Dust off that old turntable and coax it back to life with a yearlong feeding courtesy of Sub Pop Records, reviving its legendary Sub Pop Singles Club this week. Out of commission since its original operation from 1988 to 1993 and its run from 1998 through 2002, the return celebrates the label's 20th anniversary. Offering a one-year subscription of 12 seven-inch singles delivered to your doorstep each month, the series kicks off with Om, with The Notwist, Blues Control, Black Lips, Black Mountain, Unnatural Helpers, and Tyvek warming up. Each pressing will be limited to 1,500 copies, each with a special coupon code for free downloads of the song's MP3.
Television Alert
The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Motley Crue tonight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson boasts Phantom Planet on Monday and The Hold Steady on Tuesday overnight; and Tavis Smiley gets serious with Nas on Thursday.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, August 19
31Knots - Worried Well (Polyvinyl) captivating, emotive, theatric pop with a nod to the flair of Queen in showman Joe Haege
The Acacia Strain - Continent (Prosthetic) hot off tour with All Shall Perish, The Warriors, and Since the Flood
Agraceful - The Great I Am (Sumerian Records) currently on the Scream the Prayer Tour with A Kiss for Jersey, Impending Doom, and My Children My Bride
Blackmore's Night - Secret Voyage (Steamhammer/SPV) with Earl Grey of Chimay, Bard David of Larchmont, Squire Malcolm of Lumley, and vocalist Candice Night, the renaissance-fair folk of Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore reinterprets traditional music from Russia, France, and Germany, also covering his own "Rainbow Eyes" and the Elvis Presley smash "Can't Help Falling in Love"
David Byrne - Big Love: Hymnal (Todo Mundo) tracks written for the HBO series Big Love and other new songs by the Talking Heads founder
Glen Campbell - Meet Glen Campbell (Capitol) with guest Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, the country legend covers songs by U2, the Velvet Underground, Green Day, Foo Fighters, and The Replacements
The Chemical Brothers - Midnight Madness (Astralwerks) new single from the forthcoming Brotherhood album, encouraging fans to submit short videos via Google Earth to be complied into an upcoming YouTube video
The Dandy Warhols - Earth to the Dandy Warhols (Beat the World) physical release of this recent digital album, with guests Mike Campbell of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers and Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits on the single "Love Song"
Don Caballero - Punkgasm (Relapse) featuring enigmatic song titles "Why Is the Couch Always Wet?" and "Slaughbaugh's Ought Not Own Dog Data"
Bobby Evans - "Freak-A-Zoid Robotz" (Delicious Vinyl) from the label's recent RMXXOLOGY remix album, this CD and 12-inch single hearkens back to the android days of TR-808s and Vocoders, featuring instrumental and a cappella versions of the Miami Bass classic and his "minimal edit" of Peaches' remix of Tone Loc's "Wild Thing"
The Fiery Furnaces - Remember (Thrill Jockey) 51-track anthology on two CDs or in a limited-edition three-LP vinyl set, both with enclosed coupons for free MP3 downloads
Donavon Frankenreiter - Pass It Around (Lost Highway) with guests G. Love, Grant Lee Phillips, and Ben Harper, the smooth, funky, soulful singer/songwriter is looking for "Life, Love, & Laughter" and to "Hit the Ground Running"
Jeff Hanson - Madam Owl (Kill Rock Stars) third album and perfect Sunday-morning CD from the fragile falsetto
Juliana Hatfield - How to Walk Away (Ye Olde Records) all new on her artist-owned label with guests Tracy Bonham, Nada Surf's Matthew Caws, Fountains of Wayne's Jody Porter, and the Psychedelic Furs' Richard Butler; look for Hatfield's memoir When I Grow Up to be published next month by Wiley & Sons
Human Highway - Moody Motorcycle (Suicide Squeeze) melodic blue-eyed soul from Nick Thorburn of Islands and Jim Guthrie
Jaguar Love - Take Me to the Sea (Matador) featuring former members of Pretty Girls Make Graves and the Blood Brothers
EG Kight - It's Hot in Here (M.C. Records) featuring the "Georgia songbird" flying through "House of the Rising Sun"
Lagwagon - I Think My Older Brother Used to Listen to Lagwagon (Fat Wreck) seven-song CD EP
Lindstrøm - Where You Go I Go Too (Smalltown Supersound) modern disco wonderland featuring the 28-minute title track
Raine Maida - The Hunter's Lullaby (King Noise/Nettwerk) solo debut from the Our Lady Peace frontman, with his wife Chantal Kreviazuk on piano and guest vocals
Shannon McArdle - Summer of the Whore (Bar None) chilling and brutally honest solo debut from the former Mendoza Line vocalist
Amy McDonald - This Is the Life (Decca) stateside release of this Scotland sensation that ended Radiohead's run as the number-one album in the UK, featuring the hit single "Mr. Rock & Roll" and the haunting "Footballer's Wife"
Robin McKelle - Modern Antique (Cheap Lullaby) featuring flirty, saucy takes on standards "Day by Day" and "Cheek to Cheek," the big-band vocalist turns in a must-hear, scattin' cover of Steve Miller's "Abracadabra"
Kate McGarry - If Less Is More ... Nothing Is Everything (Palmetto) featuring the jazz vocalist's spin on Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changing" and The Cars' "Just What I Needed"
Julie Neumark - Dimestore Halo (Neumark Melody) terrific debut from this powerful country-blues-pop rocker, featuring the vamp-ish prowl and grind of "Drink Myself Pretty" and what might be a new theme song for her hometown in "Cincinnati"
OPM - Golden State of Mind (Suburban Noize) with guests Big B, Dirtball, Pato Banton, Sen Dog of Cypress Hill, DJ Product of Hed pe, and Johnny Richter of Kottonmouth Kings
Lee "Scratch" Perry - Repentance (Narnack) co-produced by Andrew WK, this all-new CD and two-LP vinyl set features the reggae/dub legend in his 54th album with guests Moby, Chris Stein of Blondie, David Tibet of Current 93, Don Flemming of Gumbal, and Matisyahu bassist Josh Werner
Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line (Barsuk) featuring a cool cover of Kate Bush's "Suspended in Gaffa," and incorporating elements of e.e. cummings in "Dying Is Fine"
The Sacred Shakers - The Sacred Shakers (Signature Sounds) eight-member collective traveling back in time to the sweet swells and uplifting message of old-time back-porch roots-gospel music, picking swift and steppin' lively
Saurasama - Fajar Di Atas Awan (Drag City) light the incense and turn on the black lights with the reissue of this earthy, mesmerizing out-of-body experience from 1998, by the contemporary Indonesian duo whose album title translates to the fitting "Dawn Over the Clouds"
Staind - The Illusion of Progress (Flip/Atlantic) on tour this summer with Hinder and 3 Doors Down; a limited-edition package features three bonus tracks and a year's membership in their official fan club
Stereolab - Chemical Chords (Duophonic UHF/4AD) featuring the return of Sean O'Hagan
Danny Tenaglia - The Space Race (Tommy Boy) vinyl release
Uh Huh Her - Common Reaction (Nettwerk) synthesized duo of Camila Grey of Mellowdrone and Leisha Hailey of The Murmurs
The Verve - Forth (On Your Own Records/Megaforce) with the single "Love Is Noise," perhaps the most anticipated album of the year so far, also available in a "luxury edition" box set with two-LP vinyl, DVD, and bonus-tracks-enhanced CD
The Walkmen - You & Me (Gigantic) supporting the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the Joy Fund with AmieStreet.com's "Download to Make a Difference Campaign"
What Laura Says - Thinks & Feels (Terpsikhore) refreshingly melodic in the vein of Jellyfish and Queen's campiest ballads, while as wistful as Simon & Garfunkel and the Velvet Underground, this Phoenix trio croons a spooky David Lynch lullaby in "Waves"
Alex Woodard - Alex Woodard (Woodshack/Adrenaline) with guest Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek
