Site Overhaul Soon

Hi Folks,

Sorry for the radio silence.

I am leaving the great city of L.A. to live in Asheville, NC. While I will always love L.A. and it's music scene, I am excited to see what Asheville has to offer. From the Mothlight to the Orange Peel, Asheville will be sure to filled with Hidden Gems, including my major festival being Bonnaroo instead of Coachella now.

So with that, the site will have a bit of an overhaul, it will still have posts about vinyl, mostly new things and reissues, along with $1 bin scores, but I think the major focus of the site will be a concert calendar and alert to what is going on in the Asheville music scene, along with surrounding areas like Charlotte, Knoxville, Athens and more.

Hopefully the site will grow and became a big part of the Asheville music scene.

To a New Year.

Best
Andrew

Modest Mouse Re-Issue Pre Order!

Photo From Glacial Pack Online Store

Finally! The much sought after Lonesome Crowded West and This Is A Long Drive For Someone With Nothing To Think About are getting released on vinyl again! They will be coming out Nov 4 and Oct 28 for only $14.00 each! EDIT: They Are $22 each. But you can preorders yours now on Modest Mouse official website! Also coming out to accompany the records are a 7" for each, the LCW contains Too Many Fiestas For Ruben and an alt version of Cowboy Dan, while TIALDFSWNTTA (geez) contains White Lies, Yellow Teeth and Buttons to Push Buttons. They will be $10 each.

For the savvy shopper who loves Modest Mouse but doesn't have enough albums, there is also a Re-Issues Pack, that include the two records, The Fruit That Ate Itself, and Sad Sappy Sucker for only $70 (that's a savings of 20%).

Happy Hunting!

Radical Face - Ghost

Lazy Saturday morning, sorry for the late post. But this record is great for a lazy morning. I saw Radical Face at the Hollywood Forever Masonic Lodge and it was by far one of the most funny depressing amazing shows I've seen, maybe the best show I've seen there, and I saw DeVotchKa and tUnE-yArDs there. Ghost is maybe their most well known album simply due to the fact that Welcome Home is on it, a song that numerous people don't know, but have heard on commercials or in movies. We're talking Chevy Volt and Nikon commercials to movies like Humboldt County, Forks Over Knives, and The Vicious Kind to TV like Graceland and Blacklist. This song has gotten around. But a doubt few have really dived into the album it's on, because it's full of other amazing songs that have a great magnitude and catchy hooks.

Opening is the haunting instrumental Asleep on a Train, which starts off with a chair squeak, a sample he does bring with him during touring. It's disturbing as it is peaceful. Then the big hitter, Welcome Home, there isn't too much you can say that hasn't already been said up there. It's catchy, it'll get you singing, and it feels good to listen to when you are homesick. Let the River In is spooky, hell the whole album is spooky, like a creepy ass lullaby, but what do you expect with an album called Ghost There is something pretty and unsettling about the line "don't scare me off now I'm your only friend." Glory begins with the sounds of army soldiers marching and whistling into battle, and why the song contains a very pretty piano, it's about a solider who defected from the army and went into hiding with his lover, only to be turned into the authorities by her after a fight and watch as the whole town stoned him to death. Grim as hell, but sounds beautiful right? He tell's you the song meanings during his shows which are all very grim and borderline disturbing, but their is a weird beauty to them too, because they all sound so hopeful and up-lifting. Strangest Thing embraces the spookiness of the album and dives you into a dark melodic song filled with crows and thoughts of madness. Turn it over and you have what I think is my favorite song on the album, Wrapped In Piano String. It has a great melody and great hooks, again it's morbid because it's about committing suicide and haunting your family, but you'd honestly never tell. Back comes that creaky chair for Along the Road, which sounds like a glorious piano resolution. Then you have Haunted, with its simple repeating piano hook, it feels like you've opened a music box filled with old ghost. The mood continues to go down a dark rabbit hole as you get to Winter Is Coming, and no it's not about Game of Thrones, it's actually about a man who discovered that the seasons are people and sensed a bad Winter was coming, so he kidnapped Summer and kept him locked in his basement until winter eventually came anyways and the man and his family had to flee before they were destroyed, pretty imaginative. Sleepwalking is a slow and mellow as it sounds, bringing your through the motions of the nocturnal act of unrest. Ending the album is Homesick, a raw acoustic recording that perfectly brings the album to a close.

Great for rainy days, Halloween, spooky nights alone in a giant house, or if you like really good music. You can get the album on Amazon for $20. You won't be disappointed, if you like dark lyrics or uplifting melodies, there is something for everyone. And to prove that Radical Face aren't full of nothing but despair, here is their cover of Robin Hood's Not In Nottingham:

Enjoy and happy hunting!

Belle and Sebastian - Are You Feeling Sinister

The wistful Glasgow pop of Belle and Sebastian is appealing to many people. Their sophomore album If You're Feeling Sinister received pretty high praise, following under many Top 100 lists of albums from the 90s (Pitchfork - 17, Rolling Stones - 75, Spin - 59). Since Tigermilk was such a rare find back then, many considered this their debut album. It was part of the 33 1/3 book series on different albums. Sadly, during it's release, it didn't reach popular heights since music was primary dominated by Grunge at the time. Never-the-less, it's a must have for every collection.

The Stars of Track and Field open the album with a very solemn guitar strum and bass line, but slowly builds up until it hits a pumping drum snare and begins to serenade you. Whimsical can be easily used a lot in this review, so I'll use it once for Seeing Other People, but know it pretty much describes the whole album. Me and Major will be understood by any guy who has daddy issues, especially with the line "there is too much history, too much biology between us. Not to mention the killer harmonica solo at the end. The fun display of paranoia in Like Dylan in the Movies makes it hard to take this cautionary tale serious. The tender track The Fox in the Snow closes out the A-Side. The catchy tunes of Get Me Away from Here, I'm Dying is littered with folk inspired guitar. The title track starts out with the sounds of kids playing in school yards and leaves you with the feeling of youthful mischievous. Mayfly is the perfect summer listening song. The Boy Done Wrong Again feels like a funeral or something that Harold and Maude would slow dance too. Closing is one of my favorite songs, Judy and the Dream of Horses, it's just so freaking catchy, you get hooked to the very end.

If you are a fan of the Smiths meeting Simon and Garfunkel then you should give all the works of Belle and Sebastian a try. Amazon has it $18, but you can get it on Matadors official store for $16. This is a great album to relax too.

Happy hunting!

Pair With:

There's two things you can pair this album with. The first, is  Stuart Murdoch's first film, God Help The Girl starring the beautiful Emily Browning (I'll be the first to admit I have a crush on her). The movie was powered by a Kickstarter. It will have it's limited release Sept 5th. But if you are a member of Cinefamily you can go to a member's only screening with Stuart Murdoch in person Sept 2nd!

Also, catch Belle and Sebastian on their small tour. They'll have two shows at the Ace Theater in downtown Oct 6th and Oct 7th. I saw their amazing Hollywood Forever Show, where they screened Trainspotting (which Stuart had a minor role) and played at midnight, opening with Sukie In the Graveyard. They are not to be missed. The shows are both sold out, but you can keep your eyes peeled on Craigslist for tickets or on StubHub.

Check out the music video of the title track featuring Emily Browning here.

LOCALS ONLY: The Coathangers In-Store Signing

Photo From The Coathangers' Facebook

In support of their show at the Echo, The Coathangers are doing an in-store signing at Origami Vinyl of their new LP Suck My Shirt. If you don't have the album, you can pick it up at OV for $15. Check them out! They'll be doing the signing starting at 7:00pm tonight. 

LOCALS ONLY: Free Jagwar Ma show

Photo from Jagwar Man's Facebook

As part of the Twilight Concert Series put on by KCRW, Jagwar Ma will be playing a free show at the Santa Monica Pier. Dance the night away to the Australian trio play psychedelic music. Like the last show, it starts at 7:00 but your going to want to bike, bus, or get their early to find a parking spot. Opening is Fascinator, an electronic side project from Jonny Mackay of Children Collide.

Quadron - Avalanche

Released last year was danish duo Quadron's sophomore album. It was sort of a sleeper hit, receiving positive reviews, but being unable to break into the mainstream. While it wasn't a hit in the states, it spent 12 weeks in the top ten in the bands native land, Denmark. The band delivers soulful electronica.

The album starts off with a bang with LFT (Looking For Trouble), the sensual and sexy hit single. The pops of the horns and jazzy sounds of Favorite Star give it a night club in havana feel. The beats of Hey Love can be played in a club. The sensual Crush will give you a girl crush on her booming voice. Befriend is both haunting and tender. On the flip side is Neverland, a song with a big band sound driving it. It's Gonna Get You snaps and beats will feel Michael-Jackson-esque, as her aggressive lyrics come forth at you. Better Off brings in hip-hops rising star Kendrick Lamar rapping over her lascivious voice. Slow dance or take things to the bedroom with Sea Salt, very Mo-Town inspired. The title track closes the album, saying "so long good times, I am on my own now."

Fans of their work include Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar and Prince. If you like jazz inspired electronica, you'll really like this album. $20 on Amazon ($14 from unofficial stores). Throw it on during a party, or when you are having a girls (or guys) night in.

TUESDAY RELEASE: Garden State OST

Photo from Wikipedia

For the first time on vinyl, the 2004 album that brought the Shins into the mainstream. Zach Braff handed picked all the songs on here creating almost a personal mix tape to share with the world.  Garden State has been called the Graduate of our generation. Included on here are Nick Drake, Thievery Cooperation, Iron & Wine's cover of The Postal Service, and many more. This album helped tons of people dive into the indie music scene and music discovery. The price is around $30 on Amazon and probably the same in the stores.

LOCALS ONLY: Free Antlers Show at Mack Sennett Studios

Photo From The Antler's Wikipedia

In two weeks, there are a lot of great free shows. Besides it being Echo Park Rising, you can check out the Antlers for free with RSVP at Mack Sennett Studios. The show is being put on by Pandora and StubHub. Check it out if you are free!

The Magnetic Fields - The Charm of the Highway Strip

Did you see Arcade Fire at the Forum yesterday? Are you seeing them today? While I love them, I really wished I could be there to see the reunion of the Unicorns, one of my favorite bands in high school. Hopefully will have a headlining show from them soon! Anyways, in honor of those shows, I wanted to share a band that inspired many, including Arcade Fire. Have you heard this cover before?

The Magnetic Fields, a staple of DC rock, are known for their tongue-in-cheek lyrics, Stephin Merritt's distinct lo-fi bassey voice, and ability to make a marvelous album about 69 Love Songs. The Charm of the Highway Strip is the 3rd album from the band and contains the song Arcade Fire covered. Put out by indie power house Merge Records, known for releases from She & Him, Neutral Milk Hotel, Caribou, Camera Obscura, and Spoon.

The album itself is an ode to long drives, road side pisses, and look out the window to the seldom seen beauty of nothing around you. The album is rooted in synth-pop sounds and several odes to country music. Opening is the enchanting Lonely Highway reminds you of the sweet relief of getting out of your city. The bitter sweet feeling of long trips is captured in Long Vermont Roads. It's easy to see why the original inspired the video above, but the dark pop of Born on a Train, reminds us that some people just prefer to be moving. I Have the Moon has Merritt belt like a crooner in what can easily be a song to dance to in a wedding, if it weren't for the fact that it's clearly about vampires (maybe a compromise with your die-hard Twilighting fiancée). Two Characters In Search Of A Country Song really pays homage to historical figures, referencing William tell, Jesse James, and Daniel Webster. On the B-Side, you almost have the negative effects of life on the road and the feeling of be worn out after long distances. The dazed and confused feel of Crowd of Drifters opens. Fear of Trains is a country jam that talks about the other side of traveling, and the people we leave behind. The feeling of highway hypnosis is so perfectly described in When The Open Road Is Closing In, even the songs beat and vocal vibrato is pretty hypnotic. Sunset City reminds us that sometimes you fall in love with a place you're traveling too and it can be pretty hard to move on, it also reminds me of Reno or other subsets of the Vegas life. The album closes beautifully on Dust Bowl, an instrumental that would be the perfect fit for a roadside puppet show (hell they can play it as background music to Tinkertown).

If you like a good traveling album, great for road trips or travel by train (I'm being facetious, please don't bring your record player on a road trip), or love vampires, you'll love this album. Available on Amazon for the low price of $17.24 or $10 used on eBay. And if you can get your hands on 69 Love Songs on vinyl, a RSD release, I'll be mighty jealous (hell even the CD sells for $40).

FOLK FRIDAYS: First Aid Kit - Stay Gold

This is easily one of my favorite albums of '14. I used it as soundtrack on my recent trip to Nicaragua (lots of long bus rides). The Swedish sister's sophomore album The Lion's Roar was a pretty big hit, and this one takes it a step further. As a bonus, the first pressings come on a translucent gold colored vinyl. Whether your a fan of folk music or not, the songs will be catchy and appeasing to all.

The previous albums were very simple, but this album introduces a 13-piece orchestra, which gives it a fuller sound. Opening the album is the single My Silver Lining, which really shows off the orchestra with a bang. The beautiful harmonies make Stay Gold reminds us that things fade, and also brings back memories of reading The Outsiders or Robert Frost. The slow blues and slide guitar of Cedar Lane give the song its melancholy feel. The last track on the A-Side starts off with a very light and simple, but then Shattered & Hollow slow bursts about escape drive you to the end. On the B-Side, The Bell is filled with splashes, elegant harmonies, and feelings of growing up. Waitress Song is one of my favorite songs, implementing a classic country song feel that reminds me of Emmylou. The album picks up with Heaven Knows which feels like a barnyard hootenanny and will get you up off your seat and cause you to scream the line "straight to hell" in harmony. Closing the album is A Long Time Ago, a sad "what-if "song about things never being able to work, with elegantly simple piano and light strings.

If you're a fan of great hooks, harmonies, and folk, you'll love this album. You can get this album at your record store that carry new pressings or online. You can get the album at their official online store for $18.99 in gold (while supplies last). or Amazon for $22.

PAIR WITH:

1) The perfect pairing would be seeing them preform live, as they are on tour! For L.A. folks, that means seeing them Nov 12 at the Wiltern. I've seen them live back when they were backing there second album Lion's Roar and their harmonies were great to hear live. Don't miss out!

2) Hey L.A. folks, can't make it out to those shows, but love folk and country music? Maybe you're just looking to get your fix sooner. Well tomorrow, Aug 2nd, is KCRW's last Country in the City show at the Annenberg Space for Photography. See Nikki Lane and Wynonna & The Big Noise, maybe even wear a cowboy hat. It's a saturday, you deserve to let loose. RSVP at the link above.

According to Redditors, Here Are The Best Albums of 2000

Photo from Wikipedia

Recently on the subreddit Music, dirkdiggin asked, "What are, in your opinion, the best 10 albums of the 2000s?" With over 200 responses, he then organized all the results into a list of albums that were mentioned multiple times.

The results being:

"

Most popular:
*Radiohead - Kid A
*The Strokes - Is This It?
*Arcade Fire - Funeral
*Kanye West - The College Dropout

Very popular:
*LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
*Gorillaz - Demon Days
*Radiohead - In Rainbows
*The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
*The White Stripes - Elephant
*Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf
*Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
*Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
*Modest Mouse - Good News for People Who Love Bad News
*Green Day - American Idiot

Popular:
*Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
*Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
*Madvillain - Madvillainy
*MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
*Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
*Daft Punk - Discovery
*Outkast - Stankonia
*Modest Mouse - The Moon& Antarctica
*Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I am, That's What I'm Not
*Brand New - The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me
*Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
*Interpol - Turn on The Bright Lights
"

I've included with each album, a link to them on Discogs or Amazon, which ever was cheaper at the time of this post, in case you wanted to add any of them to your collection. I know in my own I have Kid A, Funeral, Sound of Silver, Good News, Illinois, Discovery, Stankonia, In Rainbows, and Moon & Antarctica. You bet your buns I am looking to get my hands on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (if I can find it for cheap), College Dropout (lost multi ebay bids), Whatever People Say I am, Turn on The Bright Lights, and Wolfgang Amadeus. If you can get your hands on a copy of Demon Days, I tip my hat you. 

Hope these sparked back some past love affairs with artist. Happy hunting!

FRESH OFF THE PRESS: Jenny Lewis - The Voyager

Sorry for the late post, but I just got back from Amoeba with this album in hand.

As everyone's favorite child actress turned folk indie rock Goddess, it's easy to see how Jenny Lewis has become pretty universally known. Since the hiatus of Rilo Kiley, Lewis has been busy working on solo albums, collaborations, tours and guest appearances. Excluding her 2010 duo album with boyfriend Johnathan Rice (aka the envy of all hispter guys and most girls) album I'm Having Fun Now, Lewis hasn't released a solo album since 2008. Where Acid Tongue left off with melodic down to earth folk, The Voyager comes back with enticing soulful pop that feels like a more experienced Rilo Kiley.

The album was produced by Ryan Adams (except Head Underwater and You Can't Outrun Them which was produced by Jenny and Johnny) and featuring guest spots from Lou Barlow (Sebadoh and Dinosaur Jr.), Z Berg (The Like), Beck, the Section Quartet and many more. The opening song Head Underwater starts out as dreamy sorrowful pop song but then comes at you with enough energy to get your body moving or inspire a Kevin Bacon in a Warehouse dance breakdown. She's Not Mine has a bit of funk inspired grooves. The gender swapping single Just One of the Guys is a catchy dreamy song, and the music video is pretty great too. The rock anthem Slippery Slop feels very power driven. Late Bloomer really shows off her range and feels like a gritty ballad. On the B-Side, you start out with another gritty feeling song, You Can't Out Run 'Em, which could easily be a B-Side on Under the Blacklight. The New You is a great pop song that can fit right in the soundtrack of a coming of age chick flick (I say that as a compliment). Aloha & The Three Johns feels like something out of I'm Having Fun Now's b-sides, very playful. The simple beats and bass of Love U Forever will keep your feet taping. Closing the album is Voyager, which almost bookends what Head Underwater has opened up with another dreamy pop song that is a bit more up-lifting and more at peace with itself.

The one defining aspect of Jenny Lewis is her amazing voice. She can do pop, country jams, soul, or folk. Hell, I'd buy a metal album if she decided to do one. I was really excited about this release since it was announced, and I was not disappointed. A solid addition to any collection. You can buy the album or bundle at Jenny's official Warner Brothers Store, but the bundle no longer includes the Vinyl which can be purchased almost anywhere, but on Amazon for 22.99

BONUS PAIRING - Tour Dates

Don't forget that Jenny Lewis is also on tour right now. Click here for tour dates! And if you're from LA, be sure to check out her show at the Wiltern Aug 09 before she plays SF Outside Lands Fest.

Happy Hunting!

Father John Misty - Fear Fun

Now this isn't the first release of J. Tillman. Aside from his work as the drummer of Fleet Foxes (be sure to listen to their self-titled if you haven't before) and Saxon Shore, he also has several solo albums under his name. But it really is Fear Fun that takes the cake.

The album is engineered by Jonathan Wilson, who brought us Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst Upside Down Mountain and played on albums like Jenny Lewis' Acid Tongue. The album features guest appearances from Keefus Ciancia, T-Bone Burnett collaborator, on the Piano and Sara Watkins (who's great, but what isn't she on) on the Fiddle. Also ex-band mate Casey Wescott of Fleet Foxes on bass and harpsichord. And I rarely talk about this, but another reason collectors love vinyl is for the album art, and this album really delivers (almost as good as his sweater). This really was one of my favorite albums of 2012.

Opening the album is slow but moving Funtimes in Babylon, which is about moving to Los Angeles, a great start to the album. The album itself is pretty LA-sentric, possibly about him leaving Seattle and to come down south. Hollywood Forever Sings is the haunting single, which to me, is very different then every other song on the album (in a good way). I don't know if he ever played Hollywood Forever as Father John Misty as that may be too on the nose, but it would be pretty epic non-the-less. Things get more playful with I'm Writing a Novel in both the tone and the lyrics. This is a great song to see live (and if you're lucky acoustic) as he is completely loose and free flowing with it. Flipping to the B-Side you start off with the beautiful ballad Only Son of the Ladiesman.  Now I'm Learning to Love the War is a great song about how you really can't win when it comes to being a saint. He gets super loose again with Tee Pees 1-2, a great rag time jam. Ending the album is the solum Everyman Needs a Companion, an testament to the loneliness that comes with LA after all the fun subsides.

If you like soulful folk pop, or live in LA this album is a must for your collection. You can get it on Amazon for $20 or ebay used for around $15. But this one should definitely be at your local record stores, so I would just pick it up there.

BONUS: A GOOD PAIRING (LOCALS ONLY)
A good pairing to buying this album would be seeing a movie and Father John Misty live and acoustic!

Friday Aug 8th at the Ace Theater in Downtown LA, Sundance Next Festival is showing Life After Beth, the zombie themed love story starting Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, and Anna Kendrick. After the show, FJM will be doing a solo acoustic performance. I've seen FJM live 4 times now, twice with a band and twice solo, and I have to say that I loved him solo much better. He seems more loose and natural. But my friend who I went with to see him solo said he liked him better with his band. Regardless, he is an act you should definitely check out if you can!

More info here.

Also apart of this festival are Kumiko The Treasure Hunter and A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night with a post show performance from Warpaint! Don't miss out.

LOCALS ONLY: LA Sales

Being an LA guy, I wanted to share a few sales going on this up coming weekend that you might want to try and jump on.

The first big one is the store wide sale at Origami Vinyl this Friday Saturday and Sunday (ignore the dates on the picture). 10% off the whole store and online store if you're not from LA. I know I'll be there checking to see what I can get my hands on. Origami Vinyl is one of my favorite record stores in LA (and my go to first store for Record Store Day). Friendly staff and great deals. Mostly filled with new pressings, they do have a great corner in the back from some older cheap vinyls to dig through. Also, KCRW members receive 10% off every purchase (though I don't know if that would be in addition to this sale). A must check out if you are in the area!

Also, this Sunday, as apart of Amoeba's on-going summer sale, you can get turntables for 20% off! If you need to update your small portable Crosby player, or want to even start collecting vinyl, you should definitely check this sale out and try and snag a great price on a turntable. This sale applies to all stores!

Hope you get some great finds this weekend!

Grizzly Bear - Horn of Plenty

Most fans of Grizzly Bear know them for their amazing album Veckatimest (which if you haven't listened to yet, you really should checked out), but I wanted to dive into their debut album, which some may have missed out on. Though it wasn't as widely received, it's still a great listen.

Fans of Grizzly Bear's later work will see this as a more stripped down humble beginning. This psychedelic folk album won't really bring life to your party, but is great to throw on when you are unwinding from your day. The opening song Deep Sea Diver prepares you for the slow melodramatic, yet hypnotizing songs that will proceed. Don't Ask will bring back nostalgia of early Radiohead, while Alligator sounds like a lullaby with the sounds of heavy bass crashing as waves. My favorite song on the A-Side is probably Fix It, which is a bit more playful and has a great outro. Flipping to the B-Side is where the album really shines for me. Merge, A Good Place, and Service Bell are all great songs to listen to, that dive deeper with unique beats and percussion. While this whole album should really be listened to through headphones, you should definitely throw some on for La Duchesse Anne to get the full experience of the vocals. The album ends on high note (figuratively speaking) with This Song, which really shows what is soon to come from Grizzly Bear.

Now, I don't think this album is for all, but if you like early Radiohead or Animal Collective, I think you'd enjoy this album a lot. Another somewhat rare find online (Amazon has it for 73.99 New) and ebay doesn't seem to be much cheaper (again, I was lucky enough to get it for $10 on ebay). But if you stumble upon this at your local record store, I would definitely snatch it up!

The Pipettes - We are the Pipettes

This UK pop band's first album is full of catchy hooks that give a modern twist to a very dreamy sound. The version I am listening to is the US version, which was remixed by Cherrytree Records and includes two previously unreleased tracks Dance and Boogie and Baby, Just Be Yourself. The album starts off with the commanding anthem We Are the Pipettes, which tells you exactly what you're in for. Then you can't help but shake your butt to Pull Shapes, which is one of the singles off the album (other's include Dirty Mind and Judy). Another great song on the A-Side is Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me, which features a very soothingly haunting chorus. Switching things to the B-Side starts you out with the Mo-Town-esque Tell Me What You Want. ABC is another groove track that makes you want to do some sort of bop motion. And to close is a teen dream bonus track Baby, Just Be Yourself, which unwinds the album nicely.

If you like Phil Spector inspired pop, then you'll like this album. It's versatile enough that you can throw it on during a party or while your just sitting on the porch. Though it's a bit of a rare find now a days ($69.99 used on Amazon), you should search your local record store or scan ebay (which is where I got my copy for $4.00!)

First Post! The Back Story

Number 1 Record. That was my first vinyl. I bought it at Amoeba in Hollywood. From there, it's been a slow building addiction. From digging through $1 bins, to standing in record store day lines, to surfing ebay, to finding surprisingly cheap deals on Amazon.com, I've been building up my collection (which, after 2 years, is currently at 544 12" 2 10" and 14 7").

I love music, both live and recorded. Although it really didn't become a large part of my life until middle school. I would just listen to top 40 hits on radio (whatever Rick Dees was spinning) and it wasn't until middle school that I started to actively go out and search for new music. My first CD that I bought was blink 182's live album The Mark Tom and Travis Show. It was a combination of dirty lyrics and raunchy jokes that caused my 11-year-old self to barely listen to it all the way through without the fear of getting in trouble. Oddly enough, it was that feeling of "I shouldn't be doing this" that sparked my interest in music discovery.

I spent my adolescents in the era of the Emo/Softcore boom. Some of my favorite bands included, but weren't limited too, Brand New, Thursday, Taking Back Sunday, Mae, and Death Cab for Cutie. Along with this new genre came going to live shows, a place where my music library exploded to bands that I still enjoy today. Be it Frightened Rabbit opening for Pinback, Mates of State opening for Taking Back Sunday, Stars opening for Death Cab for Cutie, or Brand New covering Neutral Milk Hotel, I gained a more eclectic ear for music.

Fast forward to today. Living in LA, going to at least one show a month, big or small. Reading various blogs, attending free shows, and running around festivals to see as many acts as possible have given me my music knowledge today.

And so, not to take up anymore of your time, I wanted to share what I know and what I recommend, so that you can also build up your vinyl collection with albums you may or may not know. I am not claiming to be an Audiophile, I can't tell the difference between listening to a 180 Gram vs and a clean normal vinyl. I'm not a DJ, I don't have any special speakers, no pre-amp, no fancy head phones, but I do know what I like listening to. I just consider myself a fan of music, and a casual listener.  Though I don't think you should take my opinions unbiasedly and hope that you discover something new and interesting, refine your musical taste, and that some of my recommendations help build up your collection.

Thanks for reading!