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Serving Chicago since 1989!
Here are our Reckless Records staff Best of 2023 lists, as always with some help from friends of the store. A lot of incredible Chicago music is represented here, and many things you won't see elsewhere. We hope these lists inspire you to check out something that may have gone under your radar in 2023.

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Here is the list of RSD Black Friday records still in stock at the shops.

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Currently our inventory is only for sale in our shops. You can be sure that we will let you know if and when online sales return!

-- Reckless Records


GORDON, KIM
COLLECTIVE
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Matador
'The Collective' is another excellent addition to KIM GORDON's post- SONIC YOUTH catalog, signaling a bold reinvention of her sound in her 4th decade in music. It's a Blistering set of molten soundscapes crafted from SoundCloud trap beats, blown-out bass, immersive waves of distortion, and Kim's iconic NYC drawl - imagine a classic Youth jam like "Kool Thing" if it were dipped in lava, fossilized and then Electrified by lightning. There are nods to her heroes in SUICIDE & THROBBING GRISTLE, old peers ROYAL TRUX & MBV, artists like M.I.A. & SLEIGH BELLS who were inspired by SY, and some genuinely leftfield influences like DEATH GRIPS, CHARLI XCX and even PLAYBOI CARTI, if you can Believe it. This is Yet again a truly Essential release from one of the coolest to ever do it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Available at: All Stores
New LP $22.99
GOLLER, RUTH
SKYLLUMINA
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International Anthem
London based composer & bassist RUTH GOLLER has worked a lot with Int'l Anthem mainstays ALABASTER DePLUME and BEX BURCH, and her solo work embraces the open improvization of her comrades with ethereal pop vocals that remind us a bit of ANA ROXANNE. Features support from BURCH and THE SMILE's Tom Skinner. RECOMMENDED!
Available at: All Stores
New LP $23.99
WOODS, JAMILA
WATER MADE US ("ARCTIC SWIRL" VINYL) (SIGNED COPIES!)
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Jagjaguwar
JAMILA WOODS follows up her brilliant, defiant, and explicitly political 2019 album 'LEGACY! LEGACY!' with this more personal & reflective work in the wake of the collective turmoil we've experienced over the past few years. 'Water Made Us' is a journey through love, heartbreak, and relationships formed & lost not just with others but with the self. Jamila's sense of exploration in her lyricism extends to the music as well, ceding space in her neo-soul tapestry for folk songs, more spoken word interludes, and some buzzy electro pop tracks. Guests include SABA and GIA MARGARET. You know what it is, Chicago. RECOMMENDED! JAMILA was kind enough to sign some LPs for us before her local stop at the Vic Theatre. These are limited edition & available in the stores only!!!
Available at: All Stores
New LP $24.99
HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF
PAST IS STILL ALIVE (ORANGE VINYL)
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Nonesuch
After some thrilling detours into other genres on the defiantly radical 'Life on Earth,' Alynda Segarra returns to their vintage roots-rock sound for this latest entry under the HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF banner. Alynda sounds laser-focused after a few years in the wilderness, their voice clear as a bell over chiming guitars & crisp drums. This is powerful folk music of the first order, informed by struggle & pulsing with life. Deftly produced by Brad Cook (WAXAHATCHEE, BON IVER) and featuring CONOR OBERST, MEG DUFFY, ANJIMILE and SG GOODMAN. HIGHLY REC'D!!!
Available at: All Stores
New LP $23.99
GHOST BLOOD
ESPER HOUSE (CD-R)
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Self
Reckless legend and vaporwave savant Kyle Freeze takes a break from internet music to bring us his latest project GHOST BLOOD. Heavily inspired by the work of Ichiro Agata (MELT-BANANA), "Esper House" shows Kyle exploring explosive sounds over frenetic drums. "The energy of these tracks are crazy, like a runaway train that's barely staying locked onto the tracks." - SPENCER YOUNG
Available at: All Stores
New CD $9.99
GRACE, LAURA JANE
HOLE IN MY HEAD
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Polyvinyl
The mighty LJG is back at it with another record in what's shaping up to be a fruitful solo discography. It continues the trend started on her pandemic-era releases of paring down the trademark AGAINST ME bombast to its bare essentials, resulting in really sharp lo-fi punk & folk (& even rockabilly & country) tracks that are as raw & bracingly immediate as any she's ever made. Chicago's gonna miss you, Laura! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Available at: All Stores
New LP $23.99
WOLFE, CHELSEA
SHE REACHES OUT TO SHE REACHES OUT TO... (BLUE VINYL, INDIE EXCLUSIVE LTD. ED.)
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Loma Vista
Longtime Reckless fave CHELSEA WOLFE returns with her 1st solo album in almost 5 years (though she's devoted time to great side projects with CONVERGE and MRS. PISS and scoring the film X). This new joint is produced by DAVE SITEK, who draws out the industrial, electro, and trip-hop influences that have always creeped at the edges of Chelsea's music. The chilly electronics & buzzing rhythms marry extremely well with Chelsea's voice, as lush & powerful as ever. Fans of PORTISHEAD, BJORK, and TRICKY will find lots to love here & hopefully feel compelled to take a deeper dive into Chelsea's eclectic catalog as a result.
Available at: Belmont and Loop
New LP $22.99
DUCKS LTD.
HARM'S WAY (LTD. COLOR VINYL)
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Carpark
DUCKS LTD. - a Toronto-based duo with roots in the Australia, UK, and Midwest music scenes - are back with this follow-up to their assured 2021 debut LP. On 'Harm's Way' they nail the classic CARS/STROKES trick of making every instrument part a hook - each chiming riff, bassline, drum fill, and rich vocal harmony are pure, sticky ear candy. And like all the best jangle/power pop, repeated listens reveal layers of aching melancholy beneath the sugary surface. PLUS, awesomely, this record was made in Chicago and features members of RATBOYS, DEHD, FINOM and MOONTYPE. Really good stuff - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Available at: Loop
New LP $25.99
NANCE, DAVID
DAVID NANCE & MOWED SOUND (COLOR VINYL)
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Third Man
Wildly prolific journeyman songwriter/guitarist DAVID NANCE has banded together a Crazy Horse of his own in MOWED SOUND for this S/T'd "debut" LP, his first on JACK WHITE's Third Man Records. Together they conjure up a set of freewheeling boogie, cosmic Americana & greased-up psych with motorik grooves that throb & pulse hypnotically, evoking ghosts of Afrobeat, raga & CAN as much as classic ZZ TOP or ALLMAN BROS. A thrilling listen that will make you wanna trade in your wings on some wheels, hit the pavement & find some desert to go flying by... HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Available at: Belmont and Loop
New LP $24.99
METH.
SHAME (WHITE VINYL)
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Prosthetic
Chicago "experimental heavy band" METH. are back with another heater, their second on Prosthetic Records. 'Shame's seven tracks assault the senses relentlessly with pummeling tempos & harsh sonics that, in concert with the vox & lyrics, offer a stark, harrowing glimpse into cycles of addiction, trauma & depression. They channel many of the same influences as peers like CHAT PILE and PRIMITIVE MAN - i.e. if you're a fan of GODFLESH, THE JESUS LIZARD, SWANS, BIG BLACK/ SHELLAC etc, you'll find lots to love here & you'll relish the challenging listen. Another Chi-town drop we can be proud of... RECOMMENDED!!!
Available at: Belmont and Loop
New LP $26.99