Casper the Dopest Ghost

The song on the Kids soundtrack had been the extent of my Slint listening.

The final track of the album. A cap to the Lou Barlow experiment.

It wasn't a bad song. At the time it didn't inspire me to seek out more material.

Oft-discussed, I never had any input on the subject of Slint.

People were very passionate. Friends made me feel like I was missing something special. I still did nothing about it.

Cathy wanted an album. Unlike me, she bought it.

With all of the questionable albums I purchase, it is embarrassing I never spent the money on Slint.

It's never too late to make amends. And in this case, I had been missing out.

Slint - Spiderland. AKA Music. Used.

Hipster Shit

The corner by the window seemed like a good place to set up for the evening. They were my preferred seats. Off the beaten path, away from the heavy foot traffic of the inside, outside, up and down.

We were there there to see Sweatheart. Actually, Cathy and Cena were there to see Sweatheart. I was there because that's what I did at night.

I don't know why they were playing upstairs at 700. It didn't matter to me. I had no desire to see that "hipster shit."

I stayed downstairs as planned. Cathy went up for a few minutes. She informed me the whole thing was pretty terrible.

Cena loved it.

This was a few years ago.

Last month Cathy picked up their disc. Cheap.

Every disc that enters the house, regardless of who buys it, gets a listen. So Cherri was no different, even with my reservations.

The album was better than I expected. In fact, I found myself enjoying a number of the tracks.

I still don't regret sitting the performance out.

Sweatheart - So Cherri. AKA Music. Bargain bin.

On Loan

A number of items were abandoned at the Jackson Street house.

Some due to space constraints in my current apartment.

Other items loaned out, never to be seen again.

On the subject of furniture:

• Ikea bed
• Ikea armoire

On the subject of linens:

• Sheets
• Comforter
• Sleeping bag

On the subject of electronics:

• Stereo
• Speakers
• Compact disc player
• Nintendo GameCube

On the subject of DVDs:

• Curb Your Enthusiasm Season One (replaced!)
• Da Ali G Show Season One (replaced!)
• Beastie Boys Video Anthology (replaced!)
• The Work of Director Spike Jonze
• The Work of Director Michel Gondry
• The Work of Director Chris Cunningham
• The Office Season One (UK)
• The Office Season Two (UK)
• Mr. Show Season One
• Arrested Development Season One

On the subject of CDs:

• Cro-Mags-Age of Quarrel/Best Wishes Digipak
• Modern Life Is War-Witness
• Peter Tosh-Mama Africa
• Peter Tosh-Legalize It

I'm sure I've missed some things. In October I inquired about the furniture, about the electronics. I never received a response.

I don't expect to recoup any of these items. Their abandonment is entirely my fault.

Peter Tosh - Mama Africa. eBay. Used.

Psychic

Rather than listening to the album, most of our time was spent giggling about the name.

"Red Red Meat."

We were sixteen. It made us laugh. Because of this, it never received the listens it deserved.

After a brief stint in my collection, it was sold with a number of Sub Pop items.

Recently I had been on the lookout. I thought it was something I might stumble upon in a bargain bin, a used section.

I walked in and knew it. I knew it was there. Sure enough, it was.

I ran to tell Cathy. She wasn't impressed with the find. Or my psychic abilities.

Red Red Meat - Jimmywine Majestic. AKA Music. Bargain bin.

Repost

Stillsuit - Green Spock Ears.

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Something Missing

There was of course the obligatory buzz, although this time it didn't catch my ear.

It was only one track on a free compact disc, courtesy of Select.

They were forgotten if not for a mention on here. In the comments of a Kent post.

I didn't think much of it. Until the lone track from the Select compilation made a December appearance via shuffle.

On this occasion the song held my interest. Actual enjoyment while waiting in my car.

Utilizing the Amazon application for the iPhone, I made the purchase. One touch. A perfect program for impulse shopping.

The disc arrived a few days before Christmas. Listening had to wait until after the holidays.

My early impression had been the right one. While not bad. Nothing missed.

My Vitriol - Finelines. Amazon.com. New.

Eventually, Syracuse Just Up and Left

Sean organized the show at the Wescott Community Center.

The line up was the Ink & Dagger/Botch/Nineironspitfire tour.

Ink & Dagger and Botch were known quantities. I owned their records. I loved their records.

Nineironspitfire were relatively unknown to me.

I knew of the band through the SXE-L. Through IRC. Through word of mouth. I knew they were ex-Undertow. As for the sound, I didn't know what I was in for.

In the late nineties, you never knew what you would get at a hardcore show.

They were a pleasant surprise. Not at all like Undertow, a band I run hot and cold on even today.

Sean or Sean or Ryan or Brian told me one guy in the band was a collector of Nazi memorabilia.

Something that has always stuck with me. Because he was black.

Nineironspitfire - Seventh Soul Sacrificed. Generation Records. Used.

Disco Never Died

A dub of Very was given to Mike during a holiday break freshman year.

He at Penn State. Me at Syracuse.

His reaction: "This sounds like bad techno."

He is entitled to his opinion.

I respectfully disagree.

Although the Disco releases do nothing to help my case.

Pet Shop Boys - Disco 2. eBay. Used.

Hillbilly Hiatus

Tomorrow I will be leaving Philadelphia for West Virginia.

Only for the weekend.

I wanted to post something before getting to the serious business of packing.

If I am productive this evening, I might be able to add one more in the morning.

They don't require a lot of thinking. Although I think this one is fitting for a road trip.

New Order - 60 Miles An Hour Tour EP. eBay. Used.

Superfandom Forever

I've known many since, but Eric was the first Oasis superfan I ever met.

This discovery was made a few years into their career. A time when I thought most people were forgetting about them. If they were doing anything at all.

He owned a number of limited items. Special releases. No doubt procured from his position managing The Wall.

At a house party he showed me the singles box set. All of the singles at the time. I wanted one. Continue to want one.

He also introduced me to Supergrass. "The male Elastica."

I thank him for that.

Oasis - Stand By Me. eBay. Used.

Shirts, Ties and Punk Rock

I'm not sure what came first.

Me buying Nation of Ulysses albums at the Newtown Book and Record Exchange.

Or me hearing about the Nation of Ulysses because Statue copped their manner of dress.

My teenage image of punk rock. I never expected to see bands dressing up. A limited view.

There it was.

Two of them.

The Nation of Ulysses - Plays Pretty for Baby. AKA Music. Used.

Inauguration Day

I am an Obama supporter.

And I love politics. Especially of the Democratic variety.

That being said, I am more than ready for today to be over.

Get on with the business of governing. Less Dustin Hoffman.

Oasis - Some Might Say. eBay. Used.

"Ten" Obviously

Following the discovery of "new" music by a hardcore band or principle members can lead to great things.

It's just as likely to lead to terrible things.

These releases are not without their merits. Although for many, the merits are the very novelty of the product.

Usually The Smiths, Morrissey are to blame. Plenty of other culprits. Other genres. Grunge. Rock. Electronic. Country.

Able to identify those moments when a band starts to listen beyond hardcore.

Journeyman - Newidolson. Digital download from Livewire.

Do You Like Anything Related to Turning Point?

1200 - Demo.

No Shame

It's overplayed at bars. DJs spinning it. They're more likely to be pressing play.

Too many hipsters and post-hardcores know the hits. And not much else. Crowd pleasing.

I could care less.

I love this song. Any venue. Any event. Any situation. Any context.

Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger. eBay. Used.

CDDB

I wish the Gracenote CDDB had standards.

My wish is rooted in laziness.

Capitalization. Punctuation. A standard way to show "featuring." Album names. No album artist.

I don't expect art. I expect to do some leg work.

Is it asking too much to have capitalization of a song title?

I don't think so.

Orchid. Generation Records. Used.

Ratio

75/25. My entirely unscientific estimate of gay to straight at the show.

It was the Nightlife tour. One half of the show featured wigs. The wigs of the album art.

I was elated to finally see them. I don't always have the best luck when it comes to seeing long-loved artists. Recalling New Order and Erasure.

Success. The show was a great size. The crowd enthusiastic.

I may never see them again. Lack of touring maybe. More likely my lack of going.

At thirty-one live music sometimes feels like a chore. I'm probably alone in that.

Pet Shop Boys - New York City Boy (Single 2). Virgin Megastore. New.

CSFB

It turned out we were both students at Syracuse at the same time. Some overlap. My time was scattered and short.

After a couple of months of being cubicle neighbors, we finally came to this realization.

This explained the constant "he looks familiar" thoughts.

Finally an answer. All it took was some asking.

We had some mutual friends. Mutual interests. Similar taste in music. At least in the past. Our current tastes were a little different. Allowing us to introduce each other to new bands.

Did I know Pretty Girls Make Graves? (I did not.) They were ex-Murder City Devils. (This also meant nothing to a U.K./Britpop/Madchester obsessed me.)

Did I know Orchid? (I did not.) They are on Ebullition. (That I know.)

He explained their lyrics were about art. I'm not so sure if that should have been a selling point. It was. Aided by the Ebullition tag.

Orchid - Dance Tonight! Revolution Tomorrow! / Chaos Is Me. Generation Records. Used.

Release, A New Release

At the Virgin Megastore in Union Square. The George Michael comeback single in my hand.

Out of the corner of my eye. An unfamiliar Pet Shop Boys single.

A new album out, possibly coming out.

George Michael was returned to the rack. Traded for preferred gays.

The new full-length ordered shortly thereafter.

Pet Shop Boys - Home and Dry (Single 1). Virgin Megastore. New.

And We're Back

Potpourri

Flagman.

Go Buy It

Kaiser Chiefs - Off With Their Heads. Target. New.

Once Again, Appreciation Via Maturity

It wasn't the best time to buy Dischord.

Actually, it wasn't he best time to buy Dischord when you wanted and expected everything to sound like Minor Threat, Embrace or Repeater.

In retrospect, the majority of the releases were all very respectable.

It takes some time. It takes some growing up. To finally appreciate the quality of early to mid-nineties Dischord.

The High Back Chairs - Curiosity and Relief. AKA Music. Bargain bin.

Go Buy It

Snow Patrol - A Hundred Million Suns. Target. New.

"Food Fighters" Is Clever, but Just a Typo

I am pleased with the current season of Top Chef. The contestants may be a bit boring. The product placement a bit more in your face.

But after the disaster that was the most recent season of Project Runway, things could be worse.

I tend to believe the Project Runway failings were intentional.

Thankfully Top Chef remained loyal. As a result, Bravo is engaged.

Otherwise I am not sure what I would have done with my Wednesday nights. Pizza night.

Certainly not The Real World.

Foo Fighters - The Colour and The Shape. eBay. Used.

Repost

Gorilla Biscuits - Start Today.

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Please List the Compact Disc Discography

Hopefully all Shudder to Think needs have been satisfied over the past few months.

I am amazed that I managed to find hard copies of everything. What I think is everything.

All since August.

Not a bad run in the bins.

Shudder to Think - Pony Express Record. AKA Music. Bargain bin.

First and Second Found, Separate Trips

I was willing to give everything a chance in the Sub Pop catalog.

Anything and everything. Except for The Dwarves.

I wanted the Pond album. I talked about the Pond album. I never got around to buying the Pond album. Not through mail order. Not through a store. Not for Christmas.

Eventually I started moving away from Sub Pop releases. Towards other bands. Genres. Labels. Pond was forgotten.

Fifteen years later someone grew tired of their Pond compact discs.

The best bargain finds are when you least expect them.

Pond. AKA Music. Bargain bin.

Reposts

The Boo Radleys - Lazarus (Remixes Part II).

Jesus Jones - Perverse.

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As Seen on Here

For about a year I considered the cap.

A sale item. A somewhat comical sale item.

Usually removed from my shopping cart for a somewhat comical compact disc.

Late-era Abnegation. Late-era Bad Trip.

Eventually I made the buy.

I'd like to collect additional non-shirt merchandise. Non-traditional.

Windbreakers. Hats. Jackets.

The elusive Youth of Today sweatpants.

Engine Kid - Angel Wings. Amazon.com. Used.

The T-Shirt to eBay

Of everything on the missing media list, they have probably been on there the longest.

Two albums and an EP.

Loaned to Tony after track practice.

I'd seen him since. Many times. Our families were also friends.

Never an opportunity to get them back.

One down. Two to go.

I wouldn't mind getting the seven inch back as well. It was sold. Possibly given away.

Eric's Trip - Peter. AKA Music. Bargain bin.

0 for 2 and Still Waiting

They were touring Waiting for the Sirens' Call.

This did not include Philadelphia. Of course.

New York it was. I purchased the solo ticket. Assuming I could meet up with friends at the show.

I never mind going to New York. An easy trip. Plenty of people to see. Plenty of things to do.

Even during the week.

A small price to pay to finally see New Order.

Only a few days after purchase I found out when one of my finals was scheduled for.

The night of the show. For a night class. At Ambler.

Few options. Asking for a favor was out of the question. I only showed up for exams.

I had to be responsible. I was. I sold the ticket on Craigslist. Making money. Losing New Order.

Passing the class. Regretting the decision.

New Order - Krafty (Maxi-Single). AKA Music. Bargain bin.