I return to you folk with more tales of my foolish expenditures. Why continue to spin the hamster wheel each week if not to earn enough scratch to waste on the most inconvenient way to consume music? I'm gonna share a few of my recent cops from online record purchasing (as I live in the heart of a southern swamp that is literally 195 miles from the nearest record emporium).
With all that out of the way, I present these to you, the curious reader. Don't forget to shower me in social medias and upvotes and hearts. Additionally, please respond in the comments if you know of some hot new music I should be wasting money on. Daddy is sick and needs his medicine.
Stone Temple Pilots - Purple
2021 issue on blue sky splatter wax via Atlantic Records (and Wal-Mart, lol)
If you've been following this awful series up to now, you would not find this selection surprising. I am smitten with 90s rock and this LP is one of my all-time favorites. This particular pressing is a Wal-Mart exclusive, which I would normally not be stoked about, but this one is different. This issue of Purple is cut by the legendary Bernie Grundman and has better dynamic range than the original 1994 Atlantic Records CD. I have few earlier issues of this one (sadly not the original German purple variant), but really wanted the best sounding version I could get. Wal-Mart pricing made this blue sky splatter version cheaper than any other possible press of this master, so it lives with me now.
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
2021 2XLP issue on Rhino/Warner (SYEOR edition)
This is another of my all-time favorite recordings. I own an original first pressing of the Bob Ludwig cut from 1985 that is one of the best-sounding LPs in my collection. This particualr version splits the album over 2 LPs for the potential for better sound quality and the lacquers were cut by Bernie Grundman and Chris Bellman. This album has been issued a million times in every format and its it likely that other may sound better, but I couldn't resist this Rhino "Start Your Ear Off Right 2021" edition for under $25.
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
2020 2XLP issue on silver wax via Rounder Records
It doesn't get any more white people than this. This album dropped in the mid-2000s and is a wonderful listen. The original vinyl pressing was cut from a CD master and wasn't really worth messing with. In 2010, it got fixed up with a special limited edition remastered and cut by Kevin Gray, but quickly went out of print. Secondhand market pricing got real stupid for this version. Much to my delight, Target (of all places) has recently released a new pressing of Raising Sand that uses the Kevin Gray stampers and is selling it at normal prices. Hooray for me!
Tangerine Dream - Thief OST
2020 issue on sky blue with spark splatter via Mondo Records
Thief is one of my favorite movies and has an outstanding score provided by Tangerine Dream. I already own an orignial pressing and an outstanding Audio Fidelty reissue from 2013, but I had to have this new issue from Mondo for the wonderful die-cut jacket and artwork. It doesn't sound as good as my other copies (this has been my experience with most Mondo titles), but look at the jacket, goddamnit! I supposed the record itself is supposed to mimic the sparks being sprayed from a safe been cut open, so that's pretty cool. If you haven't seen Thief or dabbled in Tangerine Dream, you should make plans to do so immediately.
Torche - Admission
2019 issue on black wax via Relapse Records
Admission is the most recent Torche release and easily my favorite since Meanderthal in 2008. They have a rock sound that apes a bit from 90s alt, stoner metal, pop-punk, and hardcore. I got this black pressing as it was just a bit over $10, but I like the album enough that I would like to grab one ofthe more limited variants. As this one comes from Relapse Records, there will be no shortage of random colored repressings to flood the market for the foreseeable future.
All Them Witches - Dying Surfer Meets His Maker
2015 issue on black wax via New West Records
All Them Witches is one of my favorite current bands. I got to see them live forever ago in Savannah and have been on the train since their 2013 album Lightning at the Door. The Nashville-based trio does moody stoner rock as good as anyone and Dying Surer Meets His Maker is loaded with bangers from top to bottom. I love the jacket artwork (ATW albums all have outstanding art). Expect to see more of this band should this Cortex series continue, because I can't stop buying their records.
Anyway, thanks for stopping by for my livejournal and I hope to see you next time when I share more dumb shit that I shouldn't have bought!
