Merge (2012)
Superchunk loves the summer, and quite frankly, I love Superchunk so this single is a welcome addition to my summer playlist. This Summer is another classic Superchunk fuzz pop composition. It hits all of the right notes and would fit right at home on the band's last album. The B-side, Cruel Summer is a Bananarama cover that I'm not enjoying as much, but I think it's mostly because i don't really dig the original version of the song.
I would love to think this is a precursor to a new Superchunk record that's right around the corner, but I haven't heard anything about that yet...
Superchunk - This Summer:
soundcloud.com/mergerecords/superchunk-this-summer
Friday, June 29, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Trusty - Kathy's Keen 7"
DeSoto (1992)
Trusty has been a band that I have enjoyed for quite some time and their 2 full length albums that came out on Dischord are absolutely essential albums. (Side note, I only have The Fourth Wise Man on CD and need to rectify that soon). I have long called Trusty the best band to ever put out a record on Dischord. This is a comment that tends to upset people, so I try to say it as often as possible. Also, I absolutely believe this statement.
Trusty has always had a knack for releasing hooky, hi tempo songs that showed influences of the punk, mod, pop and the DC scene they became part of. The songs on this 7" are no exception. It's probably fair to say they lean a bit more to the punk side than most of the songs on their full lengths, but in no way are the tunes and melody compromised by this. An absolutely fantastic single that I'm extremely happy to add to the collection after all these years.
I can't find full versions of these songs streaming anywhere, but I did find a site where you can listen to a sample of each song and even buy the Mp3s if you're so inclined.
Trusty - Kathy's Keen:
https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Trusty_Kathy_s_Keen_b_w_No_One?id=Beppqwxtn6upqcxpto4mcabayum&hl=en
Trusty has been a band that I have enjoyed for quite some time and their 2 full length albums that came out on Dischord are absolutely essential albums. (Side note, I only have The Fourth Wise Man on CD and need to rectify that soon). I have long called Trusty the best band to ever put out a record on Dischord. This is a comment that tends to upset people, so I try to say it as often as possible. Also, I absolutely believe this statement.
Trusty has always had a knack for releasing hooky, hi tempo songs that showed influences of the punk, mod, pop and the DC scene they became part of. The songs on this 7" are no exception. It's probably fair to say they lean a bit more to the punk side than most of the songs on their full lengths, but in no way are the tunes and melody compromised by this. An absolutely fantastic single that I'm extremely happy to add to the collection after all these years.
I can't find full versions of these songs streaming anywhere, but I did find a site where you can listen to a sample of each song and even buy the Mp3s if you're so inclined.
Trusty - Kathy's Keen:
https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Trusty_Kathy_s_Keen_b_w_No_One?id=Beppqwxtn6upqcxpto4mcabayum&hl=en
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Fear Of Lipstick - Seasons LP - Clear Vinyl (/100)
Ptrash (2012)
2nd full length from Fear of Lipstick and now that they're on Ptrash, I also get the limited to 100 copies clear vinyl version. I enjoyed their first record, but I think Seasons is a marked improvement. The song structures are more thought out and the choruses in particular are even catchier than before.
One thing I will say is you've got to be in the right mood for the singer. There are some days where I think this band is the greatest thing, but there are others where The singers battle cry is just a bit much for me. Probably a better afternoon record than a first thing in the morning affair.
Fear Of Lipstick - Season LP:
fearoflipstick.bandcamp.com/album/seasons
2nd full length from Fear of Lipstick and now that they're on Ptrash, I also get the limited to 100 copies clear vinyl version. I enjoyed their first record, but I think Seasons is a marked improvement. The song structures are more thought out and the choruses in particular are even catchier than before.
One thing I will say is you've got to be in the right mood for the singer. There are some days where I think this band is the greatest thing, but there are others where The singers battle cry is just a bit much for me. Probably a better afternoon record than a first thing in the morning affair.
Fear Of Lipstick - Season LP:
fearoflipstick.bandcamp.com/album/seasons
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Torino 74 - S/T CD
Fixing A Hole (2011)
Torino 74 is the band that rose from the ashes of one of my favorite UK bands, Chopper. They released a 7" on Crackle Records and then appeared on the Coming Soon page of the Crackle Website for about a decade. I had pretty much assumed this would never come out as the band broke up ages ago. Well, I guess last year this was finally released on Fixing A Hole records and I stumbled across its existence looking for songs to post on my Chopper collection post a few weeks back (http://www.ibuywaytoomanyrecords.com/2012/04/collection-chopper-lp-7.html) Then it became a quest to find this elusive disc.
I actually ended up contacting one of the band members and former member of Chopper through Chopper's Facebook page. Dave was kind enough to hook me up with a copy of this wonderful record, and oh is it wonderful. Let's just say if you've ever liked the band Broccoli or the mid 90's UK punk scene at all, this record is absolutely essential. It rivals and sometimes surpasses some of Chopper's greatest moments and has a much more melodic feel to it. While the energy is still there, the songs aren't played a hundred miles an hour and the Sean, the main vocalist, has a voice that is really suited to this music. I can't say enough good things. Buy it. Buy it now.
Torino 74 - S/T CD:
torino74.bandcamp.com/album/torino-74
Torino 74 is the band that rose from the ashes of one of my favorite UK bands, Chopper. They released a 7" on Crackle Records and then appeared on the Coming Soon page of the Crackle Website for about a decade. I had pretty much assumed this would never come out as the band broke up ages ago. Well, I guess last year this was finally released on Fixing A Hole records and I stumbled across its existence looking for songs to post on my Chopper collection post a few weeks back (http://www.ibuywaytoomanyrecords.com/2012/04/collection-chopper-lp-7.html) Then it became a quest to find this elusive disc.
I actually ended up contacting one of the band members and former member of Chopper through Chopper's Facebook page. Dave was kind enough to hook me up with a copy of this wonderful record, and oh is it wonderful. Let's just say if you've ever liked the band Broccoli or the mid 90's UK punk scene at all, this record is absolutely essential. It rivals and sometimes surpasses some of Chopper's greatest moments and has a much more melodic feel to it. While the energy is still there, the songs aren't played a hundred miles an hour and the Sean, the main vocalist, has a voice that is really suited to this music. I can't say enough good things. Buy it. Buy it now.
Torino 74 - S/T CD:
torino74.bandcamp.com/album/torino-74
Monday, June 25, 2012
Various Artists - Rated G.G. 7" (Ted Leo, Ben Gibbard & More)
2011 Best Show On WFMU Fundraising Single (2012)
So there's this show on WFMU called the Best Show on WFMU. It's a show that everyone thinks is a lot funnier than I do. I will admit I've only heard it a few times, but nothing I've ever heard has made me want to keep going back. I think comedy, even more than music, is one of the most subjective things there is. Everyone laughs at different things. Beleive me, I have a 6 DVD set of They Came From Outer Space episodes. Not for everyone...
Anyway, this 7" was the 2011 fundraising single during WFMU's annual pledge drive. You had to pledge $75 to get it and it also came with some shirts a poster and the good feeling that you've helped one of the last truly independent radio stations going. The songs on here are an all ages tribute to GG Allin. You've got songs by Ted Leo, Ben Gibbard, Fucked Up, Ty Segall & Mountain Goats.
It's a cute idea I guess, but there's nothing on here that I think is worth more than a courtesy listen. As a Ted Leo completist, this 7" will probably just sit in a box until, well, forever really. The best song on this record by far is the Ben Gibbard song, but even that is not something I anticipate needing to listen to again. Let me restate, I am happy to have donated and supported a good cause, but after waiting so long to finally receive this 7", I just wish I liked it more. Oh well.
So there's this show on WFMU called the Best Show on WFMU. It's a show that everyone thinks is a lot funnier than I do. I will admit I've only heard it a few times, but nothing I've ever heard has made me want to keep going back. I think comedy, even more than music, is one of the most subjective things there is. Everyone laughs at different things. Beleive me, I have a 6 DVD set of They Came From Outer Space episodes. Not for everyone...
Anyway, this 7" was the 2011 fundraising single during WFMU's annual pledge drive. You had to pledge $75 to get it and it also came with some shirts a poster and the good feeling that you've helped one of the last truly independent radio stations going. The songs on here are an all ages tribute to GG Allin. You've got songs by Ted Leo, Ben Gibbard, Fucked Up, Ty Segall & Mountain Goats.
It's a cute idea I guess, but there's nothing on here that I think is worth more than a courtesy listen. As a Ted Leo completist, this 7" will probably just sit in a box until, well, forever really. The best song on this record by far is the Ben Gibbard song, but even that is not something I anticipate needing to listen to again. Let me restate, I am happy to have donated and supported a good cause, but after waiting so long to finally receive this 7", I just wish I liked it more. Oh well.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Jaill - Hype 7"
Sub Pop (2012)
I forgot to take a picture of this with the Jaill LP earlier this week and then every subsequent day I kept forgetting to take a picture. Today I rectify that. Unfortunately, I don't like this 7" at all. Gone is Jaill's trademark jangle fest, and in its place we have 2 electronic songs. I guess it's OK as a novelty, and at least they kept these songs off the record and it was a free bonus 7", so I'm not that annoyed by it. Plain and simple though, I just don't think it's good. I can't find the songs online anywhere to share. Sorry!
I forgot to take a picture of this with the Jaill LP earlier this week and then every subsequent day I kept forgetting to take a picture. Today I rectify that. Unfortunately, I don't like this 7" at all. Gone is Jaill's trademark jangle fest, and in its place we have 2 electronic songs. I guess it's OK as a novelty, and at least they kept these songs off the record and it was a free bonus 7", so I'm not that annoyed by it. Plain and simple though, I just don't think it's good. I can't find the songs online anywhere to share. Sorry!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Songs For Snakes - Charcoal Heather CD
Timid Crusher (2012)
Though mentioned a few times in the past on this website, I should give a proper plug to the Wilfully Obscure blog (wilfullyobscure.blogspot.com/). In addition to digging up past relics, they do occasionally feature a new band and while I certainly don't like everything that's posted, I have been introduced to a few great bands from this site. The most recent of these discoveries is Songs For Snakes. I know it probably goes without saying that I would prefer this had come out on vinyl, but at least it's not cassette only.
Charcoal Heather is a CD full of what I'm going to call Old Guy Punk. This is not to be derisive in anyway, in fact it's one of the highest compliments I can pay a band these days, being an old guy myself. This is a band that conjures memories of a prime Jawbreaker or a more streamlined Leatherface. Melodic raspy vocals with powerful guitars and the kind of hooks you just don't hear from the kids anymore. It's a self released album, the band has no delusions of grandeur and you can tell they're making music because they love music, not because they think they're the next big thing. You can buy the album direct from the band via their bandcamp page on the cheap. Heck, the singer Bill put this in the mail for me before I even sent him the money for it via PayPal. I wouldn't recommend he do that for everyone, there are some bad people on the internet...
Songs For Snakes - Charcoal Heather:
songsforsnakes.bandcamp.com/album/charcoal-heather
Though mentioned a few times in the past on this website, I should give a proper plug to the Wilfully Obscure blog (wilfullyobscure.blogspot.com/). In addition to digging up past relics, they do occasionally feature a new band and while I certainly don't like everything that's posted, I have been introduced to a few great bands from this site. The most recent of these discoveries is Songs For Snakes. I know it probably goes without saying that I would prefer this had come out on vinyl, but at least it's not cassette only.
Charcoal Heather is a CD full of what I'm going to call Old Guy Punk. This is not to be derisive in anyway, in fact it's one of the highest compliments I can pay a band these days, being an old guy myself. This is a band that conjures memories of a prime Jawbreaker or a more streamlined Leatherface. Melodic raspy vocals with powerful guitars and the kind of hooks you just don't hear from the kids anymore. It's a self released album, the band has no delusions of grandeur and you can tell they're making music because they love music, not because they think they're the next big thing. You can buy the album direct from the band via their bandcamp page on the cheap. Heck, the singer Bill put this in the mail for me before I even sent him the money for it via PayPal. I wouldn't recommend he do that for everyone, there are some bad people on the internet...
Songs For Snakes - Charcoal Heather:
songsforsnakes.bandcamp.com/album/charcoal-heather
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Uranium Comeback - S/T 10" - Screened Sleeve (/100)
Ptrash (2012)
This will be the first in what promises to be a quite a few posts about vinyl that came out on Ptrash Records from Germany. I just got a big box from them that is just packed with hits. My favorite of the bunch is this Uranium Comeback 10". As always, I get extra excited for Ptrash releases as I am part of their Ptrash club so I get wacky, limited to 100 copy variants of all of their records. The Uranium Comeback limited release has screened artwork in different colors than the normal version.
This record was destined for success with me as it features Steve Adamyk and is another record full of fast, awesome & catchy songs. I wouldn't say it sounds just like The Steve Adamyk Band, but I just can't imagine you liking one and not liking the other. I'm not sure if this qualifies as a full album, but if it does, it's easily one of the best 2 or 3 records I've heard this year.
Uranium Comback - S/T 10":
mermanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/uranium-comeback
This will be the first in what promises to be a quite a few posts about vinyl that came out on Ptrash Records from Germany. I just got a big box from them that is just packed with hits. My favorite of the bunch is this Uranium Comeback 10". As always, I get extra excited for Ptrash releases as I am part of their Ptrash club so I get wacky, limited to 100 copy variants of all of their records. The Uranium Comeback limited release has screened artwork in different colors than the normal version.
This record was destined for success with me as it features Steve Adamyk and is another record full of fast, awesome & catchy songs. I wouldn't say it sounds just like The Steve Adamyk Band, but I just can't imagine you liking one and not liking the other. I'm not sure if this qualifies as a full album, but if it does, it's easily one of the best 2 or 3 records I've heard this year.
Uranium Comback - S/T 10":
mermanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/uranium-comeback
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Jaill - Traps LP - Green Vinyl
Sub Pop (2012)
Traps is the new album from Jaill, a band that I originally discovered thanks to Ken @ Dirtnap records. This is Jaill's 4th album overall and 2nd for Sub Pop. After the first couple of listens, I can confidently say I think is is better than their last Sub Pop release, but still no where near as good as their self released album There's No Sky.
Here we have a lot of well written mid tempo songs highlighting the great vocals and song structures this band is capable of creating. What it lacks is the energy and hooks of some of the flat out hits they were writing 2 albums ago. Traps is a move in the right direction though, and the green vinyl available from Sub Pop is a nice touch. Oh it came with a bonus 7" too. I forgot to take a picture of that. I'll do that tomorrow.
Jaill - Traps:
vimeo.com/43923182
Traps is the new album from Jaill, a band that I originally discovered thanks to Ken @ Dirtnap records. This is Jaill's 4th album overall and 2nd for Sub Pop. After the first couple of listens, I can confidently say I think is is better than their last Sub Pop release, but still no where near as good as their self released album There's No Sky.
Here we have a lot of well written mid tempo songs highlighting the great vocals and song structures this band is capable of creating. What it lacks is the energy and hooks of some of the flat out hits they were writing 2 albums ago. Traps is a move in the right direction though, and the green vinyl available from Sub Pop is a nice touch. Oh it came with a bonus 7" too. I forgot to take a picture of that. I'll do that tomorrow.
Jaill - Traps:
vimeo.com/43923182
Monday, June 18, 2012
What-A-Night's - S/T CD
Self Released (2012)
What-A-Night's are from Japan and they follow in that great Snuffy Smiles tradition of amazing punk rock bands from Japan. Though this CD is self released, they do have a split 7" coming out on Snuffy Smiles & Drunken Sailor, so I'm going to consider them a Snuffy Smiles band. If you've liked bands like Blotto, Three Minute Movie, Blew or The Urchin, you need to get this CD right away.
I would venture to say that What-A-Night's have more melodic vocals and harmonies than any of the bands mentioned above, but they do not sacrifice the super tight energetic fast temp music that these great bands from Japan are known for. One of the best of the year and I'm not even super annoyed that it's a CD and not vinyl since I'm used to that from Japanese bands.
What-A-Night's - S/T CD
http://drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/what-a-nights-lp
What-A-Night's are from Japan and they follow in that great Snuffy Smiles tradition of amazing punk rock bands from Japan. Though this CD is self released, they do have a split 7" coming out on Snuffy Smiles & Drunken Sailor, so I'm going to consider them a Snuffy Smiles band. If you've liked bands like Blotto, Three Minute Movie, Blew or The Urchin, you need to get this CD right away.
I would venture to say that What-A-Night's have more melodic vocals and harmonies than any of the bands mentioned above, but they do not sacrifice the super tight energetic fast temp music that these great bands from Japan are known for. One of the best of the year and I'm not even super annoyed that it's a CD and not vinyl since I'm used to that from Japanese bands.
What-A-Night's - S/T CD
http://drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/what-a-nights-lp
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Seaweed - Weak LP - Green Vinyl
Sub Pop (1992)
I managed to pick up another Seaweed album at a very good price on eBay ($15) so I'm slowly building up the collection. The only full length I need is Actions & Indications, though the consensus seems to be that that record is their weakest. I guess we'll see once I finally grab it. After that it's time to start tracking down 7"s.
Weak is another fantastic Seaweed record and another total slap in the face since I slept on this band for nearly 20 years. I still can't figure out how I missed them in my youth. While I don't think this record is quite as strong as their album four, don't take that as a slight to this record. Think of it as further validation to how amazing four is.
Seaweed - Squint:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2yqujzUJfQ
Seaweed - Taxing:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEM6UQa0niw
I managed to pick up another Seaweed album at a very good price on eBay ($15) so I'm slowly building up the collection. The only full length I need is Actions & Indications, though the consensus seems to be that that record is their weakest. I guess we'll see once I finally grab it. After that it's time to start tracking down 7"s.
Weak is another fantastic Seaweed record and another total slap in the face since I slept on this band for nearly 20 years. I still can't figure out how I missed them in my youth. While I don't think this record is quite as strong as their album four, don't take that as a slight to this record. Think of it as further validation to how amazing four is.
Seaweed - Squint:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2yqujzUJfQ
Seaweed - Taxing:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEM6UQa0niw
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Budokan - Spin A Little Gold LP - Gold w/ Black Smoke Vinyl (/150)
Budokan - Spin A Little Gold LP - Gold w/ Black Smoke Vinyl (/150), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.
As soon as I found out this album was coming out, I was counting down the days until I could buy it. You see, Budokan is a band that features Andrew Mallow, former half-frontman for one of my favorite bands of all time, Bum. I emailed back and forth with Andrew a few times as the record was about to come out and he even gave me the chance to grab the rarer version of the album with the Black Smoke vinyl. Great times.
As far as the tunes go, you can certainly hear elements of the Malloy fronted Bum songs, though I'd venture to say this album does have more of a glammy flair and certainly leans more towards rock and roll than it does punk rock. But rest assured, if you are looking for hooks, there are hooks and the more I listen to this record, the more the songs get stuck in my head. And that's always a trusty barometer for how good a song is.
Budokan - Spin A Little Gold LP:
budokanrocks.bandcamp.com/album/spin-a-little-gold
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
The Edsel Auctioneer - The Good Time Music Of...
Alias (1995)
While not as immediate as their prior album, Simmer, The Good Time Music Of still finds The Edsel Auctioneer creating some seminal fuzz guitar rock that is the hallmark of the 90s for me. I picked this up along with Simmer in the bargain bin at Flipside Records. I think this one was $5, still sealed. A nice price to pay for sure. 1 other thing that I would like to mention, I sure miss Alias as a label. They had quite a streak of putting out great albums in the mid 90s. I always wondered what happened to them and how it all went wrong.
The Edsel Auctioneer - Haircut:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbpzgiTfNfg
While not as immediate as their prior album, Simmer, The Good Time Music Of still finds The Edsel Auctioneer creating some seminal fuzz guitar rock that is the hallmark of the 90s for me. I picked this up along with Simmer in the bargain bin at Flipside Records. I think this one was $5, still sealed. A nice price to pay for sure. 1 other thing that I would like to mention, I sure miss Alias as a label. They had quite a streak of putting out great albums in the mid 90s. I always wondered what happened to them and how it all went wrong.
The Edsel Auctioneer - Haircut:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbpzgiTfNfg
Monday, June 11, 2012
Flop - Whenever You're Ready LP - Picture Disc
Frontier (1993)
While I never liked this record quite as much as Flop's 1st album, & The Fall Of The Mopsqueezer, this is still a mighty fine album. The production is a bit slicker and the band is definitely taking more chances. Some pay off, others don't work quite as well for me, but when they're writing a straight up pop song, not too many bands can keep up.
Flop - Woolworth:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zh8QM-byEo
While I never liked this record quite as much as Flop's 1st album, & The Fall Of The Mopsqueezer, this is still a mighty fine album. The production is a bit slicker and the band is definitely taking more chances. Some pay off, others don't work quite as well for me, but when they're writing a straight up pop song, not too many bands can keep up.
Flop - Woolworth:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zh8QM-byEo
Friday, June 8, 2012
The Edsel Auctioneer - Simmer LP
Kokopop (1993)
I picked this up for $4.00 from Flipside Records on record store day. While I have a few Edsel Auctioneer 7"s, for some reason I didn't have any of their LPs, and for a price like that, despite the promo hole punched in the cover on the "r" in "Simmer," I felt it was my duty to pick this record up.
If you've never hear of this band, it's tough to compare them to anything currently happening. They're very much a snapshot of the early 90's when fuzzy guitar-driven indie rock was a trade being plied by so many great bands. I've heard Edsel Auctioneer compared to Buffalo Tom and The Lemonheads, but for me the most kindred spirit I can think of is the band Small (Or Small 23, depending on what album of theirs you're looking at). The vocals are calm and melodic and the band manages to to be strangely energetic despite the mostly mid tempo nature of the songs. A great album by a great band.
The Edsel Auctioneer - Starfish:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJGBVDm4ncY
The Edsel Auctioneer - Slouch (This looks like someone recorded a video off their TV, terrible quality, but a good song):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzuhk7dm8v8
I picked this up for $4.00 from Flipside Records on record store day. While I have a few Edsel Auctioneer 7"s, for some reason I didn't have any of their LPs, and for a price like that, despite the promo hole punched in the cover on the "r" in "Simmer," I felt it was my duty to pick this record up.
If you've never hear of this band, it's tough to compare them to anything currently happening. They're very much a snapshot of the early 90's when fuzzy guitar-driven indie rock was a trade being plied by so many great bands. I've heard Edsel Auctioneer compared to Buffalo Tom and The Lemonheads, but for me the most kindred spirit I can think of is the band Small (Or Small 23, depending on what album of theirs you're looking at). The vocals are calm and melodic and the band manages to to be strangely energetic despite the mostly mid tempo nature of the songs. A great album by a great band.
The Edsel Auctioneer - Starfish:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJGBVDm4ncY
The Edsel Auctioneer - Slouch (This looks like someone recorded a video off their TV, terrible quality, but a good song):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzuhk7dm8v8
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Obits - Let Me Dream If I Want To 7" - Blue Vinyl
Sub Pop (2012)
It's a new 2 song Obits single, but both songs are covers. I wouldn't say there's anything essential on this 7", but it's a decent enough release to tide folks over until the next Obits record. The record looks the business though. I'm such a sucker for the old timey sleeves like this.
I changed where I was taking pictures of my records, and that seems to have made a big difference. The sun is coming through a window behind me instead of to the side of me. While not the perfect solution, at least this picture looks a little better than the last few I've posted.
Obits - Let Me Dream If I Want To:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy9dn5chqOs
It's a new 2 song Obits single, but both songs are covers. I wouldn't say there's anything essential on this 7", but it's a decent enough release to tide folks over until the next Obits record. The record looks the business though. I'm such a sucker for the old timey sleeves like this.
I changed where I was taking pictures of my records, and that seems to have made a big difference. The sun is coming through a window behind me instead of to the side of me. While not the perfect solution, at least this picture looks a little better than the last few I've posted.
Obits - Let Me Dream If I Want To:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy9dn5chqOs
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Mrs. Magician - Fools Paradise 7" - Picture Disc
Enjoyment Records (2012)
This 7" is a companion piece to the phenomenal Strange Heaven LP and features 2 non-album tracks on a wacky picture disc. I think the picture disc is supposed to fit in the sleeve giving the zombie looking guy on the cover 2 different mouths. The images don't really match up too well, but who cares as these 2 Mrs. Magician songs are every bit as amazing as everything on their album.
On a side note, this picture and the last couple I've posted on the website haven't looked so great, I'm having some issues with the sun and reflections. I didn't have time this morning to retake the picture, but I'm going to try to get better quality shots going forward,
Mrs. Magician - Fools Paradise:
soundcloud.com/mrs-magician/fools-paradise
This 7" is a companion piece to the phenomenal Strange Heaven LP and features 2 non-album tracks on a wacky picture disc. I think the picture disc is supposed to fit in the sleeve giving the zombie looking guy on the cover 2 different mouths. The images don't really match up too well, but who cares as these 2 Mrs. Magician songs are every bit as amazing as everything on their album.
On a side note, this picture and the last couple I've posted on the website haven't looked so great, I'm having some issues with the sun and reflections. I didn't have time this morning to retake the picture, but I'm going to try to get better quality shots going forward,
Mrs. Magician - Fools Paradise:
soundcloud.com/mrs-magician/fools-paradise
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Beck - I Just Started Hating Some People Today 7"
Third Man (2012)
I don't have great luck ordering from Third Man, I never seem to get any of the limited versions, and I would have especially liked to have gotten the Tri Color version of this latest Beck 7", as I am a LONG time fan.
Musically, this record is crazy. The vocals don't sound like a lot that Beck has done in the past, but musically and lyrically this is some of the best work I think he's done in ages. For me this is totally a throwback to his Stereopathetic Soulmanure days and you can here echos of songs like Rowboat and Modesto. Lyrically, this is some of the most interesting and fun material Beck has unleashed in years. Total stream of consciousness Bogusflow-type stuff here and I absolutely love it. What I wouldn't give for a whole album of songs like this.
Beck - I Just Started Hating Some People Today:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgYjZ8Q4HjI&feature=related
Beck - Blue Randy
www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5tmBBc2KxY
I don't have great luck ordering from Third Man, I never seem to get any of the limited versions, and I would have especially liked to have gotten the Tri Color version of this latest Beck 7", as I am a LONG time fan.
Musically, this record is crazy. The vocals don't sound like a lot that Beck has done in the past, but musically and lyrically this is some of the best work I think he's done in ages. For me this is totally a throwback to his Stereopathetic Soulmanure days and you can here echos of songs like Rowboat and Modesto. Lyrically, this is some of the most interesting and fun material Beck has unleashed in years. Total stream of consciousness Bogusflow-type stuff here and I absolutely love it. What I wouldn't give for a whole album of songs like this.
Beck - I Just Started Hating Some People Today:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgYjZ8Q4HjI&feature=related
Beck - Blue Randy
www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5tmBBc2KxY
Monday, June 4, 2012
The Golden Boys - Dirty Fingernails LP - Lavender Vinyl (/100)
12XU (2012)
I checked this out on the recommendation of @chris_whitehead and absolutely felt it was worth a purchase. The Golden Boys are playing some up tempo, at times country tinged rock. The singer has great vocals and the songs that lean towards the poppier side of things towards the beginning of the record are particularly strong.
It must be pointed out though, that the song Daddy's Horsewife is absolutely terrible and sticks out like a sore thumb on this record. I promise you, if you are listening to this record, the second that song comes on someone will walk into the room you're in and you'll have to explain the guy on your record shouting about having his dick in his hand. If it's meant to be a joke, it's pretty unnecessary. Other than that, it's very good record with a few great moments.
The Golden Boys - Dirty Fingers:
thegoldenboys.bandcamp.com/
I checked this out on the recommendation of @chris_whitehead and absolutely felt it was worth a purchase. The Golden Boys are playing some up tempo, at times country tinged rock. The singer has great vocals and the songs that lean towards the poppier side of things towards the beginning of the record are particularly strong.
It must be pointed out though, that the song Daddy's Horsewife is absolutely terrible and sticks out like a sore thumb on this record. I promise you, if you are listening to this record, the second that song comes on someone will walk into the room you're in and you'll have to explain the guy on your record shouting about having his dick in his hand. If it's meant to be a joke, it's pretty unnecessary. Other than that, it's very good record with a few great moments.
The Golden Boys - Dirty Fingers:
thegoldenboys.bandcamp.com/
Friday, June 1, 2012
Mrs. Magician - Strange Heaven LP
Swami (2012)
It's so exciting to see the Swami logo on the back of a record again. This is a label that has been away for far too long and hopefully it's a sign that there's a new Night Marchers record right around the corner. But to the matter at hand, this Mrs. Magician record is outstanding. Somehow these fellows managed to take the harmonies and surfy good vibes of the Beach Boys and drag them through some scratchy punk rock.
Just about every song on here is a hit. Yes, there are some that were previously released on 7"s that the band recorded, but they are right at home in the flow of this record. Without question, one of the best albums of the year so far and is the very definition of a summer record. If you're headed to the beach, bring your turntable this year.
Mrs. Magician - Strange Heaven:
mrsmagician1.bandcamp.com/album/strange-heaven
It's so exciting to see the Swami logo on the back of a record again. This is a label that has been away for far too long and hopefully it's a sign that there's a new Night Marchers record right around the corner. But to the matter at hand, this Mrs. Magician record is outstanding. Somehow these fellows managed to take the harmonies and surfy good vibes of the Beach Boys and drag them through some scratchy punk rock.
Just about every song on here is a hit. Yes, there are some that were previously released on 7"s that the band recorded, but they are right at home in the flow of this record. Without question, one of the best albums of the year so far and is the very definition of a summer record. If you're headed to the beach, bring your turntable this year.
Mrs. Magician - Strange Heaven:
mrsmagician1.bandcamp.com/album/strange-heaven
Thursday, May 31, 2012
The Mojomatics - You Are The Reason For My Troubles LP - Clear Vinyl(/100)
The Mojomatics - You Are The Reason For My Troubles LP - Clear Vinyl (/100), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.
I became a fan of The Mojomatics when their last album, Don't Pretend That You Know Me, was released on Alien Snatch records. Their newest release is on a new label, but the hodge podge of sounds that I loved on their last album are present on this record as well. The Mojomatics is a hard band to pin down. They have some straight up pop songs, some harmonica tinged country ramblers and some swamp stomping garage-y blasts. Definitely a band not content writing the same song over and over and it gives the album a fresh & dynamic feel.
I was lucky to catch the limited to 100 clear vinyl version that was sold during the pre order. Sometimes I think that record pre orders can be annoying (and dangerous if they last longer than the window you can file a complaint with PayPal), but this is a label that did it right. Only a couple of weeks and then the record was in hand. Good job everyone!
The Mojomatics - Behind the Trees:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aYvwUuIklw
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The Cry! - S/T LP
SP Records (2012)
This is a high energy band of folks from Portland making some really infectious music. There are parts that remind me of Impulse International, though the singer's vocals are more high pitched than Impluse. The guitars are bouncy and lean heavy on the treble side of the sound spectrum. Not tinny like some bands, but the vibe is more of a slap in the face than it is a warm bath.
There was a limited to 100 colored vinyl version of this record available directly from SP Records, but the shipping from Japan was just a bit more than I could justify at this exact moment in time (Totally the fault of the post office, not the fault of the label). Luckily Green Noise is also stocking the record. If there are a lot of records in your collection that have been released by Dirtnap, The Cry! will fit right in.
The Cry!- S/T LP:
thecry1.bandcamp.com/album/the-cry
This is a high energy band of folks from Portland making some really infectious music. There are parts that remind me of Impulse International, though the singer's vocals are more high pitched than Impluse. The guitars are bouncy and lean heavy on the treble side of the sound spectrum. Not tinny like some bands, but the vibe is more of a slap in the face than it is a warm bath.
There was a limited to 100 colored vinyl version of this record available directly from SP Records, but the shipping from Japan was just a bit more than I could justify at this exact moment in time (Totally the fault of the post office, not the fault of the label). Luckily Green Noise is also stocking the record. If there are a lot of records in your collection that have been released by Dirtnap, The Cry! will fit right in.
The Cry!- S/T LP:
thecry1.bandcamp.com/album/the-cry
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Minibosses - Brass 2: Mouth LP
Self Released (2012)
For those that don't know, Minibosses are a band that covers old school video game music. They've been at it for quite a while, but this is only their 2nd full length album. When I first heard that the band was releasing a new album plus they were going to put it out on vinyl, I was beyond excited. Then, my excitement came crashing down around me when I heard the price. $35. $35 for 1 single LP record! That's absurd. So I decided I wasn't going to pay that. Now I've paid WAY more than that for an old rare record, but something just wouldn't let me justify shelling out $35 for a record full of video game covers.
Well, the more I debated, the angrier I got, but it was actually a reader of this very website that came to the rescue and offered to buy one of the albums I gave a less than positive review for just about $35. In my head, I can justify that as an even trade. So that money went into my PayPal account and then right back out to get this record.
I will say this, the packaging looks outstanding. 180 gram vinyl, big beautiful gatefold cover. It's a quality product for sure. Plus some of the songs are simply great like the sports medley (with RC Pro Am music!), Kid Icarus & Batman. But then there's about 137 different terrible versions of the Excitebike jingle. Those are such a waste. At the end of the day, I am glad this record is in my collection, but it is just not worth $35. For $20, sure, this is an easy pickup, But if you have to shell out $35 of your hard earned dollars, I can point you to distros where you can pick up 3 amazing records for that much money.
Minibosses - Brass 2 Mouth:
minibosses.bandcamp.com/album/brass-2-mouth
For those that don't know, Minibosses are a band that covers old school video game music. They've been at it for quite a while, but this is only their 2nd full length album. When I first heard that the band was releasing a new album plus they were going to put it out on vinyl, I was beyond excited. Then, my excitement came crashing down around me when I heard the price. $35. $35 for 1 single LP record! That's absurd. So I decided I wasn't going to pay that. Now I've paid WAY more than that for an old rare record, but something just wouldn't let me justify shelling out $35 for a record full of video game covers.
Well, the more I debated, the angrier I got, but it was actually a reader of this very website that came to the rescue and offered to buy one of the albums I gave a less than positive review for just about $35. In my head, I can justify that as an even trade. So that money went into my PayPal account and then right back out to get this record.
I will say this, the packaging looks outstanding. 180 gram vinyl, big beautiful gatefold cover. It's a quality product for sure. Plus some of the songs are simply great like the sports medley (with RC Pro Am music!), Kid Icarus & Batman. But then there's about 137 different terrible versions of the Excitebike jingle. Those are such a waste. At the end of the day, I am glad this record is in my collection, but it is just not worth $35. For $20, sure, this is an easy pickup, But if you have to shell out $35 of your hard earned dollars, I can point you to distros where you can pick up 3 amazing records for that much money.
Minibosses - Brass 2 Mouth:
minibosses.bandcamp.com/album/brass-2-mouth
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Dunebuggy / Moped - Split 7"
spinArt (199?)
I actually forgot to post a picture of this when I wrote up the Dunebuggy LP that I bought recently on Little Black Cloud records. I was one of the first 15 people who ordered, so I received this bonus 7" that the band had released on spinART back in the 90's. The song is also on the LP, but it's a nice little bonus to have in the collection
I actually forgot to post a picture of this when I wrote up the Dunebuggy LP that I bought recently on Little Black Cloud records. I was one of the first 15 people who ordered, so I received this bonus 7" that the band had released on spinART back in the 90's. The song is also on the LP, but it's a nice little bonus to have in the collection
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Mean Jeans - Mean Jeans On Mars LP - Red Vinyl (/300)
Dirtnap (2012)
When Dirtnap put out the 1st Mean Jeans record, I bought it out of loyalty to one of my favorite record labels. I buy everything that Dirtnap puts out. While I thought the record was pretty good, I was shocked at the huge outpouring of love that record received. So many people thought it was the best thing ever, and I was kind of left scratching my head a bit. Well, Mean Jeans On Mars is a record much more up my alley than their last.
The songs are well constructed much more dynamic that the last record (Well, as dynamic as you can get when your chief inspiration is the Ramones anyway...). It's hard to accuse a band of maturing with song titles likeDon't Stop Partying and Come Toobin' but the songs on this record are just written better. While i still am probably not the huge devotee to this band that many are, I can definitely say it makes a bit more sense to me after listening to this record.
Mean Jeans - On Mars (Full album stream via punknews.org):
www.punknews.org/bands/meanjeans
When Dirtnap put out the 1st Mean Jeans record, I bought it out of loyalty to one of my favorite record labels. I buy everything that Dirtnap puts out. While I thought the record was pretty good, I was shocked at the huge outpouring of love that record received. So many people thought it was the best thing ever, and I was kind of left scratching my head a bit. Well, Mean Jeans On Mars is a record much more up my alley than their last.
The songs are well constructed much more dynamic that the last record (Well, as dynamic as you can get when your chief inspiration is the Ramones anyway...). It's hard to accuse a band of maturing with song titles likeDon't Stop Partying and Come Toobin' but the songs on this record are just written better. While i still am probably not the huge devotee to this band that many are, I can definitely say it makes a bit more sense to me after listening to this record.
Mean Jeans - On Mars (Full album stream via punknews.org):
www.punknews.org/bands/meanjeans
Friday, May 18, 2012
Collection: Hooton 3 Car - LPs & 7"s
Another all time favorite band of mine, Hooton 3 Car was very much a part of the wonderful Leatherface-influenced scene that cropped up in the UK in the mid 90s. Along with bands like Chopper, Skimmer, Broccoli & Crocodile God, they made me so jealous that I was not living in England at the time. The saddest part is that although I got to see the other 4 bands play when I went to England in 1997, I never got to see Hooton 3 Car live (though I did sleep on their floor and watch The Day Today on VHS with a few of them).
It's hard to describe the music of Hooton 3 Car without comparing them to some of these other bands. They don't play as fast as Chopper or Crocodile God, they're not as angsty as Broccoli, not as poppy as Skimmer, but what they are is a perfect storm of the best elements of all of these bands. Super melodic, ultra catchy but there's something about them that you have to take seriously. Again, they are easily one of my favorite bands from the era and one of the collections I'm most proud of.
LPs:
Hooton 3 Car - Spot Daylight 12" - Rumblestrip - Black Vinyl
Hooton 3 Car - Cramp Like A Fox LP - Out Of Step - Black Vinyl
Hooton 3 Car - Monkey Mayor LP - Rumblestrip - Black Vinyl
Hooton 3 Car - By Means of Maybe CD - Rumblestrip
Hooton 3 Car - Recordings 1994-1998 2xCD - Crackle
7"s:
Hooton 3 Car - Danny 7" - Rumblestrip - Black Vinyl
Hooton 3 Car - Drone 7" - Out Of Step - Black Vinyl
Hooton 3 Car - Driver 7" - Out Of Step - Black Vinyl
Hooton 3 Car / Lovemen - Split 7" - Snuffy Smile - Black Vinyl
Hooton 3 Car / Screaming Fat Rat - Split 7" - Snuffy Smile - Black Vinyl
Hooton 3 Car - Carpet Burn 7" - Damaged Goods - Black Vinyl
Hooton 3 Car / Jesse - Split 7" - Rugger Bugger / Damaged Goods - Black Vinyl
V/A - Club Stoat 7" - Mother Stoat - Black Vinyl
Missing: After years of looking around, I'm pretty confident that By Means Of Maybe never came out on vinyl, but if it did I am missing that and would love the opportunity to buy it.
Hooton 3 Car - Not Recognized:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIr__54dIqE
Hooton 3 Car - Carpet Burn:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVI3zn_jHXw
Hooton 3 Car - Danny (Live):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHyEoYx2yus
It's hard to describe the music of Hooton 3 Car without comparing them to some of these other bands. They don't play as fast as Chopper or Crocodile God, they're not as angsty as Broccoli, not as poppy as Skimmer, but what they are is a perfect storm of the best elements of all of these bands. Super melodic, ultra catchy but there's something about them that you have to take seriously. Again, they are easily one of my favorite bands from the era and one of the collections I'm most proud of.
LPs:
Hooton 3 Car - Spot Daylight 12" - Rumblestrip - Black Vinyl
Hooton 3 Car - Cramp Like A Fox LP - Out Of Step - Black Vinyl
Hooton 3 Car - Monkey Mayor LP - Rumblestrip - Black Vinyl
Hooton 3 Car - By Means of Maybe CD - Rumblestrip
Hooton 3 Car - Recordings 1994-1998 2xCD - Crackle
7"s:
Hooton 3 Car - Danny 7" - Rumblestrip - Black Vinyl
Hooton 3 Car - Drone 7" - Out Of Step - Black Vinyl
Hooton 3 Car - Driver 7" - Out Of Step - Black Vinyl
Hooton 3 Car / Lovemen - Split 7" - Snuffy Smile - Black Vinyl
Hooton 3 Car / Screaming Fat Rat - Split 7" - Snuffy Smile - Black Vinyl
Hooton 3 Car - Carpet Burn 7" - Damaged Goods - Black Vinyl
Hooton 3 Car / Jesse - Split 7" - Rugger Bugger / Damaged Goods - Black Vinyl
V/A - Club Stoat 7" - Mother Stoat - Black Vinyl
Missing: After years of looking around, I'm pretty confident that By Means Of Maybe never came out on vinyl, but if it did I am missing that and would love the opportunity to buy it.
Hooton 3 Car - Not Recognized:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIr__54dIqE
Hooton 3 Car - Carpet Burn:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVI3zn_jHXw
Hooton 3 Car - Danny (Live):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHyEoYx2yus
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Steve Adamyk Band - Take It Back 7" (#33/500)
Lady Kinky Karrot (2012)
Been waiting on this one for a while. If you're a bit mad like me, when the Steve Adamyk Band record Forever Won't Wait came out you bought the clear vinyl, the black vinyl the US CD and the Japanese CD. Well, both CDs had songs not on the LP. There was a note in the CD saying the remaining tracks were being released as a 7" on an Italian label. Well, I've been watching that label's website ever since and finally the record is up for sale. I'm very excited to finally have the rest of these songs on vinyl as there are just some classics on this 7". Sure, shipping from Italy was ridiculous (plus the label charged me double what the actual cost of shipping was, so that's no fun [05/18/12 Update - The label actually refunded me the difference in shipping, so they're A-OK in my book!]), but in order to keep the Steve Adamyk Band collection complete, it's worth it.
The Steve Adamyk Band - Take It Back:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbotheKy-GQ
Also, last night this silly website had its 10,000th view. I realize that's not the same thing as 10,000 different people coming to this website, but still, that's pretty cool considering I've only been posting since late December. Thanks to everyone who's stopped by to have a look.
Been waiting on this one for a while. If you're a bit mad like me, when the Steve Adamyk Band record Forever Won't Wait came out you bought the clear vinyl, the black vinyl the US CD and the Japanese CD. Well, both CDs had songs not on the LP. There was a note in the CD saying the remaining tracks were being released as a 7" on an Italian label. Well, I've been watching that label's website ever since and finally the record is up for sale. I'm very excited to finally have the rest of these songs on vinyl as there are just some classics on this 7". Sure, shipping from Italy was ridiculous (plus the label charged me double what the actual cost of shipping was, so that's no fun [05/18/12 Update - The label actually refunded me the difference in shipping, so they're A-OK in my book!]), but in order to keep the Steve Adamyk Band collection complete, it's worth it.
The Steve Adamyk Band - Take It Back:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbotheKy-GQ
Also, last night this silly website had its 10,000th view. I realize that's not the same thing as 10,000 different people coming to this website, but still, that's pretty cool considering I've only been posting since late December. Thanks to everyone who's stopped by to have a look.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Spider Fever - S/T LP - Blue Vinyl (/100)
Windian (2012)
What started out as purchasing a 7" out of loyalty to a Rocket From The Crypt related band has turned into buying records because I actually like them. After spinning the 1st 2 Spider Fever 7"s that were released, I was figuring that their debut full length would probably illicit a similar reaction in me. But this album is leaps and bounds ahead of anything the band has done up to this point. The songs on this are like the sharp end of a spear, just stabbing you in the face with full on fast punk rock. That isn't to say there aren't hooks and even the occasional melody tucked into the assault, but the one thing most will probably take from this record is that it's LOUD, and sometimes loud is just good.
I wouldn't want to listen to 10 bands that sounded like this, but I'll say that if you are going to listen to 1, having that 1 be Spider Fever is probably a good idea.
Spider Fever - Don't Let Deth Get In The Way
soundcloud.com/windian-records/spider-fever-dont-let-deth SPIDER FEVER - DON'T LET DETH GET IN THE WAY by WINDIAN RECORDS
What started out as purchasing a 7" out of loyalty to a Rocket From The Crypt related band has turned into buying records because I actually like them. After spinning the 1st 2 Spider Fever 7"s that were released, I was figuring that their debut full length would probably illicit a similar reaction in me. But this album is leaps and bounds ahead of anything the band has done up to this point. The songs on this are like the sharp end of a spear, just stabbing you in the face with full on fast punk rock. That isn't to say there aren't hooks and even the occasional melody tucked into the assault, but the one thing most will probably take from this record is that it's LOUD, and sometimes loud is just good.
I wouldn't want to listen to 10 bands that sounded like this, but I'll say that if you are going to listen to 1, having that 1 be Spider Fever is probably a good idea.
Spider Fever - Don't Let Deth Get In The Way
soundcloud.com/windian-records/spider-fever-dont-let-deth SPIDER FEVER - DON'T LET DETH GET IN THE WAY by WINDIAN RECORDS
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The Hex Dispensers - Parallel 7" - White Vinyl (/100)
Red Lounge (2012)
Very excited for some new tunes from the Hex Dispensers, my favorite Marked Men meets Ghostbusters pop band. We've got 3 new songs that to me, follow a closer path to their last full length album, Winchester Mystery House, than some of their other singles. That's a great path to follow. The band always sounds at their best to me when they are just pummeling downstrokes & keeping the mood dark. If there's any change on this particular 7", I do notice a slightly stronger Wipers vibe than the band has shown in the past, but that's A-OK in my book.
Hex Dispensers - Parallel (Via Bandcamp):
thehexdispensers.bandcamp.com/album/parallel-7
Very excited for some new tunes from the Hex Dispensers, my favorite Marked Men meets Ghostbusters pop band. We've got 3 new songs that to me, follow a closer path to their last full length album, Winchester Mystery House, than some of their other singles. That's a great path to follow. The band always sounds at their best to me when they are just pummeling downstrokes & keeping the mood dark. If there's any change on this particular 7", I do notice a slightly stronger Wipers vibe than the band has shown in the past, but that's A-OK in my book.
Hex Dispensers - Parallel (Via Bandcamp):
thehexdispensers.bandcamp.com/album/parallel-7
Monday, May 14, 2012
Various Artists - Trouble In Mind 4-Way Record Store Day Split 7" -White Vinyl
Various Artists - Trouble In Mind 4-Way Record Store Day Split 7" - White Vinyl, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.
First off, big thanks to @chris_whitehead for giving me the heads up on a website that was selling a copy of this. Vintage Vinyl wasn't stocking this record on Record Store Day. I do have to say, if you want to sum up Record Store Day 2012, this record is a perfect analogy. Something I usually look forward to, but something that ended up being disappointing. I'm usually super into Trouble In Mind's yearly Record Store Day compilation, but this year, it's just not doing it for me. On the 7" for 2012 are; Mikal Cronin, The Paperhead, The Liminanas and Apache Dropout. Noe of these bands really get me going. But I'm nothing if not a collector and since I have all of the label's other RSD 7"S, I needed this one too.
Mikal Cronin - I Enjoy Being A Boy:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIF-dAdXs6I
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Donald "Duck" Dunn - 1941 - 2012
I was extremely sad to hear today that Donald "Duck" Dunn died in Tokyo. He was such a big part of so much of the music that influenced me when I was a kid. The first musical memories I have were all based around the Blues Brothers movie & records. Those songs opened me up to a whole world of rhythm & blues that Donald Dunn had also been an integral part of.
Just take a look at the clips below. He lived a hell of a life.
Just take a look at the clips below. He lived a hell of a life.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Operation Ivy - Hectic 12" - Clear Vinyl (/500)
Hellcat (2012)
Figured it was best to post this picture today as a companion to the post about Energy from Yesterday. Same pressing breakdown from Hellcat, though in this instance, I don't get this re-release. It doesn't make sense to me why you would release this as a 12". It did perfectly well as a 7" for years and years. I suppose the sound quality is a bit better, but to me, it just feels like an excuse to charge more money for it. If not for the Hot Topic coupon I found, I would have been really annoyed having to pay too much for this record. With the coupon, it's only a minor annoyance.
Operation Ivy - Hectic:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DXzLNHGTXU
Figured it was best to post this picture today as a companion to the post about Energy from Yesterday. Same pressing breakdown from Hellcat, though in this instance, I don't get this re-release. It doesn't make sense to me why you would release this as a 12". It did perfectly well as a 7" for years and years. I suppose the sound quality is a bit better, but to me, it just feels like an excuse to charge more money for it. If not for the Hot Topic coupon I found, I would have been really annoyed having to pay too much for this record. With the coupon, it's only a minor annoyance.
Operation Ivy - Hectic:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DXzLNHGTXU
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Operation Ivy - Energy LP - Clear Vinyl (/500)
Hellcat (2012)
I almost don't even know what to say about this record. It's one of the best and most important punk rock records to ever come out. It sounds just as exciting as it did 23 years ago. If you don't own it, you're a fool. That's all I can say about the music.
As far as the record itself goes, this is a reissue of the classic LP that originally came out on Lookout. I have an original copy of the record (with the Laytonville address, nerds), but when I heard this was getting re-released with a few colored vinyl variants, the collector in me just couldn't resist. It was re-released on Black vinyl, Red vinyl (only for sale in the Epitaph webstore) and Clear vinyl (only for sale through Hot Topic). I thought the clear vinyl matched the artwork best, plus I saw someone on the Vinyl Collective message board post a $15 of your purchase of $30 coupon online. Managed to pick this up and the re-release of the Hectic EP for about $25 including shipping. Say what you will about Hot Topic, but I'll take those prices.
Operation Ivy - Knowledge:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HtUnubXAO4
Operation Ivy - Sound System:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eKdJnijh50
I almost don't even know what to say about this record. It's one of the best and most important punk rock records to ever come out. It sounds just as exciting as it did 23 years ago. If you don't own it, you're a fool. That's all I can say about the music.
As far as the record itself goes, this is a reissue of the classic LP that originally came out on Lookout. I have an original copy of the record (with the Laytonville address, nerds), but when I heard this was getting re-released with a few colored vinyl variants, the collector in me just couldn't resist. It was re-released on Black vinyl, Red vinyl (only for sale in the Epitaph webstore) and Clear vinyl (only for sale through Hot Topic). I thought the clear vinyl matched the artwork best, plus I saw someone on the Vinyl Collective message board post a $15 of your purchase of $30 coupon online. Managed to pick this up and the re-release of the Hectic EP for about $25 including shipping. Say what you will about Hot Topic, but I'll take those prices.
Operation Ivy - Knowledge:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HtUnubXAO4
Operation Ivy - Sound System:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eKdJnijh50
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Roommates - Winnifred 7" - Blue w/ Purple Vinyl
Slumberland (2012)
Roommates features Ben Cook, famous in my world for fronting Marvelous Darlings & Young Governor, though most know him as one of the guitar players in the band Fucked Up. Roommates is a band that he did with one of his Roommates (crazy, I know). Originally the band released two cassette singles on the label Scotch Tapes (You know, the label that ripped me off on a $75 subscription series a couple of years back), but now they have been given the vinyl treatment thanks to Slumberland records.
I love the songs on this 7", lo fi pop genius. While the recording invokes some of the great 4 track heroes of old, the songs tend to sound a bit like Marvelous Darlings, but without much of the glammy flair that band is known for. I won't go so far as to say it sounds deep and introspective, but it seems to be coming from a different place than the MD or Young Governor songs. The one thing I am most curious about is before Scotch Tapes vanished into the night, these songs constituted 2 of 4 total tapes that were supposed to come out. I wonder if more Roommates records are lurking in our future...
Roommates: Back To The Sun / Girlfriend Swap (You can stream the songs on this website):
www.slumberlandrecords.com/catalog/show/214
Roommates: Kelly I'm Not A Creep / 1st Floor Blues (You can stream the songs on this website):
exclaim.ca/MusicVideo/ClickHear/Roommates-Nn
Roommates features Ben Cook, famous in my world for fronting Marvelous Darlings & Young Governor, though most know him as one of the guitar players in the band Fucked Up. Roommates is a band that he did with one of his Roommates (crazy, I know). Originally the band released two cassette singles on the label Scotch Tapes (You know, the label that ripped me off on a $75 subscription series a couple of years back), but now they have been given the vinyl treatment thanks to Slumberland records.
I love the songs on this 7", lo fi pop genius. While the recording invokes some of the great 4 track heroes of old, the songs tend to sound a bit like Marvelous Darlings, but without much of the glammy flair that band is known for. I won't go so far as to say it sounds deep and introspective, but it seems to be coming from a different place than the MD or Young Governor songs. The one thing I am most curious about is before Scotch Tapes vanished into the night, these songs constituted 2 of 4 total tapes that were supposed to come out. I wonder if more Roommates records are lurking in our future...
Roommates: Back To The Sun / Girlfriend Swap (You can stream the songs on this website):
www.slumberlandrecords.com/catalog/show/214
Roommates: Kelly I'm Not A Creep / 1st Floor Blues (You can stream the songs on this website):
exclaim.ca/MusicVideo/ClickHear/Roommates-Nn
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Dunebuggy - S/T LP - White Vinyl (/100)
Little Black Cloud (2012)
This was a band kicking around the NJ indie rock scene in the early 90's. Though they were a bit before my time going to shows (living in Sussex county before you got your drivers license pretty much guarantees you're not getting out to many shows) I remember their 7"s always hanging out at the local record stores. This album compiles the songs from some of those 7"s along with unreleased tracks to cobble together a debut album for Dunebuggy all these years later. It's a surprisingly tight collection and flows really well as an album.
At times the vocals seem a bit buried in the mix to me, but I'll chalk that up to 90's recording, plus I've never been a huge fan of bands that have the vocals dominate the recording. This is a great, mid tempo, well crafted indie pop record with some really dynamic guitar parts. It's unmistakably 90's, but doesn't sound old or dated like so many other albums from that time do. Only 100 copies were pressed on white vinyl, so best to grab this quick if you like what you hear.
Dunebuggy - S/T (Via Bandcamp):
http://dunebuggy.bandcamp.com/album/dunebuggy
This was a band kicking around the NJ indie rock scene in the early 90's. Though they were a bit before my time going to shows (living in Sussex county before you got your drivers license pretty much guarantees you're not getting out to many shows) I remember their 7"s always hanging out at the local record stores. This album compiles the songs from some of those 7"s along with unreleased tracks to cobble together a debut album for Dunebuggy all these years later. It's a surprisingly tight collection and flows really well as an album.
At times the vocals seem a bit buried in the mix to me, but I'll chalk that up to 90's recording, plus I've never been a huge fan of bands that have the vocals dominate the recording. This is a great, mid tempo, well crafted indie pop record with some really dynamic guitar parts. It's unmistakably 90's, but doesn't sound old or dated like so many other albums from that time do. Only 100 copies were pressed on white vinyl, so best to grab this quick if you like what you hear.
Dunebuggy - S/T (Via Bandcamp):
http://dunebuggy.bandcamp.com/album/dunebuggy
Monday, May 7, 2012
Flop - & The Fall Of The Mopsqueezer LP
Dashboard Hula Girl (1992)
This album was a longtime champion of the $3 used CD bin back in the day, and like fellow dust collectors Fig Dish, The Figgs & fluf, I'm not sure why this band didn't catch on when they were in their prime. & The Fall of the Mopsqueezer is such a terrific album of catchy melodic rock with a huge helping of Rusty Wiloughby's outstanding vocals.
I picked up this LP during my recent trip back to Flipside Records on Record Store Day. As I mentioned a few days ago, that place is just packed to the gills with dead stock from the 90s. So while I didn't get any kind of discount on this record, it was pretty cool to pick up a brand new, still sealed copy in 2012.
Flop - Anne:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQYvER7MXiQ
Flop - Hello:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCbqJ0NTAPM
This album was a longtime champion of the $3 used CD bin back in the day, and like fellow dust collectors Fig Dish, The Figgs & fluf, I'm not sure why this band didn't catch on when they were in their prime. & The Fall of the Mopsqueezer is such a terrific album of catchy melodic rock with a huge helping of Rusty Wiloughby's outstanding vocals.
I picked up this LP during my recent trip back to Flipside Records on Record Store Day. As I mentioned a few days ago, that place is just packed to the gills with dead stock from the 90s. So while I didn't get any kind of discount on this record, it was pretty cool to pick up a brand new, still sealed copy in 2012.
Flop - Anne:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQYvER7MXiQ
Flop - Hello:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCbqJ0NTAPM
Friday, May 4, 2012
Collection: fluf - LPs & 7"s
If you had asked me in the mid 90s ('95 - '96ish) to list off my absolute favorite bands, there is no chance I would not have listed fluf. I just absolutely loved these guys. Giant, crunching guitar, big powerful vocals, catchy tunes and tons of energy. Sure there was always some filler on each record, but the hits were monster hits. Plus, they always put a little something extra into the vinyl versions of their records, which is definitely something I can get into.
Sadly as the years went by, I became less interest in fluf's records. Waikiki was only OK, and I didn't really like Road Rage (not pictured) much at all. Still, those first few records & 7"s were a real treat. everyone should at least have Whitey On The Moon and The Classic Years in their collections.
LPs:
fluf - Whitey On The Moon LP - Headhunter - Black Vinyl
fluf - The Classic Years LP - Headhunter - White Vinyl
fluf - Waikiki LP - Headhunter - Black Vinyl
fluf - Wasting Seed 10" - Headhunter - Red Vinyl
7"s:
fluf - Tried 7" - Headhunter - Black Vinyl (Bonus 7" came w/ Whitey On The Moon LP)
fluf- Garbage Truck 7" - Sympathy For The Record Industry - Black Vinyl
fluf / Further - Split 7" - First Strike - Black Vinyl
fluf - Sheela Na Gig 7" - Goldenrod - Black Vinyl
fluf - Moody As The Day Is Young 7" - Goldenrod - Black Vinyl
fluf - 24-7 Years 7" - Silver Girl - Blue Swirl Vinyl
fluf - Skyrocket 7" Headhunter - Picture Disc
fluf - Kim Thayils Paw 7" - Value Club Member - Black Vinyl
fluf / J Church - Split 7" - Goldenrod - Black Vinyl
fluf - 2klb 7" - Red Can - Black Vinyl
Missing: Road Rage LP (Never got round to picking it up, I'll grab it if I see it super cheap). Also, I'm sure there are colored vinyl versions of some of these records that I don't have. I've just never been able to find a really complete discography.
fluf - Sticky Bun:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr30Y4uwKk8
fluf - One Trick Pony:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gi7F6mH0w8
fluf - Sheela Na Gig:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJKI4bfPPtQ
Sadly as the years went by, I became less interest in fluf's records. Waikiki was only OK, and I didn't really like Road Rage (not pictured) much at all. Still, those first few records & 7"s were a real treat. everyone should at least have Whitey On The Moon and The Classic Years in their collections.
LPs:
fluf - Whitey On The Moon LP - Headhunter - Black Vinyl
fluf - The Classic Years LP - Headhunter - White Vinyl
fluf - Waikiki LP - Headhunter - Black Vinyl
fluf - Wasting Seed 10" - Headhunter - Red Vinyl
7"s:
fluf - Tried 7" - Headhunter - Black Vinyl (Bonus 7" came w/ Whitey On The Moon LP)
fluf- Garbage Truck 7" - Sympathy For The Record Industry - Black Vinyl
fluf / Further - Split 7" - First Strike - Black Vinyl
fluf - Sheela Na Gig 7" - Goldenrod - Black Vinyl
fluf - Moody As The Day Is Young 7" - Goldenrod - Black Vinyl
fluf - 24-7 Years 7" - Silver Girl - Blue Swirl Vinyl
fluf - Skyrocket 7" Headhunter - Picture Disc
fluf - Kim Thayils Paw 7" - Value Club Member - Black Vinyl
fluf / J Church - Split 7" - Goldenrod - Black Vinyl
fluf - 2klb 7" - Red Can - Black Vinyl
Missing: Road Rage LP (Never got round to picking it up, I'll grab it if I see it super cheap). Also, I'm sure there are colored vinyl versions of some of these records that I don't have. I've just never been able to find a really complete discography.
fluf - Sticky Bun:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr30Y4uwKk8
fluf - One Trick Pony:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gi7F6mH0w8
fluf - Sheela Na Gig:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJKI4bfPPtQ
Thursday, May 3, 2012
The Jealous Sound - A Gentle Reminder LP - Pink Vinyl
Burnt Toast (2012)
I don't want to sound overly harsh towards the record label, as I did get my record and it looks and sounds great, however it is super annoying when you put a record up for pre order in January and it doesn't arrive until May. Cut down the time of your pre order buddy!
The Jealous Sound took an awful long break between records. I was a huge fan of their last album, Kill Them With Kindness and was an even bigger fan of singer Blair's old band Knapsack. When listening to A Gentle Reminder, I'm struck by 2 very specific thoughts. 1. Yep this does in fact sound like the Jealous Sound and 2. Boy, I wish it sounded more like Knapsack.
That's probably a little harsh. A Gentle Reminder is the very definition of "a solid record." There's not a bad song in the bunch, and most of them are pretty good, but there's nothing really on here that jumps out at me. I wish there was a bit more yelling on this record. I said jokingly to a friend that I wish the band had bad lives so they'd be more angry at everything, but what I really mean is that their used to be more fire and angst in Blair's vocals once upon a time. I just miss that a bit I guess.
Check out some of the tunes below and judge for yourself. Despite any minor gripes, I think you'll agree that it's definitely a record worth having.
The Jealous Sound - Your Eyes Were Shining:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUg4sFf0xys&feature=related
The Jealous Sound - Change You:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3Pi2Ytj90c&feature=related
I don't want to sound overly harsh towards the record label, as I did get my record and it looks and sounds great, however it is super annoying when you put a record up for pre order in January and it doesn't arrive until May. Cut down the time of your pre order buddy!
The Jealous Sound took an awful long break between records. I was a huge fan of their last album, Kill Them With Kindness and was an even bigger fan of singer Blair's old band Knapsack. When listening to A Gentle Reminder, I'm struck by 2 very specific thoughts. 1. Yep this does in fact sound like the Jealous Sound and 2. Boy, I wish it sounded more like Knapsack.
That's probably a little harsh. A Gentle Reminder is the very definition of "a solid record." There's not a bad song in the bunch, and most of them are pretty good, but there's nothing really on here that jumps out at me. I wish there was a bit more yelling on this record. I said jokingly to a friend that I wish the band had bad lives so they'd be more angry at everything, but what I really mean is that their used to be more fire and angst in Blair's vocals once upon a time. I just miss that a bit I guess.
Check out some of the tunes below and judge for yourself. Despite any minor gripes, I think you'll agree that it's definitely a record worth having.
The Jealous Sound - Your Eyes Were Shining:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUg4sFf0xys&feature=related
The Jealous Sound - Change You:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3Pi2Ytj90c&feature=related
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
The Creeps - Creeping Me Out 7"
Art Of The Underground (2012)
I've said it many times, but I really love the Art Of The Underground singles club. If you are not subscribed to this, you are missing out on some great records. I was very excited when I heard that The Creeps were doing an AOTU 7". I really enjoyed their last album and most recent 7"s. I know I've mentioned this before, but the singer reminds me so much of the guy from that old 90's band Reverse. This new 7" is pretty good. I like the music & the vocals, though I don't love the lyrics as much as past records. Just not jumping out at me like their more recent releases. Anyway, it's definitely worth picking up, hell, you really need to just subscribe to the singles club as a whole, OK?
The Creeps - Creeping Me Out (Via Bandcamp):
http://thecreeps.bandcamp.com/album/art-of-the-underground-single-series
I've said it many times, but I really love the Art Of The Underground singles club. If you are not subscribed to this, you are missing out on some great records. I was very excited when I heard that The Creeps were doing an AOTU 7". I really enjoyed their last album and most recent 7"s. I know I've mentioned this before, but the singer reminds me so much of the guy from that old 90's band Reverse. This new 7" is pretty good. I like the music & the vocals, though I don't love the lyrics as much as past records. Just not jumping out at me like their more recent releases. Anyway, it's definitely worth picking up, hell, you really need to just subscribe to the singles club as a whole, OK?
The Creeps - Creeping Me Out (Via Bandcamp):
http://thecreeps.bandcamp.com/album/art-of-the-underground-single-series
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Ash - Barbie 7" - Gold Glitter Vinyl
Barbie (1997)
Another LONG time want off the list! I have had such a great run of finding some of these records lately. This 7" was given away to members of the Ash fan club at 2 shows that took place in London in 1997. Needless to say, I wasn't at either of these shows so I've been looking for a copy ever since. I've seen this record sell for way over $100 over the years, and was just never willing to invest quite that much money into it.
Well, thanks to Discogs.com, I managed to find someone willing to sell me a copy for about $30. I'm totally willing to pay that much for this 7". Songs on it aren't special. A halfway decent cover of I Only Want to Be With You and a live version of Kung Fu played approximately 10 times faster than the album version. Still, as an Ash fan with a pretty healthy collection of their records, it's great to add another holy grail to the stacks.
Ash - Barbie 7"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fADe1o-q27g
Another LONG time want off the list! I have had such a great run of finding some of these records lately. This 7" was given away to members of the Ash fan club at 2 shows that took place in London in 1997. Needless to say, I wasn't at either of these shows so I've been looking for a copy ever since. I've seen this record sell for way over $100 over the years, and was just never willing to invest quite that much money into it.
Well, thanks to Discogs.com, I managed to find someone willing to sell me a copy for about $30. I'm totally willing to pay that much for this 7". Songs on it aren't special. A halfway decent cover of I Only Want to Be With You and a live version of Kung Fu played approximately 10 times faster than the album version. Still, as an Ash fan with a pretty healthy collection of their records, it's great to add another holy grail to the stacks.
Ash - Barbie 7"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fADe1o-q27g
Monday, April 30, 2012
Record Store Visit: Flipside II - Pompton Lakes, NJ - Record Store Day2012
Record Store Visit: Flipside II - Pompton Lakes, NJ - Record Store Day 2012, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.
Back in the 90's my friend Alan worked at Flipside. I used to go and hang out for hours at a time. We'd bs, go through promo CDs (throwing the bad ones into a giant fan resulting in impressive destruction) and just immerse ourselves in all of the great music pouring into the store. It was here where I found out about labels like Crackle, Snuffy Smiles and Rugger Bugger. This is where I first heard Chester Copperpot, Starmarket, Leatherface and so many, many more.
Well, Alan left this store a long time ago, and little has changed. That's not the compliment that it sounds like. Little has changed because the stock hasn't been updated since the 90s. It's literally the same records. Now for some, this will probably be like walking into a treasure room (especially if you're looking for Schleprock 7"s for some weird reason), but for me, it's just nostalgia. Sure I picked up a Flop LP and some cheap Edsel Auctioneer LPs, but for the most part, it was just kind of sad being in this place. It's dirty, it smells kind of funny and the records are really old, but damnit I spent my 20s in this place and I am happy it's still standing even if it's a shadow of its former glory.
Oh and even though this store doesn't seem to advertise in any way shape or form that they participate in Record Store Day, they did have about 12 RSD releases. Nothing worth getting, but I figured it was worth mentioning.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Bum - The Bum Go Crazy 7" - Red Vinyl
Au Go Go (1992)
Another addition to the Bum collection. Again, when I posted my collection picture of this incredible band, I thought I had caught them all, but no, there were variants out there. I have had the black vinyl version of this record for quite a long time, so it's nice to add a colored vinyl version. Picked it up on eBay for what could probably be considered collector's pricing, but it certainly didn't break the bank. Your Disciple is one of my very favorite Bum songs, though I'm pretty sure the version on this 7" is the same as what's on their LP Wanna Smash Sensation.
Bum - Your Disciple:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4KtHKRTfyc
Another addition to the Bum collection. Again, when I posted my collection picture of this incredible band, I thought I had caught them all, but no, there were variants out there. I have had the black vinyl version of this record for quite a long time, so it's nice to add a colored vinyl version. Picked it up on eBay for what could probably be considered collector's pricing, but it certainly didn't break the bank. Your Disciple is one of my very favorite Bum songs, though I'm pretty sure the version on this 7" is the same as what's on their LP Wanna Smash Sensation.
Bum - Your Disciple:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4KtHKRTfyc
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Sick Sick Birds - Gates Of Home LP - Yellow (/100) & Black Vinyl
Toxic Pop (2012)
I have been waiting for this record to come out for such a long time. Sick Sick Birds' 2009 release Heavy Manners was my absolute favorite record of that year. I feel like I've been counting down the days for this one, plus the fact that my record took a bizarre detour to Tennessee thanks to the post office only built my anticipation even more. The end result? I'm not totally sure, to be honest.
I'm sure a lot of what I write is going to be interpreted as me not liking this record, and that's simply not true. I love these songs. They build in such clever ways, catchy in the right parts, yearning in other parts and everything gets a bit quiet at just the right moments. It's a beautifully written album. My issue comes down to the recording. I'm just not thrilled with how the final product sounds.
The thing that gets me is the vocals. And while I don't like the slight distorted effect that is present on a handful of songs, that's not a deal breaker for me (I think the number of Marked Men records I own will back up this claim). I think what I don't like is how loud the vocals are in the mix. They just seem so much louder than everything else. They don't blend into the music, it seems like a lot of times the vocals simply overpower the music. I'm not sure if it was a recording issue or a mixing issue, but I vastly prefer the way Heavy Manners sounded, production wise.
Don't think that means this record isn't worth picking up, it is a really, really good record. I just think with a little knob fiddling, it could have been perfect.
Sick Sick Birds - Gates of Home (Via BandCamp):
I have been waiting for this record to come out for such a long time. Sick Sick Birds' 2009 release Heavy Manners was my absolute favorite record of that year. I feel like I've been counting down the days for this one, plus the fact that my record took a bizarre detour to Tennessee thanks to the post office only built my anticipation even more. The end result? I'm not totally sure, to be honest.
I'm sure a lot of what I write is going to be interpreted as me not liking this record, and that's simply not true. I love these songs. They build in such clever ways, catchy in the right parts, yearning in other parts and everything gets a bit quiet at just the right moments. It's a beautifully written album. My issue comes down to the recording. I'm just not thrilled with how the final product sounds.
The thing that gets me is the vocals. And while I don't like the slight distorted effect that is present on a handful of songs, that's not a deal breaker for me (I think the number of Marked Men records I own will back up this claim). I think what I don't like is how loud the vocals are in the mix. They just seem so much louder than everything else. They don't blend into the music, it seems like a lot of times the vocals simply overpower the music. I'm not sure if it was a recording issue or a mixing issue, but I vastly prefer the way Heavy Manners sounded, production wise.
Don't think that means this record isn't worth picking up, it is a really, really good record. I just think with a little knob fiddling, it could have been perfect.
Sick Sick Birds - Gates of Home (Via BandCamp):
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Little Richard - Here's Little Richard LP - Red Vinyl
Specialty (2012)
Yeah, I know it's a reissue, but it turned out to be a nice, pretty inexpensive way to pick up a clean copy of this record. The red vinyl looks nice too, but for me it was all about being able to grab some classic rock and roll without a destroyed cover and scratched up vinyl. Don't have a lot to say about this record, as I would imagine most people know the hits, but it does bring back a lot of memories of listening to the oldies station on the radio when I was a kid. Also, it's high quality. The cover is super strong cardboard stock and the vinyl is hefty and sounds great, worth picking up if you dig these tunes.
Yeah, I know it's a reissue, but it turned out to be a nice, pretty inexpensive way to pick up a clean copy of this record. The red vinyl looks nice too, but for me it was all about being able to grab some classic rock and roll without a destroyed cover and scratched up vinyl. Don't have a lot to say about this record, as I would imagine most people know the hits, but it does bring back a lot of memories of listening to the oldies station on the radio when I was a kid. Also, it's high quality. The cover is super strong cardboard stock and the vinyl is hefty and sounds great, worth picking up if you dig these tunes.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Otis Redding / Aretha Franklin - Respect Split 7" - Gold Vinyl
Rhino (2012)
This was one of the only records that struck my fancy on this years Record Store Day list, and since it's pretty much a novelty, I'm sure that speaks volumes for how completely unexcited I was for this year's list. I will say this, I love Otis Redding and I really like Aretha Franklin, and having their versions of the song Respect on a 7" just sounded like a neat idea to me. I still contend that labels haven't really figured out how to do gold vinyl (looks almost green and swampy to me), but as an interesting record to have in the collection, this one fits the bill for me.
This was one of the only records that struck my fancy on this years Record Store Day list, and since it's pretty much a novelty, I'm sure that speaks volumes for how completely unexcited I was for this year's list. I will say this, I love Otis Redding and I really like Aretha Franklin, and having their versions of the song Respect on a 7" just sounded like a neat idea to me. I still contend that labels haven't really figured out how to do gold vinyl (looks almost green and swampy to me), but as an interesting record to have in the collection, this one fits the bill for me.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Record Store Visit: Vintage Vinyl - Fords, NJ - Record Store Day 2012
The 2nd installment in my visiting a record store posts. While I would like to get out to record stores more often than I do, frankly I just do way more mailorder these days. So many labels have exclusive versions of their records only available directly from them, and as much as I like supporting the record stores, I also like to support bands and labels as directly as possible. In an ideal world I'd split my time 50/50, but times have changed since I was young.
Anyway, Vintage Vinyl is a store I am very familiar with. I've been coming here since the mid 90's. It was one of those stores that commanded a special trip since it was about an hour away from where I lived at the time. By far the biggest store in the area, plus they had some pretty smart buyers, so you'd always find something unexpected in the racks. It's a pretty good mix of vinyl & CDs. Old stuff, punk stuff, indie stuff and from what I gather a pretty impressive metal section, though that's not really my bag. Big enough to cover all genres, but smart enough to stock good records in every section.
The Record Store Day 2012 releases were pretty underwhelming this year, so for the 1st time in 3 years, I didn't line up early in the morning before the store opened. I wandered in around 11:30 in the morning and only had to wait in line for about 10 minutes. Went up to the counter and sure enough, they had 2 of the 3 records I wanted. Picked up the Little Richard LP and the Otis Redding/Aretha Franklin split 7" (both will have their own posts in the next couple of days). After that I dug around for a bit, but didn't come across anything else that was worth picking up that day. I did, however, take a fascinating picture of the CD section inside. At least on this day, there was no one there; everyone wanted vinyl!
This wasn't the only store I stopped at on Record Store Day, but it was the one I went to explicitly for RSD releases. I also went to another old time favorite, but I'll post about that next week so I have a few days to post about records.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Collection - Chopper - LP & 7"s
Chopper was a great buzzsaw fast punk pop band from the mid 90's that called the UK home. Coming from a scene chocked full of incredible bands, they immediately stood out to me back in the day with their lightning fast guitar playing and super melodic vocals. Though they didn't end up releasing records for an extended period of time, they managed to churn out a nice little discography. The singles are essential and the album is quite good too.
I was pretty lucky and got to see the band play in 1997 (along with Skimmer and Crocodile God) at a show in England, I only wish my Chopper shirt had held together better after all of the washings it went through over the past 15 years.
LP:
Chopper - Last Call For The Dancers - Crackle - Black Vinyl
7"s
Chopper - Said And Done - Crackle - Black Vinyl
Chopper - Self Preservation Society - Crackle - Black Vinyl
Chopper - Porcelain - Crackle - Black Vinyl
Chopper - For Youth And Valour - Crackle - Black Vinyl
Chopper / Broccoli - Split 7" - Crackle / Rugger Bugger - Black Vinyl - w/ Photocopied Sleeve
Chopper / Blew - Split 7" - Crackle - Black Vinyl - Black and Yellow cover
Chopper / Blew - Split 7" - Crackle - Black Vinyl - Black and Green cover
Chopper / Blew - Split7" - Snuffy Smile - Black Vinyl
Missing:
Last Call For The Dancers on colored vinyl (I've seen it, but never had the chance to buy it. Get in touch if you have one to sell).
Chopper - One More Day:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgVYhn-8bHs
Chopper - Porcelain (live, kind of crappy though)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dAngmwfrmA
I was pretty lucky and got to see the band play in 1997 (along with Skimmer and Crocodile God) at a show in England, I only wish my Chopper shirt had held together better after all of the washings it went through over the past 15 years.
LP:
Chopper - Last Call For The Dancers - Crackle - Black Vinyl
7"s
Chopper - Said And Done - Crackle - Black Vinyl
Chopper - Self Preservation Society - Crackle - Black Vinyl
Chopper - Porcelain - Crackle - Black Vinyl
Chopper - For Youth And Valour - Crackle - Black Vinyl
Chopper / Broccoli - Split 7" - Crackle / Rugger Bugger - Black Vinyl - w/ Photocopied Sleeve
Chopper / Blew - Split 7" - Crackle - Black Vinyl - Black and Yellow cover
Chopper / Blew - Split 7" - Crackle - Black Vinyl - Black and Green cover
Chopper / Blew - Split7" - Snuffy Smile - Black Vinyl
Missing:
Last Call For The Dancers on colored vinyl (I've seen it, but never had the chance to buy it. Get in touch if you have one to sell).
Chopper - One More Day:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgVYhn-8bHs
Chopper - Porcelain (live, kind of crappy though)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dAngmwfrmA
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Dan Sartain - Too Tough To Live LP
One Little Indian (2012)
First off, kudos to One Little Indian for putting this out on vinyl. When we never got Dan's last album, Dan Sartain Lives, on vinyl, I was worried the label would keep letting me down. But now that we did get Too Tough To Live on vinyl, it would be great for One Little Indian to backtrack and put out Dan Sartain Lives as well.
On to the record. This is a very different Dan Sartain record. It's full of short, fast Ramones-y punk songs. All of which are catchy as hell and delivered with such genuine enthusiasm. It's a fantastic record, and if it were by anyone other than Dan Sartain, I'd be totally thrilled. However, it's a lot different from Dan's usual twangy output and if I'm being truthful, I prefer those songs. Again, not saying anything bad about this record, but I hope Dan goes back to his more soulful material next time around.
Dan Sartain - Indian Massacre:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIFMjqLykac
First off, kudos to One Little Indian for putting this out on vinyl. When we never got Dan's last album, Dan Sartain Lives, on vinyl, I was worried the label would keep letting me down. But now that we did get Too Tough To Live on vinyl, it would be great for One Little Indian to backtrack and put out Dan Sartain Lives as well.
On to the record. This is a very different Dan Sartain record. It's full of short, fast Ramones-y punk songs. All of which are catchy as hell and delivered with such genuine enthusiasm. It's a fantastic record, and if it were by anyone other than Dan Sartain, I'd be totally thrilled. However, it's a lot different from Dan's usual twangy output and if I'm being truthful, I prefer those songs. Again, not saying anything bad about this record, but I hope Dan goes back to his more soulful material next time around.
Dan Sartain - Indian Massacre:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIFMjqLykac
Monday, April 16, 2012
Bum - Debbiespeak 7" - Yellow Vinyl
Lance Rock (1992)
First off, how crazy is it that this 7" came out 20 years ago. Man, I'm getting old. Anyway, this is the 2nd record that Rob from Bum sent me to help fill out my collection. This version of Debbiespeak has a Red & Yellow cover (My copy has a Blue & Yellow cover) and comes on Yellow vinyl. I'm not sure how limited the colored vinyl was, but I had never even heard that it existed, so I'm going to assume it's fairly limited. Someone uploaded Debbiespeak to YouTube, so I'll link that below, it's one of my favorite Bum songs. Thanks again to Rob Nesbitt for hooking me up with this rad record!
Bum - Debbiespeak:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4PLDmSSoYs
First off, how crazy is it that this 7" came out 20 years ago. Man, I'm getting old. Anyway, this is the 2nd record that Rob from Bum sent me to help fill out my collection. This version of Debbiespeak has a Red & Yellow cover (My copy has a Blue & Yellow cover) and comes on Yellow vinyl. I'm not sure how limited the colored vinyl was, but I had never even heard that it existed, so I'm going to assume it's fairly limited. Someone uploaded Debbiespeak to YouTube, so I'll link that below, it's one of my favorite Bum songs. Thanks again to Rob Nesbitt for hooking me up with this rad record!
Bum - Debbiespeak:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4PLDmSSoYs
Friday, April 13, 2012
Bum / Pingu / Novaks - Magic Teeth Record Number 2 7"
Magic Teeth (1997)
A few weeks ago I posted a picture of what I thought was my complete Bum collection ( http://www.ibuywaytoomanyrecords.com/2012/03/collection-bum-7-lps.html ). When I posted it, I ended up getting contacted by one of the singers from Bum, Rob Nesbitt. Rob was kind enough to let me know that I was actually missing a few things. A cover variation here, a color of vinyl there, but the main thing was I was somehow missing an entire 7"! Well, in addition to providing some great information, Rob also went above and beyond the call of duty and sent me 2 of the records I was missing. One of them is the picture above, the 7" that was missing entirely from my collection.
Magic Teeth Record Number 2 came out on the Magic Teeth label and featured 1 song by Bum, 1 song by Pingu and 4 songs by the Novaks. I hate to be unfair to the other 2 bands, but I'm really here for the new Bum song. I'll summarize briefly. The Pingu song is a pretty decenty, slightly lo-fo garagey pop song. It's alright. The Novaks songs aren't terrible, but they kind of remind me of that band that forms in everyone's high school (complete w/ Misfits cover). The Bum song on here is a treat. yet another in their line of awesomely catchy pop classics. That band has always had such a knack for writing incredible hooks.
I can't find a version of this song online anywhere to share, so I'm sorry about that. And I also want to publicly thank Rob again for getting in touch and hooking me up with some amazing records. I'll be posting about the other record her sent me on Monday.
A few weeks ago I posted a picture of what I thought was my complete Bum collection ( http://www.ibuywaytoomanyrecords.com/2012/03/collection-bum-7-lps.html ). When I posted it, I ended up getting contacted by one of the singers from Bum, Rob Nesbitt. Rob was kind enough to let me know that I was actually missing a few things. A cover variation here, a color of vinyl there, but the main thing was I was somehow missing an entire 7"! Well, in addition to providing some great information, Rob also went above and beyond the call of duty and sent me 2 of the records I was missing. One of them is the picture above, the 7" that was missing entirely from my collection.
Magic Teeth Record Number 2 came out on the Magic Teeth label and featured 1 song by Bum, 1 song by Pingu and 4 songs by the Novaks. I hate to be unfair to the other 2 bands, but I'm really here for the new Bum song. I'll summarize briefly. The Pingu song is a pretty decenty, slightly lo-fo garagey pop song. It's alright. The Novaks songs aren't terrible, but they kind of remind me of that band that forms in everyone's high school (complete w/ Misfits cover). The Bum song on here is a treat. yet another in their line of awesomely catchy pop classics. That band has always had such a knack for writing incredible hooks.
I can't find a version of this song online anywhere to share, so I'm sorry about that. And I also want to publicly thank Rob again for getting in touch and hooking me up with some amazing records. I'll be posting about the other record her sent me on Monday.
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