Vinyl news #7 - Spitalfield

No, I didn't stop buying vinyl.  I just don't feel like it should be my responsibility to tell y'all when each and every exciting record is released.  Especially since that means more competition for me.  But since this is the underrated Spitalfield's magnum opus Remember Right Now, and since it's never been released on vinyl (thanks Victory), and since the record company (RTBR) is tiny and up-and-coming, I'll come right out and say it: you can buy Remember Right Now here.  

And I was j/k about my responsibility re: vinyl news- I've neglected my duty.  Records are a right, not a privilege.

What will you get when you place your order?  Music wise, one of the finest pop-rock/ pop-punk records of the aughts.  A record I listened to in my car non-stop after the generous A. Cor bought it for me on CD at Best Buy.  Crystal clear, expressive vocals from M. Rose, catchy music, and not just another trip down feel-sorry-for-yourself-pop-punk-lane-lyrics either.  Vinyl wise, some color variants and even test presses for sale.  Nice!

Did you hear? Random Candy - Greatest Hits

 

This is Random Candy's third release, Greatest Hits.  We recorded the songs in January and February, but because of unfortunate delays, we haven't released them until now.  You can stream two new jams on Myspace, but what I really think you should do is download the songs from Mediafire so that they can become a part of your Itunes lifestyle.  Plus, you'll get an extra song and boost our last.fm stats. 

Tracklisting
1. Alison
2. Lindsay Weir
3. Untitled

Get it here!
Myspace

Did you hear? Will Noise

 

Few recordings have achieved the legendary status of Will's Noise project.  And to think these five songs almost never saw the light of day.

The story goes like this.  Sometime in high school, Will, a founding member of 3B, told the rest of 3B that he had made some demented recordings on his computer.  He used these recordings to wake his brother late at night, and then got grounded because, as I mentioned, these recordings are demented.  Five 30-second bursts of screaming and noise-making that would swell Jonathan Davis's Korn-heart (I'm sure Davis's ramblings on "Freak on a Leash" inspired Will- he did a killer impression).  Imagine waking up at 2 AM to Noise. 

Will kept Noise to himself despite unrelenting pressure from 3B to leak it.  Then one day after cross country practice, he told us we could hear the songs.  I don't think I've ever had more anticipation or laughed harder than when I first heard Noise.  This is a great example of outsider art; who will disagree with me?  It's hard to listen to this distorted garbage- the spikes, the ear-piercing frequencies, the sheer volume of it.  Even the track order is perfect.  So many rumors of a sequel, but he has officially squashed them.  This was a one-time-only deal, and I am glad I was there to witness it firsthand.  

I often played Noise at college parties to the horror of my guests.  Tell me what you think, and feel free to share your personal experiences.  What is your favorite Noise track?  It's hotly debated.  I like...

 CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

The Judy Clocks - A Cover Project

Jordan Anderson and I talked about making some music on a cold day in February, and in March,  we convened in his Downers Grove basement to make it happen.  Here is our cover of the classic Slowdive song, "40 Days."  I'm happy with the product.  I'm happy that we strayed from shoegaze conventions and gave it our own spin.  In case you're wondering, the original "40 Days" can be found on Souvlaki, one of my favorite records ever.  

Jordan played ukulele, electric guitar, and percussion.  He sang backup vocals and recorded too.

I played electric guitar and percussion, and I sang the lead.  I don't know how to record music on a computer.

Because I come up with band names so regularly, I asked J. if he wanted to call the project something other than Pat & Jordan or whatever other Joe's Brewery name we could have come up with.  Hence, The Judy Clocks.  Google the term if you want to know where it comes from.

Thanks for listening!

Did you hear? Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends Demo

As a responsible blogger, I think about my entries long before I write and submit them.  I take a bunch of things into consideration before uploading a record.  

1 - Does anyone want this record?

2 - Will uploading this record please my existing readers?

3 - Will uploading this record bring in new readers?

4 - Can I say something new in my entry and thus justify my uploading this record?

Taking Back Sunday recently announced that they're back with the original Tell All Your Friends lineup.  The announcement generated a lot of interest, and I'm sure people want to hear the old stuff.  I'm guessing everyone already has TAYF so here's the demo.  Check box #3.

In this entry, I can talk about a broader phenomenon in music: the great debut.  Check box #4.  

Journalists appreciate bands that work hard and develop their sound- bands that finally come into their own on albums four or five.  While I love these bands too, I'm also impressed by bands that arrive on the scene fully-formed with a unique sound and songs to boot.  Taking Back Sunday's Tell All Your Friends is so complete and impossible to improve upon that I'm surprised they even tried.  Obviously, the later stuff is not very good.  

Out of the five songs on this demo, four made it to the LP.  My favorite TBS song, "Bike Scene," is here in rudimentary form.  The only song that didn't make the cut- an acoustic song called "Your Own Disaster"- illustrates how impressive TBS really was in 2002.  "Your Own Disaster" is generic and boring.  Their sound just couldn't accommodate wimpy shit like it so it got the axe.  They knew what worked, and because it worked, they made three more records.  My last point: breaking up isn't hard to do. 

Get it here!  

What other bands arrived with the perfect sound and vision?  What happened to those bands? 

Cat Plaza #3

Did you follow through on your New Years Resolution to read Ulysses or Infinite Jest?  No?  Sorry about that; what you need is a nice easy read to help you through.  Introducing Cat Plaza #3.  The new issue is 16 pages (because you jokers don't submit work) and costs one dollar.  You can expect all the great things you've come to expect from my zine: top-notch short stories, music reviews, show reviews, opinions, and a report on my brief but life-changing encounter with Tommy Wiseau.  

Cat Plaza #3 is only available in person or by snail mail.  No paypal this time- no one used it and I still sold out of #2s.  If you're dead set on acquiring Cat Plaza by snail mail, you should send me 2 dollars, your address, and a fun note.  Maybe then I'll consider driving to the post office to accommodate you.  Just kidding, I love all my readers near and far.

Summer #1: 30 copies SOLD OUT
Fall #2: 40 copies SOLD OUT (The last copies are gathering dust at Quimby's.)
Spring #3: 50 copies ACT NOW

No reprints ever.

Did You Hear? Sea of Treasures

A lot of brainiacs tell me they like jazz because they know I like jazz.  We start talking, and they tell me all about their obsessions with John Coltrane, the 39 Miles records they got on their computer, the near-mint copy of Take Five they found in the bargain racks.  I nod my head and wait for them to leave because they are fucking stupid.  You don't like jazz unless you like Sea of Treasures.  This is the most ferocious and interesting cult-jazz record out there.  The saxophone playing rivals Brick Blackwell's, and several songs boldly predict what jazz will look like in the future (if the right people take it there).  You won't find this at Starbucks, people.  This is jazz for players; this is jazz for the converted.

Get it here!