Mitch Easter CD now on sale! / Chris Brown

As I've mentioned, I couldn't be happier to be distributing Mitch Easter's first album in 18 years. I ran out and bought the Afoot EP after seeing Let's Active's "Every Word Means No" video on MTV back in the day, and eagerly purchased each new LA release. Who could have foreseen that Every Dog Has His Day would usher in such a long period of silence from Mitch? Of course, he's been very busy producing other people's records, and has had a few stray tracks on tribute albums, but anyone who listens to his new CD Dynamico will realize that this man needs to be writing and performing his own tunes!

After a buncha delays (after six years of running this business, believe me, I'm used to delays), Dynamico has finally left the factory and copies will be in stock here at 125 HQ any day now. Order yours today and you should have your disc by the end of next week! You've waited 18 years... what's another few days?

125 is also really excited to bring you a new CD by an exceptionally talented young artist named Chris Brown. Unfortunately, he shares that name with a big R&B star, leading to some confusion with search engines and stuff. This Chris Brown has produced a dazzling and gorgeous CD called Now That You're Fed that has won raves from folks like International Pop Overthrow's David Bash ("A brilliant disc from start to finish, combining the delicate, poignant sensibilities of Elliott Smith with the lyrical cadence of Brendan Benson. Excellent stuff!") and San Francisco's own KFOG ("...the dude can write one heck of a Pop song... The vocals, which are layered and rich, remind me of the Beach Boys with a dash of XTC -- seriously solid singing"). This is the kind of CD you just want to play for people and go, "Listen to this -- you'll love it!" There's a track up on the Sounds page so you can experience a little of Chris's magic.

Gil Ray CD nominated for award

Gil Ray's I Am Atomic Man! has been nominated for a Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award for Best CD (category #16)! If you're a horror/science fiction/comic book fan, be sure to vote.

Edited because I misspelled Rondo Hatton (thanks to Andrew Hamlin for catching it)

Loud Family reviewed in London

The London Sunday Times reviewed What If It Works? yesterday:

California's jet-propelled power-pop genius Scott Miller gave stardom a decent shot, fronting Game Theory and the Loud Family for two decades. He has been silent since the turn of the century, despite high-profile patronage from critically acclaimed talents such as Aimee Mann and the Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt, the latter clearly in his debt. But here's a new Loud Family line-up, to tease us with buried bubble-gum hooks that straddle the banal/brilliant barrier, and chirpy-chipmunk choirboy vocals that conceal spiky lyrical barbs. So distinct is Miller's aesthetic that even a cover of the Stones' hoary "Rocks Off" buzzes like a Loud Family original.

The "chirpy-chipmunk" comment is a little dodgy, as the Brits say, but overall, we're always happy to be recognized across the pond.

WIIW? on year-end critics' poll list

The Loud Family & Anton Barbeau's What If It Works? came in at #196 on the Jackin' Pop Critics' Poll, which is trying to present an alternative to the venerable Village Voice Pazz & Jop Poll. Lest you think #196 sounds on the low side, be aware that there are a total of 1,300 albums on the list... and that the LF came in higher than Tom Petty, The Mars Volta, Robert Pollard and other pretty famous folks.

The band may find its profile even higher in a week or so, since WIIW? is scheduled to be reviewed by an extremely prestigious publication. Keep your fingers crossed that it actually runs, and that it's positive...!

Mitch Easter update

It has been a few weeks, but rest assured that your 125 Records team is still working behind the scenes. We've gotten a great response to Gil Ray's I Am Atomic Man! And there is finally some solid info about the Mitch Easter CD, Dynamico. Its street date has been pushed back to mid-March, but you will be able to get your pre-order in right here around Jan. 25 -- and we anticipate mailing out the CDs in early February. We'll also be making available an absolutely amazing power pop album at that time, one we didn't release but love so much that we wanted to share it. Stay tuned...