Golden Records Vinyl/Cassette to MP3 Converter

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Golden Records is what I’d call a good entry-level vinyl-to-digital converter. If you have never tried to convert your vinyl records to MP3 or redbook CD formats, this is a great way to give it a try. Among the most attractive features of Golden Records is the normalizing function, which will give your new MP3s consistent volume for the entire album. Some of those indie/alternative albums like The Blasting Concept series and the amazing Homestead Records compilation The Wailing Ultimate are unfortunately the victims of wildly diverse recording and mastering techniques from track to track. Differing volume levels make listening to the tracks on MP3 a bit of a right pain in the arse—unless you use the normalizing function to make them all even across the board.

Audiophile purists won’t be so thrilled with normalizing as it can alter some of the dymamics of a song, but for most of us normalizing isn’t a bad thing at all. Golden Records is advertised as being designed specifically for vinyl and cassette transfer to MP3, including a handy set of fix-it features to get rid of clicks, pops and other artifacts.

If you’re an advanced audio nut you won’t need this software package, but Golden Records is great for anyone just getting started and needing a solution to get those all-time vinyl favorites running on your iPod in no time.

Cannibal Holocaust Soundtrack

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Believe it or not, Amazon.com is a good place to pick up bizarre and obscure works–if you know where to look. The soundtrack to the infamous Cannibal Holocaust is a prime example. Unfortunately this is NOT a vinyl copy, but the CD edition for between $11 and $17 depending on which indie Amazon vendor is hawking it.

Sadly, the vinyl version of this is damn near impossible to find. I am still on the hunt for a copy–call it a holy grail of sorts. The movie itself will repulse you, but it’s also fascinating and hard not to watch. It succeeds as an actual work of grotesque art–Cannibal Holocaust manages to transcend its low-budget grindhouse intentions and make you forget that you’re watching a moive. Agree or disagree, for those who love the soundtrack music of Italian genre films, the music works as well as the film itself.

Naked Raygun Vanilla Blue

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Chicago’s mighty Naked Raygun performing at Q101 makes me yearn for the good old days when the Rayguns were putting out vinyl, Jeff Haggerty was playing guitar for the group pre-Pegboy, and striped pants were still considered kooky stagewear. Check out this great YouTube clip. Even in this tiny little room, immobilized and hardly breaking a sweat, Naked Raygun manages to create quite a stir. Vanilla Blue is one of their best tracks, hands down.



Big Black Songs About Fucking LP

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big-black-songs-about-fuckingIn my book, the all-time number one indie vinyl urban assualt weapon has GOT to be this album by Big Black. It kicks off at maximum velocity and simply doesn’t stop until the needle hits the end of the record. Songs About Fucking by Big Black is quite possibly Steven Albini & company’s finest hour. Sure, you can buy this on CD, but it sounds just the way it needs to on the vinyl; this is truly a case where the LP format is the best way to experience the sounds–Albini the analog audiophile really shines on this. No, you don’t listen to Big Black for subtlety, you put it on to shock your senses awake after putting in a full day at the death factory. Never mind Black Flag, Ministry, or even Nine Inch Nails; this is the genuine angry article–no pussyfooting with piles of rack effects and studio tweezing, just the machine gun thud of the drums, those great, trebly guitar sounds and Albini screaming his head off over the racket. If you play this album at maximum volume, your neighbors will die.

Standout tracks include The Power of Independent Trucking, L Dopa, and a razor-blade-n-gasoline cover of the Cheap Trick classic, He’s A Whore. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED