June 2012
32 posts
2012.06.30 Fridge - The Sun
Color: Black
Released: 2007, June 19
Label: Temporary Residence Limited
Goddamn if Temporary Residence isn’t one of the finest labels putting out music today. Someone asked me on this thing if there was a way to stream songs directly from each post and I responded with something along the lines of ‘the actual act of searching for music yielded better results due to the...
2012.06.29 The Six Parts Seven - Everywhere, And...
Color: Red
Released: 2007, January 23
Label: Suicide Squeeze
I told you I was remedying the problem of only owning so much 6P7 on vinyl. I’m really coveting Things Shaped In Passing, though… and I had found a copy, but it’s a bit out of my budget at the moment. BUT! I was able to score this copy of Everywhere, And Right Here on beautiful red vinyl for relatively cheap, to...
2012.06.28 Balmorhea - Candor/Clamor
Color: Black
Release Date: 2010, November 9
Label: Western Vinyl
A nice little tease while we wait for the band’s next full length. Two new compositions from the band that seem to have a bit more “pep” than overall mood of their latest offerings. This band is sometimes unfairly pegged with being the new millennium’s answer to Rachel’s - there are certainly...
2012.06.27 The Mercury Program/Maserati Split
Color: Black
Release Date: 2003, October 7 (2005, Dec - Vinyl)
Label: Kindercore/Hello Sir
This is a pretty important record for me. It satisfied a craving for more from a (then) newly discovered Mercury Program and was my first audible introduction to the band Maserati. It was released at the height of my fever for instrumental bands. I originally grabbed this on CD while still living in...
2012.06.26 The Appleseed Cast - Middle States
Color: Clear Blue/Aqua swirl
Release Date: 2011, June 7
Label: Graveface Records
The Appleseed Cast still has it. This EP is proof. Never mind that founding guitarist Aaron Pillar has since left the band and that TAC is currently recording its first batch of material without him… Middle States is an enticing 30 minutes of music written by the band fresh off of their tour Celebrating the...
2012.06.25 Japandroids - Post-Nothing
Color: Black (Dammit! Missed out on the white copy!)
Release Date: 2009, August 14
Label: Polyvinyl
Hype is a dangerous thing, kids. It can make or brake a band. In this case, hype didn’t keep me from purchasing this album but it definitely prevented me from giving it the proper attention. Let it be known though, that I am always at least interested in whatever the folks at a damn fine...
2012.06.24 Don Caballero - Don Caballero 2
Color: Black
Release Date: 1995, September 19
Label: Touch and Go
Scored this over the weekend. It was hiding out in the used bins over at Criminal. A welcome addition to my collection for sure. This is Don Cab in the prime of their riff-driven attack, You could hear some of the experimental bent of later releases trying to sneak into the proceedings, but for the most part Don Cab 2 perfects...
2012.06.23 The Drift - Memory Drawings
Color: Translucent with Blue Haze
Release Date: 1998
Label: Temporary Residence Limited
Another wonderful release from Temporary Residence. I was very impressed with The Drift’s debut, but when this came out the band had crafted something really special and upped their game for sure. The jazz and dub leanings from before are present but the compositions on this album stretch skyward....
wikim87 asked: Is there any way to play the songs off of your blog page?? Thanks.
2012.06.22 Mineral - &Serenading/Love My Way
Color: Black
Release Date: 1998
Label: Crank!
From the “emo” days. Still a good seven inch though that features a decent cover of The Psychedelic Furs “Love My Way”. The A-side is a decent song that served as a tease for the band’s post-break-up second full length. Some Mineral doesn’t quite hold up for me… but this is nice. The cover song kinda sells...
2012.06.21 Collections Of Colonies Of Bees - Six...
Color: Clear
Release Date: 2008, May 22
Label: Table of the Elements
After being turned on to Collections of Colonies of Bees and their amazing Birds record I went through my usual ritual of finding out everything I could about a band and getting my hands on everything they’ve released into the world. In my search I stumbled upon their plans to release this one sided LP. I already...
2012.06.20 Jawbox - Jawbox
Color: Black
Release Date: 1996, July 2
Label: Atlantic/TAG / City Slang
The first Jawbox record I ever heard. It honestly took me way too long to “get” this record. I should have trusted my friend Danielle Thompson when she told me how good this band was. She tried repeatedly to get me to go see this band with her. I passed each time. At one point I think I even bought this on CD...
2012.06.19 Canon Blue - Rumspringa
Color: Black
Released: 2011, August 16
Label: Temporary Residence Limited
Although TRL could hardly be pigeonholed for the type of music that they put out, I’m noticing a bit of branching out with bands like Dreamers Of The Ghetto and now Canon Blue. This seems like the most “pop” thing the label has ever released… but being that this is TRL you kinda have to assume...
2012.06.18 The Six Parts Seven - Casually Smashed...
Color: Black
Released: 2007, January 23
Label: Suicide Squeeze
The Six Parts Seven are a band I should have seen at least twice but only had the pleasure of watching perform once. While serving briefly as bass player for The Sincerity Guild (an instrumental outfit from Nashville,TN) we were offered an opening slot in front of the The Six Parts Seven at Cafe Coco. We were then offered a...
2012.06.17 The Police - Ghost In The Machine
Color: Black
Released: 1981, October
Label: A&M Records
This one’s for Dad. My Dad had a habit of turning up the radio and singing along, only he would change the lyrics of any given to include my name. The stuff made of cheese for sure, but it was endearing and I definitely credit a large portion of my music loving, and even record collecting, to him. So it was often that when...
2012.06.16 Constantines - Our Age b/w Fuckin' Up
Color: Black
Released: 2008, November 25
Label: Arts & Crafts
A splendid little seven inch featuring the best and most emotionally compelling track off of the band’s fourth full length record backed with a proper cover of Neil Young’s “Fuckin’ Up.” Just one more reason to miss the band from Guelph, Canada who departed from us way too soon. The art is pretty...
2012.06.15 Swervedriver - Planes Over The Skyline...
Color: Black
Released: 2011 ?
Label: Alti Philosophi
I suppose if you can’t have the real thing then a bootleg is the next best thing. ‘found this curiosity at Criminal while searching for some legit Swervedriver on vinyl. Ashamedly, I missed out on the recent limited vinyl reissues from Hi-Speed Soul of their first two full lengths. I was kind of skeptical, at first, to...
2012.06.14 Explosions In The Sky - All Of A Sudden...
Color: Sides A & B - Cream, Sides C & D - Sea Blue
Released: 2006, March 6
Label: Temporary Residence
Sad to say, but this is not my favorite EITS record. I like it just fine. But in the grand scheme of things I think it fell short of everything else that preceded it. In between their last proper studio album the band had gained quite a bit of attention, had their music featured in a...
2012.06.13 Yo La Tengo - Electr-O-Pura
Color: Black
Released: 1995, May 2 (2009 Reissue)
Label: Matador Records
I’m so thankful for my friend Jeff Silirie. I credit him for really igniting my love for Yo La Tengo. I’ve mentioned previously how I started totally backwards with the band and don’t have the history with them that most fans do (like Jeff for instance). I had definitely began to explore the...
2012.06.12 Do Make Say Think - & Yet & Yet
Color: Black
Release Date: 2002, March 18
Label: Constellation
Definitely the first DMST album I really sunk my teeth into. This and Goodbye Enemy Airship… remain my favorite of all their albums. But each record by these folks is pretty much magic. & Yet & Yet is not an immediate listen, but this is what makes it great. It’s the sort of album that rewards you with repeated...
littlebedroomband asked: Little bedroom band. thats my band name ahha we play indie/acoustic stuff. have any tips on how to get noticed?
2012.06.11 Tortoise - Millions Now Living Will...
Color: Black
Released: 1996, January 30 (May 2012 Reissue)
Label: Thrill Jockey
Just picked this up on vinyl (after coveting it for some time) so why not go ahead and throw this one on here. Tortoise’s second full length and the home of one of their most exquisite compositions, “Glass Museum.” The tune sweeps you off your feet until you are floating, before taking through...
2012.06.10 The Cure - Wild Mood Swings
Color: Black
Released: 1996, May 6
Label: Elektra/Fiction
Probably one of my least favorite Cure albums. Except that when I went back and listened recently I enjoyed more songs than I remember originally liking. Of course it seemed like one of the weaker Cure albums when you consider it had the two previous full lengths to contend with - Disintegration and Wish were so masterful that I doubt...
2012.06.09 Mogwai - Rano Pano b/w Hasenheide
Color: Black
Released: 2011, January 18
Label: Sub Pop
It’s happening again. I’m going through one of my obsessive Mogwai phases. It started with posting another record of theirs earlier this week and then listening to quite a bit of the band in prep for seeing them live in Atlanta this weekend. And quite the performance it was. The last time I saw Mogwai something was off…...
2012.06.08 June of 44 - Tropics and Meridians
Color: Black
Released: 1996, June 18
Label: Quarterstick Records
Is it possible to fall in love with a record before even hearing a note of the sounds contained within? This record almost makes it so. Being the visual person that I am and growing up curious of all the records in my father’s collection and often pouring over the details of the album art of those records, this record...
2012.06.07 Balmorhea - Constellations
Color: Black
Released: 2010, February 23
Label: Western Vinyl
A bit more of a hushed affair compared to their previous release, “All is Wild, All is Silent”, but just as equally captivating – if not more. Using strings, banjos, pianos and stomping percussion, the band creates fantastic passages of contemplative beauty. Not necessarily an immediate listen… but careful attention will reward...
2012.06.06 Mogwai - Mr. Beast
Color: Black
Released: 2006, March 7
Label: PIAS / Rock Action / Matador
I definitely associate this record with the brief period of time that I lived in Nashville, TN. This record was released during that time and I caught the band on the Nashville stop of their tour in support of the record. I also remember driving my co-workers at the time bat-shit crazy listening to all of the...
2012.06.05 The Appleseed Cast - Two Conversations
Color: Electric Green w/ Red, Green and White Splatter
Released: 2003, July 22 (Reissued in October of 2009)
Label: Tigerstyle/Graveface
This record is a personal fave of mine, which I’m sure is no surprise given the coverage I’ve given to this band so far on this blog. This one’s pretty special though. It’s not my favorite of theirs (that honor goes to LLO), and...
2012.06.04 Cocteau Twins - Treasure
Color: Black
Released: 1984, November
Label: 4AD
My comparison of Beach House to this band the other day got me thinking about them. Sadly, this is the only vinyl I currently own by Cocteau Twins. I have my friend Jessica Gockley to thank for introducing me to this band. In the same apartment building off Wilson in Chicago that I discovered Built To Spill, I was first introduced to the...
2012.06.03 Wye Oak - Strangers / Mother
Color: Black
Released: 2011, November 22
Label: Merge Records
I’m not going to lie. I’ve not been doing the greatest job of this blog lately. I hate to make excuses, but work has been intense lately and then there’s the venture I do with my significant other that’s been keeping me busy as well. Anyway, as a result this blog is technically being crafted a day late. Here...
2012.06.02 Native Lights - Blackwater
Color: Transparent Red
Released: 2009, December (?)
Label: Hardwork Records
The chances of liking a band including members of two different bands that you already like are usually good. So it was pretty much a no-brainer that I would enjoy the sounds being put forth by Native Lights - who consist of members of the criminally underrated Ester Drang and Unwed Sailor. The best thing about this...
2012.06.01 Built To Spill - Perfect From Now On
Color: Black
Released: 1997, January 28
Label: Warner Bros
First heard this record in a friend’s apartment in Chicago in 2001 and it blew my fucking mind. I immediately sought it out. The album title contains a word that pretty sums up the album: Perfect. A little bit pop, a little bit indie rock guitar masterpiece, some clever wordplay - all an amazing listening experience. Each...
