Kill Rock Stars US Vinilo y CD

Review: Olympia, Washington's Bratmobile's sophomore album puts Allison Wolfe's sharp, singsong delivery front and centre with her barbed lyrics capturing attention and delivering hard truths. Now reissued for fans everywhere, this cult rocked which is often dubbed warm-up material for a messy night out features Molly Neuman's relentless drumming and Erin Smith's razor-sharp riffs, both of which drive the band's unapologetic sound forwards throughout. It was a powerful return at the time with a no holds barred approach that was ahead of its time and helped to make this essential feminist punk at its finest.

Review: Sarah Mary Chadwick's ninth album drifts in on the smoke and hush of a late-night confessional. Half jukebox heartbreak, half art-song seance, we find a multi-talented but downcast musician tiptoeing the edge of a major life shift, as Chadwick sings of the moments before a commitment to sobriety. Hers is the kind of detoxified clarity that only hindsight allows; tremulous voices sing with candid exposure on 'I'm Not Clinging To Life' through subjects of age and lost time, backlaid by piano pitched so high we can feel vicariously the artist's vertigo. The New Zealand-born Melbourner recorded the album with Chris Townend, who reamped the full mix through a piano held open by a sandbag to create its strange, aspirant reverb effect heard throughout. The result is a record attenuated by granular bulks of memory and detachment; devastation, reframed with restraint.

Review: Delta 5's Singles & Sessions 1979-81 offers a compelling glimpse into the Leeds post-punk scene with tense, barbed dark pop. Despite similarities to Gang of Four, Delta 5 remained somewhat overlooked during their time, making this collection of early singles, Peel sessions, and live recordings a belated recognition of their significance. From the iconic 'Mind Your Own Business' to the visceral plea of 'Colour,' the album showcases the band's unique blend of dub-heavy rhythms, expressive guitar work, and assertively sarcastic vocals. Tracks like 'You' and 'Triangle' compel listeners to move with their insistent beats. While the purpose of this compilation is to preserve Delta 5's legacy, it also highlights the missed opportunity for the band to release a more impactful debut album in their prime. Nevertheless, Singles & Sessions"breathes new life into Delta 5's brief yet influential tenure, ensuring their place in post-punk history alongside their more celebrated peers.

Review: It's hard to know where to begin with Shamir's second album. Or at least it was in 2017. The music? The context? Maybe both: the difficult follow up to one of that decade's finest pop records marked an about turn for the artist, and an almost vulnerable level of honesty, rejecting any preconceptions about his earlier effort and exploring a very different end of the emotional noise spectrum.
While last time round things had been incredibly polished and hook-driven, almost sing-along pop, on Hope we're taken to a rougher, rawer, perhaps grittier side of Shamir. Recorded in just one weekend, originally released for free, it's a grungy, lo-fi, punk-y, garage rock 'n' roll experiment that keeps on delivering across all 12 tracks. A brave change of course and one that we hope will continue.

Review: To celebrate 20 years of Elliott Smith's much-loved Either/Or, Kill Rock Stars presents a beautifully remastered reissue of the album. Carefully overseen by Larry Crane, archivist of Smith's estate, the original tracks are restored with impeccable attention to detail. While this version focuses on the remastered original LP rather than the expanded edition, it's still a must-have for fans old and new. The album's emotional depth and lyrical genius remain as powerful today as when it first captivated listeners. Complete with an insert of the original liner notes, this reissue serves as a timeless tribute to Smith's legacy.

Review: Elliott Smith's From A Basement On The Hill gets a stunning reissue with brand new digital transfers from the original 1/4" tape mixes, handled by Rob Schnapf and Joanna Bolme. Remastered by Larry Crane and Adam Gonsalves, this release features a deluxe mirror-board gatefold jacket and CD wallet, offering both a visual and sonic upgrade to Smith's final studio album. Originally released posthumously in 2004, From A Basement On The Hill was praised for its rich textures and expanded sound, blending 60s psychedelia with Smith's intimate songwriting. This reissue is a must-have for longtime fans and newcomers alike.