One of the city's biggest pride and joys, Sallie Ford, has been relatively low key following her split with the Sound Outside and the release of 2014's Slap Back. Over these last couple of years we knew deep down Ford wasn't laying her musical abilities to rest and this month, along with the release of a new single, she announced more new material coming our way through an upcoming album.

February will see the deliverance of Soul Sick, an album of emotive reflection featuring a slew of talented Portlanders that helped bring it to life. Ford found herself at Type Foundry Studio where she solicited the help of Mike Coykendall along with his brother John, Kirk Hamilton, Garth Klippert of Old Light, Ben Nugen of Dolorean, Kris Doty of Modern Kin and helping hand to Tom Waits and the B-52's Ralph Carney in bringing instrumental talent and production smarts to the process. 

On what Soul Sick is all about, Ford said:

This is a confessional album about struggling with my issues — some that I’ve overcome and some that I still carry around. This is an album about insecurity, anxiety and depression; it’s an album about band breakups, major life changes, and what it took to deal with those things. Growing up, I was a middle child and a homeschooler, so I’ve always felt like an outsider. In making this record, I explored what my music means to me, and how I’ve always struggled with feeling the pressure of not being good enough and wanting to quit. On these new songs, it felt good to write on one theme and from one place. All in all, Soul Sick has taught me a lot about myself and helped me to heal.

Soul Sick will be out via Vanguard Records on February 10. Give the first track from the album, "Get Out," a listen below.

Record Store Day is on Saturday—the best day of the year to stand in line and fight over rare vinyl releases while supporting local businesses. This year, Portland record stores will stock hundreds of RSD exclusive releases, including some local treats.

In October, Blitzen Trapper recorded Neil Young’s Harvest in full at the Doug Fir. Score the live album Live Harvest on Saturday. Listen to their take on “Heart of Gold” before you buy the record.

Eyelids, Portland’s psych-pop super group, are releasing a split 7” with The Phoenix Foundation, produced by Peter Buck.

Pickathon partnered with Easy Sound Recording Company to release a split 7” of Those Darlins and Diarrhea Planet (both from Nashville) recorded live at the festival last summer. Preview the tracks here.

Jackpot Records is releasing a limited edition record of short-lived Portland band No. 2’s No Memory. Mixed by Elliott Smith, the album is “the missing link between the end of Heatmiser and the beginning of Elliott Smith’s major label debut,” according to Jackpot.

In store performances abound throughout the day. Everyday Music on the Westside will feature DJ sets by members of Typhoon, Modern Kin, Laura Veirs, Summer Cannibals, and more, plus performances by Edna Vasquez, Ryan Sollee (Builders and the Butchers), Sam Coomes (Quasi), The Shivas, The Ghost Ease, The Ganders, and the Dandy Warhols. See the full schedule here.

Tender Loving Empire will host an officially unofficial RSD party at their SE Hawthorne store featuring Genders, Ali Muhareb, and Run On Sentence.

Jackpot will pour you free coffee if you peruse their shop or stop in for their DJ sets.

Across town, Music Millennium will host Portland punk legends, Dead Moon.

Make sure you check out early opening times for your favorite record store, and study the release list ahead of time.

Happy Record Store Day!

-Zibby Pillote

XRAY.FM’s broadcast signal is warming up the city, one receiver at a time. On top of the 168 hours of local unreceptive air play, they’ve put together a fantastic show this Thursday at Mississippi Studios. Headlining the show is Portland’s Modern Kin, along with The Ghost Ease and Kithkin. 

Modern Kin play lush textured rock and roll music. Their excellent self-titled record shows serious song writing chops with arrangements that call to mind Electric Light Orchestra and Tom Waits. Their live sound provides a raw stripped down Replacements meet R.E.M vibe that is entirely fresh and a sound all of their own. Below, check their live version of “Abandon" from the fine folks over at Banana Stand Media to see for yourself.

If you're not familiar with The Ghost Ease you must have just moved here. They are one of Portland's most unique adventurous bands who would be right at home on a mix tape with Television, Pavement and Patty Smith. Seattle’s Kithkin will open the night with their brilliant self-described “tree punk” and join Modern Kin for the The Great PNW 'Kin Tour of 2014. 

- M. Rowan

The Great PNW ‘Kin Tour of 2014

Thursday, 11/20 - XRAY.FM Presents: @ Mississippi Studios 

Friday 11/21 - KEXP Presents: @ Columbia City Theater (Seattle)

Saturday 11/22 - EMI Presents: @ The Cannery (Everett)

DONATE TO XRAY.FM

Modern Kin plays Rontoms on the 26th and promises quite the show. Having trimmed from a four to a three-piece in 2012, the group took time to re-orient sonic priorities and spit out a raucous self-titled debut in late 2013 off their own label, Amigo/Amiga. Drummer Jeremiah Hayden claims this was “a record of growth” in which they “wanted to introduce more rhythm and movement in the drums and the bass.” Mission accomplished. Each song is a call to arms, a lesson in combustion, a manifesto to the mundane. In songs like “Unannounced”, singer Drew Grow shout-sings with Win Butler-like vibrato while in “Wicked Crush”, the vocals seep and seethe paired with sinister (yet still catchy) instrumentals. In “Abandon”, Grow wails, “Our desperation isn’t beautiful, but here it is, so let’s say it is.” An apt summary for Modern Kin’s frenzied rock that hits like welcomed pummels to the eardrums. - Ted Jamison