u/Ok-Fun-8586

It is Sunday and now spinning is Even Worse (1988). On cassette! It’s the first Weird Al in my collection! I found it for a buck!

I knew the more iconic tracks growing up. I have clear memories of the “Amish Paradise” music video on MTV. “Fat” was the major track off this tape. It wouldn’t get a pass today, but “when I sit around the house I really sit around the house” is a banger of a lyric in 1988. Seriously.

“I Think I’m A Clone Now” is the other great parody track. “You Make Me” is great too. All bangers, really.

Great album!

This is maybe a little old school for the sub but a very cool $0.99 pick-up from my local shop I thought you might be into: Spellbinder. Now playing!

I’ll pick up anything Ron Carter is on but am very new to Gabor’s work. The percussion was a nice surprise, and Willie Bobo is a name I’ve heard before but I’m also new to. Lots to track down, so send recs based on all those names!

First time poster. Here we sub (homemade) chocolate chip cookie and caramel Hershey’s, add Nutella. I felt inspired at the campsite.

The morning spin is Criss-Cross. I throw it on for “Don’t Blame Me” but I love the quartet here and it has some of my favorite Monk tunes.

This is the OG, 1963 mono press. One of only 5 or so OGs I have. It’s a pretty one.

The morning spin is Criss-Cross. I’m back on the turntable.

This is one of my favorite Monk albums. It’s his second for Columbia after Monk’s Dream which is also very good but this is better. I love this version of “Rhythm-a-Ning.” I think the band is super tight here. The play between Monk and the sax is the best on this album out of anywhere.

But despite all that I’m mainly throwing this on to hear this specific rendition of “Don’t Blame Me.” Goddamn it is so so good.

This is one of the few OG titles I’m lucky to own. It’s a great album.

It is Wednesday, my dudes, and the fresh on my vacation spin is Musicology. I think this is my fourth Prince post around these parts. He’s a staple.

This was a bit of a comeback for Prince. It was the biggest hit since Batman for him and the first one I took notice of. The lead single is a funk banger. “The Marrying Kind” is my deep pick and the one I go back to the most. There’s harpsichords in here.

Dirty Mind is my favorite but this is getting to be a close second lately. Great album.

I’m always on the lookout for cheap binders and on occasion blind buy and find a few novelties. This one is a different story. I know rips and loose discs aren’t special but this collection for sure was to someone, and recently.

A ton of this stuff I know of but don’t know deeply at all. I’m much more of a groove-oriented dude and recently it’s been all jazz and ska. Some I know. Ghosts I actually owned way back when and was vaguely into. I know Tool and Radiohead but couldn’t tell you what’s on these specific titles. I don’t recognize most of the discs that aren’t telling me what they are, so a lot of first listens are here. I’m stoked.

Any recs for where to start here?

My copy landed last night and I can’t take it out of the player. More than any band in the scene the Aggrolites are a “day 1” for me. I’ve been evangelizing their shit for like 25 years now.

This is as good as any album they’ve put out, in my opinion. Better than some of them. “Live By The Code” is instantly a top-3 track from them. It’s an ear worm up there with older songs like “Pop the Trunk” and “Countryman Fiddle.” The instrumentals are killer too. I think this is the best guitar work I’ve heard from them yet and Roger is the best keys in the genre. Ever. At this point. He’s got to be. Right? That title track is so good.

Jesse’s voice holds up too. The moment you expect him to slow down he doubles down on “Till the Wheels Fall Off,” explicitly telling you to fuck off. Slow down why? He’s going to be a legendary front man decades from now.

Crazy good shit. But you all already knew. Thanks for letting me rant about it. I’m gonna play it again now.

It is CD Sunday and the morning spin is Super Atomic.

This is the brand new Aggrolites album. I had streamed it a couple times before but I’m stoked to sit with it.

If you don’t know these dudes, they’re a ska band that sometimes says they aren’t a ska band but “a skinhead reggae band.” They’re closer to the Jamaican sound than the British one. But no horns. Smooth grooves. The lead instrument is a sick organ from Roger Rivas. Then put a soulful west coast vocal on it. It’s great shit. And this album is as good as anything they’ve put out over the last 20 years.

“Live By The Code” is the opener and an instant favorite. The album toggles between instrumental tracks and vocal-led ones. The title track is a killer instrumental in particular.

Do yourself a favor and check ‘em out if they’re new to you. Great band. Great album.

It is CD Saturday. The morning spin is They Say I’m Different, the ‘07 CD reissue.

The legend of Betty Davis is well-known but scan these liner notes too if you can. I didn’t know all of it. This is my favorite album of hers by a good bit, not that she’s got a bad one. “He was a Big Freak” is my go-to on this.

But it’s no skips. Not a one.

Skankin’ Pickle is one of my all-time favorites and I think Sing Along with… might be the best ska punk album of all time. For sure top 5. We all know Mike Park is a legend too.

Anyway here’s my Skankin’ Pickle studio albums. Those who know will know the top two are reissues. I think this version of the Fever cover art* *rules though.

The morning spin is Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk.

This is some recent flea market cheap heat. I assumed it didn’t have a cover, but there is a cover. It’s bad. I’ll buy one off you if you have it.

This is a disco-leaning funky novelty with some jazz chops on it. As I type, we’re digging the vibe solo in the “Cantina” song. I think it’s vibes. Some mallet instrument. The b-side is more straight ahead grooves. It’s good. I can party to it.

Peak 70s, sci-fi, disco kitsch. Great little disc.

I recently picked up a pile of CDs that included these two fusion gems and gave them a listen this morning. I’m building up a decent “Chick and Friends” collection and I’m not sure Elektric Band is my favorite corner but it scratches a certain itch.

I’ll add to the Sunday haul posts with this little flea market spread. $13 for what’s pictured here and a small binder.

This is my first Primus. Everyone says they suck so I’m not optimistic. The Squirrel Nut Zippers’ Hot is an upgrade on my current copy, so is the Cake.

Very cool pick ups all around.

Continuing on this fine CD Sunday and it’s Sing Along With Skankin’ Pickle.

Absolutely love these dudes and this album. They can go as hard as Bad Brains one second and then slip into an all-timer ska groove like “Thick Ass Stout” the next. Front man Mike Park is one of the best there is. Still. Hardcore anti-racist and anti-fascist for decades and still personally signs his mail orders. Still!

Iconic stuff in some corners. Maybe not here. Give it a shot! It’s a great album.

It is CD Sunday and the morning spin is Rock for Light. Rocking the fresh, 2021 CD reissue. I prefer my punk rock on CD or tape. Not for an interesting reason, just how I’ve always listened to punk rock since my first Walkman.

Bad Brains! Iconic band. I love everyone in this era who messed with reggae or was working out hardcore sounds with that ska influence. “I + I Survive” is my jam.

We’ll have to get into some ska today then.

The CD Saturday spins continue with Do or Die. We’re turning up and we’re mowing the lawn.

This albums rips. “Caught in a Jar” is an old favorite.

Great shit.

This beautiful CD Saturday morning gets a follow-up and it’s Dookie. With Ernie.

I always love the bass on this album. It’s super punchy. As I type this the breakdown in “Welcome to Paradise” has kicked off to prove my point.

Another great album.

It’s CD Saturday and the morning spin is Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.

I spent the last week reassembling my CD collection. About 90% were out of their cases in different, awkward storage solutions. All the cases and art were boxed up. I missed browsing CD shelves. We’re going back to that.

I miss browsing shelves because of gems like Yoshimi. It’s a gorgeous album, with some of the best, garage-y-est, spaciest, weirdest indie rock from the era. And that era is peak CD. And this is peak cover art.

“Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell” is always my sleeper pick. Great beat. Great flute. But it’s all great. “Yoshimi,” “It’s Summertime,” and “Do You Realize??” These are iconic tracks, man.

Such a great album.

“Seasons” is my highlight. I adore the album as a whole though. The vocalizations actually work for me, perfectly. The folk turn in the side-B concerto is killer.

I’m actively looking for people doing similar work with instrumentation and genre. Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra also scratches this itch a little. Other recs?