The Absolute Best Records Of 2012

The Absolute Best Records Of 2012, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

2012 was quite the year for new music. It seemed as if there was another great record to buy almost every day. In particular, the end of the year was simply slammed with new, outstanding releases. I feel that if I had had a bit more time with a few of these records (most notably Wide Angles and Chomp) the list might be slightly rearranged.

One thing that could never be changed is Mrs. Magician as the number 1 record of the year. In my initial write up about the record I really don't think I gave it the glowing praise that it deserved. Not only was it far and away the absolute best record of 2012; lyrically it is probably one of the best records I've heard in YEARS. I can't possible say enough great things about the band and about this record. If you like anything at all on this list, I urge you to check out Mrs. Magician, because no matter what record you pick, Strange Heaven was better.

Not saying others on this list weren't also fantastic. The Sonic Avenues record just kills and they also put on the best live show I saw this year. Snuff really returned to top form and the Gentleman Jesse and Bob Mould records were just ridiculously good. Even way down the list in the 20's are records that in other years would probably be ranked even higher. If 2013 is anywhere near as good as this past year, I'm going to have an awful lot of great records to take pictures of.

Lastly, thanks to everyone that has visited this website, sent me an email or a tweet. When I started this little site up last year, I never imagined the amount of people that would visit, so again thank you and happy new year!

01. Mrs. Magician - Strange Heaven - Swami
02. Sonic Avenues - Television Youth - Dirtnap
03. Snuff - 5-4-3-2-1 Perhaps - Inyaface/Fat Wreck
04. Gentleman Jesse - Leaving Atlanta - Douchemaster
05. Bob Mould - Silver Age - Merge
06. Uranium Comeback - Uranium Comeback - Ptrash
07. Pinback - Information Retrieved - Temporary Residence
08. What-A-Night's - What-A-Night's - Self Released
09. Glow Kit - Glow Kit - Ptrash
10. Legendary Wings - Making Paper Roses - Dirtnap

11. Needles // Pins - 12:34 - Mammoth Cave
12. Capitalist Kids - Lessons on Love, Sharing And Hygiene - Toxic Pop
13. Outtacontroller - Don't Play Dumb - Ptrash
14. Chomp - Buddha Jabba Momma - Exit Stencil
15. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Meat And Bone - Mom & Pop
16. Dan Sartain - Too Tough To Live - One Little Indian
17. Duncan Redmonds - HonkyPingPongSeijinAttack - PingPong
18. Hospital Job - Downer, Downer, Downer - Insubordination
19. Nude Beach - II - Nude Beach Records
20. Wide Angles - Smile More - Dead Broke/Dirtcult

21. White Wires - WWIII - Dirtnap
22. Masked Intruder - Masked Intruder - Red Scare
23. Crusaders Of Love - Take It Easy...But Take It - FDH
24. And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Lost Sounds - Superball
25. Sloane Peterson - Why Go Out - Dirtcult
26. Gleam Garden - Brilliant Nightmare - Perfect Music
27. Toys That Kill - Fambly 42 - Recess
28. Sick Sick Birds - Gates Of Home - Toxic Pop
29. Karl Hendricks Trio - The Adult Section - Comedy Minus One
30. The Men - Open Your Heart - Sacred Bones

Other records I bought & enjoyed this year:
Atom Age - The Hottest Thing That's Cool - Asian Man
Audacity - Mellow Cruisers - Recess
Billy No Mates - Duck Duck Goose - No idea
Brat Farrar - Brat Farrar - Ptrash
Budokan - Spin A Little Gold - Northern Electric
The Cry! - The Cry! - SP
Dan Padilla - Sports Fan
Delay - Rushing Ceremony
Dunebuggy - Dunebuggy - Little Black Cloud
Fear Of Lipstick - Seasons - Ptrash
Forgetters - Forgetters - Too Small To Fail
Games - Games - Hozac
Golden Boys - Dirty Fingernails - 12xu
Jaill - Traps - Sub Pop
Jealous Sound - A Gentle Reminder - Burnt Toast
Magnificent - Bad Lucky - Dirtcult
Manix - Neighborhood Wildlife - It's Alive
Mean Jeans - Mean Jeans On Mars - Dirtnap
Mindspiders - Meltdown - Dirtnap
Mojomatics - You Are The Reason For My Troubles
Revolvo - The End Starts Here - Ovlover
Songs For Snakes - Charcoal Heather - Self Released
Spider Fever - Spider Fever - Windian
Sundials - When I Couldn't Breathe - Asian Man
Treasure Fleet - Future Ways - Recess

Snuff - 5-4-3-2-1-Perhaps? LP - Green Vinyl (/100) & Purple w/ GreenHaze Vinyl (/407) & Black Vinyl

Snuff - 5-4-3-2-1-Perhaps? LP - Green Vinyl (/100) & Purple w/ Green Haze Vinyl (/407) & Black Vinyl, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Fat Wreck (2012)

While I wrote a good amount about the new Snuff record when I posted a picture of the Japanese CD version, I want to state for the record once again how completely amazing 5-4-3-2-1-Perhaps? is. If you've ever liked Snuff, I just can't fathom you not loving this record. The guitars, keyboards, trombone, vocals...they're all just perfect. It's unbelievable that a band that has been one of my absolute favorites for nearly 20 years (and they had been kicking around for a while when I first heard of them) can still pull off such a great, great record. Couldn't be happier.

Now, on to the nerdy vinyl specs. There are 3 versions of this record on vinyl. There's the standard black vinyl. There's the mailorder only, limited to 407 copies Purple with Green Haze vinyl (which just looks so cool!). Lastly there is a solid Green vinyl version.

This one on Green vinyl is especially tricky as it was only sold to people at the Fat Wreck "store" in San Francisco. From what I gather, they open up a part of their warehouse to the public and let them shop direct. Also, they upset record nerds everywhere by offering exclusive store versions. Well, the Snuff Store version was limited to 100 copies and it would not be in my collection if not for the kindness of @andrewrhickey. A great man who really helped save me a ton of money by not having to resort to eBay to get this variant. Thank you kindly sir.

Basically, it's silly for you to be sitting around reading my website when you could be using this time to run out and buy the new Snuff album. It's great, the variants are cool and you would be hard pressed to find a better band out there.

Snuff - In The Stocks:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IyH8So62E

Snuff - EFL:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPxV4OOjlBA

Snuff - From Underneath The Ice:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmv9Y5YcrHk

Wide Angles - Smile More LP

Wide Angles - Smile More LP, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Dead Broke / Dirtcult (2012)

Another great record entering the collection at the very end of the year. My top albums of the year list is in complete disarray, but I would like to post it on Friday, so I have some real in depth re-listening to do in the next few days. Wide Angles is very guilty in making me question my list with Smile More.

At first, a lot of people may be quick to dismiss this as your standard No Idea-esque gruff vocal-palooza, but this record is so much more than that. Sure, the vocals are gruff and melodic, but the guitar work and song construction on this record really shine. There's something about the record that sets Wide Angles apart from the pack.

 From start to finish, Smile More is packed full of interesting riffs and bridges. If pressed to make a comparison, they actually remind me a bit of Dead Mechanical, which is a huge compliment from me as I love that band. Definitely one of the better punk rock leaning records of the year (though I can't say I'm a particularly big fan of the artwork).

Wide Angles - Smile More:
deadbrokerekerds.bandcamp.com/album/smile-more

Booker T & The MG's - In The Christmas Spirit LP

Booker T & The MG's - In The Christmas Spirit LP, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Sundazed (Reissue)

Merry Christmas people who come to this website. I know I should probably just not post anything today like I do on most holidays, but I do love Christmas music and thought it would be the best day to post about this new pick up. I saw this reissue of the Booker T & The MG's Christmas album when I was out record shopping with @swamipat around Thanksgiving. It seemed a bit pricey at other music so I decided to hold off and look for it online.

And due to all of the sales at the end of the year, I managed to pick up up for $7 less than I saw it for at the store, plus free shipping. The record itself is good, though funny enough it's a lot like the Elvis Christmas album, with a killer, grooving A side, and a B side that gets a little slow and focuses on more religious traditional songs that I'm not as into.

The A side definitely lends itself as a nice companion piece to the Ventures Christmas album and I do see a long future of this record coming back out this time of the year.

Booker T & The MG's - Jingle Bells:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr2gwjfdZdM

Elvis Presley - Elvis' Christmas Album

Elvis Presley - Elvis' Christmas Album, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

RCA (1957)

Used bin record, shoddy conditioned cover, but the vinyl is in surprisingly nice shape all things considered. I love Christmas music and always have. I realize that it seems to be a love it or hate it proposition to most folks, but I definitely fall on the side of loving it. I have my standbys that i\I always go back to and I am pretty much a traditionalist when it comes to my Christmas music. I want to hear the old stuff from the 40's, 50's & 60's. Not typically into the newer stuff, but I guess there are a few exceptions.

Side A of this album rules. Energetic Christmas songs full of that Elvis swagger, but side B is kind of a bummer. It's mostly slow depressing songs. When Christmas time comes around, I guess I just prefer my songs to be about Santa Claus. Anyway for the budget price I paid, I'm sure the A side will get plenty of activity from me for years to come.

Audacity - Mellow Cruisers LP - Purple Vinyl

Audacity - Mellow Cruisers LP - Purple Vinyl, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Recess / Burger (2012)

Audacity is a band that's been getting a lot of buzz in the circle of music folks that I pal around with. I've seen lots of gushing praise and space taken up on top 10 of the year lists, so I figured I had to give it a shot. The result is kind of a mixed bag for me.

The record is good and at times very good. Audacity play a bouncy and fuzzy kind of borderline pop punk. Stylistically, it's the sort of thing that I like. But, the one this I will say is that I feel like there's nothing on the record that REALLY stands out and holds my attention, I tend to start zoning out about half way through the album. Also, it's a bit too rough around the edges, I think. Though I'm certainly not a person that likes super glossy, sterile recordings, I think Audacity is a band that could benefit from slightly cleaner production.

I think the big problem here is I went into this record with unrealistic expectations. It's a good record, one that's worth picking up and very fun to listen too. I was just expecting something truly outstanding.

Audacity - Mellow Cruisers:
soundcloud.com/user3105090/sets/audacity-mellow-crooners-lp

Chomp - Buddha Jabba Mumma LP

Chomp - Buddha Jabba Mumma LP, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Exit Stencil (2012)

The end of the year is overwhelming me with new great records, throwing my end of the year list into a frenzy. One of the biggest culprits in this is Chomp. From what I gather, this is a side project from some of the guys in Cloud Nothings. This is not a selling point for me, I don't really like that band. What is a selling point for me are the constant Superchunk references I'd see in relation to this record.

It's a similarity I can get behind, though I think Chomp is a bit rougher around the edges, reminding me of Wavves or perhaps Shy Mirrors or W.H Walker a bit at times. Over the course of the record, you go from one fast, energetic pop song to the next. Very little filler on this record and I wish I had picked the album up earlier. I think if I had a chance to spend more time with it, Buddha Jabba Mumma would make a real serious impact on my top whatever list this year. Still, even with only a few weeks to listen to it, I can't see how I could not rank it at least in the top 20. Top notch rock.

Chomp - Buddha Jabba Mumma (2 Songs):
soundcloud.com/exit-stencil-recordings/sets/chomp-buddha-...

Treasure Fleet - Future Ways LP - White Vinyl (/300)

Treasure Fleet - Future Ways LP - White Vinyl (/300), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Recess (2012)

I have been simply deluged with new records the last couple of weeks. Not only are the causing havoc with my end of the year list, but I feel like I'm scrambling to write something about each of them before the year is done and I post my list. I'm trying desperately not to rush through them as I want to give these records good listens before making any judgments on them.

This Treasure Fleet record is a pretty unique album. The band is fronted by the guy from The Arrivals and the 2 bands definitely share some common ground, but the Treasure fleet record has a more grand pop sound and at time reminds me of the Muppet Movie soundtrack for some reason. This comparison is not a knock at all. I LOVE the Muppet Movie soundtrack. In particular, Treasure Fleet really manages to make the choruses of their songs stand up. I wouldn't go so far as to say they a "soaring" or anything weird like that, but it's more than your traditional punk rock hook.

The white vinyl is limited to 300 copies and I believe only available ordering direct from Recess. It's a late addition to the end of the year race, but it's an album that's worth making time for in between repeated listens to the Ventures Christmas album, which for sure dominates everyone's playlist this time of the year.

Treasure Fleet - Future Ways:
www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2012/11/treasure_fleet.html

Jack White - Blunderbuss LP - Inverted Lightning Bolt Vinyl

Jack White - Blunderbuss LP - Inverted Lightning Bolt Vinyl, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Third Man (2012)

Jack White and the White Stripes are other bands that people always give me funny looks about when I say that I like them. Neither are my favorite, and I certainly wouldn't call myself a die hard or collector of their records, but I did end up with a full collection of White Stripes CD's from my time in the music industry. Regardless, I like their music as I find that it gives up enough of that raw energy that I look for in bands.

I also dig what Jack White is doing with Third Man Records. Though the vast majority of what he releases is of little interest to me, I like that he's giving little guys a chance. He's putting out high quality vinyl and he's really messing with collectors. Something I can appreciate from afar since I don't have a horse in this race. If Dirtnap was doing it, for example, it would probably stress me out.

So this record. If you joined the Third Man Vault subscription thing (which I did for the Jack White live album that's in the mail on it's way to me), you had the opportunity to pick up his most recent album Blunderbuss on a special color of vinyl. Since I had never picked up this record, figured now was as good a time as any. It's supposed to be an inverted lightning bolt, though it really is just blue vinyl with a black streak. Still pretty cool looking, but the description is off.

Music-wise, it's good. It's not great and won't make any end of the year lists for me, but I do enjoy the vaguely bluesy elements and think the record is a nice change of pace. You'll never see me being a Jack White fan boy, but I think he puts out totally listenable records.

Jack White - Blunderbuss:
www.columbiarecords.com/jackwhite/blunderbuss/

Iron Chic - Split N' Shit 7" - Blue Vinyl (/100)

Iron Chic - Split N' Shit 7" - Blue Vinyl (/100), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Dead Broke (2012)

This 7" compiles songs from other European Iron Chic 7"s, so folks in the US can grab the songs without having to import the original ones. Now, I already have the 2 Euro 7"s in question, so I didn't really need this, although the band did toss on a new cover not on any of their other releases. That made it a record I did need, though honestly, anyone reading this website on a frequent basis knows that I would have ended up buying this anyway. Can't have a missing 7" from the collection when I have all of the others. Oh, the new song is a Plow United cover, so that's pretty rad.

Iron Chic - Split N' Shit
deadbrokerekerds.bandcamp.com/album/split-n-shit

The Steve Adamyk Band - S/T LP (Euro Repress) - Blue Vinyl (/200) & RedVinyl (/300)

The Steve Adamyk Band - S/T LP (Euro Repress) - Blue Vinyl (/200) & Red Vinyl (/300), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Ptrash (2010)

At this point, I truly don't know what else to say about this record. it's one of my absolute favorite releases of the past 10 years. Every time I listen to it, I love it even more. However, I've bought this record and posted about it so many times on this site, I just can't imagine what's left to be said about the music.

Record nerd pressing wise, these are the recent represses on Ptrash records. They did 200 on translucent blue vinyl and 300 on translucent red vinyl. Do you know how many copies of this record I have? Let's list:

- The Steve Adamyk Band - The Steve Adamyk Band - Ptrash - Black Vinyl - /400
- The Steve Adamyk Band - The Steve Adamyk Band - Ptrash - Clear w/ Red & Blue Splatter Vinyl -  -Ptrash Club Version, Clear Screened Plexiglass Cover - /100
- The Steve Adamyk Band - The Steve Adamyk Band - Ptrash - Clear w/ Red & Blue Splatter Vinyl - Tour Version, Clear Screened Plastic Cover - /100
- The Steve Adamyk Band - The Steve Adamyk Band - Dead Broke - Red Vinyl - /100
- The Steve Adamyk Band - The Steve Adamyk Band - Dead Broke - White Vinyl - /100
- The Steve Adamyk Band - The Steve Adamyk Band - Dead Broke - Blue Vinyl - /100
- The Steve Adamyk Band - The Steve Adamyk Band - Dead Broke - Black Vinyl
- The Steve Adamyk Band - The Steve Adamyk Band - Ptrash - Blue Vinyl - /200
- The Steve Adamyk Band - The Steve Adamyk Band - Ptrash - Red Vinyl - /300
- The Steve Adamyk Band - The Steve Adamyk Band - Merman - Red Cassette - /25
- The Steve Adamyk Band - The Steve Adamyk Band - Merman - Purple Cassette - /25
- The Steve Adamyk Band - The Steve Adamyk Band - Merman - Orange Cassette - /25
- The Steve Adamyk Band - The Steve Adamyk Band - Merman - Green Cassette - /25
- The Steve Adamyk Band - The Steve Adamyk Band - Ptrash - CD Version
- The Steve Adamyk Band - The Steve Adamyk Band - Waterslide- Japanese Version

Needless to say, if you don't have at least one copy of this record, I don't know what's wrong with you.

Cold Warps - S/T & Endless Bummer LP (/300)

Cold Warps - S/T & Endless Bummer LP (/300), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

No Yes (2011)

Cold Warps are a band that I stumbled across all sorts of ass backwards. Dirtnap Records posted a link to a review of their new Legendary Wings album, so I clicked the link to read that review. The writer compared Legendary Wings to a number of bands, one of which was Cold Warps. I had never even heard of them, so I decided to check them out. And here we are.

Cold Warps play a high on treble, big on speed brand of jangle guitar pop that I just love. They most closely remind me of the band The Yolks for their ability to simply rifle through songs at an fast clip, but still manage to sneak in all of the right hooks and melodies. This LP is their first 2 demo tapes pressed to vinyl. Other than a couple 7"s (which have also been purchased, watch for their pictures soon) that is all the band has released so far. I'd be shocked if they weren't working on their first proper full length and I'll be in line day of to buy it once it comes out.

Cold Warps - S/T:
coldwarps.bandcamp.com/album/cold-warps

Cold Warps - Endless Bummer:
coldwarps.bandcamp.com/album/endless-bummer

And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Lost Songs 2xLP

And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Lost Songs 2xLP, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Richter Scale/Superball (2012)

I love the Trail Of Dead record Source Tags & Codes. I also really liked Worlds Apart and So Divided. Much more so than most people. Then I didn't really care for the Century Of Self record, and frankly I hardly remember a thing about their last record Tao of the Dead aside from not being into it enough to even buy the record after listening to a stream a couple of times. Lost Sounds, however, is their best work in a decade.

For the first time in forever, the band doesn't come across as feeling quite so self indulgent. Sure, there are still some very long songs and some pretty ornate arrangements here, but the band really sounds like they have some fire in their bellies this time out. You can really feel the intensity, especially on the first half of the record. I seems like the band has something to say and a lot to prove this time out, and they do so very successfully.

The packaging on this thing is stellar. Thick vinyl, gatefold cover, sprawling artwork. Really a fantastic little package. There's a version of this on green vinyl sold out of Germany, but I just couldn't bring myself to pay more than double the cost of the black vinyl version I was able to get from a domestic distro.

All in all, the record is a little long and does drag a bit towards the end, but this is easily the band's best effort since Source Tags and their ambition is a nice change of pace compared to so many bands that just go through the motions. And the packaging is simply top notch.

And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Lost Songs:
www.spin.com/articles/stream-and-you-will-know-us-by-the-...

Legendary Wings - Making Paper Roses - Gold Vinyl (/200)

Legendary Wings - Making Paper Roses - Gold Vinyl (/200), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Dirtnap (2012)

A late entry into the album of the year contest to be sure, but Making Paper Roses is so good it commands your attention from the moment the needle hits the vinyl. Legendary Wings are playing a scruffy version of the sort of pop punk/vaguely garage mix that Dirtnap just never lets you down with. They play tight and the songs are instantly lodged into your head.

I can see some having an issue with the recording fidelity of this album, though for me I prefer an album that's a little rough around the edges. My one complaint is that peppered throughout the album are little snippets of what I assume is movie or TV show dialog in between many of the songs. I don't mind that every once in a while, but it happens like 8 or 9 times throughout the record and really does a number on the cohesiveness of the album as a whole.

Still that is a minor gripe and the individual songs are so good, that I'll more than manage. Definitely a great record and it's knocking on the door of my top ten of the year despite only having listened to it for a few weeks.

Legendary Wings - Making Paper Roses:
dirtnaprecords.bandcamp.com/album/legendary-wings-making-...

Needles // Pins - 12:34 LP

Needles // Pins - 12:34 LP, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Mammoth Cave (2012)

Say what you will about the artwork on this record (though the less said the better if you ask me), but the music contained on this bit of plastic is 100% killer. Needles // Pins hail from Canada and almost seem to be a supergroup in the way they take some of the best elements of their peers and blend them together.

You've got the fuzzed out energy of the Steve Adamyk Band. They show some of the same basic pop sensibilities of the White Wires. The combine this with the sort of glammy attitude that you'll find from bands like Mother's Children or The Marvelous Darlings, but they manage to fuse all of this into a cohesive and extremely catchy sound that just begs for repeated listens.

While I would be remiss to mention that I pre-ordered this record AGES ago and it took the label a really, really long time to finally fulfill my order, this is a record that was absolutely worth the wait. One of the best of the year and one that should absolutely be checked out if you're fond of the current crop of bands rocking out in the great white north.

Needles // Pins - 12:34 LP:
needlesxpins.bandcamp.com/album/12-34-lp-mammoth-cave-rec...

Snuff - BlahzsaMcBingBong CD

Snuff - BlahzsaMcBingBong CD, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

10 Past 12/Inyaface (2010)

Let's recap this week in Snuff related releases. On Tuesday we talked about the new record 5-4-3-2-1-Perhaps?, on Wednesday we had the In The Stocks 7" and yesterday was the Duncan Redmonds acoustic CD. Today we have a Snuff CD that came out in Japan a couple of years ago. I didn't pick it up at the time as it is a compilation of other Snuff singles & EP's. If there's something I have a lot of it's import Snuff EP's.

Still, I forget that not everyone goes as crazy hunting for these tour CD's as I do, so for some people this CD might be the only way to hear these songs. Some classics on here from some crazy out of print releases like the Gandara & Friends 7" and the What's In The Pasties EP. Some of the best are the aforementioned Gandara, I Try, Ambassador and the simply outstanding Angel Attack, otherwise known as the killer music from the robot fights in Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Great compilation and although it still needs to be imported from Japan, this CD is still miles easier to come by than the out of print releases that originally contained these songs.

Snuff - Gandara:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0O43fEtiCA

Snuff - I Will Survive:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7d9Kp8ezVs

Duncan Redmonds - HonkyPingPongSeijinAttack!! - Japanese Tour CD

Duncan Redmonds - HonkyPingPongSeijinAttack!! - Japanese Tour CD, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

PingPong (2012)

I think we're going to continue with new Snuff related releases for the remainder of this week. I had recently placed an order for several records from Japan and they have all been in heavy rotation since they arrived. One of the albums I've been enjoying the most is this Duncan Redmonds acoustic CD.

As Duncan is usually know for being in bands like Snuff, Guns N Wankers & Billy No Mates, it was a surprise when I started hearing a few years ago that he had begun playing acoustic shows. I was not surprised at all to hear how good these acoustic versions were, in particular there a so many Snuff songs that lend themselves to acoustic interpretations. This CD has several great ones.

In particular, "B" and "Cricklewood" from Demmamussabebonk are outstanding as is a really interesting version of "Win Some Lose Some." Add in the fact that this CD is boasting some of the funniest artwork I've seen in a while and you've got a album that any Snuff fan simply has to own. I hope to see more acoustic releases in the future, maybe with some Guns N Wankers songs next time too, Raise Your Glass is just begging for a treatment (and as mentioned yesterday, let's not forget Dow Dow Boof Boof!).

No one has put any of these songs online yet, but I did find a live version of Duncan playing 058.

Duncan Redmonds - 058 (Live):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIGzSyGcgpE

Snuff - In The Stocks 7" - Black Vinyl & Yellow Vinyl

Snuff - In The Stocks 7" - Black Vinyl & Yellow Vinyl, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Fat Wreck (2012)

A follow-up to yesterday's post about the new Snuff album. Though Fat Wreck won't be releasing their version on 5-4-3-2-1-Perhaps? until January, they have released a 7" of the first song on the album In The Stocks. I mentioned yesterday, but this is such a great, great song. If you are on the fence about grabbing the full album, buy this 7", play it and then try to convince yourself you aren't listening to greatness. I dare you.

The B-Side is an acoustic version of one of my very favorite songs from the Snuff album Demmamussabebonk, "Sunny Places." Duncan has been doing a lot of acoustic versions lately and I think they're fantastic. We'll talk a bit more about that tomorrow, but for today, just join me in hoping that we'll get an acoustic version of Dow Dow Boof Boof at some point.

Snuff - Sunny Places (Acoustic):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNjYTQXBeTQ

Snuff - 5-4-3-2-1-Perhaps? CD - Japanese Version

Snuff - 5-4-3-2-1-Perhaps? CD - Japanese Version, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Inyaface (2012)

Though the vinyl on Fat Wreck doesn't come out until January, in Japan you can buy the new Snuff album on CD with different artwork right now (also qualifying it for top 10 lists at the end of the year). It was a little expensive to import and it is a CD, but I have a very extensive collection of Japanese Snuff CDs that I need to keep adding on to.

5-4-3-2-1-Perhaps? is such a fantastic record. As Snuff hadn't been heard from in a while, it would have been easy to write them off, but this album absolutely refuses to let you do that. This is probably their best record since Tweet Tweet My Lovely and really rivals that record as well. There are scores of incredible songs on this record. Catchy upbeat pop like "In The Stocks," bouncy hammond drenched throwback tunes like "EFL" and a couple of obligatory loud fast screamy hardcore songs. If I have 1 complaint, it's that I just wish there was even more, but that's really just me being greedy.

I can't wait for this to show up on vinyl in the new year, but for now, I'm thrilled to have the CD and have the opportunity to listen to one of the greatest bands to ever walk the planet get back together and prove they're still one of the best.

Snuff - In The Stocks:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3IyH8So62E

Snuff - EFL:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPxV4OOjlBA&list=PLKery1pbUVz...

Snuff - From Underneath The Ice:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmv9Y5YcrHk&list=PLKery1pbUVz...

Rocket From The Crypt / Biz Markie & Wayne Coyne - Yo Gabba Gabba: I Can't Believe It's Really Happening 7" - Green & Red Vinyl

Rocket From The Crypt / Biz Markie & Wayne Coyne - Yo Gabba Gabba: I Can't Believe It's Really Happening 7" - Green & Red Vinyl, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Volcom (2012)

Today is my Birthday and i can't think of a better post for today than the first brand new Rocket From The Crypt record in ages. This 7" was released in conjunction with the kids show Yo Gabba Gabba and features a new short Rocket From the Crypt song called "He's A Chef." The 7"s were given away via contest or by purchasing a Yo Gabba Gabba shirt from the Volcom website or supposedly at some specific Volcom retailers.

Naturally I entered every email address I had in the contest. In a rare moment where luck actually shined down on me. I won a copy. Since they didn't announce the winner until after the promotion started, I also purchased something from the Volcom store the day it began as well. When I got the email that I actually won a copy, I felt relieved, like I was actually guaranteed a copy. Then hurricane Sandy hit.

I didn't get mail for a bit more than a week and that's when everyone I knew started getting their 7"s. Plus we started to notice a pattern over at the Swami records message board. The folks that ordered a shirt were getting a copy on red vinyl and those that won a copy were getting it on green vinyl. Since I did both, I thought I'd be OK but as the days went on and I didn't get any mail, I started to have a sense of dread. Finally my copy on red vinyl showed up, but my 2nd copy was no where to be seen.

I ended up getting in touch with a great guy over at Volcom. I won't rat out his name so other people don't bother him, but I explained the hurricane issue and how I didn't get a copy and he didn't blink an eye. He immediately just said "OK, no problem," and sent me another copy. I got it a few days ago and it's on green vinyl. Very relieved to have both versions as I have a crazy Rocket From The Crypt collection that I need to keep complete.

One last thing. The red copy I have is numbered /540 copies and the green one is numbered out of /550 copies. I'm not sure if someone labeled them wrong or if each color has a separate numbered pressing. Regardless, I just hope there aren't any more variants of this 7" as I don't think I can take the stress of trying to track down another copy.

Rocket From The Crypt - He's A Chef:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=03WJCe6jQE8

Record Store Visit: Kim's Video & Music - New York, NY - 11/21/12

Record Store Visit: Kim's Video & Music - New York, NY - 11/21/12, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

The last stop on the record buying trip was to Kim's Video & Music on 1st Avenue. I'd actually never been to this particular version of Kim's before; though I am intimately familiar with Kim's. I've been going to their stores since the early 90's,

The old Mondo Kim's on St. Mark's
Place. A hell of a store that I miss.

It started out with Kim's Underground on Bleecker Street being the go to location. Then after a while they got a huge space on St. Mark's Place and became Mondo Kim's. Mondo Kims was 3 floors of wonderful chaos. CD's, Vinyl, DVD's, crazy import movies and their infamous VHS rental business that housed some of the most insane movies ever created, The fate of Kim's rental business has been well documented on countless websites, but since I didn't live in NYC, I never was a member. I can tell you that I bought an awful lot of music at the old locations and even purchased my first region free DVD player there so I could buy more British comedy DVD's. Lot's of great memories over the years.

Current Kim's is still a pretty great store. Not as big, but just as good, particularly their video section. Awesome imports, wacky exploitation movies...if it's weird, it's at Kim's. For me, Kim's was the only other location where I actually bought a record during this outing as I picked up a used Heavy Vegetable 7". All in all, not a particularly impressive haul for the day, but I was purposefully trying to spend as little as possible with the holidays coming up and all.

This will wrap up my week long record store discussion here on the website. I hope you enjoyed it, but if not, no worries, it'll be back to records on Monday. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing about all of these stores, missing closed down shops, hunting for picture of the places I spend my formative years. It all makes me a bit sad, truthfully. But I do take solace in the fact that there are a handful of stores still trying to keep the record shopping experience alive in New York City, because I'll be damned if I'm going to go all the way to Brooklyn just to buy some records.

Record Store Visit: Rebel Rebel - New York, NY - 11/21/12

Record Store Visit: Rebel Rebel - New York, NY - 11/21/12, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Again, this particular photo isn't mine, so if it is yours and you want me to remove it, just get in touch. I forgot to grab a shot of Rebel Rebel when @swamipat and I stopped on our record store run. This is another hold out from the old Bleecker Street and is another shop I've been frequenting for a long, long time.

Rebel Rebel was always my go to store for import singles. Over the years I can remember picking up Ash 7"s and Beck remix 12"s and that sort of thing. It was never a store where I bought a lot of quantity, but certainly a good amount of quality. It was usually my 2nd stop as a youth. Coming off the Christopher Street PATH train I would typically hit up the Kim's that used to be on the corner of Christopher and Bleecker (long gone and not to be confused with Kim's Underground that was on Bleecker & Thompson). I'd then start the trek down Bleecker heading towards Generation records hitting all the stores in between.

Today, Rebel Rebel is a mess. A legitimate, cartoon character of a record store like you'd see in some bad 90's movie. Boxes of shit everywhere. It's nearly impossible to look through everything; or at least I don't have the patience for it anymore. I don't even know where they keep their 7"s these days. It's a cool store with a great vibe, a total throwback. I'm sure they still have some great records, but they could really use some spring cleaning in this place. I'm afraid I'm going to knock something over and break stuff.

Record Store Visit: Bleecker Street Records - New York, NY - 11/21/12

Record Store Visit: Bleecker Street Records - New York, NY - 11/21/12, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

I don't really have as much to say about Bleecker Street Records as I do about several of the other stops on the record tour. It's not a shop that stands out, and it's not a shop that I have a long history with. Don't get me wrong, Bleecker Street Records has been around for a while, but for me it's always been over-shadowed by the other stores in the area.

First thing's first, I have to commend this store for holding out and staying open on Bleecker Street. Bleecker Street used to be one of the coolest streets in the city, but it has been completely taken over by high end fashion shops and other assorted bullshit. What was once a really interesting part of town is being turned into a mall, so the fact that Bleecker Street Records survives is to be commended,

The store itself is kind of middle of the road. They don't specialize in anything, but they have a really strong cross section of stock. You can find pretty much anything here if you are looking for bands that have a decent following. They have a huge used section and stock a lot of older records from before the 90's. I didn't buy anything on this day, and truthfully, I've never really found much here throughout my visits over the years, but I go in this store every time I walk by it. It's just one of those things that you do.

Record Store Visit: Generation Records - New York, NY - 11/21/12

Record Store Visit: Generation Records - New York, NY - 11/21/12, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

The 2nd stop on my trek through New York City brought me to Thompson Street and my favorite record store in the city, Generation records. I've been going to this store since 1995, it's by far the best "punk" store in the area, though they stock significantly more than just punk rock.

I remember the very first time I went to Generation. It was before the big crackdown on stores selling bootleg live CDs. I bought a Beck bootleg here called I'm A Schmoozer Baby that still sits in my CD collection to this very day. It's also been a key store to buy some of the best punk around. I remember back when they kept the 7"s on the front counter and you had to stand right next to everyone checking out to browse through them.

Picture of Kim's Underground
from: http://www.betterphoto.com/
gallery/dynoGallDetail.asp?photoID
=1067608&catID=&style=&row
Number=9&memberID=127768

Generation used to be the best store in an area PACKED with great record stores. Kim's Underground used to be right at the end of the corner on Bleecker Street. That was another store that I spend countless hours in, combing through the stacks, sometimes buying albums based purely on artwork. They mainly had an indie rock lean, but I bought so many things by so many different bands over the years that I couldn't classify them as indie exclusively.

Right around the block on Sullivan Street there was another store called Second Coming. This was another big booleg store, though on my very first trip there I found the 2nd pressing of the Beck 10" A Western Harvest Field By Moonlight (Notice I was really into Beck in the mid 90's?), so it is a store that also will always hold a special place in my heart. Both of these have long since shuttered their doors and the village is a worse place because of it.

Old entrance to Second Coming Records
I wish I had a picture of the old awning
That was right outside this shop.

Back to present day Generation records. Now the 7"s are downstairs with all of the used CDs and they are still absolutely worth digging through. I always find something of interest and on this day I picked up a Midway Still 10" and a Spatula 7". @swamipat did even better and picked up a several LPs and a rare Hot Snakes Tour 7" that was hanging on the wall.

For me, no trip into NYC is complete without a trip to generation. it's still the best store in the city and one of the best stores I've ever had the privilege of going to.

Record Store Visit: Other Music - New York, NY - 11/21/12

Record Store Visit: Other Music - New York, NY - 11/21/12, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Full disclosure; I didn't take this picture. While I was pretty good about taking pictures on this outing, I forgot to take one at Other Music. This was found using Google. If it is your picture and you want me to take it down, just let me know.

My friend @swamipat was in NYC last week so I went in to the city and we did some good old fashion record shopping. Even though the village is a shadow of what it was back in the 90's, we still managed to hit up 5 stores and I figured it might be interesting to take a week long break from posting about records and spend 5 days talking about the 5 stores we were able to go to. If this isn't something that interests you, no worries on Monday it'll be back to business as usual.

The long gone Subterranean records.
One of my favorites back in the 90's.
If anyone has a picture of the old store
on Avenue A called Adult Crash, please
send it along.  I want to get an archive
of all these old stores together.

1st on the list was Other Music. Back in the day it was across the street from a gigantic Tower Records (where I saw Rocket Fron The Crypt do an in-store appearance once). The Tower is gone, but Other Music is still there chugging away. This was always one of the indie rock stores I would stop at (along with the now closed Adult Crash and Subterranean records). These days, indie rock is a little weird and so is the store's selection. I'm sure the kids love it, but there's not as much here for me anymore. I just never got into the bleep bloop indie electronica stuff. On this day I almost bought a Booker and the MG's record, but decided it was a bit too expensive.

The closed Tower records
on 4th & Broadway

Going back in time, one of the more notable things I can remember buying here in the past was the first death Cab For Cutie record. It was recommended to me by someone I knew from my college radio station. Other Music was the only store anywhere around that was stocking it at the time. Who knew that the band would end up as famous as they are now (and that their first record would pretty much be the only one that I really liked all that much). But for me, that band started at Other Music.

I hadn't been to Other Music in a really long time, so it was interesting to go back. While not really up my alley anymore, if you're in NYC and are looking for some current indie rock or wacky world music or electronica, this would probably be a good store to hit up.

Bangers / What-A-Night's - Split 7"

Bangers / What-A-Night's - Split 7", a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Snuffy Smiles / Drunken Sailor (2012)

What you are looking at is the Snuffy Smiles version of this split 7", though still delivered to my door via the greatness of Drunken Sailor records. They put out some top notch records, folks really should check them out. I did have to get the Snuffy Smiles version of this record as it keeps my collection of (now) 120 Snuffy Smiles 7"s complete. It's one of the collections I'm most proud of.

Starting off with Bangers, I have an older split 12" of theirs that I wasn't particularly impressed with, so I wasn't really expecting much out of their songs on this split. Much to my surprise, these tracks are significantly better than anything that I have on that other record of theirs. I still don't totally love the singers voice, but these songs are much catchier than anything I've heard from the band previously.

What-A-Night's are probably the best kept secret in Japan right now. Even though Your Pest Band is far from what I'd call a well known band, I feel like they have fans in the right places and I do hear them being lauded. I never hear anyone talking about What-A-Night's and it's a damn shame. Combining elements of all of the great Snuffy Smiles bands of the past, it just thrills me to listen to songs this great. Did you ever like Blew or Lovemen, or Three Minute Movie or The Urchin? Take the best parts of each and that might give you an idea of how great this band is. Buy immediately.

Bangers / What-A-Night's - Split 7":
drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/split-7-3

Sister Kisser / Rumspringer - Split 7" - Purple Vinyl (/100)

Sister Kisser / Rumspringer - Split 7" - Purple Vinyl (/100), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Dead Broke / Different Kitchen (2012)

I picked this up for Rumspringer, but let's start off with Sister Kisser. I'm sure there are plenty of people that will really enjoy this, but these songs are not connecting with me. They just scream a bit too generic heartfelt punk, with vocals that seem kind of heavy handed. It's not bad, but it isn't something I can imagine listening to with any sort of frequency.

Rumspringer, on the other hand, is definitely for me. Two absolutely killer songs that are equal parts catchy & dynamic. If you're a fan of that old East Bay sound, Rumspringer is going to be right up your alley. Pretty sure these guys are recording a new full length and I can't wait for the opportunity to continue to buy every single record that this band is on.

Sister Kisser / Rumspringer - Split 7":
deadbrokerekerds.bandcamp.com/album/sister-kisser-rumspri...

Low Culture - Georgia 7"

Low Culture - Georgia 7", a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Dirtcult / Dead Broke / Drunken Sailor / Rad Girlfriend (2012)

So while the 2 guitar guys from the Marked Men started up their side projects (Mind Spiders, Potential Johns, Novice, etc) I figured it was only a matter of time before we heard something out of Joe the bass guy. We he's teamed up with folks who were in other bands like Shang-A-Lang and Gypsy and now we have a Low Culture 7". This actually came out a few months ago, but I was waiting to order it with something else to save on shipping. Then I ordered it with another record on pre-order. Basically I totally, unnecessarily delayed myself getting this record.

Well, it's here now and it's fantastic. Fast and hooky, good melodies. Enough pop punk to appease that side of my taste, but enough garagey influences to keep it sounding rough and exciting. In particular the songs "Georgia" & "Travel Song" are out of this world. The only thing I didn't like on this 7" was "Nervous Wreck" which was a bit too shouty for me. The band is going to be putting out an LP on Dirtnap next year, and if this 7" is anything to go off of, 2013 should start off with a bang.

Low Culture - Georgia 7":
deadbrokerekerds.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-e-p

The Odd Numbers - Holiday 7" & The Easy Life 7"

The Odd Numbers - Holiday 7" & The Easy Life 7", a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Side 1 (199?)
Detour (1995)

The odd numbers were a snappy little combo that played Jam influenced mod pop back in the 90's. They've got a good number of singles out there, most of which were compiled onto the absolutely stellar Jazz Cigarettes LP (A must own). I have a few of their 7"s, but am always looking to add more on the cheap if they're available. Once again thank you Discogs.

The funniest thing I'll say is that the Holiday 7" is that it's on a label called Side 1. I have no idea what year it came out, but I think (think being the operative word) that this might have been an early incarnation of what became Side One Dummy. I could be totally wrong, but boy, that's wacky if it's so.

Found a version of Holiday being performed in a parking lot...check it out.

The Odd Numbers - Holiday (Live):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqS7ncCmlSI

Obits - Refund 7" - Purple Vinyl

Obits - Refund 7" - Purple Vinyl, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

La Castanya (2012)

New single from Obits. This was expensive. I had to order it direct from the label in Spain, so right away I was paying in Euros, so I'm on the wrong side of the exchange rate. 2nd, shipping is preposterous overseas these days. As someone who mails out a lot of records, I get that, but geez. But lastly, the label won't sell you one 7", they have a two 7" minimum. All in, this record cost me $34.53. Kind of crazy for 2 songs.

Now the songs. Refund is stellar. Fast, loud, Rick Froberg wailing away. Argueably better than anything on Moody Standard & Poor. A really great song. The B side, Suez Canal is a song sung by the-guy-in-the-band-that's-not-Rick-Froberg. It just doesn't move me. I'm just not into his songs on any of their records. It's probably me, not him. I just feel if Rick's in your band, let the man sing! I don't love that one Hot Snakes song that John sings as much as the rest of their songs either. Worth $34.53? I don't know, it's hard to put a price tag on keeping your collection complete...

I can't find these songs streaming anywhere, but as I was searching I found a link to listen to them in Spotify. I don't use Spotify, but I know some folks do, so you can check the songs out there if you like:
open.spotify.com/album/2NYxRT6iHUrov0H3npI9xq

Various Artists - Punk Rock Disc 7" - Yellow Vinyl

Various Artists - Punk Rock Disc 7" - Yellow Vinyl, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Speedowax (2001)

Ah Speedowax, the great label with enough variants to make you give up record collecting all together. They've been around for a long time and although they have been putting out an awful lot of new records lately, I first fell in love with the label back in the 90's when they were putting out Travis Cut and Broccoli 7"s.

This record here is a relic from the early days. A six band compilation 7". All UK bands I believe. And while I have records by some of these bands (Southport obviously for the Snuff tie in, Fishtake eventually turned into The Take and I have a split 7" with Scarper and another great band called Lithium Joe), others I'm not as familiar with like Luna:Suit and Scuttle. All good tracks, crammed onto 1 disc for maximum punk rockness. Though in a perfect world it would have been cool if the Southport song had been unreleased.

I can't find anything online to share, unfortunately, but just know that in the late 90's and early 2000's, there were still some fantastic little bands kicking around in the UK.

Zebrassieres/ Funfuns - Split 12"

Zebrassieres/ Funfuns - Split 12", a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Ptrash (2012)

So this is another exclusive from being in the Ptrash Club. For most folks, this was released as two 1-sided 12"s, but the Ptrash club got everything on one. Pretty neat. I've had the Zebrassieres side for a while as I have the original version on Going Gaga records. Still like it. Fast, new wave-y pop, keyboards, rapid fire vocals. All check. Funfuns were a aband that happened before Zebrassiers and have some of the same members. They sound remarkably similar really. I think the Zebrassieres songs are more fleshed out, and frankly better, but both sides of the record are definitely worth a spin.

Zebrassieres:
zebrassieres.bandcamp.com/album/gooey-zoo

Funfuns:
thefunfuns.bandcamp.com/

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Hard Promises LP

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Hard Promises LP, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Backstreet (1981)

I've been trying to amass the Tom Petty collection on vinyl, slowly but surely. I picked up the Record Store Day versions of the 1st two Heartbreakers albums a couple of years ago and I also grabbed that super fancy edition of Damn The Torpedoes. Right now there don't seem to be reissues planned for the rest, so I'm trying to secure copies.

I'm sure it would be easy to find them all in a used bin for a dollar or two, but then I'd probably end up with scuffed up records. I can't have this. I found Hard Promises on Discogs for $7. And it was still sealed! It's a promo, so there is a gold stamp in the upper left hand corner, but I'm OK with that. To have a brand new copy for so little money was a deal I couldn't pass up. So many great songs on this album, maybe not as many as are on Damn The Torpedoes, but still a hell of a record. I'm keeping my eyes open for more deals like this and I'm hopeful to find a nice copy of Full Moon Fever pretty soon.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - The Waiting:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItLzdZV004s

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Letting You Go:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzIG1KYBTDs

Pinback - Information Retrieved LP - Smokey Blue Vinyl

Pinback - Information Retrieved LP - Smokey Blue Vinyl, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Temporary Residence (2012)

Pinback is a band that I can always count on. Every few years they get together, record a batch of fantastic songs and release them out into the wild. 2012 is one of those years and Information Retrieved is one of the very best records they've released to date. Unlike a lot of the bands that I tend to gravitate towards, Pinback doesn't subscribe to the louder is better theory. They craft mellow, intricate songs with some of the most unique guitar work you'll hear in my record collection.

But, let's not forget they're from San Diego, so you'll still hear echoes of the scene that inspired some of my very favorites like No Knife, Jehu & others. The vinyl itself sounds amazing. The artwork & packaging is incredible. And although not immediately apparent, the vinyl is pretty cool looking too. You can't really see it when I take my normal picture, but I've included a 2nd shot where I hold it up to the light. Pretty neat stuff. Go buy this. Top 10 of the year for sure.

Pinback - Information Retrieved (full album stream):
soundcheck.wnyc.org/blogs/soundcheck-blog/2012/oct/09/che...

Pluto - Failure 7" & Deathstar 7"

Pluto - Failure 7" & Deathstar 7", a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Shake (1994)
Mint (1994)

Pluto was a band that came across my radar via a self titled major label album on Virgin records. Another king of the used bin find. Even though I know they have other records, that was the only one that graced my collection over the years. I recently placed an order over at Green Noise records and saw these 2 7"s in their used section for a dollar each, so I had to grab them.

I can't find any of the band's music online to share, so you'll have to take my word that Pluto is cranking out the big guitar, big melody kind of guitar rock that every major label thought they were going to make money with in the mid 90's, even though none of them did. The band writes tremendous hooks and the songs on these 7"s are every bit as good as the one's I have on that lone CD. I know the band has at least 2 more 7"s, and I think it may be time to hunt down their other full lengths as well.

Sundials - When I Couldn't Breathe LP - Green Vinyl

Sundials - When I Couldn't Breathe LP - Green Vinyl, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Asian Man (2012)

Sundials play some pretty catchy indie rock. I picked up the band's first album when I heard them compared to Archers of Loaf, though I don't really agree that the bands sound similar, I do see that Sundials certainly have a love of 90s indie rock in their music. I pre-ordered their latest release on Asian Man right away and was rewarded with green vinyl. Not so sure about the pressing info on it though.

As far as the album goes, it's good. In particular the first half is really strong. The first half definitely exceeds what the band accomplished on their debut. However on the second half of the record, I just start to lose interest. it happens every time I put the record on, I just start zoning out. There's nothing bad on it. but just nothing that continues to hold my interest. Worth checking out, but maybe not essential for everyone.

Sundials - When I Couldn't Breathe:
sundials.bandcamp.com/album/when-i-couldnt-breathe

Plow United - Narcolepsy LP - White Vinyl (/100)

Plow United - Narcolepsy LP - White Vinyl (/100), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Square Of Opposition (2012)

I have power again after Hurricane Sandy and am able to post. We didn't have power for 8 days. No heat, no nothing. It was incredibly annoying but I am very grateful that I did not have to endure the type of catastrophic problems that many others in my state have suffered. I just want to say thank you to everyone that sent an email or said something nice via twitter during this. It meant a lot. Anyway, back to the rock! I have a pretty good backlog of records from before the hurricane, not to mention I haven't gotten mail in over a week, so who knows what's still floating around out there for me. Hopefully it arrives safe.

The final Plow United record finally released on vinyl. I don't really have many memories of when this CD came out on Creep Records in 1998. I remember people saying it was no good. As much as I loved Plow II and the bands debut, for one reason or another I just never bought their 3rd album. Here we are 14 years later and it's out on vinyl. Time to give it a chance I think.

I will say this, it is not as good as the band's 1st 2 albums. However, it's still pretty good. About half the songs are very good and there's only a couple of duds. Listening to the record it kind of feels like a band breaking up, a bit darker than before, but I absolutely think this is worth a purchase, especially considering it's the only Plow United record that's currently in print (I don't count that best of comp, it is a silly thing).

Check it out before you buy it, the label has made the whole record available for download. if you download it, you should donate a few bucks to the band, it's only fair. Or, go buy the vinyl if you like it.

Plow United - Narcolepsy:
www.ifyoumakeit.com/album/plow-united/narcolepsy/

Delayed by hurricane

Typing this on my phone. Been without power since Monday due to Hurricane sandy. My family and friends are all safe, but most also don't have power. I'll resume posting more pictures of records once things get back to normal around here. Thanks for checking in.

- Tim

For Hurricane Sandy: Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain LP

For Hurricane Sandy: Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain LP, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Matador (1994)

Hurricane Sandy is barreling down towards us and they closed down my work for the day. I thought it would be appropriate to break my usual rule about only posting newly bought records in order to take a picture of a record that fits the spirit of the day. Honestly, I'm surprised how few records I own that mention storms or weather, there were not plentiful options here.

Anyway, this is the 180g reissue of Crooked Rain, Crooked rain that came out a few years ago. I had the original version of the LP, but I actually traded it to someone back in the early 2000s. I don't remember what I traded it for, other than I knew if would be way easier to replace that Pavement record than it would have been to find the record that I traded for. When the reissue came out, I opted to grab it, though I probably will try to hunt down another copy of the original pressing at some point.

While my favorite Pavement album is Wowee Zowee, Crooked Rain is an ultra close #2. Pavement really define that poppy, wacky indie rock of the 90s that I just love so much. While I never saw them play a good show (and I gave them ample chances to do so, but always left disappointed), few bands can touch Pavement on record. If you don't have this record in your collection, that is a problem you should fix right away.

Pavement - Range Life:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VVj1zqbWpU

Pavement - Cut Your Hair:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTTgpTeb0Z8

Pavement - Gold Soundz:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPvhKV3Yg2k

The Ballantynes - The Message 7"

The Ballantynes - The Message 7", a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

La-Ti-Da (2011)

After I heard the more recent Ballantynes 7" that I posted about last week, I knew I had to get their debut 7" right away, especially as it looked like it was out of print. It actually wasn't all that hard to find a copy at a distro so I grabbed it. I'm not sure I like it quite as much as the new 7", but it is still pretty fantastic. As a longtime follower of The Blues Brothers, I've always had a fascination with 60's rhythm & blues and it sure seams like The Ballantynes do too (though I can't comment on their level of respect for The Blues Brothers).

I really hope they have a full length in the works, as I would love to hear more from these guys. If I'm recommending, you should start with the Misery 7" of theirs, but the B-side on the Message 7", in particular, is a hell of a song.

The Ballantynes - The Message 7":
theballantynes.bandcamp.com/album/the-message-the-railtow...

Deep Pockets - Knitting Circle 7"

Deep Pockets - Knitting Circle 7", a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Art Of The Underground (2012)

Another single from the great Art of The Underground 7" Series, this one from a band call Deep Pockets. I'd never heard of them prior to this 7", but they deal in a currency I appreciate; Noisy 90s influenced indie rock. "Knitting Circle" is a pretty good song, chugging along with a good chorus and some chunky guitar riffs, but unfortunately the band ruins it with a totally unnecessary breakdown toward the end that literally starts with the lyrics "Here's the serious part of the song." I then falls into a spoken word mess. The B-side is a Silkworm cover, "Wet Firecracker." Though it mostly makes me think I really need to go back and check out Silkworm again, because this song rules.

There some hits and some misses with the Art Of The Underground series, this one being kind of in the middle, but whenever I see a package from them in the mail, I'm always very glad I'm a subscriber.

Deep Pockets - Knitting Circle 7":
deeppockets.bandcamp.com/track/knitting-circle

Nuisance - Humboldt County 7"

Nuisance - Humboldt County 7", a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Kirbdog (1990)

Typically, If I am buying a record from someone off of Discogs, I will often go through the rest of their list, just to browse and perhaps save some shipping costs by adding to the order. That was the case with this 7". I snagged it from the same guy that I bought the vacant Lot LP from a few weeks back. I enjoyed the 1 Nuisance LP that I picked up a while back and figured adding a 7" was the right thing to do. It's pretty similar to the LP, maybe a bit rougher, but definitely in line to what I was expecting. Wouldn't have gone crazy hunting it down, but absolutely worth the pick up since it was just begging to be bought. Couldn't find any of these songs streaming online. Sorry.

Woollen Kits - Shelly 7" - Brown Vinyl (/500)

Woollen Kits - Shelly 7" - Brown Vinyl (/500), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Trouble In Mind (2012)

Another Trouble In Mind 7" and this one I like a lot more than the Jacco Gardner one I wrote about a few days ago. Woolen Kits play basic, fuzzed out pop songs. They're not trying to reinvent the wheel, they're just picking up their instruments and cranking out good catchy tunes. The production might not be for everyone, but I'm into this 7" enough to check out the bands next release, which I believe is an upcoming full length. Try the song below and see what you think.

Woollen Kits - Shelly:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFuWq3958Ok