It had been my intention to spend yesterday (Sunday) making the November podcast using the suggested Southern theme, but two things kept me from meeting that goal. First was homework, which can’t be helped. Second, and more pivotal, was the fact that I don’t yet own a physical copy of Spiral Shadow by Kylesa.

Fucking tragedy, right?

I tried to remedy this first at Sound Exchange in Wayne, my go-to shop for its proximity to my humble river valley and for the fact that if it’s between them and almost anyone else in the physical realm, I’d rather give them the money. They were a no dice. Thus began the agonizing, drawn-out process of not wanting to drive to Vintage Vinyl in Fords — an hour away on a good day — and knowing that I had zero chance of finding Spiral Shadow anywhere else near me.

My ride to Vintage Vinyl is agony, and not just because I have to spend the whole time anticipating what treasures I might find when I get there. It includes some of Northern New Jersey‘s most cripplingly boring roads, including Rt. 24, Rt. 78 and the ludicrously engineered Garden State Parkway. Nonetheless, at about four o’clock yesterday afternoon, after whining for nearly two hours about how much I didn’t want to make the trip — and no, it’s not lost on me that that’s long enough to make the trip twice over — off I went.

Should’ve called first. They didn’t have it. They’d only gotten a few copies and those were gone. Boy, did I feel stupid. Who does that? Who spends two hours in a car at the prospect of buying a CD without calling first to make sure the store has it?

I drowned my jackass sorrows in picking up The Elf Albums by Ronnie James Dio (and the rest of Elf, who aren’t cool enough to get mentioned on the cover), a used copy of Celestial Hi-Fi by Sheavy, who I never particularly enjoy hearing but keep buying the records of when I see them, Hippie Killer by Bongripper for $6.99, a used copy of the Boris and Ian Astbury collaboration, BXI, and, for $3.99, the version of Entombed‘s Wolverine Blues with the (apparently not) titular Marvel Comics character on the front.

The latter was obviously the find of the trip, but even that wasn’t enough to make me feel like any less of an idiot for spending that much of my day in blind pursuit of Spiral Shadow, which, it should be noted, I still haven’t gotten and is now holding up the November podcast. I don’t own Black Tusk either, but there are enough bands around who sound just like them that I can let that go. The Kylesa I pretty much need. The dude behind the counter said they’d be getting more this week, and I might try another run tomorrow, but needless to say, I’ll be calling first.

I’m not the biggest fan in the world of Canadian stoner rockers Sheavy, but hey, at least they’re out there doing what they do. Their upcoming album, The Golden Age of Daredevils is due out next month on I don’t know what label, and as Blabbermouth revealed this weekend, they’ve already got a follow-up written and mostly recorded. The new new album is to be called Disfigurine, so, you know, good for them, working hard. Here’s the story:

St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada “stoner” rockers Sheavy have completed work on their new album, The Golden Age of Daredevils, for a tentative May release. The CD was recorded as part of the RPM (Record Production Month) challenge, a creative challenge offered yearly to musicians, similar to other time-based challenges such as NaNoWriMo (the National Novel Writing Month held each November).

A song from The Golden Age of Daredevils is available for streaming at this location.

Sheavy‘s second new project, entitled Disfigurine is almost finished as well. According to the band, “vocals need to be done on three tracks and then it’s off for mixing and mastering. This album should be available in early July.”

Sheavy is one of those bands who I never really listen to, but whose records I inevitably pick up when I find them used. It’s like we keep bumping into each other, Sheavy and I, and we have a little bit of awkward conversation — “Oh hey, didn’t see you there, guess I’ll buy you because you’re stoner rock and I’m the stoner rock guy…” — and then they sit on my shelf and gather dust. Blah.

Nothing against them, I’m just not that into it, and to be fair, I don’t have Blue Sky Mind, which as I understand it is their best work. But, already owning Synchronized and The Electric Sleep, I picked up 2005′s Republic? for five bucks a couple weeks back at Vintage Vinyl here in Jersey, thinking the worst that could happen would be the record sucked and I wouldn’t listen to it again.

Well, I’ve listened to it once — not even the whole way through — and that’s it. I don’t know why, since I get off on all kinds of generic stoner stuff, but Sheavy doesn’t do it for me. Vocalist Steve Hennessey‘s Ozzy impression is spot on, the riffs are cool and there’s nothing wrong with the sound of the band, but I have a hard time convincing myself I care. Republic? is no different.

Am I way off on this one? Is there something I’m missing? Maybe when they drop their new album, The Golden Age of Daredevils, this fall, I’ll give it another shot. Or maybe I’ll just wait a year or two, find it used, and be underwhelmed. One never knows how these things will work out.

Looks like everyone’s favorite Newfoundland stoner rockers (and there’s so much competition!) Sheavy are now sans guitarist Dan Moore. No word on what wholesome activities Moore is up to now that he’s out of the band, but vocalist Steve Hennessey issued the following update and revealed the band’s new album title:

“Some of you may be aware of the fact that Dan Moore has left Sheavy after 16 years of faithful service. We want to thank Dan for all the songs and the memories. You will be missed, my friend. But, as they say, life goes on, and so will the band. We have about 16 ?new songs?[one for each year Dan was in the band]?written and by the looks of it we’ll pen a few more before heading to the studio in August. We’re all pretty excited about the new stuff and we’re really looking forward to putting together a new record. So, look forward to The Golden Age of Daredevils later this fall.”

Sheavy in happier times: