Dismissed

I ignored Train Yard Blues when it came out.

It wasn't until I started listening to Skarhead that I paid any attention to Crown of Thornz.

By that point I had trouble finding the discs. I'm still having trouble.

Keeping in mind that my search is not particularly intense.

Now that they have started playing shows again, there seems to be a renewed interest in their output.

I hope they play more shows. And I hope I get a chance to catch one. With little to no travel.

Crown of Thornz - Train Yard Blues. Long in the Tooth. Used.

One and the Same

I've listened to both bands since high school, but it was only today I realized Gray Matter and Severin shared a member.

I was listening to Severin this morning and flipping through the liner notes. I noticed one of the members looked like one of the members of Gray Matter.

My suspicions were confirmed with a quick look at both albums.

Mark Haggerty, you are my personal trivia item of the day.

Gray Matter - Thog. Long in the Tooth. Used.

Double Up

Very rarely do I buy something twice.

In this case, I did.

My spur-of-the-moment ordering via the Amazon.com application on the iPhone resulted in two Let It Ride compact discs.

Apparently the same spur-of-the-moment struck twice a week or two apart.

I only noticed my mistake a week or two after that.

I'm out $2.98.

My brother gains an album.

Shed Seven - Let It Ride. Amazon.com. Used.

Repost

Candy Flip - Strawberry Fields Forever.

Please let me know if a link is down. I will reupload. Leave a comment in the post or email me at hedancesfornickels@gmail.com.

If you would like something removed, please let me know. I will take it down.

On Michael Jackson

It's not right Joe Jackson gets to outlive Michael.

I was never allowed to own a "zipper jacket."

"Rock With You" is my favorite video.

"Scream" is a great song. But that's about it from the post-Dangerous era.

The video for "Thriller" scared me as a child. We would rent it. I would still watch it over and over. Including "The Making of Thriller."

Watching the videos over the past couple of days I am amazed at how many people appeared in his videos. Brando/Tucker together at last.

The intro to "Black or White" is uncomfortable.

The rap interlude? Beyond uncomfortable. The worst.

Jermaine's time to shine.

And on an unrelated note...

Pretty Girls Make Graves - The New Romance. ??? New.

Top Three

We keep getting Underdog shows, but not Into Another.

This disappoints me.

I'd even settle for Underdog doing the songs of Into Another.

Easily one of my favorites from the Revelation roster.

Into Another - Poison Fingers. Amazon.com. Used.

Rancid, Really?

I first purchased this compilation during a visit to Syracuse University. I was there with my family to look at the school. At the time I wanted no part of it.

All eyes were on New England.

I applied as a concession to my mother.

And somehow ended up there.

Land of Greed... World of Need: A Homeless Benefit Compilation. Amazon.com. Used.

Apologies

Gizmo has not been well this week and I've been spending most of my days making sure he is comfortable.

Regular posting to return tonight.

Dodgy - Free Peace Sweet. Amazon.com. Used.

Done Right

This is how CD singles and EPs should be handled.

They all used to be for the most part.

Singles with four-plus songs. EPs with extra material.

Four became three.

Three has become two.

A-side. B-side.

The death of the single.

I'm still buying.

I'm still a sucker.

Farside. Amazon.com. Used.

Petty Pathetic

The real reason I ignored The Catherine Wheel during the nineties is because I thought they were American.

Sad, I know.

I'd like to say I'm over such pettiness for that genre (in the broadest sense) of music. I am for the most part. Except in the case of The Fleeting Joys.

Sad, I know.

The Catherine Wheel - Wishville. AKA Music. Bargain bin.

Whoops

When I heard there was a Pet Shop Boys tribute act named West End Girls, I had to find a release.

I was excited when I found an album for a penny on Amazon.com.

Not realizing there had been a Canadian act of the same name in the early nineties.

At least my mistake was better than I expected. I consider it a win.

Although I still don't have anything from the current West End Girls. A loss.

West End Girls. Amazon.com. Used.

Final Installment

And so end the So Solid posts for Mr. Miller.

Unless of course I decide I need to fill out my collection. Which can happen at any time.

Now that I think about it, I could use a Lisa Maffia album.

So Solid Crew - They Don't Know. eBay. Used.

This Song Goes Out To...

For a brief period there Ian Brown really liked Michael Jackson.

When I saw him he dedicated a song to Bubbles.

I can respect that.

Ian Brown - The World Is Yours. Amazon.com. Used.

Responsibility

I had a chance to see Erasure for free a couple of years ago.

The gay-friendly Cyndi Lauper tour was playing the Borgata. The tour had a real name, I just don't remember it. Erasure, Margaret Cho, Cyndi Lauper. I think "gay-friendly" suffices.

Dave called me on the day of the tour with two tickets and two backstage passes. I was at work. And would be at work until 8:30 that evening.

I made the responsible decision and opted to stay at work.

About a year later I was laid off from my position. Ultimately the company folded.

In retrospect the responsible decision was the wrong one.

I missed my chance to see Andy Bell up close and personal in a spandex one-piece. Potentially.

Erasure - The Two Ring Circus. AKA Music. Used.

A Simple Question

"What other Toomey projects do you enjoy?"

In addition to Grenadine I was only able to come up with Tsunami. With some more thought I came up with Geek and My New Boyfriend. Based on one compilation.

I wish I knew more.

The Machines 1990-1993. Newtown Book and Record Exchange. New.

Go Buy It

Mean Season - The Memory and I Still Suffer in Love. Amazon.com. Used.

Hey Ladies

Girls with accents are hot.

That statement is doubly true for rock girls.

In no particular order:

Louise Wener.

Cerys Matthews.

Sharleen Spiteri.

Sonya Aurora Madan.

Sleeper - The It Girl. Amazon.com. Used.

Spooky Edge

For a brief period during the nineties I thought of New Age as the spooky label.

Not the music. The art.

Grace. Life. Love. Regret. A Light in the Dark. Even What Was Said.

Spooky artwork. All of them.

Outspoken - The Current. Amazon.com. Used.

Late Era

Who knew The Bluetones were still writing and releasing things in 2006?

Apparently not me.

The Bluetones. Amazon.com. Used.

Forever Boxes of Tapes

I first heard and heard of The Chameleons in this decade.

They were featured on a compilation tape of Cathy's. All of the featured acts were from Greater Manchester. I'm certain it is still in the apartment. Even with no ability to play it.

I wish I had heard them sooner. It would have been easier for me to track everything down.

The Chameleons - Strange Times. AKA Music. Used.

Bedingfield

Fuck It was my first Bedingfield experience.

Daniel.

But the one that really counts is The Hills.

Natasha.

So Solid Crew - Fuck It: The Official So Solid Crew Mix Compilation (Disc 1) (Disc 2). eBay. Used.

Unexpected

And here I thought I was just picking up female-fronted indie rock I vaguely recalled from my youth.

Who knew I was also getting four tracks of Ian MacKaye production?

Not to mention the drumming of his baby mama.

Lois - Shy Town. AKA Music. New.

Hits, Tres, Jams

Last night I learned that I like a lot of the same music as Ashley Tisdale. At least according to her MTV Hitlist.

I'm OK with this. I really like Ashley Tisdale. Not so much for her music, but for her work on The Suite Life. And to a lesser extent, the High School Musical series of films.

I also think she's hot.

Thanks to Ms. Tisdale's Hitlist I learned that Doghouse Records still exists.

Metroschifter - Fort Saint Metroschifter. AKA Music. Bargain bin.

No, Not Bloodlet

"Overcastdevilcorefanclub"

Was that actually on a shirt? Or was it something people said in jest?

Overcast - Begging for Indifference. AKA Music. Bargain bin.

Splits

Spectrum played here a month or so ago. At Kung Fu Necktie. I think it was at Kung Fu Necktie. I have never been there. For a show or otherwise.

I thought about going to see them.

I'm glad I didn't. As much as I enjoy their recorded output, it would have been a boring night.

Decision affirmed.

The Imajinary Friends/Spectrum - Come Out to Play/Interface. AKA Music. New.

Thrasher

Yet another band introduced to me through the pages of Thrasher Skateboard Magazine.

Lido was the first release I managed to track down. It was in Dallas, Texas. I was there for World Cup 1994.

I considered this find another incredible score. This was something I tended to do throughout middle and high school. My record store base was limited to a few independents and the mall, so finding things could sometimes be more of a project than they would be later in life.

I bought it along with a Swirlies disc. Another "incredible score." I am certain there was another purchase, but I can't remember what it was.

I don't believe I've ever met anyone who likes Th' Faith Healers as much as I do. Actually, I don't believe I've ever met anyone who listens to them at all.

Th' Faith Healers - Imaginary Friend. AKA Music. Used.

No Joke

Somehow Whirlpool became the butt of so many a Revelation joke about the mid to late-nineties. At least among my friends.

How wrong we were.

Whirlpool - Liquid Glass. Generation Records. Used.

Hellfest

When I heard about the bands reuniting for the Hellfest-That-Never-Was a few years ago, I considered going.

It worked out for me anyway. When Hellfest didn't happen I was able to see 108 and Lifetime in the city. They were the two bands I really wanted to see. Any others would have been a bonus.

If I remember correctly, Mean Season was also supposed to play the Hellfest-That-Never-Was. I found this curious because I couldn't imagine who out there was clamoring for a Mean Season reunion. I had liked the band, and still do. But I had never considered them particularly noteworthy.

Nor did I consider them a band that a lot of people remembered fondly.

I think they continue to play shows. So there must be a market out there I'm unaware of. Maybe I am that market.

Mean Season - Grace. Amazon.com. Used.

Goya Goya

I discovered the artist Goya on a trip to Spain.

I loved his darker work, particularly Saturno Devorando a un Hijo. I bought a print.

I discovered Goya Adobo All-Purpose Seasoning living in New York.

I love the spice, especially on chicken. I've bought it many times.

I don't know which one I like more.

Saturno or Adobo.

Grenadine - Goya. AKA Music. Bargain bin.

College

I had already accepted at UMass by the time I decided I wanted to go to Syracuse.

I made the change because of my acceptance to the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

At least that's what I told people.

I really went because of hardcore.

Earth Crisis - Destroy the Machines. Amazon.com. Used.

Repost

Only the Strong MCMXCIII.

Please let me know if a link is down. I will reupload. Leave a comment in the post or email me at hedancesfornickels@gmail.com.

If you would like something removed, please let me know. I will take it down.

So...Solid

The goal was to own at least one thing from all parties affiliated with So Solid Crew.

I fell well short of said goal before moving on to other discography goals.

Other goals I likely fell short of.

Before moving on to others.

Again falling short.

Oxide & Neutrino - Execute (Disc 1) (Disc 2). eBay. Used.

Facebook

Michael: Lets be honest, Endpoint wasn't that good. In fact, looking back they were absolutely TERRIBLE. Chamberlin on the other hand...

Casey: I do not agree with this at all.

Brandon: chamberlin/split lip were not very good. endpoint is classic.

Michael: Seriously, sleep on it. I never thought I would think that either, but I was listening to Falling Forward this morning in the car and came to this conclusion (I know FF has nothing to do with endpoint really...just made me think about them).
Think about it though, when was the last time you listened to Endpoint? I listen to Chamberlin somewhat often.

Nick: Chamberlain still hold up for me, especially the moon/exit 263. endpoint i can't even listen to a song all the way through anymore. they aged TERRIBLY. By The Grace Of God, now thats a horse of a different color

Michael: Nick I completely agree with you. BTGOG aged like a vintage wine.

Nick: the intro to "boy and the river", in the year 2009, makes me want to break boards over my head. so intense.

Peter: I actually received an Endpoint disc in the mail a week or two ago. I never liked them and decided it was time to re-analyze.

Now Chamberlin never did much for me. Bumpkincore.

David: Fuck that, Chamberlain is artsy crap. Endpoint split with sunspring and catharisis are amazing. besides split lip would never have been anything if they weren't trying to be .EP> SL may have been better muscians but Rob and Duncan are two of the most sincere people in midwest hardcore.

Peter: Was there ever a Sunspring full length? And was it ever pressed to compact disc? I can't find it anywhere (if it even exists).

Frank: Hate to admit it, but aside from a handful of EP songs I'm with Luce on this one.

David: Your both being art-bags, .EP> was the shit. Watch a video of a live song endpoint was never recorded well. They destroyed live.

Michael: Ags, I'm sure The Vandals killed it live, but that doesn't mean they are good. Besides, I can't believe I'm arguing with you on this, you once considered "Star Trek the ultimate Treatise on racial equality."

I stick by what I said. Last time I listened to them my reaction was... "really?"

Marie: WOW. I CAN'T believe you just dissed Endpoint. Wow. mike. you might just NOT be seeing me on Wednesday now =)

Endpoint - After Taste. Amazon.com. Used.

Ashers

For the most part, I'm indifferent towards the success of Asher Roth.

Well done for Bucks County.

I am however, quite clear about my dislike of Gnarls Barkley.

You can imagine my disappointment when I find myself humming along to the Asher Roth/Cee-Lo collaboration that MTV Jams keeps airing.

Or even not airing.

Like right now. I can't get it out of my head.

Asher D - Back in the Day/Why Me? eBay. Used.

French II

Last night we were listening to the songs of Francis Cabrel on YouTube.

I didn't care for any of them so I decided to look up other French videos that I knew I would enjoy. This is just one of the many benefits of having computers in the classroom.

I started with IAM. Then on to Tahiti 80. A little Kahimi Karie. And finally Toog.

I watched a few minutes of each, but in the end spent most of my time reading Toog's blog.

Toog - 6633. Amazon.com. Used.

Garage

A Ms. Dynamite discussion with Nick concluded with me offering up my So Solid collection (and related material) for download.

In no particular order, here is the first.

So Solid Crew - 21 Seconds. eBay. Used.

Snapcase Isn't Cool Anymore

Lookinglasself is an incredible album. It sounds as good to me today as it did back then.

But for me, these four songs are them at their very best.

It was never the same after this.

Snapcase - Steps. Amazon.com. Used.

Update: Birthday

The file has been fixed.

Inspiral Carpets - Revenge of the Goldfish.

Female Fronted

I have always had a soft spot for female fronted bands. American indie rock, yes. But especially those of the United Kingdom.

Echobelly, Catatonia, Lush, Texas and of course, Sleeper.

I don't know what it is. Although whatever it is, it is something that has always worked for me.

I want to marry them all.

Sleeper - Smart. Amazon.com. Used.