Recently Added
0 Items	Total $0.00

Record Collector of the Month - April 2022

Written By Michele - April 07 2022

Tell us a bit about yourself: According to the white sticker with blue border on my shirt: “Hello, My Name Is Peter Skiera.” I’m a recovering audiophile. I love vintage audio equipment, records (I own 3 turntables), CDs, cassette tapes, MiniDiscs, 8 tracks (!), and listening to Internet radio. I worked in commercial radio broadcasting both in front of and behind the microphone as well as for several audio companies like B&W, Rotel, Cambridge SoundWorks, and Como Audio. Nowadays I have my own music-related blog- www.RecommendedStations.com: https://recommendedstations.com/blog-stuff/ I spotlight vintage records, write about Internet radio, and conduct interviews like the one I did last December with composer Paul Zaza (Black Christmas, Popcorn, Porkys, My Bloody Valentine, A Christmas Story) and with The Goldiggers (Dean Martin’s backup singers). For April I’m crafting an article about Record Store Day’s 15th Anniversary featuring an interview with their Project Manager.

I also make monthly Internet radio station recommendations via my Patreon campaign: https://www.patreon.com/RecommendedStations by sifting through tens of thousands of radio stations and hand picking stand out streams. I’m the only person in the world who does that. I want to become the Roger Ebert of Internet radio. Moreover, I uncover unconventional Internet stations such as the station that plays music for cats and the station that streams sound from a microphone 23’ underwater. I even have my own Internet radio station…Wind Chime Radio. I bet you can’t guess what the station plays.

First album: I inherited my father’s very modest record collection when I was around 9 years old after my parents divorced, so technically, those were my first records. He owned mostly classical albums, although I do recall some odd titles like Ballads of the Green Berets, something by Burl Ives, and a military air show record. I’m not sure which traumatized me more as a child, my parent’s divorce or those records.

I believe the first record I actually purchased with my own money was The Best of Roger Whittaker. My Aunt Mary hosted a family gathering and played that record. I loved his voice and the songs (The Last Farewell, New World In The Morning, Durham Town, All Of My Life) so I bought the record straight away. I was probably the only 10-year-old kid who owned that record. I was a strange child. I still am.

Favorite album: One of the many fantastic albums I’ve yet to discover.

Favorite Enjoy The Ride or Enjoy The Toons release: The Brady Bunch Movie soundtrack. I grew up watching The Brady Bunch TV show. I don’t have any brothers or sisters and after my parents divorced when I was young, the Brady’s became my surrogate TV family (I have Barry Williams’ autograph).

I thought the movie was a hoot. The actors totally nailed the characters from the TV show. Enjoy The Ride pressed some groovy colored-vinyl and I love that the soundtrack includes snippets of dialogue from the film. I hope the cast makes a third movie, especially now that the house used to shoot the exterior scenes for the TV show has been faithfully converted into The Brady Bunch house. Instant authentic movie set!

BTW, I also own your vinyl record pizza cutter. No pizza-loving, record-collecting bachelor should be without one. Yes, I made that pizza myself and baked it in my outdoor gas grill. Yum.

Favorite album artwork: I love vintage album covers. Behind Brigitte Bardot from 1960 ranks pretty high on my list. I’m not sure you could get away with an album cover like that today. It would be considered politically incorrect by some, including the album’s title. Interestingly, Bardot doesn’t even sing on the record. It’s all instrumental music taken from films she starred in. But boy, what a fantastic cover.

What are your favorite local record shops to support? For brick and mortar, I usually go to Newbury Comics which is a small chain in New England. Some of their locations also sell used records. Unfortunately, there are no independent mom-and-pop record shops near me. I buy most of my records online. Sometimes I prefer the lack of direct human contact; a by-product of the COVID-19 era.

What have you been listening to more frequently lately? Mike Flanigan’s The Drifter (blues), Keith Slattery’s Duality (jazz), Metropolis’ The Power of The Night (rock), and Michael Learns to Rock’s Paint My Love (pop).

Any specific albums you wish you had on vinyl? The soundtrack to the great 1997 German film Bandits about a fictitious renegade all-girl rock band and Siren Song by Dutch pop trio Zazi. Bandits has never been released on vinyl and Zazi’s music has never been released in the USA in any form.

What was the best album(s) you've discovered this year (it can be anything, doesn't have to be a new release): Wamono Groove. It’s a new release but it’s a compilation of music from 1976. It’s jazz+funk+disco meets Japanese musicians. The label describes the music as “the cream of the Japanese jazz, funk, soul, rare groove and disco music developed throughout the years since the end of the sixties in Japan!” Far out, man! The music screams 1976 and it’s against the law in 39 states to play this record below volume 11.

What upcoming releases are you most excited about? Enjoy The Ride’s Scrooged soundtrack. Technically, it’s already been released, but the record won’t ship for several more months due to the liquid filling which makes the record much more complicated to manufacture. I was lucky enough to snag the snow globe variant limited edition which sold out in 13 minutes. I’ve never owned a record like that before so I’m especially excited to receive it this summer. I’ll be Christmas in July!

Who is a band or artist that you think is underrated that we should give a listen to? Without a doubt, Bandits On The Run out of New York…vocals, acoustic guitar, suitcase drum, cello, accordion, and percussion. They’re a very talented trio and words cannot do their beautiful, youthful sound justice. Their voices blend like honey. They only have one 45 RPM single but they’ve released several CDs and many videos on YouTube. Someone needs to put out a BOTR vinyl record best-of with all the trimmings.

Scenario time! If you could create a vinyl variant for any album (already pressed or never been pressed before), what would it look like? Feel free to get creative with this one, it's always awesome to hear what different features everyone likes! As I mentioned at the beginning, I’m a horror film freak. A few years back I saw 4D Man starring Robert Lansing and Lee Meriwether on Svengoolie. It’s half sci-fi, half horror, but I loved it and I loved the period 1959 music even more. I went so far as to track down the company that owned the rights to the music and ask them if I could license it so I could put it out on limited edition vinyl via Kickstarter. The soundtrack has never been released in any format. I imagined creating a cool 3-D cover, a gatefold jacket with color stills from the film, a 3-D post card showing a hunk of steel with a hand through the middle (a reference to a key scene in the film), liner notes from the original composer (whom I had also tracked down), a brick wall printed on the label, bonus tracks if available, dialogue from the movie in between music tracks, and pressed on 180g green, glow-in-the-dark colored vinyl. The company all but told me to go pound sand.

I’d also love to put out a numbered, limited-edition colored vinyl EP of the songs from John Waters’ film Polyester with an Odorama card included with each record!

If someone adopts any of my ideas, please at least comp me a few copies and give me credit in the liner notes. My last name is spelled S-K-I-E-R-A.

Record Collector of the Month - March 2022

Written By Michele - March 08 2022

Tell us a little bit about yourself: I’m Josh from Green Bay, WI. I’ve been collecting since 2013, but have really ramped up since 2018/2019. During the early lockdowns of the pandemic, it was easy to spend hours browsing titles and getting a little bit deeper in the weeds. The bulk of my collection would be classified as “metal” but I try to maintain a diverse blend of subgenres within that. I think my bread and butter is the more progressive-leaning stuff, but I do enjoy some of the more atonal and abrasive stuff too. Soundtracks make up a fair percentage of my collection including horror, video games, cartoons, etc. I also have a huge soft spot for good ambient stuff. I’m enamored with William Basinski’s work. He evokes some of the most indescribable emotions. And of course, there needs to be some lighter fare in any collection. For me it’s Lorde, Washed Out, Lianne La Havas, Tame Impala, and Mouse on the Keys to name a few. Aside from collecting, I pay the wax bills by working in the not-for-profit arts sector, predominantly for a community choir. I’ve been drumming for 20 years now, most recently having joined some great musicians to form a full lineup for the band Solshade. I think the band would say it’s FFO Loathe, Underoath, and Norma Jean among many others.

First album: The record that set collecting in motion was a plain white copy of ‘Intrinsic’ from The Contortionist. It’s one of those albums that’s just so perfect in a lot of ways. The timing was great, the proximity in the discography is perfect, the songwriting was so pivotal for my ear at the time, the lyrical content, etc. etc. I fortunately had the chance to open for them at a local show right before the album came out. They played some of the songs from it for one of the first times ever live. I could go on, but I digress. Aside from that, I’d also inherited my dad’s old collection, as most do. It’s stocked with the classics: Journey, Def Leppard, Nazareth, Boston, etc.

Favorite album: *cracks knuckles* The Dreaded Question, one of the hardest to answer. In terms of overall timelessness, initial impact, and all the other subjective metrics, I think ‘Language’ from The Contortionist holds the title. My only hesitation is that all their releases all stand so close to each other in terms of lovability. Each one is perfect in its own way. But regarding ‘Language,’ I feel it captures all the elements of their discography up to the point of writing this. It was a massive success in terms of a substantial line-up change and really changed the trajectory of the band. And it displays everything I love about music: atmosphere, expert balance of simplicity and technicality, meaningful lyrical content, and cohesiveness that culminates into a great concept. I could go on for days about it all. If it’s not abundantly clear by now, The Contortionist is the band for me.

Favorite Enjoy The Ride or Enjoy The Toons release: Another trick question? I was lucky enough to witness the golden age of Nickelodeon (Doug, Rugrats, KABLAM!, Angry Beavers, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Hey Arnold). By a small margin, I think ‘The Best of Nicktoons’ takes the cake. It’s got all that and more. It’s perfect. I still vividly remember stumbling on your site to find a treasure trove of nostalgia. Somehow it timed out well and you had the green and orange splatter on clear copies in stock. I knew I had to have it. Vol. 1 of Hey Arnold! is very close behind though. The A side is fantastic, even when you take it out of context. It’s really a remarkable release. Upon listening to it the first time, I was so immersed in it that I forgot it was a record. Literally no fuzz, cracks, pops anything. It’s superb in every measure. Also, ‘Riding the Wave’ from The Blanks. I love Scrubs.

Favorite album artwork: You’re really making me think about these. Some album art is great as a stand-alone, but there’s always a few that match every nuance and detail of the record. The one that sticks out the most to me is ‘Melting Sun’ from Lantlôs. It’s an encompassing, embracing listen full of summer warmth which Pascal Hauer captured perfectly in the artwork. The oranges and pinks throughout are so bright and vivid but not in a commanding way, you know? They get your attention, they can’t be ignored, but they draw you in. The whole gatefold is stunning. If you’re looking for some post-winter pre-spring tunes, this album is the jam.

What are your favorite local record shops to support? The Exclusive Company and Eroding Winds. I visit the Green Bay and Appleton Exclusive Co. locations regularly, ok, habitually. Tom at the Green Bay location is incredibly helpful, always helping me get a hold of titles I’m after and willing to place special orders for me. I’ve been going there since middle school when I was just collecting CDs. I haven’t calculated the percentage of my collection that’s come from The Exclusive Company, but I’d be willing to bet nearly half. I’m really spoiled to not have to drive hours to find quality selection. The folks at the Appleton location are fantastic too. I’ve had tons of help with the audio side of collecting from their guy Todd. Eroding Winds, also the HQ for Gilead Media, is a newer found haven for

me. I don’t get there often enough as it’s a bit farther of a drive, but when I do, the owner Adam always makes it worthwhile. I blame (thank) him for showing me the ropes on Imperial Triumphant and fueling my deep dive into their work. He’s another one that’s always courteous beyond typical standards.

What have you been listening to more frequently lately? I’ve been on a pretty big Meshuggah kick. I think about this time every year since 2017, I dive into their discography heavily. This year it’s been a focus on ‘The Violent Sleep of Reason’ and ‘Catch ThirtyThree.’ I’ve also been on a Sleep Token kick. Their newest album took some time to grow on me but it’s continuing to grow quickly. Aside from those two, it’s been ‘Zeal & Ardor’ from Zeal & Ardor, ‘Natoma’ from Stormlight, ‘The Goatman’ OST from The Unseen, ‘Krüller’ from Author and Punisher, and ‘The Shape of Everything’ from SOM on frequent rotation.

Any specific albums you wish you had on vinyl? As far as those that have already been pressed, I’d love to lock down a copy of ‘The Young and the Hopeless’ and ’Good Charlotte’ from Good Charlotte , ‘The Disintegration Loops’ Boxset from William Basinski, ‘BBNG2’ from BadBadNotGood, and ‘Dexter’ – Music from the Showtime Original Series. I’d love to see ‘Trial By Fire’ from Journey, ‘Erotic Cakes’ from Erotic Cakes (Guthrie Govan), and all of Jakub Zytecki’s work be put on vinyl. Here’s to hoping.

What was the best album(s) you've discovered this year: It’s still early in the year, but I’ve been listening to the new album from this French outfit Celeste called ‘Assassine(s)’ a ton. It wasn’t mind-blowing at first, but the more I listen the more I’m finding I really enjoy it. It sounds like a sort of blackened Gojira. If Mario has Wario, in terms of sound, Gojira has Celeste. I’ve also been blindsided by ‘Kinfolk 2: See the Birds’ from Nate Smith recently. I was naively misled that he was only involved with Vulfpeck but turns out he’s well-versed and multi-talented. Massive thanks to Mike at Silent Pendulum Records for sending me a copy and showing me this incredible album. I’ve been watching (binging) Dexter and recently found out about Michael C. Hall’s band Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum. I’ve taken a quick liking to that, and it’s outside of most of my listening habits so it’s a nice change of pace.

What upcoming releases are you most excited about? First and foremost, the approaching release from The Contortionist. They always tease stuff out of the blue which amplifies the excitement. If my hunches are correct, it’s on the horizon. Aside from that, I know the new Animals As Leaders record ‘Parrhesia’ will be phenomenal. The singles released so far are as mind-bending as ever. I’d be willing to wager the same for ‘Immutable’ forthcoming from Meshuggah. There’s also a label, Wax Vessel, dedicated to resurrecting cult classic MySpace era bands that’s putting out one of my favorites from back in the day. It’s the full discography from the band Silence. It’s that quintessential deathcore stuff I was big on back in high school and I can’t wait for my copy to arrive.

Who is a band or artist that you think is underrated that we should give a listen to? A lot, but I’ll spare the readers. The one that always comes to mind immediately is Town Portal. They dub themselves as “Danish instrumental math rock” but I think that only scratches the surface. It’s definitely mathy, but not in that twinkly guitar, math rock tropey way. They’ve got elements of post metal, sort of the sludgy elements of Pelican, etc. I really love the linear drum work as well. It lends itself in creating that math rock back bone but not at the sacrifice of laying a foundation for the songs. I’d also highly recommend: Snooze, a beautiful mashup of happy, heavy, heartfelt, and catchy goodness. Their album ‘Still’ is phenomenal; Lianne La Havas, a UK singer-songwriter soul-infused pop (?) artist with probably the best vocal timbre I will ever hear. Her cover of Radiohead’s ‘Weird Fishes’ is tran-scen-dental; Jakub Zytecki is worth mentioning again. As far as I’m concerned, he’s at the forefront of guitar-centric music. His finesse and technique are somehow in perfect unison with his ability to emote, especially noted on ‘Nothing Lasts, Nothing’s Lost’; and for good measure, Amiensus, Moon Tooth, David Maxim Micic, and Imperial Triumphant.

Scenario time! If you could create a vinyl variant for any album (already pressed or never been pressed before), what would it look like? I’ve inadvertently been thinking about this for a while. I’ve always felt half and half variants are underappreciated. I have a soft spot for them. To reference my prior list, if I were to have a hand in pressing any Jakub Zytecki release, I’d choose ‘Nothing Lasts, Nothing’s Lost.’ I’d start with a half pastel pink and half baby blue record to match the album art. I’d add in some grey and black inner splatter, originating from the center label only on the blue half, and finish it off with strictly radial splatter on the pink side. I haven’t seen anyone do this (yet) and I think the result would be something unique to add the ever-growing variant diversity.

Record Collector of the Month: February 2022

Written By Michele - February 28 2022

Tell us a little bit about yourself: Howdy. My name is Truitt and I am a licensed clinical social worker based out of Seaside, CA. I have been obsessed with music throughout my life, and have been collecting music in the physical format since as long as I can remember. It started with spinning my mom’s old Monkees records on my Sesame Street turntable; and I currently have somewhere around 1,700 LPs. Aside from obsessing over music and collecting vinyl, I spend a lot of my down time making/collecting action figures, playing bass with my band, playing video games, and watching movies.

First album: Lagwagon - Hoss. I came into possession of some punk rock vinyl in high school, but I didn't have a turntable so I wasn't sure what to do with it. Luckily I held on to this one. Of everything in my collection, this has been in my possession the longest. I still love it.

Favorite album: The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds. This is the kind of question that's really easy to overthink. But everything in this world that I love, I can trace back to the Beach Boys, and this record. I have several different pressings of this album, as well as CD box sets and bootlegs devoted specifically to the legendary sessions that created it.

Favorite Enjoy The Ride / Enjoy The Toons release: ETR: Ozma. Ozma saved my life in high school when Weezer stopped being Weezer-y enough for me. I was obsessed with this record in high school. This CD never left my car, and me and my friends knew every single word. The music holds up, the pressing sounds great. I love ETR for releasing this.

ETT: TMNT liquid filled. This is the crown jewel of my collection. An instant conversation piece! I can’t believe the level of obsessive detail that ETR puts into their liquid-filled LPs. I feel lucky to own this.

Favorite album artwork: Weezer Blue Album. I thought long and hard about this one. Of all the questions in this feature, this is the one that stressed me out the most. I flipped through records for what felt like an hour as I tried to decide. Right when I was about to give up, I thought of those three awkward white dudes standing in front of the blank blue background. This has to be the most iconic album cover of my lifetime. Iconic. I remember the first time I saw this CD. These four guys looked so uncomfortable, definitely not rock stars. I felt like I knew these guys.

What are your favorite local record shops to support? Siren Records (IG: @sirenrecordsmonterey), Recycled Records (IN: @Recycledrecords604), Vinyl Revolution (no social media)

There are three main record stores in my area and they are all great for their own reasons. Siren Records is the place to go for new vinyl in Monterey. They do most of their sales online, so the retail shop is usually pretty quiet. The staff are super friendly and they always have good sales. Vinyl Revolution is a whole different thing. Mostly used bins, pretty well curated too. Definitely worth stopping by if you’re in Pacific Grove. Lastly, Recycled Records in Monterey is a great place to stop by while you are in town. It’s a few blocks from the Aquarium so there’s a good flow of tourists and locals mixing and crate-digging. They have a selection of new vinyl, but the used bins are what makes this place great.

What have you been listening to more frequently lately? Grateful Dead - Skull and Roses. I inherited this record from my dad’s old collection and it’s been in my collection for more than 10 years. Before this last year I listened to it pretty sparingly. But recently I have been listening to the band almost daily. I grew up mostly on power chords and 2 minute songs, so I never really thought I would enjoy stuff like this. But nowadays, you can find me in my office doing case notes with 14 minute guitar solos playing in the background.

Any specific albums you wish you had on vinyl? My wishlist is long, varied, and expensive. I think my grail is the Lord of the Rings Trilogy score by Howard Shore. I’d also would love to track down a copy of The Grateful Dead, Cornell 5/8/77 (5LP) live show, or a copy of the Dead and Beach Boys bootleg of a live show from 1971. Most of all, I would love a copy of The Mountain Goats Full Force Galesburg LP.

What was the best album(s) you've discovered this year: Black Country, New Road - Ants From Up There. Although it gets harder as I get a little older, I try my best to keep up with new music. This group is incredible, and this album is as strong as they come. The songs are thoughtful, moving,and dynamic. Guitars, violins, saxophones, etc. It’s all here. On top of all that, the lead singer of the band announced that he is quitting the band days the album came out. It re-contextualizes the lyrics, which are mostly about a break up, into something entirely different. This is an album you don’t want to skip.

What upcoming releases are you most excited about? I am really excited about a few releases for Record Store Day this year. Most of all All I am looking forward to Tangerine Dream’s score for Strange Behavior. It’s the first time it’s been released in any format!

Who is a band or artist that you think is underrated that we should give a listen to? Is this the part where I plug my band? No? Well, feel free to check out my band Turista if you feel like it (IG: @turistaband).

That being said, I really think everyone on this planet should listen to Pacific Ocean Blue at least once. Dennis Wilson created his one-and-only solo album over the course of several years, finally releasing it in 1977. It was the first solo album by a Beach Boy, and it is far and away the best. I can’t recommend it enough.

Also, if I can recommend one more, I have to tell people to listen to Women’s album Public Strain. This Canadian band was short-lived, only existing from 2007 to 2010. I feel lucky to have seen them twice in that span. Both shows stand among the best I have ever seen. The band went on to other projects like Cindy Lee and Preoccupations, but Public Strain holds a special place in my heart. It stands among my favorite albums of all time.

Scenario time! If you could create a vinyl variant for any album (already pressed or never been pressed before), what would it look like? Two of my favorite James Newton Howard scores have yet to see a vinyl release: The Village and The Happening. Say what you will about the films, but these scores are remarkable. I would press The Village on yellow and “Forbidden Color” red swirl vinyl, and I would press The Happening on “Lawnmower” red. These scores are both exceptional and deserve some love.

Record Collector of the Month - January 2022

Written By Michele - January 28 2022

Tell us a little bit about yourself: Hi, my name is Ellen and I’m from Antwerp, Belgium. I’m currently studying printmaking at my city’s royal art academy and I’m hoping that one day I get to do something that combines this with my love for collecting vinyl records. My collection started by buying a vinyl record here and there about six / seven years ago but I only got really into the collection aspect of it in 2017. Sadly, I don’t have many independent record stores, or vinyl focussed stores, nearby so when I get to travel it’s almost always the first thing I go looking for. My dad, who has been with me on many of these occasions, used to collect records himself when he was younger and even DJ’d as a part time job for a while in his twenties.

First album: Let Go by Avril Lavigne was the first album I remember listening to consciously. As a kid you just listen to what your parents put on but this was the first album I remember thinking about “this is mine”. I was obsessed with her for years and even got my mom to take me to one of her concerts when I was like 10. Growing up in Europe the early 2000’s really has a specific feeling, and even more so, a specific sound. Everything on the radio is American rock music that you don’t understand one single word of because, you’re five years old and do not speak or understand English at all. Music from around this time frame really stuck with me in a way that most of the albums I discover now, were also released back then and come with a weirdly nostalgic feeling.

I don’t really remember the first vinyl record I ever bought with my own money but I do remember buying Bright Eyes’ I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning a little later on and being utterly amazed by it. The sleeve, the artworks and lyrics in the booklet, and even the label on the record itself, were so beautifully done that it was the only thing I wanted to listen to and look at for weeks. This record really sparked a big interest in starting an actual collection instead of just buying a record here and there because I “like the way they look”.

Favorite album: This is a really hard question as there are so many albums I love! Looking not only at what albums I enjoy listening to but that also inspire me artistically, I have to say that The Execution Of All Things by Rilo Kiley holds the title of favorite album. This album is a masterpiece front to back that I just want to listen to for hours on loop and, it sounds so good on vinyl. Another album I never get sick of listening to is the soundtrack of Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. You know, that one animated horse movie that Bryan Adams and Hans Zimmer did the music for? Yes that one. It’s a real piece of childhood nostalgia for me and yet, looking at it twenty years later, it holds up so well. Sadly there is no vinyl pressing of it, someone please make this happen?

I can’t not mention Taylor Swift when talking about my favorite albums. She’s such an amazing songwriter! Red and Evermore are my two favorites of hers, both have that folk indie vibe that I so love, but it’s a tough decision to make. She has a big and broad discography and her albums are all so great in their own way, whether they’re full of pop bangers or more country-esque ballads.

Favorite Enjoy The Ride or Enjoy The Toons release: I really love my black with white splatter variant of Santi by The Academy Is… and Z Berg & Ryan Ross’ The Bad List 7” that’s a beautiful half white half red vinyl. My black smoke pressing of The Guest by Phantom Planet does take the number one spot. I’m a really REALLY big fan of them and this record is one of my favorites in my entire collection because it not only sounds great but it’s also just so pretty!

Favorite album artwork: My fascination with Rilo Kiley’s The Execution Of All Things and Bright Eyes’ I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning aside, I love love LOVE the cover of After Laughter by Paramore. Everything about it fits so well with the sound of the record and I think the cover describes the album and what to expect from it, perfectly. Phoebe Bridgers also smashes it with the album artwork every single time and Z Berg’s album covers, especially the ones for the singles, are beautifully made too.

The alternative cover for Speaking In Tongues by Talking Heads that was done by Rauschenberg is literally an art piece and one I’d love to own.

Another album cover that has kept me in a bit of a chokehold since I first saw it, is Mutable Set by Blake Mills. It really has inspired me artistically many times and how could it not? This is an album I don’t own on vinyl yet but I know that once I do, I’d love to put it permanently on display.

What are your favorite local record shops to support? My go to record shop for in-store shopping is Music Mania in Ghent. It’s a good two hours away from me but it’s the one I always go to for Record Store Day since they have an amazing selection every year. Fnac, a European multi-media store chain, has a location 10 minutes away from my college campus that I can’t help but visit frequently, “not to buy, just to look” but we know how that always ends.

What have you been listening to more frequently lately? Ever since Waxahatchee released her album Saint Cloud in 2020, I’ve been revisiting it every couple of months and then listening to nothing but those 11 song on repeat for days. I fall in love with it all over again every single time! I recently discovered Laura Marling’s 2008 album Alas I Cannot Swim and wow, I don’t seem to get enough of it no matter how much I listen to it. I think it’s the next record I’m getting myself, I just know it will sound amazing pressed on vinyl.

Any specific albums you wish you had on vinyl? The problem that I come by often is that most of the albums I want to get on vinyl are not being pressed or sold anymore so the second hand market like Discogs or eBay are the only places to find them, and those prices aren’t always great. I’m looking forward to the repress of Rilo Kiley’s Take Off’s And Landings this spring, and hope to complete their discography this year. Raise The Dead by Phantom Planet and Release Me by The Like are two other albums I’d love get my hands on.

What was the best album(s) you've discovered this year: (Since 2022 has just began, I’m gonna use my 2021 discoveries.) After 2020 being the best year of new releases for me and finding music I quickly became obsessed with, 2021 felt kind of slow compared to it. Red and Fearless, both Taylor’s version, are the two albums I think of immediately when thinking back to last year’s releases. Allie Crow Buckley released her debut album Moonlit And Devious in the spring of 2021 and it’s magical! I’m Having Fun Now by Jenny Lewis & Johnathan Rice is another album discovery that jumps out when looking back at last year. So far 2022 hasn’t really brought anything I think of “wow”, although I did start listening to Fleet Foxes and I can’t say I’m disappointed.

What upcoming releases are you most excited about? I can’t wait to hear Wet Leg’s debut album! So far, the singles that they released have been really great so I have high hopes. After 5 years of nothing Paramore finally announced that they’re in the studio again and that they’re releasing new stuff this year so I’m really excited about that too.

Who is a band or artist that you think is underrated that we should give a listen to? I don’t know wether or not you can call Phantom Planet underrated or not, but their latest album Devastator is so brilliant and I need everyone to know of it! Another artist I feel that I’ve mentioned a lot already is Z Berg but oh man, she makes music I just. can’t. stop. talking about. With such a big discography under her arm, touching a lot of different styles and genres, it’s a bit strange how little talk there is about her. Her first solo album came out in a really uncertain time for a lot of people and, to me, it sort of became the soundtrack to that end-of-the-world feeling— 2020 things am I right?

Scenario time! If you could create a vinyl variant for any album (already pressed or never been pressed before), what would it look like? I feel like I’ve mentioned them a billion times at this point but I’d love to see more Phantom Planet vinyl records being pressed! They teased about pressing their 2004 self titled record— which I LOVE — but I honestly getting some kind of B-side vinyl box set would be the dream. I imagine their 3 b-side albums: Polaroid pressed on half black half white vinyl, Negatives is clear with a dominantly purple multicolored smoke, and Negatives 2 is a white with black and purple splatter. All three albums have to be gatefolds because let’s be honest, those are so much nicer, and come in a black box with the logo on the front where the records slide out from the side. Sigh, imagining this makes me want it so badly now.

Record Collector Of The Month: December 2021

Written By Michele - December 10 2021

Tell us a little about yourself: I come from a very musical family. My mother, father and maternal grandmother could all sing and play piano, and I remember being fascinated when they played. I loved singing at a young age and had a blast on the rare occasion my mom would pull out her records, just a few dozen tucked in the back of her closet. I remember how distinctly vinyl felt like a dead medium, and how appealing it was that I was delving into history when I handled and listened to her records. Now I make music myself and hope someday to get the opportunity to immortalize myself on wax.

First album: The first cassette I bought myself was the Spice Girls single Too Much, at Tower Records in Massapequa Park. My first full album was Pokemon's 2 B A Master. Then the first vinyl record I remember buying new from the store was War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream. I finally had a real job and had just upgraded my record player from an Ion to a U-Turn and I was ready to start taking record collecting seriously.

Favorite album: Can anybody pick just one? My desert island go-to for years has been The Beatles (White Album), partially for the sheer diversity of moods and sounds. It's like 3 or 4 short albums rolled into one, and I reckon it could get me through the emotional roller coaster of being stranded.

Favorite Enjoy The Ride or Enjoy The Toons release: Hey Arnold, hands down. I remember loving the music when I watched it on Nick and I could hardly believe it had never been officially released before 2019. I have a couple of copies on hand and they're among my most coveted possessions.

Favorite album artwork: of Montreal's Hissing Fauna You Are the Destroyer springs to mind. I love the color and the movement. Jerry Paper's Toon Time Raw also makes the list for similar reasons.

Favorite albums to play around the holidays:

I'm so glad you asked! I reliably melt for Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Christmas. I have a lifelong fixation on We Three Kings by The Roches, which brings back vivid memories of sitting in the backseat of my parent's car and driving slowly through neighborhoods to admire all the different Christmas lights. As far as newer stuff, I'm digging on It's a Holiday Soul Party by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, and Nick Lowe's Quality Street.

What are your favorite local record shops to support? I just moved to New Jersey and fell in love with a store called Vintage Vinyl, but they shut their doors just a few months after I stumbled in. The owner ran it for 42 years and decided to shut it down and retire. I'm on the lookout for another store to hit the sweet spot for me but haven't found my fit yet. In the meantime the internet is empowering me to support local record stores in other parts of the country; my favorite this year has been Luna Record Shop in Franklin, Tennessee. It's run by a couple of badass sisters, and they do right by their customers because their heart is in the music first.

What have you been listening to more frequently lately? This year I've taken on a lot more country and gospel than I have historically. Merle Haggard and John Prine spend a fair bit of time on my turntable, and I picked up the T. L. Barrett box set when it released and I can just listen to individual sides over and over, I love the grandeur and the funk.

Any specific albums you wish you had on vinyl? De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising - I sold the copy I got from my record club because I saw dollar signs, and now all I see is the empty place on my shelf where it belongs. I'll need to bite the bullet and get myself another copy. I only had seller's remorse one other time, with Blossom Dearie's self-titled, and I just replaced it over the summer. I played it four times in a row that day!

What was the best album(s) you've discovered this year (it can be anything, doesn't have to be a new release): I have to highlight a self-titled release by The Bobs - I did a lot of crate digging this year and I love to take chances. This one won me over because the 4 performers, none of whom are named Bob, are all credited as Bob. It wasn't until I got home and spun it that I realized it was an a capella album, and that's not usually my jam but boy does this one slap. The whole thing is solid but the stand-out track for me is "I Hate the Beach Boys" and I must admit that I've played it for nearly every one of the few visitors I've had this year. Don't sleep on The Bobs.

What upcoming releases are you most excited about?

I'm always excited for what King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard will do next, and the same can be said for Shintaro Sakamoto. Other than that I don't have my sights set on anything in particular.

Who is a band or artist that you think is underrated that we should give a listen to?

Shintaro Sakamoto! I go crazy for bossa nova, a seed that was probably planted by the Charlie Brown Christmas album, and Shintaro takes a lot of those Brazilian vibes and channels them into a laid back psychedelic funk. Lyrics are generally unimportant to me so my music might as well be in Japanese. My only hesitation with this recommendation is that the one time he came to Brooklyn the tickets sold out in minutes and I missed the show. So please, buy all his albums but go slow on concert tickets (unless you're gonna snag one for me!).

Scenario time! If you could create a vinyl variant for any album (already pressed or never been pressed before), what would it look like? Feel free to get creative with this one, it's always awesome to hear what different features everyone likes! I already feel seen and spoiled by the powers that be in the vinyl industry, but I do have one idea: Esquivel - Merry Xmas from the Space Age Bachelor Pad NEEDS a release on vinyl. I'm so confused by this album, is it official? I think it's a compilation. I was able to find a bootleg cassette version on ebay in 2007, but I misplaced it in college and I don't even have a working tape player. His music is wild, and perfect for a Christmas party. I would have an alternate cover worked up showing a Jetsons-esque future Christmas scene, with a reimagining of holiday decor. On the back I'd put a black and white photo of Juan Garcia Esquivel in a tuxedo, grinning broadly with friends. The inner sleeve would be printed with the weird CD cover art you can find online, Esquivel's face stretched to form the surface of a martini. Then for the vinyl a color-in-color, red blob at the center of green, a toast to both the holiday and the olive lurking at the bottom of the dirty martini, a symbol of the easy living of the 1950s. Whether the red or green or both are translucent I'd leave to the experts, but for sure this one would have to be 180 or even overweight so that it, like the music, stands strong for a century to come.

Record Collector Of The Month: October 2021

Written By Michele - October 28 2021

Tell us a little bit about yourself: My name is Adam and I’m from Minneapolis, MN. I’m an obsessive record collector for sure and I primarily collect soundtracks/scores (especially horror scores), synthwave, and modern post-punk and adjacent genres like darkwave, new wave, synthpop, goth, and shoegaze. I started listening to records at a pretty young age, as soon as my dad was willing to trust me with his stereo system and collection. But, I didn’t start my own collection until 2017. At the moment it’s pushing close to 1500 albums. I also run Midnight Mannequin Records, which I started in the summer of 2020 as a positive outlet after really struggling at the beginning of the pandemic. After a years worth of work, I finally got the label up and running, releasing the first album, Jason Priest Is Missing, in June of this year. I had originally planned on the label’s releases being heavily skewed towards fictional horror soundtracks, but then ended up releasing a modern new wave/synthpop album, which sent me in a completely different, but good, direction!

First album: That would be Pieces of Eight by Styx, when I was maybe in third grade? The story behind that is that Styx is my dad’s favorite band, and he used to drag us kids to his favorite record store Wax ‘N’ Facts, where he’d spend hours (or at least what felt like hours to us) flipping through records. Anyway, one day he must have forgotten his wallet because he didn’t have any cash and here I am with a few bucks in my pocket, so he convinced me to buy the album and it would be “mine,” but of course it ended up residing in his collection. Needless to say, I still don’t have possession of that particular copy, but I’ve never forgotten that technically I own it!

Favorite album: So many albums I could list here! I don’t really have just one absolute favorite, there are so many different genres I listen to depending on what I’m in the mood for, but I tend to go back to the albums I’ve loved since early childhood when thinking about favorites (and that was everything my dad was listening to at the time). It has to be a record that has been with me most of my life and I can still listen to it again and again. So, I’ll say Def Leppard’s Hysteria is definitely one of them. So much nostalgia tied to that record for me personally. Every song is a hit, the production is awesome, and yea, it never gets old for me. I’m sure I’ll get some grief from someone somewhere for that pick but too bad, so sad! As for a slightly newer album (and even then, this one is still pushing 20 years old), I would pick Guilt Beats Hate by Benton Falls (released on Deep Elm), that album is very raw and visceral and takes me back to my college days. Pretty sure that’s the first time ever these two bands have been mentioned in the same paragraph lol! But yea, Benton Falls is definitely one of my favorite bands ever. I wish they had put out more than two albums!

Favorite Enjoy The Ride or Enjoy The Toons release: Musically, probably Hard Ticket to Hawaii, that theme song is a total ear worm! Commando Ninja would be a close second (another one with a super catchy theme song)! But I’d also have to include the only liquid-filled record in my collection, the 28 Days EP!

Favorite album artwork: Hard to pick just one but I love pretty much anything by Eric Adrian Lee. Everything he has done for Spun out of Control and Giallo Disco. His cover for Hattie Cooke’s The Sleepers is a personal favorite, as well as the three covers he did for Rupert Lally on Spun. I also love his cover for Shock by Libra (Death Waltz). And then of course, the two covers he did for Jason Priest. He doesn’t disappoint, which is why he was my first choice to do the Midnight Mannequin logo (and of course he absolutely nailed that)!

Favorite albums to play around Halloween: That one’s easy - all of the Halloween scores, especially 1978 and 2018. The first five Halloween films and the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre are what started my love of horror, so those will always be my favorites. Staying up late on Halloween night to watch Michael Myers terrorize Haddonfield, there was nothing more thrilling as a little kid! Also, the score for Maniac (1980) which is one of my favorite horror scores, and then the entire Terror Vision catalog also makes for great listening this month!

What are your favorite local record shops to support? There are three main shops I like to frequent here in the Twin Cities. Cheapo Records in St. Paul is always my first stop, I’ve found some great used finds there, including earlier Death Waltz stuff like Assault on Precinct 13 and Rome Armed to the Teeth. Next stop would be the Minneapolis location of Cheapo Records. And then last would be Mill City Sound in Hopkins. They have a large soundtrack section, and I even found the pink variant of Mondo’s Drive pressing there for $50!

What have you been listening to more frequently lately? Modern post-punk, new wave, darkwave, shoegaze, goth and synthpop. I’ve fallen hard down that rabbit hole! Especially the stuff that veers into more post-punk territory. I really wasn’t very familiar with the modern darkwave/goth scene prior to this year. But when I first heard Jason Priest Is Missing, it definitely awakened this love for modern post-punk and new wave music (and adjacent genres like goth and darkwave). There’s just a wealth of talented acts right now making these styles of music. Some favorites are Twin Tribes, Panic Priest, topographies, Drab Majesty, Boy Harsher, Sculpture Club, Choir Boy, Soft Kill, She Past Away, Molchat Doma, Kindest Cuts, Dead Astronauts, and Black Marble. Really there are so many more, the list could go on forever!

Any specific albums you wish you had on vinyl? Hmmm…I’m a pretty impatient person, so usually if there is something I want I find a way to get it. But I’m still on the hunt for Core by STP (the MOV 2xLP pressing, because there’s too much music on that album for one disc) and an original pressing on orange vinyl of Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins. I’ve definitely been making an effort to grab vinyl of all the stuff I listened to in my teen years (and originally had on CD).

What was the best album(s) you've discovered this year (it can be anything, doesn't have to be a new release): 2021 has been an amazing year for me personally when it comes to discovering music, and that’s because I found the modern post-punk and darkwave scene near the end of last year. So I’m discovering new amazing albums from the last few years on a daily basis right now. The more you look, the more you will find. Some favorite I’ve discovered this year are: Keeping Distance by Kindest Cuts, Second Seduction by Panic Priest, Silhouettes by Dead Astronauts, The Night We Raise by Korine, Ideal Form by topographies, Vicious Pastimes by House of Harm, Inked in Red by Vision Video, Fire! Fire! Fire! by Geometric Vision, Ceremony by Twin Tribes, and Lazy Karaoke by Human Leather.

What upcoming releases are you most excited about? I feel like I’ve been so busy lately that I’m not as in tune with what’s on the horizon from other labels, at least not as much as I used to be. These days it’s more like I’m playing catch up, going back through the vinyl Facebook groups and seeing what’s been posted and what I’ve missed. But for sure I’m very excited about what I have in store for Midnight Mannequin! IV by MAINE has already been announced and that one should be one that appeals to fans of film score and synthwave alike. I really think he will be scoring films before it’s all said and done, such a talented artist. His previous vinyl effort, V, was released by Burning Witches and was carried by Mondo, so I think a lot of people in our little soundtrack community are already aware of this artist and just how talented he is. And then I’ve got plenty more in the pipeline that isn’t announced yet, it’s just taking some time due to all of the vinyl manufacturing delays. But it’s going to be a nice mix of darkwave, post-punk, synthpop, ambient/chill electronic music, soundtrack-oriented music and a few other things as well.

Who is a band or artist that you think is underrated that we should give a listen to? I’m sure no one would believe this isn’t an attempt at shameless self-promo, but seriously - Jason Priest! It couldn’t be any easier for those reading this article right now lol - Jason Priest Is Missing is available from Enjoy the Ride! But yea, that project is something really special. There are a lot of great post-punk, darkwave, and synthpop artists I’ve been listening to lately, but I wouldn’t necessarily call them underrated because they’ve been around a few years and are definitely getting some deserved attention. Jason Priest is a bit more of a newcomer, but the material is top tier and has the potential to appeal to such a wide audience. I don’t think he’ll be underrated forever, but it’s always nice to be able to say you knew about an artist before they blew up. This is everyone’s chance to do just that, I’ve heard the next album and it’s as good or better than Jason Priest Is Missing!

Scenario time! If you could create a vinyl variant for any album (already pressed or never been pressed before), what would it look like? Feel free to get creative with this one, it's always awesome to hear what different features everyone likes! Well, my favorite film of all time would have to be The Terminator (another blast of nostalgia, I watched this movie countless times as a kid). So let’s say it would be the score, plus I’d want the three Tahnee Cain and the Tryanglz tracks on there! Anyway, I still haven’t actually answered the question ha! So the variant would be a 2xLP, and the center label would be the T-800 hunched over having just come through time, then the record itself would be black with electric blue streaks that would look like the electric flashes/lightning that appear in the night as he’s arriving. Could do the same with the Kyle Reese’s arrival as well on the second disc (center label would be him lying on the pavement). This would NOT be a picture disc, I hate picture discs lol! I feel like the only way this type of variant could be made would be like a Wax Mage or something. If you just tried it order a black record with electric blue smoke, we all know that would turn out super disappointing. So yea, would have to be hand-made and the blue streaks would really have to pop! Anyway, that’s my million dollar idea - I’m offering it up to anyone who reads this, but you better make sure that I get a copy if you make it happen!

Record Collector Of The Month: April 2021

Written By Michele - April 29 2021

Tell us a little bit about yourself: Hi, I'm David. I started collecting records in the mid-90s. I started because they were cheaper than CDs at the time. I always had an affinity for vintage things and the whole format just grabbed me. I spent every dime I had including my lunch money on records for years and my first paychecks went almost exclusively to records. A special shout out to all my friends and fam that covered my meals over the years, part of my collection is definitely in honor of your sacrifice! I have been in many local Oregon bands over the years too (The Widgets, The Funhouse Strippers, The Falcon, Monoplane). Music has always been a large part of my life and honestly, it has also saved my life more than once. Music speaks to my soul, thrills me, gives me goosebumps on the regular and can make me cry and yell at the sky, sometimes all in one song.

I got my dream job working at a record store in 2003 and spent ten years working side by side with the legendary record collector and shop owner, Kit Close at Ranch Records. He and I had a brother-in-arms mentality about records and swapped secrets, information, and music recommendations. This was a heavy phase of record buying and one of the happiest times of my life. Eventually I became a loser and got a job with ‘The Man’ but we still regularly connect and commiserate on the sleeve differences of DEVO import singles and whether or not the vinyl bubble may burst again.

I have a lot of rock in my collection. I love music form the PNW and 90s Alternative. I also love the proto punk sound and 60’s/70’s music and… SOUNDTRACKS! The last 5 years or so I have fallen in love with soundtracks. I always had some, but it has become a full-blown obsession.

My latest foray into the vinyl world was starting The Vinyl Score. A YouTube channel that reviews soundtracks for film and television on vinyl. I compare releases, talk about the power of music in film and how well the soundtrack works as a standalone listen. I also showcase soundtracks I find in the wild and do a series of short soundtrack reviews called 99 Seconds, where I review a soundtrack in just under 100. It has SAVED me in COVID times. Some of my favorite reviews to make have been Twin Peaks, Thief, DUNE and The VVitch. If you like geeking out on soundtracks and vinyl variations, check it out sometime! The Vinyl Score

First album: The first album I ever received as a gift was a tape copy of Kriss Kross – Totally Krossed Out for Christmas which if you weren’t 12 in 1992 was THEE album, so I was feeling pretty pretty pretty cool. The first vinyl record I ever bought was Pearl Jam’s third album Vitalogy. The vinyl happened to come out a week earlier than the CD and that ALSO happened to be my birthday and I convinced my parents to take me to the local record store, Ranch Records, to grab a copy. About ten years later, I got a job at that same record shop.

Favorite album: Pacific Northwest Favorite: Pond – The Practice of Joy Before Death – This is a Sub Pop band from the 90s that were lesser known nationally but had a moment in the NW and in Europe. This is NOT the Tame Impala side project of the same name, these guys came YEAAARS earlier. This album is from a second wave of NW grunge that is definitely precursor to the Indie/Emo/Alt scene, or whatever you want to call it. Back when Sub Pop was signing and releasing music from a ton of PNW artists. It has such a unique sound. A guitar-bass-drum trio. I think I am so in love with the Lo-fi nature of it. It’s also emotionally heavy. Like, they all got dumped before their birthday and then splashed by a car going by. Crushed. There are those in Oregon who know this record and if you know, it’s like a secret handshake. I have five copies of this on vinyl. A signed copy, a sealed copy, an open copy, a test pressing and a rare German version with a bonus 7”. If you think you have a version I am missing, I am your man.

Rock: The Stooges – Funhouse – I don’t know what else to say than if this album doesn’t make you feel like a bad MFer, I don’t know what will. Iggy at his finest with the original band. The absolute blueprint for thousands of other bands. I love the story of this record too. A song a day in LA. Lots to appreciate. I still need an original of this one. Someday!

Soundtrack: Blade Runner – Music by Vangelis – It’s hard to pick just one but Blade Runner is just so amazing. The electronic textures of this are so immersive. I feel lost in this record. It really is one of the most transportive albums out there. I think even if this didn’t have the visual connection of the movie it would still send you to a sci-fi future both wonderous and terrifying. I have the Audio Fidelity 2013 pressing of this on red vinyl. The quietest record I have heard. Not a hint of surface noise.

Hip Hop: De La Soul – Three Feet High and Rising – I Love De La Soul and this was my first LP from them. I think actually it was a tape in a car for a loooong time until I found one on LP, but this album just makes me feel good! It has great storytelling, and this may be my first album with skits. I have a terrific early (maybe a first?) pressing of this with the hype sticker on it that I cherish.

Favorite Enjoy The Ride or Enjoy The Toons release: I am a huge 80s synth fan and I was so thrilled o see your Harold Faltermeyer’s release of the score to Beverly Hills Cop. I LOVE that cover too Eddie looks like a boss on it and the all black really looks great.

Favorite album artwork: Boy, this is a toughie but right now it is the original artwork for Thief. I love the opaque image of James Caan with the blowtorch sparks popping.

What are your favorite local record shops to support? – My favorite was and always will be Ranch Records. The owners retired after 37 awesome years in business in Salem, Oregon and leave a huge record void in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. There are some fantastic shops all across the state though. My favorite shop is Time Machine Records in Grants Pass, Oregon. A complete gem in southern Oregon. YOU MUST GO HERE if you are in the area. He runs a great shop and I swear gets some of the craziest and rarest punk stuff around and the rest of the genres are packed too. He is a little far for a day trip for me, so I only get there about twice a year. House of Records in Eugene, Oregon is my closest favorite. They have a great rotating stock of used records, get the fresh shizz for new LPs and are all around people of class. You also cannot go wrong with Patrick at Final Form in Portland, OR. He specializes in Video Game Soundtracks as well as regular OSTs and is a must stop for Emo and used video game gear. Portland has a ton of shops. Some are ok, they are a little overpraised right now and get plenty of press.

What have you been listening to more frequently lately? – SOUNDTRACKS!

Tenet by Ludwig Goransson – Cool rhythms and intense.

The Personal History of David Copperfield by Christopher Willis – This one was recommended all over Twitter, so I tried it and it is beautiful!!! A traditional symphonic score and just a classic. Really emotionally vibrant.

The Kid Detective by Jay McCarrol - This is like a Vince Guaraldi/Dave Brubeck style jazz noir soundtrack and the underrated movie of 2020, a darkly comic noir detective story.

Shirley by Tamar-Kali – Tamar-Kali is a new composer for me and this soundtrack from her is really strong. A spare mix of strings, piano and vocal parts. Also, support female composers and check this out!!

The Deer Hunter and Heaven’s Gate soundtracks, really in love with Michael Cimino’s movies right now

The Knight Rider Theme (Send me recommendations like this pls & thank you)

Any specific albums you wish you had on vinyl? – The wish list is soooooooooooo long, but my number one grail of ALL TIME would be an original German Polydor pressing of the Monks – Black Monk Time. It is incredibly rare and expensive, but it is such an influential record and simply ahead of its time.

What was the best album(s) you've discovered this year (it can be anything, doesn't have to be a new release): Antarctica by Vangelis. I have been picking up random albums of his all year and this soundtrack is the best one I have come across so far in my journey. It’s a soundtrack to a movie about a group of dogs that were abandoned due to a tragic accident by a Japanese expedition in Antarctica and their story of survival. It has amazing visuals and is a really compelling story with very little dialogue following these dogs and their journey, so music is really important. The soundtrack has his heavy synth trademark but there is fragility and beauty from this record that really grabbed me. It happened to snow here a few months back, and it rarely does where I live in Oregon and I had this moment in my apartment watching the snow fall with Antarctica playing and I just got lost for a while. That’s the kind of effect I am looking for from music.

What upcoming releases are you most excited about? St. Vincent! She is always incredible and a real chameleon. I am always into a new release from her and I can’t wait for Daddy’s Home.

Who is a band or artist that you think are underrated that we should give a listen to? Typhoon – A large scale indie band from Portland, OR. HUGE sounds with really poetic lyricism. The dynamics of the band are really tightly orchestrated with strings and horns and guitars.

Scenario time! If you could create a vinyl variant for any album (already pressed or never been pressed before), what would it look like? Feel free to get creative with this one, it’s always awesome to hear what different features everyone likes! As a PNW music fan from the 90s and early 2000s there are releases here and there from beloved bands that never were pressed on vinyl I would love to see BUT for me the ultimate would be an expanded reissue of: The Shining. Release it as a double LP. LP One is a traditional re-release of the original record. The second I would like to see any unreleased tracks AND include some of the discarded tracks created by Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind. OR… release it as a double LP with Doctor Sleep as disc two!!

Record Collector Of The Month: March 2021

Written By Michele - March 24 2021

Tell us a little bit about yourself: I’m Joseph. I’m in my mid to late 30’s and live in NYC (Astoria, Queens). My collection is a little over 1,000 records, 150 CD’s (down from almost 5,000 before a necessary purge for space) and 15 lonely cassettes. I started collecting mainly early-mid 00’s emo, pop-punk & hardcore, but have moved to “anything I may want to listen to” with e complete collections of Matt & Kim, Murder by Death, The Juliana Theory (I’m actually real deep on this, and only hunting Promotional CD’s/cassettes), Thick and The Explosion. Almost complete is Cold War Kids and Minus the Bear. Other than vinyl, I’m a huge Disney World fan, being an Annual Passholder despite living in NYC. I can be found on the internet under the name momentumlost on almost any platform.

First album: The Thursday Thrice Split 7”. I picked it up at HMV on a spring break trip to Montreal in 2003 while a friend of mine and I were enjoying the local libations a bit too much. When I got home I wound up buying a record player just to play it.

Favorite album: Thrice - The Artist in the Ambulance. This is a formative album for me, coming out when I was in college and I had to have worn out at least 3 cd’s of it back in the day.

Favorite Enjoy The Ride or Enjoy The Toons release: I missed out on a bunch of the OG ones but managed to pick up a copy of the self titled Good Charlotte album you guys did. Beyond that I’d kill for the Something Corporate albums and The Young & The Hopeless. As for what I own, My favorite Is Romance in the Digital Age. The movie was great and the soundtrack is amazing. I also have a test pressing of Fairweather - Lusitania I love since it’s a top 20 album of all time for me. My Fiance and I have been picking up the Nicktoons soundtracks you guys have been putting out as well and those are a ton of fun!

Favorite album artwork: This is a 3 way tie for me:

Fall Out Boy - Take This to Your Grave (1st pressing) as I love how it was just a photoshoot in Pete’s childhood bedroom.

Oasis - Be Here Now is just so grand in it’s excess and of course Noel Gallagher would reuse the riff for Wonderwall on the first song and bury it under 7 more guitar tracks and show off by putting a Rolls Royce in a swimming pool.

The Dust Brothers - Fight Club (Mondo pressing). I’m such a sucker for packaging and this album is some of the most inventive. Having to tear the cover open to get to the records inside is also crazy and goes against everything I do to keep my records looking great, but fits the vibe from the movie perfectly.

What are your favorite local record shops to support? Limited to One in Manhattan is my go to spot with Generation Records on Thompson St being a close number 2. A special shout out to Hifi Records here in Astoria for having a great selection and being within a 10 minute walk from my doorstep.

What have you been listening to more frequently lately? Britpop. Summer 2019 I fell down an hole of listening to Oasis all day everyday and the furthest I’ve climbed out of it is other Britpop bands. The most common ones being Sleeper, Blur, The Verve, Travis, Supergrass and of course, Oasis and both brothers solo work. It’s gotten to the point I’ve started collecting Oasis bootlegs on vinyl just for some fresh stuff. It’s basically 1996 in my speakers most of the time.

Any specific albums you wish you had on vinyl? The big 3 are 3 that I sold over the years and regret giving up: Finch - What it is to Burn, The Movielife - 40 Hour Train (1st pressing on marbled green) and Coheed & Cambria - 2nd Stage Turbine Blade. I’m also kicking myself for not picking up the first Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds album or Blur’s 13 at the beginning of the pandemic as both went between pressings and the prices are insane right now. Thankfully both are backorder titles that their respective major labels will restock (it just might suck to import them from the UK when they do come back)

What was the best album(s) you've discovered this year (it can be anything, doesn't have to be a new release): The Verve - Urban Hymns. While I knew Urban Hymns from the single “Bittersweet Symphony”, the album is damn near perfect from beginning to end. Jaded Hearts Club - You’ve Always Been Here. This is a supergroup with members of Muse, Blur, Jet, The Last Shadow Puppets & The Zutons. All rock & roll covers and each one slays. “Reach Out and I’ll Be There” in particular hits hard.

What upcoming releases are you most excited about? For New Music it would have to be Death from Above 1979 - Is 4 Lovers. As far as a vinyl issue of an older album, I’m stoked on the Her soundtrack (Arcade Fire & Owen Pallett) finally getting pressed. Liam Gallagher keeps teasing new songs he’s working on, so I’m pretty stoked on that too.

Who is a band or artist that you think are underrated that we should give a listen to? Thick. They are a pop-punk band from Brooklyn and kill it. Over several EP’s and their full length (5 Years Behind, on Epitaph) they haven’t written a single bad song. Their Mansplain video is perfect. My personal favorite song is Green Eyes from their self titled EP.

Scenario time! If you could create a vinyl variant for any album (already pressed or never been pressed before), what would it look like? Feel free to get creative with this one, its always awesome to hear what different features everyone likes! Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer - Jalopy Go Far. I LOVE this band and it sucks none of their work ever made it to vinyl. A colorful copy of this with a nice 2 color pressing in Blue/Orange to match the art would be amazing. I’m a sucker for the inside/outside look that a bunch of late 00’s records had (similar to the “galaxy” pressings that seem to be getting popular these days, but where the A side and Bside colors are reversed. Portugal the Man - Church Mouth on Suburban Home has this, as does the Black Red pressing of All-American Rejects Move On). With a nice chipboard cover, it would be a snap buy for me.

Record Collector Of The Month: February 2021

Written By Michele - February 12 2021

Tell us a little bit about yourself: My Name is Dan McCoy, I live in a small town on the Ohio river called Wellsville, Ohio. It is about an hour drive to downtown Pittsburgh. I didn't start collecting records until a few years ago, but have been diving down the rabbit hole that is record collecting ever sense. I listen to all kinds of music from Rap, classic rock, Metal, Pop, and some country. I tend to take a lot of heat from friends because of my affection for pop music including the 90s boy bands (N*Sync forever) and Taylor Swift. I can't explain it but I just enjoy listening to them.

My biggest regret while collecting is selling my Weird Al box set that came in the Accordion, it was such a cool collectors item, but had to sell it for personal reasons..

I love collecting Movie and show soundtracks. I love the scores of some movies and others that have various artists and songs on it, are like mixed tapes that they put together for you. Some of my favorites are North by Northwest, High Fidelity, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1, Scott Pilgrim Vs the World, and The Crow

Also I can be found on Instagram @iamdanmccoy I post a lot records and craft beer. Check me out.

First album: My first album purchased was Rage Against the Machine - Evil Empire, I listened to it a lot growing up and knew I needed it in my collection.

Favorite album: It is hard to narrow it down

Nirvana Unplugged, I connect with this album a lot. I listen to it if i am feeling down, and just listen to Kurt sing his soul out. I love it

Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, It is just a fun album to listen to, both members of Outkast shine in both sides of this amazing album

The White Stripes - Under the Great Northern Lights is one of the best live albums I've listened to. I am a big Jack White fan in general, and this album just shows how great The White Stripes were.

Favorite Enjoy The Ride or Enjoy The Toons release: Hey Arnold! Liquid Filled is amazing, and the cool Jazzy sounds that come from it are great. Foxy Shazam self titled is a magical album and really shows off the vocals of Eric Nally.

Favorite album artwork: Rival Sons - Hollow Bones, It's just majestic looking. I don't even know what words to use to describe it, other than beautiful.

What are your favorite local record shops to support? Spin the Black Circle Records (Chester, WV) It is a newer place that just opened in 2020 and it has great owners and superb selection. The Attic (Pittsburgh, PA) One of the greatest record stores i have ever been to. It has so much to offer, including its great staff! You could get lost for days browsing what they have in stock.

What have you been listening to more frequently lately? I have been listening to a lot of acoustic covers of songs lately. I have been in a more chill mode these past few weeks. Especially when i get home from work and just want to relax.

Any specific albums you wish you had on vinyl? Limp Bizkit - Three Dollar Bill Ya'll Loved this album as a teenager and i think it is their best one. Which isn't saying a lot, I know that haha.

Killswitch Engage - Alive or Just Breathing and The End of Heartache, both are great albums with different front men. So hard to find, and when you do find them the prices are just crazy!

Jay-Z / Linkin Park - Collision Course has such a great blend of these artists music and I love listening to in any form.

What was the best album(s) you discovered last year (it can be anything, doesn't have to be a new release): Gorillaz - Song Machine Season One.. The Gorillaz do it again with this album and collaborations. They make things that don't seem like they would work on paper, sound exceptional!

Since its February and we are celebrating Black History Month as well as Valentine's Day, there are two holiday questions!

Favorite album(s) by Black Artist(s)/Musician(s)? So many to choose from, I know I am leaving out so many that I love to listen to, but here are few that come to mind right away!

The Weeknd - After Hours

Kanye West - 808s & Heartbreaks

Leon Bridges - Coming Home

Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon: The End of Day

Favorite album that reminds you of love? Al Green's Greatest Hits.. Enough said!

What upcoming releases are you most excited about? The Prodigy - Their Laws: The Singles 1990-2005, I don't own any of their albums and would love a collection of their work. I always enjoy listening to them!

Who is a band or artist that you think are underrated that we should give a listen to? Rivals Sons, Allen Stone, Pokey LaFarge. I have seen all of them in concert and would recommend anyone to check them out. I got to see Allen Stone the Tuesday before the pandemic shut everything down, and it was a great night of music and I can't wait to get to see another concert soon!

Scenario time! If you could create a vinyl variant for any album (already pressed or never been pressed before), what would it look like? Feel free to get creative with this one, its always awesome to hear what different features everyone likes! I'd love to have an Electric Six box set. Most of their albums were never pressed or impossible to find. It'd be nice to have color variants of each as well, I'm not looking for anything crazy with it, maybe some shirts and maybe a sweet slip mat.

Record Collector Of The Month: January 2021

Written By Michele - January 27 2021

Tell us a little bit about yourself: My Name is Ben Hendrix and I live in a suburb just north of Austin, TX. In 2006 I was 18 years old when I walked into a half priced books and saw a copy of Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA for sale staring straight at me. I didn’t even own a record player but something struck me and I HAD to have that on vinyl. At that point in time I had never actually heard a record played before. I honestly cannot tell you what attracted me to vinyl that day but I remember immediately getting the vinyl bug that very moment. I had no idea the vinyl craze was about to explode nor did I have any idea how far this hobby would take me over the years to come.

You can also see me on IG @vinylxlifex :)

First album: Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen (if you don’t count my first CD which was N’Sync *face palm*)

Favorite album: Oh man, this is always a tough one for music lovers because there is never really just one favorite album. I’d like think the hallmark of an all-time favorite record is the emotional tie it has to the listener at a particular time in their life. So with that said, here are a few favorites:

Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
Van is my all time favorite artist and I really fell in love with his music when I was 18 years old living in Auckland, NZ. I believe Astral Weeks is one of those albums that was meant to meet you where you’re at and sooth the soul. I just remember repeatedly putting on this record and it would transport me to another dimension every time.

Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger will always be on my all-time favorites list because of the dark times this album carried me through in my early 20’s. Man, I don’t think this cd left my car for years.

Bon Iver - Bon Iver was such a beautifully haunting record that really dug its claws into me when released. The perfect album to compliment my last year as a bachelor before getting married. Not to mention this album was lighting caught in a bottle if you ask me.

Josh Garrels - Home came out the same time my twins were born and it was the perfect album to play during my first year as a dad. There is a song called Heaven’s Knife that just moves me when thinking about what my wife went through having those kids.

Favorite Enjoy The Ride or Enjoy The Toons release: Michael Brook - Into The Wild OST was definitely a must own record when I heard it was being pressed. One of my all time favorite movies and both Eddie Vedder and Michael Brook’s music were in total harmony for the backdrop to that film. I have to add that the artwork on that pressing was particularly gorgeous as well.

Favorite album artwork: Oy.. Another tough one to narrow down. Off the cuff, I’d go with Novo Amor’s Heiress or Bon Iver’s self titled album. Both of those record covers make my soul yearn for a drive through some majestic mountains with music being the fuel to both an internal and external adventure.

What are your favorite local record shops to support? There are a handful I visit but the one I spent the most time visiting is Piranha Records in Round Rock, TX. The owner John is extremely friendly and very fun to talk with. I love to go in there and ask for recommendations and see what he has been listening to as well. I’ve bought several records purely based on his recommendations and they’re always fantastic buys.

What have you been listening to more frequently lately? During the day I find myself driving around listening to Kings Kaleidoscope’s album Zeal. When working at my desk I tend to play a lot of Khrungbin since it helps me concentrate.

Then at night I’ve been getting further and further into the early 70’s Jazz Funk scene. Rusty Bryant’s Fire Eater is one of my favorites that goes perfect with a glass of bourbon.

Any specific albums you wish you had on vinyl? Cat Steven’s Harold And Maude soundtrack (pressed by Vinyl Films) is one of those records I’d love to own but its a tad out of reach as prices are quite outrageous online.

What was the best album(s) you discovered last year (it can be anything, doesn't have to be a new release): Leif Vollebekk’s New Ways and Twin Solitude are two records I became deeply attached to very quickly. I cannot wait to see what he does next as his music can take you to another world with or without your permission.

What upcoming releases are you most excited about? Helen Stellar is supposed to release new music for the first time in years and I’ve been a big fan of theirs for some time now. They were my first shoegaze band that introduced me to a flurry of other artists in that genre as well. I’ve also heard War on Drugs has new music in the works and I’m always down for some Drugs.

Who is a band or artist that you think are underrated that we should give a listen to? Benjamin James is one of my favorite under the radar artists. His album Penumbra is simply beautiful all the way through. This dude also needs his music pressed on vinyl as he is yet to have anything physically released.

Scenario time! If you could create a vinyl variant for any album (already pressed or never been pressed before), what would it look like? Feel free to get creative with this one, its always awesome to hear what different features everyone likes! I actually keep a running document of music I love that is yet to be pressed on vinyl in case I ever get a wild hair and start funding these projects myself somehow LOL. If I could rub a magic lamp I’d love to see the following happen:

Nancy Wilson (of Heart) has some incredible soundtrack music she wrote for several of Cameron Crowe’s films. You can find a select number of tracks around the internet but very few things have ever been officially released. I’d love to see a box set put together with all of her unreleased soundtrack material and a book explaining history being the music, writing process and photographs of her working out the songs in her home or studio.

Also, the first EP’s and album from Francis and The Lights are phenomenal and somehow have never been pressed on vinyl (Striking, A Modern Promise and It’ll Be Better). Black and White Splattered pressings of these records would be super dope.

Lastly, how the hell has Damien Rice’s 9 never been pressed? Thats crazy to me. Hashtag box set please.

Record Collector Of The Month

Date

Written By

Comments

Date

Written By

Comments

Date

Written By

Comments

Date

Written By

Comments

Date

Written By

Comments

Date

Written By

Comments

Date

Written By

Comments

Date

Written By

Comments

Date

Written By

Comments

Date

Written By

Comments

Recent Articles

Tags