Vintage Speaks

It's interesting what you find sometimes when browsing your local thrift...

Olson bookshelf speakers-late 60's vintage-great sound

Found these gems at the Goodwill store in the next township. They have level control for the (horn) tweeters, and overall have a really nice sound. Not overpowering, and not too much bass. Perfect for a small room or an apartment. Not too bad looking either!

The Current Setup

This can change at a moments notice, but here is my current system:
Sansui 1000A (1967)
Rega P1
Marantz CD-63
Demon DR-M10HR
Polk Audio RTA 11TL

Apologies for the sideways!

Post Xmas Schtuff

Hey...I'm here, why not post, right?

My latest music acquisitions, in no particular order are:
Anthrax - Worship Music (*****) (CD)
Maroon 5 - Hands all over (****) (CD)
Victorious - Music from the Nick TV Show (****) (CD)
James Brown - Plays New Breed (Boo-Ga-Loo) - Haven't listened yet but hey - it's James Brown! (LP)

I'm currently using a friends 1967 Sansui 1000A as my primary receiver.  It's a tube amp and it has a nice, warm sound to it (as most tube amps do I suppose).  It's only 2 channel, so I don't have my rear speakers hooked up.  I *love* the sound of the Sansui, but I almost prefer the 4-channel quadraphonic sound that my Pioneer QX-8000 produces.  Kind of a toss-up really.  They both have their charms.  I'm lucky that I can swap out whenever I want to if I feel like changing things up.

That's all for now.  I'm hoping that someone at Google gets the kinks worked out of their Blogger app for Android.  If that happens, you'll probably see a lot more action in this blog. Probably.

Not a lot happening lately.  Lots of work, dead phone, and holidays = not a heck of a lot in the world of classic audio and/or record collecting.  Fear not though - I will be back with random thoughts in those realms!

Birthday Stuff - Two Weeks Late

So I've been so busy with work, etc that I forgot to post after my birthday.  I was surprised with a trip to Jerry's Records in Squirrel Hill here in Pittsburgh - sort of a Mecca of vinyl East of the Mississippi.  I picked up a *sealed* copy of the Black Hole soundtrack, an album of Celtic music by an Irish woman who's name I can't pronounce, and what looks to be a mid-to-late 50's album of Benny Goodman.  Good stuff.  I'm debating whether I should even open the Black Hole ST.  I mean, the music from that movie is phenomenal (John Barry), but I dunno if I should unseal it or not.  It wouldn't be the first time I unsealed an LP that I'd bought (see: Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young - So Far), but still...I'm torn.  I also got the new Beastie Boys album on CD because, sadly, I couldn't find it on vinyl.

In any case, it was an *awesome* birthday - one of the best on record, actually.

Love This

A blog post from a friend of mine:

Vinyl Record Architect

Cute Girl Collects Records.

Hawt :

Linkage

I Almost Hate To Admit It

Ok, so yeah, I know that it's supposedly uncool for someone who's into music to like pop.  Well, I'm finding out that in some cases, yes, I do enjoy pop music.  Of course, some of it is drek - that has always been true of "Top 40" music. But man...some of the stuff I hear on the radio, I feel the need to get onto a CD and pump it through the Quadraphonic system.  And dammit, "On The Floor" by Jennifer Lopez sounds really damn good...

Back In The Saddle

Well, as the title implies, I'm back!  I won't bore and/or depress you with the details of what's been happening  because hey - music is supposed to bring you joy, right?  So by extension, a blog *about* music should aim to be joyful, fun, etc, as well, right?  Suffice it to say, things are looking up around here, and about damn time says I.

Anyway, when last I left you, my Pioneer quadraphonic receiver (QX-8000 for the hi-fi nerds out there) was in the shop, after having blown the right front channel.  Well I got it back, and it blew the same channel again about 2 weeks later.  Hooray for warranties! Took it back, got 'er fixed, and she's singing like she's new!  By the way, if you're in the Pittsburgh area, go see my buddy Tom at Vintage Hi-Fi of Pittsburgh - he and Anders will take good care of you and/or your equipment.  Stereo equipment you perverts...

Additionally, I got a couple of LPs the other day as well - Judas Priest, "Screaming for Vengeance", and this:

I'd been looking for "High Voltage" for a while.  It's in excellent shape, and an awesome AC/DC album.  In fact, I may put it on this evening (again).  :-)

Not A Lot

Not a heck of a lot going on for me musically lately.  Low on funds, job giving me the shaft, etc.  I'll be back in the swing of things soon, and hopefully with some new musical finds.  Stay tuned, and thanks!

Great Article!

http://www.reviewrinserepeat.com/news/2011-06-12/record-rumblings-why-pick-vinyl

OK, So I Lied

Went to a thrift store today.  Picked up Rod Stewart "A Night on the Town", Michael Jackson "Thriller", and Pink Floyd "Meddle" for a buck each.  Nice!

I actually already had the Floyd and MJ, but these were in better shape than my copies.  And hey - a DOLLAR.

Heads Down

Apologies for not updating in a while.  Not a lot going on in the realm of music or music equipment for me.  I've been trying to find gainful employment, beyond the job I already have.  It looks like I may have something, so keep your fingers crossed for me.

A Cool Idea

Is one that is soon copied.

I may do something like this myself, because...well...why not?

http://www.stereophile.com/content/room-treatments

An Unexpected Trip

To Half Price Books and Records netted this:

Led Zeppelin II

The Cries of the Carrots

Tool on vinyl

Yep, I have Tool on vinyl, and it's playing right now.  I am that cool.

Kill Your Self-Important Asshats

Question: what's worse than archival footage of questionably-talented bands doing their thing in grainy clips with horrible sound quality?  The aging "punks" from the clips talking about how great and important they were/are. 

I watched a documentary last night about the early punk, or "No-Wave" music scene that happened between 1975 and 1982.  It's called "Kill Your Idols" - I recommend it if you have an hour and a half to burn that you never want back.  You can stream it on Netflix, so at least you don't have to go out of your way for it.  I suppose it could act as a warning to up-and-coming bands on how NOT to act when someone shoves a camera in your face.  Basically, don't be an ego-maniacal, self-important asshat.  


I seriously almost turned this thing off about 10 minutes into it.  I felt bad that I subjected my wife to it at all.   Now, to be fair, a few good bands (The Ramones and Sonic Youth amongst them) came from this scene, but they were, you know, talented.  Several interviewees admitted that they didn't even know any chords, etc when they formed these so-called "bands".  They were, apparently, trying to avoid being derivative of anything.  A couple of guitar lessons wouldn't have killed them to be honest.  The worst of the lot was Lydia Lunch.  She started out as a groupie, eventually forming "Teenage Jesus and The Jerks".  I suppose you have to have a certain amount of ego to be able to get up in front of a room full of people and play shitty "music", but seriously, Lydia made her band out to be the Black Sabbath of early punk.


And yeah, I suppose that part of the whole thing was supposed to be art, which is all well and good, but string some chords together once in a while for fuck's sake.


The second half of the film concentrated on the modern-day NYC scene, circa 2002.  The Yeah Yeah Yeah's and Gogol Bordello, both reasonably talented and entertaining bands, are interviewed in this part of the film.  And aside from Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeah's 
saying "like" and "you know" about a million times during the interviews, and the guy from A.R.E. Weapons being a douche, I found them fairly interesting, and not nearly as self-flagellation inducing as the old guard interviewees.


I think the most amusing thing about this whole film is how the old-timers completely turned on the newer bands, dismissing them outright as "poseurs" (or posers, if you will) and/or being derivative of themselves.  Whatever - The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeah's, and Gogol Bordello are at least talented and make *music*. 

One Netflix reviewer put it thus:

"ZZzzzzzzzzzz. and then I wake up and its still obscure musicians glorifying obscurity and then defending their brand of obscurity. ZZzzzzzzzz."

Now, I'm not one of those people who think just because a band has become popular, that they are suddenly no good, sell-outs, or what-have-you.  I'm also not in the camp that says that an obscure band, regardless of genre, is not worthy of attention and accolades.  Some of the best music ever made is stuff that we sadly, may never hear.  However, I know music.  Some of the crap that was being served up by these bands could be considered music, but only because the noise being produced was emanating from musical instruments.

The movie itself was OK - the footage of the bands was grainy (intentionally?), and the sound quality was generally bad, but I can't fault the movie makers for the quality of the music being presented.  I suppose if "No Wave" is your thing, you might dig this documentary, as some of the big names from that era are interviewed.  Otherwise, save yourself the aggravation.