Collection Update 4.1

Greg came down to shop records with me today. We hit a lunch spot I’ve wanted to try since I started coming down to North Park. Also ran into an old friend from our school day. Seemed like everyone came down Summer for a beautiful day in the city.

Obviously I came home with something from Normal. They finally got Real Estate’s In Mind stocked. Also grabbed The Even’s The Odds at a disconnected price. They still have tons of LP’s I want but I don’t need to get broke. It’s a wonderful store that gets me out and about some days when I could easily shut in. Also nice of Greg to come down and talk shop. Keep up with each other’s experiences. Now I can sit back and finally listen drop into this perfect summer record from Real Estate. 

Collection Update 4

C4

I finally got to visit Normal Records after they moved over to the next block on 30th street. They have the best record store in North Park. I was really happy to finally pick up Mad City on vinyl. I could have had it $10 cheaper on Amazon but I still get joy out of perusing a record store to find something I wasn’t ready to drop plastic on yet. Sure it was on less online, but when I held it in my hands finally and could take it home… My decision was easy.

There were some other choices to make. I almost picked up Pinkerton too but I felt like it could wait. I was far more fixated to take home one of the best records this decade, and Caleb, Normal’s owner, had three copies of Pinkerton. Clearly a reprint I could find again later. It’s also not a summer record. Seems more like a moody winter record I’ll probably grab then. Good Kid was made for many things, and summer was one of them.

To add on my summer vibes, Normal finally got in a copy of Skylar Spence’s Prom King. It’s a throw back to summer uptown in the 70’s. It’s New York underground disco’s, Nile Rodger’s guitar picking, mixed with modern dance. It’s nearly two years old but songs like “Fiona Coyne” have stayed in my rotation for half a year. I get the vibe Prom King‘s popularity has bubbled for months now. We’ll see but it’s one I’m happy to have in my collection for chill sessions and kickbacks at the pad. Matches well with my Pineapple Express soundtrack.

Last little item I got was Loud Love on tape. It was too good to pass up. It was an old pressing and you know this one can’t turn tapes down. I haven’t added a tape to my collection for a while. I’ve mostly added records to the bin. I’m not as interested in buy new records on tape as much but an old one like this was a no brainer. My little library continues growing. Check my collection here and here.

Record Store Day 2017


Just got back from Lou’s Records with a close friend Greg. We got lucky on Record Store Day exclusives. Lou’s can feel cramped but they’re organized and have practiced this day for years. I got #50 and Greg got 51. There wasn’t a huge omg item on this years list I wanted. Two years ago Metallica rereleased their demo tape and I barely missed getting a copy. I did however pick up a Straight Outta Compton tape. 

This year I managed to get the last copy of the The Smiths The Boy with The Thorn in His Side single, the only Big Thief Mythological Beauty single Lou’s got, Pineapple Express soundtrack, and Sunny Day Real Estate The Rising Tide LP. The Smiths single has a demo mix and early version of “Rubber Ring” with cover art curated by Moz himself. Big Thief’s single gave me the heads up on their second album Capacity due June 9th. Also includes a non-album track “Breathe in My Lungs” on side B. 

Unfortunately I could not get the Space Jam soundtrack. Some guy before got the last one. Ironically he also got The Smiths and SDRE records. I still walked away with four items I wanted, and life’s good already. Cannot complain. I debated getting a Big Star vol. 3 vinyl set but it was $40. I almost got a Springsteen 3 LP live set but it was like $78 so I cancelled that. 

Overall I spent about $80. Totally worth it though. The Smiths one has some bragging rights. Pineapple Express is a great kick back record for the pad. I’m looking most forward to taking a deep dive into SDRE after not listening to them in some time. And of course my faithful and continued support of Big Thief. Cheers, and happy Record Store Day!