We've got Jandek tickets for sale!

The intriguing musical recluse known only as Jandek will be gracing Atlanta with an all-too-rare concert appearance in February. Just in case you haven't heard about him, read our last post about his legend. We're lucky enough to have a few (and we do mean FEW) tickets to sell for what is sure to be an awesome experience. Stop by the store to get yours soon...

Papa Mali in-store performance on Friday!

Come check out this excellent New Orleans singer-songwriter. We've been playing his album a lot here in the store. You can hear samples of his gritty tunes via his MySpace page. See you on Friday (1/26) at 5pm!

New release Tuesday! (1/23/07)

Been a while since we've accosted you with a massive list of goodies set to drop the next day. That said, we're more than happy to say that tomorrow is the first big release day of 2007, and hoboy, is it a doozie. Check out all the artists that will have sweet new release action on our shelves tomorrow:

The Shins
John Mellencamp
The Good, The Bad and The Queen (Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, Dangermouse, etc.)
Of Montreal
Animal Collective (EP)
Deerhoof
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Graham Coxon
Menomena
Kristen Hersh
Clinic
Carey Ott
Tony Furtado
Damien Jurado
David Kilgour
Moe
Sonny Rollins
Rowan & Rice
The Earlies
Paul Weller (best of)
Herbert (reissue)
Fujiya and Miyagi
Echo & The Bunnymen (best of)
The Broken West
The Bird & The Bee
John Hammond
Mew
Mum (Peel Sessions)
...and more!

It's not too late to reserve your copy of these, so let us know in the comments. Let us know before Tuesday and save $2! See you soon...

Rising Appalachia photos

Rising Appalachia finished its second Decatur CD in-store performance just moments ago. Enjoy some photos from this afternoon's event...

Rising Appalachia in-store Sunday at 1pm

Those of you who made it last time know the talent of this most excellent local group. Well, we're proud to announce that Rising Appalachia will once again grace Decatur CD with its presence. Here are the details:

When: This Sunday, January 21, 2007 at 1pm
Where: Here, of course
What: An awesome mix of great Americana, old time music, bluegrass, Bessie Smith blues and Appalachian folk. We'll also have refreshments.
Why: Because live music rules.

Check out the band's MySpace page for song clips. See you on Sunday!

Bermuda, bahama, come on, pretty mama...

It all started with a story about what songs Ben Kweller covers when he performs live. Around five minutes later, after much ranting and raving, we learned that Warren despises the song "Kokomo" by the Beach Boys as much or more than just about any track in the history of music. The above photo depicts the angry one himself playing a "Kokomo" song clip from our distributor's website, and loathing every second of it. Meanwhile, Kerry sits by, bemused.

What songs are you tired of? Leave some awful tunes in the comments...

Pre-order Wincing the Night Away!

As many of you have noticed, we've been playing an advance copy of the new album by The Shins, Wincing the Night Away. Yes, it's good, and yes, you should pre-order a copy. We'll have it in the store on January 23rd, and if you sign up for it before then you save a couple bucks. All we need is your first name and a phone number, then we'll call you when it's here. After all, you like saving money and we like you coming in to visit us. Everybody wins! Drop a comment, send an email (decaturcd [at] bellsouth [dot] net), call us (404.371.9090), MySpace message us, send a carrier pigeon, whatever works. Just don't miss out on this great opportunity.

Decatur CD's Year End List Extravaganza Part 5 of 5

Here we are, folks. The moment you've all been waiting for. Drum roll, please! The Security Chicken has made his final decision, and I am here to tell you that the greatest album of 2006 (seriously, forget what all those other people think) is Songs to Make Dogs Happy. I mean, I'm as pro-fowl as the next chicken, but you can't argue with fantastic songwriting (even if it's about dogs), and tracks like "Scratch My Back," "I Love Food" and "Adventure Dog" display ample amounts of that. In fact, this disc is so great, that it's my sole pick of the last year. Honestly, there's no need for a list when you have a record like this one. I suggest you go out and pick it up immediately. In fact, Warren says I should mention that we have one hot copy of it here in the store for $14. Sounds like you have your marching orders, then. See you soon, everyone, and thanks for tuning in...

Decatur CD's Year End List Extravaganza Part 4 of 5

Friday night, people. What are you up to? Going out with friends? Having a drink or three? Seeing a movie? Catching a musical show of some kind? We're blogging because we're really cool. Part 4 of our fantastic end-of-year blowout brings us to Mr. Decatur CD himself, Warren. If you've ever been into the store, you know Warren, but let it be said that he is a busy man. So busy, in fact, that he didn't have time for a photo shoot for the blog. Rather, he placated the photographer enough to hold one of his list entries (for those keeping score at home, it's the excellent How Low Can You Go? String Bass Box Set 1925-1941, from our Atlanta pals, Dust-to-Digital) and continue reading his periodical. Ah well. Warren also defied the usual path taken by our other list makers, and opted instead to give us his favorite recently-released and/or soon-to-be-released albums. Enjoy:

Beck - The Information
Calexico - Garden Ruin
John Coltrane - One Down One Up, Live at the Half Note
Bob Dylan - Modern Times
Fonotone Records box
How Low Can You Go? box
Jenny Lewis - Rabbit Fur Coat
My Morning Jacket - Okonokos
Nomo - New Tones
Rising Appalachia - Rising Appalachia
The Sadies - In Concert, Vol. 1
The Selmanaires - Here Come The Selmanaires
TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
M. Ward - Post-War
What It Is! Funky Soul and Rare Grooves (1967-1977) box
Lucinda Williams - West
Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass

What do you think of Warren's picks? Leave a comment and argue with him. He loves to argue. And finally, tomorrow, at long last, we will indulge you with Part 5 of our year-end marathon - the list of yours truly, The Security Chicken. Until then...

Decatur CD's Year End List Extravaganza Part 3 of 5

We can't be stopped. Trudging still forward (with a chip on our shoulder, no less) through a seemingly never-ending barrage of year-end nonsense, Decatur CD is proud to present Austin's list. For the unfamiliar, this hirsute gentleman is a former citizen of Stacheville, a continued denizen of Beardtown, and an occasional leprechaun who enjoys making fun of people on the Internet to make him feel better about his own shattered existence. Sometimes, though...just sometimes...he creates meaningless musical lists. This is one of those times. Witness! Austin's favorite 29 albums of this Foul Year of Our Lord, 2006:

1. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
2. The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
3. Man Man - Six Demon Bag
4. M. Ward - Post-War
5. Spank Rock - YoYoYoYoYo
6. Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass
7. Hot Chip - The Warning
8. Herbert - Scale
9. Rhymefest - Blue Collar
10. Todd Snider - The Devil You Know
11. The Thermals - The Body, The Blood, The Machine
12. Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury
13. Ladyhawkk - Ladyhawk
14. T.I. - King
15. Archie Bronson Outfit - Derdang Derdang
16. Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
17. Built to Spill - You in Reverse
18. The Rapture - Pieces of the People We Love
19. Mastodon - Blood Mountain
20. Beirut - Gulag Orkestar
21. Girl Talk - Night Ripper
22. Heartless Bastards - All This Time
23. Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
24. Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
25. Be Your Own Pet - Be Your Own Pet
26. Junior Boys - So This is Goodbye
27. Califone - Roots and Crowns
28. Black Keys - Magic Potion
29. Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds

Two more lists left! The pressure is building! If you can't stand the heat, get outta the kitchen! (Honestly, though, we'd prefer it if you came back.) Leave some comments! Tell us what you loved in '06! Exclamation!

Decatur CD's Year End List Extravaganza Part 2 of 5

Don't call it a comeback. Decatur CD continues to cure its year-end fever. And as you may know, the only prescription is more lists, so here we go. Today's set of awesome comes from Kerry, an Agnes Scott student, indie rock obsessive and major fan of thrift store onesies (for $4, no less...what a deal!). When she's not mugging for the camera or wearing a hat, she can be found at the Atlanta Area Wolf Parade Fan Club Meeting, held twice a week in a forest on the outskirts of town. Here are her top 10 releases of 2006:

1. Cat Power - The Greatest
2. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
3. Nomo - New Tones
4. Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass
5. The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
6. Built to Spill - You in Reverse
7. Black Keys - Magic Potion
8. Calexico - Garden Ruin
9. Archie Bronson Outfit - Derdang Derdang
10. Beirut - Gulag Orkestar

As usual, leave your comments below. And tell us what you loved from the year, while you're at it. Tomorrow, the madness continues with Austin's list. Don't miss out...

Decatur CD's Year End List Extravaganza Part 1 of 5

To quote the Cranberries, everybody else is doing it, so why can't we? Indeed, today kicks off the first portion of our five-part series creatively titled The Decatur CD Best Of 2006 Year-End List Extravaganza. We begin with the rookie, Eliot. A studious (and quite tall) young lad currently attending Emory University, Eliot enjoys long walks on the beach, combing his ample hair and listening to lots of what the kids like to call "the freak folk." His top 25 albums of 2006 go a little something like this:

1. Acid Mothers Gong - Live in Nagoya
2. Josephine Foster - Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
3. Six Organs of Admittance - Sun Awakens
4. Howlin' Rain - Howlin' Rain
5. Tom Ze - Estudando O Pagode
6. K-Rino - Time Traveler
7. Nomo - New Tones
8. Yo La Tengo - I'm Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass
9. Keiji Haino & Yoshida Tatsuya - New Rap
10. Charalambides - Vintage Burden
11. Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
12. Keith Rowe & Toshimaru Nakamura - Between
13. Comets on Fire - Avatar
14. Akron/Family - Meek Warrior
15. Acid Mothers Temple - Have You Seen the Other Side of the Sky
16. Scott Walker - The Drift
17. Mammatus - Mammatus
18. James Kochalka Superstar - Spread Your Evil Wings & Fly
19. Art Ensemble Chicago - Non-Cognitive Aspects of the City: Live at Iridium
20. The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
21. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
22. Lisa Germano - In the Maybe World
23. Joanna Newsom - Ys
24. Function - The Secret Miracle Foundation
25. Small-Framed Boy - Small-Framed Boy

Eliot welcomes your comments. Leave them below. And feel free to chime in at any time with any of your favorites from the past year. Stay tuned also, because tomorrow we shall return with Part 2 - Kerry's list!