since Hendrix’s untimely passing in September 1970, there have been many releases of B-Sides, rarities, re-masters, and other oddities, but very few offered new content.

Thankfully, the “Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision” box set, doesn’t fall for that trap – all but one of the set’s 39 tracks have never been released. The songs were recorded by what was a new-look Jimi Hendrix Experience band. While Mitch Mitchell remained on the drum stool, bassist Billy Cox was settling into life in the Experience having replaced Noel Redding the previous year.

Interestingly, Cox had previously turned down a spot in the band earlier in his career, believing it would protect the guitarist from racism. “Angel [Take 7]” is the first song from the new batch of lost gems to be unveiled. The song is a newly mixed and stripped-down version of the cut, featuring the original performances of Hendrix, Mitchell, and Cox that were committed to tape on July 23rd, 1970.

Unlike other versions that have come to light after Hendrix’s passing, this version is free of the additional drum and percussive layers Mitchell added after Hendrix had died.

During this period, Hendrix was tirelessly working on “First Rays Of The New Rising Sun“, the ambitious double album that was set to succeed his 1968 masterpiece, “Electric Ladyland”. The environment of Hendrix’s freshly constructed studio proved a breeding ground for creativity, with the trio piecing “Night Bird Flying”, “Freedom”, and “Dolly Dagger” together in the space.

This new box set offers a new, unblemished insight into their jams, with four-track demos of “Valleys Of Neptune” and “Heaven Has No Sorrow” serving as particular highlights.

There are also some far more sprawling offerings, including a 26-minute spontaneous jam entitled “The Long Medley, which includes “Beginnings, Hey Baby (New Rising Sun), Keep On Groovin’, and “Freedom“.

In addition, mixes of tracks completed by Hendrix and producer Eddie Kramer before he left the studio to perform at the Isle of Wight festival in England are included. The box set’s release coincides with a new documentary of the same name, which will be screened in cinemas. It tells the story of how a dilapidated Manhattan nightclub was transformed into Hendrix’s now-legendary, state-of-the-art studio.

“The construction of Electric Lady [Studios] was a nightmare,” Kramer says in the doc’s trailer. “We were always running out of money. Poor Jimi had to go back out on the road, make some money, come back, then we could pay the crew. “Late in ’69 we just hit a wall financially and the place just shut down. He borrows against his future royalties, and we’re off to the races. We could make an atmosphere that he felt comfortable in.”

John Lennon, The Clash, AC/DC, Chic, David Bowie, and Stevie Wonder would all go on to record at the studio. “My brother had a musical vision,” Janie Hendrix reflects. “With this project, it felt appropriate to shed light not only on his own music, but also on his lasting contribution of Electric Lady Studios.

“He was driven internally to build a home base where he could record everything he felt. While his life was cut short, so many other talented artists continue to express themselves within those magical walls on 52 West 8th Street.”

“Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision” is out September 13th via Legacy Recordings.

Jack White has given an official release to his new album, “No Name“, which he previously stealth-released via his Third Man stores on July 19th. The 13-track album will be available from Thursday, on limited edition vinyl at all Third Man stores with a wider vinyl release at select independent record stores, as well as a global digital release, following on Friday, August 2nd.

Jack White’s is back in a big, big way! Here he slides back into the raw, blown out garage rock that he’s so well known for and man does it sound good. The riffs are piled high all over this album and he’s never sounded so urgent and utterly relevant. Everything distorts in just the right places and the hooks are guaranteed to stay in your head for a long, long time. He’s stripped everything back and come back bigger, badder and better than ever. 2024 needs this man big time.

The album was recorded, produced, and mixed by White at his Third Man Studio throughout 2023 and 2024, pressed to vinyl at Third Man Pressing, and released by Third Man Records.

“The Complete 1969 Recordings” is the ninth major box set by rock band King Crimson. It features 26 discs worth of material spanning their first studio album, “In the Court of the Crimson King“.

The box set’s new session material was remixed to stereo by David Singleton. It also features a new Dolby Atmos remix of the original album by Steven Wilson.

The box set includes 20 CDs worth of material with another 2 DVDs and 4 Blu-Ray Discs. The album also features a booklet of unseen photos from the recording sessions as well as memorabilia.

Ultimate Boxed Set Edition of one of rock music’s seminal debut albums. Complete, fully mixed stereo recording sessions feature on Blu-Ray, DVD & across 6 CDs Blu-Rays also feature the original master edition of the 1969 album mix in 24/96 stereo, the 2019 stereo & 5.1 mixes, the 2009 stereo & 5.1 mixes, a complete alternate album comprising 2019 mixes & more. ‘Let’s Make a Hit Waxing’ – single CD ‘in the studio with the band’ mixed & compiled by David Singleton,

A 13 further CDs present all known live recordings of the band, BBC sessions, a CD compilation of Giles, Giles & Fripp material (1968) & all studio recordings & alt takes of the main album. Presented in an album sized box with outer slipcase, containing a 12 inch booklet featuring an intro from Robert Fripp, notes about the source tapes by David Singleton, sleeve-notes by King Crimson biographer Sid Smith & previously unseen photos from the recording sessions plus memorabilia. Artwork derived from 2019 scans of the original paintings, meticulously restored.

“For those who wanted to understand just how remarkable King Crimson Mark I’s many achievements were, and in such a short period of time, “The Complete 1969 Recordings” now comes as the absolutely best document.”

The eighth boxed set in the series documenting King Crimson’s studio & live recordings from 1969 onwards. Complete disc contents CD 1: Live at Hyde Park, July 5th 1969 CD 2: Live at The Marquee, July 6th 1969 CD 3: Plumpton Festival, August 9th 1969 CD 4: Live at Chesterfield, September 9th 1969 (new master) disc 1 CD 5: Live at Chesterfield, September 9th 1969 (new master) disc 2 CD 6: Fillmore East, November 21st/22nd 1969 CD 7: Fillmore West, December 14th/15th 1969 CD 8: Original master edition expanded CD 9: Alternate album expanded CD 10: 2009 mix plus additional material CD 11: 2019 mixes expanded

Packaged in a 12-inch boxed set with 40 page booklet including previously unseen photos from the recording sessions & new sleeve-notes plus memorabilia / FORMAT: 26 Disc CD/DVD/DVD-a/Blu-Ray boxed set 4 x Blu-Ray 1 x DVD-A 1 x DVD 20 x CD

Tony Iommi is synonymous with heavy rock, his innovative, de-tuned, dark riffs are considered to be the blueprint for hundreds of bands that followed. Featuring exclusive written contributions from Ozzy Osbourne, Sir Brian May, James Hetfield, and Phil Anselmo.

As Phil Anselmo says, “With a thick sound and crushing, bending riffs—riffs that paint the insides of our memory banks, black with sacred knowledge, Tony changed the landscape of what was acceptable for a mere guitar to sound like.” For the last two years, Tony has been working with renowned music photographer Ross Halfin to compile this luxury, 340 page, photographic book of his musical career;

From the very early days of Black Sabbath through to the opening of the Birmingham Royal “Black Sabbath” ballet in 2023. This suitably heavy tome is a celebration of one of music’s most innovative guitarists and, as Ozzy notes in his exclusive epilogue, “If someone asked me, who was the leader of Black Sabbath, it’d have to be Tony, wouldn’t it? We all contributed, of course, but without Tony’s riffs, we wouldn’t have had a chance”.

The book is a compendium of carefully selected images compiled from all eras of Tony’s career, many from Ross Halfin’s own archive, and the book also features further exclusive written contributions from some of music’s leading talents and friends of Tony. These include Sir Brian May, James Hetfield, and Phil Anselmo.

As Sir Brian May notes in his introduction, “Ross Halfin has captured images of Tony in a huge number of settings over the years, as you will see in this book. The pictures show a man of great power and presence, as befits a giant riffmeister”. Tony Iommi himself says, “I really appreciate all the work Ross has put in, both as a photographer and editor of the book. These photographs represent my career and the memories they conjure up remind me what a fantastic journey we’ve been on. So often I’d look down from the stage and there in the middle of the moshpit would be Ross fighting his corner to get just the right shot. Cheers Ross, the book is a testament to our long friendship and the many defining moments in my life you’ve captured”. Available to order from http://www.rufuspublications.com/rufusbooks/iommi/