Tag: vinyl
Bill Callahan, Reality, 2022 on Drag City
Some people write this as Ytilaer, based on how it appears mirrored on the cover and labels. Drag City's website lists it as YTI⅃AƎЯ, and on discogs they call it Reality, which is what I think of it as. Whatever you call it, it's the eight solo album Callahan's put out on Drag City. Recorded...
Does Vinyl sound better in the club?
In theory: No! Worse actually! In practice: Yes kind of... Here's why
The Who, Who’s Greatest Hits, 1983 on MCA
I don't tend to favor Greatest Hits albums from an artist I'd otherwise collect individual albums from, but picked this up as part of a bundle of records. I love it when an artist puts out a Greatest Hits so early in their career - there's also a 2009 Greatest Hits album On vinyl, this...
The Monkees, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd., 1967 on Colgems
This was the fourth Monkees LP, as they were taking increasing control and playing the instruments themselves, joined by studio session musicians. "Peter Percival Patterson's Pet Pig Porky"— which introduces "Pleasant Valley Sunday"—reminds us we're at the heart of the psychedelic 60s. There's now a four CD "Super Deluxe Edition" on the Monkees website, as...
James Taylor, Walking Man, 1974 on Warner Bros.
I became a James Taylor fan in the 80s via a CD of Greatest Hits but as I'm rebuilding my vinyl collection have been picking up his early 70s albums. Walking Man was his fifth, out in 1974 on Warner Bros. (after his debut had been on Apple Records). It was less successful commercially than...
Paul Simon, One-Trick Pony, 1980 on Warner Bros
Paul Simon's fifth solo album and first after moving to Warner Bros. from Columbia. Sort of a soundtrack to the same-named film (starring Simon) but with somewhat different versions and tracklist. Some folks think of this as a bit of a commercial low point for Simon, but it's a great album, including the title cut....
Ray LaMontagne and The Pariah Dogs, God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise, 2010 on RCA
Fourth full length from New England's Ray LaMontagne (born in New Hampshire, has lived in Maine & Massachusetts) and the first credited to a band. The album was recorded at The Big Room at Apple Hill, on LaMontagne's property in western Massachusetts. Pariah dog is another name for Desi Kutta or Indian Pariah dog, though...
Steely Dan, Gaucho, 1980 on MCA
This was the seventh Steely Dan full length and their only one on MCA records, following six on ABC. It would also be their last studio album for ~20 years. Though Keith Jarrett would later sue and be awarded writing credit on the title track here it is still credited just to Becker and Fagan....
Regina Spektor; Home, Before and After; 2022 on Sire
I was a bit obsessed with Soviet Kitsch, Spektor's major label debut, when it came out in 2004 via Sire (she'd previously self-released it), as well as Begin to Hope which included the song "Samson". This is Spektor's eighth full-length album and her sixth for Sire. It was produced by John Congleton (along with Spektor...
Coldplay, Parachutes, 2000 on Parlophone
Stunning debut album from Coldplay, out in 2000 on Parlophone in the UK. I know some folks have turned on Coldplay as uncool (I blame The 40 Year Old Virgin) but this is truly a wonderful album from beginning to end. It also sold like wild and won Best Alternative Music Album at the 2002...
R.E.M., The Best of R.E.M. at the B.B.C., 2018 on Craft Recordings
Craft Recordings put out an 8 CD / 104 file digital download R.E.M. at the B.B.C. in 2018 - this was the condensed "best of" version, narrowing down to 20 tracks across 2 LPs. The first disc is all BBC sessions (Nicky Campbell, John Peel, Mark and Lard, Drivetime, Radio 1 Lounge) and the second...
Devotchka, This Night Falls Forever, 2018 on Concord Records
DeVotchKa (their capitalization) are an American band formed in Denver, despite the Russian name and the global folk sound. This is actually their most recent full length LP, though they also did the soundtrack for The Neverending Story in 2020. Like many people I found DeVotchKa through the soundtrack to Little Miss Sunshine but since...
Eli “Paperboy” Reed, 99 Cent Dreams, 2019 on Yep Roc Records
Boston's own (Brookline via Somerville) Eli "Paperboy" Reed's sixth full length and his second on Yep Roc, 99 Cent Dreams was recorded in Memphis at Sam Phillips Recording Studio in Memphis with Matt Ross-Spang producing and engineering. My copy—via Residency Records in Salem MA—is an RTI pressing and sounds great.
Slowing Down in a Digital World: The Enduring Appeal of Vinyl
Exploring the tactile, deliberate experience of listening to vinyl records in a fast-paced digital world.
The Cover-Up
How screen protectors became a part of our lives, and the weird reason some early cathode ray tubes needed them.
Over the Vinyl Moon
Vinyl records are in the middle of a renaissance—and a popular vinyl subscription service highlights many of the reasons why that is.
Virtual Crate Digging
Being a collector of physical media (mostly vinyl) in the digital age changes the experience to some degree. Much of it comes down to the all-knowing algorithm.
Rental Self-Own
How the music industry let the perfect solution to file-sharing fall through its fingers in the ’80s—or how record rentals bolstered Japan’s music industry.
Books on Vinyl
Audiobooks are common these days, but advocates for those with vision disabilities saw their value early—as well as the value of the vinyl record.
Genuine Imitation Leather
It looks like the real thing, but pleather is fake and plastic. Whether or not that bothers you is based on your opinion of leather, probably.
Tape Deck Heart
Vinyl records are getting all the buzz these days, but what about magnetic tapes? They're just as quirky—whether we're talking VCR or reel-to-reel.
Walk on the Vinyl Side
Before Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Lou Reed became an rock icon, he cut his teeth on producing soundalike recordings. People are still making 'em today.