Tag Archives: The Decemberists

Spinning Sunday or: The Listening 5/16/20

17 Sunday May 2020

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Salutations™!!

I feel we’re getting closer to being able to rummage through some used vinyl in the next month or so, but until then Jonathan is still delivering vinyl from Underdog Records all during the week. I think sales have been okay for him but I’m sure he could use some more. Head over to the Underdog Records website, or follow on Instagram (Jonathan’s preferred method) and Facebook to see what you can purchase.

And, per usual, this week’s streaming listens comes from Discogs’ shuffle feature and it has to be an album that I own on vinyl (outside of peripheral things like Beeswax Vinyl & More listens), that way it’s like listening to my vinyl but with headphones from my computer whilst The BCPF works 10 feet away. Here’s the list (this is in order of listens):

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A pretty good list. Then The BCPF and I listened to these, on vinyl, yesterday:

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Again, check out Underdog Records’ social and web stuffs. Buy records. Use Discogs to keep track of your collection and use it’s groovy (see what I did there) shuffle feature.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“Father, father, we don’t need to escalate. You see, war is not the answer. For only love can conquer hate. You know we’ve got to find a way to bring some loving here today.” – “What’s Going On” (Gaye/Cleveland/Benson)

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 7/5/19

07 Sunday Jul 2019

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Salutations™!!

Yes, I have the date right up there. The BCPF and I went to Underdog Records on Friday because I had a Cobras Game last night. Jonathan had been closed on Wednesday and Thursday for the holiday but was open on Friday. Yay us! Here’s the haul:

Ultravox_-_Vienna

©Chrysalis Records

  • Metallica – Metallica — #255 on the RS list, it’s my second favorite Metallica album after Ride the Lightning. On this tour, they did an “In-the-Round” stage setup where they were in the middle and the crowd surrounded them on all sides. During the song “Seek and Destroy” from their debut album, Kill ‘Em All, James Hetfield came down and sang the hook with groups of people. As he walked past me (I was in the second row but we had been moved up to the security railing) and said, “I need one more crazy m*****f***er and I nearly jumped the fence screaming me! me! me! He came over, grabbed my hand and had me dangling over the railing as he went into the line. I was breathing through my nose, inhaling deeply, and he did the “searchin’…” and I yelled, at the top of my voice, “SEEK AND DESTROY!!!” I had friends who watched it from farther back in the arena and they told me later that they couldn’t even hear the music when I did that because it was so loud. “Enter Sandman,” “Sad But True,” “The Unforgiven,” “Wherever I May Roam” and “Nothing Else Matters” were all released as singles. It was a great heavy album. Not as heavy as their previous albums, at least not in the “thrash” way, but it was heavy sonically. 2xLP. New.
  • The Decemberists – Picaresque — The BCPF doesn’t hold back when it comes to The Decemberists. This album was the band’s last on the Kill Rock Stars label and was produced by Chris Walla, guitarist for Death Cab for Cutie. 2xLP. VG++.
  • Judas Priest – Killing Machine — This is a 2015 reissue of what we Americans knew as Hell Bent for Leather. It’s the same album and yes, I have Hell Bent but I wanted one with the albums’ proper name. Why was there a change? When this came out it was around the time of the Cleveland Elementary School shooting in San Diego. Brenda Spencer, a 16-year old, shot and killed the principal and a custodian and injured nine others (including eight children) from her house. When a reporter got in touch with her whilst she was holed up in her house and asked why she did it, she said, “I don’t like Mondays. This livens up the day.” That was the inspiration of Bob Geldof’s Boomtown Rats’ song, “I Don’t Like Mondays.” Anyway, this was an opportunity to have both titles. VG+.
  • Okkervil River – The Stand Ins — The BCPF likes this band and picked out the album. I liked what I heard but I wouldn’t have known to get it. My pal Patrick Ferguson is a big fan of the band as well. This was a follow up to The Stage Names and if you put the prior album above this one, it makes a complete picture. VG++.
  • The Knack – …But The Little Girls Understand — The follow-up to their debut, Get the Knack, which I tout as a gravely underappreciated album. This one charted well, but many critics panned it for its tired misogynistic themes and subject matter. I haven’t listened to it, yet, but again, I loved the previous record. We’ll see how the sophomore effort goes with me. VG+.
  • Arlo Guthrie – Power Of Love — I know nothing about this album other than it was released in 1981. The BCPF likes her folk heroes and well, he is one. VG+.
  • The Shirelles – The Shirelles Greatest Hits — $1 bin find. I’m not really sure why The BCPF wanted this one but it could be that it was a girl group. She usually goes for the more rocking/post-punk/first wave-kind but she picked it up.

Now, the next four I did not buy at Underdog Records, although I would have had I seen them there. Before we knew that Jonathan was open on Friday, we had stopped by Design Archives on Fourth Street and they had vinyl. I thought at first these things were overpriced, but I had Jonathan look at them and he said that was pretty accurate to what he would have charged, so I felt better about getting them at that point. Here’s that mini-haul:

  • Rush – Fly By Night — I added three more albums to my Rush collection through this vinyl stop. This is Rush’s second album and the first with the monster Neil Peart not only on drums but with the lyrics, too. Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee liked that Peart was a bookworm and wrote imaginative lyrics. That way they could concentrate on complex music. VG+.
  • Rush – Power Windows — This was the follow-up to Grace Under Pressure. The album has the songs “The Big Money” (for which there was a somewhat revolutionary video), “Manhattan Project,” “Marathon” and “Mystic Rhythms” among others. VG+.
  • Rush – Hold Your Fire — The mostly forgettable follow-up to Power Windows does at least feature “Time Stand Still” with Aimee Mann singing back up. It was the lowest selling Rush album since Hemispheres. VG+.
  • Ultravox – Vienna — Their fourth album and the first on Chrysalis Records and the first with singer Midge Ure. The singles on this album were “Sleepwalk,” “Passing Strangers,” the title track and “All Stood Still.” VG+.

I think this week’s haul was awesome. We’ve already listened to some great stuff and hopefully will get to a bit more today and hopefully, I’ll have time to listen to some throughout the week. Underdog Records will be open all next week and you should listen to The Less Desirables (well, you should anyway) to hear the TLD/UR weekly special. Also, use Discogs to track your music collection, be it vinyl, cassette, CD, or even 8-Track.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“Time stand still. I’m not looking back but I want to look around me now. Time stands still. See more of the people and the places that surround me now.” – “Time Stand Still” (Peart/Lee/Lifeson)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 6/29/19

30 Sunday Jun 2019

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Salutations™!!

Whilst our early routine was the same, we had to rearrange our afternoon routine because I got The BCPF a massage to help her with a neck problem she was having. But, we finally got home after the massage and the record-buying from Underdog Records (of course) and got some quality time with a few albums. Here’s the haul:

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©A&M Records

  • Massive Attack – Blue Lines — #397 on the RS list. This is one of the best trip-hop albums, ever. Even The BCPF, who doesn’t usually care for a lot of electronic/trip-hop stuff, said that this was nice. It could be one to highlight for Ember Audio + Design’s PVD sessions. Great album and it was Massive Attack’s debut. New.
  • The White Stripes – Elephant — #390 on the RS list. It’s a 2xLP set that has probably the band’s signature and best-known tune, “Seven Nation Army” which is really a play on what Jack White used to call the Salvation Army as a child. I remember liking it when I listened on the list, I look forward to listening again. New.
  • Built To Spill – Perfect From Now On — One of the first concerts I went to with The BCPF was Built to Spill in Carrboro way back when. She’s a huge fan and I dig them, too.  She says this is her favorite release by them, so I’m glad we got it. New.
  • Soundgarden – Badmotorfinger — In 1991, there were three albums that came out within weeks of each other. Pearl Jam’s Ten (got it #209 on the RS list) came first and Nirvana’s Nevermind (got it #17 on that list) and this album came out on the same day. When I think of the Seattle movement’s foray into the mainstream (although it wasn’t really into the mainstream then) those three albums are the doors that opened. I hated Nirvana and didn’t like much about Pearl Jam but I dug Soundgarden. Somehow this album didn’t make the RS list, but its successor, Superunknown did (#335 but I don’t have it, yet). Of the three singers, Kurt Cobain, Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell, Cornell kicked the most arse. Unfortunately, we only have Vedder left of the three. I did perform “Outshined” in the first band that I was ever the lead singer/bassist for. New.
  • The Decemberists – What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World — I don’t know anything about this album, but I love The Decemberists so it has to be good, right? The BCPF noticed it right before we left Underdog Records. So, she grabbed it. VG++/NM.
  • Fats Domino – Blueberry Hill — The BCPF wanted it. So, she got it. VG++.
  • The Del Fuegos – The Longest Day — I have heard of this band, but honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song by them. But, the time period – mid-80s – is something that makes me think I’ll dig it. It’s their debut album. Let’s see. VG++.
  • The Del Fuegos – Stand Up — Because there were two back to back, why not. This is their third studio album (1987) and the last before one of the Zanes brothers and one of their drummers quit. They had another album after this and then had a reunion tour and EP happen in 2012. VG+.
  • Joe Cocker – Luxury You Can Afford — Joe’s seventh studio album that had a lot of Muscle Shoals session players including Barry Beckett, Allen Toussaint (who also produced the album), Billy Preston, Donny Hathaway, Dr. John, Chuck Rainey and more. VG.
  • The Tubes – Remote Control — It was The Tubes first album with producer Todd Rundgren. According to Wikipedia, “It is a concept album about a television-addicted idiot savant based on the book Being There by Jerzy Kosinski.” It was a $1 bin find and is most likely in VG condition.
  • Various – High Society (Motion Picture Soundtrack) — 1956 musical film starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra. The BCPF grabbed it. $1 bin find. VG.
  • Various – Grease – The Original Broadway Cast Album — The original from 1972, six years before the film. $1 bin find. VG.
  • Claudine Longet – We’ve Only Just Begun — The BCPF and I (and now 3B) are all fans of The Gilmore Girls television show. Twice in the show, there is mention of Claudine Longet. Longet was the wife of Andy Williams from the late 60s to about 1975. Longet and Williams were friends of RFK and his wife. They were in the Kennedy suite of the Ambassador hotel, awaiting Bobby to finish accepting the nomination for the Democratic party when Kennedy was shot. Years later, after the couple split, Longet was convicted of negligent homicide in the shooting death of Olympic skier, Spider Sabich. So, more than her music, she’s known for other things, which makes her very interesting. It’s a fun listen, too. It was $1 bin find and is VG.

Lots of good listening yesterday and beyond. Underdog Records had an in-store yesterday and it was starting to get busy when we left. I love seeing that store busy. And, I got to see Jonathan three days in a row. At the Ramkat on Thursday for BYOV, Friday at the Ember Audio + Design PVD and then yesterday. That’s what I call a good week. Listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables to hear the TLD/UR special of the week. Also, I use Discogs to catalog and track what I have in my vinyl collection so when The BCPF says, “do we have this?” I can say definitively, yes or no.

Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!

—
“I can’t get that sound you make out of my head. I can’t even figure out what’s making it. It feels like fingernails across the moon or do you rub your wings together. There’s a mean bone in my body. It’s connected to the problems that I won’t take for an answer and I won’t take that from you. Because I’d hurt a fly.” – “I Would Hurt a Fly” (Martsch)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 3/24/18

25 Sunday Mar 2018

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Salutations™!!

The_Scorpions_LatFS

@Mercury

 

Yesterday was a cold, snotty, sleety, crappy-weathered day. But, I had my best gal and we had each other to keep warm and enjoy some record listening. That means, of course, that we went by Underdog Records! And, here is what we got:

So, a pretty good haul. I was especially excited about the Dire Straits album even with the truncated first side. That and the Rickie Lee Jones were worth the whole thing. Good stuff.

New to vinyl? Want to get into vinyl? Returning to vinyl? Don’t go spend a ton of money on brand new equipment when you can get quality used stuff from Jonathan at Underdog Records. If you decide you want to get deeper into the “lifestyle” then you can go spend big bucks. But, don’t just jump in. My two cents.

Discogs is also a great way to catalog your collection, see your friends’ collections and even purchase used and new vinyl in the marketplace. It’s a great site and a great resource.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Is that her? What’s her name? Oh, it’s never going to be same. But that’s not her. I know what’s wrong – Chuck E’s in love with the little girl who’s singing this song.” – “Chuck E’s in Love” (Jones)

Silent Sunday or: The Loot

02 Sunday Apr 2017

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Salutations™!!

I believe I’m going to start using my Silent Sunday to talk about the haul we get fromR-9473688-1481204754-7100.jpeg Underdog Records on Saturdays, that is unless there is an item of importance I need to talk about. Underdog Records has become part of our Saturday routine. It’s walking, Mary’s Gourmet Diner, Underdog, Twin City Hive and then Hoots, if we have a hankering for a brew. Now that the weather is warming up, we’ll be going by there more often.

So, this week, at Underdog Records, we got the following:

Underdog Records is the Official Vinyl Sponsor of The Less Desirables and we love our growing record collection, all thanks to Jonathan and his awesome record store. You can find Underdog at 835 Burke Street in Winston-Salem.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Lord, here comes the flood. We’ll say goodbye to flesh and blood. If again the seas are silent in any still alive. It’ll be those who gave their island to survive. Drink up, dreamers, you’re running dry.” – “Here Comes the Flood” (Gabriel)