Indie

The Best Vinyl Releases Of June 2022

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Best Vinyl
Uproxx

Anybody who thought the vinyl resurgence was just a fad was mistaken: The industry has experienced a legitimate revival. As a result, music fans are interested in physical media in ways they may not have if the decades-old medium hasn’t made a comeback. That doesn’t mean everybody is listening to just their parents’ old music, though. That’s part of it, sure, thanks to rereleases that present classic albums in new ways. A vital part of the renewed vinyl wave, though, is new projects being released as records, of which there are plenty.

Whatever you might be into, each month brings a new slew of vinyl releases that has something for everybody. Some stand out above the rest, naturally, so check out some of our favorite vinyl releases of June below.

Bartees Strange — Farm To Table

Bartees Strange Farm To Table vinyl
4AD

After generating a ton of buzz with his 2020 debut album Live Forever, Bartees Strange returned just earlier this month with Farm To Table, a genre-spanning album that’s full of compelling moments. As for the vinyl, there’s a cool-looking striped version (the one above) or a classic black LP. Regardless of what edition you get, the vinyl release of the album has a song, “Daily News,” that’s only available on this physical pressing. Order it now for an October ship.

Get it here.

Elton John — Madman Across The Water (50th Anniversary Reissue)

Elton John Madman vinyl
UMe

Elton John had a huge 1971, as he dropped a live album with 17-11-70, a soundtrack for the movie Friends, and later in the year, a proper studio album, Madman Across The Water. Now we have a 50th-anniversary edition of it and it’s a big one, as the 4-LP box set includes a 40-page booklet with introductions by John and Bernie Taupin, photos and essays, a reproduction 1971 reproduction poster, and more.

Get it here.

Diiv — Oshin (10th Anniversary Reissue)

Diiv Oshin vinyl
Captured Tracks

Diiv was one of the most critically respected indie groups of the 2010s and it all started with Oshin. That album turns 10 this year, which the group is celebrating with an expanded 2-LP edition. The first LP contains the regular album as we know it, while the other one has original Oshin demos and two live songs, including the previously unreleased “Yuk.”

Get it here.

Angel Olsen — Big Time

Angel Olsen Big Time vinyl
Jagjaguwar

“Out with the bangs, in with the twangs,” a clever ad for Angel Olsen’s new album reads. The country-leaning LP is one of the finer albums of the year so far and now it can be one of the finest albums in your vinyl collection, too. Unfortunately, the clear green edition pictured above is sold out as of this post, but the still-available black vinyl never goes out of style.

Get it here.

Los Angeles Philharmonic — Hollywood Bowl: The First 100 Years

hollywood bowl vinyl
Los Angeles Philharmonic

We’ve had the Hollywood Bowl for a hundred years now and now the Los Angeles Philharmonic has unveiled a massive 7-LP box set of performances from the storied venue, a healthy 55-recording mix that features performances from Death Cab For Cutie, The Doors, James Brown, the Philharmonic conducted by John Williams, and a bunch of others that convey how important this iconic space has been and remains. (Also, you even get a free tote bag!)

Get it here.

The Walkmen — You & Me (Sun Studio Edition)

You & Me (Sun Studio Edition)
Gigantic

The Walkmen, sadly, are no more, but we’ll always have the music. 2008’s You & Me, one of their most beloved albums, has now gotten a deluxe new vinyl version, dubbed the Sun Studio Edition, which is fully remastered and comes with a fourth side of unreleased tracks from the time, recorded at Sun Studio for PBS.

Get it here.

Beach Boys — Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys

Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys vinyl
Capitol/UMe

Artists are competing for the unofficial “song of the summer” title for 2022 right now, but if we’re talking all-time, it’s hard to beat the Beach Boys. Well, the group, which celebrates 60 years this year, so they’ve reissued their 2003 Sounds Of Summer compilation, which collects 80 songs from 1962 to 1989, making this a great catch-all option to fill a Beach Boys-sized hole in your vinyl library.

Get it here.

Beastie Boys — Check Your Head (30th Anniversary Reissue)

Beastie Boys Check Your Head vinyl
Beastie Boys

It’s been 30 years since Beastie Boys dropped the classic Check Your Head, so what better way to celebrate than with a new deluxe 4-LP edition? This limited reissue was originally released in 2009 and has been out of print for a good while, and goodies like remixes, live versions, and B-sides make it an especially desirable release.

Get it here.

The Kills — No Wow (17th Anniversary Reissue)

The Kills No Wow vinyl
Domino

17th anniversaries aren’t a common one to make a big deal about, but for The Kills’ second album No Wow, it’s worth it. They’ve shared a limited deluxe reissue of the 2005 album that presents two distinct versions of the album: the original and a new mix by Grammy winner Tchad Blake. Furthermore, the deluxe edition has a gold foil gatefold LP jacket, black-and-gold smoke vinyl LP, an exclusive 5×7 print, and a four-page booklet.

Get it here.

Bright Eyes — I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning (Vinyl Me, Please Reissue)

Bright Eyes Vinyl Me Please
Vinyl Me Please

One of Vinyl Me, Please’s latest records of the month is the Bright Eyes classic I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning. The LP was widely considered one of 2005’s best and this may be the best vinyl release of it, as the marbled red vinyl is gorgeous and it comes with a listening notes booklet.

Get it here.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Machine Gun Kelly Was Gushing Blood But Kept Performing After Smashing Glass On His Face

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Machine Gun Kelly 2022
Getty Image

Last night, Machine Gun Kelly took to Madison Square Garden for a massive sold-out show, but it’s what he did after that’s making headlines this morning: At an after-party, Kelly went ahead and, keeping with his signature intensity, smashed a glass on his face and mostly acted like he wasn’t bleeding fairly heavily from his head.

In a video shared on Kelly’s Instagram Story (also viewable via Page Six), Kelly, speaking to a small crowd at New York’s Catch Steak, says, “Bro, I don’t give a sh*t,” before smashing the glass on his face. He continues talking as people around him let out audible gasps. The next clips shows Kelly, with a decent amount of blood on his face and bloody napkins in his hand, singing his and Blackbear’s “My Ex’s Best Friend.” Kelly captioned the first video, “and this is when things turned…”

This all comes after Kelly’s new documentary, Life In Pink. In the film, he describes a suicide attempt, saying, “I called [Megan Fox], I was like, ‘You aren’t here for me.’ I’m freaking out on her and I put the shotgun in my mouth. I’m yelling on the phone and the barrel’s in my mouth. I go to cock the shotgun and the bullet as it comes back up, the shell just gets jammed. Megan’s dead silent.”

Steve Lacy Shares The Groovy ‘Bad Habit’ And The Release Date For His New Album ‘Gemini Rights’

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Steve Lacy just dropped his second single this month in “Bad Habit,” and the surge of new music from the producer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist isn’t a coincidence. Along with “Bad Habit,” Lacy has also shared the official details for the release date of his new album, Gemini Rights, and it’s coming out a lot sooner than you think.

Out in two weeks on July 15th, Gemini Rights, is written and produced by Lacy, who also played most of the instruments on each of the ten tracks — including one with Fousheé, whom he made out with in a music video earlier this year. Whereas on lead single “Mercury,” Lacy explored saucy bossa nova rhythms and emphatic vocals over a complex arrangement, “Bad Habit” is a sweet, groovy love song where Lacy ranges his voice a la Blood Orange’s Dev Hynes. “I wish I knew, I wish I knew you wanted me,” he sings on the soul-bearing hook.

The album is written in the aftermath of Lacy’s first big heartbreak, which at 24 years old, is a pretty decent streak. The Grammy nominee has cited influences on Gemini Rights from Brazilian maestro Caetano Veloso and Outkast’s Andre 3000 to Sly Stone, The Beatles, and of course, his talented pack in the The Internet.

Listen to “Bad Habit” above.

Gemini Rights is out 7/15 via RCA Records. Pre-order it here.

Sampa The Great Announces The New Album ‘As Above, So Below’ And Shares The Zamrock-Influenced ‘Never Forget’

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On 2019’s The Return, Zambian-born, Australian-based rapper Sampa The Great presented her manifesto of sorts, as an African woman of the world. The album placed her firmly on the spectrum as one of today’s most unique creators and even garnered her Bandcamp’s No. 1 album of the year. When the pandemic hit, Sampa went back to her native Zambia and reconnected with her roots, delving deeper into the country’s poignant, yet under-represented musical influence — namely of Zamrock. It’s fed into the creation of her newly announced follow-up album, As Above, So Below, due out September 9th and featuring appearances from Denzel Curry, Angelique Kidjo, WITCH, Joey Badass, and others.

The album’s ethos is boldly presented on the latest single, “Never Forget,” an explosion of hip-hop, Zamrock, afrobeats, and traditional African drums. “Who did music, made that sh*t language, African branded? We did,” Sampa proclaims on the track, which features rapper Chef 187, songwriter Tio Nason, and Sampa’s sister, Mwanjé. Zamrock bands of the 70’s like WITCH (who are touring in the US this year) didn’t have the opportunity to tour the world back then, so the genre remained a sleeping giant of sorts — even for a native like Sampa, who grew up in Botswana before moving to Australia. Sampa explains how her enlightenment has now become her journey and it’s masterfully captured in the music video for “Never Forget,” directed by Rharha Nembhard.

“‘Never Forget’ is an ode to Zamrock music,” Sampa says in a statement. “A genre born in the ’70s combining traditional Zambian music and psychedelic rock. In particular, the song focuses on kalindula music. This tribute was inspired by the band WITCH and their lead singer Mr. Jagari Chanda, who has become one of my musical mentors. I discovered Zamrock later in my life and was surprised that this music was known globally, yet not fully celebrated and acknowledged in Zambia today. It hit home for me as I felt similarities in my own journey, having had my career take off outside my birth country. I thought it was fitting to pay homage to those who came before me and merge past, present, and future through music and imagery; passing the baton from one generation to the next. The archival footage in the clip includes the late great Paul Ngozi, the late president Kenneth Kaunda (Zambia’s first president), and the legendary WITCH”

Watch the video for “Never Forget” above and check out the As Above, So Below album artwork and tracklist below.

Sampa The Great as above, so below
Sampa The Great

1. “Shadows”
2. “Lane” Feat. Denzel Curry
3. “Never Forget” Feat. Chef 187, Tio Nason, Mwanjé
4. “Mask On” Feat. Joey Badass
5. “BONA”
6. “Can I Live” Feat. WITCH
7. “Imposter Syndrome” Feat. James Sakala
8. “Tilibobo”
9. “Lo Rain” Feat. Mwanjé
10. “IDGAF” Feat. Kojey Radical
11. “Let Me Be Great” Feat Angélique Kidjo

As Above, So Below is out 9/9 via Loma Vista Recordings. Pre-order it here.

Lil Wayne Smoked 15 Blunts When He Was In The Studio With Machine Gun Kelly

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Lil Wayne
Getty Image

Machine Gun Kelly’s new Hulu documentary Life In Pink came out yesterday, which tells the story of his pivot to pop punk. Possibly the most interesting part of the whole thing is his recollection of collaborating with Lil Wayne for “Drug Dealer,” and the way the iconic rapper smoked 15 blunts.

“I pressed play on the song, he’s like, ‘Is that what we’re doing?’” MGK recalled. “‘Yeah.’ He’s like, ‘Alright. You guys got time?’ ‘Yeah, for sure.’ He goes in the courtyard, smokes 15 blunts. He just takes each, his eyes are closed just playing the track over and over again. He comes back in the studio and we can see him in the courtyard. We’re just kind of sitting there amazed, like that’s the GOAT forming his thoughts around a track that we made.”

He continued, “He comes back in at 5:30 in the morning. He’s like, ‘Y’all ready?’ He goes in the booth and he lays his sh*t like, one time. It’s just like, one time.”

Kelly previously told a similar story about working with Wayne, minus the details about blunts.

Apparently MGK’s flirtation with pop punk is coming to an end for now, because a couple of months ago he said he’ll be returning to rap music. “I’m going to make a rap album for myself, for no other reason, no point to prove, no chip on my shoulder,” he said in an interview.

The Inaugural Big Climate Thing Festival Will Feature The Roots, Haim, Khruangbin, And More

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Questlove The Roots 2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards
Getty Image

So it turns out that at the moment, the climate could be doing better. There are some people out there trying to do something about that, including the folks at Climate Control Projects and Brian Eno’s EarthPercent with their latest endeavor: the first-ever The Big Climate Thing festival.

The inaugural event, intended to raise awareness and take action about the climate crisis, is set to go down at New York’s Forest Hills Stadium from July 16 to 18 and the lineup features The Roots, Haim, Khruangbin, The Flaming Lips, Gary Clark Jr., Courtney Barnett, Sheryl Crow, The Weather Station, Sunflower Bean, Bonny Light Horseman, Guster, Pom Pom Squad, and others.

The Weather Station’s Tamara Lindeman told Rolling Stone, “I think music, along with all the cultural industries, have spent way too long sitting back on this issue. I believe music plays a primarily emotional role in people’s lives, and as such I think it has huge potential in pushing us to recognize our tangled emotions around this topic. When I imagine a stadium full of people coming together for a climate event centered on music, what I imagine is an enormous opportunity to feel a solidarity that has been so missing here. I truly hope that an enormous in-person event can have some power to bring people together and create some common experience around climate, and push those in attendance to examine their climate feelings and push through them enough to act.”

Sunflower Bean’s Julia Cumming also notes, “I believe that music is one of the most powerful communication tools we have on this planet, way deeper than just words could ever express. Music has to power to influence people’s decisions by touching their hearts and relating to them on the human condition. We are all facing the same problem: this is all our home and it happens to be on fire. If we can figure out how to properly utilize music in this era of the climate crisis, I know more good could be done.”

More info about the festival, including ticket information, can be found at the Big Climate Thing website.

Haim Explain How Their Recent Drake Meet-Up Was A Coincidence ‘Like Something Out Of A Movie’

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haim-getty-full.jpg
Getty Image

Around this time last month, Drake and Haim met up in Toronto, with Drake sharing a smile-heavy photo of the encounter and writing, “Just met the Beatles.” While it made sense that the two would meet in Drake’s hometown, what hadn’t been made clear is how Drake and Haim actually crossed paths. Now, though, the Haim sisters have shared how it happened: pure coincidence.

According to a new NME interview, the story goes:

Alana: “We literally landed in Toronto, and went to the first restaurant we saw… it’s like something out of a movie. We were at this random restaurant and Drake showed up.”

Danielle: “It sounds like folklore, like a mythic story.”

Alana: “But that’s what happened!”

Este: “We were straight-up wearing our clothes from the plane, to see Drake.”

Alana: “Well, we didn’t know! It’s pretty crazy.”

Este: “But that’s what I’m saying, we didn’t know and he showed up and I was wearing pajamas and Uggs and no make-up and acne medication, to meet Drake.”

Alana: “It was great.”

As for what the band’s up to now, Alana said, “We’re always writing, it never stops. I think the biggest thing is being away from touring for two years was the most heartbreaking for us, we’ve always considered ourselves a touring band. We love playing live, and we just did our tour in the states and in a couple of weeks we get to do our UK tour, and we’re just so excited. We’re playing The O2 arena!”

Check out the full interview here.

Jazz & Hip-Hop Prodigies Domi & JD Beck Drop ‘Whatup,’ And Announce Their Debut Album

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If you haven’t been hipped to Domi & JD Beck yet, a good primer is the keyboardist and drummer’s four minute tribute to Madvillainy. The two classically-trained prodigies are well-versed in the finer points of jazz, as much as they are dexterous hip-hop instrumentalists, and it made them one of our artists to watch last month. Signed to Anderson .Paak’s Apeshit Records, the pair have just announced their debut album, and it’s set to feature appearances from Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Herbie Hancock, Thundercat, Mac DeMarco, and of course, Paak.

At 21 and 18, respectively, Domi and Beck are already at the top of their game — they even co-wrote Silk Sonic’s hit “Skate.” But it’s what they do with their own work that showcases why they’re true game-changers ushering in the next era of jazz music. Take their latest single “Whatup,” a spaced-out number that starts with Domi’s unassuming keys, that quickly give way to Beck’s frenzied snare-dominant drums, before they keyboard shoots straight to another dimension.

There’s a lot to like about this duo, who represent a glimpse into the future of jazz. And it’s their well-rounded approach that isn’t confined by any boundaries — neither stylistic nor academic — that’s going to keep them rising deeper into mainstream consciousness.

Listen to “Whatup” above and check out the album art and tracklist for Not Tight below.

Domi & JD Beck Not Tight
Domi & JD Beck

1. “Louna’s Intro”
2. “Whatup”
3. “Sile”
4. “Bowling” (feat. Thundercat)
5. “Not Tight”
6. “Two Shrimps”(feat. Mac DeMarco)
7. “U DOn’t Have To Rob Me”
8. “Moon” (feat. Herbie Hancock)
9. “Duke”
10. “Take A Chance” (feat. Anderson .Paak)
11. “Space Mountain”
12. “Pilot” (feat. Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Anderson .Paak)
13. “Whoa” (feat. Kurt Rosenwinkel)
14. “Sniff”
15. “Thank U”

Not Tight is out on 07/29 via Apeshit/Blue Note Records. Pre-order it here.

Musicians React To The Supreme Court Officially Overturning Roe V. Wade

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US Supreme Court Roe v Wade Protestors 2022
Getty Image

It’s official: The Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade today, following the leak of a draft of a majority opinion back in early May. People all over the country, and world, are deeply upset about the decision, including some prominent figures in the music community, who are taking to social media today to share their thoughts on the situation.

Taylor Swift shared Michelle Obama’s letter about the decision and added, “I’m absolutely terrified that this is where we are – that after so many decades of people fighting for women’s rights to their own bodies, today’s decision has stripped us of that.”

In a statement shared on social media, Pearl Jam wrote, “No one, not the government, not politicians, not the Supreme Court should prevent access to abortion, birth control, and contraceptives. People should have the FREEDOM to choose. Today’s decision impacts everyone and it will particularly affect poor women who can’t afford to travel to access health care. We will stay active, we will not back down and we will never give up.”

Jason Isbell tweeted, “If you’re gonna talk about how divided we are as a nation, you’ll want to mention SCOTUS decisions like this one, handing power to state reps in crazy-ass gerrymandered districts and completely ignoring the will of the majority of US citizens. This is not what the people want.” He later added, “Eggs ain’t chicken. Something has to be born before it can be murdered. That’s about as simple as it gets.”

Others offered more concise messages, like Maggie Rogers, who wrote, “abortion is healthcare. bodily autonomy is a human right.” Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon also said, “No. Not gonna last. This country is not the country we are supposedly promised. This is not for all, it’s for some.” Finneas added, “I don’t even know what to say other than absolutely f*ck this.”

Check out some more reactions below, from Cat Power, Tyler The Creator, Tegan And Sara, and others.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Red Hot Chili Peppers Made The Odd Move Of Letting Opener ASAP Rocky Close Their Concert

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Red Hot Chili Peppers Flea Anthony Kiedis 2022
Getty Image

Last night (June 22), Red Hot Chili Peppers performed at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, England, with support from Thundercat and ASAP Rocky. Typically, the support acts go on before the headliner (they are called “openers,” after all), but that’s not what happened yesterday.

According to The Independent, signs in the stadium read, “Due to unforeseen circumstances, A$AP Rocky will now play immediately after the Red Hot Chili Peppers.” Indeed, following RHCP’s set, Rocky put on a four-song performance, which technically made him the headliner and Chili Peppers the support act (with an exceptionally long set for an opener).

One fan, journalist Darren Burke, tweeted, “Red Hot Chili Peppers cut short their set tonight so support act ASAP Rocky could play AFTER their headline set. Been going to gigs for 30 odd years and never seen anything like it. Many disappointed fans. Bizarre end to the night.”

A brief fan-shot clip shows Rocky performing as what looks like a good number of attendees face away from the stage and head for the exits, since they presumably already saw what they went to see and didn’t have much interest in sticking around for Rocky, who isn’t musically similar to RHCP.

Claims that RHCP cut their set short to accommodate Rocky seem unfounded, however: Per Setlist.fm, the band had an 18-song set, which is as many (or more) songs than their recent performances have included.

Red Hot Chili Peppers is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.