Elvis! Car Rock! Stripes! Hillbillies!

It's hard to keep up with reviewing these albums! Some of these I may not talk too much about just to catch up. I'm also going to be throwing some vinyl rips on of some albums that I've gotten in the past that are worthy of a listen. So look for that. Anyway these albums are from Neptune Music on 45th and Brooklyn. I'm thinking of also doing some reviews of record stores as well so maybe I'll do that. This one I visit alot so it will definitely get a review.

Elephant

Already reviewed this one below. Found another here and couldn't pass it up. Colored vinyl! I'm a sucker.

Vinyl NM/Cover NM

Elvis

Not my favorite Elvis album but this is an early effort and it is a first press. I wouldn't say that there are any big hits on this album and all in all it feels a bit disjointed. Not really a rocker and not really full of his better ballads. There are better.

Vinyl VG-/Cover VG-

Big Hot Rod

This is a silly album. Typical of most of the crown releases this is some pretty generic surf rock. I enjoy the good surf rock of the 60's like The Impacts, Dick Dale, and The Ventures. but this was one I couldn't get myself to finish. After side 1 it was to the shelf for good for this one. Cool cover though.

Vinyl VG/Cover VG+

Muswell Hillbillies

This is the best album of the bunch. The last good Kinks album in my opinion. As I've mentioned before I think The Kinks are supremely underrated. From their first album, that I reviewed in the first post on this blog, to this one they were awesome. This continues on the transformation from pure rock and roll to folksy/country flavored ballads with the typical Davies lyrics and melodies. Great stuff. "20th Century Man" is awesome. "Complicated Life," "Alcohol," Muswell Hillbilly" all are great tracks as well. Definitely check it out. The problem with this release is the vinyl. The first pressing of Muswell is on RCA's new "crappy flexible disc" vinyl. It's supposed to resist warping blah blah blah. It's just supremely thin and you feel ripped off buying it. I had forgotten about it until I picked this up. I may go and buy a 180 gram re-release to listen to and put this one away. Awesome album, 1st press not the best. Stupid RCA.

Vinyl EX+/Cover VG

White Stripes! Pearl Jam with Neil Young!

Down in Los Angeles watching baseball this weekend but I did manage to find 2 great records down here at Amoeba which for as big as it is, is pretty picked through. They did have some MFSL Beatles albums i may regret not getting but nothing else really leapt out at me. Anyway I'll update this post and the last few when I get back. Go Team USA!

Mirror Ball

This is a pretty cool album that I'm a bit disappointed in myself for passing up for so long. I remember when this album came out back in 1995 and at the time I LOVED Pearl Jam (still do when they aren't being political). I didn't get really into Neil Young until fairly recently so back then I just bought the companion Merkin Ball which is basically a Pearl Jam single that Neil played on (it's definately worth a listen). This album substitutes Pearl Jam for Crazy Horse and is muddy, raw, and wonderful. The album was basically recorded live and it shows. It feels like somebody rolled tape on a jam session and this is the result. Pearl Jam is energetic and raw behind Neil's strong vocals. The album doesn't really break new ground for either performer but since Neil is considered the granddaddy of grunge and Pearl Jam perhaps the most successful artist to come out of the Seattle grunge scene, they mesh very well. The first track "Song X" sets the tone of muddy distorted guitars and chanted background vocals and is a great rocker. "Downtown" is also a great track. All in all something to consider if you're a fan of either of these artists. I will say that I hate the packaging. If you're going to have a double vinyl record, have space to put both records. A standard one opening jacket just doesn't cut it.

Vinyl NM/Cover NM

Elephant

I'll start off by saying I'm a huge Jack White fan. The Raconteurs are one of my favorite bands and he just has such a classic rock vibe to him, it's awesome. The White Stripes are obviously his more well known band with ex-wife Meg White. Everytime I listen to this album I can't imagine 2 people performing it live. I'd kill to see a White Stripes show. Anyway, this is my favorite Stripes album. It just feels more complete and less haphazard then the others and it has some awesome tracks. The whole album is great yet, the songs that really jump out at you are the songs that begin each side. "Seven Nation Army" is probably the most radio played song on the entire album and it deserves it, it's great. Yet, the best song on it is "Ball and Biscuit." This is straight up classic rock up there with Zeppelin, The Who, The Yardbirds and any other band hell bent on playing blues songs with harder more pounding riffs. I love it. If you've never heard it go buy this and skip side one and go right for side 2. You'll thank me. This album is also pretty cool because of the colored vinyl (which I took a picture of above, yes I own 2 of these) that features one white disc and one red disc. Later versions are pressed on normal black vinyl so be aware.

Vinyl NM/Cover NM