Tag Archives: The Mountain Goats

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 2/1/20

02 Sunday Feb 2020

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Salutations™!!

Happy Super Bowl Sunday! The BCPF and I went to Penny Path yesterday to celebrate Imbolc (where pancakes are generally the tradition but we went with crêpes). Then we hit up our friend Carly’s shop, VibesUp Winston-Salem, then to Jim & Dana Moody’s West End Coffeehouse and grabbed some pies for today’s big game and we even saw Daniel Butner from Carrabba’s and Kandi and Lori from TBD/Pride WS. Then we headed to Underdog Records and grabbed just a few records. It was a full day of visiting. It was great and tiring all at once. Here’s the haul.

Montrose_-_-s-t-

©Warner Bros.

  • Depeche Mode – Exciter — I was excited to get this because, well, we love Depeche Mode in this house. But, really, while it was a good listen, it really didn’t thrill me. I didn’t hear anything that memorable. It is produced well, mixed well, written well. I just wasn’t moved by it. But, I’m glad I have it. New, remastered on 180g.
  • The Mountain Goats – Transcendental Youth — This album focuses on outcasts, recluses, the mentally ill, and others struggling in ordinary society. John Darnielle has a way with quirky, witty and funny lyrics (even if the subject matter isn’t always funny). It was a good listen. New.
  • Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – The Tourist — Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is a musical project started by Alec Ounsworth. This album was independently released and is on a cool white vinyl. The songs were really well-written and the sonic quality was fantastic. It was a fun listen. EX/VG++.
  • Montrose  – Montrose — This was entry #11 from the Eugeneology/Hard Rock albums I did a few years back. You can read my review here. I’m interested in seeing if my views of it have changed because while I didn’t dislike it, I didn’t exactly like it. And, I said I probably wouldn’t listen again, but here we are. We’ll see. VG+.

It was a short-haul this week. That’s all we got. Underdog Records was jumping yesterday. The store was full and both The BCPF and I had to wait to get to the “Freshly Acquired” section of the used records. That rarely happens. Did you know that Underdog Records has two listening stations in the downstairs part of the store? You can sit on a comfy couch either in a darker, more intimate setting or sit by the window watching the creatures of Burke Street/West End shuffle through. You can do that and listen to just about any used record in the place. Also, you can grab a complimentary cup of coffee and have it whilst listening or if you ask nicely – and are over the age of 21 – you can get a complimentary brew of alcoholic nature. Yesterday I had a Natty Bo, a National Bohemian. Not my favorite beer at all but what the heck. It wasn’t anything that said “Bud” on it. Jonathan wants his store to be welcoming and comfortable to all and I believe he nails it. Listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables to hear the TLD/UR special of the week. And, use Discogs to track your music collection, no matter the medium.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’ and GO CHIEFS!!…
Scorp out!

—
“Do every stupid thing that makes you feel alive. Do every stupid thing to try to drive the dark away. Let people call you crazy for the choices that you make. Climb limits past the limits, jump in front of trains all day. And stay alive. Just stay alive.” – “Amy aka Spent Gladiator 1” (Darnielle)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 4/27/19

28 Sunday Apr 2019

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Salutations™!!

It seems like forever since I’ve done one of these posts. We were still “in the dark” from the power outage and just went on about our day. We had breakfast and then did two stints at Underdog Records. The first was just to go in and get our haul and the second was to see (and participate) in Clay Howard’s LP release show. I was supposed to play bass but scheduling got in the way and couldn’t practice. I did lend my backup vocals, however. It was a good show. Loud and intimate. Anywhat! Here’s the haul:

Chuck_Mangione,_Feels_So_Good_(1977)

©A&M

  • Carole King – Writer: Carole King — This was actually acquired last week but it was our only grab in a truncated visit to Underdog, which actually could have happened on Friday, it’s all a blur now. But, this was her debut album back in 1970. She had written a lot of stuff but this was her first for her versions of the songs. VG++.
  • The Mountain Goats – In League With Dragons — The BCPF loves The Mountain Goats and we try to get anything we can. This is a brand new release that came out on Friday. It’s the “hardcore” 2xLP, double-speed mastered version that is yellow/green marbled. It also contains an exclusive black vinyl 7-inch featuring two non-album tracks. New.
  • The Cure – Pillbox Tales 1977-1979 — This was an import and “unofficial” release. Robert Smith sounds so young and at times didn’t sound like him at all. But, it was and it is. Great sound. VG++.
  • The Fresh & Onlys – Early Years Anthology — This is an American rock band out of San Francisco. The BCPF picked it up, I don’t know much about it. According to the bastion of all correct internet infotainment, Wikipedia: They are a key band in what has been described as San Francisco’s “new garage rock” movement, but their sound is equally aligned with pastoral psychedelia, brooding new wave, western twang, and jangly literate 80’s guitar pop. NM.
  • Kate Bush – The Kick Inside — If you ever know a Kate Bush song, you never forget the voice when you hear it again. That is the case here. I know her best for her work with Peter Gabriel and the tune “Running Up That Hill.” And, you can definitely hear the trademark Kate Bush warbly/high-pitched jangle. I love it, though. VG- due to some pops and skip or two.
  • Dokken – Tooth And Nail — It’s Dokken, it’s hair metal from the late 80s. I like that stuff. Yeah, I’m a sucker. VG/VG- because of the sleeve.
  • Linda Ronstadt – Silk Purse — Her second album and it’s all covers, as she was wont to do. Her thing was her voice. That was her personality and her vibe. She now has Parkinsons Disease and is unable to sing. This and all subsequent entries on this list is from the $1 bin and should be VG unless otherwise noted.
  • Nat King Cole – Top Pops — Nat King Cole. The BCPF. Done.
  • John Denver – John Denver’s Greatest Hits — 3B always plays “Take Me Home, Country Roads” when we’re cooking so, we have to add it, right?
  • Chuck Mangione – Feels So Good — Ol’ Chuck gets Yacht Rock Radio play, especially the title track, so why not have some on vinyl? I love that song.
  • Paris – Paris — This was Bob Welch’s (credited as Robert Welch) first project after leaving Fleetwood Mac. He formed this band with ex-Jethro Tull bassist Glenn Cornick and ex-Nazz (with Todd Rundgren) drummer Thom Mooney. The fact that Bob is on it and the cool neon green cover, are really the reasons I got this.
  • The Lovin’ Spoonful – The Very Best Of The Lovin’ Spoonful — As the name suggests. This is listed as Good condition and the cover sleeve is Poor because it’s falling apart.
  • Abbott & Costello – Who’s On First? — The BCPF found it and wanted it. That’s all we needed to know, right?
  • Europe – The Final Countdown — 7″ Single, not the full album, which I certainly want. People seem to hate this song, the band and the album. Kind of like Nickelback today. However, I love the band, this song and the album. So, I stick my tongue out at all of you.

So, it was a pretty great haul, even though we only got to listen to about two of the records because of the power/Clay situation. We will catch up a little today, I think. Underdog was hopping with people yesterday, partly due to Clay’s performance, but because people were just wanting to be there. Jonathan had hotdogs, too. Yum! Listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables to hear about the TLD/UR special of the week. And, use Discogs to catalog your vinyl, CD or even cassette collections.

Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!

—
“I’d like to see you in the morning light. I’d like to feel you when it comes tonight. Now I’m here and I’m all alone. Still, I know how it feels. I’m alone again. Tried so hard to make you see but I couldn’t find the words. Now the tears, they fall like rain. I’m alone again without you.” – “Alone Again” (Dokken/Pilson)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 12/1/18

02 Sunday Dec 2018

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Salutations™!!

Our original plan for this week was thwarted when the Connells had to postpone their show in Durham due to a member of the band being in a car accident. So, we did the breakfast thing and then over to Underdog Records. It was a dreary morning but we brightened it up with rekkids! Here’s the haul!

Lightscamerarevolution

©Epic

  • Beastie Boys – Licensed To Ill — #219 on the RS list, I wanted to get this to show 3B that not all rap is this mess they call rap these days or cRap as I call it. Sometimes you gotta fight for your right to better music. New.
  • Suicidal Tendencies – Lights… Camera… Revolution — I used to listen to this when my friend Danny (Daniel now) and I used to cruise Stratford. “Lovely” and “Send Me Your Money” was the two best on the album and they still are. Robert Trujillo who is now the bassist for Metallica was the bassist for ST in the day. I saw them open for Queensryche on the “Building Empires” tour, too. They were one of the first rapping metal bands that I remember. New on transparent green vinyl.
  • The Mountain Goats – All Hail West Texas — This is one of those bands that The BCPF loves. This was the sixth “studio” album by the “band.” Up to and including this the albums had been recorded on a Panasonic boombox and it was only John Darnielle writing, recording and playing the songs. It’s a concept album that the cover even says, “fourteen songs about seven people, two houses, a motorcycle, and a locked treatment facility for adolescent boys.” You can hear the wheel gears on the boombox whirling the whole time. It’s very lo-fi and I didn’t really care for it, but it wasn’t for me anyway. New.
  • The Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat — Once again, I will never understand the appeal of the Velvet Underground. Not the songs. The songs have some substance but the total disregard of sonic sense in the recordings of this album is raking on the nerves of people that enjoy real music. This is #293 on the RS list and I think that is asinine. It should be in the #1 spot for worst thing ever. This is worse than The Velvet Underground + Nico album and that’s saying something. VG++ but how would you know?
  • The Allman Brothers Band – The Allman Brothers Band At Fillmore East — The good news is I was able to add a few from the RS list. The bad news is that I don’t really like two of them. This was is #49 on that list which, again, I just don’t get. I stirred a bit debate on Facebook with the post about this album. I get so tired of extended jamming and endless crapola solos. I agree the guitar tones were fantastic and Gregg’s voice was on point, but if it were just songs of normal lengths, I’d have been quite fine with this, but it goes on and on and on forever. I mean the whole Side 4 is a 22-minute version of “Whipping Post.” I like that song but it was just a bunch of showing off. I didn’t care when I first heard it and I still don’t. But, it’s part of my collection and one off the list. VG+.
  • Handel, Leonard Bernstein, The New York Philharmonic, The Westminster Choir – Messiah — Christmas is coming, right? Leonard Bernstein, right? Yeah. 2xLP set. VG+.
  • Serkin / Beethoven – Three Favorite Sonatas — The “Moonlight Sonata,” “Pathétique” and “Appassionata” are the three and they are doing beautifully by Rudolf Serkin. This was NM and not a single pop and crackle was heard.
  • Bonnie Raitt – Takin’ My Time — I never really cared about Bonnie Raitt but the last few things I’ve listened to, I really liked from her. On this album, there are a few songs that she channels her inner Etta James and you can’t go wrong with that. Others she’s like Carole King. This is a great album. VG+.
  • Prokofiev – The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy– Classical Symphony, The Love For Three Oranges Suite, Lieutenant Kijé Suite — A $1 bin find, it seems like yesterday was a good classical day for The BCPF and me. Yay us. Even though it was a $1 bin find, it is in VG+ shape.

We got a lot of it listened to yesterday. It was a good day, even with two (necessary) clunkers. Jonathan was bouncing around the store and joking around, so he has gotten over the Record Store Day weekend. He’s gearing up for a good holiday season and you should tell your loved ones that you want a gift certificate to Underdog Records for your Christmas gift. You can use it for anything in the store. You’ll get it on a 45 7″, too. Listen to The Less Desirables each week to hear the TLD/UDR special of the week.

Discogs is the way I keep track of what my collection looks like. Also, I can purchase from other sellers the things that Jonathan may not be able to get.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’!
Scorp out!

—
“White light, White light goin’ messin’ up my mind. White light, and don’t you know its gonna make me go blind. White heat, aww white heat it tickle me down to my toes. White light, Oh have mercy white light have it goodness knows.” – “White Light/White Heat” (Reed)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 5/20/17

21 Sunday May 2017

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Salutations™!!

We had another great haul from Underdog Records yesterday. Barely beating out Clay Howard to grab a few things, we nabbed the following:

1dark_side_of_the_moon

©Harvest Records

 

We’ve already hit the bottom shelves of our new record case, so, we’ll have to go get another one. Yikes. If you’re not using Discogs to catalog your LP collection (or even your CD collection), you should be. You have a record of what you have in case anything ever happens. And, if you’re into LPs and aren’t going to Underdog Records, you’re missing it. Even if you just want to get back into vinyl and don’t feel like looking for a turntable, he has some in stock that are affordable for those jumping back in.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“She calls me home, she says baby it’s a lonely ol’ night. I don’t know, I’m just so scared and lonely all at the same time. Nobody told me she was gonna work out this way no no no no no no. I guess they knew we’d work it out in our own way.” –  “Lonely Ol’ Night” (Mellencamp)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 4/9

09 Sunday Apr 2017

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Salutations™!!

This week, we got some really good stuff from Underdog Records (the Official Vinyl Sponsor of The Less Desirables). unnamed (1)

And, from my pal Clay Howard:

Not only did we get that pile of awesome, but we finally purchased a LP storage cabinet (picture). It was a great Saturday (and some from earlier in the week). Listen to The Less Desirables and hear what the weekly special is for Underdog Records and head over and tell Jonathan, and take home some records!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I feel uptight on a Saturday night. Nine o’clock, the radio’s the only light. I hear my song and it pulls me through. Comes on strong, tells me what I’ve got to do. Get up! Everybody’s gonna move their feet. Get down! Everybody’s gonna leave their seat. You gotta lose your mind in Detroit Rock City.” – “Detroit Rock City” (Simmons/Ezrin)