Amoeba Music

There's nothing bad you can say about The Replacements album Tim. It is one of the greatest albums of the 80s. HOWEVER, it definitely sounds like it was recorded and mixed in the 80s, and was mixed by a guy wearing headphones. This edition frees the recordings from the production styles of the times and only enhances the timelessness of the recordings. Lost guitar solos are reinstated, backing vocals are restored, the drums sound like actual drums. Six stars out of five.

Aphex Twin vinyl releases have always been elusive. Outside his main catalog which has been reliably in print for a while, he has put his name on countless singles and EPs and side projects that maybe only had hundreds or thousands of copies pressed when they were brand new. Luckily much of this stuff has been reissued lately, and Digeridoo is a recent highlight. Digeridoo was released during the small window of time Richard James was releasing music that one could imagine would actually be played inside a club where people could dance to it. It's not to say this EP isn't his brand of kooky, but it is definitely something you could describe as 90s club music. By the time the rest of the world caught on to Aphex Twin releases like these were nearly impossible to find on physical media, even in the 90s. Most people have only heard this release via Napster or Kazaa, and it's a huge relief to have it freshly remastered from the original tapes.

Broadcast left us way too soon, but left behind a small but perfect discography. Spell Blanket is a collection of fragments and demos left behind by frontwoman Trish Keenan before her untimely death. A very interesting snapshot of what could have been.

When Farewell My Concubine was originally released in 1993 it was an international sensation that was nominated for multiple Oscars. In the ensuing years it fell out of print or was only available in editions that did not fully convey the masterpiece-level film it was. Luckily Criterion have come to the rescue yet again with an edition that presents the film as the cornerstone of modern Chinese cinema it is.

The original Robocop is a certified classic. Robocop 2 is... interesting? But can now be appreciated in the highest quality possible thanks to Shout! Factory's new restoration from the original negatives. Filled with insightful special features that do their best to explain how this happened and why.

Even if you're not a "Reddhead", the story of the band that Thurston Moore called "one of the most important bands of the last 30-40 years" will astound you...forming in 1978, the sheer love of music has keep the band and their 70's/trash/glam aesthetic together through, er, thin & thin. Check out the recently released doco "Born Innocent" too!

From his punky beginnings in the legendary Raw magazine to his best selling "Black Hole" graphic novel, Burns has always been a master at creating a foreboding & Cronenberg-ian tone in his tales of suburban horror, but this graphic novel continues the growth in his character development also…a masterpiece!

The step-daughter of acclaimed jazz musician Don Cherry, Neneh Cherry has had an amazing life, and it's all in here! From the early London punk scene via Rip Rig & Panic, Float Up CP, & The Slits to her solo success with the “Raw Like Sushi” LP in 1989, she’s been an inspiring and uncompromising artist.

A few months after I paid over $100 for an original (good timing pal!), this fantastic LP finally gets a reissue on record (along with their 5 other catalog titles). It's one of the best of the 1990's, Stereolab meets Pet Sounds meets Neu, best sampled on the epic (and lengthy!) groove of "Track Goes By"...while the single "Checking In, Checking Out" adds a hooky early Steely Dan vibe...but this is definitely best taken as a whole listen, its mood & subtle wonk will draw you in & get you coming back over & over...killer!

The Rap superstar (who died in 2020) simultaneously amazed & frustrated his fans with a litany of truths, half-truths, and straight up lies...was it even him behind the mask live? Fernando is an insider who gets to the bottom of the conundrum that was Daniel Dumile Jr's hiphop life.

Insanely thorough but consistently readable, "All Over The Place" is a fantastic story of the musical osmosis in the LA punk scene (& Paisley Underground shortly after) that resulted in this criminally underrated female band. This story of their early days is a tribute to their determination, passion, & plain ol' good taste.

A relaxing picnic or stroll through a meadow wouldn’t be anything without Adrienne singing. She’s a little country with a little folk like guitar mixed in. Reminds me a little of Birdy.

The title song sounds very large and epic. It is all instrumental which adds to the epic quality of it. The lead singer has a very dominant voice which helps to make them unique which I like. They are an all female British band. It is a mixture of acoustic songs and cover songs according to Google. I like them because they sound different in every song.

Made during Covid it shows in its rawness. At one point you hear her dog barking in the background of one of the songs. But, what makes Fiona Apple so good is that the piano is good. I am a lifelong fan of hers and this will just add to it.

This book is a fantasy romance, but one more concerned with what it means to be human -- and to be remembered -- than romance for romance's sake.

All your favorites from Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi, now in jazz form!

The first (and hopefully not last) game in the Legend of Zelda series where you get to play as the titular princess herself! Super cute strategy-adventure game.

Sapphic YA adventure featuring a romance between a noble poet and her lady knight.

YA adventure with a hint of romance and a found family subplot. This is the first in a trilogy, with the final book (Holy Terrors) set to be released April 1st.

Born and raised in New Orleans, now living in Los Angeles, with some time in Texas, The Holy Knives create music that provides a portal into their world. Under the guidance of Jamie Hince (The Kills), The Holy Knives worked to string together the sounds of each piece of their journey, weaving in a bit of the dark swagger of New Orleans, with a few nods to desert psychedelia and the chopped and screwed of Texas, it’s got atmosphere for days. Check out their EP “I Don’t Wanna Win.” It’s available on vinyl right here at Amoeba!