Welcome to Rough Trade Shops

5% discount on all orders containing one or more of our top 50 albums during December 2008.
Simply use the code CRNCH1208 when completing STEP 3 of your order form, in order to receive your discount.

BON IVER
For Emma, Forever Ago

WHO
Reeling from the break up of his long time band, Justin Vernon moved to a remote cabin deep in the woods of Northwestern Wisconsin, aiming to spend a quiet winter doing little more than chop wood and lead a simple life.

WHAT
Life in the cabin slowly evolved into days filled with writing and recording, using a handful of microphones and some ageing equipment. All of Vernon's heartache, longing, guilt and loss poured into the nine songs crafted here.

WHY
An astonishing debut, exquisitely communicating both geographic and human isolation, pain and loneliness through literate, poetic songcraft, tied together by Vernon's haunting, emotive voice and superbly layered arrangements.

EXCLUSIVE BONUS 18 MINUTE DVD (HAND STAMPED AND LIMITED) FEATURING THE BLOGOTHEQUE TAKEAWAY SHOWS FILMED IN PARIS.

FLEET FOXES
Fleet Foxes

WHO
Seattle's answer to CSNY, Fleet Foxes were one of the hits of this year's South By South West festival, and this year's Sun Giant EP whetted the appetite for this stunning full length debut.

WHAT
Sumptuous harmony singing, married to perfectly crafted, subtle song writing, and all handled with a a deft instrumental touch.

WHY
This was always going to be one of the albums of the year, without question. A classic, timeless showcase of craft and homespun, rural influences.

LIMITED COPIES COME WITH A BONUS FIVE TRACK CD OF THREE TRACKS FROM THE FIRST EP, AN ALTERNATIVE VERSION OF 'MYKONOS' AND 'ISLES'.

VAMPIRE WEEKEND
Vampire Weekend

WHO
Formed while studying at Columbia University in 2006, last year's underground whispers were dominated by superlatives describing this phenomenal band's pending debut.

WHAT
An exuberant, kaleidoscopic clash of sound, taking in African, Funk and Post-punk rhythms, organs, strings, guitars and Western classical music and spewing out a heady carnival of melody and noise.

WHY
A fascinating, ambitious, intelligent indie rock album, unlike any other, this is musically and lyrically refreshing, a genuine triumph of experimentation and eclecticism.

LIMITED COPIES COME WITH A BONUS MIX CD PUT TOGETHER BY THE BAND OF THEIR INFLUENCES AND FAVOURITE SONGS.

WHITE DENIM
Workout Holiday

WHO
One of the most hotly-tipped acts around this year, Austin trio White Denim bring you their unique debut.

WHAT
An electrifying mix of garage energy, Minutemen funk and blasts of white noise create a compelling, visceral musical montage.

WHY
A primal, polyrhythmic powertrio, managing to convey all of their awesome live power on this stunning record.

NOW RE-RELEASED WITH A BONUS 5 TRACK CD FEATURING 4 NEW TRACKS AND A DEMO VERSION OF 'SITTING'.

METRONOMY
Nights Out

WHO
Born and raised in Devon, Joseph Mount relocated to Brighton and after establishing a superlative reputation as a remixer, released the debut Metronomy album to huge critical success in 2007.

WHAT
A wholly original amalgam of intelligent, electronic pop brilliance, thoroughly modern, lyrical, and eminently danceable.

WHY
Much more vocally driven than it's predecessor, this sophomore effort marks a graduation from bedroom indie electro to potential mainstream pop.

COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE 6 TRACK BONUS CD ONLY AVAILABLE FROM ROUGH TRADE.

EL GUINCHO
Algranza

WHO
The musical pseudonym of Spanish musician Pablo Diaz-Reixa. We had a few copies of this magical debut in the shop earlier in the year, and it was finally released properly on Young Turks in October.

WHAT
Taking in a truly huge range of influences, sounds and colours, and turning it all into an original, psychedelic workout, splattered in found sounds, beats and chants from all ages and corners of the globe.

WHY
A gloriously joyous mash-up of styles that Diaz-Reixa happily describes as "space-age tropicalia", this remarkable work is an intoxicating, hypnotic musical melting pot.

COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE BONUS 3 TRACK CD FEATURING TWO NEW MASTERPIECES AND A RUBY SUNS COVER. THIS IS FRESH MATERIAL AND WORTH THE ADMISSION PRICE ALONE.

BENGA
Diary Of An Afro Warrior

WHO
Set to become the face of Dubstep in 2008, Benga unleashed one of last year's biggest tracks in Night, the perfect precursor to this peerless debut.

WHAT
Confidently pushing the envelope of what is termed Dubstep, while staying true to the roots of the form, deep, rolling basslines rumble around raw beats while emotional resonance is rung out of haunting melodies and vocals.

WHY
The consumate crossover album, this was destined to open up a new audience for an entire genre, without ever feeling watered down.

COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE BONUS 30 MINUTE MIX CD BY BENGA.

ZOMBIE ZOMBIE
A Land For Renegades

WHO
French duo Etienne Jaumet and CosmicNeman, obsessed with analogue electronics and vintage horror movie soundtracks, unleash a truly great slab of dark disco.

WHAT
Exploring the relentless rhythms of Krautrock, while layering dense, haunting synths and guitars over the top, this an intense emotional experience.

WHY
Lurching from live militray beats, to propulsive, driving rhythms and drenched in a portentous synth soundtrack, this an aesthetic triumph.

VIVIAN GIRLS
Vivian Girls

WHO
One of the year's biggest buzzes emanating from the indie hotbed of Brooklyn, and in the case of this all-girl power trio it was richly deserved hype.

WHAT
Swirling walls of feedback, lush three-part harmonies and angelic pop melodies fuel this hook filled, instant shop favourite.

WHY
All the buzz and hype in the world wont help unless you have one thing: great songs, and they are here in abundance, backed up by sublime Spector-esque layers of crunchy guitars, and primal percussion.

LADYHAWKE
Ladyhawke

WHO
Sydney-based, Wellington-born singer-songwriter Phillipa Brown's latest project finds her eclectic muse take centre stage on her first "solo" record, after stints in Teenager and Two Lane Blacktop.

WHAT
A gloriously energetic, ambitious album, filled with seriously huge pop hooks and expertly rendered eighties references, this is defiantly music to make you smile, or dance, or both.

WHY
A seamless marriage of sophisticated pop songwriting and glossy, synth-heavy production, all written, sung and produced by Brown in conjunction with some of modern music's production heavyweights.



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