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.
Blues Traveler – Four
2015 2xLP issue on Psychedelic Splatter wax via Brookvale Records
One of my favorites from a decade of outstanding pop. I would have fallen in love with this album just on the merits of its top-shelf music, but it had to go and have that hella-cool cat on the outer jacket. Everyone knows this LP for Hook and Run-around but the rest of it is also ace. This edition was done back in 2015 in a limited run on a few different colors. I was able to score this splatter variant thanks to an early pre-order. This copy is one of 750 total with foil numbering celebrating the albums 20th anniversary.
Helmet - Betty
2012 issue on silver wax via Let Them Eat Vinyl
Coming off the monstrous preceding album Meantime, Helmet teamed up with Steve Albini and recorded Betty. This record was less of a sledgehammer to the face while still retaining Helmet’s signature staccato riffs and aggressive sound. I’m sexually attracted to the drum sounds on this LP. This particular edition was limited to 1000 copies worldwide. Betty has been out of print on vinyl since this release, driving up aftermarket prices. I’d love another reissue so I don't feel so anxious handling this one.
Mastodon - The Hunter
2011 2xLP issue on black wax at 45RPM via Relapse Records
This album was much more radio-friendly than Crack the Skye, the album that came prior (as much as any Mastodon can be radio-friendly). It has some of my all-time favorite artwork. Most editions come with a cover featuring an insanely wicked wooden sculpture of some sort of devilish deer at a ¾ angle against a red backdrop. This version shows the sculpture from the front against black. This particular version was released as a limited deluxe edition and comes with a different mastering than any other release. It has a much higher dynamic range than the brickwalled CD masters and even better than all the single LP variants that have been released. One of the most-prized in my collection, I wouldn’t trade this one for anything less than a king’s ransom.
Porno For Pyros – Porno For Pyros
2013 issue on tie dye starburst via Enjoy The Ride Records
More 90’s rock should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed these posts. This LP was a Record Store Day exclusive with 1000 copies worldwide on starburst wax in celebration of the 20-year anniversary of the original. I always loved the big single, Pets, and have grown to love this whole album over the years and believe it to be Porno for Pyros best. Like the edition of Helmet’s Betty above, this one has been out of print since release, driving up prices on the secondhand market.
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!
