Holiday Shopping Guide + Staff Picks

We like to think we're a lot kinder than the High Fidelity crew, but one thing we do share in common with Rob, Dick and Barry—aside from the obvious—is that we love making lists of the music we love. Maybe it's just comes with the territory, but there is something so satisfying about recommending music to folks, especially when they come back later, tell you they dig it and that they want more.

It's fun to discover, and we love facilitating that discovery. In our latest DCD Newsletter, we provided the Slacker's Guide to Holiday Shopping, and at the tail end of that, we threw in a few personal recommendations. Check out the whole mess below and please, whenever you're feeling adventurous, ask one of us for a suggestion. We're always happy to point you in an interesting direction.

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APPETIZER
First things first, let's talk stocking stuffers. We've got plenty of things that'll fit in the oversized socks hanging above your mantle. From gift certificates (available in any denomination), to the "I Still Buy Records" RSD t-shirt (more info), to multiple styles of headphones, to concert tickets (Ticket Alternative venues [now including Eddie's Attic!] and cash only, please), to 33 1/3 books (we've got about 20 of these in stock at the moment), to the just-released Oxford American music issue, you've got options.

ENTREE
Yum, right? Kinda got you hankering for more? Well, for your main course this evening, we have a lovely selection of box sets. Seriously, do you realize how many box sets we have? We have tons. Variety is the spice of life, they say, and boxes like these will fill you up nicely. But don't overdo it! You've got to save some room for...

DESSERT
For your final course, how about something sweet and a little less pricey? Maybe a selection from our vast and eclectic (Ghostface to Wanda Jackson, High on Fire to the Traveling Wilburys, Hendrix to Mumford & Sons) vinyl selection? Or you could sample some recommendations from each member of the Decatur CD crew:

Warren: Wilco's The Whole Love, Tom Waits' Bad As Me, Gillian Welch's The Harrow & the Harvest, Cass McCombs' Humor Risk, King Crimson's Discipline 40th Anniversary
Eliot: McCoy Tyner's Inception/Reaching Fourth, The Spits' IV (vinyl), Dead Boys' Young, Loud & Snotty, Emitt Rhodes' Recordings 69-73
Austin: Soul Jazz's New Orleans: The Original Sound of Funk, 1960-75, The Men's Leave Home, XTC's Skylarking, The Undertones' An Anthology, TV on the Radio's Nine Types of Light
The Security Chicken: Songs to Make Dogs Happy

Stuff Yr Stocking

Let's talk stocking stuffers. As we get closer and closer to the big day, you may find yourself at a loss trying to find that perfect final addition to the oversized socks on your mantle. Luckily, we've got loads of options for solving your gift-y dilemma. From gift certificates (available in any denomination you want), to the "I Still Buy Records" RSD t-shirt, to multiple styles of headphones, to concert tickets (Ticket Alternative venues and cash only, please), to 33 1/3 books (we've got about 20 of these in stock at the moment), to the just-released Oxford American music issue, well, you really don't have any excuse for an empty stocking this year. Alternately, stop by, give us the elevator pitch about your recipient's taste, and we'd be happy to make some recommendations.

You Still Buy Records

It's true. We know this because you're reading this. And we appreciate it. But not everyone gets it, so why not spread the word? Here's one way to do it. We've got these sweet Record Store Day t-shirts for sale. They're $15, which isn't a bad price for a tee, but wait, there's more! With your purchase, you also get a downloadable sampler featuring music from Nick Lowe, Battles, Liam Finn, The Church, Boris, the Get Up Kids and many more. These shirts fit nicely into stockings as well. Just sayin'...

FYI: Open until 9pm on Mondays through Christmas

Heads up, friends and neighbors: We're extending our Monday-night hours through the holiday season. For the next couple Mondays (12/12 and 12/19), we'll stay open until 9pm for your shopping convenience. If you stop by during that time, we promise not to ask you if you've got a case of the Mondays. After all, everybody knows nothing good comes from asking that.

12/6/11 New Releases

Don't count out December just yet! Although the fourth quarter isn't often known for its amazing releases, this week brings a nice batch of awesome, diverse stuff. Everything below is here, and the Black Keys and Roots albums are flying off the shelves already. Come get yours!

The Black Keys
Amy Winehouse (rarities)
The Roots
Allman Brothers (live, 1971)
Anthony David
SunnO)))
The Dead Milkmen
Boddie Recording Co. (Numero Group)
Sean Costello (best/live)
Korn
Robin Thicke
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Little River Band (Christmas)
T-Pain
Gary Numan
...and more!

'Tis the Season for Box Sets

It's the time of year where it feels like everybody is putting out a gift guide. Not one to be left out of the holiday madness, DCD fearless leader Warren has cobbled together the following list of box sets and deluxe-edition goodies that you should take into consideration as you purchase things for loved ones this year.

Beach Boys: Smile (2CD or super-deluxe vinyl box)
Rolling Stones: Some Girls (ditto)
Doria Roberts: Blackeyed Susan (LOCAL box)
Tom Waits: Bad as Me (limited deluxe edition)
Numero #035: Boddie Recording Company
Ray Charles: Complete ABC Singles (5CD)
East of Underground: Soul, Funk & Rock (3CD box)
Janis Joplin (4LP vinyl box)
Kings of Leon (3LP + rarities box)
My Morning Jacket: Circuital (deluxe vinyl)
Panda Bear: Tomboy (deluxe vinyl)
The Who: Quadrophenia (2CD or super-deluxe vinyl box)
Pink Floyd: The Wall (Immersion 7LP/CD set)
John Fahey: Your Past Comes Back to Haunt You (Dust-to-Digital)
Jethro Tull Aqualung (LP/CD/DVD box)
Grateful Dead (5LP box)
Bear Family: Bristol Sessions (5CD box)
Depeche Mode (6LP remix box)
Syl Johnson (7" box)
Bear Family: Acadian All Star Special (3CD box)
Cake (7" box)
Rancid (CD/vinyl/DVD box)
Beady Eye (7" box)
Bruce Springsteen: Darkness on the Edge of Town (2CD deluxe)
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (LP box)
Jimi Hendrix: West Coast Seattle Boy (LP box)
Led Zeppelin: Mothership (vinyl box)
Tom Petty: The Live Anthology (vinyl box)
Jimi Hendrix: Live at Winterland (8LP vinyl box)
REM Live (vinyl box)
Rolling Stones: Get Your Ya Ya's/Exile (vinyl boxes)
Hank Williams: Complete Mother's Best (CD box)
Tom Waits: Orphans (vinyl box)
Beatles: Singles (RSD box)
Red Hot Chili Peppers (CD/DVD RSD box)
Janis Joplin: Singles (box)
Syd Barrett (single/book RSD box)
The Doors (7" RSD box)
Bob Dylan (singles RSD box)
Bruce Springsteen (7CD box)
Richard Thompson: Live at the BBC (3CD/DVD box)
Pink Floyd: Discovery (14CD box)
Miles Davis Quartet: Live in Europe (3CD/DVD box)
Opika Pende (Dust-to-Digital box)
Elvis Presley (singles box)
Numero #024: Titan It's All Pop (vinyl box)

Sarah Lee Guthrie/Johnny Irion Ticket Giveaway

Our friends at Ticket Alternative have provided us with some giveaway goodness for Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion's show at The EARL next Thursday, December 8th. Stop by the store to enter, and here's the Guthrie/Irion bio via the venue:

A lot can happen in five years, and for the husband-and-wife duo Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion, the time between Exploration, their first album together in 2005, and soon-to-be-released Bright Examples (Ninth Street Opus Records, Feb. 22, 2011), their new, full-length collaborative project, has been one nonstop whirlwind of activity. Not only has the couple toured extensively both as a duo and as part of the “Guthrie Family Rides Again” tour (with Sarah Lee’s dad, Arlo Guthrie), they’ve also released the children’s album Go Waggaloo (Smithsonian Folkways), a live DVD entitled Folk Song, a solo album by Johnny (Ex Tempore), parented their two young daughters and moved from South Carolina to the Berkshires in western Massachusetts.

“Never Far From My Heart,” is a shining example of the close harmony and emerging pop sensibilities Guthrie and Irion embrace. A sunny, mutual love letter, it was written when they were saying goodbye to South Carolina and preparing for their move north.

“Speed of Light” turns up the beat considerably. A stomping, steady 4/4 rhythm frames an addictively melodic pop tune and chiming guitars meet up with soul touches. In an earlier era, back when AM radio was all about the perfect three-minute record, “Speed of Light” would have gone straight to the top.

The inspiration behind the finger-pointing “Target On Your Heart” may be known to author Irion but neither he nor Guthrie are letting on. Says Sarah Lee, “There’s some good drama going on up here in Massachusetts to write about. That one took a while to grow on me. I didn’t like that song at first but Johnny kept wanting to play it. Finally we ended up doing it, and it ended up my favorite song on the record.”

December Show Guide

Below is a list of local music events that you can attend in the month of December. Huzzah!

TONIGHT: All the Saints, Hollow Stars, The Clap @ The EARL
TONIGHT: Dwight Yoakam @ Wild Bill's
December 4: Crooked Fingers @ The EARL
December 7: Carolina Chocolate Drops @ Variety Playhouse
December 8: Sarah Lee Guthrie, Johnny Iron @ The EARL
December 8: Wale @ The Tabernacle
December 10: Kathryn Calder (of the New Pornographers) @ Drunken Unicorn
December 10: Billy Joe Shaver @ Smith's Olde Bar
December 10: Rachael Yamagata @ Vinyl
December 10: Stonerider @ The Basement
December 11: Ralph, Acid Freaks, Manic (all ages matinee, doors at 2pm)
December 12: Methane Holiday Poster Sale @ The EARL
December 14: Superpill @ Star Bar
December 14: Dax Riggs @ The EARL
December 15: Roy Ayers @ Centerstage
December 15: Back Pockets @ Star Bar
December 16: Chatham County Line, Blair Crimmins @ Variety Playhouse
December 16: Moon Duo (free!) @ 529
December 17: Randall Bramblett, Caroline Aiken @ Eddie's Attic
December 16: Black Cobra, Zoroaster, The Body @ Drunken Unicorn
December 20: Bukkake Boys @ The EARL
December 22: Cobra Crypt (ft. members of Balkans, Deerhunter, Black Lips) @ Star Bar
December 23: Drivin N Cryin @ The Tabernacle
December 23: West End Motel @ Smith's Olde Bar
December 29: Oryx + Crake @ Star Bar
December 30: North Mississippi Allstars @ Variety Playhouse
December 30: B.B. King @ Fox Theatre
December 30: Futurebirds, Washed Out @ Buckhead Theatre
December 31: Kylesa @ The EARL
December 31: JJ Grey & Mofro @ Variety Playhouse
December 31: Attractive Eighties Women @ Drunken Unicorn
December 31: Michelle Malone (two shows) @ Eddie's Attic
December 31: Cake @ Fox Theatre
December 31: The Coathangers, Noot D'Noot, Carnivores @ Star Bar
December 31: Against Me @ The Masquerade