Where’s The Turntabling Collection?

Some have wondered where The Turntabling Collection has been hiding. Since getting back from Cinema Wasteland, the collection has been offline while we worked on a few shows and events; DJing at OhNo! Doom Gallery, creating videos and writing music all has taken a bit of time.

But I’m happy to announce the impending return of vinyl sales to Turntabling–there are some things in the works that should expand the collection and how much is for sale here at any given time.

Selling music here is a fundraising activity for Turntabling–if you’ve ever bought a vinyl record or CD from us, you’ve directly supported the site, and for that we thank you. Over the last three years many, many people have helped us thrive and grow with their purchases and we would NOT be here without you. Stay tuned…there are some important developments in the works in our vinyl and CD department.

–Joe Wallace

Where Will You Be On Record Store Day 2012?

This Saturday, April 21st, is Record Store Day, which in our view should be a national holiday. There will be a glorious Turntabling excursion around Chicago hitting plenty of favorite haunts including Laurie’s Planet of Sound, Dusty Groove, Reckless Records, and many others.

There is so much goodness on vinyl for sale in Chi-town, and so many wonderful shops that it’s impossible to count them all. Granted, not all of them choose to participate in Record Store Day madness, but many do and we are quite grateful for that.

Support your local record store this Saturday, and if you’re on the fence about buying vinyl this weekend, perhaps you’d be convinced by none other than Mister Johnny Rotten himself, in this interview clip courtesy of TheQuietus.com. Lydon still knows how to stir things up, and employs the blarney quite well here. He goes on and on about Record Store Day but manages to loop in Julie Andrews, Guy Fawkes, riots, and his mum & dad.

See you in the shops on Saturday!

How To Start Collecting Vinyl Records

Seems kind of pointless and stupid for a blog post, right? But stop for a second and ask yourself what got YOU into collecting vinyl?

Some people think that vinyl records aren’t made anymore (hah!) and some feel “it’s too late” to start collecting from scratch. Still others believe you can’t buy a new turntable anymore (double hah!) and don’t feel up to the challenge of finding a used one.

Let it be known, that all three of those notions are myths. New vinyl is being cranked out so fast you can’t keep up with it all–both brand new titles and reissues.

New turntables are available for as low as $99 and have USB connections for those who want to digitize and convert to MP3s. And you CAN find an old-school quality turntable without spending a fortune. Personally I’d avoid pawn shops and stick to Craigslist, yard sales, thrift stores and record shops. Do you need a turntable to start collecting record albums? Not REALLLY. Some people collect LPs and picture discs for the artwork alone, and I personally have purchased vinyl records  on the strength of the covers or artwork alone. I love displaying them as well as listening to ‘em.

I got sucked into collecting vinyl because around 1996 I got interested in building a collection of obscure new wave music, and there is a LOT that never made it to CD or digital files–and possibly never will. I decided to take the plunge after attending the Austin Record Convention and finding an LP by a new wave band called Amoebas In Chaos. The track “Lude Behavior” cinched it for me–I had to start collecting these albums!

Buy one vinyl record that you’re really lusting to hear and you’re probably hooked. It’s that easy. If there’s a genre obsession of yours that’s full of rare or obscure bands that never made the jump to digital, you’ve got ages of fun ahead of you. There is nothing in the world like discovering a band you’ve never heard before that’s in the same musical zip code of other groups you like…one you’re sure you’d never have heard otherwise without that serendipitous record store excursion. Can you really afford NOT to be collecting vinyl?

–Joe Wallace

Vinyl Record Reviews: Ceasar Pink & The Imperial Orgy, The Explorers Club

Lately there have been more records coming to our inbox–review copies for new music are always welcome as long as they are on vinyl. Turntabling makes very few exceptions to this rule (Chris Joss releases being one–damn, how can you say no to another Chris Joss record regardless of format?) so please understand, indie bands–vinyl review copies only!

Two records came last week, Four Legs Good Two, Legs Baaad by Caesar Pink and the Imperial Orgy, plus Grand Hotel by The Explorers Club.

There’s more than just a hint of 70s-era singer/songwriter vibe floating out of Grand Hotel. From the packaging with its simulated record jacket ringwear, the ghost-of-George Harrison riffs on Weight of the World, and the bongos-n-Herb Alpert horns of Run Run Run, this is time capsule rock, and well done at that.

In some places, The Explorers Club comes across as a more freshly-scrubbed Smithereens, except there is absolutely no trace of the melancholy that made Smithereens records so enjoyable. Elsewhere there are nods to J.D. Souther, Todd Rundgren and the Beach Boys.

Many reviewers name-drop Burt Bacharach when discussing The Explorers Club, and it’s true that his influence is felt on this album, but stylistically the band is a bit more unfocused–there is a lot of room for all sorts of sonic nostalgia on the album, and in the group’s live performance videos on YouTube. One of their standout moments as a group isn’t on Grand Hotel–the group’s Kind Of A Drag cover, originally recorded by The Buckinghams, could be considered source code for the group, as is another cover sadly not on this record, Stormy by Classics IV.

There is some really strong material on Grand Hotel. On Side Two, Summer Days, Summer Nights elevates this record to something higher than a tribute to the analog golden age. This is a recording by a group full of confidence in the material–the vocals are much stronger than on the fun-and-bouncy Run Run Run or Bluebird. Not that they don’t sound confident on tracks like Any Little Way or Acapulco, but Summer Days, Summer Nights sounds like the song they could barely wait to record.

Here’s a band that sounds very much like it might like to go in a Classics IV direction but can’t decide whether they’ll lose their way in doing so. There’s equal enthusiasm on the Grass Roots-y Go For You, but listen to the entire Grand Hotel record and you may agree, Summer Days, Summer Nights is THE standout track–it deserves plenty of attention.

Make no mistake–this is NOT the record for anyone currently grooving exclusively on reissues of the Chrome back catalog or interested in unreleased rarities by Christian Death, but for anyone with retro damage (guilty) or a love for the pre-Yacht Rock singer songwriter sounds of Classics IV, Janis Ian and the like, this is a record worth checking out.

(Those of us fortunate enough to be able to listen to Chrome AND Classics IV think Grand Hotel is a bit of all right, too.)

Caesar Pink and the Imperial Orgy offer up a vinyl record called Four Legs Good, Two Legs Baaad. It’s important to review a vinyl record on its own merits rather than compare it to the one you just reviewed, so it took a bit of time to shake off the retro goodness of The Explorers Club so Four Legs Good, Two Legs Baaad could get its due.

Caesar Pink and the Imperial Orgy play a type of music that can only be described, however inadequately, as “rawk”. The lyric sheets reads like a hardcore album, but the music is ranges from sub-Chili Peppers funk attempts to chirpy jangle pop…but without the jangle. The most embarassing part on this is the psuedo-rapping of Rabid, which tries to blend machine-gun delivery with moody keyboard riffs.

There’s even a psuedo Black Crowes moment on this, which wears out its welcome very quickly. Sorry, Imperial Orgy folks, but it’s true.

The band doesn’t do itself any favors by writing on the back cover of the LP, “Recorded and manufactured without funding or interference from any corporations large or small”. This sounds wonderful and anti-authoritarian until you discover the MP3 version of this album for sale on Amazon.com. Ummm, Caesar? Your contradictions are showing.

The lyrics talk a good game about Disney, corporations, religion, and other easy targets, but the album fails miserably by delivering bland instrumentation and been-there-done-that arrangements. Dressing up like angry arty types might be a visually strong fashion statement, but you need more than a wardrobe change to pull it off…and lyrics aside, there’s not a whole lot that’s angry or powerful here.

Joe Wallace reviews vinyl records for Turntabling, but urges bands NOT to send review copies unless they are on vinyl. It’s a vinyl-only review column here, savvy? Send your 12-inch, 7-inch or full length vinyl record albums to Turntabling care of:

Joe Wallace 4520 N. Oakley First Floor, Chicago Illinois 60625

Turntables Used By Turntabling

In the course of writing vinyl record reviews, DJing, doing Vinyl Road Rage and enjoying vinyl at home, the Turntabling gear list has gotten quite interesting. At least three different models are in active use for a variety of purposes so it seems appropriate to list them here, complete with links to purchase or learn more if you like. Transparency alert–yes, these are affiliate links which do support the website should you choose to buy.

It should be understood that these models are not necessarily the absolute best audiophile quality models in the whole world. They were chosen for functionality after some research and it can be honestly said that each of the models listed here do the job they’re supposed to do and they are a welcome part of the gear list.

The only reason they might not be purchased a second time has more to do with wanting to see what else is out there as opposed to not being happy with the models themselves…

Audio Technica AT120LP USB Direct Drive Turntable

This is the model I DJ with when doing Paisley Babylon shows, mash-ups, and audio experimentation. The Audio Techica AT120LP USB turntable been used to record Paisley Babylon albums and I even use it as a photo model when shooting pics for the WTF Records book.

The price point on the AT120LP USB is about $250, which is why I own three of them. It features a built-in preamp, pitch adjustment, USB connectivity and selectable output. The preamp makes it heavy and a pain in the arse to lug around to gigs (especially when you have to cart three of the damn things) but overall I’m pleased with the performance of this Audio Techica direct drive turntable. It’s the pro gear portion of my setup, and while there are definitely better turntables out there at higher prices, I am quite happy with this unit.

The Crosley Revolution Portable Turntable

The Crosley Revolution battery powered portable turntable has a variety of features that make it perfect for taking on the road during Vinyl Road Rage. First, it’s battery powered AND has a USB power option. It has a headphone jack, an internal speaker, or you can output via USB. It is extremely portable, small, and easy to use on the road.

Is it the best sounding turntable out there? Well, it’s designed to be portable and small, so obviously this is not what you’re using to enjoy the subtle nuances of that Nurse With Wound LP.

But it is an awesome, affordable way to do a vinyl blog on the road with actual vinyl. I made several videos with the Crosley and was pleased enough with the results to take it back out on the road for the next Vinyl Road Rage cross-country blogging tour.

Picky audiophiles shouldn’t even be reading this section, but the rest of us who love vinyl regardless of whether you get massive audio fidelity or not will have no qualms with this as a traveling companion. It has wonderful potential for impromptu DJ parties using the FM-band broadcast feature…buy two of them and you see where the possibilities are. I’ve mentioned before that the Crosley Revolution turntables could be used for a crazy DJ busking concept, but beware playing your vinyl in the direct sunlight, folks.

ION TTUSB USB Turntable

I have one of these in the living room and use it recreationally. I have used it to digitize vinyl records in the past, but the software requires some babysitting and it’s really not my bag…I prefer to play the vinyl instead while at home anyway and for that purpose the ION TTUSB USB turntable is a decent middle-of-the-road performer.

Nothing fancy, no outrageously mind-blowing quality but fairly dependable. It’s smaller than my pro gear, lightweight, and easy to use. I call it a “fun” turntable instead of a “serious” model like the AT120LP. It looks nice and modern, does what its told, and doesn’t complain.

The ION TTUSB is a belt-driven turntable (as opposed to a direct-drive model without the “rubber band”, as some call it, to spin the platter) which will turn off a hard-core audiophile–but that’s not the market for this ION model. It is a decent entry-level record player that can serve a new collector well.

That said, my own personal complaint with this model is that the large white start/stop buttons on my unit became a bit unresponsive over time. Dust is probably the issue there, so keep your ION TTUSB covered when it’s not in use, which should delay that issue for a longer time.

Price point on this ION model is around $175. For about hundred more you can get the Audio Technica AT120LP USB direct drive turntable which is pro-quality and will last forever with good care…but some may not like the larger size and increased weight of the Audio Technica mentioned above. The ION is much lighter and more portable, so it really boils down to what you prefer in your turntable–does portability matter to you? Or are you interested in higher quality? Either way, you have some decent choices here.

–Joe Wallace

Makerbot, YOU BASTARDS!

This is probably common knowledge in much of the vinyl community and I’m just really really late in discovering this (as usual), but no matter. It’s NEW TO ME and that’s what really counts here.

This Youtube video breathlessly announces that you can, thanks to Makerbot, now create your own 3D printed vinyl records. Exciting, eh?

But it’s clear that something is not quite right at the start of this video…but one tends to suspend disbelief since vinyl junkies and home recording maniacs (Ok, ME) reaaaaalllly want this to be true.

Sadly, you watch, you come to the awful realization that this is a heartbreakingly cruel April Fool’s joke AND you get Rick-rolled in the bargain. You’ll feel violated. Amused, but violated.

Like Fox Mulder, this video hurts because I WANT TO BELIEVE! Makerbot, you wound me…(cue the sappy string music and begin swooning in disbelief here.) Yes, they got me. They got me good. You win THIS round, Makerbot…but I defy you to make this happen FOR REAL. Heh.

Memphis Tennessee Record Stores: Goner Records

by Joe Wallace

After Vinyl Road Rage ended its too-brief Nashville phase, it only made sense to move along to Memphis to plunder the record stores there. Memphis Tennessee Record stores are, based on what was found there, basically awesome and well worth investigating.

The first stop in Memphis was Goner Records, located in a fun alt-culture district on the aptly-named Young Avenue. One look at Goner from the outside and I knew it was going to be great.

For starters, they have a nice collection of music-related print matter, books and mags that you probably didn’t stop in for but will want to look at anyway. Very hard not to be tempted there…but the vinyl selections were calling so the printed stuff had to wait. And with good reason.

For a collector of weirdness on vinyl, Goner is a gold mine.

Spotting the “soundtrack” to L. Ron Hubbard’s abysmal Battlefield Earth book was a surprise–it truly is one of the most godawful vinyl records of all time and here it is in all its glory at Goner. Bravo.

I dropped a nice packet of cash on the weird records, to be sure. But the usual suspects are all waiting for you, too…no shortage of great titles in all the genres you want to explore…and I must add there was a fairly impression collection of Ohio Players titles when I was there.

The store itself is laid out well, fun to shop and has great atmosphere–something I’d find sorely lacking on the next leg of the Vinyl Road Rage journey once hitting Arkansas. Needless to say, you won’t have that problem in HERE.

There are plenty of great places to shop, record store-wise, between Bloomington, Indiana and Arkansas, but I have to say, Goner Records was one of my favorite. That could have been clouded by finding so many bizarre record titles in one store, or it could have been that Goner reminds me of some other now-gone shops I’ve been to in Texas…either way this is a must-return store for me and you’ll probably feel the same way after a visit.

If you’re interested in learning more about my vinyl finds at Goner Records during Vinyl Road Rage, have a look at the video clip below, I mention Goner and the other most excellent Memphis record shop, Shangri-La Records.

Vinyl Records, Home Taping, SOPA and PIPA

Warning: rants ahead.

In the 80s, “Home taping is killing the record industry!” was the battle cry of many suit-and-tie candyassed record company execs who felt threatened by a bunch of teenage kids trading cassettes of their favorite vinyl records.

Sound familiar?

Today’s version of that whiny nonsense has culminated in the Stop Online Piracy Act or SOPA for short, plus its evil cousin, the Protect IP Act or PIPA.

The biggest pro-SOPA/pro-PIPA crybabies include the MPAA and RIAA, who have caused plenty of grief for musicians in the past with their blinkered, pee-pants fears of piracy, file sharing and the like. They basically seem to hate any activity that doesn’t result in the cash registers chiming.

That sounds a bit extreme, a bit knee-jerk reactionary, to be sure. But it’s an impression that can’t be avoided in an age where six-figure lawsuits are brought against college kids for file sharing in their dorm rooms.

Here in Chicago in a measure totally unrelated to piracy, SOPA, or the alphabet soup agencies, rumor has it that one elected genius tried to introduce legislation that would make the sale of used CDs illegal.

Why?

With news like this, plus reports of the MPAA crying over the blackout of websites in protest of SOPA/PIPA as an “abuse of power”, it gives me great pleasure to see a resurgence of attitude against legislated censorship (which SOPA and PIPA clearly would bring).

The sad thing about all this is that the hue and cry that brought SOPA and PIPA legislation into being has more to do with the fact that these record industry dinosaurs (who are so afraid of the 21st century verision of home taping) are basically making their final bleating cries as they sink into the music business La Brea tar pits.

The dinos are going down, but they keep on bellowing for dear life.

Once upon a time, Steve Albini wrote, “The future belongs to analog loyalists. Fuck digital.” And now, after MP3s, file sharing and all the rest, damn if he didn’t turn out to be exactly right, albeit in a sort of collector-y way. MP3s and the collapse of the CD market have driven people back to vinyl. Which proves a point.

File sharing, piracy, and the rest of the yellow underwear issues the MPAA, RIAA and the corporate giants are afraid of? They all drive people back to buying music. Actual purchases. Let the file sharing kiddies have their illegal Metallica and Britney Spears downloads. The rest of us–people who actually BUY music, and GOOD music to boot–are still spending money in spite of the sharing.

None of this is news, not to us. But these record industry types need to take a weekend to wring the urine out of their trousers and re-think. Not that they will. They NEVER will. In fact, they’re just going to keep sitting there in their own piss, shivering in fear that another 99 cents won’t be spent on the brain-dead utterances of 50 Cent or Adele.

And they are right–crap music will be pirated forever and ever, because somewhere deep down inside, even the most vacant, uncritical fan of what I call Hollywood-core knows they shouldn’t spend money on that shit. Piracy? No, friends, let’s call it what it is–EVOLVED PURCHASING HABITS. People spend money on Radiohead records offered for “whatever you wanna pay”, they shelled out for Nine Inch Nails four CD sets after getting a full album of the stuff for nothing.

Those stunts–which WORKED–coupled with the piracy of USELESS, STUPID MUSIC should tell us something, shouldn’t it?