Last Friday, I hit up the listening stations at Tower Records in Nashville. Upon listening, I decided to binge on new CDs. I purchased the albums listed below. Since this is one of the best collective purchases of new music that I have ever made, I wanted to share it with you. Here's the lowdown:

Sounds - Living In America: Mix between ABBA, Blondie, and occassionally Roxy Music. They are from Sweden and are fronted by the lady who inspired my avatar. The unfortunate news is that only 3 of the 11 songs are bearable, much like ABBA. However, those 3 songs are fucking good, much like ABBA. "RockNRoll" is definitely the stand-out track on this album and will probably be on the radio before the summer is over. The song borrowed a line from "Love is the Drug" by Roxy Music, but in a classy sort of way. It's the best new song that I've heard all year long. God bless disco beats and the 80s revival. Be forewarned that if you download "RockNRoll", you will listen to it compulsively. It is that good.

Longwave - The Strangest Things: The first song is great and explains their comparisons to Joy Division. However, as the album goes on, it never lives up to the promise of the first track. There are some more good songs, but track one makes the album better than it would be otherwise.

Whirlwind Heat - "Do Rabbits Wonder?": Produced by Jack White. Drums, Bass, Synth, and Vocals. No guitar. Best bet thus far for "Breakthrough Album of the Year." The whole fucking album is good. Pavement meets Gang of Four with a heavier sound. Certain comparisons could be made to the White Stripes (lots of stop and go's), but not too many. The album's songs are all named after a color. It's a random concept.

Vue - Babies Are For Petting: First release on RCA. The 1st and last songs make it worth purchasing. Currently touring with the Raveonettes and The Sounds. If you ever have the chance, see them live. Their album is coming out soon. I don't know what to compare it to, but it's good (and much superior to previous releases).

Sorry this is so long...

(Edited by richarddawson at 2:43 pm on Jun. 6, 2003)

Double damn! I started this in the wrong category. Sorry Brian.

i ordered this cd of ebay a few days ago and it is on its way to me now. just out of curiousity, rd, how much did it cost at tower? i want to know if i got a deal or not. i downloaded a few tracks, and i like those. i see them live in a couple of weeks...i imagine their live show will be good.

$10. If you are lucky enough to find good CDs in their listening stations against the wall, you can get a killer deal. All of my CDs, except for the Vue EP were $10. You get to listen to the CD and buy it for $10. What more could you ask for?

By the way, you won't be disappointed by the CD and the show should be kick-ass. I wish that I could go. I really wish that I could have seen the Raveonettes, Vue, and Sounds all together in concert. Had I known about those March shows, I would have driven serious lengths to see such a magnificent show of up-and-coming acts.

Hey, this is my 600th post. Watch out bitches.

(Edited by richarddawson at 12:06 am on Jun. 5, 2003)

paying $5 (that's including shipping) and getting to sample them via kazaa beforehand. sucker.

do not fret, my friend. they will more than likely open for the white stripes in nashville. you'll see them then.

I can only hope.

music i bought last friday:

the damned - damn damn damn re-released special pretty version on vinyl

sleater kinney - limited edition vinyl with extra 45 with bonus tracks and poster

the new pornographers - electric version. this album is AMAZING. please go buy it.

a miles davis 4 disc box set for $25!!!!!!!

a clinic ep

yo la tengo - i think its called 'summer sun';. its the newest release on matador and its veeeery sleepy.

Wow! I bought this the day it came out. It is so great. I'm not sure if it beats Mass Romantic but it comes really close. It kills me that the closest they are coming is Chicago.

Last Saturday was my b-day so I bought more CDs then I would normally:

The Pernice Brothers-Overcome by Happiness
Big Star-#1 Record/Radio City
Spoon-A Series of Sneaks, Girls Can Tell
Uncle Tupelo-No Depression Reissue
The Jayhawks-Blue Earth Reissue
Blonde Redhead-Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons
Pulp-On Fire
The Walkmen-Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone

I guess this thread could easily turn into the "What are you listening to" topic....

I almost bought that last week on CD! Instead I went with the Clash and MC5.

I also picked up the Datsuns and the Mooney Suzuki. You've got to dig the Grand Funk-esque album cover of "Electric Sweat." Long live GFR.

I think that's probably my single most favorite disc in my way-too-large collection right now. I bought "Live" a few weeks ago and it's killer as well.

Since it has been suggessted, I am currently listening to...

Compilation w/ Vue, Sounds, Roxy Music, Velvet Underground, Love, ABBA
De Novo Dahl - 3rd & Lindsley: Lightning 100 Sunday Night
Gang of Four - Compilation of Early Material
Whirlwind Heat - Do Rabbits Wonder?

@ Work, when not listening to Oldies 96.3...
Clash - London Calling
Television - Marquee Moon
Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
Kinks - Compilation of earlier music

(Edited by richarddawson at 3:14 pm on Jun. 6, 2003)

Jamie Carroll is listening to:

At work:
Maxwell - Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
Slow Down Hero

In the car:
new De Novo Dahl EP
Kula Shaker - Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts

At home:
Morrisey - Kill Uncle
Jetpack's album
Lauren Hill - Unplugged
Nirvana - Incesticide
Feable Weiner's album
Popular Genius' album
Gene - Libertine
the Lone Official's album
the Hot Pipes' album
the Lemonheads - Come On Feel the Lemonheads

De YaDa Dahl is listening to

De Novo Dahl EP
Fluid Ounces Vegetable Kingdom EP
Features Lightning 100
Fl Oz Lightning 100
Seth Timbs at Slowbar

many various things to make compilation CDs for wedding stuff

In the car:
The Postal Service -- Give Up
A.F.I. -- Very Proud Of Ya
Blur -- Best Of

At home:
Rolling Stones -- 40 Licks
Elliott Smith -- Either/Or
Nirvana -- Bleach
Pharcyde -- Plain Brown Rap

"Keith" is listening to:

De Novo Dahl EP
Supergrass- I should Coco
Elliott Smith- XO
Sam Ashworth/My Tyger- Various
Jambon cassette
Guided By Voices- Isolation Drills
Papas Fritas- Buildings and Grounds

Starlight Mints "Built On Squares"
White Stripes "White Stripes"

Fiona Apple - Tidal&When the Pawn, The Features - Slow Bar Show, The Jayhawks - Rainy Day Music, Blur - Think Tank, lots of mixes featuring many songs from that thread, The Kinks - a compilation, Tori Amos-various

(Edited by rachel1808 at 1:09 am on Jun. 14, 2003)

What do you think about Think Tank, Rachel?

Its pretty good. I need to listen to it more for a better opinion of it. For the most part its nice and mellow with a couple exceptions. I'm trying to get my parents to listen to it, I think its good "Florida-room music". I havent been listening to all the songs very fairly though. There are a few that I listen to over and over and I've been neglecting the rest. I think my favorite is "Out of Time."

I recently bought and am listening to th following:

Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride Part II
The Roots - Phrenology
Talib Kwali - Quality (Kwality)
Velvet Underground & Nico
The Cure - Wish
Massive Attack - 100th Window

I'm also listening to the following that I have not recently bought:

Low - Owl remixes
Squarepusher
Myself playing my little brother's muppet baby keyboard.

What do you think of Messanine?

I think Mezzanine is better than 100th window, but 100th window is still good. Liz Fraser is a guest vocalist on Mezzanine, which makes it all the more worth the money. It's got great beats, and if you like trip hop, it's really worth the cash.

yeah, i really like Mezzanine... it's one of my favorite albums to use as driving/background music.

are we listing what we're listening to? i'm confused...

pig lib ~ stephen malkmus
the stone roses ~ the stone roses
we love life ~ pulp

Your prayers have been answered, dude.

Tara Reid is coming to my house for a sleep-over? Sweet.

(Edited by richarddawson at 5:38 pm on Jun. 9, 2003)

tara reid is so not hott.

You know you'd do her too. Don't lie.

(Edited by richarddawson at 5:45 pm on Jun. 9, 2003)

Agreed.



"I'll suck your dick for $1000. Brad can't watch though or else he has to pay 100."

I agree with Sina and Keith. She's a skank.

Exactly. Though, I have decided to rank having a sleep-over with the Hilton Twins above her in my "top 10 wishes that should come true."

the word on the street is that richarddawson likes it dirrty

Everybody needs to play in the mud a little bit.

tara reid reminded me, did anyone see kirsten dunst trip at the mtv movie awards? it was so obvious that they deliberately left it in the shot. yet somehow she was a bit endearing in her acceptance speech. i think she was really hammered. oh those crazy white girls!

point: i think that tripping is the funniest thing that people do, including myself. close second: dry heaving.

I trip a lot when I wear flip-flops or slide type shoes. I always feel so dumb. My sixth period class used to make fun of me all the time and say I was completely clumsy...I'm really not that bad, it was just all their damn bookbags lying around everywhere.

I always seem to trip upstairs, too.

Poor Kirsten Dunst. She must have felt dumb. I no longer have cable, so I am missing out on everything, which is really okay by me.

(Edited by Token at 8:42 pm on Jun. 9, 2003)

Man, I wish I had seen that. . . would have given me a good laugh. I do not care for Kirsten Dunst. . . to put it nicely.

dont worry, mtv will show it 435 times in the next two weeks, and twice that in the following two.

Yeah, I know, I just wish to see that one part and nothing else. I don't think I could bare to watch that junk in its entireity. I saw parts of it the other night and couldn't take it. Yeah, they'll wear it out this summer.

You mean you don't like 50 Cent? If you see him in the club, you better give him a hug.

50 Cent was amazing. I mean, he had a bunch of hoes in hotpants cocking their guns and shooting targets while wearing bullet proof vests and J. Lo sunglasses. I love how 50 Cent has turned being the victim of a drive-by into his gimmick. It's great

As one of my african-american customers said, "That bitch says he been shot nine times. NINE TIMES! All that means is that the bitch can't run. Shit, I been shot at a buncha times and they ain't hit me yet. He ain't tough, he's fuckin slow! After the eighth time, I woulda at least got a head start on that shit." The same guy named Paul, "Powder P."

So, did you have a stenographer's pad and pen handy ... or did you bootleg his comment??? Or, do you just have a really good memory of conversations?

by the way, that was pretty funny.

(Edited by Sexy Sadie at 11:04 pm on Jun. 9, 2003)

I hit the high points. I remember them because it cracked me up. Lastly, this was a loosely paraphrased quote. Anyway, if you are trying to incinuate that I am some sort of liar or phony, then I will need more evidence than previous accounts of being a liar and a phony.

Is no one going to comment on those TATU dykes? Awesome!

iwantelvis absolutely made the best collective cd purchase of all time. and yes, "the new pornographers" that record is awesome. the kills cd is prettily good also. the new super furry animals is supposed to be out in july, and when in the heck is the new dandy warhols gonna show up

also, i forgot yo mention that i think "think tank" is swell. it has very different songs than i am used to damon penning. they are confessional and introspective. on first listen i was disappointed and thought i had wasted my money. but with each listen i have liked it more and more. now i have heard the record about 50 times and i would say that it is quite wonderful. it is a lot better than "hail to the thief" anyway. not that any professional critic will even mention that - but it is true

they showed up at my front door this morning.

and the kills are great.

May 19th if you live in Europe, July 22nd if you live here.

Or, apparently, June 10th if you are Sina.

does anyone have the new deerhoof, apple o?

i usually buy only 1 cd a month cause i have stuff like... children, rent, bills, etc. but i just got a raise so i'm gonna get apple o.

just for the record, i do not care for "the sounds".

I am currently listening to:

at home:

Air- Moon Safari
Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Fever to Tell
Pere Ubu: The Modern Dance
Grandaddy: The Sophtware Slump
Beachwood Sparks: (self titled)
Pavement: Terror Twilight (this is what I have been listening to the most)

In the vehicle:

The Smiths: The Queen is Dead
Echo and the Bunnymen: Songs to Learn and Sing
Kraftwerk: Trans Europe Express

At work:

a 120 minute mix tape with Pavement on one side and The Kinks BBC Sessions on the other

(Edited by ray davies at 11:58 am on Jun. 24, 2003)

Specific songs man, specific songs.

(Edited by richarddawson at 1:53 pm on Jun. 10, 2003)

(waves his hand in the air, thinking to himself "be gone, Sounds")

Quit actin like a bitch, dog!

Man, what they hell are you doin home from the factory at this time of day?

(Edited by richarddawson at 2:00 pm on Jun. 10, 2003)

lately my ears have been dancing to:

the white stripes-b-sides and covers
the velvet underground and nico
the features bootleg where they covered madonna (just kidding)
the beatles-rubber soul
ray davies mix tape #2
the cabaret soundtrack
the shins- oh inverted world
but more than any of these...
yeah yeah yeahs-everything (especially the first ep)

I must add that I have re-discovered Ella Minopy in the last couple of days. Ahh...

my friend nosaj burned me a copy of it, but i've only skimmed it. i had no prior knowledge of this group, but he thinks they're fantastic.

last few cds i bought: radiohead new one, lilys precollection, broadcast pendulum ep, sigur ros single from grimeys, blur think tank. exliontamer bought me the xanadu lp and i love him for it.

i'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new record player in the coming weeks. hooray!

Whenever I have the money, I'm going to get "Pink Flag" by Wire. I feel bad for waiting this long to buy it. Also on my "to buy" list:

Led Zeppelin - How The West Was Won
Joy Division - Box Set
Family Guy - Seasons 1&2 on DVD
Married With Children - DVD Set
An album by The Jam

(Edited by richarddawson at 9:53 am on Jun. 11, 2003)

I'm probably going to sell a bunch of CDs today at Hastings to get the in-store credit I need to buy the 4th season of Buffy on DVD.

I have to add that TV on DVD is the greatest invention ever. Through this miracle, I watched all 45 episodes of Sports Night in May. Great...kinda pathetic...but great.

i shall make my comments about those "dykes"

they are hott. they are also fucking retarded. they are not gay; they are being paid a lot of money to say they are bc its a nice little gimmick that turns high school boys on. they are being openly exploited bc of their retardation and it pisses me off that its supposed to be such a big deal that they are gay bc its like watching porn or something.

not only are they being exploited, they are cashing in on this porn type lesbianism, which i, as "dyke" take offense to.

*sigh* ok, got that off me chest . . .

in NY i bought -
dead kennedys - give me convenience... on vinyl
velvet underground - loaded
teenage fanclub - bandwagonage
white stripes - 7 nation army import single
stiff little fingers - 2 disc best of
led zeppelin dvd
flaming lips - yoshimi

so, basically ive been listening to that and the RENT soundtrack

great album! that was my first dead kennedy's album and i loved it. a friend of mine put it on tape for me, which i think is a perfect format for it, tied with vinyl... i've since purchased it on vinyl, but I still have the tape for sentimental reasons.

the fold out posters are also great... the liner notes to any dead kennedys album are typically great...

(Edited by deathscythe257 at 11:52 am on Jun. 11, 2003)

true - the liner notes are always great, but sometimes disturbing.

Whoa! You have Ella Minopy? A recording? Give it to me, please!

There was an EP on cassette called "Lower Case G's" in 1994. Three songs were posted on some guy's site. TF might have the link. I can add it to the very very long list of stuff to give you, JC.

I love to hear it. I didn't think any recordings existed from that band.

tara reid is not hot. she wears way too much makeup and looks trashy.

blur played on letterman the other night. the lead singer is hot.

Some of us like that.

the jam's greatest hits came out recently. it is reasonably priced and a good collection. but you may prefer just to get an early album. and yes rachel, mr. albarn is so dreamy - and tara reid is not

i don't really think tara reid is hott per say, but i would do her all the same.

I loves me some dan abnormal, too. Pretty much everyone in that band is hot. Well maybe not Dave Rowntree, but Alex James and Graham Coxon (who used to be in the band) are exceedingly hot. Ahhh..I cannot wait to see them in the flesh.

richard, you need to go for broke and buy the "Direction Reaction Creation" box set by The Jam. you will thank me later......I also got the Complete Jam 2 DVD set a while back.

You also need to stop actin' like a bitch and fucking buy the "Heart and Soul" box set (it's worth it for the 3rd disc alone).......and while you're at it, Buy the "Complete BBC sessions" as well......

(Edited by ray davies at 12:05 pm on Jun. 24, 2003)