Slow Boat Records

Howdy, everyone – welcome to May 2012!

Firstly, can we offer a hearty Slow Boat thanks to everyone who made Record Store Day 2012 at Slow Boat the best yet! So many visitors, both regulars and newbies, sharing the loved up RSD vibes – thank you all, it really means a lot to have your ongoing support. Instore performances from Dictaphone Blues and The Eversons were utterly joyful, especially with both groups surfing the waves of critical adulation following recently released albums – the DB’s sophomore effort  ”Beneath The Chrystal Palace”, and the Ev’s excellent debut “Summer Feeling”. Both are instore now, wildly recommended by us, and we should have more Eversons vinyl very soon. Would also like to thank our suppliers atUniversal Music, EMI, Southbound and Rhythmmethod for the exclusive RSD limited releases (we still have a wee few things left!), and to congratulate Lib Edmonds, Paul Johnson and Morgan Weir on winning our prize draws. Cheers, everyone!

Time flying, weather getting cooler – perfect time to come have a look at some new music! And what a feast of new stuff there is for you to hear - new releases from Dr John, Rocket Juice & The Moon (aka Damon Albarn, Flea, Tony Allen), Father John Misty (J Tillman fromFleet Foxes), individual remastered LP reissues of all The Smiths albums, Jack White‘s solo debut, “Blunderbuss” (vinyl soon come!), new Spiritualized…

AND – we have not one but TWO new instalments of our (very) sporadic Slow Boat Inquisition for your perusal, featuring incisive answers to ten probing questions from local legend Robert Scott of The Clean and The Bats fame here - http://slowboatrecords.co.nz/the-slow-boat-inquisition/robert-scott/

…and from one of our favourite recent customers; Martin Freeman, a man of taste and discernment, one of the stars of one of the greatest TV shows, um, ever as Tim Canterbury in The Office, and currently in NZ in his role as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, here - http://slowboatrecords.co.nz/the-slow-boat-inquisition/martin-freeman-april-2011/

SO much great stuff around at the moment, including more brand spanking new and reissue vinyl than we have ever had instore before!

But don’t take our word for it, why don’t come see for yourself?!
Hope everyone is fighting fit and feeling alright – catch you soon!!

Love on ya, The Slow Boat Crew X

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THE BLACK KEYS return to New Zealand… to unlock their magic

The rapturous reviews of their latest album ‘El Camino’ are all in, Coachella has been headlined, Grammys have been collected, Madison Square Garden sold out in 15 minutes and it now seems perfectly clear.

The BLACK KEYS are the biggest rock band on the planet right now. No stadium can hold ‘em, but Vector Arena and The TSB Bank Arenawill try their level best in November.

It’s a long way from their modest beginnings as a garage rock band in Akron, Ohio in 2001 but here they are, seven albums later, making the jump to hyperspace.  Selling out festivals and arenas and shifting huge amounts of what used to be called ‘units’, all while keeping their musical integrity firmly intact.

The breakthrough came in 2010 upon the release of their sixth album ‘Brothers’.   Steeped in the turmoil of broken marriages and busted friendships, its instantly iconic cover alone was enough to warrant a place in the pantheon of classic rock albums, but it was the music therein that became a statement of intent and a signpost of what was to come.  The band’s 21st century white boy blues was further expanded on their critically lauded late-2011 album ‘El Camino’, which became an instant commercial hit.  Thus far 2012 has been a year of highs for the band – most recently they co-headlined the Coachella festival with Radiohead, Dr Dre & Snoop Dogg.

To say that their return to New Zealand is highly anticipated is a vast understatement.  We haven’t seen them for a few years and some of the grit of their early albums has been replaced by a more glam sensibility, but not much else has changed.  It’s still the unassuming duo of Dan (Auerbach – vocals/guitar) and Patrick (Carney – drums) playing like they did in the clubs and bars of Akron, albeit this time with the mother of all light shows.

Don’t miss this rare chance to see a band at the top of their game.


Saturday 3rd November – Auckland – Vector Arena
Monday 5th November – Wellington – TSB Bank Arena

TICKETS ON SALE NOW
AUCKLAND – TICKETMASTER. GO TO http://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/The-Black-Keys-tickets/artist/847164
WELLINGTON – TICKETEK. GO TO http://premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/show.aspx?sh=BLACKKEY12

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Well, Lordie – nearly upon us again is Record Store Day 2012!!!

We were a little concerned when we found out there was an export ban on many of the limited edition releases for the day, so we flew into action to ensure that it would not go unmarked – turns out we’ll be getting SOME titles after all – you’ll have to come and see which! We have also done a HUGE US vinyl order – really quite splendid stuff, which will all be out in the store for Saturday – huzzah!

AND – we’ll have Dictaphone Blues playing us some tunes from their excellent new album “Beneath The Chrystal Palace”, after their gig at Mighty Mighty the evening before, at around 1.30pm. And THEN – local indie pop types The Eversons will be bringing us some tunes from their sparkling new album “Summer Feeling” – and – we will have limited vinyl copies on sale exclusively!!!

And as if that wasn’t enough, we will have raffles and prize draws throughout the day. It’s “our” day, sure – but it’s your day, too – you, the people who make the store something special with your passion for music that is just a little out of the ordinary.

Also – I will be playing tracks from the above albums on National Radio 9 to Noon with Kathryn Ryan, at around 11am this Friday the 2oth April – a bit of a Record Store Day at Slow Boat special, if you will.

Facebook invite here: https://www.facebook.com/events/320528278012977/

And will be updating Twitter with info up to and during the day: https://twitter.com/#!/SlowBoatRecords

Look forward to seeing you here – choice one!

xx Slow Boat Crew xx

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Well, another month already, and lots of exciting stuff on the horizon – we will, as ever, be celebrating Record Store Day on the 21st, and are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting instore performances from a couple of smart, literate, indie guitar bands – Wellington’s The Eversons, promoting and previewing their brand new album through Little Chief, and Auckland power poppers Dictaphone Blues  - watch this space for more details as the day draws nearer.

As regards the hugely impressive list of RSD exclusive releases, we are doing all we can, but have hit a bit of a snag with the fall of our US import company – will let you know how we fare. What we can  assure you is that we will have a huge assortment of quality music available, as ever, and with the NZ dollar in pretty good shape at the moment, prices are excellent. Loads of great stuff instore even now, including the Mark Lanegan Band‘s “Blues Funeral” (lovely dark green vinyl!), the Magnetic Fields newie, “Love At The Bottom Of The Sea”, soon-come visitor Justin Townes Earle‘s “Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now”, The Shins “Port Of Morrow”, Iron Maiden‘s “En Vivo!”, Michael Kiwanuka‘s wonderful debut “Home Again”, the Grinderman 2 remix album, and Lambchop‘s first in a while – “Mr M”.

Hope to see you all soon – for Record Store Day, or before, or after!!!

The Slow Boat Crew

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Well, here we are, 2012, February already, and the NZ International Arts Festival already in full swing – Bon Iver quite magnificent at the Town Hall the past couple of nights – a spectacular amalgam of country, folk, jazz and electronics. Quite special – and we are commemorating their visit with a big old bin full of BI LPs and CDs on the counter, at a special Slow Boat price.

Also really looking forward to shows from Death Cab For Cutie, Tinariwen and First Aid Kit, whose “The Lion’s Roar” debut is really quite lovely, and is clocking up quite a few plays on the house system.

And some great new release music already in 2012 – Leonard Cohen‘s “Old Ideas” is a cracking listen, better than anyone could reasonably expect in 2012, and the Mark Lanegan Band album “Blues Funeral” is almost predictably excellent – another ‘Boat fave, and heartily recommended. Paul McCartney‘s curiously titled “Kisses On The Bottom” is a sweet, sentimental collection of old-timey songs sung Macca-styles in his still-quite-lovely voice, and we also have renewed vinyl stocks of Pink Floyd‘s “Dark Side Of The Moon” and “Wish You Were Here” – “The Wall” remaster soon come, we are assured. Let us know if you’d like us to reserve you a copy of any of these, as they are limited and likely to sell out.

And, as this year will also bring new music from Bruce Springsteen, Justin Townes Earle, Lambchop, Dirty Three and, um, Iron Maiden, we’re picking it will be a good ‘un.

All the best for the year ahead, hope to see you all soon!
The Slow Boat Crew

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Well, then – a big old pile of vinyl has descended upon us from the skies - VU, Curtis Mayfield, Depeche Mode, Devo, Fairports, Bob Marley, The Band, Alice Cooper, Burning Spear, Fred Neil, Dr John, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, New Order, John Lee Hooker, Jimi Hendrix, The Jam, John Coltrane, JAMC< Green Day, Gram Parsons, Monks, RHCP, Tony Joe White, Tool, Traffic, Violent Femmes, Pretty Purdie, Pixies, T Rex… so much great stuff!

We also have – exclusive to SB – Luke Buda‘s “The C-Sides” EP, the last remaining LP copies of the Phoenix Foundation‘s magnificent “Buffalo”, the new album (ahem!) by former Cinematic singer-songwriter Jeremy Taylor, entitled “Stay In The Air”, plus a range of Slow Boat tees in all sizes and lots of colours, plus Slow Boat tote bags – all special, all unique – like you…

Wishing you all a wonderful, happy and safe Christmas and New Year – Slow Boat will be closed only on Xmas and New Year’s days – the rest of the time, we’ll be here for you.

Chin chin – cheers – thanks for being our kinda people…!!!

xxx The Slow Boat Crew xxx

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Howdy, everyone – December again – seems to roll round a little quicker every year, don’t it?

Without putting too fine a point on it, we are going all out this year to bring you, our valued customers, the widest possible range of awesome goodies to make your Christmas sound just swell – let us commence…

We now have in stock The Rolling Stones “Some Girls” reissue LP, Pete Townshend’s “Quadrophenia” demos 10″, a Soundgarden live 10″, and, (for the brave), Metallica/ Lou Reed “Lulu” 2LP all instore now. We have the big kahuna Beach Boys “SMiLE” set (2 LP’s, 2 7″ singles, 5 x CD’s of demos and outtakes in a 3D display box – phew! – still waiting on the double vinyl (ditto the new Kate Bush and Bjork albums…)AND we have just done a WHOPPING vinyl order from the US, which should be here in a week or so – watch this space…

We have a whole brand spankin’ new batch of Slow Boat tee shirts, in the ‘classic’ black, brown and green, and now also in my new fave – a very tasty navy blue. So – show you care – give someone you love/ like (a lot) a Slow Boat tee this Xmas!!! And for the “hard to buy for”, we have a wide array of stylish Slow Boat gift voucher – gingham, stripes. That sort of thing. And don’t forget we are also able to send stuff out anywhere in this big old world.

You can also browse our online listings (via GEMM - http://www.gemm.com/search.pl?for_seller=slowboat&currency=US&field=ARTIST+OR+TITLE&wild=&Go%21.x=9&Go%21.y=10)

And – we’re working up to our “best of the year” lists, in what has been a pretty terrific year for new albums and reissues both – again, stay tuned…

(nb we will be open pretty much throughout the ‘Festive’ season – excepting Xmas and New Year’s days)

Eat, drink – be merry. Turn the music up. Go on – you’ve earned it.

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…of his latest effort “Bad As Me” is here  on LP at last!

The old growler’s first new studio album in 7 years, and universally acclaimed best in goodness knows how long is now instore on magnificent 180gm vinyl with a a 16 page lyrics-and-photos book – hey nonny nonny, what ho?!

Limited stocks, first in best dressed etc.

Be seein’ ya…

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Howdy, peeps – have just had word from EMI that we have gotten first crack at the spectacular looking 2CD plus book in box version of the long, long awaited Beach Boys “Smile Sessions” album instore tomorrow, at a special Slow Boat price!!!

Vinyl will follow later next week, plus for the utterly rabid there is the big kahuna, 5 CD plus 2LP plus 7″ box set – please drop us a line if you would like to pre-order either of these!

The Brian Wilson version a few years ago was pretty terrific, and from what we’ve heard of these recordings, finally completed after more than 40 years, this is going to trump even that – wonderful music to heal the soul…

See you in the morning!!!

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Howdy, campers!!! Well, the Rugby World Cup has been a wonderful tournament, and we have been visited by people from all over the globe – folks from Argentina, France, Ireland, Wales – hell, even the English and Australians, and, at one point, gigantic Springboks lock Danie Roussow (a terribly nice chap!) And what has been impressive is just how knowledgeable the visitors are about the game, and, indeed, about New Zealand and all it has to offer – terrific. It has been an absolute pleasure to host you all. Now all that remains is the small matter of a World Cup final against France - the very best of luck to the All Blacks – you have been magnificent, just one more big effort to get you over the line. And especially to Slow Boat‘s favourite All Black Ma’a Nonu…

And it’s almost Christmas again, would you believe?! And suddenly it seems there is a whole rash of excellent new music upon us – not least of which is the terrific new Wilco album, “The Whole Love” – seriously, one of the finest of their long and distinguished career; the latest album from Canadian songstress Feist, “Metals”, which seemed a little underwhelming initially, but that we are now finding pretty compelling – dark, mysterious – excellent; the new remasters of Pink Floyd‘s catalogue, in particular “Dark Side Of The Moon” which is on a super high quality 180gm LP and sounds absolutely incredible; plus new vinyl from The Beatles, Beastie Boys, Traffic, Bjork, The Afghan Whigs (the classic “Gentlemen”, reissued at last!); plus new releases from Coldplay, Ryan Adams, the peculiar pairing of Black Seed Mike Fabulous with Lawrence Arabia as Fabulous Arabia (think awkward indie, but extremely funky plastic soul-disco?), Ryan Adams’ best effort in a while, and Laura Marling‘s superb “A Creature I Don’t Know” – plenty to be going on with, then.

We also have a whole shedload of brand new cult and indie film DVD’s from the good people at Aro Video, which we are selling at just $19.50 each – bargain!

STOP PRESS!!! New 7″ single releases on the Economy Records imprint from The Yoots and Shogun orchestra  - very nice. And they sound amazing!!!

Drop us a line! Pay us a visit! We’d love to see or hear from you!

Over & out,

Team Slow Boat

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