Now Hear This! � December 2023

Day Wave�s knack for ear-catching melodies and simple, fresh production is cherished more than ever in a world saturated with overly-produced tracks. On Pastlife, they take it back to the basics of indie- a space they�ve spearheaded for the past 10 years and continue to rise to the top in, leading a new generation of indie acts.

Vic Mensa
Victor
Roc Nation

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Executive produced by BongoByTheWay and largely self-produced, the album delves deeply into his quest of �redemption; trial and triumph, pain and glory,� with Vic detailing the work done inwardly and outwardly to try to affect positive change; through social work, sobriety and delving into his cultural roots traveling to and working in Ghana.

Ambre
3000 Degrees
Roc Nation

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Blending soulful R&B vocals with avant-garde production, 3000�s ethereal melodies and experimental beats create a mesmerizing atmosphere. Ambre's introspective lyrics add depth, exploring themes of love and self-discovery. A genre-defying experience that pushes boundaries and showcases artistry in a captivating way.

Uncle Lucius
Like It�s The Last One Left
Boo Clap

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After a five year hiatus, Uncle Lucius is bringing their methods of soul, joy, and thunder back out. All we've got is now. The newly-reformed band will 5th album since 2015, Like It's The Last One Left carries on the Texas group�s deep rock and blues traditions while covering topics like mental health, love, and self-care.

Rosanne Cash
The Wheel: 30th Anniversary
Rumblestrip Records

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Rosanne Cash left Nashville in the early 90's. The first album she recorded in New York with John Leventhal celebrates 30 years with an new edition featuring a 2023 remastered version and an additional 11 tracks from the 1993 Live from Austin City Limits and Live from The Columbia House Records Radio Hour sessions.

Zach Russell
Where The Flowers Meet The Dew
Carlboro Records

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A record filled with traditional waltzes, 60�s R&B style and greasy, distorted guitar licks that would be right at home on a post-grunge rock radio station, circa 1998. It�s tongue in cheek humor, confidence, and all-out swagger. And a remarkably ambitious effort that undoubtably demands and is worthy of repeated listens.

Hector Tellez Jr.
The Great Unknown
Mono Mundo B

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The Great Unknown seamlessly weaves the spiritual and the profane, offering a unique perspective on the philosophical questions that have fascinated many Latin writers. All of this is set against the backdrop of some of the best rock music around. Guests include Peter Buck (R.E.M.) and Krist Novoselic (Nirvana).

Michael Franti & Spearhead
Big Big Love
Boo Boo Wax

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Michael Franti & Spearhead spread positivity while offering an energizing batch of songs that spotlight the common threads that connect us. As far as radical actions go, being happy despite everything going on can be an incredibly life affirming notion, one that resonates strongly in our current cycles of desperation.

Bewitcher
Deep Cuts & Shallow Graves
Century Media

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To celebrate a decade of destruction, the Portland black/speed metallers are releasing a compilation of never before heard deep cuts, new tunes, as well as demos of some of the band's heaviest and well known songs. Raise your horns and dive into Bewitcher's origins and legacy with this compendium of chaos.

Todd Snider
Crank It, We�re Doomed
Aimless Records

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Shelved for 15 years, much of Crank It�s material has surfaced elsewhere. Even so, it ranks among Snider�s strongest collections of bluesy stompers and cool jazz contemplating love and greed, war and peace. Whether he�s singing a song that�s old or new, Snider always sounds like a busker on the corner of sanity and madness.

Myrkur
Spine
Relapse Records

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A tour-de-force, amalgamating some of the most exciting, innovative, and genre-defying moments from Myrkur's catalog into something that is haunting, extreme, and brilliant as ever. Spine lays Myrkur bare, at her most raw and unwavering, and is undoubtedly one of the year's most ambitious and cinematic albums.

Daniel Donato�s Cosmic Country
Reflector
Retrace Records

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Donato sings like he�s having the time of his life, and with so much natural sweetness, it nearly knocks you out when you hear how much of a punch it packs. Reflector is melodic and big, more than just a showcase for the band�s mind-bending jam skills. It also proves Donato�s got the reins to wrangle it all into something cohesive and lasting.

Stephen Marley
Old Soul
UMe

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Jamaica's Marley family has produced no shortage of history, hits, homages, and musical heroes. On his fifth solo album, Stephen pays tribute to his storied and successful family � and to a life of inspiration and influences ranging from Frank Sinatra to the Beatles to (no surprise here) his father, Bob Marley.

Black Crowes
The Southern Harmony
UMe

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The Black Crowes dig through the archives to create a deluxe edition featuring unreleased studio recordings, rare b-sides, a February 1993 concert, and a newly remastered album. Highlights include a new mix of the Memphis soul classic �99 Pounds� and the previously unreleased studio recording of �Miserable.�

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The Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) is a national level organization comprised of the best independent record stores in America. CIMS was founded in 1995 with the goal of uniting like minded independent store owners, giving them a more powerful voice in the music industry. The stores that make up CIMS are all very different, but we share the same desires � to be the heart of our communities, to super-serve our customers, to support and develop artists, and to share our love of music.

For more information about CIMS and the stores in our organization, please visit cimsmusic.com or find us through social media with the #cimsmusic hashtag. And please remember to always shop local by supporting your neighborhood record store.

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Now Hear This! � December 2023