In our Moving
Units column, Mike Ramirez at Fort Lauderdale's Radio-Active Records
graciously keeps us up-to-date and comments on the current releases
flying out of his store each week.
From personal record store experience, artists like the Scissor Sisters have amazing luck selling albums once a person enters of the few remaining brick-and-mortar music outposts. Even in a crowded store, the stardust and retro cool of Jake Shears' inventive troupe sounds immediately more appealing than whatever headphone masterpiece (sorry, John Fahey and Isis fans) a person might be considering. Night Work's first single "Invisible Light," a slice of Euro-pop featuring production work by Stuart Price, gets patrons walking -- even dancing -- up to the county to inquire. Just hold up a copy of Night Work, ornamented by a pair of firm, toned buttocks, and that's an instant sale.
Radio-Active Records' Top 5 Releases for July 6-12:
1. How To Destroy Angels - self-titled EP (Null Corporation) "Protein-shake Reznor, his wife and longtime NIN-collaborator unlesh
their new EP which was gobbled up on the first day of release. What does
it sound like? Guess."
2. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Mojo (Reprise)
3. Scissor Sisters - Night Work (Universal) "Yes the Scissor Sisters are back but the real question is who's caboose
is on the front cover of this album?"
4. Mystery Jets - Serotonin (Rough Trade)
5. Various Artists - Rara In Haiti: Street Music of Haiti (Soul Jazz) "Hats off to Soul Jazz Records for the incredible Rara in Haiti CD,
recorded in Port Au Prince and described as an anarchic folk-meets-punk
collision of drums, voices and bamboo sticks. Play this one when the
kids are asleep."
Which albums will we be talking about next week?
"Look out for new bombs: M.I.A.'s /\/\/\Y/\ (N.E.E.T./Interscope), The Roots' How I Got Over (Def Jam), Dangermouse & Sparklehorse's Dark Night of the Soul (EMI), School Of Seven Bells' Disconnect From Desire (Ghostly/Vagrant), Sun Kil Moon's Admiral Fell Promises (Caldo Verde), and more next week."
