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 media 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.
Dire Straits - Dire Straits
2019 2xLP 45RPM issue limited numbered edition via Mobile Fidelity
This is one of my favorite albums. Despite my best attempts to overplay it, I’ve yet to grow tired of its wonderful guitars and effortlessly cool vibe. Six Blade Knife is my favorite cut on the record and, in my mind, listening to it makes me cool by proxy. Actually, I think Wild West End is my favorite cut. No—it’s probably Settin’ Me Up. What I’m getting at is that this thing is bangers from top to bottom and the most famous cut, Sultans of Swing, might be the worst of the lot. This thing is that good.
Naturally, I already own a US original press, a mid-2000s Euro reissue, the 2021 Rhino ‘Start Your Ear Off Right” reissue, and now this Mobile Fidelity 2xLP version. The MoFi cut is reportedly the definitive version of the recording, with a price tag to match, but I just had to do it, especially since the price will quadruple once it goes out of print. When they say there is a sucker born every minute, they are referring to me.
Metallica - ...And Justice for All
2021 issue on Dyers Green wax via Blackened Recordings (Wal-Mart exclusive)
While I’m not the world’s biggest Metallica fan, I can admit they do have some bangers. The band formed label Blackened Recordings to facilitate a reissuing of their catalog back in 2014. I immediately purchased Master of Puppets, Metallica, and Load from that series and was immediately disappointed with the quality, particularly on Puppets. The mastering was much worse than the original CD issue and the record itself was a noisy mess. I got clowned by Lars and company.
The band attempted to make things right by reissuing the catalog again in 2018, this time hiring Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering to handle the mastering and cutting of lacquers. The set was also pressed at Pallas in Germany, known for their high quality pressings. These new issues were reportedly much better according to early buyers. I held off because I wasn’t going to let that Danish cockgoblin clown me again. Fast forward to January and some of these LPs are being issued again via an exclusive Wal-Mart promotion on colored vinyl. The prices are half what I paid for the 2014 miscarriages, so I decided to let Lars into my backdoor again. Naturally, the Puppets issue was immediately sold out (and being gouged on the secondhand market) so I picked up Justice. You still can’t hear the bass guitar, but whatever, the LP is quiet and the music solid. It is worth the $15 I paid.
Somali Yacht Club - The Sun
2018 issue on clear wax via Bilocation Records
Folks who have followed this awful, self-indulgent blog so far know that I’m a sucker for 90s rock. I am an even bigger sucker for all things stoner rock, particularly of the obscure Euro variety. Somali Yacht Club is a newer band that makes just the kind of fuzz-infused buttrock I live for. Their second LP, Sun, has been on my vinyl grail list for as long as I’ve known of its existence. Each issue of the record has been in frustratingly small batches (250 copies worldwide), so securing a copy of this on a video game blogger salary has been next to impossible. Thanks to the absolute gem of a person that runs the online vinyl store Cosmic Peddler, I was able to get a copy of my own. Check out the opener Loom for an idea of what this one sounds like.
Montrose - Montrose
2017 2xLP issue via Rhino Records
Classic rock buffs have probably known about this album since the beginning of time, but for a dipshit millennial like myself, exposure to this music was nonexistent. Classic rock radio is the absolute worst when it comes to running great music into the dirt with uninspired playlists and constant repetition. The problem is even less-forgivable when ass-scorching albums like this exist and don’t get the same airplay. Montrose is built on the outstanding guitar work of band leader/guitar god Ronnie Montrose and the powerful vocals of a young Sammy Hagar.
It boggles my mind that this album predates Van Halen by at least five years. This is a better record than anything Van Halen put out (even if it is missing Michael Anthony’s sublime vocal harmonizing). That’s my hot take of the week and I stand by it. This reissue is cut by Sean McGee at Abbey Road Studios and comes with a second LP containing a full soundboard radio recording on a 1973 set at the Record Plant in Sausalito, California. This is a must-own for guitar rock nerds.
Various Artists - Michael Mann’s Manhunter OST
2018 2xLP 45RPM issue on Red Dragon wax via Waxwork Records
I love Michael Mann movies for a million reasons. The soundtracks are always amazing and his pop music selections to accompany scenes are as good as anyone in Hollywood. His 1986 classic Manhunter wrote the book on how to make a murder mystery procedural, spawning an infinite numberof knockoffs and paving the way for shows like C.S.I. and all the other dreck you get on CBS these days. This particular movie was the big screen debut of the Hannibal Lector character and stars C.S.I.’s Willimam Peterson. The story was later re-imagined in 2002’s Red Dragon, but it couldn’t hold a candle to the 1986 version.
The soundtrack carries a strong 1980s vibe (this was made while Mann was running Miami Vice in its prime) that manages to remain timeless. This Waxwork reissue is split across two LPs for the best possible sound quality and the records themselves come in a cool red marble coloring. The die-cut jacket has mirrors inserted into the eyes and the gatefold opens to reveal outstanding art of the Red Dragon himself, Francis Dollarhyde.
Faith No More - Angel Dust
2013 2xLP issue on black wax via Music on Vinyl
Faith No More kick ass. This is the best album the band has released thus far, making it an easy choice—easy like Sunday morning. This particular reissue is split over two records and comes via the Music on Vinyl label out of the Netherlands. These guys are known for their outstanding reissues, particularly of 90s rock. This album never saw a North America vinyl release until Mobile Fidelity put it out in 2008. Sadly, that version is really tough to find for less than $200, so this delightful version is a godsend. What better record to waste money on during what seems to be my MidLife Crisis?
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!
