Beatles, Country, Surfers, Oh My!

In keeping with my goal of updating more frequently, I'm actually posting the new items I've found! Hooray!

Neko Case - Middle Cyclone

Neko Case I've covered before so you know that she's the queen of alterna-country and basically incredible. This is her newest album (It came out a few months ago but her albums always come out in vinyl late) and while not as good as Blacklisted, it is still good. Give it a listen. This album also continues a nice trend of including a coupon for a free digital download. So your ipod can be happy too!

The Beatles - Beatles For Sale

This was a happy bonus from ordering the mono White Album I'll talk about below. When I opened the package there was a note from the seller telling me he was including this free. It's not mint, but it's easily VG+ and it's a first pressing. Glory be to ebay. No need to discuss the album, it's The Beatles, you know it.

Sara Watkins - Sara Watkins

This I bought without being a fan of Nickle Creek. I saw Sara play live with Fiction Family and she played the song "Long Hot Summer Day" and it was amazing. The rest of the album is a country throwback with lots of fiddle. It's good but twangy so if that's not your thing then stay away. However, everyone should check out "Long Hot Summer Day," it's great.

The Surfers - On The Rocks

I collect Surf Lp's and had never heard of this but it had a cool cover. It's all Hawiian music and it's nice but not really my thing. Maybe if I have a Hawiian BBQ or something.

The Beatles -Sgt Peppers

No Idea why I bought this. It's in great shape but it's not a 1st pressing. Stupid. It has the inserts though. Anyone want to buy it off me?

Elvis Presley - The Real Elvis

I love EP's and I like early Elvis music (his later stuff sucks). This is in great shape with a picture sleeve. Tiny little 4 song albums, so cool!

Elvis Presley - Jailhouse Rock

Like the EP above, cool stuff!

The Beatles - The Beatles

The best find of the week. This is a UK White Album. Which is awesome by itself. But, this one is also Mono! In the US Mono had been fazed out by this time on Beatles records (making Magical Mystery Tour and Sgt Peppers quite valuable in mono). In the UK this and Yellow Submarine were issued in Mono (while Let it Be and Abbey Road were not). This is a pretty valuable record. It features some unique mixes of some songs (no false ending in Helter Skelter, no hand claps in Ob-la-di Ob-la-da, etc.) and is really fun to listen to. I've seen CD's of this going for way too much on Ebay and the records go for even more. So if you ever see it pick it up. It's a great item for hardcore Beatles fans.

Random Catch Up

I've gotten way too many things to play complete catch up on right now. I'm sorry. I've been too darn lazy. So anyway what you see above is what I've gotten in the last 3 days. And I'm just going to list some of the notable things acquired recently. I'll try to be better. Forgive me.

The Beatles - The Complete Mobile Fidelity Collection - Mint audiophile vinyl set. I just wish I had the guts to play these!

The Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet - Mint German Decca 1st pressing. Where did those stars on the left come from? They aren't on my US or UK pressings.

The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds - For what should be a fairly common album it took me until today to ever see a first pressing Mono of this. I have had the Stereo version and a 180g reissue. It was starting to get to me. But here she is!

The Beatles - MFSL White Album - The solo issue of the Mobile Fidelity White Album. I have listened to this one. Awesome.

The Beatles - MFSL Magical Mystery Tour - Same as above. So nice.

The Sonics - Here Are The Sonics - Actually found 4 of these. 2 1st press Stereo. 2 first press Mono. Anyone want to buy one?

The Beatles - Yesterday and Today - More butcher covers. 2nd state stereo. 3rd state stereo. 3rd state mono. I'm obsessed.

Then there are tons of randoms. Lots of surf (Dracula's Deuce NM Stereo, 2 first press Downey LPS!) lots more Beatles (Mono Peppers, Mono UK White Album, Introducing The Beatles Stereo, Two Virgins 1st Press UK and US, etc), Yardbirds, Youngbloods, Who, Kinks, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, etc. etc. Lets just say the collection has grown. Anyway, I will try to be more regular from now on and try to get some more sound files up. So stay tuned!

Best Vinyl of 2008

This is a bit different than the usual posts about the vinyl I find. I've decided it might be fun to figure out what the best vinyl album of each year was and put it up. So I'm going to start at 2008 and work my way back in time (No 2009 yet because there is still half a year left). Lets see what I have first. Remember, I'm only going to put an album on this if it's on vinyl. This is the best vinyl of each year.

2008

2008 wasn't the greatest year of all time in music. Sure some of my favorite bands put out records (AC/DC, Weezer, The Presidents of the USA, etc.) but all in all I could only find a handful of albums I'd want to listen to at all, let alone buy on vinyl. However, the band I consider to be the best currently recording group in music right now, did put out an album.

Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely

This is one of my favorite albums period. I love the classic rock sound that Jack White and Co manage to lay down (which makes sense hearing The White Stripes and Greenhornes albums that came from these members). Seeing them live just cements their status. All of the tracks are great but the real winners are the ones featuring Jack White. "Top Yourself" is a great bluesy tune that really kicks into gear midway, "Carolina Drama" is a great country/blues/folk tune that tells an interesting story, and "These Stones Will Shout" has a lovely melody that builds into a furiously wonderful ending. Check it out. It's amazing.

Also Available:

Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend - This was the next best thing in 2008 and probably would have won some other years. The critics love these guys which usually kills a band for me, but they're too good. This has a very nice Paul Simon feel to it and is definitely worth owning. I just hope the follow up can live up to the expectations created by the debut.

Matt Costa - Unfamiliar Faces - Ok I'm kind of a sucker for this type of music sometimes and I saw him live before I had ever heard of him and he impressed me with his simplicity. It's a nice album. If you're a guy you could use it to get a girl. If you're a girl you could listen to it and be girly. Either way I'm not that emberassed to admit I enjoy it.

Jakob Dylan - Seeing Things - I saw The Wallflowers live in Spokane one year and they impressed the hell out of me by doing an encore of only classic rock covers. From then on Jakob Dylan gets the benefit of the doubt in my book. This album is softer than The Wallflowers but still has his raspy gravely voice. Not too bad, not too great.

Weezer - Weezer (The Red Album) - Ok I'll admit that the first time through this I was pissed off. Why? Rivers raps. The lyrics suck. "Heart Songs." But it is still Weezer and I love them. "Troublemaker" has dumb lyrics but it's a catchy tune. Same goes for "Pork and Beans." "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived" is so odd that you can't help but enjoy it. Anyway it's the worst Weezer album yet but still maybe worth checking out because come on, it's Weezer!

Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue - While not near as good as her solo self-titled debut, this is still a pretty cool album. Taking a but more of her rock influence this time around to go with her country twang she manages to belt out some enjoyable tunes. But find the debut first.

The Fleetwoods - Mr Blue

The Fleetwoods - Mr Blue

I'll admit right away that I haven't listened to this album yet. I bought it because when reading about a Wailers and Ventures show they mentioned The Fleetwoods and their hit "Come Softly to Me." Being infinitely interested in Northwest music I searched out the single. It's a great song. So soft, so professional, so sweet. It's nothing like the garage rock that most people associate with the Seattle music scene. So with the 2 hit singles in hand I began to look for the LP. Today i found it and after cleaning it am playing it as we speak. It's very good so far. So hop on youtube and search for "Come Softly to Me" and "Mr. Blue." They are great. Then go buy the CD or better yet, the LP!