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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.