Editor’s Note: Once again, The Selective Echo welcomes Chase Loter from Positively 4th Street Music for this week’s take on the eclectic, independent music scene which drives the sophisticated tastes of Salt Lake City listeners, DJs, and musicians.

A new month brings a wealth of vinyl releases to SLC music aficionados: Gogol Bordello, Hollywood Rose, Dead Kennedys, T-Rex, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Iron & Wine, Calexico, and Liars. There also are plenty of used LPs for under $2 and even more CDs for $5 or less. Whatever your musical roots, it’s to be found in the store.

Among the newest releases on the SLC music radar:

Siouxsie Sioux’s “Mantaray” – Now in her fourth decade of public performance, she still sounds as bold as she did when sang the Bay City Rollers’ “Young Love” at the age of 19 at the 100 Club Punk Festival. Whether leading the Banshees or the Creatures, she has always been at the front edge. Quick trivia: For this gig, she was responsible for naming the band which included Marco Pirroni, Steve Severin, and Sid Vicious – all in honor of the great horror-master Vincent Price in Cry of the Banshee.

P J Harvey’s “White Chalk” – Proving her remarkable individuality as a songwriter once again, she has released her darkest, most hauntingly beautiful album to date. Few artists can change their sound as effectively as Harvey has done throughout her career – exploring sex, love, and religion with stark honesty, darkened humor, and a bit of twisted theatrics.

John Ralston’s “Sorry Vampire” – His most expansive effort – with a backing band and extensive layering of individual tracks on each song – is filled with mini indie pop symphonies. Although he sings primarily about loneliness and depression, he has nothing to be sad about – this is one hell of an album.

The Sadies’ “New Seasons” – Their seventh studio album is, once again, a rousing success. From Toronto, the band is Canada’s greatest export since Molson Beer. Led by the Good brothers (Dallas and Travis), the Sadies have honed a distinctive sonic palette, taking influences liberally from traditional country, surf music, and garage rock.

Kashmere Stage Band’s “Texas Thunder Soul 1968-1974” – Perhaps the greatest story ever to come out of high school. Conrad Johnson, now in his 90s, was the bandmaster at Houston’s Kashmere High School, and is responsible for creating the GREATEST high school funk and soul band. Eight albums were produced between 1968 and 1978 but the band’s music has lived on as sonic prizes treated with the upmost respect by hip-hop producers and DJs including DJ Shadow, Dan the Automator, and Cut Chemist. “Texas Thunder Soul” is Johnson’s apotheosis – this two-disc release contains some of the finest live recordings from any genre. The band does one of the best covers of Stevie Wonder’s “Wish.” Before Egon and the rest of the team at Now Again Records put this out last year, it was nearly impossible to track anything down from the KSB unless you were a truly dedicated record digger.

Upcoming shows:

Tue 10/2 – Mute Math@In the Venue; White Williams/Ted Dancin’@Urban

Wed 10/3 – Kaddisfly@Avalon; Chaseone 2 & Sam Eye Am@Jackalope

Thurs 10/4 – Levinhurst (former members of The Cure)/Tragic Black@Urban; Sam Eye Am@Bar Deluxe; DJ McFly@D.T.H.L.; Count Bass D@UpRok; Saves The Day (acoustic)@Kilby

Fri 10/5 – D-Sharp@D.T.H.L.; Ulysses/Spearit@Urban; DJ Life & J2@Circle Lounge

Sat 10/6 – Blues on 1st@Zanzibar; X96 Big Ass Show@The Fairgrounds; Sleeping in the Aviary@Urban

Mon 10/8 – Magik Markers@Urban; DJ Rebel@Monk’s