A trip to Creep Records in Philadelphia

Creep Records is always my favorite place to get rare and limited edition vinyl. On my most recent trip there, I did just that.

My purchases:
Sunny Day Real Estate- LP 2:

Emo band, Sunny Day Real Estate only released two albums back in the '90s. Both albums defined emo music and gained the band a loyal fan base. LP 2 actually has no title; its cover art is simply just pink with the words "Sunny Day Real Estate" typed in small font in the middle. Fans did not know what to call the album, so they just called it LP 2. The best song on LP 2 is "Bucket of Chicken". This bucket of chicken has nothing to do with the song lyrics, just like any of the band's other song titles. The song is moody and slow, but starts to pick up and become upbeat and loud by the chorus. This album is pressed on opaque light pink vinyl.

Nirvana- Come As You Are

Promo copies of any band's singles are always hard and rare to find. Promo copies of Nirvana's singles are nearly impossible to find, that is why I was so surprised to find this promo copy of Nirvana's 1992 single, Come As You Are. The song is moody and my least favorite song of the band's Nevermind album, but a promo copy is a promo and copy. If I did not buy it, someone else would have in the next ten minutes.

Mudhoney- Since We've Become Translucent

Mudhoney have been releasing albums since 1989 are still making them. Their 2002 release, Since We've Become Translucent is pressed on clear vinyl, playing off the album's title.

A trip to Tunes in Marlton

My most recent trip to the record store, Tunes in Marlton was successful. I walked out with a lot of limited edition vinyl to add to my record collection.

Nine Inch Nails- Hesitation Marks

After going on a hiatus, Nine Inch Nails is back with a new album. In the studio Nine Inch Nails is not a band, it is just frontman Trent Reznor with his guitars, drums, basses, synthesizers and a computer. Reznor claims that he enjoys making records alone, but has lately let other musicians contribute to his albums. For example, on the track, "Copy of A", Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac contributed guitar.

Atlas Genius- So Electric: When It Was Now (The Remixes)

Atlas Genius recently released their debut album, When It Was Now. The album was a critical and commercial success-- pretty impressive for a debut album from an indie rock band. Just like any successful album, a remix album soon followed. So Electric: When It Was Now (The Remixes) was released on Black Friday Record Store Day 2013 and pressed on 12'' black vinyl. The record is limited to 3,000 copies.

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!

New wave band, Devo may be described by some as bizarre, but it is no secret that they helped to define American new wave music. Devo was, at the time that this album came out, comprised of Bob Casale on rhythm guitar, Gerald Casale on bass and vocals, Bob Mothersbaugh on lead guitar, Mark Mothersbaugh on keyboards and vocals, and Alan Myers on drums. 

The record starts off with "Uncontrollable Urge", the fast upbeat track that every new wave band strived to make, but could not. The song starts with guitar and quickly layers the guitar and bass with the vocals following soon after. The verses are upbeat and all over the place, while the choruses are slowed down and melodic. This formula of loud verse, soft chorus, loud verse would be the formula used on many Devo sounds throughout the years. 

Another standout track on the record is the second track, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction. The song is a Rolling Stones cover, but has hardly sounds like it with Devo's odd but brilliant spin on it. The song includes synthesizers, which makes it drastically different from The Rolling Stones' original version.

This record seemed bizarre and perplexed many people, but proved to be as influential as it is brilliant.

New Vinyl Purchases

My recent trip to Mainstreet Jukebox in East Stroudsburg, PA proved to be a success. I walked out with a lot of vinyl--new and old.
The purchases:
Mark Lanegan and Duke Garwood- Black Pudding

Mark Lanegan, best known for contributing vocals to Queens of the Stone Age and The Screaming Trees, recently teamed up with English multi-instrumentalist, Duke Garwood to record Black Pudding. The record, like Lanegan's previous solo albums showcases his borderline creepy baritone vocals with Garwood on the instruments.

The Melvins- Live at Third Man

Punk rock band, The Melvins have been around since the 80's are still producing records. Live at Third Man is a live record, recorded at The White Stripes frontman, Jack White's venue, Third Man Records. Just like any performance by The Melvins, this performance contains screaming and fast guitar playing.

The Shins- No Way Down/ Fall of '82 (Swift Sessions)

This single by The Shins was pressed on 7'' vinyl back in 2012, and is surprisingly still in stores. The record was released for Record Store Day 2012 and limited to 2,500 copies on black 7'' vinyl. Both songs on the single are on the band's newest LP, but the single has different recordings of the songs.

Lovers Without Borders- Detective EP

Indie band, Lovers Without Borders transports listeners to the beach on the first listen. The band brings their sunny sound to the Olympia underground scene. The Detective EP was released on 7'' vinyl through indie record label, K Records. Just like any "K band", the recordings must be raw, and Lovers Without Borders does just that.

Track 1- Detective:
The title track opens up the EP in a sunny and fun way. The lead singer's vocals can be described as a "non-grungy Eddie Vedder". His vocals are softer than Eddie Vedder's, but are still reminiscent of the Pearl Jam frontman's signature voice. The song includes the lead singer's harmonies with the female drummer. The acoustic song also has a trumpet throughout it. This catchy song is short, but a great opener to the band's debut EP.

Track 2- Eddy:
The second track on the EP is more electric than the previous track, however it is just as catchy. The chorus is very melodic and includes the sound of someone cutting paper at the end of it (it probably is not actually someone cutting paper, it just sounds like it). The song ends with the guitarist playing power chords.

Track 3- The Second Most Beautiful Girl in the World:
The third track on the EP is a Courtney Love cover (the band Courtney Love, not the lead singer of Hole). Lovers Without Borders puts its
own twist on the song. The band's cover of the song is more folk-like and less moody sounding than the original.

Track 4- My Harem Shall All Have Hashbrowns-
The final track on the EP is an instrumental track (what is a good band without a good instrumental track, right?) The acoustic guitar drives the song with the drums serving as the backbone, while the trumpet is back for a final appearance.

Most anticipated albums of 2014

Jack White:
Jack White's first solo album, Blunderbuss proved to be a success back in 2012. Fans of White's previous band, The White Stripes are sure to be pleased with this upcoming record. White has been keeping busy with his side projects, The Dead Weather, who are expected to have a new record out in 2015, and The Raconteurs.

Red Hot Chili Peppers:
Red Hot Chili Peppers, comprised of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (bass), Chad Smith (drums) and Josh Klinghoffer (guitar) is back in the studio to record its eleventh studio album. The band is set to perform at the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show on February 2, alongside Bruno Mars.

Young the Giant:
Newly mainstream band, Young the Giant is back with a new studio album, Mind Over Matter. The band's first self-titled studio album was commercially successful, although it received mixed reviews from music critics. Fans of the band and critics, alike are anticipating the band's second studio album, due to be released January 21, to see if the band can return triumphant.

Top three albums of 2013

1.) Queens of The Stone Age- ...Like Clockwork:
After a near death experience, Queens of The Stone Age's frontman, Josh Homme was finally ready to create a new album with Queens after a six year hiatus. The album showcases, past members Dave Grohl, Mark Lanegan, Nick Oliveri and Joey Castillo. It also features big name talents, such as Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, Alex Turner of The Arctic Monkeys, Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters, and Elton John. The album is quite different from the band's critically acclaimed 2002 album, Songs for the Deaf, but still contains Queens' signature sound.

2.) Arcade Fire- Reflektor
After their Grammy winning album, The Suburbs, Arcade Fire have switched to a new sound. Reflektor is a combination of punk rock (Normal Person), Haitian "rara" (Here Comes The Night Time), and disco (Afterlife). The band took a risk by moving past their old sound, but this risk paid off and made this album one of the most acclaimed records of 2013.

3.) Nine Inch Nails- Hesitation Marks:
The industrial rock band, Nine Inch Nails released their first album in five year in September of 2013. The majority of the album features the band's signature sound--full of synths and loud bass. However, the track, "Everything", does not have frontman, Trent Reznor's trademark screams. Those screams are replaced by a "pop sound", proving that there is no genre that Reznor can not do well.

Worst albums of 2013- Part 3

Nickelback- The Best of Nickelback Volume 1

Greatest hits albums are always a sign that a band's career is coming to an end (or maybe they have to fulfill a record label contract). Nickelback for years have been making radio hits, and not all of those radio hits are very good. This greatest this compilation album contains basically every hit single from the band's discography. When frontman, Chad Kroeger said in a statement that The Best of Nickelback Volume 1 would contain new material and old material, fans were excited to hear new music from the band. However, when the compilation album came out, it contained on previously released material. 

The album starts off with the band's most famous single, "Photograph". The song contains loud guitars and drums. This track is essential for any Nickelback fan's iPod.

The fourth track, "Rockstar" is a loud rock song, basically explaining how Kroeger want to be a rockstar. "Cause we all just want to be big rockstars/ And live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars," sings Kroeger. The lyrics in this song are very ironic, considering that Kroeger already has fifteen cars.

The main problem with this greatest hits album is that it contains a lot of music from the band's fifth studio album, All The Right Reasons, and very little to no material from the rest of the band's studio albums.

Whether this is Nickelback's final goodbye or not, it is clear that the band needs to come up with new material to maintain their fan base. 

Worst records of 2013- Part 2

Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Mosquito

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 2003 debut album, Fever to Tell, was a great debut album by an indie band. The album made The Yeah Yeah Yeahs famous and even scored them a Grammy nomination. The group's fourth album, Mosquito marked the band's first mediocre record.

The album is not the worst album ever, nor is it amazing. It is just simply, mediocre. It is not the worst album of 2013; It is the most disappointing album of 2013. For a band that has produced solid record after solid record, Mosquito comes off as just okay. It lacks the glow and spark of the group’s earlier albums.

The worst song off Mosquito is "Area 52", which has borderline embarrassing lyrics. "I want to be an alien/ Take me please, oh alien", sings lead singer, Karen O. The lyrics are much different than the lyrics off their debut album.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs may now lack their old spark from 2003, but Fever to Tell will always be an album that shaped the indie rock genre.

Worst records of 2013-Part 1

Fall Out Boy- Save Rock and Roll

Pop punk band Fall Out Boy claim that they will save rock and roll with their 2013 release, Save Rock and Roll. This is however, not the case. The band has been on a hiatus for a few years and the release of a new Fall Out Boy record brought excitement to many fans. The record features many guests, such as Courtney Love of Hole, Big Sean and Elton John. The most surprising guest on the record is undoubtedly Big Sean, who has no experience in rock music whatsoever. As a whole, the album sounds more like a modern pop record, than a record worthy of saving Rock and Roll.

The single off the record, "My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)", gave fans a first glimpse of the popular band's new record. The song sounds like a classic Fall Out Boy song, loud guitars, with a pop song structure. The song is not bad by any means, just not a song that can save rock and roll music.

Even though this record is not nearly as good as it was made out to be, Fall Out Boy has without a doubt come a long way since their hit single, "Sugar, We're Goin' Down".