December 29, 2011

December 29th, 2011 : Cause & Effect : Most Influential Artists 2011 Recap

http://www.wrir.org/

It is impossible not to see annual music trends when you do a show like ours. Even more hard to ignore are the artists who come up year after year, no matter what direction music is headed. Some artists seem to be endlessly influential to other musicians and tonight's show is a celebration of just that. JJ an I looked over our shows from 2011 and compiled a list of the artists that we made many a repeat performance on our playlists.

Who might these classic highly influential artists be? Well tune into tonight from 7pm to 9pm to find out. Not only will it be like a greatest hits of sorts but JJ and I will be co-hosting the show together. PARTY!

December 22, 2011

"Like Everyone in the Music Industry, I'm Broke"

Check out the story of Shitty Gardens, I mean City Gardens.



For those of us who grew up in the Garden State and loved hardcore / punk, this was a venue, a cinder block box to be more exact located in what was truly the bowels of Trenton. I remember the first time I drove there with friends (I can't recall the show, maybe Bad Religion?) we kept driving deeper and deeper into what looked like an industrial wasteland and if we didn't find the club, we were certain we would be left for dead in some empty gnarly parking lot surrounded by abandoned factories and who knows what else. This was not your typical destination point but if you were a suburban kid into underground music, this was THE place to see band play. Even if you risked your life in and out of the joint to do it.

Inside the club, the shows were infamously violent so if you could survive the floor / pit of one of those shows, you could make it anywhere. And yet we were all some extended family of misfit toys and freaks living on the fringe of  normal society. It was exactly a home away from but it was some place we all considered important because so many great bands played there for so many years.

There is now a documentary about the place and the man who helped to make it all happen, Randy Now. A man who after bringing so much amazing music into our lives, is broke like the rest of us who have tried to survive in the music industry. The good news is, he appears to have one hell of a record collection. I've talked with Randy over the years for work related things and what impresses me about the guy still is after all these decades, he is no less passionate about music.

All hail City Gardens!

December 22nd, 2011 : Cause & Effect : Bon Iver



Tonight's show will be an extra special one. Not only is this a celebration of my high school intern's birthday who picked Grammy nominee Bon Iver for the artist of the week but we have a local superstar artist coming in as a surprise guest to help out with the show. I wish I could tell you more but I don't want to give away the big ending to tonight's Cause & Effect.

I regards to the music you will hear tonight, Justin Vernon, the man behind Bon Iver is involved in so many various projects, has so many off-shoot bands to his musical career that nearly all two hours is a celebration of his various musical going ons from the past decade.

Tune in tonight WRIR from 7pm to 9pm to hear his rich musical family tree and how it all ties into our home of Richmond, Virginia. Only on Cause & Effect!









December 19, 2011

Rap + Crust = Rust ? ? ?


The fine folks at Southen Lord tweeted this Lil' Wayne photo tonight and then this got me thinking of what Rap and crust punk would sound like. Oh wait, that was Crass.

December 16, 2011

Boards of Canada Show : Download Here.

Here is a link to download all of last night's show with Sean Lovelace. Enjoy! Next week's show will be about Bon Iver. It will be a birthday show for my lovely intern (one of her favorite artists) and will include a surprise on air guest if all goes according to plan.

December 15, 2011

December 15th, 2011 : Cause + Effect : Boards of Canada

Tonight from 7PM to 9PM I have a guest DJ joining me. Sean Lovelace will be giving us a glimpse into the world of Boards of Canada; a two piece composed of brothers who ask not to be tagged as an Electronic group.

What does that make them then? Tune in to find out! If you are looking to escape the stress of the holidays, let us bring you to a more peaceful place.

http://www.wrir.org/

Tonight's show will focus on not just their unsual influences (Joni Mitchell, really?) but their peers who are also helping to redefine electronic music (Aphex Twin, Squarepush), and the new crop of music artists (Clams Casino, Neon Indian) who owe BoC in a big way.

Download last night's show in full here.

 

 

 

Runners Up List for 2011

More stuff I really enjoyed this year:

Braids



We Were Promised Jetpacks



Jesu



Les Maledictus Sound


Moonbell



Il Abanico



And my favorite old record discovery was this one. I must have listened to the song Ophelia by Marie Blanche Verrgne & the Red Noise 100 times over the past few months. You can stream a bit of the song here.

December 14, 2011

Lightning's Girl 2011 Recap

My first attempt at this ended up reading more like a pity party for one but as a music blog I would like to stay on target and not dwell on the most horrendous year I have had or stress the unfortunate state of our nation and the world economy. The moral of this story is that even after being laid off twice in one year, being hit by a car while crossing the street (not to mention the tremendous amount of medical bills because I don't have health insurance), and feeling as close to rock bottom as a person can feel about their life, music is the one thing that continues to inspire me. Music connects humanity by a universal language that lets us all feel and share art without any of  the bullshit that divides us culturally. Creative expression through song is a gorgeous reminder of freedom, what it is like to be human and removed from the things that tie us down to our singular lives. Thank you music for freeing my spirit from an otherwise abysmal year and Kenny for playing the roll of my legs, arms, and brain for the months they were learning to work again.

I am happy to have made it to my first Goner Fest this year and loved it enough to want to go back every year from now on. As a label owner I am proud to have released Runhild Gammelsaeter's Amplicon and vinyl and bring the packaging I had dreamed of for it to life. There are many Cause & Effect radio shows I did this year that count as my favorite of all times (not to mention the most popular according to listeners) and those shows include Cave In, the history of sunshine Pop, Bob Schick of Honor Role, Voivod, and Converge.

It still also leaves me in shock and awe that we lost so many tremendous musicians this year and I feel like this year we said good-bye to so many inspiring women. (Trish of Broadcast, Ari from the Slits, and Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex to name just a few)

If there was a way to be 100% honest about collection of favorites, this first album would be on a list of its own. I have bowed to its alter more times than any other record this year. I will also say that live, despite them reminding me that I am 1 billion years old in rock years compared to their baby faces, their performance was phenomenal. This isn't just my number one record of the year - it is THE record of the year. Period.

Iceage - New Brigade - What's Your Rupture?



 
And then the rest of the albums I loved this year.
 
Chelsea Wolfe - Apokalypsis - Pendu Sound






El Rego - S/T - Daptone



The Men - Leave Home - Sacred Bones





Still Corners- Creatures of an Hour - Sub Pop




Tinariwen - Tassili - Anti



Dels - Gob - Big Dada



Bjork - Biophillia - Nonesuch








The LimiƱanas - S/T - Trouble In Mind (shhh - it really came out in 2010 but I didn't hear it until 2011)


Canary oh Canary - Last Night In Sunway Knolls - Self Released - Best local band band hands down!
 



And last but not least, a quick mention of the most talented photographer I know. Christian Patterson released a book this year called Redheaded Peckerwood. It is amazing like all of his work.


Redheaded Peckerwood (Book Dummy) by Christian Patterson from Christian Patterson on Vimeo.

December 13, 2011

December 12, 2011

Vinyl Stash Estimated up to $250k, Record Nerd Me Guesses More like $7k

The story goes something like this....

"12/5/2011 - WAKE ISLAND AIRFIELD, Wake Island (AFNS) -- In a tale straight from an adventure book, contractors here recently stumbled upon a vinyl record collection with an estimated value between $90,000 and $250,000.
The 611th Air Support Group's Detachment 1 is now making a comprehensive effort to preserve the nearly 9,000 vintage vinyl records and ship them to their rightful owner, the American Forces Radio and Television Network in Alexandria, Va., according to Master Sgt. Jean-Guy Fleury, the detachment's infrastructure superintendent, who took over the project from the former Detachment 1 commander, Maj. Aaron Wilt.
No digging was required to access this treasure, as the records were cataloged and neatly organized on shelves in a small room on the second floor of the Wake Island Airfield base operations building. The door was conspicuously stenciled with the name of a radio station, KEAD, and a "restricted area warning" sign, which kept most people out. "

"That's a locked room normally, but people in my department have known the records were there for years," said Colin Bradley, the communications superintendent with Chugach Federal Solutions, Inc. CFSI is the contractor that currently manages operations on Wake Island with the oversight of Air Force quality assurance personnel.


"Because of the completeness of the collection, I assumed it was quite valuable," Bradley said. "I have not run across a collection that well preserved or that intact in my career. It's a little time capsule."
The collection includes a variety of vinyl albums and records specially made for military audiences and distributed monthly by the American Forces Radio and Television Network as well as some commercially available records.
"In 1942, the American Forces Radio Service was started to get American music out to the troops overseas," said Larry Sichter, the American Forces Network Broadcast Center Affiliate Relations Division chief. "Some of the radio productions were original, like GI Jill and Command Performance, and have significant value."


The article goes on to say


"The exact dates the low-powered AM station operated on Wake Island remain unclear, but Bradley shared his estimate.

"I would guess that (KEAD) started in the 60s due to the dates on the records," he said. "Also, the FAA controlled Wake Island until the mid-60s, so an armed forces radio station wouldn't have been here. I would guess it wrapped up maybe in the 70s or with the advent of satellite radio.""

And then...

"Since Wake Island Airfield is a tiny 1,821-acre atoll located about 2,000 miles west of Hawaii and 2,000 miles east of Japan, it is possible that the cost and logistics of returning the records to the mainland were prohibitive at the time the radio station was shut down, officials said.
So now, about 30 years after the last record was spun on KEAD, Fleury is spearheading the operation to ship the records back to AFRTS. He has estimated that it will take approximately 75 16-inch-by-16-inch boxes, and a total of about $10,000 worth of specialized material to properly pack up the records. AFRTS is providing the materials and Detachment 1 will do the packing, he said."


As a long time record collector and record store employee all I can think is this. If the collection is anything like your average person's collection (or DJ collection) reflecting that time period, the guestimatation of this collection is grossly over valued and probably not worth shipping anywhere. I would love to know who priced out this collection because I hazard to guess that a knowledgeable music person was NOT the one who set the value of these records. There is this never ending assumption that because some records are old, they are naturally worth something. This same mentality is applied to vinyl record "relics" priced 100 times their actual worth at antique stores. Non record stores go by how old something is to price an item and that logic doesn't work on records. Unless the radio station was serviced by weirdo small boutique labels around the world (doubtful), my bet is that over half of the collection is total junk, the kind of records one would find at any thrift store across America.

If these folks were smart they would create a list of what these records are and get them looked at by an actual music / record buying expert to determine their worth and only then, spend any sort of crazy high dollar amount to ship them somewhere new. I would just hate to see any real time and effort spent over a collection that could very easily feature the kind of LPs that nobody wants or values. I love a great happy ending story when it comes to someone discovering a random record collection but my gut tells me that this one will be end in a yawn.

And don't even get me started on how any large number of records should ship be shipped. I have three words for the Air Force - DOUBLE BOX THEM  ! ! ! But seriously, talk to an expert before you even think about keeping them / mailing them at all.

December 10, 2011

Guitar Made of Skateboards

Super cool but I have to wonder how they sound....

December 7, 2011

Post-Hardcore Flashback : Karate

A friend was asking about old Emo bands (what I still prefer to call post-hardcore but you say po-tay-toe I say po-tah-toe) and then my head went into a frenzy of bands I loved / played shows with / was friends with back in the early '90s.

In 1996 Dahlia Seed went on our one and only U.S. tour and there are certain tapes we had in the van that I will never forget. Karate was one of them and this song in particular makes me think of 1996 fondly. Even if it was 5 boys in a cramped van and me for 6 weeks.

December 3, 2011

Tom Waits Follow Up Part One

I don't know what is going on with out radio station stream right now but when I played back the recording of the Tom Waits show, I was mortified to discover that the full two hours was bathed in hiss and static crackles. While that sort of works in relation to the kind of artist Waits is in respect to digging the imperfect - if you are a fan trying to connect the dots to all the music that has inspired to sound the way he does, it gets old fast.

What I have decided to do it post my nerdy set list and notes to the show (and in turn see how I prep for the kind of show I do) - and include all of the music from this Cause & Effect episode as well as the songs I didn't have a chance to play. YAY!



Tonight's show is all picked by Tom Waits himself. He created a handwritten list of influences and favorites songs to Mojo Magazine and I have in turn created a whole radio show built from that list with an additional 4 Tom Waits songs picked by listeners. (Plus one off the new record) Thank you friends and listeners!


TOM QUOTE : "You take a little bit from here and a little bit from there. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. My dad's hat, my mom's underwear, my brother's motorcycle, my sister's pool cue... and there you go." (Source: "Mojo interview with Tom Waits ". Mojo: Barney Hoskyns. April 1999)

There isn't much that hasn't influences Tom Waits in some way or another but working off his list of favorite songs - I organize his playlist and am starting off tonight's show with some Blues.


Harlem Nocturn 3:49 Bo Thorpe
John The Revelator 1:33 Son House
Come On In My Kitchen 2:54 Robert Johnson
Don't You Mind People Grinning In Your Face 2:24 Climax Blues Band
Way Down In The Hole 3:30 Tom Waits - Franks Wild Years - released 1987 on Island Records
Cause Of It All 2:46 Howlin Wolf
Hound Dog 2:52 Big Mama Thornton
Ice Cream For Crow 4:35 Captain Beefheart -Tom Waits QUOTE (1999): "Once you've heard Beefheart, it's hard to wash him out of your clothes. It stains, like coffee or blood. (The music) encouraged a lot of people to go into some kind of a cocoon and come out as something (different) than when they went in. (Source: "Tom Waits: The Restless Iconoclast": The Oregonian (USA), by Michael Evans. Date: October 15, 1999)
Spring Can Really Hang You Up 4:06 Stan Getz
I Think It's Going To Rain Today 2:58 Randy Newman - narrative style - soundtrack friendly - unusual voices
Martha 4:31 Tom Waits - Closing Time - Closing Time is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Tom Waits, released in March 1973 on Asylum Records. Produced and arranged by former Lovin' Spoonful member Jerry Yester, Closing Time was the first of seven of Waits's major releases through Asylum, the final being Heartattack and Vine (1980).
Please, Please, Please 2:45 James Brown and the Famous Flames - an idol of his in grade school and high school
I Started A Joke 3:09 Bee Gees
The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage 2:59 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
We Can Work It Out 2:16 Beatles
Bring It On Home To Me 2:42 The Animals
I Just Want To See His Face 2:53 - Rolling Stones - Exile On Main Street - early influence plus Keith Richards has played with Tom Waits on record and Tom has lent his vocals on a stones record Dirty Work
The Wind Cries Mary 3:21 Jimi Hendrix 
Satisfied 4:05 Tom Waits - Bad As Me -Bad as Me is the seventeenth studio album by American rock musician Tom Waits, released on October 21, 2011 by ANTI- Records -Bad As Me is Tom Waits' first studio album of all new music in seven years. This pivotal work refines the music that has come before and signals a new direction. Waits, in possibly the finest voice of his career, worked with a veteran team of gifted musicians and longtime co-writer/producer Kathleen Brennan
Fever 2:43 Little Willie John 
Riot In Cell Block Number Nine 3:40 Dr Feelgood
Goin' Out West 3:20 Tom Waits - Bone Machine- Bone Machine is a critically acclaimed and award-winning album by Tom Waits, released in 1992 on Island Records. It won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album, and features guest appearances by Los Lobos' David Hidalgo, Primus' Les Claypool, and The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards.
96 Tears 2:56 ? and the Mysterians 

*************************PART TWO ******************************

Tom Waits (1999): "I usually try to put some weather on there, some names of places and people, and maybe a recipe or two, so my record becomes like a survival kit that people can take on camping trips." (Source: "Wily Tom Waits' breakthrough". Now On: Tim Perlich. April 22-28, 1999)

No More Auction Block For Me  5:28           Sweet Honey In The Rock    Songs Of The Civil War - 18th century protest song against slavery   
Sixteen Tons    2:38      Tennessee Ernie Ford          
Sylvie  5:23     Harry Belafonte - Most of the people that are really influencing you, no one would necessarily see. They've really become just stains on your undershirt." "I can't sing like Harry Belafonte, but I love him. If I told you all I'm doin' is trying to sound like Harry Belafonte, you wouldn't get it. And I want to play piano just like Liberace. And dance like, I don't know, Fred Astaire and James Brown. Most of us are contraptions that we made." (Source: Los Angeles Times - 2004) 
Delia's Gone 2:19        Johnny Cash   
So Long It's Been Good to Know You (War Version)   2:47     Woody Guthrie                               
Ich Bin Von Kopf Bis Fuss Auf Liebe Eingestellt (Falling In Love Again)  2:28  William S. Burroughs      Ballad In Plain D         8:17      Bob Dylan     " Suffice it to say Dylan is a planet to be explored. For a songwriter, Dylan is as essential as a hammer and nails and a saw are to a carpenter. I like my music and the rinds and the seeds and pulp left in, so the bootlegs I obtained in the '60s and '70s are where the noise and grit of the tapes became inseparable from the music, are essential to me. His journey as a songwriter is the stuff of myth, because he lives within the ether of the songs. (Source: HearMusic.com. October 1999)             
You Are My Sunshine             2:58      Ray Charles   - The Ultimate Ray Charles Collection - "I knelt at the altar of Ray Charles for years. I worked at a restaurant, and that's all there was on the jukebox " Tom Waits quote                         
Wade In The Water    2:57     The Staple Singers  
Ode To Billy Joe         4:15     Bobbie Gentry                                  
Step Right Up 5:43     Tom Waits  - 1976 Asylum Records - 4 album-  The music for the most part consists of Waits' hoarse, rough voice, set against a backdrop of piano, upright bass, drums and saxophone. Some tracks have a string section, whose sweet timbre is starkly contrasted to Waits' voice.
Midnight In Moscow 2:54      Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen                                  
A Fool In Love           2:41     Ike & Tina Turner                                       
Be-Bop-A-Lula           2:35     Gene Vincent Wild at Heart                                                 
Shake Rattle And Roll            3:00     Big Joe Turner                                            
Volver Volver 2:58     Vicente Fernandez (King of Ranchera) Waits, who taught himself how to play the piano on a neighbor's instrument, often took trips to Mexico with his father, who taught Spanish; he would later say that he found his love of music during these trips through a Mexican ballad that was "probably a Ranchera, you know, on the car radio with my dad."                  
Jesus blood never failed me yet           3:58      Gavin Bryars - Tune was recorded by Gavin Bryars in 1971 for Alan Powers' documentary / loop of a vagrant singing a hymn of that name. On top of that loop, rich harmonies played by a live ensemble are built, always increasing in density, before the whole thing gradually fades out. A new recording of this work was made in the 1990s with Tom Waits singing along with the original recording of the vagrant during the final section. 
Angel Eyes      3:42     Frank Sinatra                                                           
Nature Boy      2:55      Nat King Cole- Nat King Cole - The Ultimate Collection              
Is That All There Is      4:21      Peggy Lee      

Here is the link to my WRIR show post.

December 1, 2011

December 1st, 2011 : Cause & Effect : Tom Waits


Have you ever wondered what a mixed tape from Tom Waits would sound like? Tune into WRIR from 7PM to 9PM tonight to find out!

A few years ago Tom Waits gave MOJO magazine handwritten lists of his favorite songs, many of which he considered to be a huge influence on him as a musician. I took his final list of "58 flavors" and tracked down about 85% of the material, placed it in a thoughtful order, and created a whole two hour show from it. I then asked friends and listeners to vote on their favorite Tom Wait's songs and have incorporated those 4 songs in tonight's show too.

If you are anything like me and have never considered yourself a huge Waits fanatic, this show just might surprise you. I may not bow to the alter of Tom Waits but that man sure does have some impeccable taste. His influences are all over the place and I have to tell you that his list of songs have opened my ears to better understand and appreciate his own catalog of music. This has turned into one of my favorite Cause & Effect shows of the year!







November 28, 2011

Babes In Toyland : We are Family

Huh. I missed this completely. Apparently is was on their final album Nemesisters in 1995. I think I had given up on the them by that point in time but someone on turntable.fm just played this song and that led to me uncovering this video.


November 23, 2011

Why I Secretly Dread Record Store Day

Let me qualify my rant below by saying I have worked at independent record stores on and off since 1988 and am currently working part time at one now. I have spent over 15 years in independent music distribution, run a small record label, and have been a recording artist since the early '90s. More importantly I am a rabid music fan who lives and breathes music even when I am not working in the industry or doing my radio show.

In short I am looking at and have experienced Record Store Day from all possible angles. I know exactly the kind of long and hard work it takes from behind the scenes to make RSD happen and have seen first hand the many perks it offers bands, labels, distributors, stores, and ultimately music fans. I get it. I appreciate Record Store Day on many levels (not to mention that a thriving music industry keeps a person like me employed full time - although not presently - HIRE ME PLEASE!) but I actually secretly dread RSD and here is why.

From the outside this now twice a year event (April and November) celebrates physical products and the good old fashion record store. The press RSD gathers brings plenty of attention to struggling record shops, labels, and bands world wide. The more people talk about the event and hype the records available on RSD, the more it drives people into the store and creates sales for all involved. YAY! Right? Well, in theory that all sounds super swell but what music fans don't know is how many headaches there are on the back end of this event.

First of all if a label / band wants to press a record or make some sort of special product for Record Store Day they need money to fund whatever this limited one time pressing is. If something is limited this means so is the amount of money a label and band makes from whatever it is they create for the occasion. Yes, for most labels and bands (and distributors for that matter) they look at RSD releases more as marketing tools for a band rather than something they will actually profit from but either way, it still takes money to make this limited item and limiting your profit is a risky venture, especially if the artist or release turns out to be a less than loved item among fans.

Remember that fans AKA record store customers only have so much money to spend on RSD so if there are 20 releases they want, they can't necessarily afford to by them all. If a release doesn't have top notch distribution (IE any and all record stores can find and buy your release with ease) or doesn't have high demand from fans, a label just spent a couple grand for no good reason. Unless it is a quality release by a truly popular band with a label that has strong distribution, creating a RSD release can be a gamble. It is nearly impossible to determine the success or popularity of any given RSD release in advance (before the actual pressing takes place) so this forces a label to typically press a small number of records. While collector's love things that are limited because it ultimately may drive up the worth of their purchase, the very limited nature of many of these records makes it a living hell - truly an absolute nightmare for a store to try and track down no less purchase because every other store in the country is fighting over a mere 500 to a few thousand copies of one release.

There are a TON of record stores across America ( I wish I had the exact number but over 700 for sure) and then some of those businesses have multiple locations (like Newbury or Amoeba), so the total number of store fighting over a small number of copies is staggering. More established larger stores tend to get more copies than newer /smaller stores (and are also better connected to labels, bands, and distros) so while fans nation wide are reading about these wonderful rare records coming out for Record Store Day, they don't understand how slim the chances are that their local store will be lucky enough to get any of them no less multiple copies of one release. The next time you are tempted to curse out your local store for not having some super limited record on Record Store Day, know that it isn't because they forgot, suck, don't care....it is because it isn't just limited to fans, it is limited to the stores too. (I am talking to you guy who called me from your cell phone as you waited in line for our store to open and watched me through the glass arrange the RSD titles on the table and then freaked out at me because we only had one copy of the record you wanted.)

There is yet another nuisance attached to RSD; holy hell it is expensive! Few record store customers realize how expensive it is for a store to buy all these limited, non returnable items for their customers to hopefully buy. (Again larger shops have credit with distributors but smaller record stores have to pay for records on the spot.) The brand new record you pay for at a record shop isn't typically marked up some tremendous amount. (nothing compared to most retail products) Stores make next to nothing on new releases so they are forking out thousands of dollars for this product (some bigger stores $10,000 or more!!!!) and the profit margin they make from these sales is minimal. The only real way a store makes a tremendous profit from RSD is if customers buy other items in the store that carry a much higher mark up that day (shirts, posters, used records, toys...and so on), or if they become repeat customers for years to come (not just 2x a year for limited RSD titles).

In this economy, trying to buy boatloads of hot new releases is really pricey and risky for any shop. And then to add insult to injury, just because the store wants to order let's say a total of 200 records for Record Store Day, some stores are shorted as much as 80% of what they actually want. Think about it; the demand for these records are out there but to keep RSD titles cool and collectible, labels limit the number pressed to such a small number that many stores don't get certain releases at all. That not only removes profit from their pocket but pisses off their customers who didn't get the record they wanted. Record Store Day creates a lot buzz but it equally creates a lot of disappointment when fans / customers don't get what they want. You would think if people are clammering to buy a physical product, labels and bands would want to press enough product to make all of their fans and stores who support them happy but this isn't how RSD works in reality at all.

The frustrations don't just end there. What is the end result beyond short shipped stores and pissed off customers who couldn't find what they really wanted on record store day? Ebay. The trumped up concept of rare records creates a brief collector's frenzy on Ebay that goes against the while posi concept of what Record Store Day is really supposed to be about. Even more ironic is the fact that in three months most of the "rare" Record Store Day releases drop in value. In fact many regular record store customers who shop in record stores every week or a few times a month and understand that most indie records have a limited pressing and find RSD to be an insult to a music fans like them. In our world, Record Store Day is every day and now two times a year this event brings out many of the amateur music buyers who have no idea that most record pressings are fairly limited in nature. Regular customers know that quality limited records come out every single week - not just for RSD. I repeat -

AMAZING, LIMITED, RECORDS COME OUT EVERY WEEK PEOPLE , EVERY WEEK ! ! ! 

RSD seems to appeal to flash in the pan type customers who are buying into a fad (or trying to make a quick buck on Ebay) rather than acting as a true music fan who will be a regular customer to that record store or support whatever band or record label in the years to come. This twice a year spike in business is great (a one time customer is better than no customer at all) but are the people supporting RSD in fact fair weather friends? Will we see the bulk of those customers again before the next RSD?

From personal experience I can't tell you how many people come in on Record Store Day and buy a big pile of records and then tell me that they don't even own a turntable. Ugh. That isn't what we are trying to achieve with RSD - is it?

Yes, Record Store Day is a highly profitable day for stores. Yes it brings in positive press about an industry going through massive changes and hard times. I am all for anything that reminds people that music still exists in a physical form for those who care to own it. I get it, I really do. I love a rare record as much as the next person but I also wanted to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. I wanted to think about why my stomach hurts when I see something like a tweet from NPR about 10 reasons to brave the crowds and head to your local record store on Black Friday.

I am that local record shop and I don't look forward to disappointing anyone - regular customer or not. I love the joyful exchange of selling a fan a piece of music they can't wait to get their hands on (or wrap their ears around) but I truly DREAD the moment when we can't deliver that gift of art.

November 21, 2011

Pike Floyd

Pure genius. More pepper spray art can be found here.

November 20, 2011

The Shamen - Something About You

I can't say I was ever a big fan of this Scottish group but my better half picked up this single at a record shop over the weekend and I can't seem to get it out of my head. The chorus has such a great power pop hook. Sure the lyrics are a bit basic but the song itself is really catchy.

November 14, 2011

Metal Quilts : Music Not the Element



Check out Quiltsryche - Metal inspired quilts that take you from Country to Count Grishnackh in seconds flat. (Okay, maybe they aren't that evil BUT you can get them custom made so you could make it happen!)

November 11, 2011

Blonde on Blonde : Contrasts


I almost passed this record up because I am not much of a Bob Dylan fan and clearly this Welsh band borrowed their name from his album title but when I saw that the LP opened up into this great picture, I had to at least give them a chance.

I am so glad I did. I can't say I love much about the B side but the A side is chock full of psych / prog gems. Now all I need to do is hunt down their other two records that followed this one.

One other interesting aspect of this record is the notes on the inside panel of the front cover. There you will find a recording chart for all 12 songs breaking down what instruments are being played on each of the 8 tracks. It gives a nice snapshot of what you are listening as the record plays out and I appreciate the sneak peak into how the songs were created.





RIYL: Incredible String Band, The Beatles, Pink Floyd







Voivod Cause & Effect Update

You can see the whole set list here.

Download  95% of last night's Voivod show here.

The last 5 songs didn't record for some reason so I have created a mini set of the final 5 here.

November 10, 2011

November 10th, 2011 : Cause & Effect : Voivod



Tonight and only on WRIR from 7pm to 9pm : the musical history of Voivod as only Cause & Effect can tell.

We will spend two hours exploring all their influences from punk (GBH), to metal (Venom), to prog (King Crimson), to 70's rock (Deep Purple) PLUS playing plenty of examples from their massive discography (and a few off-shoot bands).

If that wasn't enough to excite you we will also spend some time highlighting a few of Voivod's picks for their Roadburn Festival 2012 line up ( Au-delĆ  du RĆ©el). 


And don't worry, if you don't know anything about Voivod or maybe don't even care for metal, their music is deeply rooted in so many interesting directions that there is sure to be songs in tonight's set (Led Zep, Motorhead, Sabbath, DKs, Pistols) you will recognize and maybe have a whole new appreciation for in this context.


WRIR - 97.3 Richmond, Virginia

UPDATE:
You can see the whole set list here.
Download  95% of last night's Voivod show here.
The last 5 songs didn't record for some reason so I have created a mini set of the final 5 here.


















November 4, 2011

Canary oh Canary : Last Night in Sunway Knolls EP


Artist: Canary oh Canary
Title: Last Night in Sunway Knolls
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Label:  Self Released
Street Date: Out Now
RIYL: Deathrock, Television, early Cure, atmosphere bathed in reverb, memories that may or may not be yours
Righter Magnitude Rating Scale: Strong leaning towards major








Besides a band I once released on my label, or maybe someone relating back to my radio show, I don't write about local bands, well ever. It isn't to say there isn't a lot of interesting music to be found in my backyard but there hasn't been an artist or band I was so excited about that I felt the need to write about them.

Bands with three people tend to fall on one of two sides of the coin. They either desperately try to make up for having less people by adding pedals, extra amps, and absurd levels of attitude to sound like 100 people OR they fall incredibly short of sounding much like anything and like cheap beer, they don't pack much of a remarkable punch. Canary oh Canary doesn't rest flatly on either side. They spookily stand upright on its edge in perfect sonic balance. How do they do that?

The secret is no one band member over steps their boundaries. Not one of them over plays or drowns the other band mates out. Josie Davis plays bass. Michael Harl plays guitar and sings. Noell Alexander drums. They neatly take on specific rolls showing perfect restraint and leaving the perfect amount of space for the two members to fill.

There are two skills very few bands have, the first of which is playing economically. By this I mean they aren't scared of the space between notes and drum hits. They use these pauses to their advantage. Canary oh Canary's use of space is dramatic and often haunting but because so few musicians are capable of giving each member plenty of room to work in, you don't hear it often enough. This is the first thing that jumped out on me when I heard Canary oh Canary and saw them live. They are masters at decorating space by dabbing it with starry tones, notes and beats.

I also stand in awe of CoC's ability to listen to each other. You can truly tell when band members respect one another's roll within the group. So often musicians do battle in a studio or on stage and the result is a pissing contest that spills out to floor and stays there. Stagnant and flat. Then there are bands like Yo La Tengo who clearly have learned how to communicate with each other through their instruments. They have interesting, often gorgeous conversations on stage, and each member plays an important part of that engaging exchange. This is where Canary Oh Canary also captures my ear. They are perfectly organized and in sync with each other as they play. I want to hear what they have to say and can't wait to hear where each song will go.

Every song on this EP makes a distinct point, moving like chapters in a story that takes place under the cover of darkness. And the exciting part is you never quite know what all this lack of light will bring. Horror could lurk around the corner but so could a magnificent dream or ???

That is the beauty of empty, dark space; anything is possible.

The best band in Richmond right now is Canary of Canary. Do yourself a favor and go see them play live tomorrow night, November 5th at Strange Matter in RVA.

Best Business Cards Ever!

They look like a mixed tape, including a plastic case to hold them and a place to hand write your phone number. Mixtape Generation wins the best packaging of the week award.

November 3, 2011

Get to Know the Real N.Y.

Start here with part 1 of this great BBC documentary.

Next Bjork Record Theme + Video?

I vote for a collaboration between Bjork and artist Philip Beesley.

October 31, 2011

October 28, 2011

Pushy Parents

Pushy Parents are a newish band from Stockholm, Sweden I would think would appeal to those who like Camera Obscura, Lali Puna, Shout Out Louds, '60s girl groups, Ladytron, The School - you know, peppy girl fronted sugar coated electronic pop goodness.

PS: They have a new single you can buy / listen to here.



And for good measure - super cute The School video.

If Only More Bands Sounded Like This

AKA Broadcast, I miss you so much.

October 27, 2011

If you like Guided By Voices

You are a nerd. That's at least what this IT Crowd episode tells me. I am sure being an American watching a UK show called IT Crowd doesn't make you a nerd at all. Crap. This might make me a triple nerd as I am taking it upon myself to blog about it all. Guilty x3.

New York Punk Brought to You by John Peel

School yourself.

October 23, 2011

Sex Church

Can't say I love the name but I am digging the band's music. Sex Church = gothic garage filled with reverb and rage. Imagine something like the Country Teasers joining forces with Birthday Party.







October 22, 2011

Early '90s Playlist

I have been meaning to post this forever. Here is the list of songs Kenny and I played when we did our Year That Punk Broke DJ night.

Slint - Good Morning, Captain
Polvo - Vibracobra
Pitchfork - Burn Pigs Burn
Coral - Your Reward
Jawbox - Grippe
Slant 6 - What Kind Of Monster
Vaselines - Molly's Lips
Nirvana - School
Skin Yard - The Lonely Place
Jesus Lizard - Fly on the Wall
Fluid - Black Glove
RFTC - Sturdy Wrists
Tad - Jinx
Mother Love Bone - Holy Roller
L7 - Shove
Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl
Hole - Teenage Whore
Lilys - February 14th
Shudder to Think - Chocolate
Hazel - She's Super Sonic
Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Happy
Unrest - Cath Corrall
Seaweed - One out of Four
Faith No More - Falling to Pieces
Soundgarden - Outshined
Mudhoney - Touch Me I'm Sick
Sugarshack - Your a Freak
Helmet - Unsung
Melvins - Night Goat
Afghan Whigs - Hate It
Dinosaur Jr - Wagon
Teenage Fanclub - Star Sign
MBC - Honey Power
Swerverdriver -Son of a Mustang Ford
Screaming Trees - Nearly Lost You
Green Day - Paper Lanters
Jawbreaker - Chersterfield King
Pixies - Alec Eiffel
Smashing Pumpkins - Tristessa
Blur - There's No Other Way
Breeders - Cannonball
Alice In Chains - Would?
Soundgarden - Heretic (birthday request)
Pearl Jam - State of Love
Sonic Youth - Kool Thing
Veruca Salt - Seether  (birthday request)
Babes in Toyland - He's My Thing
Stone Temple Pilots - Wicked Garden
Archers of Loaf - Wrong
Superchunk - Slack Motherfucker
Mudhoney - In N Out of Grace
Rage Against the Machine - Freedom
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Dwarves - Drug Store

October 20, 2011

October 20th, 2011 : Cause & Effect : David Lynch

I think few people could have expected that the Eagle Scout gone film director of such mind melters like Eraserhead would go on to influence a whole new generation of music makers. Romantic, heartbreaking, unnerving  sexy, and mysterious; Lynch along with his most famous of musical collaborators Angelo Badalamenti are masters of creating a mood that can destroying your soul in way that is both haunting and beautiful. I don't know how anyone can be so masterful at marrying hope to sadness but they do it - no less adding layers of sexual tension and horror.

Follow me into the dark woods from 7PM to 9PM tonight on WRIR and don't forget your flashlight. You are going to need it. I will not only showcase the shadowy and seductive music from David's films and TV show Twin Peaks but I will also play lots of examples of his own music, including brand new music from his upcoming record Crazy Clown Time that will be released November 8th via Sundays Best Recordings. And yes, there are TONS of musicians making music that is worthy of a Lynch film and I will play many of those groups tonight as well.

UPDATE:    Download the whole show here.               The tracklisting is here.















October 15, 2011

Another favorite of 2011 : Still Corners

New record Creatures of an Hour is out now on Sub Pop and also wins a spot on my David Lynch radio show. (Although it is hard not to think of Broadcast and the Cranes too)








Favorite New Artist of 2011 (new to me at least) : Chelsea Wolf

Thanks to Talia for directing me towards her and as fate had it, a perfect fit for the David Lynch Cause + Effect show I am working on for this week. Her newest album Apokalypsis is out now on Pendu Sound Recordings.










October 13, 2011

October 13th, 2011 : Cause & Effect : NIRVANA

Tonight from 7PM to 9PM on WRIR I will explore the musical family tree that is NIRVANA. I am quite certain there will at least something for the experts on the group to those of you who still insist that Mudhoney were better.

I moved to Seattle in early 1994  at the age of 23 (right before Kurt's suicide) to work at record label called C/Z Records but I obsessively followed all things Seattle starting in the late '80s.  Because of this early passion for grunge, my private collection of early Sub Pop material (both printed matter and music) is rather extensive and in turn my knowledge of this scene comes from first hand experiences.

Rather accidentally I lucked into a part time job cleaning an artist's studio at the top of a lovely lakeside house that was a few doors down from where Kurt and Courtney lived. The side window overlooked a part of the Cobain property that offered a birds eye view of part of the building we all later learned in the press was where Kurt died. If there was terrible time to move to a city you spent half a decade worshipping, this was it. I grieved with the world as kid from NJ who grew up loving the music of NIRVANA and I certainly never expected life to lead me literally to death's door.

I think my story in many ways isn't exceptional. There were a lot of us who were around the same age as the members of NIRVANA and felt a deep connection with their songs, music that was rebellious, at times angry, and had lyrics that were ambiguous enough to make them your own. We all sort of grew up together and whether you knew the group or not, the death of Kurt represented not only the end of a band we loved, but our wild, troubled youth as well.

Tonight will not only be a nice excuse to visit some music that I know changed my life but maybe a few of yours too.

I can't legally read on air some of what the opening page of NIRVANA's press kit for Bleach says but I have posted it here for all to enjoy. I think this gives you a pretty good hint of what to expect from my show tonight.

UPDATE: The final tracklisting can be found here.
UPDATE 2: Download the whole show here.

October 6, 2011

October 6th, 2011: Cause & Effect : Death Cab For Cutie

JJ is at the helm of Cause &Effect tonight and his band of the evening is Death Cab For Cutie. Tune in from 7PM to 9PM tonight to hear about the band's influences, peers, side projects, and followers. Stream the show live at www.wrir.org.

September 30, 2011

Doves Covering The Smiths Circa 2002

I don't care if you aren't into opera.

THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING THING I HAVE EVER SEEN.

"AndrƩ ChƩnier, the most famous work by the Italian composer Umberto Giordano, is brought to life for the Opera on the Lake floating stage of the 2011 Bregenz Opera Festival in Bregenz, Austria by stage designer David Fielding under the artistic direction of David Pountney"









More information and images can be found here. And here.

September 29, 2011

Download The Gonerfest 8 Recap WRIR Show

Here is a link to tonight's radio show.

And here is a link to the set list.

And sadly I ran out of time for these songs but they were played in spirit.

Buick Mackane  - Ty Segall
Brain Zip  - Human Eye  
Senso Unico copy  - TwoTears
Memphis Blues  - The Reatards
Shake Real Low  - The King Khan & BBQ Show
Frustrate Me  - Carbonas
Tammy - Final Solutions

September 29th, 2011: Cause & Effect : Gonerfest 8 Recap

I'm baacccckkkk! After taking a few weeks off to heal from my accident, I will be on air tonight recapping Gonerfest 8 that took place in Memphis last week/weekend.

My interest in Goner Records started early on. I am a big fan of garage rock - new and old - and this label has always been among one of the most solid who don't just release this kind of music but certainly are best known for it. They began all the way back in 1993 releasing music by such luminaries as Guitar Wolf and The Oblivians. For those who don't know the label, it was founded by Eric Friedl of the Oblivians and over the years have released some damn fine music by artists like Jay Reatard (and all his various projects), King Khan, Eddy Current, Ty Segall...and that list goes on and on.

However Goner isn't just a record label, in 2004 Eric and Zac from The Final Solutions opened up a record store in Memphis, TN and they are still going strong. Not just as a flagship to the label but for all kinds of local music, garage, blues, indie rock, and so on.

Then in 2005 came Gonerfest and as you might have guessed by the name it is a music festival put on by the label / store. This annual event features bands on their label as well as bands from all over the world they dig, as well as showcasing some of the best music from the local scene as well.

So there you have it. A label. A store. A fest. A music nerd's dream come true and all quality. I attended my first Gonerfest this year and saw over 30 bands play from last Thursday to Sunday. I took in a lot of great music, bought a ton of cool records, and met some incredibly friendly people from all over the world. (So many Australians!) This seemed like the perfect time to finally celebrate all that is Goner related so tonight from 7PM to 9PM on Cause & Effect, I will be playing about 75% of the bands that played the fest and in order of their appearance at the fest. How is that for some nerdy shit? I will also spin some classic Goner artists and show off a few of the records I scored during my visit to Memphis as well. (A BIG thank you to Shangri-La Records for helping me find girl group records)

And I didn't take pictures of the shows because I gotta be honest. While I appreciate a photographer who can capture a live band well, I really hate the billion of people who take over audiences these days with their cell phones snapping terrible picture after blurry mess blocking the sight of all the people behind them. I hate them, they ruin the show experience for me and I dread being one of those people.

Stream the show live at WWW.WRIR.ORG or check back here in a day for the link to dowload the show and se the full set list.

September 20, 2011

GRRRL POWER ON ABC?

According to this site:  "The as-yet-untitled project would revolve around a “super cool” 1990s all-girl band who, after 20 years of bad blood, tries to reunite though they’re no longer girls and no longer cool."
The article goes on to say, "“We both loved Spinal Tap and The Go-Go’s and this is a way to meld those together; what would The Go-Go’s be like if they had a huge horrible break-up and then reunited 20 years later?” Crittenden told THR. “We’ve since adjusted it to be like four Gwen Stefani [characters].”


And all brought to you by TWO FEMALE WRITERS no less. YAY ! (Seinfeld writer Jennifer Crittenden and Scrubs scribe Gabrielle Allan.). More ladies in Hollywood writing please.

High fives all around!

Choose Your Own Cause & Effect

WRIR's Summer Fund Drive is upon us. C&E will be having a very special show this Thursday, September 22. JJ will be manning the decks to host two hours focusing on the works, influences, and those influenced by the artists YOU, the Donor, choose! (And a HUGE thank you to JJ for covering for me this week!!!!)

Tune in to WRIR from 7pm-9pm. Call in and make your donation. In addition to the other premiums if you donate during this time, you will get to choose (from a pre-approved list) who C&E will be focused on.

Don't like the artist we're focusing on? Donate to have us switch it up!

Akron/Family $50
Animal Collective $100
Archers of Loaf - $100
The Band/The Last Waltz - $100
Broadcast - $50
Celine Dion $200
Dave Matthews Band $1,000
Falco $100
Grandaddy $50
Flaming Lips - $100
Guided by Voices - $100
Iron & Wine - $100
Justien Bieber $5,000
LCD Soundsytem $100
Magnetic Fields $50
Mogwai $50
Neutral Milk Hotel $50
Ninja Tune Records - $50
R.E.M $100
Radiohead $100
Siouxie and the Banshees - $50
Smog - $50
Spiritualized $50
Sufjan Stevens $50
Talking Heads $100
They Might Be Giants $50
U2 $100
Vampire Weekend $50
Velvet Underground $100
The Walkmen - $50
Wanda Jackson - $100

September 17, 2011

Fela Soul

Did you like the idea of Danger Mouse's Grey Album? Check this out!

"What do you get when you put together afrobeat legend Fela Kuti and rap pioneers De La Soul? You get Fela Soul; a musical tapestry created by Gummy Soul artist Amerigo Gazaway. More than just a clever title, Fela Soul is an 8-track, 33 minute journey into the world of afrobeat rhythms, funky horn riffs, and classic hip-hop gems. Using dozens of hand-picked samples from the Nigerian instrumentalist and political figure Fela Kuti, and 8 carefully-chosen acapellas from the Native Tongue rap trio De La Soul, Amerigo seamlessly intertwines the two into something completely new and original."

Follow them: twitter.com#!/Gummy_soul
Donate to the cause at www.gummysoul.com

Be sure to check out the video at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANp-b3mXCLM

Final Notes on the Bob Schick Show Are Now Posted!

I added them to my last post so everything (download links, set list link, and additional song info) would be all in one place. Go here to read them.

September 16, 2011

WRIR Fun(d) Drive Starts Today and Why You Should Care

It is that time of year again and our incredible local radio station needs your donations to help keep us going. We are 100% funded by our community and run 100% by volunteers like me.

Here are my top 10 reason why WRIR  is worth your donation:

1) Our quality of daytime programming like Democracy Now! and locally produced talk programs that spotlight local issues. It is just as important to know what is happening in your backyard as it is the rest of the world. We are THE go to place for what is happening in Richmond, VA - in real time. We are the mirror to our diverse and wonderful community. The more you listen to WRIR, the more you know your city. KNOW YOUR CITY! KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS! The more you know, the more there is to love.

2) Passionate, thoughtful music DJs bringing shows that can't be heard anywhere else on the planet. Our local talent pool simply blows my mind. I thought I knew a lot about music but then I talk to somebody like Buzzy and realize that I don't. Something you might not know about us too - WRIR has a small music library and while we do get some free records now and then, the bulk of the music you hear is stuff the DJs are pulling from their private collections. We all get to reap the benefits of these music obsessed people who spend hours working on their shows and who spend unspeakable amounts of money out of their pockets on music for their shows. The money people donated to the station NEVER goes to the staff who do shows. Your donation goes to paying WRIR's rent, keeping our equipment up to date and in working order, and keeping the lights on.

3) WRIR gives listeners something special and unique every day of the year. You know how when you listen to a mainstream radio station you hear the same crap over and over again? No two hours are the same at our station. We pride ourselves in bringing you the paths less traveled every hour of every day of every year.

4) We bring a service to the community by offering free public service announcements for not-for-profit community events and never run the risk of morphing into a Clear Channel entity. DIY FOR LIFE!

5) Our station staffed by regular folks just like you, all 150 + of whom donate their time. Yup, we really work for FREE.

6) WRIR has a webstream that lets you listen even if you're out of antenna range. This allows our small station to be heard all over the planet in real time. Plus many DJs offer listeners the gift of free podcasts of their shows so if you missed them at the regular time, you still have a chance to hear them. Do big stations cater to their listeners like this? Heck no. WRIR treats their listeners like family because you are. You are our neighbors.

7) We support local music, giving people all over the world the opportunity to hear music that would otherwise go unheard. We don't only just play their records on air, we interview them, AND the best part, now have a live room so they can perform live in our studio. We bring you one of a kind performances and without WRIR as a platform to make this happen, many of these bands and artists would go unheard. Where venues come and go - we are here to stay....but only with your help!

8) Our volunteers are active people outside the radio station. We aren't just hiding in the bubble of the radio station a few times a week. We go to your shows, shop and support your businesses, and are meaningful participants in the community that expand beyond radio. Speaking from personal experience being a part of a station has reminded me just how big, interesting, and dynamic Richmond can be and WRIR has inspired me to get out more and explore all that our city has to offer.

9) There are no robots picking and playing music. We are humans creating programming for our community. No robots. NO ROBOTS. I AM NOT A NUMBER! ! ! And commercial radio wouldn't quote The Prisoner either.

10) Surprises. Anyone who listens to WRIR on a regular basis knows what I am talking about. There is always something interesting to learn; be it news or music. I am in awe of things my brain is fed thanks to the hard work of the volunteers at the station and am a better person for all the things I learn from the programming. We all work for the station for free yet the quality never suffers. We are fueled by our passion to bring you the best of the best. Sure we aren't perfect, but that is part of our charm too. Imperfect moments on air keep things interesting and remind me that real humans are making this magic happen ever day.

Please consider helping us out by calling 804-622-9747 or visiting us at 1621-B West Broad Street during the drive, or by clicking here to donate online.

Thank you for listening to and supporting WRIR 97.3 FM Richmond Independent Radio, radio for the rest of us!

And for you Spinal Tap friends here is your ELEVEN. Me. I was born and raised on some of the best radio on the planet (WFMU) and that means my standard for quality programming is platinum. You won't hear my show anywhere else but on WRIR is it and if you aren't familiar with my show, allow me to recap what I spend up to 20 hours a week working on!
We trace the roots of a band or artists every week on Thursdays from 7PM to 9PM. Check out this list of bands we have covered so far! I don't pat myself on the back ever but when I look over this list of old shows, I feel pretty darn proud - so many great ones!
Some of the Bands Featured Since 2009 to Date:

2011

Converge *
Iron & Wine
Radiohead
Wanda Jackson
Couples Who Rock
Tim Hecker
Greg Dulli / Twilight Singers
Neil Young
Bill Callahan / Smog
Flaming Lips
Alex of Grave Mistake Records*
Low
Lucinda Williams
Rosebuds
Beck
Siouxsie and the Banshees
Marvin Gaye
Archers of Loaf*
Drive By Truckers*
The Year Punk Broke
80's + 90's music from skate videos
Spiritualized
Radiohead
PIAS Fire
Super Furry Animals
Cave In*
Sunshine Pop
Long Arms*

They Might Be Giants
Bob Schick of Honor Role / Coral / Dynamic Truths*
Prince
Jawbreaker *
Sufjan Stevens
Vaselines
Eels
Matador 21
Silkworm / Bottomless Pit *
Arcade Fire
REM
Beastie Boys Samples
LCD Soundsystem
Bjork
Isis*
Devo
Liars
Sunno))) *
New Pornographers
Aphex Twin
Smashing Pumpkins
Cass McCombs
The Besnard Lakes
The National
Alex Chilton
Record Store Day Exclusives
Les Savy Fav
The Liars
The Replacements
Pavement
Beach House
Four Tet
Air (record label input)
Spoon
No Age
Jay Reatard
Sub Pops Owner Jonathan Poneman *
Richard + Linda Thompson
This One's for the Ladies (less known women in music from the past 60 years)
Built To Spill
Holiday season Songs (Non-Traditional)
Cocteau Twins
Never Heard of Them (under the radar new bands we like)
A Place to Bury Strangers
Kings of Convenience
Pixies
Serge Gainsbourg
Scott Walker
Cramps (Songs they taught us)
Os Mutantes
Daniel Johnston
Interpol
Wilco
Math Rock (History of)
Phospherescent
Sigur Ros (By Magic Bullet Records Owner / mega fan)
The Fall
Merge Records Catalog (Birthday show / label turned 20)
White Stripes
Siren Fest Recap
Welcome
Cut Copy
Lemonheads
Deerhunter
Camera Obscura
Grizzly Bear
Of Montreal
Blonde Redhead
Coachella Review
Mini Cause & Effects (for newer bands)
Black Keys
Stereolab
Macrock In Review
Mates of State
SXSW
Doves
Chad VanGaalen (Label Input)
Ruby Suns*
M Ward
Broadcast
Broken Social Scene
Love Is All
TV On the Radio
Animal Collective

* Artist Input