saki newsletter 8/28/15!

Big news today, everyone: starting this week we will be CLOSED on Mondays! It's not really good or bad news, but it's important. We don't want anyone coming down here on Mondays only to be disappointed by a big, dumb, orange 'closed' sign so just be aware, and help us spread the word if you could. Our friends at CTD and Carrot Top Records will still be in the office, so if you need to see them on a Monday, just ring the doorbell and someone will come up to help you. Sorry for any inconvenience this change may cause! If it really is a problem for you, just get in touch with us and we may change our hours back in the future. 

Alright, now that the ugly stuff is out of the way let's move on to how freakin' excited we are for our in-stores the next TWO weekends! This Saturday we have Kø with Lala Lala, and Den-Mate and The Sea Life! Not only are we stoked on this one, but we've also heard from several of YOU, dear customers, about how psyched you are for this one. These are exciting times, friends! Can't wait for Saturday.

Next weekend we'll be paid a visit by our buddy Dave Segedy, of Bloomington's 'slacker' rock powerhouse, Sleeping Bag! Dave will be playing a solo set this time around. You should check out his solo cassette Schrodego on Jurassic Pop if you haven't already. It's a really cool mix of the sludgy pop-rock that we know and love from Sleeping Bag, plus some solo percussion excursions. Dave's Jurassic Pop label-mates, not to mention one of our favorite local bands, Varsity will be playing as well!

One more thing! You may have noticed our social media posts the last few days, but on this fine New Release Friday we have a special treat courtesy of Merge Records. The label has supplied us with a pretty sweet prize pack to give away with purchase of Mike Krol's new record, Turkey. The prize pack includes a test pressing, tote bag, slip mat, and poster. We're making this one REALLY easy. All you have to do is be the first person to buy the album and it's yours. To be honest, it's worth it for the tote bag alone! There's a few pictures of the items in the pack down below.

Here's a few things we were yammering about on Instagram, etc. this week:

 We got another batch of Calvin Johnson (K Records, Beat Happening) mixtapes! These things are made from Calvin's personal collection and every dang one of 'em is a lesson in music history from the hits to some lesser known gems. We can't recommend them enough!

 One of our favorites from the latest batch of Calvin Johnson mixtapes!

 We're giving away a Mike Krol prize pack! First person to buy 'Turkey' gets it.

 We're re-upping our zine game. First one is Dirty Art, a collection of photography focused on graffiti art.

Still jamming on these Maximum Pelt new arrivals from last week!

Upcoming events:

Saturday, August 29th @ 4pm

In-store with Kø, Lala Lala, The Den-Mate with The Sea Life!

Saturday, September 5th @ 4pm

In-store with Dave Segedy (Sleeping Bag) and Varsity!

New releases:

Beach House - Depression Cherry CD and LP

Bichkraft - Mascot CD and LP

James Brown - Tell Me What You're Gonna Do LP

Bruce Smear - Chlorine LP

Lizzie Mercier Descloux - Press Color LP

Destroyer - Poison Season CD and LP

Marvin Gaye - On Stage LP 

Lum Guffin - S/T LP

George Sand - Caroline LP

Darren Keen - He's Not Real LP

Kitchen Cinq - When The Rainbow Disappears: An Anthology 1965-68 CD and LP

Mike Krol - Turkey CD and LP

JD McPherson - Let The Good Times Roll LP

The Memories - Tell Me 7"

The Rubs - The Rubs Are Trash LP

Sunfoot - Round Dice, Fried Combo LP 

Troubled Waters - V/A LP

We're Loud: 90s Cassette Punk Unknowns - V/A CD and LP

Yo La Tengo - Stuff Like That There CD and LP

Jeff Zagers - Still/Alive CD and LP

Staff Picks:

Adam's Pick of the Week: The Music City Sessions 3-in-1 Value Pack

The liner notes for this collection won Alec Palao a Grammy upon its initial release, so rather than try and top him, I'll just copy and paste my favorite part of the original notes for Volume 1 of this collection as I think they sum it up nicely...

In the early 1970s, one place where a hopeful soul or RnB act got to put down the sound was the funky East 14th locale of Ray Dobard’s Music City Recording Studios in Oakland. Dobard liked to advertise his facility as being in and of “the hood,” even if his reputation as an equal-opportunity exploiter was already old news amongst black musicians. He had recently reactivated his Music City label and was eager to draw talent to the studios, as much to sign them as to relieve them of their hard-earned dollars, in return for studio time. Dobard’s lack of technical expertise communicates a weird immediacy to the proceedings, which in combination with the occasional veracity of the musicians—drunk, high, inexperienced, or a combination of all—makes for a compelling listen.

This is hard hitting funk and soul that's on par with many of the best vinyl compilations we've seen in the past 7-8 years. It's only available in this 3LP set, but you're paying less than $11 per volume and you can't beat that!

Anna's Pick of the Week: Hailu Mergia - Tche Belew

I don’t hate to fly in airplanes, but I do get super restless. I have found a way to cope with this perfectly - instrumental music. I’m always on the look out, and Tche Belew is fantastic. It’s has a jazz/groove sound featuring the keyboard, in all it’s moog glory. Contemporary composition meets African jazz. It’s a 2014 reissue originally created in 1977 by way of Ethiopia, thanks to Awesome Tapes from Africa. Not only did it keep me relaxed during my flight, I was so entertained, I listened to the album three times in a row! 

Ticket giveaways: 

Buy a release from any band playing an upcoming Empty Bottle, Schubas or Lincoln Hall show and we can add you to the guest list. Stop in or give us a call! Keep an eye out for announcements for eligible Metro, Constellation, and Bottom Lounge shows too!