Vinyl Spotlight: The Valley - The Valley

The Valley - The Valley

I picked up this copy of their "Purple Octopus" EP at The Valley's show last Friday at The Swamp. This is a 10" purple with black splatter record. Their CD was self-released, but this vinyl version was put out by RxEVOLUTION Recordings.

Record Store Day 2009 - The Haul

Record Store Day festivities at Rhino Records on the way to Coachella. Links updated as I find them.


Bad Religion 7"
Blitzen Trapper "War Is Placebo" 7"
Dead Weather 7"
The Decemberists "The Rake's Song" 7"
Fat Possum Records Sampler 7"
Flaming Lips / Black Keys "Borderline / Her Eyes Are a Blue Million Miles" 7"
El Grupo Nuevo de Omar Rodriguez Lopez "Cryptomnesia" full-length LP
Flight of the Conchords "Pencils in the Wind" 7"
Gaslight Anthem "Live at 10"
Grizzly Bear "Live at KCRW" 7"
Heaven & Hell "Bible Black" 7"
Iron & Wine "Norfolk 06/20/05" CD
Jane's Addiction "Mountain Song" 7"
Jay Reatard & Sonic Youth split 7"
MC5 "Kick Out the Jams" 7"
Misfits "Walk Among Us" LP
My Morning Jacket "Celebracion de la Ciudad Natal" CD & double 10" w/CD
New Order "Temptation" 7"
Obits "I Can't Lose" 7"
Record Store Day Sampler LP
Silversun Pickups "Pikul" 12"
Slayer "Psychopathy Red" 7"
Sonic Youth & Beck split 7"
Sublime "Superstar Punani" 7"
Thermals/Thao Split 7"
These Arms Are Snakes & Russian Circles clear vinyl 12"
Vetiver "Wishing Well" 7"
Tom Waits "Live from the Glitter Dome" 7"
Whiskeytown "San Antone" 7"

EDIT: 6/25 more links

Record Store Day 2009 - The Plan

As I previously posted, Record Store Day takes place on April 18th this year. Now this year, Becca and I will be attending Coachella on that very same day. Not to worry, there is still hope. Coachella is very aware of the importance of Record Store Day and will have their very own record store day market at the festival. Also, just in case, I have located participating stores in Palm Desert and Claremont.

Also with regards to my previous post, the number of record store day exclusive releases has grown exponentially. I mentioned a couple last time, but the list has grown quite large. I hoping to hit a couple of the stores I mentioned because you can't find all of the exclusives everywhere. The complete list can be found here. Some notable additions are singles by Blitzen Trapper, the Decemberists, Flight of the Conchords, Modest Mouse, Heaven & Hell, Slayer, and Grizzly Bear.

Vinyl Spotlight: Wolves in the Throne Room - Malevolent Grain

Wolves in the Throne Room - Malevolent Grain

This EP was released last month by the Olympia black metal outfit on Southern Lord Records. This release features two operatic songs each over 10 minutes long. When mailordered directly from Southern Lord, this album is pressed on forest green vinyl out of a 1000 copies. The forest green edition is probably one of the best looking pieces of colored vinyl I have seen. The cover also features a gold foil stamped logo. Fresh off their performance in the Scion Rock Fest, the Wolves have a full length due out at that end of the month.

Pre-Orders

Those anticipated albums are getting closer than ever, some of them even coming this month. That means pre-orders and pre-orders mean enticing add-ons.

Now We Can See 7" (white vinyl) - First week of March

The Hazards of Love CD (first 750 signed) - March 24

The Hazards of Love LP (first 250 signed) - March 24

Now We Can See CD (autographed postcard; button & sticker) - April 7

Now We Can See LP (autographed poster; button & sticker) - April 7

Veckatimest LP - May 26

Record Store Day 2009

It's that time of year again! Of course, I'm talking about National Record Store Day. The day that we come together to celebrate independent record shops across the country. I first heard my favorite song of last year, "Furr", on a free Sub Pop compilation I received at last year's event.

This year Matador is releasing three exclusives records only for participating shops. Artists involved include Beck, Sonic Youth, Jay Reatard, and Pavement.

EDIT: The Thermals and Thao with Get Down Stay Down are releasing an exclusive split as well.

Local participating stores:

Spokane - Unified Groove Merchants, 4000 Holes

Portland - Everyday Music, Jackpot Records, Music Millenium

My Collection

I have now added a widget that links to my collection at discogs.com. I'm still in the process of adding all my records to the list.

Vinyl Spotlight: The Muslims - The Muslims

The Muslims - The Muslims

This San Diego garage band put out two singles and this album before changing their name for obvious reasons. This is a 7 song 45 RPM album that includes a CD of the album plus 3 bonus songs. The inserts are supposedly hand-typed and the jacket was shot by an actual New York City police officer. As far as I know, this album is no longer available.

Vinyl Spotlight: The Decemberists - Always the Bridesmaid Single Series

Vol. 1: Valerie Plame
Vol. 2: Days of Elaine
Vol. 3: Record Year for Rainfall

12" singles released in monthly installments. Limited edition on colored vinyl. Composed of songs the band thought would not fit on their new album. You can still purchase the set from Jealous Butcher or from the Decemberists' Shop.

Boxset Mayhem

2 huge boxsets have recently gone on sale.

Mastodon Boxset

*3 Studio Albums (Remission, Leviathan, Blood Mountain)
*1 EP (Lifesblood)
*1 Compilation (Call of the Mastodon)
*1 Previously Unreleased Concert (Relapse Contamination Festival 2003)
*3 Cover Songs
*1 Slipmat
*1 Sticker Pack
/11oo copies

Price: $225 + Shipping


Nada Surf Boxset 1994-2008

*5 Studio Albums (High/Low, The Proximity Effect, Let Go, The Weight Is a Gift, Lucky)
*1 7" Single (The Plan/Telescope)
*1 24-Page Full-Color Booklet
/1000 copies

Price: $100 + Shipping

Mastodon boxset seems a little expensive. Their website claims that there are "9 LP's in the set", which obviously means 9 discs not albums. That is $25 per disc. The Nada Surf boxset is a little more affordable and probably worth picking up if you are really into the band.

Vinyl Spotlight: The Mountain Goats - Satanic Messiah

The Mountain Goats - Satanic Messiah

Previously reviewed album available in a physical medium as a double 7" vinyl only on The Mountain Goats fall tour. It is out of a pressing of 666. A few copies were previously available at 3 Beads of Sweat, but no longer.

Vinyl Spotlight: Man Man - Little Torments

Man Man - Little Torments

New "EP" (It's only two songs) from Obey Your Brain. Out now.