(Still in shock…) Rocket from the Crypt… Mystery Science Theater 3000, AND… The Kids in the Hall… one evening, one euphoric, eye-piercing glimpse into perfection. Cancel all my subscriptions… expectations have been tainted… deal with it…
Monthly Archives: October 2015
Stamp of Industrial Approval
Props to the newly restored Wax Trax! Records for staying true to their roots, and for (finally) releasing Lead into Gold’s Low & Slow. Happy, this Satur of days.
Treat Yourself
As a general rule of thumb, it’s often and widely understood that starting with the first album by any new artist as an appropriate and logical decision to make. Not the case with Tim Hardin’s first album, Tim Hardin 1 I’ll have you know. His 1966 debut was officially his first record, but it wasn’t his first, or even the second recorded. 1967’s This is Tim Hardin and 1968’s Tim Hardin 4 were both recorded prior to the release of Tim Hardin 1, and I’ll say again (like a broken record), both are by far his best outputs. Sure, Tim Hardin 1 has Reason to Believe, a song in which he wrote, but that which Rod Stewart made famous, and sure it has Smugglin’ Man (a personal favorite), and of course How Can We Hang On to a Dream (another which he wrote), that was covered by Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Fleetwood Mac, but newbies to the Tim Hardin carnival should start at the beginning, with This is Tim Hardin. Thank yourself now, and thank yourself later. You’ve had a rough week… treat yourself.
No More Cocoons, or at Least, Half of It
One endures several lessons throughout his or her record collecting education. Some of these lessons fall into the “That’s interesting… I never knew that!” category, while others fall within the “Are you #?*!@%^ kidding me? Well, I’m clearly an idiot!” lines. This is a post on the latter.
While visiting a friend in the Twin Cities some 15 or so years ago, I stupidly purchased Jello Biafra’s debut spoken word album for a very reasonable sum. Something like $4. What wasn’t called out, but what was painfully obvious in hindsight was that Jello Biafra’s debut spoken word album is a double LP, and I cluelessly walked away with only one record. The back sleeve CLEARLY indicates four sides of material, and I have no excuse for my blatant disregard for detail. To this day, I’ve only ever heard half of this album, and I’ve not sought out a full album version just so I could remind myself of my wayward ways. Lesson achingly learned.
Argybargy
Argybargy is a fun word to say in your head with a Morgan Freeman voice. It’s also the title of Squeeze’s third studio album. Release in 1980, Argybargy (thanks, Mr. Freeman) is home to the charters, Pulling Mussels (From the Shell) and Another Nail in My Heart. If I Didn’t Love You also appears on Argybargy but failed to chart even though it received decent airplay.
Every so often the Squeeze bug bites, and I feel something crawling up my arm…
Read What You Listen To
I’m excited for these newly (ish) released 33 1/3 titles from Bloomsbury Publishing! Adding to the handpicked selects from this amazing series that already includes The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society, Paul’s Boutique, Double Nickels on the Dime, People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, and 20 Jazz Funk Greats (to name a few), is Dead Kennedys’ debut, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, and Koji Kondo’s Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack. I can honestly say, I’m not sure which title I’m more excited for. These books are quick and entertaining reads, and with over 108 titles on albums by a diverse collection of bands (from Serge Gainsbourg to Joy Division), you’re certainly bound to find something that tickles your learning fancy. Here’s the checklist. Have a look, and get reading!
Smoky Trash
Back when Lagwagon’s sophomore album, 1994’s Trashed was rereleased on colored vinyl (2008), buyers were not told which colored vinyl version they would receive. Fat Wreck Chords didn’t indicate the varying array of colors, so nobody knew how many variations of the 765 reissues there were. Then pictures started popping up on forums showcasing a coke bottle clear vinyl version. Having already owned the original, black vinyl version of Trashed, and having received a blue vinyl reissue, I decided it made plenty of sense to order another and try my luck at the coveted coke bottle clear version. What I received was this muddy purple version, and then all 765 were sold out. For the past 7 years I’ve been hunting for that damn coke bottle clear version, but those lucky bastards aren’t selling, and rightfully so. The last one sold on Discogs on 11/13 for a whopping $85, so the hunt for a reasonably priced copy continues. On a side note, I’ve since acquired yet another copy of Trashed with 2011’s Putting Music in its Place box set. It’s a great album, but I may be obsessing just a bit…
Shake it Up
“Your love is like bad medicine, bad medicine is what I need, woah-oh-oh!”
Hopeless
“I’m a hopeless romantic. You’re just hopeless.”
Chapters
There are certain milestones, chapters in a man’s life (obvious statement), and these chapters can be traced to the discovery and overabundant submersion into specific pop artists… for me, anyway. Phases may be a better term for it. When I was young I went through my Bon Jovi phase (ended), followed by my Def Leppard phase (ended). In Junior High it was the hip-hop (mainly ended) and Jane’s Addiction phases (on-going), before graduating to the punk, industrial, and metal phases (never-ending, never-ending, and mainly ended, respectfully). I’ll spare you the long line of personal music phases (as well as their lengths), and cut directly to the now, decade-long Jim Croce phase. First discovered from classic rock radio as a lad, my Croce chapter started with a 2-disc compilation titled, The 50th Anniversary Collection. Acquired during my brief tenure as a music coordinator, the digital version of this album opened a new and exciting door to some of the most profound, and emotional songwriting I’d ever hear. While some chapters conclude, I pray my Croce chapter has no ending.
Clear No More
Although the “have yet to listen to” pile is dwindling, there still rests a bevy of killer albums waiting to join the fold, and Faith No More’s Sol Invictus sits atop them all. I pre-ordered this band site clear vinyl edition back in May, then it went on backorder. Presumably an issue with the pressing plant, or that’s what the email said. Whatever the reason for the delay, be it manufacturing or the lack of free time, Sol Invictus spins its virgin voyage tonight!
The Prudent Groove 