Record Collector Of The Month: April 2018
Tell us a little bit about yourself! My name is Matthew Hicks from Greentown Indiana, people I like call me Vito. I’m 23, and I’m a co GM at a local pizza shop called Hotbox Pizza. When I’m not at work, you can find me at home watching Wrestling (New Japan Pro Wrestling, Ring Of Honor, WWE). When I’m not marking out, I’m listening to records, playing drums / guitar, spending time with my girlfriend, or hanging out with my dog.
Favorite album: This is always such a hard question. I can never pick just one, can I give you my top 5? I’m just going to give you my top 5 in no particular order.
First I’ll say “Love, Ire and Song by Frank Turner. I saw him open for Flogging Molly in 2009. I bought Love, Ire and Song from him at his mercy table and it changed my life. I never looked at music the same after spinning that record for the first time. I’ve met him countless times since then. He is a lovely guy. He played my guitar in the park lot after a show once. He’s such a great guy. Check him out if you haven’t yet.
Second would be the next album that opened my eyes to Folk, “I’m Wide Awake its Morning” by Bright Eyes. What can I say that hasn’t been said about this album already? It’s flawless front to back. I had the privilege of meeting Conor Oberst in Indianapolis after a Desaparecidos show in 2015. He signed a giant stack off records for me, he’s a nice guy, but he didn’t say much.
These are getting long, I’ll keep the next three short. My third favorite album is “Fear of a Blank Planet” by Porcupine Tree. Gavin Harrison is an amazing drummer and Steven Wilson is so good at telling a story in music. This album is great. If you like prog metal, check it out.
Fourth is “Caught in Trees” by Damien Jurado. Its a damn shame no one knows who this guy is. I highly recommend this album if you’re into folk or acoustic stuff. Hell of an album. He deserves to be much more well known.
My fifth album is the hardest one to pick. I wasn’t going to put this on here, but oh well. Its “Live at Bonnaroo” by Jack White. I know its not an “album” since most people don’t consider live stuff to be albums, but I don’t care. This was one of the best shows I’ve ever been to. If I could go back in time and relive one show again, it would be this one. I’m happy I was lucky enough to be there and I’m even happier they released it via the Third Man Records Vault.
First album: My first vinyl was a picture disc of Beautiful Lie by 30 Seconds to Mars I got on a clearance rack at Hot Topic in 2006. My first CD was Elephant by The White Stripes, I was a cool kid.
Favorite Enjoy The Ride or Enjoy The Toons release: My favorite Enjoy The Ride release is definitely Destroy Rebuild Until God Show’s self titled album. I bothered Craig Owens for a Sex Life 7” on snapchat for months until he told me that you guys were pressing the whole album. A few weeks later he sent me the link to pre order it. I’ve never met him, but he knows Kevin Nash, so he is cool in my book.
Favorite album artwork: “Poetry of the Deed” by Frank Turner. I absolutely love the artwork on the album cover. I ended up getting it done on my arm.
What are your favorite record shops in your area, in case any readers are traveling through your town?: Here is a major shout out to Mike Wilson at American Dream Hifi in Kokomo Indiana. I love that shop. Check it out if you’re ever in the area. There is nothing better than eating an Impossible Burger at the same place you buy your records. That really is the American Dream. Other shops are Village Green Records in Muncie Indiana, and Indy CD and Vinyl in Broadripple Indiana.
What have you been listening to more frequently lately?: I’ve been listening to a buch of stuff lately. Slayer, Bayside, Frank Turner, Jack White, Harley Poe, Motion City Soundtrack, Brand New, Conor Oberst.
What are some of your favorite thrift store finds you have in your collection?: There are two records that came out in the 1970’s by a local family gospel band called “The Singing Nicholsons” that is a bit of a local legend. I gladly have a handful of each record sitting on my shelf. One of The Nicholsons was my 6th grade social studies teacher. He was a rad guy. I hope he is doing well!
Any specific albums you wish you had on vinyl?
1. Jack White live at Third Man Records
2. Dimmu Borgir - In Sorti Diaboli (with 7”)
3. Silverstein - Discovering the Waterfront
4. The Upholsters - Makers of High Grade Suites
5. Underoath - Define the Great Line
What album would you like to be pressed on vinyl? Thankfully most of the stuff I listen to has already been pressed on vinyl. There are a few albums I wish had an official vinyl pressing, but the *cough cough* “imports” of them I have will do for now. Acid Rap by Chance the Rapper, Yeezus by Kanye West, Channel Orange by Frank Ocean.
Any albums you are looking forward to grabbing in 2018? There are a handful I’m really looking forward to. Record Store Day is tomorrow as of the time I’m writing this, so I’m looking forward to that. I’ll be picking up Boxer Live by The National, Hydrograd Acoustic Sessions by Stone Sour, Illmatic Live by Nas, the Arcade Fire EP, and a few more. Outside of RSD I’m looking forward to the new Frank Turner album, the new Arctic Monkeys album, and more I cant remember right now.
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? This one is easy.
1. Jack White live at Bonnaroo
2. “Satan, Sex and No Regrets” by Harley Poe. (For the love of god, check them out).
3. “Love, Ire and Song” by Frank Turner
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