Tag: Record Store Day

Discussion: What’re You Listening To?

by KevinLeave a Comment on Discussion: What’re You Listening To?

My usual record store is on the other side of town from me. That’s just enough friction to prevent me from going bankrupt, but not enough to keep me away for more than a week or two at a time.

I’ve mentioned it before, but there is another, smaller, store right by me though — as in close enough to walk to. The only thing I have going for me is that it specializes in metal-a genre I’m not too interested in — and operates on irregular hours. This is truly a passion project, and the owner works in running the store when he can.

Like many shops, he’s taken to social media to tout new arrivals into the store. Most of the time I don’t recognize the covers and can’t read the script on the covers (what is it with metal bands all using the same unreadable font?).

This time was different. Over the past week there was a drip campaign (or whatever they’re called) about RSD— except he was pointing out that they’d only have a couple of RSD records…but also why not come in and grab some other metal/punk/whatever?

The store itself used to be a hole in the wall- literally. it occupied the space between two buildings, with a ~300 sq ft. room on one side towards the back. It was tiny, and fantastic.

And honestly, it still is. They’ve moved into one of the actual spots out front, but the place can still get packed, with everyone digging through different racks. With close quarters like this, you can’t really stand back to back, and instead have to stand just off to the side and reach over. Anywhere else, and I’d declare it too people-y and bail. But I’ve always rooted for this store, and so seeing it full makes me smile. And the line can get long too. That’s partly down to the owner chatting with everyone about what they’re picking up. A 4-5 minute chat about forgotten Dischord bands and Midwest tours? That’s not something you’re gonna get on Amazon. At Safeway this would be obnoxious. Here, it’s part of the appeal.

I almost always go 0-for-everything when it comes to what I walked in looking for. But this is a record store, a place full of things you don’t know you need until you come across them. Sometimes that’s vinyl. Sometimes it’s a chat about shows that happened years ago.

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This week’s list over indexes on old favorites, but we’ve also got new stuff from Wire (from RSD), Memorials, Kurt Vile, Rural France, Caroline in the Garden, and Maybe So.

This week, Side A is tracks 1-16 (ends with “Roadrunner”). Side B is tracks 17-31.

On to the music…

KA—

Other sources: Apple | Qobuz (missing Rural France & Archers of Loaf)| YouTube Music |


Now it’s your turn.

Did you pick anything up on Record Store Day? Any new songs or shows you’re looking forward to? Whatcha got? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Discussion: What’re You Listening To?

by KevinLeave a Comment on Discussion: What’re You Listening To?

Good morning! Need an antidote for the algorithms? Looking for a place to share the music you love with like-minded people? You’re in the right spot.

For those of you who are new, we kick off every week by sharing what we’ve been playing, and the playlist below is some of what’s been in heavy rotation for me.

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One of the biggest pulls of any given song or record is where you were in life when you first heard it. The older I get, the more universal that truth seems. Sometimes that “where” is literal. Ask me what I had for lunch yesterday, and I’d probably struggle to remember. Ask me about the first time I heard The Jesus and Mary Chain, though, and I can take you right back to the exact place (A-hall at my junior high). Last week, R.E.M.’s Out of Time was in the spotlight, but I first heard Green in that same spot. Both bands made it onto the “seen them live” list not long after, and I feel lucky to say “I was there.” I’d like to add Phoenix to that list before it’s too late, too.

Those memories don’t always involve discovery, either. Sometimes they’re about the circumstances you somehow stumbled into. I once drove from Portland to Los Angeles, and as we were backing out of the driveway, my partner in crime announced that we were going to listen to They Might Be Giants the entire way. I assumed it was hyperbole (It wasn’t). It could have been worse! If nothing else, it makes for a fun story.

Those moments don’t stop happening just because you’re no longer a teenager. Courtney Barnett is a perfect example. She’s got a record coming at the end of the month, and if Mantis is any indication, it’s going to make a deep run on the usual year-end lists. My onramp came on the way to work one morning, listening to Hrishikesh Hirway’s Song Exploder, where she deconstructed Depreston. That one held the favorite slot for a long time… until “Mantis” showed up a few days ago. Hirway, for his part, has a new single of his own out as well, which somehow brings everything around full circle.

Romeo Void first landed on many of our radars thanks to MTV. I was too young to make it to one of their shows back in the day, but by most accounts, they were events not to be missed. There’s a bit of secondhand redemption coming via a live album on Record Store Day. No spoilers, but I got to hear an advance copy, and it’s killer. I feel lucky to be able to say that, too.

That’s the thing about songs. They’re rarely ”just” songs/albums/shows. They’re markers along the way: a hallway in junior high, a car heading out on the highway, a podcast episode on another forgettable pre-dawn commute, music video decades ago. Getting older sucks, but the upside is that list of moments keeps growing. And if you’re lucky, every once in a while, you get to say: I remember when…

This week, Side A is tracks 1–15 (ending with “Mantis”), with Side B being 16–27.

On to the music…

KA—

Other sources: Apple | Qobuz | YouTube Music|


Now it’s your turn.

Any new releases or shows you’re looking forward to? Whatcha got? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Leave a comment