Stuff For Sale
(Everything is in stock unless otherwise noted. Ordering
instructions are at the bottom of this page.)
We now accept credit cards through PayPal!
Chris Garneau - Music For Tourists CD - $12
Chris Garneau's voice lies somewhere between liquid and matter on the scale of all that is and ever was. His music is uniquely Brooklyn in substance, but in his musical valise he carries souvenirs from Boston, France, and New Jersey, all of which inform his style. With his brow alternating between a doleful furrow and a mischievous arch, Garneau communicates simply and frankly about issues ranging from
reverberating sorrow to the fine home cooking of Hamburger Helper™. The wistful
piano-driven arrangements highlight Chris’ immense songwriting ability
and that gorgeous and unique voice. Music For Tourists is a tremendous
achievement, the most striking debut album by a singer-songwriter in
recent memory and positions Chris Garneau as a name to listen for. Music For Tourists will see official release on January 23, 2007 but we are currently accepting and shipping pre-orders.
Get Him Eat Him - Geography Cones CD - $12
Get Him Eat Him hails from Providence, Rhode Island, but its members are a cross-country lot who converged during their first year at Brown, sharing a love for weird noises,
oddball humor and a fierce appetite for music and sandwiches. Geography Cones, the band's debut (recorded by Jay Pellicci (Deerhoof, Erase Errata) at San Francisco's Tiny Telephone Studios) is an impressive combination of taut melodies, jerky rhythms, and a frighteningly keen turn of phrase, brought together by spastic sex, flailing hostility, nervous energy and, as Matt squawks on the stomper "Shirt Like A Couch," an endearing and furious "awkwardness".
Get Him Eat Him - The Casual Sex demo CDrEP - $6
The newest signing to Absolutely Kosher Records are five young upstarts who converged in Providence, RI with a ringing in their ears, Hegel on their syllabus and a dream in their hearts. You might know front man Matt LeMay from his years writing for Pitchfork or perhaps just from trolling the S&M bars of the northeast. This is crunchy, dynamic pop that charmed our pants off and stopped us (pants-less) in our tracks. Four songs plus the three bonus tracks culled from the members' previous bands. Potent and irresistable.
Jack Hayter - Practical Wireless
CD - $12
Jack Hayter's voice has ghosts. Whether they were birthed there in the hollows of his words and songs under the influence of nostalgia, drink and hard times or they seeped in with the brittle clarity of the cold night air, no one can say. But they're there. And you can hear them. Following a few years in a group ahead of the curve (the critically acclaimed but otherwise unknown Spongefinger), Jack spends much of his time playing pedal steel, guitar and other instruments for London pop phenomenons Hefner (Too Pure). In fact, it was the prodding of Hefner frontman Darren Hayman that got Jack into the studio (well, a make-shift studio anyway - you can hear the refrigerator in the background of one song) to record his own songs. Darren sat at the boards and, along with the other members of Hefner, played here and there on the album. Practical Wireless is undoubtedly Jack though. His is an incredible voice, both wistful and weathered, crackling with a warm intensity, and he has the pen to match. Jack's songs have a smoky, homespun feel about them, the kind of music that's incredibly intimate without being directly revealing. Witness the album's opener "Blind Man's Fog": "She's got eyes like piss holes in the snow / could melt right through you." This is a record that doesn't present itself to your lap or waiting hands, but walks quietly beside you, leaning softly on your shoulder, gently clasping your unsuspecting hand. Thoroughly unpretentious for a folk record, as delicate as they come for a rock record, and immediately familiar to any man, woman or child with warm blood in his veins. The album also includes a fantastic, understated, slow and misty version of the Only One's classic "Another Girl, Another Planet." (AK021)
Heavy Vegetable - Frisbie
CD — $12
The awesome
2nd album by San Diego's legendary experimental pop combo, half of whom would
later become Thingy. One of the hidden treasures of the 20th century. No music
listener should be without a copy and no, this isn't hyperbole. Includes the
killer "Cotton Swab," "Song for Wesley" (Willis), "E/Or,"
"Jackie Chan Is A Punk Rocker" and too many other great songs to
name, 28 in all. On Headhunter/Cargo.
Heavy Vegetable - The Amazing
Undersea Adventures of Aqua Kitty & Friends CD — $12
Debut album
from San Diego's finest and the beginning of a legacy. If only Chicago had
nicer weather, pop music might have gone in this direction. Includes "Head
Rush" and "Thingy." On Headhunter/Cargo.
Heavy Vegetable - Mondo Aqua
Kitty CD — $12
Posthumous
collection of out-takes, b-sides, live recordings and covers. Unlike many
odds & sods CD's, this is not "for fans only," as they say.
The acapella version of "Love American Style" alone makes this collection
essential. Includes covers by Klark Kent and the Residents. On Headhunter/Cargo.
Heavy Vegetable -
"HV" t-shirt -
$14.50
After
many long and shirtless years, a classic garment returns. Black ink on the
back of a white tee. Available in S (girly tee),M, and L. We are
proud to carry this shirt. The legend continues. (All shirts are $14.50
ea. Please confirm that we have your size in stock before sending payment.
NEW!!!)
.
Heavy
Vegetable - "Headrush" 7" picture disc — $5
"Head
Rush" and "Couch" (both off of The Amazing Undersea Adventures
of Aqua Kitty) on the A-side and acoustic versions from a live session
on KCRW of "Crash" and "Excess" (a Klark Kent cover) on
the B-side. On Headhuinter/Cargo.
Tom Heyman - Boarding House Rules CD - $12
The beloved Mr.
Heyman, late of alt.country pioneers Go To Blazes and lately of our own The
Court and Spark, strikes out on his own with his considerable talent and excellent
songwriting ability to create a warm album in the classic country-rock mold.
Guests on the album include Chuck Prophet, Stephanie Finch, Virgil Shaw and
Chris von Sneidern (who also produced). Includes the potent "Baby Likes,"
nine more originals and a cover of a song by session man (Marah, Go To Blazes)
Bruce Langfeld. On Innerstate.
The Hidden Cameras - The Arms of his "ill" limited 10" - $9.00
We are pleased as punch to be releasing a record by Toronto's pop fairytale, The Hidden Cameras. Prior to the release of their 2003 Rough Trade debut The Smell of Our Own, the band released a stripped down four-track version of the album called Ecce Homo on their own Evil Evil imprint. Now, with the pending release of their new album Mississauga Goddam on Rough Trade America on October (the album was released in Canada and the UK in July), we are excited to offer you The Arms of his "ill," a seven song 10" EP of four-track recordings. The 10" is strictly limited to 1000 copies worldwide. Buy now, cry later.
The Hidden Cameras - Ecce Homo CD - out of stock
Toronto superstar Joel Gibb and his motley band of brilliance delivered this self-released gem, the four track sibling of the band's stunning debut The Smell of Our Own. Raw and delicious. So far as we know, these are hard to get south of 54-40. On the band's own Evil Evil label.
Howard Hello - Don't Drink
His Blood CD - $12
The second album
from Howard Hello (aka Kenseth of Rumah Sakhit & Pinback and Marty of
dilute) and, astonishingly, even better than the first one. A little poppier
than before and all around wonderful. On Temporary Residence.
Howard Hello - Howard Hello
CD - $12
The debut collaboration
between Kenseth Thibideau (Rumah Sakhit, Pinback, Tarentel, Thingy, etc.)
and Marty Anderson (Dilute, Jacques Kopstein, solo) with some help from producer
Scott Solter and singer Wendy Allen (The Court and Spark). Unbelievable, joyful
ambience and transcendant beauty, possibly the smoothest cut-up record ever.
One of our favorite records here and at least partially attributable to us
signing Marty for his solo album. On Temporary Residence.
The Jim Yoshii Pile-Up - Picks
Us Apart CD - $12
The California/Washington quintet's third full length finds the band's music moving towards the up-tempo side of the spectrum while the subject matter becomes bleaker. "A sonic universe gently compressed into a moody snow globe," swoons the SF Bay Guardian, "Picks Us Apart is the Jim Yoshii Pile-Up's finest moment, and clearly one of the best albums of 2005."
The Jim Yoshii Pile-Up/Meanest Man Contest - split 7" - $4.50
It's a poorly kept secret that the Jim Yoshii Pile-Up's Noah Blumberg also crafts the beats for abstract hip-hop outfit Meanest Man Contest (who recorded a fabulous record for Plug Research). Here, the boys share a slab of lovely chocolate brown wax. The JYPU's delivers "Deservedly So" while MMC throws two, "I was Only Kidding" and "Everything Worth Mentioning." All orders come with a free Meanest Man Contest 7" while supplies last. On Weapon-Shaped.
The Jim Yoshii Pile-Up/Xiu Xiu - split CD - $7.00
An
Insound tour ep split between two of our favorite bands. The four Xiu Xiu
tracks are from their forthcoming album (don't know the title, duein 2004).
The four Jim Yoshii Pile-Up tracks are unreleased anywhere else. All tracks were recorded by Chris Walla of Deathcab For Cutie, and the band may never have sounded fuller than they do here.
Includes a cover of "Seattle, WA" by Casiotone For The Painfully Alone. On Insound. Yeah,
we're $0.50 more expensive than Insound, but we don't charge shipping, so
lay-off, OK?
The Jim Yoshii Pile-Up - Homemade
Drugs CD - $12
A devastating
second album by Oakland's boys in black to fill your nights with desolation,
loneliness and bitter laughter. The band has come a long way since It’s
Winter Here. They lost guitarist Sikwaya Condon to a promising minor league baseball career and brought on new
guitarist/old friend Noah Blumberg to fill his shoes. Singer/guitarist Paul
Gonzenbach and his partner moved out of their West Oakland house and bought
a farm outside of Portland, OR. Guitarist (yes, there are three) Ian Connelly’s
brother nearly died in a motorcycle accident during the recording of the album.
Loss, transition, struggle, movement, maturity. Music imitates life as these
are all major themes in both the music and lyrics of the JYPU’s new album
Homemade Drugs. The band made a conscious decision to try and reflect these
changes on the album. They found a sympathetic soul in engineer Scott Solter
(The Court and Spark, Tarentel) who brilliantly blends the layers of guitars
with the innovative rhythms of bassist Frankie Koeller and drummer Ryan Craven.
Gone are the comparisons to Mogwai, Bedhead and Slint (though the discerning
ear might still uncover traces of the Cure, Cat Power and Three Mile Pilot).
The songs have shifted their feel from the guitar-wash fuzz crescendos of
the first album to more of a crisp, cold-light-of-day sound with an unusual
amount of intimacy in both the music and the words. The blend somehow comes
out as heavy pop. The insanely catchy “Double Negative,” the delicious hooks
thinly covered in “Reckless Driving” and the plaintive buoyancy of “Distance”
show tremendous growth. Gonzenbach’s lyrics are as sardonic and jaded as ever.
All in all, an incredible record. (AK022)
The Jim Yoshii Pile-Up - It's
Winter Here CD — $12
The knock-down,
drag-out debut full length from Oakland's mighty five piece. Three writhing
guitars rolling all over the drums and bass with the most gripping vocals
we've heard in a while. Lyrics convey subtle wit and brutally stark alienation
with an earnestness currently out of vogue though no less potent for it. This
album will leave you in a puddle made of either you or yours. Includes the
barn-burner "Breakdown Championship" plus a re-recording of "Monotonologue"
from the EP. (AK008)
Listen to "Shark Repellant" courtesy of Epitonic.
The Jim Yoshii Pile-Up - Burning
Flag CDEP - $6
2002 tour EP CDr
containing all unreleased tracks, none of which will be on their Homemade
Drugs album due out in October. Unlike their previous EP's, this one is
in a jewel box. Includes two versions of "Burning Flag," the I-can't-believe-this-was-never-released
"Carol Channing" and a cover of Cat Power's "King Rides By."
Jim Yoshii Pile Up / Wussom*Pow!
- split 7" - $4.50
"Sleeping in the Crawlspace" on the JYPU side and "Mountain"
on the Wussom Pow! side. On Omnibus.
The Jim Yoshii Pile-Up - It's
Winter Somewhere 3" CDEP - $6.50
Four
unreleased songs in the way-cool 3" CDr format in ultra-spiffy packaging.
Includes "Were You Misused?", "SE Corner," the incredible
"Confidence In Something Shaky," and "Sleeping In The Crawlspace."
The Jim Yoshii Pile-Up self-titled
CDEP (on Old Prospector) — $5
Now known
as the "early years", these five rough recordings show a dynamic
band on their way to something special (see above). Each CD comes in a cardboard
sleeve with a unique photo cover. Listen
to "Harmless Hobby Or Bicycle Crash?" courtesy of Epitonic.
On Old Prospector.
Jim Yoshii Pile-Up t-shirts
Three stylish garments. A skull of deadly beauty, 100% cotton, white on black (girly, small, medium sizes only), or the sound of the Yoshii (aka the shell shirt) (girly, L only), light blue on Brown (brown on light blue for girly), or the butterflies shirt (black on red, girly, S, M, L, XL available)(All shirts are $14.50 ea.)
Jukeboxer - In
the Foodchain CD - $12
The
long-awaited sophomore effort and Absolutely Kosher debut from Brooklyn's
Jukeboxer. Noah Wall's innovative composition imaginatively fuses textured,
gentle electronic music with old English folk and sparkling, breezey pop.
Alluring and full of depth, In the Foodchain pushed the envelope while
pulling you closer. You won't hear another record quite like this one anytime
soon.
Jukeboxer - Parenthetical 7" EP- $4.00
Jukeboxer is Brooklyn's Noah Wall and friends. We've been raving about these folks for over a year now, since we first heard their hidden gem of a debut, Jukeboxer Learns The Alphabet, and we are now finally going to release something by them. Organic electronic music of the greatest sort, dwelling between Terry Riley and casio-core, the Magnetic Fields and Morr Music, Tall Dwarfs and (dare I say) Stereolab. This three song 7" EP clocks in at twelve and a half minutes and serves as a welcome teaser to Jukeboxer
In The Foodchain, the band's next album, to be released by Absolutely Kosher in 2004. This is also the first 7" we've ever done. Limited to 400 copies worldwide.
Jukeboxer - Learns The Alphabet
CD - $12
The debut release
from Brooklyn's Noah Wall and the newest addition to the Absolutely Kosher
family. Playfully challenging electronic music drifting somewhere between
the irresistible keyboard melodies of the Magnetic Fields and cerebral blips
and bloops of the Morr Records posse. This ain't no new wave disco (though
that does sound like fun). Original and endearing, just the way we like it.
On First Love
Johnny Largo at the Optigan
- The Joyous Sounds of Christmas CD - $12
This CD contains
all of the known promotional recordings that Mattel produced for the Optigan.
Basically there were two different cassettes that were distributed at different
times: one containing 1/2 hour of Christmas standards, and one containing
a 15 minute "tour" of the Optigan, featuring voiceover work by Mike LeDoux.
For anyone who is interested in hearing how the Optigan sounded in the best
of all possible circumstances, this CD is a must. Johnny's arrangements and
performances are remarkable! A specially customized Optigan was used for the
recordings which minimized hum and buzz, but this CD proves once and for all
that the Optigan, even at it's very best, was still an incredibly noisy and
lo-fi instrument!! Bottom line: I don't want to hear any more complaints about
scratchy discs!! ;) Brought to you by Optigan authority, Optiganally Yours'
own Pea Hicks.
Lucas & Friends Discover
A World Of Sounds CD - $12
This is a project
released by Optiganally Yours' Pea Hicks in 1997. While it's not directly
related to Optigan stuff, there is Optigan to be found on the album, and the
spirit of the whole project falls right in line with the spirit of all this
Optigan research. Essentially, Lucas is a sonic archaeology project. PeaI
took loads of found audio recordings and collaged them into one big mess of
everyday people talking and singing about all sorts of things. Sources of
found audio include homemade phonograph records, open reel tapes, and cassettes.
On Vinyl Communication.
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The most convenient way to pay for orders (especially if you are outside the U.S.) is through PayPal. It's really easy. Just select the shipping method and click Add to Cart. Before processing your order, you will be asked to sign into your Paypal account or create one for free. We ship via media mail so all shipping inside the U.S. is free (t-shirts and LP's not included). If you'd like to be shipped first class postage, please add $3.50 per LP or t-shirt, $2.00 per 7" and/or $1 per CD. Please add $3/item ($6 for 12"s/LP's and t-shirts) for shipping abroad. Be sure to include your mailing address with your order.
You can also pay by check or money order payable to Cory Brown at the below address.
ABSOLUTELY
KOSHER RECORDS
1412 10th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710-1512
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