Hundred Dolla' Holla' with Naked Raygun

This weekend I am going to be host to a tent party at Riot Fest Chicago.  We are going to be playing video games, raffling off prizes, dousing people in a dunk tank and generally just mixing it up with the masses amidst great music.  A funnel cake or two may also be consumed.  

I also created a promotion called the Hundred Dolla' Holla' Club.  It is an incentive to get people to spend $100 on raffle tickets.

The idea is simple: Join the Hundred Dolla' Holla' Club by spending $100 and you shall receive -

• 80 raffle tickets 
• A CCH t-shirt
• $10 in video game tokens
• A Naked Raygun styled chant performed in your honor by the volunteers staffing the booth.

Guess which part I had a hard time selling to the volunteers I recruited.  

The thing is, I blame the Chicago education system.  Clearly we are not teaching the younger generations about the rapturous call and response opportunities offered through the music of Naked Raygun.  

Elsewhere in the world, they have football vuvuzelas that trumpet your impending hearing loss.  In other areas of the globe, you can wildly scatter in a market square as a full grown bull thrashes about in close proximity.  

These rituals represent a submission of your individual consciousness to the ecstatic mob mentality.  Y'see, mob mentality gets a bad rap as always being negative and it just isn't so. In the words of Maude Lebowski, these moments "can be a natural, zesty enterprise." 

Here in the Windy City, the quickest path to a true Chicago citizenship is to risk a severe bruising as you mingle your sweat with hundreds of others; the easiest way to earn your Chi-town bona fides is to mosh joyously at a Naked Raygun show as you shred your vocal chords chanting along to (at least) these ten songs. 

This is not the result of a poll.  This is based solely on my extensive field experience.

10. New Dreams

This is where it all started. The short chant perforates the Super Ego with the force of its intent.  It boldly declares: "My new dreams are becoming a reality no matter what heretofore unseen steps need to be taken.  WHOA-AY-OH!  WAY-OH-WAY!

9. HOME

For most of the song, it is just blunt primal scream therapy to manage the pain, ("Oh God, I really feel the pain"). but then in the last throes of the song the heavenly choir ascends.  Home again, check the fridge.  

8. Backlash Jack

Hey, I was at this show!  The sound quality on this video is impressive but because of the narrow scope of what I assume was a cameraphone recording, you can't really see the crowd.  

But you can certainly still hear them.  Our presence is best represented by the the kid that shows up 1:15 minutes in to the video.  It seems that in Mishwauka, Indiana at least one family is raising their young up on the classics.  

What is this song about?  Beware of vipers and sycophants.  Or as Joan fucking Jett puts it, "you got nothing to lose, you don't lose when you lose fake friends."

7. Wonder Beer

Hey! I was at this show too!  And I can totally see myself in the crowd.  I pounded the stage floorboards until my fists were black and blue.  

Kudos to whomever loaded this up for putting in the lyric word balloons.  Until just now, I thought I knew the lyrics to this song by heart - but I always heard the line about "too much adrenaline" as being a shout out to Loretta Lynn.  In my defense, this is much less of a logical jump than one would expect in this song that also give props to Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and Roy Orbison. 

This one isn't really a chant per se, it is more like chorus that acts like an Irish toast in the middle of a song about that "sweet Bacchanalian din" (expertly rhymed with two more aspirin).  But it is a prime example of the energy that a crowd of faithful NR fans gives back.  

It is okay to feel a little lightheaded as you sing along to Wonder Beer.  It is perfectly normal to have a pukey burp as you belt this out.  Who is going to judge you?  Surely not the Gods - they are as piss drunk as you and I.  

6. Home of the Brave

I remember listening to an episode of Sound Opinions where Derogatis and Kot struck upon the idea of playing the "quintessential" Chicago song. They gave themselves just one station break to come to an agreement on what that track would be.  

This is the song they came up with in a pinch, and as an instinctual decision it was a pretty astute one.  

Fast forward ahead to 1:50 in to get a POV perspective of what it is like when Jeff Pezzati thrusts the mic into your vicinity.  

What are you going to do?  Stand there like a poseur or answer the Call of the Brave? 

5. Metastasis

I would just like to point out that you can see Riot Mike at the start of this clip, making sure his guys have the proper hydration within arms reach. 

When I started this post, I had no idea that I would discover how many NR shows I have attended that ended up on Youtube, but I here I am in yet another video.  I am hanging just to the right of the taper and his buddy singing along with my good friend Wendi.  

This track has the giddy joy of a football hooligan down pat.  What else but fervent devotion would have you proudly exclaim, "I AM A LOCAL SLIME MOLD OH-OH-OHHH!  HEY-AY! HEY-AY! HEY-AY!" 

And if you are cramming for Riot Fest, be sure to pay close attention to this one as it will be performed as it is part of Throb, Throb which Raygun will be playing front to back. 

4. Rat Patrol

Ok, I surely wasn't at this performance because I would remember that my mother would have had to drive me into the city to be there as I was only 13 years old at the time.  

Rat Patrol is one of the very few reasons I am glad that my old-ass Honda Civic has just a tape deck.  In the seconds of cassette hiss before this song kicks in, I exist inside a Pavlovian predisposition.  

Look at how incredibly PACKED the Metro is with shirtless young men just burning to be a part of "Chicago Woodstock" as Jeff puts it.  As your study buddy, I feel it is important to mention that this is also sure to be on the test this weekend.  

3. Soldier's Requiem

Naked Raygun is a product of the first Cold War.  It is self evident in their album covers and their lyrics.  Growing up in the imminent shadow of mutually assured destruction, you can either curl up in a ball of fear or you can do your best to laugh it off and forge on.  Camaraderie and humor helps to ease the anxiety of forces beyond your control.  

It feels like we have come full circle and Naked Raygun is once again a product of current headlines. 

Oh, I was at this show too.  It was a night I hope I never forget.     

2. Knock Me Down

If you have made it this far and actually watched all these clips, god bless you.

If you saw Guardians of The Galaxy, you know how the character Groot gets a lot of mileage out of his inflection of his only three words of dialogue   throughout the movie?  

Well, Raygun is the same way with just one word: Whoa.  

I want to give you a bit of break from the shaky and frenetic hand held cameras.  

So I present to you the wonder of the Skater Tots covering our #2 entry - Knock Me Down - a great love song for the ages. 

1.  I Lie

I thought long and hard about what should be #1 and this one edged out the formidable competition simply because "I Lie" contains the Whoa-oh-oh-ohs that the crowd starts up with in unison, without the band, when we want Raygun to come back out for an encore.  

It sounds utterly fantastic when the crowd is in to it.  You can hear a little bit of it going on at the start of this clip as the band returns to the stage and takes up the song. They love us and we love them.  

**** 

Well, that is it - 10 Naked Raygun songs no self respecting sing-along enthusiast can ignore!  Maybe next year I can get some volunteers to holla with me.

Are you feeling it?  Do you believe I left a crucial song off the list?  Do you disagree with the pecking order?     

You can post in the comments or take it up with me at Riot Fest. Or better yet, at the Double Door aftershow.  I will be there - just follow the sound of my voice.  

  

Have we reached Peak Vinyl?

So my good friend G$ is working towards opening his own record store and it has been fun to live vicariously through him as he amasses a collection to merit such an effort.  

Or at least it was at the very beginning.  On one of his earliest scores, G$ bought an entire roomful of records for $500.  They were literally jammed airtight into this room from floor to ceiling.   

Lately I have started to worry that this vinyl resurgence has induced a gold rush fever that will soon go bust.  

Y'see, I started looking around on Craigslist to see if I could help find some decent scores so my buddy G$ could build up his stock.  What I found leads me to believe that all these plain folk with records collecting dust in their basements may have read an article about the vinyl boom and plumb lost their minds. 

For you serious collectors out there, I will warn you that these images and ads I am about to share with you may seem like a cruel and sadistic joke.  I assure you that they are very real and I fear they point to a future where finding quality records will be much more difficult and costly. 

I have no plans to return to Craigslist and I offer this log of what I found as a cautionary tale for anyone sensitive to the mistreatment of records. 

 "I have two big rubbermaid containers full of old record albums. If I had to guess, I would say there are about 1000 at least. They are from various artists. They are not in perfect condition, but I'm sure there are some gems in there. I just don't have the time to sort them. Just trying to get rid of them. Thanks for looking."

****

This listing above is pretty typical of what I found.  Everyone is certain that their parcel has precious gold in it - or they are just playing dumb in the hopes that someone sizes them up as a rube and hauls away their trash for them.  It is like an elaborate Tom Sawyer paint my fence set up.  

If I had to guess, I would say that there was 200 seriously abused records in those Rubbermaid tubs. If I had to guess, I would say they were subjected to waterboarding and several humiliating sessions with a feline dominatrix.  

I suspect this person may actually be an exhibitionist masochist: "Thanks for looking at my vinyl torture porn. Hey, you are in luck!; I was just about to bring out the Gimp.

                        ****

RECORDS, I HAVE 13 FROM EARLY 1980'S AND EARLIER. $10 – Condition: Good.  ASK FOR RICK.

****

Rick, I would like to ask you a question. I presume that you know how to work a digital camera thanks to the photo you provided with your listing.  Has anyone every told you that 9/10ths of the sale is presentation?  I mean, who stacks records like this?  Do you work in a fish market?

**** 

Vinyl Albums $50.00 each albumPeter Frampton Frampton Comes Alive,Bruce Springsteen Born in The U.S.A., Michael Jackson Thriller,Beach Boys Spirit Of America, Black Sabbath, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,Frankie Goes To Hollywood Welcome To The Pleasuredome...Palos Heights thats in the south suburbs!!! text or call I respond faster

****

Dear Palos Heights,

I have questions about these certifiably rare albums that you are surprisingly willing to part with at such bargain pricing.  

Does the Springsteen album come with a bandanna soaked in The Boss's flopsweat?  Does the Sabbath album come the carcass of the bat whose head Ozzy bit off?  Is the Thriller album sticky with King of Pop's jizm?   Are you throwing in Brian Wilson's bathrobe that he wore for a decade straight to sweeten the pot?  

What forensic level of memorabilia are you clearly going to add to this deal of six blurry records laying on the floor of your den to justify THREE HUNDRED SIMOLIANS and a trip to the south suburbs?  A coke-encrusted arab strap from the Pleasuredome?  

Please text or call me back and I will respond, perhaps with some pointers on proper comma placement.  Or not.

*****  

Have several brand new, undamaged Rock LPs all at various prices. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Hovercraft, etc. Email for info and prices. 

Note: the Ted Nugent LP is free.
Mick Jagger records are $7.00 each.

****

This one may be my favorite listing - it packs in all forms of slick advertising with such brevity.  

"Brand New," for instance, might make the following term "undamaged" seem irrelevant. But this guy isn't taking any chances, he wants to manage your expectations.  Especially since he is showing you a copy of an album that clearly hasn't been "brand new" since 1975.

But perhaps that isn't fair since that photo is the Ted Nugent album.  The one free LP that you get if you Act Now(!) and email about the pricing for the several brand new, undamaged others. You'll be delighted to learn that he has Jon Spencer Blues Explosion as well as Hovercraft! Not to mention etc! 

Well, wait - can we suppose that he doesn't have the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion LP titled "Damage"?  And how much do you think he is asking for the Mick Jagger records?  

Oh yeah, I will probably learn that when I email him about the pricing for the several others.  

****

15 Great Rock n Roll albulms from the 80's, The Eagles Greatest Hits Volume 1, Van Halen, Rush Moving Pictures, The Police Every Breath You Take, Bad Company 10 from 6, Steppenwolf 16 Greatest Hits, The Eagles Greatest Hits Volume 2, Rush 2112, The Cars, Madonna True Blue, Foreigner, Alice Cooper, Scott Baio, Rush Permanent Waves, and Steve Martin Wild and Crazy Guy, has the song King Tut, The records are in great shape, the covers are fair to good, Bring back the Memories.

****

Admittedly my memories of the 80's is a little fuzzy but were all of these "albulms" so great that they deserve to be revisited?

****

ANYONE LOOKING FOR RECORDS?!

I have over 40 crates of records but I am not wanting to part with all of them. I am willing to part with 15-20 of them. I have all genres of music. I am not interested in selling record by record. Selling WHOLE crates ONLY. $35 per crate OR if you are interested in buying multiple, we can work something out (buy 4 get one free for instance...whatever). Some records are used, some have not been opened. They are all mixed and in no type of order what so ever. SERIOUS INQUIRES ONLY!!!!

****

Oh don't play coy with me, audiophile!  You KNOW I am looking for records and I won't rest until I get all 40 of these undifferentiated crates of LPs as well as the insects and molds that have claimed them as their home.  Like you, I am into all genres of music and I am always serious when it comes working something out...whatever. 

****

I have 2 boxes of Vinyl records looking to sell

some are in really good shape and some very old titles.

I know that a couple of this records are worth some money!

$125 Cash obo for the two boxes.

****

I feel that it is important to mention at this point that I found all these ads in one sitting while looking at Craigslist ads for CHICAGOLAND.  Not some post-apocalyptic Appalachian mountainside.  

We have three Reckless Records locations! Our city is the home to the venerated Numero Group label! Dusty Groove sells half a million records every year!  The record buying public that I encounter on the streets of my city are not hicks and certainly not chumps.   

And yet this ignorance and vinyl abuse clearly proliferates in our midst. 

**** 

   5000 lps first1000$ takes them no picking Genoa City

In all seriousness, if you choose to go to Genoa City with $1,000 in your pocket, you will probably be tortured and then murdered.  Not even a mutual love of B.B. King will save you.  Don't do it!

                            ****

The Nice Price: Groove Is In The Heart & More

As hobbies go, vinyl collecting has been gaining tremendous momentum. 

This increased interest has meant more & more new stuff is being released on wax but it also has made it harder to find a bargain when it comes to the dusties.  

Suddenly everyone has an opinion on a record's value.  The prevailing sentiment used to be one of "please take these ridiculously heavy piles of plastic off my hands!"  

I truly got into record collecting just before it took off as a way to stretch my music buying budget.  More sales of records means more speculators, more flippers, more deluxe reissues, special editions and generally more headaches.  
Perhaps the cheap scores for the Junk Drawer have become all the more sweet as a result.  I rarely walk into a record store with a predetermined idea of what I am going to leave with under my arm. 


It is all about The Find and if the sticker lists a price $5 or less then I am definitely going to be a little more adventurous.  

SO, without further ado - here is the first installment of the The Nice Price!

Deee-Lite – Groove Is In The Heart  12” – scored for $5 at Logan Hardware

The easy rationale is you don’t have to own another Deee-Lite song, but the power of this one is undeniable.  My kids LOVE this song, although much to the chagrin of my wife they persist in misinterpreting one of the refrains as “No, I don’t miss my mother!” 

I also love the shades of Hanna Barbera cover especially considering that you don’t expect much in the way of artwork for 12” singles. This record is in mint condition too.  

There is a cute story about this score too:

My son is a fan of Logan Hardware thanks to their videogame room.  We bought this together (I think he was the one that found it even) and then we spent a solid hour playing Teenage Mutant Turtles to completion. 

Later when we were showing off our spoils, D spotted this one and asked me, "Don't you already own this?"
To which Adam defended, "Yeah, but now he has it on a record, mom."

This also gives me an excuse to share this nice remix from my friend that has a project called Altered Tapes. 

****

Sneaker Pimps - Spin Spin Sugar 12" - scored at Reckless for $2.



Some delicious mid 90s Trip Hop ear candy for a price that is more than fair. Heck, I pay more for actual candy.  Lately a king sized Fast Break has become a habitual sugar balm on my post work commute and that sets me back a Thomas Jefferson and some change.

This would sugar would have been all the sweeter if any of the remixes were worth a damn.  Sorry Armand Van Helden, maybe you shouldn't have partied so hard the night before this assignment was due. 

***

Mogwai - Fear Satan Remixes 12" - scored at Gramaphone for $4. 



Thanks to G$ I learned about a 50% off sale at Gramaphone last year - a store I rarely venture into because it is off my beaten path and it intimidates the hell out of me.  But as I said before, if the price is right, the Junk Drawer will definitely gamble. 

Not that this particular score was a gamble.  Not with Kevin Shields doing a 15 minute rework of a track with SATAN in the title. Mu-Ziq & Surgeon also take a stab at it on side B.  

I tried to give this to Barsky last time I saw him - I figured it was about the price of a greeting card and he would appreciate it.  He left without it so now it is on me to remember to give it to him again next time around.    

***

Human Sexual Response – Fig. 14 – scored for $3 shipped on eBay.

First off, the cover.  

Second, this band just played songs about whatever the fuck they were interested in, like this one below that was inspired by a visit to the Anne Frank house.  This is steeped in some 80s angst.

How does it feel to be invisible?

To know the future and not be miserable?

The main songwriter, Larry Bangor, went on to form The Zulus – a Junk Drawer favorite that never broke out of regional success in the Boston area despite a legendary reputation for their explosive live performances.  

This is actually a duplicate score for me, at this price I just nabbed it so I could gift it to someone and I am giving it to G$ because that guy has a paltry collection of rekkids and rarely gets a chance to shop for vinyl. 

That's all for now readers.  What do you think of this of The Nice Price as a semi-regular feature?

After the Flood Part III

If you didn't get carried under, there is only one thing to do after a flood: rebuild. 

So it was kind of fitting that last Saturday was Record Store Day; a day where stores are flooded with new releases.  Some are crass cash grabs and some are cool collectibles.  What falls into which category is probably a matter of taste. 

Participating record stores are also flooded with people.  While waiting outside Dusty Groove with G$ we were handed a one sheet instructing us on proper RSD decorum.  Apparently pushing, shoving and grabbing stuff out of other people's hands was not going to be tolerated. 

The nice folks at Dusty Groove also had a cart with coffee and bagels.  Since I had lit out of the house at 6 am with nary a morsel to eat in order to get in line and freeze my toes off, I was very grateful.  

"You may have just saved my life today," I jested with the record store employee pushing the cart. 

"Your wallet won't be saying that in about forty minutes" he deadpanned back. 

Now I won't get off on a tangent about the sadomasochistic nature of RSD on the more music obsessive among us, I imagine junkies occasionally get together to trash talk their dealers too.  

But suffice it to say, the deck was stacked against us.  We were poor humble music lovers desperate to get in from the cold.  We had no idea what lay in wait for us but we had a feeling that whatever it was, it was going to be overpriced and we would buy it anyway. 

But something happened while this motley crew of strangers hung outside, we got to talking and so once we were finally inside we knew a little bit of what others were looking for.  The spirit was hopeful.  We started to help each other out in our personal quests.  

I snagged a copy of the Big Star release for my friend who was twenty people behind me in line because I spoke aloud, "Anyone see the Big Star record?" and someone handed it to me.   G$ spotted that Pink Floyd 7 inch and looked around for the dude that wanted it.  

Things were looking good that we would get many of our heart's desires - a stark contrast to RSD of recent years past.   As G$ and I were leaving we got a call from SD - despite a cold he was heading into the fray, en route to Dusty Groove.  

I told SD the general layout of where to look for his treasure and wished him well.   We were on our way to the Numero Group pop up store where my favorite score of the day awaited me...

A set of ten cassette tapes?  Yes, that is right and yes I am surprised as you are.  More on that tomorrow.  

Buck Gooter

I got an email yesterday from G$.  The only text was in the subject line: "check this out (loud)"

Turns out this was sage advice and I suggest you follow suit.  

G$ reads the email updates from Permanent Records thoroughly and religiously.  I appreciate that fact immensely because I get turned on to a lot of great scuzzy and weird rock without quite the hit to my pocketbook.  

I am gonna to check out more Buck Gooter on Youtube just as soon as I can my baby daughter to stop wailing and get back to sleep.  Seems that she is sensitive to Witch Molecules.    

New Junk Drawer

We are nearing the end of the first year of this blog.  Time to change up the junk in the drawer...

This drawer belongs to my new friend Hank who is a singularly amazing artist and historian. 

For me, 2013 will largely be defined by this man and his unique art. 

Photo credit goes to another new friend, Jeff - who is a super talented photographer as well as a cool dude.

****

 

It turns out I did not roust anyone out for the Tight Phantomz show.  Instead I went over to G$'s Chicago address for the last time to listen to records. 

 

For me, 2013 will also be largely defined by adjusting to this out of state move by my good friend.  Music is such a big part of our daily conversation that I will probably use this space on the internet to help facilitate that.

 

I am gonna be alright; I am someone that can make friends easily. 

 

Still, G has been there for me 24/7.  He is my champion, my confidante, my go-to guy for practically any need.  And I am honored to be that same person for him.   I lament that we won't be in close proximity but I am excited to do what I can to support the next chapter in his life.

 

So - a toast to friends, old AND new!  May the bonds that hold us together grow ever stronger.

 

That is all.  

A Reminder...

So it sounds weird to admit this but I just spent a over month listening to a single cassette in my car.   Over and over, over and over.   

What is weirder is that the tape was Substance - Joy Division's singles collection.  

I don't have anything specific that I need to get across about that tense body of music at the moment, I am just glad to finally be out from under its spell.  

The tape that broke the brown study was a mix that was made for me by G$ back in 1994.  I was living in Iowa City at the time, and G titled one side of the mix - "A Reminder" 

A reminder of what exactly?  Well, since many* of the acts got their start in Chicago, my guess is the motif was to remind me to get my ass back to Chicago at my first opportunity.  

*I can't confirm 100% of the acts - G$ didn't go to a catholic grade school like I did so his penmanship and spelling suffers. 

1) The Stalker - Urge Overkill
2) Out of the Fun (?) - Titanic Love Affair (or maybe Titanic Hoe Affair?)
3) Reap What You Sew (sp) - Otis Rush
4) Walking the Dog - Luther Johnson
5) Crack - Big Black 
6) Vanilla Blue - Naked Raygun
7) Emmeline - Urge Overkill
8) Obscured - Smashing Pumpkins
9) Hello Kitty Kat - Smashing Pumpkins
10) Because - Mere Mortals (?)
11) Kids These Days - Phantom Helmsmen

******

Today, G$ is preparing to move his life to Indianapolis.   Much like Iowa City, it is not that far from Chicago BUT I would like to make him "A Reminder" mix -updated for 2012 - as musical encouragement to visit often.  

So what current Chicago acts would you put on such a mix?

I know one band I would be most excited to share is one that G$ has already prematurely dismissed as being too self indulgent.  He listened to some 30 second snippets on iTunes and came to that snap decision. 

This is not unusual for my friend; he sometimes arbitrates his musical taste like he is a judge on The Gong Show.  You better Wow him before they have to pause for station identification - G$ is a busy man and we have a lotta vinyl to get through before midnight!

But Tight Phantomz worked on this double album for SEVEN YEARS and to my ears it sounds like a cross between Urge Overkill and Modest Mouse.   Lots of beautiful loser swagger as they cross the street from the liquor store back to the home studio for another all night session.  These dudes love the 70s cock rock (and maybe secretively some pockets of 80s hair metal) like I do - unabashedly and with a sense of humor.  

Now granted, 36 songs is a lot to make your way through.  Still, I tried to digest it as an album and I am glad that I did.  

But if you want to know some of my favorite songs I would have to say the following are good representations of the band working their best mojo - give them more than 30 second snippets and their charms will be revealed:

Part One (aka Sides 1 & 2)

Black Seas at the Crib

Seek Thunder 

Kiss Your Way Inside

Waiting For

There Goes My Protege

Kid Crimes 

You're The Diamond

Part Two (aka Sides 3 & 4)

She Talks to Fire

Sickening

Silk Prison

Bondo Cred

Nobody Is Inside

Accidental Girl

Someone Believes In Me Somewhere

And HEY! While writing this post I went hunting for the band's website and discovered they are playing TONIGHT at the Empty Bottle.  

That is too great of a coincidence - this band is notorious for only playing on average twice a year and they played the Bottle on Black Wednesday less than a month ago.   

SO, my loyal readers (all four of you) will be getting a call to see if I can rouse you  for a night of merrymaking before G$ leaves us for Indianapolis. I can guarantee it will be more memorable than a night with the Phantom Helmsmen. 

feedtime

Last night I went and saw a truly sublime performance with SD and G$. Feedtime (aka feedtime) got their start in Australia during the late 70s.

I never heard of them until 2012 and likely neither did you. This is the type of discovery that makes music reissues so thrilling.

Feedtime is a trio that plays swampy blues punk. Both the guitarist and the bassist regularly employ a slide. It is caveman-ish and cathartic. It is a sound as old as the hills. But this trio took this limited sonic palette and they just OWNED it.

Bill Meyer, critic for the Chicago Reader explains them this way: "Imagine if Wire had met in shop class instead of art school and loved Blind Willie Johnson as much as Eno."

In hindsight, this is a classic case of a band just not getting their due respect.

Not that they seemed bitter at all last night at the Empty Bottle playing to a half empty room at $10 a head. In fact, they just appeared to be having the time of their lives playing out before an appreciative audience.

The performance wasn't showy, it wasn't contrived, but damn if it wasn't effective at being evocative of every menacing rumble that came before (i.e. Link Wray) and after (i.e. Mudhoney, whose lifelong fandom likely instigated this reissue).

Listen to Mark Arm's favorite feedtime tracks below and then do yourself a favor and seek out the box set - it is only $35 on Amazon for four LPs.

Logan Hardware - 2/25/12

Attempting to make good on my promise in my last post. Here is the haul from an unexpected Saturday afternoon jaunt to Logan Hardware.

For some inexplicable reason G$ sent me a text mid-morning to see if I could go record shopping. Even more bizarre, I found a way to make it happen when the kids both went down for a nap.

This was the haul:

Bruce Haack - The Electronic Record For Children - $13

Cut Chemist & Nu-Mark - Live at the Variety Arts Center - $9

Cypress Hill - 12" Phuncky Feel One b/w How I Could Just Kill A Man - $7

Rawkus Presents Soundbombing II - 12" Eminem's "Any Man" b/w Pharoah Monche's "WWIII" $4

Quannum feat. Lyrics Born & The Poets of Rhythym - 12" I Changed My Mind - $4

This is how I feel about my scores a few weeks later:

Bruce Haack might be a techno pioneer but I definitely feel burned on this one. I was hoping to add to my canon of quirky music that is also accessible to the kids but this is just a murky mess. It promises to increase awareness but really it just promotes nausea. I don't like it at all and I won't be inflicting it on my kids. I will be looking to sell this one back somewhere - too bad I didn't get the Japanese import version on cd.

In 2006, Cut Chemist sampled a Bruce Haack track on his debut solo album.

That is what passes for a transition here in The Junk Drawer... This live DJ set from 1997 is the standout purchase. My son will LOVE the superhero intro and it is great to hear this hip-hop from 15 years ago mixed in with funk and soul. This is before Serrato, before laptops; just two djs and their turntable antics LIVE. With the Three Little Pigs singing "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf" and Bill Cosby as Fat Albert talking about Halloween back in the day as part of the sonic tableau, this one has a greater chance of getting played for the kids than Bruce Haack that is for damn sure.

The Cypress Hill 12" was a little pricey but it scratched an itch that had been building in me ever since a few months ago. There was talk of a tour emerging featuring a double bill of Public Enemy and Cypress Hill but it fizzled out. But before it was clear it wasn't going to come together I had started researching the feasibility of making them an offer for the annual benefit concert I am responsible for.

What do you think? Would that have been a cool show for a homeless advocacy group? Since it is now merely an academic discussion, how much would you have paid to see that show?

This is what is known as a Double A-Side single cause both tracks are deserving of top billing. For my money though, this is the stronger track:

The Soundbombing 12" represents how deep I had to dig at Logan that day. G$ and I found ourselves in a neglected corner of the room where they had their techno and 12"s. This store has numerous charms but their stock of techno and hip hop records are not chief among them.

Don't misunderstand me though, I am glad to have this record for this price. I am especially happy to own both the instrumental and the street acapella of the Eminem track. It feeds my "latent DJ" that will one day burst forth.

This was back when Eminem was still having fun just being a miscreant.

"Cause any man who would jump in front of a minivan

for twenty grand and a bottle of pain pills and a minithin

is fucking crazy! You hear me?"

You just can't argue with that logic. It is airtight.

Staring at the Quannum 12" right now make me realize I should probably institute a rule of no more than two 12" singles per shopping expedition.

Now I would be the first in line to purchase a Lyrics Born bobblehead, and I once memorized the lyrics to "8 point agenda" but do I really need a Stereo MCs and a DJ Spinna remix of this song? Sure it was only $4 in the store but now it just feels like freight in my collection.

All in all, more winners than losers. Plus Joust was set to infinite lives so I was able to get up to Wave 39(!) before my hand cramped up and I had to take a break.