LATEST ADDITIONS

Fans of Beck David Hansen know that this multitalented singer/songwriter, producer/performer is something of a musical chameleon who delivers his music cross-pollinated in rock, folk, Latin, hip-hop, and even symphonic sounds. This all made his triple-Grammy-winning February 2014 Capitol LP Morning Phase all the more of a surprise, as it was a lush slow-moving, ambient-flavored, acoustic-driven masterpiece that commands rapt attention from listeners. The new Definitive Sound Series (DSS) reissue of Morning Phase from Fonograf/Capitol now makes it easier than ever to kick back and just float upstream with Beck’s music. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see all the reasons why the DSS edition of Morning Phase is a must-have. . .

He kept his eyes open all the time, and he also shot a man in Reno just to watch him die (or so he said). Of course, we’re talking about the one and only Johnny Cash, whose 1957 debut album on Sun Records, With His Hot and Blue Guitar, has just received a 180g 45rpm all-analog 1LP upgrade from Intervention Records. Read AP editor Mike Mettler’s review to see why Intervention have once again worked their unique analog magic with another vintage classic LP. . .

A pair of recent reissues of two raw, rockin’ classic LPs by Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters are arguably ground zero for modern electric blues music as we know it today. Kicking off UMG’s 75th anniversary celebration of the venerable Chess Records label late last fall, Howlin Wolf’s Moanin’ in the Moonlight (1959) and Muddy Waters’ The Best of Muddy Waters (1958) are two of the LPs that ushered in the parent label’s Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series, with Acoustic Sounds handling the 180g pressings. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why both of these reissues are vital additions to your collection. . .

In our seemingly endlessly perpetual multitasking modern world, sometimes it’s worth just taking a beat to slow everything down. Ambient music pioneer Brian Eno must have been reading our mind, because his latest multimedia collaboration with Dutch author/activist Bette A. may just be the literal aural elixir needed to fit that bill. The result of their multimedia mindmeld, 2 Slow Stories, is a two-sided, two-song companion to Bette A.’s collection of short stories dubbed (naturally) Slow Stories. Read AP editor Mike Mettler’s report to see why Bette and Brian’s forthcoming, extremely limited-edition bundle fits that requisite slow-rolling bill. . .