The Beatles, 1962-1966
Just picked up the red album at Beautiful World for $5; quite a steal. Granted, I have most of these tracks already on other records, but I was missing a couple of the early singles.
Side one is absolutely mind-blowing. Granted, the Beatles' career got of to a bit of an inauspicious start: "Love Me Do" is bland, lethargic and derivative. But from there the next half a dozen singles are just amazing.
The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse
I like both of this band's records a lot. I've had them at the apartment for a while now and I just brought this one home. Another one of those Canadian bands with like eight-plus members. I have a theory that they all do that to save on heat in their rehearsal spaces. Y'know, with body heat.
David Bowie – Hunky Dory
His last hippie record, before he went glam. Mark Spitz considers this the most essential of the bunch, but I'd put at least three before it. Not that it's not great, mind you. Is that a double negative?
Tim Buckley – Starsailor
Supposed to be his furthest out-there record, but I think Lorca's much weirder.
Alice Cooper – Love It To Death
Fucking awesome. If you don't know about early Cooper, it's time to learn. I'm talking Alice Cooper the band, mind you, before the singer went solo and kept the name. This is the one with "I'm Eighteen" on it. It also has "Long Way To Go" and "Sun Arise", which are even better.
Daft Punk – Discovery
I'd really love to cover this album in its entirety with a three-piece band. I think the first several songs would all translate really well. Problem is, this one crashes hard toward the end. Probably just could have been shorter.
Marvin Gaye – What's Going On
Supposedly Berry Gordy hated this record, partly because he didn't know what "ecology" means.
Glasvegas
New one coming out in April. They look a little glammed up in the photos. Not sure how I feel about this.
Guided By Voices – For All Good Kids
Bob and the boys are pleasantly hammered for this one, circa 1995 or so. Includes some song from "Clown Prince" I've never heard before.
Hüsker Dü – Land Speed Record, New Day Rising, Flip Your Wig
Just picked these up along with Andrew Earles's new bio. Probably read that next. Working on Nick Kent's memoir now.
God bless SST, by the way, for keeping these in print on vinyl. They deserve some kind of citation for that invaluable public service.
Led Zeppelin – [runes]
I've listened to this record a million times and I still can't tell you what "Four Sticks" sounds like. Most useless filler track on a great album ever?
The Mekons Rock 'n' Roll
Just ran into P—, whom I hadn't seen in about 15 years, at a funeral the other day. I asked him if he was still collecting records. He said yes, occasionally, and had just picked this one up on eBay. Good find.
The New Bomb Turks – !!Destroy-Oh-Boy!!
P— recommended this one to me the other day while he was reading the lead singer's new book. P— rarely steers me wrong.
The Only Ones – Special View
I had this on CD years ago and just picked up a vinyl copy a couple weeks ago. Man, does this hold up well. I remembered it being just the hit and a bunch of lesser tunes, but there's a ton of good tracks on here.
Syd Barrett – The Madcap Laughs/Barrett
If you wrote a song called "I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives", you'd probably go to jail too.
The Pretty Things — S.F. Sorrow
The first rock opera! Pre-dates Tommy! So they say. Reputed to be a lost classic. Might be.
The Rolling Stones – Exile On Main Street
Steely Dan – Can't Buy a Thrill
S— brought a date to dinner last week, and he was way into the Dan. I think he was pretty pumped when I pulled this one out. He also recommended I check out Lou Reed's Street Hassle, but I haven't found a copy yet.
1969 Velvet Underground Live With Lou Reed
The one with the butt on the cover. There was a request for some Lou at the party, and it turns out MMM is the only one I have. This sufficed.
