Tag Archives: Elliott Smith

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 9/5/20

06 Sunday Sep 2020

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Salutations™!!

Yesterday was a good day. The weather was perfect, the day was perfect. The BCPF and I got up and enjoyed a “Staycation” day, going to Underdog Records, eating lunch at The Porch, listening to records all afternoon. It was fantastic. We got some good stuff. Here’s the haul:

©Columbia

Elliott Smith – Elliott Smith — A hardcover book of Elliott Smith’s second (self-titled) album with 2xLP and handwritten lyrics and a lot of cool stuff. The BCPF is a Elliott Smith fanatic. New.

Mad Season – Above — Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, lead singer Layne Staley of Alice in Chains, drummer Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees and bassist John Baker Saunders. They only released one album and this is it. Two of those guys (Staley and Saunders) died of heroin overdoses in 2002 and 1999 respectively. 2xLP, gatefold. New.

The Rolling Stones – Goats Head Soup — The follow-up to my least favorite (yet somehow most critically acclaimed) Stones album, Exile on Main Street. This is much better. I mean, I actually like this one and it doesn’t make my skin crawl. This past Monday was the album’s 47th anniversary and this is the 2xLP version that has the original album plus outtakes and alternative versions. The album sounds great, too. New.

EOB – Earth — EOB is Ed O’Brien, guitarist for Radiohead. This is his debut solo album and we haven’t heard it yet, but people have been saying good things about it. New.

The Cure – The Head On The Door — The sixth album from The Cure, this celebrated it’s 35th anniversary last week. This is a great album. It has the singles “InBetween Days” and “Close To Me” but the whole thing is worth it and the deeper cuts are just as good as the “hits.” New.

Various – The Great Big Band Vocalists — The release year for this is unknown, not only to me but to Discogs as well. It features Les Brown with Doris Day, Guy Lombardo with Bing Crosby, and much more. I’m going to say this is NM because, while it’s old (definitely from the mid-to-late 60s to early-70s), it’s still sealed and even the cover is in great shape if you don’t count slight discoloration. So I’m going with New/NM.

So, that’s the haul. Not as much as last week but last week was a ridiculously special day. Jonathan did a fantastic job with the RSD things last week and we had a great discussion about it at the store. He’s still doing deliveries during the early parts of the week and open Thursday-Saturday in the store. He’ll do curbside, too, if you call him. The lottery for RSD Drop 2 is coming next weekend. Follow Underdog Records on social media or drop by the store to find out more about RSD Drop 2. And use Discogs to track your collection, or as I did before (and did this week), use it to purchase hard-to-find items you need in your collection.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“I’ve waited hours for this. I’ve made myself so sick, I wish I’d stayed asleep today. I never thought this day would end. I never thought tonight could ever be this close to me.” – “Close To Me” (Smith)

Spinning Sunday or: The Listens 4/18/20

19 Sunday Apr 2020

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Salutations™!!

As has been the case for the last month, we haven’t really gotten anything new because Underdog Records is affected just like everything else in the world right now. So, in the spirit of “normalcy,” or the “Now Normal” that I call it, I used my listening time during the week hitting Discogs’ awesome shuffle feature and picked albums that I have and streamed them. I pay for Napster (the same that used to be arsehats and cheat artists out of their money, but they’re legit – they used to be Rhapsody) and the artists get paid for my listens, so yay for that. So, here’s what I listened to this week under headphones (not counting what I listened to for Beeswax Vinyl & More):

ListeningCollage419

That’s a pretty good “listens” list, I think. Then yesterday, The BCPF and I got to listen to some records. We did our usual alternating turns and it was all “random grab” via Discogs shuffle. Here’s that list (in no particular order):20200419_113623

That’s my listening for the week. I really cannot wait until Underdog Records opens back up. This is really hard. It’s like having to ween off candy. Jonathan is my “candy man” and the records my candy. Well, you can still purchase things from him. Just go to their Instagram and Facebook pages and see what he’s putting out for sale. He’ll deliver to you, either personally or ship them to you. You can shop via the Underdog Records website, as well. You can also purchase one of the new Underdog Records t-shirts and proceeds go to Underdog Records to help them stay afloat. See how here.

You see the marvel of Discogs already in this post.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“You are here and warm but I could look away and you’d be gone. ‘Cause we live in a time when meaning falls in splinters from our lives. And that’s why I’ve traveled far, ’cause I come so together where you are.” – “Sentimental Lady” (Welch)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 9/7/19

08 Sunday Sep 2019

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Salutations™!!

Yesterday, The BCPF and I got to attend a 60th birthday bash unlike either of us had seen before. The Michael family (the awesome owners of Yamas!, Cin-Cin, Waldo’s Wings and Mama Zöe Michael’s restaurants) celebrated the matriarch’s milestone and the shindig was amazing! That’s their business and I won’t go on about it, but I want to extend a big thank you to the family for allowing us to be part of it.

ParadeLP

©Paisley Park/Warner Bros.

Now, we had breakfast at First Watch, got to see Daniel Butner and his wife outside of Underdog Records and then got to see Jonathan. Our haul is small but we enjoyed it. Here it is:

  • The Who – My Generation — #237 on the RS list this is the debut album by The Who. The album came out in 1965 and in 1967 a music writer for Esquire said it was the hardest rock in history. At the time, yeah, it was. Another writer said it was the heaviest of mod pop ever recorded. I’ll agree with that, too. It’s a good album, a really good debut. This is in mono. New.
  • Radiohead – Kid A — #67 on the RS list. I think that is way too high. It’s not my favorite Radiohead. It’s okay. I went back to read what I wrote about this album when I did the RS list. Here’s what I said: As I said, it’s not bad, just not my thing. I see its importance, but don’t see how it rates higher than OK Computer and The Bends. Both are far superior albums in my opinion. Even Pablo Honey is better than this. Didn’t dig. Not much has changed. It’s 2xLP and new.
  • Elliott Smith – Roman Candle — When I first met The BCPF and realized she liked indie rock and modern folksy stuff, Elliott Smith was the first artist she told me about. He’s tragic because of his life and because of his death. This is his debut album and was recorded in his basement. It is very lo-fi but very Elliott Smith. A good album that showed the talent that would only get better as time went on, even if his troubles got in the way. New.
  • Prince And The Revolution – Parade — The follow-up to the follow-up, I call this. The follow up was Around the World in a Day, which, of course, followed Purple Rain. This was the fourth and final album with “the Revolution” before doing it eponymously for the next one, Sign o’ The Times. It was the soundtrack for Under the Cherry Moon the film that Prince wrote, directed and starred in. It was pretty awful, really. There are some bright spots on this album (“Venus de Milo,” “Sometimes It Snows in April,” “Anotherloverholenyohead,” and of course, “Kiss), but mostly it was scattered and weird. Am I glad I have it? Oh yeah! I’ve never owned it before in any medium, so I’m glad to have it. Just not my favorite Prince. EX/VG++.
  • The Tarwater Band – Walking Across Egypt — This is signed by Clyde Edgerton who played banjo, piano and sang. When I look up Tarwater on Wikipedia, it only shows a duo from Germany. This isn’t that, I don’t think. “Walking Across Egypt” only shows a movie from 1999 starring Ellen Byrnston and Mark Hammil and other folks. So, I really don’t know what this is, but The BCPF picked it up. So, we’ll see. VG+.
  • Heart – Dog & Butterfly — The fourth album from Heart. Musically, this was more on track to what Heart was doing with Little Queen than it’s actual follow-up Magazine. There was the whole skirmish between the band and Mushroom Records at that time, too. This did well, was on the charts for a while and had two hits, the title track and “Straight On.” VG++.

A lot of stuff had been acquired at Underdog Records over the week and was out for purchase and I jumped on some of that. There are some cool stereo receivers and turntables for sale, too. Go in and see what Jonathan has going on. And, listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables to hear what the TLD/UR special of the week is. I use Discogs to keep track of my collection while I’m in the record store and also see what my friends may or may not have. It’s a cool app/website.

Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!

—
“People try to put us d-down just because we get around. Things they do look awful c-c-cold. I hope I die before I get old.” – “My Generation” (Townshend)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 7/22/17

23 Sunday Jul 2017

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Salutations™!!

Underdog Records had some good stuff this week and The BCPF and I rocked it, at least I think we think we did. Right, dear? Well, you decide. Here it is:

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©Rolling Stones Records

 

And, with the $1 records, the Underdog Records/The Less Desirables involved the extensive section of $1 if you mention you heard the ad on the podcast. That’s why you should listen to TLD every week and hear the special. I’ll not give that away, you’ll have to listen to hear what it was and what to do! Also, if you’re looking to get into vinyl, Underdog has a good bit of used, quality turntables to get you started, a plethora of selections to listen to on your new turntable and accessories to keep it in tip top shape. The list above is brought to you by Discogs, which you should use to archive your collection!

Until tomorrow, happy listening…
Scorp out!

—
“Where do you go when you’re lonely? Where do you go when you’re blue? Where do you go when you’re lonely? I’ll follow you when the stars go blue.” – “When Stars Go Blue” (Adams)

 

Making Up Monday or: The Haul 6/24/17

26 Monday Jun 2017

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Salutations™!!

Here I am, making up or catching up after the weekend’s seemingly non-stop party. It started as usual with breakfast at Mary’s Gourmet Diner and then heading over to Underdog Records, where we picked up some great stuff before heading to Windsor Run Cellars and then Shadow Springs wineries (they’re owned by the same cool folks). Then on to Willows Bistro for great food and beverage. Here’s the haul for this week:R-450842-1249177353.jpeg

It was a light week for us, but still a lot of fun! If you’re wanting to get into (or back into) record collecting, then Underdog Records is the place to start. Old stuff, new stuff, reissues, equipment, etc. You should also use Discogs to catalog your collection!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Yeah, I know it’s kind of strange. Every time I’m near you I just run out of things to say. I know you’d understand. Every time I tried to tell you the words just came out wrong. So, I’ll have to say I love you in a song.” – “I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song” (Croce)

Good Will Hunting or: The Less Desirables Movie of the Week

10 Saturday Sep 2016

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Salutations™!!

a/perture cinema, the Official Movie Sponsor of The Less Desirables, presents The Less Desirables Movie of the Week, Good Will Hunting (1997) starring Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård and Minnie Driver.

Per IMDb: “Will Hunting, a janitor at M.I.T., has a gift for mathematics, but needs help from a psychologist to find direction in his life.”

Will (Damon) is a hot-headed, short-fused janitor/construction worker/all-around laborer that spends a lot of time in trouble. But, he’s a mathematics genius that can out wiz the professors at M.I.T. Trouble seems to find him all the time and he ends up in jail, but not before professor Gerald Lambeau (Skarsgård) sees his potential. Lambeau gets the courts to release Will under the conditions that he does math sessions

Good_Will_Hunting_theatrical_poster

©Miramax Films

with him and he agrees to see a therapist. But, because Will is a bit of a punk and socially defensive, he goes against every psychiatrist that he’s put in front of until Lambeau calls on his old college roommate, Sean Maguire (Williams) who has to work to get into Will’s head, if he even does.

Jerry  and Sean’s past comes back as they had a contentious and competitive relationship in school and again in trying to formulate Will’s future; Jerry wants to have him work for big name corporations or government agencies while Sean just wants him to be the best him he can be. Another parallel story is his love affair, or fear thereof, with Skylar (Driver) and how he pushes her away to protect himself.  Does Will take a job or just do what he can to survive? Does he mend the hole with Skylar? You’ll have to watch to find out.

It took me a few minutes to get acclimated to the “authentic” Bostonian accent. I know that the Affleck brothers (Casey was in the film, too) and Damon are all from Boston and know it well. It’s just harsh at first. Almost enough to make you “wicked pissed.”

This was the first time I ever remember knowing who Matt Damon was. Yeah, he had been in other stuff but this was what really broke him out. I think his association with Ben Affleck was what turned me off. I don’t know what it was about Ben Affleck and Leonardo DiCaprio that made me discount their acting abilities, but really, they do a good job, especially Leo, but it took a long time to understand that they didn’t suck as much as the stigma of “status” or “hipster” films tainted my view of them. This film wasn’t such, in fact, it was a really good film.The acting, from all parties involved was good. No other way to state that. It was very, very good. I can add a bunch of superlatives (I’m good with verbosity) but it’s just filler. Danged fine film.

I hate that Robin Williams didn’t get more credit for his serious acting. He was known mostly as a wired, buffoonish comedian who had a severe case of Adult ADHD. Dead Poets’ Society, One-Hour Photo and this film are just a few of the examples of how good an actor he was. He is missed.

Back to this film, though, Damon and Affleck wrote it and Gus Van Sant directed it. It started as a writing project for Damon at Harvard and he collaborated with his buddy to finish it. It earned them an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. It also earned Williams a Best Supporting Actor award. It was nominated for nine Oscars overall. It was one of the 400 nominees for AFI‘s 100 Years… 100 Movies. One of The BCPF’s favorite artists of all time, the late Elliott Smith, has several songs on the soundtrack and was nominated for an Oscar for “Miss Misery.”

Rotten Tomatoes rates it at 97% Fresh with an Audience score of 94%. Outstanding, that is. IMDb rates it at 8.3 stars out of 10. I watched the film on Netflix streaming although I had seen it before. I enjoyed it a good bit and rate it 4.5 stars out of 5. Have you seen it? What would you like to see me ramble on about?

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“How do you like them apples?” – Will Hunting