The Cure - Disintegration [1989]

The Cure Disintegration alive in my collection

While everyone is still meme'ing that insipid "It's gonna be May" bullshit, I felt that it was time to remind the masses that good music exists in the world, even if it is 30 years old.

The Cure, Disintegration was released on this day back in 1989.  I was about to turn ll, and for whatever reason, I vividly remember asking my mother why on earth she was playing so much Cure on this day because it did not sound like anything, I had remembered...  Then...  The reason for this is, The Cure as a group had gone from their Darkwave style rather dramatically over the years since their first album, Three Imaginary Boys, in 1979.  Right up into 1982 with Pornography, they were the gold standard for Goth Rock/Darkwave/Gloom introspective culture.  It would be a whole 10 years until I adopted that lifestyle, but when I did, you best believe that The Cure was my go-to when it was not Bauhaus, Siouxsie and The Banshees, Echo & The Bunnymen, OMD, and of course, The Smiths.

Disintegration was a full return to form for Robert Smith and the Cure.  They had gone the long and dusty road of popish music and commercialism for the sake of mainstream success.  As usual, in addition to alienating the core fans of the band, it sent Robert Smith back into the drug-induced haze that for better or worse, fueled the group's comeuppance.  It is sad the price of success is sanity and health, but, in 1989, they went back to basics and purposefully went for the kind of dark that only someone who has seen some shit could talk about.

Lullaby

It took The Cure 8 albums to create something that is widely considered to be one of the greatest albums of all time.  Their first single, Lullaby, easily in my top 5 favorite songs of all time, (Ask me about that list sometime.), was their first single to ever reach #1 in the UK.  Think about that for a minute...  8 albums with countless singles and it took one of the darkest songs they have ever done to reach #1!?  In the states it was a different story, they had long been successful and popular, but it took songs like Fascination Street and Pictures of You to put this album over the top.  (Figures, it would be the most commercial, least dark songs on the album...  Yeah, I threw that shade.)  In fairness though, Lovesong did become a #1 hit in the US, so I guess there was some hope there, right? Regardless, Robert Smith was actively looking to make an album darker than he has done before.   He was in a very different headspace.  The band was wildly popular for the wrong reasons and he was strung out. he was calling for the band to break up!  Talk about not being able to handle fame.  In the states, it was all stadium level shows at that point.  Following the Prayer Tour that summer, after winning numerous awards and claiming to not want to tour or record anymore.  Fortunately, or unfortunately that was not the case.

The Cure would go on to record 6 more studio albums, none of them reaching the success or popularity of Disintegration, but, all of them dragging pieces of it with them.  So yeah...  That is what we celebrate on this day...

Just know, when you weren't listening to Madonna in her prime when Donny Osmond was a soldier when Jodie Watley was a 1 hit wonder, and when the Fine Young Cannibals were driving you crazy with that incessant song, there was the Cure.  They came back to form with one of the greatest albums, ever.

Information about this release pictured above:

I picked this up sealed from Academy Records in NYC.  It's the 2010 remastered reissue, which kind of throws me given the hype sticker on the front.  I mean, technically, they're not wrong.  It is the first time it's been issued on 2LP's, but, it's certainly been released on vinyl before, many times actually.  Polydor did it and did it well along with Electra back in 1989. You can find an original for around $30+ depending on condition.  Curiously, the reissue is significantly less depending on where you get it and what condition it is.  Expect anywhere from $15-30.  As if I had to mention it, on vinyl.

{Sigh} What's Your Record Store Day Plan?

I am not about to begin to shill for RSD.  This is not what this post is about.  I am also not going to dwell too long on why I am not a huge fan of it anymore, but, I kinda have to defend myself a bit before I begin to talk about why I am still going out for it.

In a nutshell, years ago RSD was a cool idea.  It spotlighted independent music stores at the beginning of the vinyl resurgence, and drove people into the stores often for the first time.  The idea, like many good ideas obviously expanded to encompass independent artists and many different types of media.  At some point however, it became more about the money and a lot less about music.   That is my issue.  I am all for getting in line to make a purchase for something I really, really want. 15-20 years ago, it was concert tickets at Jones Beach, 10-11 years ago, it was records.  It was awesome to follow your favorite artists that a lot of people have never heard of and find out that they were releasing a new album just for you on a special day that non vinyl witch folk would even know about.  Getting caught up with other fans of music while waiting for the store to open and hearing the stories and anecdotes of what brought them here and why one store is better or worse than another and how many different record stores you were going to try to get to on that day...  All if it!  It was a great time.  Even over time as the day became less indie and more commercial it was kind of tolerable.  You were getting larger artists releasing or reissuing their work on that 1 day giving more fans reasons to come out to more stores to make the day more successful.

At some point, probably within the last 5/6 years or so, that came to a grinding halt.  Now, RSD is lost in a myriad of gimmicky releases and reissues that only a handful of stores, might carry at premium prices for the truly hardcore that need the heart shaped, liquid and or blood filled, glow in the dark album inside of a scratch and sniff jacket with a lenticular cover.  (Ok, that does sound a little dope.) It is completely unnecessary, and not at all representative of the culture of music or vinyl.  It is more of a yearly expo in how artists and stores can out do themselves and much less about what fans want and expect.  

Then you have the rules that the stores need to abide by.  A list gets made annually and from that list, people get hyped, stores order "X" amount of an album that they think their customers would want, receive half of that order and then one of the following is true;

• They are unable to sell a chunk of what they received because demand for an already over pressed album just is not there and it was too expensive anyway.
• They sell out almost immediately because of flippers*

This is not only frustrating for fans and customers, but it breads a measure of distrust from the store right up through the ranks of the RSD organizers.  So, to that I say, do not believe the hype.  This is the first year in a while where I cannot find 1 album on "The List" that I'm even a little excited about.  (Okay, Maybe the Weezer Teal album, cause, reasons....) Really though, I generally have a better time going out later in the afternoon or the following week seeing what was overlooked and maybe getting it at a discount.  That said...

I have got a whole day to kill on Saturday, and I fully plan on being in at least 1 record store at some point, mostly the truly independent stores that really are not doing too much around RSD.  Also, I am not aiming to discourage you from supporting your local record store. If you're in the Northeast region of the United States, I have a few suggestions of places you should check out if you can.

Red Scroll Records Wallingford, CT

Above all, this is consistently my most favorite record store in the Northeast by.  They had their big annual sale a week ago ahead of RSD to clear out space this year and it was, as usual, awesome.  This year I am assuming as per usual, you line up out back, go through the tent of all the RSD offerings and if none of that does it for you, they store is open for general shopping.  They have live music; giveaways and they generally make a part out of it.  Why are they getting top mention? Well, they are pretty much the ONLY record store I have seen around that somehow manages to get the European RSD exclusives in addition to the domestics.  I snagged a dope Hooverphonic UK release here on RDS a couple of years ago.  In general, you never know what you are going to find in Red Scroll, but you'll never leave without something.  Get here if you can.

Village Vinyl Brookline, MA

I love this store.  Jonathan, the owner, just within the past week moved from the smaller more cramped store in Brookline Village Massachusetts to a much roomier location at Coolidge Corner about 1/2 mile up the street.  The biggest draw here is, in addition to him being an awesome person, of all the used vinyl in the store, literally none if it is in bad shape.  The problem with a lot of record stores is conditioning.  It is my biggest knock against the local Boston favorite In Your Ear.  What's the point of having a decent selection of records if the condition is pure shit?  At Village Vinyl, most if not all the records are in plastic sleeves, the media is in VG+ and higher.  The organization is on point, it is easy to shop, it is bright and it is roomy.  I cannot wait to hit this store weekly once he gets up and running at full speed.  He'll be open on RSD and I believe he hinted at doing something cool.  Bonus about this shop, I have never seen so many sealed records in a used shop before.  (Not in the states anyway.)  If you are in Boston, you need to go here above all else.

Record Exchange Salem, MA

This place is one of the, if not the oldest record store in Massachusetts.  When you get off the train in downtown Salem and look to the hill, you can kind of see it like a beacon.  As you make the trek through downtown Salem past Harrisons Comics, up through the highway and climb just a little higher to that wooden nirvana of vinyl, you get filled with all the history the town has to offer just before you open the door to this shop.  Then you get slapped with so much more.  The wall displays alone are awe inspiring.  Almost floor to ceiling records front facing from an era where rock was king.  Some of the most rare and hard to find bits of music are just around you.  Then you start digging and flying through the racks.  Thousands, and thousands more records in all kids of conditions that you've been looking for have somehow all ended up here through the years.  As you get a stack of music that you plan on buying you strike up a conversation with the guys that work there an realize that they're only there for the same reason.  They love it and cannot picture themselves doing anything else.  You ask if they can hold that Black Sabbath Vertigo pressing of Black Sabbath, you look back and it is gone.  I love this store.  

Bull Moose Various Spots Through ME and NH

I'm not a fan for commercial chains if I can help it, but these guys somehow managed to retain their identity.  Unlike Newbury Comics, which is full on the Bull Moose dark twin as it were, Bull Moose as a company is run very much like and reminds me a lot of Tower Records.  The people that work there proves this.  They are passionate about the music, the movies the games, all of it.  Depending on which store you head into, you'll see a completely different selection of vinyl depending on where you are at great non screw you prices.  The selection is also generally always fresh.  I have never seen much the same stuff lingering in the used and new sections twice.  The biggest bonus about Bull Moose?  This is where Record Store Day began and it shows.  They still maintain the founding beliefs of what it should be.  All about the music and the support.  Get to one if you are anywhere north of Massachusetts.

Rough Trade Brooklyn, NY

Best new vinyl store in all of New York!  I cannot go back home without stopping in there at least once.  It makes me need to the original in the UK.  This place has it all from UK releases to domestic indie.  I mean, everything.  It is a living repository for all genres of music.  It is to new what Red Scroll is to used.  You'll never go in here without coming out with something.  Sure, it is a little out of the way, but where better to get turned on to something new that you cannot get from an average record store in the Unite States that isn't Amoeba?  When I head down in a couple of weeks for the WFMU Record Show, you best believe I'm hitting this place like I'm mad at it.  Right after....

Academy Records Annex Brooklyn, NY

Remember that scene in Pulp Fiction where Mia Wallace does a line of coke in the bathroom, jerks her head up and says, "I said GODDAMN!  GODDAMN, GODDMAMN!"  Yeah, that's the reaction you get when you walk into the Brooklyn location.  It’s bigger than the home location on the Lower East side, and for that you see a lot cooler stuff.  I mean, you can go into any record store and see great things on the wall that are rare and necessary for your collection, but, here, you want it all.  Most used records stores tend to be left with a lot of "filler" albums to the point where you get the feeling that it's been "picked."  Here, that just does not happen. The quality and curated availability of the vinyl here is so far above average, you almost do not need to shop anywhere else for anything ever.  It's a crime that they'll be right around the corner from the WFMU show.  I have a feeling that if anyone stops here first, they'll go broke before they get to the show.  

Woah, 2 posts in 24 hours?  I just tied my posting record for all of 2018!  Maybe I'm serious this time.  Have fun out there this weekend.



* Mother Fuck Flippers.   

They are more than 50% of the reason that RSD has become a raging joke.  Please don't buy anything from these ass-hat profiteering price-gouging dicks.  Visit /r/vinyl and try to see if anyone is willing to grab something for you if you're not in an area or not around a store that has what you're looking for this RSD. I'm sure someone there will be more than willing to grab you a copy at a reasonable price, whatever the fuck that is for RSD, and ship it to you without you having to get it inflated on eBay or something similiar.

"Damn The Man! Save The Empire!" Happy Rex Manning Day!

Damn the man! Save the empire!

Holy hell!  I honestly started off reposting last year with every intention of regular updates once again.  Clearly, I didn't uphold my end of the deal.  To be honest, life happened.  I know it's not an excuse, but, I also know that I am not exactly an internet destination spot for music and culture.  It's always been about the music and the vinyl.  It still is.  Since my last update back in June, I have increased my vinyl collection by about 1/3.  I mean, you can only work for so much.  It would be silly to believe that I wasn't out in all of my favorite record stores and attending all of the shows from Maine to Long Island over the past 10 months not collecting. The fact that I keep hitting that wonky IRStoGO app daily waiting for my tax return so I can buy what I'm considering my holy grail of records speaks volumes of my commitment.

I really wanted to update a lot.  Literally every time I bought a new record home. Then the prospect of deciding which one to listen to and write up first hit.  Then the superficial issues like lighting for pictures, the exhausting time it takes to get my draft(s) back from my friend the editor and so on.  As if that wasn't enough, and it wasn't, the sheer will to commit the time after pulling a 10-15+ plus day in a job I wasn't terribly fond of didn't leave me with a lot of creativity to write about much.  What it did leave me with was a lot of alone time to listen to all of my music.  Over the past 10 months, I had a spot where it was just me, my system, hundreds of records with a bunch of new ones in queue, in my Poang, with a dimly lit diffused purple smart bulb on and that's it.  (Ok, sometimes a drink.)

Over the past 10 months, I've picked up everything from an original Pink Floyd Dark Side of The Moon, (Sounds too fucking incredible), to a Japanese pressing of Klaus Nomi's masterpiece.  I've stumbled on ridiculously undervalued gems such as Zappa's Joe's Garage Acts 1-3, and music I've overpaid for but needed like Disintegration from the Cure.  (How have I knot owned that!?)  Now, all that and more is neatly cataloged and shelved just waiting for me to show it off to whoever is willing to sit there and listen to them or to me obsess over them.  I can't wait to talk about a lot of them right here.

At some point, I will.  This weekend may be a perfect time. It's Record Store Day Weekend!  Frankly, it doesn't mean much to me, not anymore.   My personal bias aside, it is a great day for those that appreciate the sounds of analog.  It gives me a great excuse to get out and support a local record store or two, (or 3 or 4!).  I don't need a special day though to go out and shop.  It may be fun to watch people go insane over some over the top repress of something no one asked for though.  (I'm still waiting for Cake to reissue Fashion Nugget, guys WTAF already!?)

All that said, I'm going to get back into this fully committed.  While I may not guarantee Vinyl "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", and so on...  I will promise more entries.  It may be once a week, or once a month.  Hell in my mind I can think of at least 3 entries I can write between now and Saturday!  I really don't know how professional bloggers do it daily.  Oh, wait...  It's their job.

This is truly a site born of my hobby.  I don't get paid for it, nor do I want to.  Ok, there are ad's on this page, and I suppose that means it's monetized.  It's not.  With the amount of volume I generate, minus the ad-blockers, and the fact that people don't click on them, I don't get anything, so let's ignore that, but please tell me if they get annoying. I'm simply doing this because no one will listen to me IRL about my records or the music I like, so I'll just leave it here and perhaps someone will.  You're not getting Rolling Stone or Pitchfork quality here, but, I sincerely thank all of you who do read this.  I'm glad that someone enjoys the musings of a guy with a lot of wax on his mind.

Happy Rex Manning Day!

Khruangbin - Con Todo El Mundo (2018)

I'm going to briefly explain how a Houston based trio, manages to build a career on making some of the most unique Surf, Psychadellic, Thai-Funk music in the history of the world.  Oh, you don't think it's possible?  What part?  The part where they're from Houston Texas and sound like this?

Maria También

It's kind of easy really.  The same way a lot of indie groups figure out their sounds, maybe this one is slightly different.  Instead of meeting in college or on a concert circuit, they met in church.  Not just any church in Texas though.  This was St. John's Methodist Church in Houston.  Yep, the same church that gave rise to some little group called Destiny's Child.  The guitarist, Mark Speer, and drummer Donald Ray started out there playing for the church group.  It wasn't until a little while down the road that Speer met up with Laura Lee and taught her to play the bass that Khuangbin was born.  

Their first EP back in 2010 was nothing short of a tease.  It was a collection of 3 tracks that sounded much more like a DJ set/sampler.  It spanned everything from soul to deep psychedelia to shades of an Afgan that frankly I doubt anybody in Texas had ever heard of before.  While it was brilliant, and the people needed to hear more it wasn't until almost 5 years later that they came out with their first album, The Universe Smiles Upon You.

People Everywhere (Still Alive)

Their newest album, Con Todo El Mundo our this past February, was something that I stumbled on while looking for something different.  Over the past year or so, I've fallen into enjoying psychedelic music more.  Bands like Tame Impala and Gum have definitely made modern psych more popular.  Khruangbin popped up on Reddit of all places as a passing comment on my blog after someone read my post about Tame Impala and how I had been looking for something that in the same ballpark.  Khruangbin was nowhere close.  Their music style has a lot more melody and soul than psych ever will.  You can get lost in the strings of this like you could in the electric(ness) of traditional psych.  This is a lot less synth and a lot more driving.  Lee's bass is powerful, Dj's drumming is simple yet funk driving.  And Mark Speers guitar work is nothing short of world style  If that makes any sense.  Throw in the elements of good old southern church music and you've got a really laid back sound that managed to marry everything exotic of music you just couldn't imagine ever hearing from Texas.

Evan Fins The Third Room

It's kind of fun to listen to all of their music and see where they drew influence from.  I could swear that I've heard shades of west coast hip-hop, European jazz, funk for sure, and definitely some 60's/70's soul.  For an instrumental heavy group, it's cool to hear these guys with such a wide reach, both in their inspiration and hearing their music in the wild.  There's no doubt that with this current album, they're going to become a whole lot more popular.  As a matter of fact, I think, if you really listen hard enough, you'll recognize some of their music.  

As usual, I had to get this album the day it dropped.  I snagged the white edition from Newberry Comics, only because the edition I wanted from Late Night Tales was sold out in the weeks leading up to its release.  Keep an eye on Late Night Tales, those guys have a bunch of artists and series of DJ album's that you're just not listening to and you really should be.  

Here are some links:

Khruangbin on Bandcamp

Khruangbin on Twitter

And in case you missed the link on the left sidebar, their NPR Tiny Desk concert from May 19th

 

I'll be back, maybe in a few days.  I'm kind of on vacation, not too far from the world famous Red Scroll Records.  Something tells me, I'm going to hit that store like I'm mad at it this week.  Also, if there's anyone in the NYC area that hasn't heard, you're really missing out by not going to Academy records in either Brooklyn or their East Village shops.  You never know what gems you'll find there.  Like that awesome Siouxsie and The Banshees album, I'm coveting on their wall in Brooklyn right now.  

Gum - The Underdog (2018)

I know what you're thinking, this is a surprise.  You're right, it is.  I'm not going to begin to justify why I haven't written or updated my corner of the web, mainly because I doubt anyone would care.  That said, I should at the very least let you in on what I've been doing since I've been away...

Buying and listening to records of course!  Since I last updated, I've added over 100 amazing vinyl albums to my collection!  Far and away one of my favorites that I added fairly recently Jay Watson's, (AKA, Gum), newest album, The Underdog.  

The Australian Multi-instrumentalist singer and songwriter Jay Watson, known as Gum when he's not performing with his associate groups, Tame Impala, and Pond, finally granted us some new psychedelic hotness in the way of a new album back on April 6th.  The Underdog is his 4th studio album since beginning with The Delorian Highway back in 2014.  

Now, you would think that as much of a fan of Tame Impala that I am, I would have discovered Gum a long time ago.  He didn't enter into my consciousness until the late summer last year when I took on an unhealthy obsession with Pond and their hot as fuck album, The Weather, which I will certainly talk about in a future post. None of that would have happened unless I wasn't mindlessly trusting Google Play Music to guide me through new artist suggestions.  Seriously!  The progression from Tame Impala leads to The Unknown Mortal Orchestra, which exposed me to Methyl Ethel, whom I saw in concert last fall, to Pond, to Gum.  Listening to the opening of The Delorian Highway and then his following 2 alums made me obsess just a bit.  I finally understand why Tame Impala is so good.  The sum of their parts, while possibly greater than the whole, is built on some of the most progressive and talented minds in music.  Indeed, Kevin Parker is a gifted artist, but let's be honest, after his work in 2015 with Mark Ronson on Uptown Special, I think we can agree that Kevin is a really good producer.  Jay Watson is still all about the music.  

The Underdog is a focused collection of psychedelic prog, I'm even throwing in some synth-pop into the mix simply because of the chords and highly polished use of electronic instrumentals no doubt driven by someone who knows how to use them.  From the introduction, titled, Introduction, you get a feeling that you're in for an album full of soaring riffs and chill out music reminiscent of Lonerism with a lot fewer experiments and a lot more groove.  I'll again mention his other group, Pond and their album, The Weather.  

The Blue Marble

The first single, The Blue Marble popped up and surprised me somewhere as just that, a single.  I initially thought there was no way this was the prelude to a new album having just released  Flash In The Pan in 2016.  How wrong was I?  After putting this song on repeat more times than I would like to admit, I found out in about 15 minutes that there was, in fact, a new album on the horizon and it would be out in about a month.  Unfortunately, true to form like his previous 3 releases, it would be released on vinyl, only in Australia.  The humanity!  I had to go through some hoops to secure this album, but it was too worth it.  So, shout out Rocking Horse Records in Brisbane Australia for having this.  Since I don't own any of Gums other releases, as they're far too expensive, and again, only available in Australia, it's good to know that indie record stores are thriving all over the world.

As usual, if getting this hotness on vinyl isn't for you, (And I gotta ask why the hell not?), you can snag it from Google Play Music or iTunes, or perhaps Spotify.  Though I gotta vinyl shame you here for a bit.  You're never going to appreciate the sound of this album, it's synths, it's soul, and it's character until you've listened to it balanced and analog.  To that end, check out Spinning Top Music and of course Rocking Horse Records.  Perhaps they'll have a copy or two to send your way.

The Underdog

Gum: @jay_w_watson ‏
Spinning Top: @Spinning_Top

Looking ahead, I've got some awesome vinyl from the U.S. Girls, XTC, Pond, Jack White, Parliment, Depeche Mode, Tricky, and a whole ton more.  In the meantime, what's that that I spy on deck beside Gum?

Sofi Tukker - Soft Animals (2016)

I was turned on to this band after listening to the Coachella stream on a long car ride home back in April.  The crazy thing about this group is, I was resigned to slog through whatever the act was before the one I really wanted to hear, Future Islands, (I'm posting them next.).  I had no idea what to expect.  SiriusXMU is definitely trying to focus on indie artists, but more often than not end up playing the same pseudo-mainstream artists under the guise of indie.  Sorry, Father John Misty is not indie.  Though that's part of a much larger post full of bias on my part, none of which has anything to do with the point at hand.  That point being, Sofi Tuckker's Soft Animals, is one of the best albums that I've bought all year.  I'm kicking myself for not knowing about them sooner.

Sofi Weld and Tukker Halpern got together and collided with Brazilian culture to come up with what has got to be the most incredible menagerie of NYC attitude and Portuguese dance -ever.  I mean, come on... Just. Look.. At... This!

Drinkee - Live at Coachella 2017 Sunday, April 16th

As for their album, it's full of what I would call Brazilian Funk, and lyrics that are so razor sharp, you may even mistake this album as a message to someone.  I haven't heard a modern album this well collected since the 90's.  These guys put together 6 songs that are so far beyond their years, you would think that this was a best of the album.  Of course, I've only heard it on vinyl, so maybe it just sounds a lot better in general.  If you're looking for that summer vibe, this is it.  I can't wait till they come back to the Northeast.

Lastly, and I almost never agree when an artist lends their art to a corporation, ever, but, if you were ever wondering who's music it is behind the current Old Navy campaign, well.  Remember, as usual, I was into it long before it was "in".  ;-)

Check them out: Sofi Tukker

Follow them on Twitter: @SofiTukker
Hear them from time to time on Sirius XMU

Buy their album through their website, or stream it here, and support indie artists!

In 2 weeks, I'll be back with content.  It's been a year since I've been here.  Don't think I actually stopped spinning.  What do you think I've been doing since I've been gone?  Listening to CD's!?

Gone is the Wrath, I'm coming back with the Weasel.  I'll bring back the Sirius/ly posts from SiriusXM.  There's tons, of new to me, and almost certainly new to you, vinyl.

I've been to some epic record shows and stores up and down the Northeast this past year from Long Island NY, my home, to Maine.  I've also been to some not so good, and I'll tell you all about it.

I'm still going to spotlight the indies.  There's tons of amazing music out there that you're not hearing on the radio...  That's a crime really.  If you're not listening to FKA Twigs, Tao and The Get Down Stay Down, Bearchild, or The Black Angels...  You're really missing a lot.

Stay tuned....  See you June 12th.

Gary Clark Jr. - The Story of Sonny Boy Slim (2015)

Even if it's a bit cliché, I love it when an album opens with a track that suits its mission or the mission of the artist.  For Gary Clark Jr.'s 2nd album, The Story of Sonny Boy Slim, the song, The Healing, is perhaps the most prophetic way to lead off a most excellent record.

The Healing

The Texas native Gary Clark Jr. is perhaps one of the most under the radar Blues musicians active right now, mainstream anyway.  His first major label full-length album, Blak and Blu back in October of 2012 established him as a Neo-Soul, Blues, guitar playing master.  Who would have guessed that there was even a way to fuse that many seemingly related styles of music so well.  While that album brought Gary to our consciousness, The Story of Sonny Boy Slim from last year is the album that brought it all together perfectly.  

His influence didn't just become realized because he made a good album.  Back in Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy were both taken back by Clarks style and talent.  So much so that Clark became one of the youngest headliners at Clapton's Crossroads concert in 2014.

Cold Blooded

The Blues as a whole is a crazy genre of music that somehow over time has managed to evolve, unlike most music.  Sure music evolves all the time, rock in the 1950's differs vastly from the 80's and the 2000's  Blues is just a little different.  It's almost impossible for any form of music to maintain its roots, tell the same stories, and continue to be influenced by its originators all the while progressing to take on new elements from other sources.  Confusing right?  Consider R&B music, I only bring this up because of the recent death of Prince Be from the great 90's R&B duo PM Dawn, R&B in the 90's was beginning to become less about R&B and more about Hip-Hop.  R&B came from Blues and Soul, at some point in the 80's, let's call it the Luther Vandross era, R&B shifted away from the Blues and picked up elements of Jazz in its absence.  However, it wasn't until PM Dawn and the general rise of Hip-Hop in the 90's that R&B became what it is for the most part what it is today, Hip-Hop & R&B.  It's so blatant that most award shows actually categorize that as a genre.  Seriously.  The two couldn't and by all rights shouldn't be similar, but it's an evolution.  What does that have to do with Blues?  Well, everything regarding modern music comes back to Blues.  Whenever a new artist, particularly a Blues artist comes on the scene, a true Blues musician will play their music with the sound of their influences.  You'll hear Robert Johnson, John Mayall, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, and others.  You'll hear blues rocker influences like Jack White, Jeff Beck, and John Mayer.  Here's where Gary Clark Jr. Comes in.  He's got the influence of Jimmy Vaughn and Eric Clapton and a style all his own.  The music that Gary Clark Jr. put out on this album while having shades of everything from Gospel to Hip-Hop to Blues to Rock, is ultimately a pure modern Blues exposition.

  Down To Ride

I was made aware of Gary Clark Jr. about 2 years ago while I on vacation in Chicago appreciating their Blues scene and of course, buying records.  At first, I didn't really love it.  I only had his first album to work with on mp3.  Up until about 2 weeks ago, I had actually forgotten him until I saw his performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert where he performed a great version of Cold Blooded with Jon Batiste and Stay Human.  I immediately thought that it sounded familiar.  I used my trusty Google Music search, and sure enough, I had Gary Clark Jr. Tagged from back in 2014.  I figured this time that I should really listen to this newer album a bit more closely.  After about 3 listens, I bought this beautiful double 3-sided record at Exile on Main Street in Branford CT and I've been listening to it non-stop for days.  Partially because for whatever reason it came with 2 DL codes.    Regardless, this album is truly a must own for any fan of the Blues, Rock, R&B, and or Funk.  Here's the bonus about getting it on vinyl, remember what I said about it being a 3-sided release?  Well, check out the B-side of the 2nd record.  

Yeah but that etching tho!

Just go get it!  Get it now!

I'm thinking...  Who wants a digital copy of this album?

Word Up! New From Eric Clapton, Mari And Other News.

I had tweeted this earlier, but it's worth noting and even adding a little more to it.  Eric Clapton was profiled in the Wall Street Journal for a new single that he kinda released ahead of his 23rd studio album due out later this month.  The crazy thing about this single, Spiral, he improvised the whole damn thing.  Check it out when you can.  It's the WORD!  Obviously, I'll be buying the hell out of this album when it hits the street Friday, May 20th.

Listen to Eric Clapton's 'Spontaneous' new song 'Spiral' (exclusive) https://t.co/q1sDkqVwmq via @WSJ

—  (@WMVCulture) May 3, 2016

In other news, I just wanted to post another apology for the lack of updates.  Simply put, I've been really preoccupied with everything except enjoying my free time.  You should know however, that what little free time I do have, I've been spending it inside of a bunch of record stores.  Since my RJD2 post back on April 9th, I've managed to increase my vinyl collection by about 33%.  I bought a new Pioneer turntable from the awesome folks at In Your Ear Records.  I acquired new speakers from a good buddy and augmented them this past weekend.  Why I have a 7.1 surround sound system in a room that's roughly 150/sq is anybody's guess, but damn.  It's fantastic!   Try listening to Tame Impala's Currents on a 7.1 surround system and tell me that doesn't make you hot.  All of that has contributed to me settling into a newer space and getting more comfortable with my surroundings which are things I haven't been able to do since the holidays.  

Over the next few weeks up through late June:

• I have a lot coming up and going on.  I'll be traveling in, around, through, and back and fourth about CT for a while, so look out, I'm going to Red Scroll Records to do some damage!  I'll also be in and out of Exile On Main Street to soak up something new.  
• My birthday is coming up and there's no better way to celebrate than buying myself that new Clapton record.  
• I have a few concerts in June down in NYC and my long awaited vacation whereupon I'll definitely get some writing going on. 

All that said, this time last year it looked as if I would be blowing through all of the vinyl that I owned posting once a week, now, if I actually were to stop collecting, I could run this blog weekly for another 2 years and you'll never see the same record twice!  


Of course, I missed a lot by not posting, and that's not because I couldn't, it's because I made a conscious decision not to.  I purposefully didn't post for Record Store day because the original post that I made, I did so out of anger.  I actually condemned RSD because of its effects on music, record stores, indie artists, and the lack of quality releases.  I still have a draft of it, and perhaps I'll revisit it, until then I choose to stay positive.  Besides, I did end up supporting a few local record stores, and that's what's really important.

I also didn't post regarding the death of Prince mainly because what I had written devolved into an angry post about vinyl flippers and how they were seizing the moment and profiting off of the genius that was Prince.  Frankly, owning 2 of the greatest albums that he ever made, (IMHO), knowing that I'll never sell them nor be tempted to makes me happy.  I think that there are quite a few people out there that just don't give a fuck about music and too many fucks about money to appreciate music and vinyl.  So to that end, when I clean up that post, if I clean up that post,  and make it 98% about the artist and his music, I'll post it.  

I also had 2 other posts that I had started and subsequently shelved because I wasn't happy with the pictures that I took!  Needless to say now that I have a better sound system in place, with really bad lighting, I'll do a little more work and get those posts in the cannon over the next few weeks.

Finally, I do need to answer one of the comments that I had received over the past few months.  Someone had messaged me glowing over the success of my RJD2 post.  Which again, thank you all for the love.  It was by far the biggest post in this blog's history.  The indictment was that I spend too much time focusing on bands that nobody's heard of hence why those other posts don't get anywhere near the views and reactions that this one did.  Ouch.

In response, that's kinda the point.  I would get on my own nerves if I wrote about music that everybody's heard on the radio or a passing car.  There's a trove of outstanding music out there that many have never heard of.  it just happens to sound great on vinyl, and that's why I'm here.  The whole point of what I'm doing is in celebration vinyl culture.  Which in itself is an indie hobby.  If I didn't love indie music and bands that weren't widely known, I wouldn't be doing this.  So to all the indie groups, and those following me on Twitter, play on !  Let me know about your vinyl drops and I'll keep spinning.  That said, when you get some time, check out Mari who's released a flurry of music and remixes recently.  If you are a fan of Mozez, and by extension Zero 7, and yes, even Sia, you may enjoy Mari immensely. 

Mari - Free

Lastly, this post unofficially begins the countdown to #100.  The 100th post needs to be something special while I have an idea or two in the works, you just need to know that it'll be something kinda cool.  Like the 50th post, it'll also usher in a format change.  I'll be jumping to Wordpress and refreshing things a bit.  That project begins today.

That's all for now.  I'll be back Wednesday, where I'm going to get my immolation on.

Sublime - Jah Won't Pay The Bills - 2016 (1991) RSD2016

The year was 1991, I was in junior high, gas was cheap, and music subcultures were trying giving rise to all kinds of new heights and identities.    The 80's ended on a really high note compared to the way it soared throughout that decade.  A lot of that had to do with the strength of film during that decade transition, and to an even larger degree subculture.  With pop music beginning to become annoying having been consumed by R&B and  "Boy Bands", hip-hop becoming regional, and rock bands becoming less hair and more power ballading, music in the 90's was set up to become really strange.  All the while there was an awful lot of music that had been considered underground or alternative to whatever was popular.  That was starting to take shape amidst the changes.  One of these "underground" genres, Ska, really came into its own with some awesome hero's and gained astronomic popularity with a set of fans that still wanted their music happy, but not necessarily defined.

Enter Sublime.  Sublime in 1991 certainly wasn't new, they just release a demo tape that launched them into a wider audience.  From their inception in 1988, they were relegated to playing small venues and clubs like a lot of local indie bands.  At some point in 1990, they were fortunate enough to be invited to literally break into a recording studio, record a collection of songs overnight and create one of the most popular demo tapes in the history of music that night.

Jah Won't Pay The Bills, the cassette, was released, or should I say, sold, from the trunk of their car for a while.  It's that kind of self-promotion that gained them some real popularity in southern California and enough to parlay them onto the national stage as leaders of the "Third Wave" of Ska music.  The Third Wave of Ska meaning that Ska wasn't even new.  Jamacia has been pumping out Ska since the 1950's.

DJ's

Wait.  What?  "I though Jamacia had been known for its Reggae and that Ska was an American  copy of that."  Nope.  However if it wasn't for that western influence that America was known for around WWII, there's an above average chance that Ska wouldn't have become what it did.  Simply put, Ska is essentially Reggae music with Blues/Rock influences.  Whereas true Reggae is more Jazz/Blues and less dancehall.  Ska has also changed and evolved over term adding new era-specific ingredients to its sound as the music shifted through the years.  

First Wave Ska, which was defined by Bob Marley & The Wailers and the Skatalites had heavy influences from the 1960's America.  Second Wave Ska was made popular by bands like The Specials and Beshara and had all of the influence from the late 60's with some more Rocksteady vibe built in.  It wasn't until the 1980's when The Third Wave Ska groups like Sublime and No Doubt infused it with Dub and heavy Calypso influences, that it became hugely popular as a genre again.  Sublime's demo album, really showcased these qualities.

Let's Go Get Stoned

As a group, Sublime was one of the early underground success stories of the 90's.  They were emerging during an era that was so crowded with subculture music it literally seemed as if the popular thing was to be unpopular.  1991 gave us everything from Nirvana's Nevermind and Pearl Jam's Ten to Massive Attacks Blue Lines and Prince's Diamonds & Pearls. That's pretty wide ranging.  Who would have thunk that by this time the following year Sublime would be so popular that their official first release, 40oz To Freedom, would go down in history as one of the biggest Reggae/Ska albums of all time?  It all started with this simple demo tape, illegally recorded, and sold from the trunk of a car in Long Beach California.

Badfish

For the first time ever, Jah Won't Pay The Bills was released on vinyl this past Record Store Day,  (A bright spot on an otherwise dreary promotion), and it sounds as good as I remember it back with I was in junior high.  Hell, it sounds a little bit better.  You really appreciate just how strong a singer that Bradley Nowell was.  You can hear how true Sublime was to the sound of Ska and years later you really get the message that they were sending through their music.  

If you were lucky enough to get one of the 420 of these albums that were pressed on green vinyl, you'll have to take a picture for me.  I really wanted one of those.  I am really fortunate enough to own this again in any variation though.  Sometimes I miss my tape collection.  If you were ever into real Ska or amped Reggae, you need to own this one.  Check it out anywhere tapes are sold, or if you can, venture into you local record store and grab this RSD release.  It's more than worth the $20 you'll spend.  

If you really try hard, you might make out a tip-off about the next vinyl pick somewhere in this post.  Hint, it's kinda obvious.

RJD2 - Dame Fortune - (2016)

In yet another hard left turn, I was turned onto a release from RJD2 last week that based on the strength of the first single, Peace Of What, I just knew that I had to own it.  For a bunch of reasons, though it may not seem like it, it's rare this became a release day purchase.  If you recall the last time I felt this strongly about a release, it was David Bowie's final album, Blackstar.

Peace Of What (feat. Jordan Brown)

What got me with that first single is his departure from anything that I've heard from him before.  I alluded to it briefly in the single teaser post last week wherein this really sounded as if this album was going to be, at least emotionally, the deepest DJ album that anybody's heard in a while.  That's a distinction that's thrown around a lot on the DJ circuit.  You can gather all the Hudson Mohawke's, Dan The Automator's, Moby's, Wax Taylor, Ratatat's, and Gramatik's of the world,  all of their fans will say that they have at least one song that was so deep and meaningful that it really ties that particular album together.  Well, what if an entire album were full of rhythms and lyrics that just hit on different levels of replayability.  Not because they affect you, but because they're just good.  They're catchy.  They're different.

At some point, perhaps in the teaser post for the single a few weeks ago, I mentioned that many may not be aware of who RJD2 is.  Ramble John Krohn, RJD2, is the genius behind the theme to Mad Men*.  You've also heard his work if you've spent any measurable amount of time in Washington State over the past 10 years or so as his most well-known song, Ghostwriter from his first album, Deadringer, was used in various regionally significant things my favorite surprise being the music played before the introductions to the Seattle Mariners home games.  It's not from the new album, but you really should hear it.

Ghostwriter - Deadringer (2002)

Almost any review or write up of RJD2 will point out the hip-hop aspect of his work, some going so far as to call him a hip-hop artist.  That may very well be true, frankly, I've never asked him and if I ever do get the chance to, you best believe I will, to that end this album goes a long way, in my mind anyway, toward showing just how complex he is as an artist.  Sure, there are blatant hip-hop infused tracks on this album like this....

Up In The Clouds (feat. Blueprint)

...and you're not wrong.  One of my most favorite tracks on this album is just begging to be ripped, sampled and abused by some ass-hat so-called hip-hop artist who's looking for a single with a catchy hook.  (I cannot like, the 5th track on this album, A New Theory, is straight fire.) There's just so much more of a collaborative effort throughout this album this time, more so than his previous albums that it really feels as if his whole existence was working up to this album to show off just how much he's grown as an artist.  I mean, given everything I've posted above, can you honestly say that you expected to hear this?

Your Nostalgic Heart

I guess that's the hallmark of an artist that stays true to their art.  They're willing to experiment and change for the sake of growth and not necessarily for being popular, edgy, or even rich.  These will be the artists that can make an album every 3-6 years and remain ever popular in between as opposed to only hearing from them whenever they come up with a new single or decide that producing is really where they belong.

Having read a wide array of reviews of this album, I'm really glad that I took an unhealthy amount of time listening to this album over and over for weeks before I finished this post.  I think a lot of people really missed the mark on offering their opinions of Dame Fortune. The ones that didn't miss the mark were treated to one of the best menageries of sound that only comes around once in a great while.   After listening to this album so much recently, it made Telefon Tel Aviv's Immolate Yourself that much better.  Regardless, be sure to check out A New Theory and Sheboygan Left as well for some added depth to truly get the most out of listening to this awesome record.  Also thank you all for making my previous (teaser) post the most read post ever! 

Snag this vinyl be it ever so beautiful along with the mp3 download code from you favorite local record store.

My next post will feature either one of the following, Record Store Day, or an album that has been alluding me like a mother-fucker till very recently.  

*Oh, and well there's this by the way...

A Beautiful Mine (Theme From Mad Men)