The Shrimper compilation of Shrimper compilations. Includes tracks by the Extra Glenns, Franklin Bruno, The Mountain Goats, Nothing Painted Blue, Lou Barlow (of Sebadoh), Refrigerator, Wckr Spgt, Joey Burns (of Calexico), Bugskull and a slew of others from the Velvet Underground (er, way underground) of record labels. 34 tracks in all and well worth it's weight in magnetic tape. Yes, we know it says "do not pay more than $8.00 dollars for this CD" on the back, but that was before they raised the price. Still a bargain anyway. Long live the Inland Empire!

Kris Kristofferson receives credit due here on one of the best tribute comps we've ever heard. Our own Court and Spark (doing "For the Good Times") are side by side with an incredible line-up including Souled American, Calexico, Radar Brothers, Virgil Shaw, Howe Gelb, Grandaddy, Califone, Rebecca Gates and others, all paying tribute to one of the most under appreciated country singer-songwriters ever. You may know him from the Blade films and you may not be able to get the image of him holding Streisand out of your mind, but this brilliant bad boy deserves your time and attention. On the fine Incidental Music label.

The only full length album from the San Francisco trio of Mary O'Neil, Brad Johnson (both ex-Wannabe Texans who released a great record on the Mekons' short-lived Snat label) & Greg Freeman (Pell Mell). The sound of the feeling you get with a full belly walking down Valencia Street on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, the breeze giggling against your face as you relish in San Francisco's Indian Summer. The rhythm section is brought to you by Greg's bass and the strum-strumming of Mary's autoharp (no drums here). The texture comes via Brad's unique guitar styling (there's a screwdriver where the whammy bar would normally be). The melody, ah, the melody's dressed up in Mary's proud and pretty alto croon as she delivers tales of urban Americana. Guest vocals by Barbara Manning. Includes "Dumb as a Doll," "Secret Spy Planes" and "Johnny Depp." (AK002)

Double LP in deluxe gatefold cover. Includes digital download of the album and an exclusive D-side track found only on the LP!

Montreal's second biggest band with their first EP for Sub Pop.

Wolf Parade's incredible debut, produced by Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse. On Sub Pop.

Two fellas from Azeda Booth made a hell of a record. Here it is.

The amazing 1994 debut by New Jersey's finest and possibly one of the top ten inspirations for the birth of Absolutely Kosher Records. Completely rough and completey brilliant. On Wind-Up.

The lost classic sophomore effort by the Wrens. Gorgeous and more polished than its predecessor, bitter and brimming with hope in that inimitable Wrens way. On Wind-Up.

A new jewel box version of the out-of-print split between the Wrens and the Five Mod Four formerly on No Karma. The Wrens songs include "Was There Ever," "Bus Dance" and "45'er." On Contraphonic.

We know that a lot of people have been anxiously awaiting the return of New Jersey's rock powerhouse The Wrens after a five year absence. This is the record that stopped 50,000 hearts (and rising). Unstoppable. (AK009)

Double vinyl German import of the classic third Wrens album with four extra tracks!

This album is the second coming. Of what? Well, what is it that crawls out of you when you spot an emotional ghost, a pain you thought you buried ages ago? What is it about the sound of fingernails against a chalk board that makes the hairs on your arms and the back of your neck stand up? What makes a kiss good? Hey, if abstract descriptions drive you nuts and you need me to say that this sounds like Talk Talk's Mark Hollis fronting the Sun City Girls or the Smiths holding a rave in the sewer, well, OK, but you need this album as much as anyone if not more. We released the LP, but this CD is on 5 Rue Christine.

Even more devastating than the first album. Xiu Xiu saves. (I'm being brief for effect here, not because there's a lack of things to say about this wonderful and crushing record.) LP by us, CD on 5RC.

The third and most wonderful Xiu Xiu album yet! Includes the unbelievable title track plus a remake of Ten In The Swear Jar's "I Love the Valley, Oh!" and the crippling "Nieces Pieces." Ten songs in all. The CD is on 5RC.

The reissue of Xius Xiu's popular third album. LP originally released by Free Porcupine Society.

Album numero 4 finds Jamie receding into darker places than usual. Stark in its soul, dense in its starkness, sublime in its density, this one ain't easy, but its worth the effort. On 5RC.

The fifth Xiu Xiu album kind of comes halfway back from the depths of La Foret with a far more playful feel on The Airforce. Caralee steps up to the mic on "Boy Soprano," bloggers everywhere melt into puddles. On 5RC.

As if Xiu Xiu could be any more naked, any more exposed. Jamie reveals another side to his music on this largely acoustic collection of songs from the band's three prior releases plus two new songs and a Smiths cover ("Asleep"). This CD is limited to 1000 copies and comes in beautiful handmade packaging courtesy of the Free Porcupine Society.

A live album courtesy of the German label Xeng.

They toured together, they covered each other, they released this 7" together. On Kill Rock Stars.

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 all unreleased elsewhere. Recorded by Chris Walla of Deathcab For Cutie, who did his usual outstanding job here. Includes a cover of "Seattle, WA" by Casiotone For The Painfully Alone. On Insound.

Everybody loves Nick Cave. On Stickfigure.

Xiu Xiu as fronted by Oxbow's Eugene Robinson and The Dead Science with an assist by the late, great Shooby Taylor the Human Horn. On Deathbomb Arc.

This album is the second coming. Of what? Well, what is it that crawls out of you when you spot an emotional ghost, a pain you thought you buried ages ago? What is it about the sound of fingernails against a chalk board that makes the hairs on your arms and the back of your neck stand up? What makes a kiss good? Hey, if abstract descriptions drive you nuts and you need me to say that this sounds like Talk Talk's Mark Hollis fronting the Sun City Girls or the Smiths holding a rave in the sewer, well, OK, but you need this album as much as anyone if not more. LP back and better than ever. (AK018)

The devastating wonders from San Jose returns with a five song EP of new material. Several of the tracks are even sparser than album's barest songs. Blunted house beats seemingly recorded several rooms away provide the barest suggestion of structure as Jamie's fertile tenor, a cross between Talk Talk's Mark Hollis, Pere Ubu's David Thomas and The Cure's Robert Smith, bursts forth. The vicious "Jennifer Lopez" is a beast with its skin off, all teeth and sinew glistening in the sun. The EP closes with a reckless cover of the Joy Division/New Order classic "Ceremony." (AK023)

Even more devastating than the first album. Xiu Xiu saves. (I'm being brief for effect here, not because there's a lack of things to say about this wonderful and crushing record.) LP's got it's own artwork, baby. (AK058)

CD Single

The Absolutely Kosher reissue of Xiu Xius' fourth album. This was originally released as an extremely limited double 10" by the band and is now available in the popular LP format.