Uncle Tupelo should be considered the epicenter of all those genres that eventually coalesced into Alt-Country, or whatever you want to call it. They were the still that brought the blend to it’s peak and maybe it’s been Mad Dog’d ever since. Anodyne is on LP, finally. Hard to believe it was never on wax before, but that’s the truth. Hear it like it should have been heard. Beautiful 180 Gram Vinyl and pressed with loving care by RTI. Truly revealing after almost 20 years.
Archive for the ‘It's a Classic’ Category
Just Like The First Time
Saturday, January 9th, 2010Daptone Gifties
Thursday, December 10th, 2009Head on over to the Daptone Store. Spend $30 and get a FREE Christmas 7″ by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings-her debut Christmas song. The B-Side is a Christmas track from Binky Griptite. Yes, Santa is coming to town. Here’s the label:
Mothership Delivers Again
Friday, December 4th, 2009Some days you just need the Zeppelin. Some days you need the overwhelming bombast to clear out the mind and soothe the nerves. And as I’m not available for “other” forms of mood altering I guess the ROCK is next in line to do the trick. This 4LP set is all you can get these days when it comes to Zep’s studio albums (pristine and new, I mean) so the indulgence feels appropriate. Peep the pretty shot, all spread out and beautiful.
There’s plenty in the ’sphere these days about the vinyl comback, vinyl resurgence, vinyl niche, stupid vinyl, luddite control, who wants ‘em, why they want ‘em and any number of other poorly researched, poorly written and plain crap constructed logic lacking shite.
I write from a purely emotional place because that’s why I LOVE the music. It adds meaning to my life down to the molecular level. The El PEE reaches my organic being. The record tells the story. My life is richer for it and I am 100% sure that if our attention span lacking society slowed down enough to LISTEN, well, wouldn’t we be in a better place? It’s a bit like walking into the woods and sitting down and being quiet and letting the forest come alive. You won’t see it, hear it, feel it unless you give it time to envelope your senses. Slow down, friend. Breathe. Put down all the devices, place the platter on the turntable and turn up the volume just so.
Harold and Maude
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
Light In The Attic and Vinyl Films put this out early in ‘08. The limited edition of 2,500 went fast and now it’s one of those records that you just can’t find, and that doesn’t stop you from wanting it desperately. Watching the movie over the weekend I’m reminded of all the reasons why this movie and soundtrack are so interlocked. Watching the movie also makes me want to take up playing the banjo.
The Low Anthem
Tuesday, August 11th, 2009
Last night I sat on my neighbor’s porch and watched the tempest roll across Storm King Mountain and down the Hudson River. The lightning and thunder were a testament to our insignificance. The white flashing was brighter than the noon day sun, even as it was as brief as an eye blink. And the thunder actually rolled over the mountains rumbling down the channel. What it must have been like to experience before the knowledge of what it was. Of course there were gods in the sky and water and trees and mountains.
This record is like that. Music from the distant past brought through time to the present without regret, nostalgia or too much conscious thought. It’s from the time before understanding when rhythm and melody and soaring voices made sense of the unknown and brought comfort to the night.
Punk Rock Warlord
Tuesday, August 4th, 2009“Yeah, I wouldn’t steal money off a friend, but I’d steal his girlfriend.” Joe Strummer
Spinning Sandinista! this AM. You know it, you’ve lived with it now almost thirty years. Man, we made better records back then. Three LP’s full of all sorts of shenanigans-as it should be.
What made me throw the record on this morning is my recollection of The Future Is Unwritten. The quote above is taken from that. My favorite bit in the movie is his ongoing monologue/dialogue over all sorts of footage and photographs of the band. He’s in the pantheon for me, along with Bukowski and Johnny Cash. Miss him, and glad to have the music.
June Gloom
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009That’s what these nutty folks here in San Diego call the month of June because the skies are overcast. It’s sunny, but filtered. It’s not cold and it’s not hot. It’s not too big and it’s not too small. The things one can find to bitch about-amazing.
Got to spin some records on a Continuum Caliburn Reference Turntable last night. OH MY GOD. And if there’s a God, he’s using this to spin his records. He’s quieted the multitude of angels and he’s made sure the dog is sleeping by the fire. The drinks are perfectly chilled and he’s turned on this beautiful engineering marvel. I feel rather lucky to have been within breathing distance. Solid.
Vacation = Vacation
Monday, May 11th, 2009I’ve been out. Gone. Incommunicado. I covered some ground. Drove some. Hunkered down and sweated it out. Hit a couple shops in Sacramento. Russ’ new shop, R5, and the new location of Records-that previously located store that graced the cover of DJ Shadow’s first salvo of “What the fuck, but man that’s cool,” entitled “Endtroducing… .”
So, I’m back. The new 45 RPM Slipcase Edition of John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps” is out and, boy is it beautiful. Sound is sublime. Dropping the needle so quiet you could hear the sweep of a bird’s wing. This one is limited to 2,500 worldwide so find your copy before they’re gone. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Here ’tis.
The Final Cut
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009How to explain? Pink Floyd’s The Final Cut is the record that saves my life on a pretty regular basis. From the poppies on the Side 1 label to the final strains of “Not Now John” fading into the sweet, deep darkness of “Two Suns In The Sunset” this record comforts me and keeps me from the brink.
Why this is I can’t say. Perhaps any grief I’m feeling always pales in comparison to the nightmare illuminated through the record or perhaps it’s just the music’s ability to express what words alone cannot. To top it off, this is a great headphone record. And headphones keep you sealed in the sound, alone in the dark, happy when you finally see the light.