Record Collector Of The Month
Record Collector Of The Month: January 2019
Tell us a little bit about yourself: My name is James Mckeown (@jameswardo). I am 31 and live in Salem,OR with my wife and our 3 dogs. I am a musician at heart but work as a sheet metal fabricator. I had a Punk Rock adolescence which occasionally shows itself in my music collection that is primarily Extreme Metal. I have been involved with various musical projects most notably as the vocalist for Witch Breath and solo artist of Necromage although currently my musical talents are just used to jam at home or with friends and of course I spend most Saturday nights at the karaoke bar. I do release the occasional song on my Bandcamp or Youtube Channel
Favorite album: Sorcier Des Glaces - Ritual of the End
First album: Cradle of Filth - The Principle of Evil Made Flesh
Favorite Enjoy The Ride or Enjoy The Toons release: Ace Ventura Soundtracks. I did a Youtube video discussing how awesome these records are. I love those movies and have been quoting them for years, so when I saw these were available I put in my order without hesitation. The gatefold artwork is superb and the Ray Finkle playing card is such a fun inclusion. The record has the bonus audio files hidden in the stop grooves making this whole package an easter egg of Ace Ventura.
Favorite album artwork: Inquisition - Obscure Verses for the Multiverse. The cover art done by Italian painter Paolo Girardi and I love it so much that I have started tatting it on my body. I am fortunate enough to own one of his actual paintings as well thanks to my wife's awesome gifting. Paolo told me himself that the painting was done especially for me making it an absolute marvel in my collection. The painting can be seen hanging on the wall in my featured photo.
What are your favorite local record shops, in case any readers are traveling through your town? Salem, OR has Ranch Records that is just alright but 2nd Ave. Records and Devout Records are the best record shops in Portland and I have found many great things in those shops.
What have you been listening to more frequently lately? Shining - Everyone, Everything, Everywhere, Ends I feel like once a week I return to this one. This album received mixed reviews upon its release because it featured a bluesy feel alongside their usual DSBM style but I have loved this album since day one. The lyrics are in Swedish but I mumble along with them passionately at home or in my car.
What are some of your favorite albums you have in your collection? Nokturnal Mortum - Verity & Profanatica - the Enemy of Virtue are by far the nicest records in my collection. Nokturnal Mortum - the Voice of Steel was recently repressed by Heritage Recordings and my copy will arrive any day now which will then add its name to this list. Nikola Sarcevic - Freedom to Roam is also a very special record as it was a gift from my wife which she had personally signed by Nikola for me. Years later I would finally get the chance to meet Nikola Sarcevic in person as he was playing a show here touring with his Punk Rock band Millencolin.
Any specific albums you wish you had on vinyl? I would love to find a reasonably priced copy of American Lesion on vinyl (Greg Graffin)
What album would you like to be pressed on vinyl? the Seasick Pirates and the Return of Hellicopterman would make me so excited to see in LP format. Epitaph Records Punk o Rama compilation series should find their way to LP. I specifically would like to see Vol. 6 on vinyl as that CD was a big part of my Jr. Highschool playlist. I know that Vol 1 was pressed on LP but im pretty sure thats the only one.
What was the best album(s) you discovered in 2018? I released a video discussing my top 25 albums of 2018 my favorite album of the year was Moenen of Xezbeth - Ancient Spells of Darkness. I love how muddy the tone of that album is. A truly haunted and mesmerizing experience.
Any albums you are looking forward to grabbing in 2019? My most anticipated album of the year is Vaultwraith - Light the Candle in Honour of Devils their Debut release Death is Proof of Satans Power was my album of the year for 2017. Other albums I am excited for are Swallow the Sun - When a Shadow is Forced in (Century Media Records) and Saor - Forgotten Paths (Avantgarde Records)
Scenario time! Lets say you decided to sell most of your possessions + live in a tiny house for the remainder of your years. You can only take 7 records. What are they (Here's the catch - for each person you live with, you have to make one of those choices their favorite album - the more people you live with, the less choices are yours. Yes, this includes tiny humans)? I had to include my dogs so I picked albums that fit their personalities. Wife: Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautiful; Cara: Urn - the Burning; Tuco: the Aquabats - the Fury of the Aquabats; Twitch: Guttermouth - Friendly People; 3 for Me: Dynfari - the Four Doors of the mind (Sentimental value); Dynfai - Vegferd Timans (Sentimental value) & Witch Breath Demo LP (Sentimental value)
Record Collector Of The Month: December 2018
Record Collector Of The Month: October 2018
Record Collector Of The Month: September 2018
Record Collector Of The Month: August 2018
Record Collector Of The Month: July
Record Collector Of The Month - June 2018
Tell us a little bit about yourself: Hello. My name is Alex Cooper, I’ve entirely forgotten my title at Smartpunk Records. I’ve been a music dork my entire life. I started working in a record store (sup Park Ave CDs) when I was in high school, had an adult job for a few years, then started working with Smartpunk a few years ago when some friends of mine revamped the company into a record label and online record store. While I work primarily for punk bands (however one might choose to describe the genre), I really like all types of music from all over the world. German krautrock to Brazilian Tropicalia, spiritual jazz to Weird Al. Actually now that I think about it. I mostly just listen to Weird Al now.
Record Collector Of The Month: May
Tell us a little bit about yourself! I’m Tony Giles; I work for Lakeshore Records (Stranger Things, Drive, Saw, The Walking Dead) where I handle the international distribution, vinyl production + the web-shop. I’m also the guy behind The Damn Fine Network which is a podcast network dedicated to film music, pop culture and more. Home to the soundtrack podcast The Damn Fine Cast (available on iTunes). I recently turned 40, which means I’ve been collecting records for just over 35 years, which makes me feel old! As far as music tastes go I’ve always said a ‘good song is a good song regardless of genre’. I stand by that but can usually be found listening to film scores or black metal.
Favorite album: An impossible question to answer as it can change from day to day. As E.T.R release soundtracks and that’s the area I work in I’ll narrow it down to some of my favourite film music releases: Under The Skin – Mica Levi, Drive – Cliff Martinez, Halloween – John Carpenter, Blow Out – Pino Donaggio, Blade Runner – Vangelis and L’Aldila (The Beyond) – Fabio Frizzi. Even that list took some time to compile!
First album: Honestly it was probably a hand me down compilation that I’ve well and truly forgotten about. The first album I really remember falling in love with was Michael Jackson’s Thriller. To this day its still one of my favourite albums.
Favorite Enjoy The Ride or Enjoy The Toons release: This is an easy one! Hands down my favourite release has been the Batman Arkham Knight score. As a huge Batman fan and a gamer this had me salivating at the release. I even managed to score a test press of the album at Mondo-Con a few years back.
Favorite album artwork: Artwork is one of the most vital parts in an albums lure for me. I can be a fan of something and not spin it that often because I’m not really into the artwork. I’m sure that sounds silly but it also works the other way too where I will pick up records I’m not a huge fan of just because the artwork is excellent. There is a lot of amazing album art out there but I guess for me my favourite album artwork is probably Darkthrone – Transylvanian Hunger. Released in 1994 and still remaining the quintessential imagery for the black metal genre.
What are your favorite record shops in your area, in case any readers are traveling through your town? Sadly I live in a very small town that only has one chain record store, a branch of HMV. As time has progressed their selections have certainly improved but I probably wouldn’t recommend anyone pay a visit unless you’re looking for standard top 40 chart releases or legacy titles. I will say that for an online store Two Headed Dog over in the U.S are great on selection and shipping which in this day and age is something to be mindful of. That’s where most of my records come from.
What have you been listening to more frequently lately? Lately I’ve been jamming the Witchboardalbum It’s Been Emotional which is kind of like cinematic instrumental 80s goth. Netherstormby Vargra
What are some of your favorite albums you have in your collection? Man this is tough! It’s hard to pick favourites but I guess both of my original L’Aldila (The Beyond) by Fabio Frizzi on Beat Records are high up there. A newly acquired first press of Mayhem’s Deathcrush and anything my wife has bought me, those would certainly be favourites. You can see some of my collection on Instagram if you’re interested - @therecordcollector
Any specific albums you wish you had on vinyl? I've been thinking on this and almost everything I want is rare so it’s usually a case of saving up for a certain press. Both the soundtrack and black metal world are highly collectable so first presses tend to be quite pricey.
What album would you like to be pressed on vinyl? I’d love someone to release Nude Per L’Assassino (Strip Nude For Your Killer) by Carlo Rustichelli.
Did you snag any albums from Record Store Day 2018? I did! I hosted a special RSD episode of The Damn Fine Cast which featured; Porno Sonic from ETR, The Omega Man from Silva Screen, Planet Terror from Varese Sarabande, Communion from Burning Witches, Ganja & Hess from Strange Disc & Spielt Mozart from One Way Static. I also grabbed the Led Zeppelin 7” and a repress of Celtic Frost’s Tragic Serenades 12’ thanks to my buddy Josh.
If you were on a desert island and you could only fit three records safely in your suitcase which ones would you take with you? Prince And The New Power Generation – O-|-> (Symbol) – Warner Bros; The Class Of Nuke ‘Em High – Various – Ship To Shore Phono Co; Slayer – Raining Blood – Def Jam
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