RecaPitulation: Russian Circles, Fugazi, Jawbox, Shrinebuilder, Imaad Wasif

Never miss the chance to see Jon Langford dance.

Now this is a great way to start a Monday: With a press-only stream of the new Russian Circles record, Geneva. As of last week, we were still spinning the sinister instrumentalists’ last one, 2008’s Station - that record blew our brains onto the wall, which we then had to scrape off, shape into a ball and shove back into our skull. Messy indeed. Already, Geneva - locked and loaded for a 10/20 release on Suicide Squeeze - is dashing up our list of ‘09 faves faster than a cougar pouncing on a deer. The Chicago version of Mogwai bring the heavy on the first two tracks, “Fathom” and “Geneva,” laying down some seriously bombastic blasts. The album then catches its breath with “Melee” and “Hexed All,” two gorgeous contemplative tracks that feature - brace yourself - strings. But then it’s off to the races again with “Malko,” the fastest, most ear-splitting song on the album. ”When the Mountain Comes to Muhammad” and “Philos” turn the record inward one last time, leaving us with some hauntingly meditative sounds. One deep thought that occurred to us while we zoned out to the new Russian Circles: This band is fucking rad. …

The lovable luddites over at Dischord - one of the last holdouts of the digital age - have finally been giving in, saddling a slew of their recent and upcoming vinyl reissues with bonus MP3 downloads. Just-available records that have been out of circulation for a spell include Fugazi’s In on the Killtaker, Minor Threat’s “First Demo Tape” and “Salad Days” 7-inches, Rites of Spring’s self-titled 12-inch and more. Due in August is Fugazi’s The Argument, with End Hits and Steady Diet of Nothing following in September. August will also mark the re-release of Make-Up’s Destination: Love, Live! while October will find Nation of Ulysses’ Plays Pretty for Baby and Faraquat’s The View From This Tour back in stock. Go here if you’re getting the shopping bug. …

Furthering the vinyl-reissue craze: Dischord affiliates Jawbox, who are slapping three extra songs onto For Your Own Special Sweetheart, due in the fall. Look for an MP3 download coupon in that one too - but only if you get the vinyl version, not the CD one that is also coming. This is a joint Dischord/Desoto effort - blurring out memories of major-label Atlantic, which initially issued the 1994 poppy post-punk classic. …

Shrinebuilder - a mega-super-monster-awesome group consisting of Scott Kelly, Dale Crover, Al Cisneros (Om) and Wino - have come up with a title for their new album. It’s called … wait for it … Shrinebuilder. Like the Skeksis in “The Dark Crystal” gathering together for the Conjunction at the end of the movie, these guys have probably conjured something fantastic(al). The group effort will be coming to you in September via (where else?) Neurot Recordings; for more on the making of the album - and a heart-wrenching account of his sister’s sad passing - go to Kelly’s blog. …

Lou Barlow and Yeah Yeah Yeahs buddy Imaad Wasif is doing the solo-record thing again, and you’ll be able to feast your ears on the results October 13. The L.A. troubadour’s first solo foray came out via Kill Rock Stars in ‘06, and Wasif self-released his second one last year, but he’s hooking up with Tee Pee for his junior effort, The Voidist. Crover - who we just mentioned a second ago - guests on the album, as does Gutter Twin Mathias Schneeberger and Red Sparowes’ Greg Burns. Wasif must be one of the easiest guys to hang around with, because he also hob-knobbed with a bunch of other people - YYYs’ Karen O, Deerhunter’s Bradford Cox and Raconteurs’ “Little” Jack Lawrence - for the score to Spike Jonze’s “Where the Wild Things Are,” coming in October. Finally, look for a reissue of Wasif’s second solo album, which was untitled, next year via Tee Pee.