Vinyl B-Stocks

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


It's time to track back 20 years to one of the true gems from Soul Jazz's heavyweight range of compilations. Miami Funk takes into the beating heart of the late 60s-early 70s scene hovering around Florida's most famous city, and introduces us to some of the hip underground cats who were laying down the sweetest grooves at that time. Some it's rocking, some of it rolls, at times it's sweet and elsewhere it's nasty, but as you'd expect the quality never dips. This one has been long out of print, and now a limited run is making its way back, with this coloured vinyl edition sure to fly out, so don't sleep!

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Since the early noughts, York-based producer Martin Wheeler has had a somewhat prolific output, exploring various genres. Heading up the Iwari label, Wheeler's career defining album as Vector Lovers was signed by British label Soma in 2005 titled Capsule for One which led to the first great revival of 90s IDM. This reissue on Barcelona's Lapsus imprint features all the tracks from the original release (Wheeler actually remixed each and every song for this release) plus two previously unreleased tracks. Traversing such styles as electro, techno, minimal and ambient, this extra special release comes in a double marbled vinyl and a limited edition insert print, featuring artwork redesigned by Josep Basora.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


The tenth studio album from Tom Waits, released in 1987 via Island Records, was yet another landmark in a career which, by this point, had already given us a raft of stone cold classics. The last two of those LPs, Swordfishtrombones and Rain Dogs, certainly swerved expectations, marking a new period in the life and times of an acclaimed jazz and blues man. Taking its name from a track on Swordfish, Frank's Wild Years is actually "Un Operachi Romantico in Two Acts" according to the subtitle, with several songs here taken from a play of the same name which premiered in Chicago a year prior. In many ways, the theatrical side story was an inevitability, with the previous records all pointing in the direction of a gravelly blues-jazz-rock core with a vaudeville, spoken word, and narrative disposition.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve slightly damaged, slight surface marks on record***


To say that Tom Waits' eighth studio album marked a stylistic shift would be like saying winter is markedly different to summer. Having established himself as one of the finest piano-based songwriters of his generation - or any other for that matter - Swordfishtrombones was the first LP from the artist to lay out what was to come. Something very, very unusual, as visionary as it is bizarre, a celebration of the beauty of surrealism and the joy of having fun with music. Whether it's the opening number, 'Underground', and its strange, almost cartoonish chain gang jazz-blues stomp, the quiet keys and solitary vocals of 'Johnsburg, Illinois', or the distorted, compressed electronic jangling and organ riffs of 'Dave The Butcher', within the first few tracks alone you're presented with a vast and varied universe of ideas.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Warped records***


Kanye West's new collaborative album with Ty Dolla $ign, VULTURES 1, feels unexpectedly cohesive and fully realizedia surprising change of pace for West's recent output. Known for raw and often incomplete releases, this time he brings clear production and a crisp, polished mix. Ty's smooth delivery contrasts with Kanye's own verses, blending effortlessly on tracks like the Donna Summer-sampling 'Good (Don't Die)'. Rhythmic, industrial beats provide a dynamic backdrop, especially on tracks like 'Paid' and 'Carnival,' giving this album a depth that stands out in West's complex, ever-evolving catalogue.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


The name Wolf Alice is derived from a story by Angela Carter, and appropriately enough this savage and infectious debut does have more than a little of the fairytale gone macabre about it. The band's indie-rock sound veers in a myraid other stylistic diversions, taking in delicate folk-pop, kraut-tinged groove and My Bloody Valentine guitar scree whilst Ellie Roswell's charismatic whisper-to-scream presence remains fervent and compelling at the mic. Moreover, these songs not only have claws but know how to use 'em, rendering 'My Love Is Cool' more than a mere zesty reinvention of grunge yore, but somewhat akin to the sound of a major new talent taking their first blood.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Yes are back with its second collection of singles release with yessingles2. Progressive rock, known for its complex compositions and fusion of jazz and classical elements, has always maintained a cult status, challenging mainstream tastes. The genre's elaborate, lengthy arrangements often clash with the commercial demands of record labels. As a result, studio engineers and producers frequently faced the task of trimming down ten minute epics into radio-friendly, four minute versions. For many new listeners, this serves as an accessible introduction to the world of prog rock. Yessingles 2, released as part of Rhino's Rocktober series, offers a collection of these radio-friendly edits from the legendary band Yes. While diehard fans might prefer the original, uncut versions, this compilation provides a convenient entry point for those looking to explore Yes's intricate soundscapes without committing to the full-length compositions. It's a nod to the balancing act between artistic integrity and commercial appeal that has defined progressive rock since its inception.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


The tide of (hyper)pop has ebbed into increasingly emo and indie directions and the frothiest edge of this fluid movement is perhaps best represented by the latest album from Yeule (Nat Cmiel). Softscars follows up Yeule's 2022 album Glitch Princess and continues the trend of ultra-glossy, CD-reflective, knife-edge sounds packed into the blueprint of downtempo dream pop, in which said gloss reflects Cmiel's own personal experience of healing from trauma. The likes of 'ghost', 'dazies' and 'sulky baby' are giving glitchy alternate-reality Green Day in their Boulevard Of Broken Dreams era, with a dash of ejector-jewel-cased lyrics and a sprinkling of George Clinton-esque production flavour.