Record Store (To)Day

Today was like Jesus Day (Christmas) for many music lovers out there.  I am sure many people had a hard time falling asleep last night as there were countless album titles floating through their heads, distracting them from falling asleep.  Cookies were left out at the front doors of music stores worldwide in hopes that it could be an edible bribe to let shoppers in the door early… (That last part may not be entirely true)

Why?

Today is RECORD STORE DAY!!!

I know my friend Matt was one of those people who may have been a bit excited this morning when it was time to pack up and hit the independent record stores all over Cleveland.  Just check out what he posted today.  It’s a post of a post and more importantly a great read about how music rotated around his life growing up.

Before I even continue with my post I need to give Matt a thank you. 

Thank you Matt.

He is my hero for today as he took the time to fight people for a couple of Record Store Day release vinyls that I really wanted.  If that is not a friend, then I do not know what is.

I look forward to the limited edition vinyls (all singles) he scored for me:

Cursive + Ladyfinger
Flaming Lips/Black Keys
Jenny Lewis
MC5
Radiohead – Karma Police

I really hope next year that I remember to take the day off so I can actually enjoy such a wonderful idea of a day.  It sure beats sitting at a desk looking outside at a beautiful day just wishing I could be at one of those fine indie record stores maybe seeing a live performance…

Did you partake in Record Store Day?  I want to hear about it!

Missing Record Store Day 2009

I can not even tell you all how bummed out I am that I am missing Record Store Day 2009.


I’m sure many of you are aware of this amazing day dedicated to music in record format.  Tons of record stores across the nation will be engaging in the celebration of music and will all be selling special limited edition records from bands that I am sure will sell out before lunchtime.

This day I hope will help all the independent record stores out there continue to do what they love.  Sell music to music lovers.  In a day and age where downloading is killing the music industry it is nice to see a day that will be taking place inside music stores.

I have a list in my head of records I would buy if I had the day off but regretfully I have to work the entire day.

Yes, I have to work.  ALL DAY.

Sacrifices have to be made sometimes and I was unable to get the day off as I have other things going on the the weeks to come…  I am not happy with my decision and I am pretty sure that Matt from Addicted To Vinyl will be texting me every hour telling me what great record he just bought and how much fun he is having.

I am sure that on Saturday a single tear will drop from my eye.  I will feel pain every time a vinyl fan smiles.  The day will be the longest day ever.

Here is a list of local stores I wish I could shop at on Saturday:
Music Saves

Square Records
Spin-More Records
My Mind’s Eye
Ultrasound Music
Record Den

Here’s a list of other Ohio stores I wish I could shop at as well:
Magnolia Thunderpussy
Shake It
USED KIDS RECORDS

If you are a fan of vinyl you should check out www.recordstoreday.com and see what this is all about.  It is the perfect opportunity to but some really special releases that will only be available for a limited time.

So to all you jerks who are off on Saturday and are planning on celebrating Record Store Day, enjoy.

-Check out what Matt from Addicted To Vinyl is excited about…

-Are you going?  What are you excited for?

Download This! – Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers / Paleface

I was sent an email from Thirty Tigers / Ramseur Records over the weekend about a couple of artists who both have albums dropping on 4/28.

If you have never heard of either of the record labels, know this…  Ramseur Records once were the former home of The Avett Brothers and Thirty Tigers were the ones who introduced Those Darlins to me.  You might have heard me talking about Those Darlins before (perhaps HERE, or HERE), it is quite possible…

First up is Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers:

She’s 22 and has a voice that reminds me of Bjork at times, minus the weird of course and full of southern soul.  She has a singing style I could listen to all day.  Having never heard anything by her before I am intrigued now to hear more.

Here is a short bio:

With their debut full-length, Songs in the Night, Samantha Crain & the Midnight Shivers deliver a shudderingly beautiful unique batch of songs in a style that’s been described as “meshing freak folk with a deep-seated, dust-bowl soul.” The 22-year-old Shawnee, OK native’s haunting voice, well-chosen words and emotional depth ring true in a way that sets her apart from most artists of her generation. Picking up where her critically acclaimed 2008 Ramseur Records EP, The Confiscation, leaves off, we find Crain presenting each song with an unfeigned fervor as her voice rises and falls over the panorama painted by the Midnight Shivers and their roots-infused, fertile arrangements.

-DOWNLOAD THIS! Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers – “Songs In The Night”

-Check out Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers’ MySpace page for more tunes.

-Here’s a video of her that might just very well move you:


Samantha Crain & the Midnight Shivers: “The Dam Song” @ Ramseur Records HQ from Ramseur Records on Vimeo.

The next artist is Paleface:

It’s been over ten years since this anti-folk artist has released any material mostly thanks to a personal battle that Paleface finally overcame.  His previous material is folk fun goodness and after hearing just a handful of songs I am intrigued to hear his new album.

Here’s another short bio:

More than a decade since his last major label release and collapse from alcohol abuse, Paleface, a founding member of NYC’s Anti-folk movement, is back with The Show Is On The Road (Ramseur Records). The album is an intimate, 11-song diary that transcends genres with its ingenuous lyrics and deceptively unassuming style – just Paleface on acoustic guitar and harmonica and his girlfriend Monica “Mo” Samalot on drums and backing vocals, along with the occasional piano overdub. Paleface is the sort of artist who brings you into his world. His voice is sweetly ravaged and effortlessly expressive, as intimate as a friend whispering in your ear. The album is a farewell love letter to his longtime home, New York City, and an embrace of his new life in the South.

-DOWNLOAD THIS!Paleface – “The Show Is On The Road”

-Check out Paleface’s MySpace page for more tunes.

-Here’s a fun little video of an older song I found:


PALEFACE – Little By Little

So what do you think?

F My Life.

Well not me personally.  Not today at least.

I found a great website to kill time on.  Basically the site, F My Life, contains true short stories from random people like you and me with outcomes that make them say FML (F#ck My Life) at the end. 

You know the kind of story I speak of, the kind that ends with you taking your hand and smacking your forehead with it.  Bum luck.  Misundersood.  I can not believe that just happened.

They are stories you might relate to or will laugh at and I am sure some of the stories are fake but still it is entertainment.  Some of the entries can rub off a bit depressing but for us demented folk, we laugh at it all.

Here are a couple of recent entries from this morning:

Today, I was working as a swim instructor for kids. Teaching them not to be afraid of the water, I put my face in the water and blew bubbles. I asked them to try it. All of them did, except for one. I went right to him and blew bubbles again. He then said to me, “but I just peed in that water.” FML

Today, I took the bus to work and a sweet old lady got on after me and sat next to me. Halfway to work, she fell asleep and her head was on my shoulder. Trying to be nice, I gently tried to wake her up before my stop came. She wasn’t sleeping. I let a dead woman lie on me for 30 minutes. FML

I have found myself checking for updates when I can becuase some of these are so entertaining.  When you think you are having a bad day, there is someone else out there who is having it worse and was bold enough to post their situation.

For all you Twitter users out there you can follow FMyLife and receive Tweets with the latest FML stories: http://twitter.com/fxxxmylife

iPhone users there is a FML application out there too that is free.  That is how I found out about this crazy site.