vinyl

Them Crooked Vultures [180 Gram Vinyl, 2 LP, MP3 Included]
$19.98
The debut from Them Crooked Vultures (John Paul Jones, Josh Homme, Dave Grohl) is as much about celebrating the sound of good old fashioned rock 'n' roll as it is about combining the experience, talents, and tastes of its three members. At one moment (two, actually) this band sounds like Cream; other times it sounds like AC/DC on acid. There's even a track that sounds like it could have come from an early blueprint from "Achille's Last Stand," the king track from Zeppelin's "Presence" album. However, this is not to say that this band sounds like a modern classic-rock knock off, or that this is just an opportunity to take a stab at a Zeppelin-esque hail mary record in the twenty-first century. Sure, Zeppelin fans will pick this up because Jones is in the band -- not a bad reason -- but the songs stand on their own. Without breaking down each track (go and check it out fer yerself!), the bottom line is that this is rock 'n' roll music, pure and simple. It sounds like it's right out of the late sixties, sure, but if anyone can explain why this is a problem...I'm anxious to hear. The melodies are surprisingly catchy, the guitar work loud and exciting, the bass thick and driving. And let's face it -- it's fun to hear Jones rockin' on this record. The whole record is fun, heavy, and in an age where the most popular music around is more industrialized, more concocted, this is ridiculously simple by comparison. That simplicity brings a lot of joy with it. If you really, really like rock music, you will enjoy this.

Band Of Gypsys (VINYL)
$20.98
This Hendrix Album is totally different from his work with the oustanding crew of the experience, but...I'm speecheless, this album is fantastic because it shows how creative and inovative this man was. He mixed Rock, Soul, Funk and psychodelia in one magnific formula. Buddy Miles is another kind of drummer, other style, so good as the master Mitch Mitchell, but his differencial is his groove and he's a great singer in addition. Billy Cox is great on the bass, so, the only advice I give for the fans and for the people who search a new different sound, still modern although it was made in the 70's close your eyes and buy this album. It's a new experience so fantastic as hearing the album "Are You Experienced?" for the first time.

Pet Sounds (VINYL)
$20.98
A caveat - the 5 stars are for the music. 4 stars for pressing!

Re: Pet Sounds and OK Computer Capitol vinyl reissues:

These are better than the abysmal (imo based on disraeli gears and tea for the tillerman) "back to black" reissues.

both the capitol reissue of ok computer and of pet sounds that i bought today are dead quiet and neither suffer from obvious digitalis. they do not sound as if they were recorded using the cd as the source, which many people have felt about the b to b pressings.

the lead vocal on pet sounds is a tiny bit on the bright side (though it may simply be more revealing of whats there - and my system is extremely revealing and cuts no slack in this direction), but it's not brittle like tea for the tillerman is in places in the b to b series. comparing this mono pet sounds to the generally well thought of 1999 mono cap reissue i am hearing slightly better defined detail and slightly increased bass. the more distinct detail may proove to be an improvement or a detrement in the long run. i have to get used to it before i'll be sure which i prefer; but i sure as heck prefer the silence of this vinyl to every pressing i've ever owned of pet sounds. its just great to hear no distracting noises during the oh so many sublime moments that Brian Wilson created for us!

this pressing of ok computer is more dynamic than my uk parlaphone which til now has been my preferred pressing. i have never been wowed by any vinyl or cd of ok c. it aint a sonic pleasure like the radio head lps that have come after it. this does not reverse that assessment of its sound quality (the recording quality of ok c is what it is), but this does seem to be an improvement, at least a bit.

certainly compared to the huge bummer that the back to black series offers, and especially as many of us have been afraid that it foretold that this was all the big record companies were prepared to offer, this comes as a positive tasting of the capitol reissue waters.

so, at first listen i'd say these will at minimum fill the void for those not having quiet (or any) copies of these titles and perhaps bring some small improvements for those lacking pristine wlp's or first pressings. of course the rest of this series may be all over the place by comparison. this is a very hopeful 1st sampling though.

Back to Black [Vinyl]
$15.98
I don't remember what prompted me to look at this album. Previously, I was only aware of Amy Winehouse from what the news reported. Regardless, I listened to the sample tracks and decided to get the CD. I'm very glad I did, what a voice! Because of the sexual content, I only listen when kids aren't around. Since the clean version just blanked out the words (vs substituting them), I opted for listening to the explicit version in a more private setting.