Black Friday is THIS Friday

Another year, another Black Friday. This one brings a rather astonishing list of independent-record-store-only releases, that, well, just look at this crazy list. Yep, we'll see you Friday.

New Releases 11/20/12

It's a big week for live releases and reissues. And, of course, VINYL. But we'll get to that in a separate post. For now, check out what's coming Tuesday...

Dinosaur Jr (live)
Led Zeppelin (live)
The Faint (Danse Macabre reissue)
The Jam (box set)
Marvin Gaye (Trouble Man 40th)
Bad Brains
AC/DC (live)
Frank Zappa (more reissues, of course)
Tony Bennett (reissues)
Coldplay (live)
Rihanna
Porcupine Tree (live)
Sean Lennon
O.A.R. (live at Red Rocks)
Kid Rock

New Releases 11/13/12

The big story this week is pictured above, as per usual. But don't sleep on the rest of the list! Lots of great stuff, especially for a release date so late in the year. Get 'em while they're new!

Beatles vinyl!
Brian Eno
Punch Brothers (EP)
Guided By Voices
Sonic Youth (live)
Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale
Soundgarden
Crystal Castles
Sufjan Stevens (box set)
Bobby Bare
Green Day
Clinic
Anthony David
Deftones
The Weeknd
Susan Boyle (live)

More Grade-A Used Records!

A while back, we informed you that we acquired an awesome bunch of old-timey folk records. Well, those records have quickly dwindled but we've gone back to the same source to further expand our ever-growing used vinyl selection. This batch features not only more excellent folk records but also interesting rock from all eras and some choice compilations as well. We've even got a couple boxes of cheap albums, priced between $2 and $8. These records are about two light-years removed from your typical yard sale fare, so stop by and start digging!

Led Zeppelin Celebration Day

None of us here at Decatur CD ever get our Christmas shopping done very far in advance. But, for those of you that are a little more diligent than ourselves, we have the perfect suggestion: Led Zeppelin's Celebration Day. Due out on November 19th in every combination of CD, DVD and Blu-Ray, this film of Led Zeppelin's one-off 2007 reunion concert in London will make the perfect gift for the Zep-head that everyone has (or at least should have) in their family. And don't worry, we'll still have plenty of copies left for those you that like to wait until the last minute as well.

Halloween Parade Photos

How much fun did Warren have watching the Decatur Halloween Parade walk by Decatur CD's front door? So much fun, in fact, that he took north of 40 photos while playing a Halloween mix of music through the outdoor speakers, including "Monster Mash" and all manner of assorted screams and scary sounds. Here are a few of the best photos.

November Shows

Get out and see some live music, people!

November 5: The Fresh & Onlys @ 529
November 7: Earth @ The EARL
November 7: Converge @ Masquerade
November 8: JD McPherson @ The EARL
November 8: Tanlines, Sealions @ The Basement
November 9: Doria Roberts @ Red Clay Theatre
November 10: Regina Spektor @ The Tabernacle
November 10: Saul Williams @ The Basement
November 10: Del the Funky Homosapien @ Terminal West
November 10: The Twilight Sad @ Masquerade
November 11: Social Distortion @ The Tabernacle
November 15: Roky Erickson @ Masquerade
November 15: Pinkback @ Terminal West
November 16: Dr. Dog @ Masquerade
November 17: Book Club EP release party @ The EARL
November 17: Southern Culture on the Skids @ Star Bar
November 17: Cypress Hill, Action Bronson @ The Tabernacle
November 17: Caroline Herring record release @ Red Clay Theatre
November 21: Waka Flocka Flame @ The Tabernacle
November 21: The Sword @ Masquerade
November 23: Sealions @ The EARL
November 23: Roomrunner @ 529
November 23: Kaki King @ Terminal West
November 24: Jonathan Toubin, The Coathangers, The Gaye Blades @ The EARL
November 26: David Bazan (playing Pedro the Lion) @ The EARL
November 28: Ray Lamontagne @ Cobb Energy Center
November 29: Of Monsters and Men @ The Tabernacle
November 29: Duncan Sheik @ Smith's Olde Bar
November 29: The Mountain Goats, Matthew E. White @ Terminal West

Carolina Chocolate Drops ticket giveaway

On Friday, Nov. 30, the Carolina Chocolate Drops are coming to town! We're pleased as punch to offer you a chance at a pair of tickets to see them do their amazing thing at Variety Playhouse. Stop by the store and drop yr info into our giveaway box, and you're all set!

Staff Picks, Vol. 2

Look, we started something and we're sticking to it! If only because a) there's so much great coming out lately, and b) we like posting silly photos on the blog. So here we are, then, back with a second round of DCD Staff Picks. We're planning to check in like this every couple of months or so to make sure you're not missing any of the essential recent new releases on our shelves. If you didn't see the first DCDSP post in September, give it a quick perusal before digging into these ten awesome albums:

Neil Young & Crazy Horse — Psychedelic Pill
"Young is Crazy Horse’s whisperer, calming the beast just long enough to jump on its back and dig into its flanks. The ride has never been smooth, but it’s always been worth the bruises. Young’s numerous, twisty left turns have inevitably led him home, to albums that reflect and rage, that rest and resonate. And Psychedelic Pill, with all its gritty warmth and haunting memories, is among his homiest." [full review]

Cody ChesnuTT — Landing on a Hundred
"Whereas his debut balanced pop with soul and rap, this record firmly plants itself in the garden of soul. ChesnuTT deftly flows between styles, be it the Womack vibe of 'I’ve Been Life,' the Gaye/Mayfield blaxploitation-era 'That’s Still Mama' and 'Scroll Call,' or the sweet soul of 'What Kind of Cool (Will We Think of Next),' all while exhibiting a charisma that is wholly ChesnuTT." [full review]

Ty Segall — Twins
"But despite what listeners might expect of a guy dropping his third album in less than half a year’s time, not only does Twins prove an exciting and vital listen, it’s Segall’s second consecutive album of guitar-heavy, rough-and-tumble rock ’n’ roll—the Nuggets disciple’s best stylistic look." [full review]

Bat for Lashes — The Haunted Man
"Some albums sound effortless. The Haunted Man sounds like effort magnificently realized. The rawness of feeling is achieved through equally raw ambition... Spacious, boldly orchestrated, and emotionally rich, Khan's latest is another step forward for the multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, and one of the year's most beguiling albums." [full review]

Moon Duo — Circles
"Circles sounds bright and confident, unafraid to revel in droning, repetitious figures and fuzzy vocals. These nine compositions grind, churn and propel themselves onward at a relatively unhurried pace, a gleaming pop sensibility revealing itself given time." [full review]

Sweet Lights — Sweet Lights
"This is an outstanding record, and one that beautifully showcases the two sides of Halperin: the ability to craft an economical and immediate pop hook, as well as his love of heavy instrumental layers, interweaving parts and rangy, opus-like songs." [full review]

Bob Dylan — Tempest
"It's a prayer from one great artist to another, and a reminder that Dylan now stands virtually alone among his 1960s peers. His own final act, meanwhile, rolls on. It's a thing to behold." [full review]

The Mountain Goats — Transcendental Youth
"So like Lucinda Williams, or maybe even Rhett Miller, a very talented artist is coming to grips here with marking time, seeing what can be added to the canon, what new wrinkles can be tugged on. The Mountain Goats are now a trio at the top of their game live, with a canyon of great songs to pull from. Transcendental Youth adds a horn section. Fun." [full review]

Titus Andronicus — Local Business
"There might not be a better rock band right now at pairing an everything-is-fucked worldview with an it’ll-be-okay-with-another-guitar-solo chaser, and no frontman better at pairing the glorious freedom of being an individual with the pain and responsibilities and confusion that come with that individuality." [full review]

Metz — Metz
"The biggest lie about punk rock is that anyone can do it. Sure, anyone can do crap punk rock, but there is a fine to art to taking a music fueled by destructive impulses and building it to last... Though unafraid to temper their inherent ugliness with piano taps and tambourine shakes, Metz stop short of embracing traditional pop-song melody. But they do understand pop-song economy, carefully arranging their riffs, rhythms, and screams in two-to-three-minute bursts that still feel immediate and catchy in the absence of proper sing-along hooks." [full review]