• 69 Plays
  • Son of A Preacher ManAretha Franklin
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Son of A Preacher Man

- Aretha Franklin

A couple weeks back, I broke the bank…and by breaking the bank, I mean my piggy bank, for quarters, pennies, nickels, and dimes; because I had to purchase, this .99 cents, thrift-store treasure: Aretha Franklin’s “The Girls In Love With You”. Today, though, Friday, December 21st…AKA The End of The World (as we know it…and I feel fine), it’s pouring rain, and at 1:20 pm, milling around the house, still in the same thermal, leggings, and over-sized, ugly sweater (which was also purchased at the time of said record investment) I slept in, there is nothing better to soundtrack my lazy day, than this, and by this, I mean, Aretha and the slew of perfect, golden covers that span from Eleanor Rigby to The Weight, not to mention the queen, herself’s original tracks, which include, appropriately, The Girls In Love With You, and Son of A Preacher Man. Oh Aretha, I love you…I really do. 

Ready for the Apocalypse, 

- Madi 

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  • 20 Plays
  • Never Going BackFleetwood Mac
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Never Going Back 

- Fleetwood Mac

So, Last Saturday, I fell victim to what some would deem, manipulative, alterior motives of a friend, and wound up somewhere, where, well, I shouldn’t, and wouldn’t’…EVER have been without his blatant disregard for my feelings (I’m not bitter. okay? OKAY?). With that said, some good, like in most cases, came from the night. Well, a lot of good, admittadly came.

The following of which, will explain why. So, the good comes, wait for it, 1…2…3…right…now: I wound up following some  old friends, so to speak, back to their place. My friends Zach and Manuel have a really, uhm, sweet? apartment, close to mine. My favorite person, the man, the legend, first name James last name rhymes with ass…and class…but youll have to guess, as to what else rhymes with sass, if your genuinely interested in the surname of my fellow jewish bretheren, here. Okay, back to the topic at hand: When I say Zach and Manu have a nice apartment, I mean there pretty much typical Allston residence transcends it’s very normal (I will say it’s suprisingly clean, for four boys in a small space) existance and aesthetic, by way of Zach and his inheritance of his dad’s record player, which is beautiful, and then of course, there is the accompanying records, which it kills me to admit, are collectivelly the best mix of dad rock, original, not a redistribution in the bunch, I’ve ever witnessed. It makes my own collection look like pussy shit. Uh, my ego is bruising as we speak.

Then the earth split in half, and formed back together, again, as the owner, whom I’ve previosly mentioned, slid from its’ iconic jacket, the holy grail of vinyl recordings: Rumours. Yes, the same Rumours, that, when we die, and one day, aliens of the future, that are green, and speaking a language similar to the Sponge Bob episode where him and Patrick Star are lost “downtown”, will dig up our bones, and this record…throw the bones back in the ground, and cry of happiness, for they just hit the musical jackpot, and will probably be rewarded such a treasure of a finding with a holiday, because it’s Fleetwood Mac.

It’s Stevie Nicks, and Lindsay Buckingham. It’s Mick Fleetwood. It’s perfection. It’s a completely ridiculous, hypothetical tale, but it’s that good, and you know it. I am cyber bitch slapping you, any of you, that are shaking there heads in disagreement, right now. Rude.

Anyways, like so many of your favorite music writer’s (by your favorite, i mean me, myself..and I…Madi, duh) succesful nights of the past, epic renditions to the tune of the orignal recording ensued; and, well, I must say, for dog shit on his face, Jame’s roommate had an impressive and expansive knowledge for the band in question: as for the dog shit? Well, he doesn’t know, because I doubt he reads this homage to mustaches and scruff alike, but Ethan forgot to shave…I think? at least it seemed like the best rebuttle to his (obviously stemming from jealousy he didn’t have his own) slams against my sparkles.

Sorry, for the side note, and the exclusion of the other remaining parties present at the time: they weren’t so bad themselves, at least in the realm of Fleetwood Mac…and stuff, that is. From that, I concluded, that maybe it’s about time to show up with that slice of pizza, and bottle of vodka, I owe my pending polaroid friend, and well, maybe it’s about time.

Oh, and Dog shit aside, I’ve got to admit, I can make some pretty great facial expressions from across the library…cough cough: I guess, what I mean is, I want these kids, to be my guys, because I’ve got a new piece of glass resembling a pink lava lamp, and it needs more attention, from the right kind of people, from the sass class ass…bass, from the person who owes me a game of backgammon. I want to have so much fun that I’m never going back (to a lame party, at least) again…

- Madi 

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  • 280 Plays
  • I Just Want to Make Love to YouFoghat

I Just Want To Make Love To You 

- Foghat

My dad first showed me, like every other group I worship from the 1960’s and ‘70’s, Foghat. They’re one of those incredibly talented, but devastatingly under rated groups to come out of their time. Foghat, unbeknownst to your average rock n’ roll “fan”, has a slew of flawless hits, that from experience, I’ve found people tend to associate with other bands. On the contrary, Foghat brought us classics such as Maybelline, Slow Ride, and Fool for The City (to name a few). Last night, however, I was talking to my friend Nate, who is fortunate enough to have Foghat on Vinyl (I’ve yet to be the proud owner of said record…one day…sigh). More importantly, he told me something that I couldn’t agree with more: the track “I Just Want To Make Love To You” is one of the sexiest songs in existence. When he told me this, I paused for a second, and well…although I tried to find a “sexier” song, in the archives of music I keep in the back of my head: I couldn’t, for the first time, in a while, offer some witty Madi counter argument. So, this song is to remind all you readers out there that Foghat is a group, that we should all give more credit to. This post is also dedicated to Nate, for reminding me of how sexy, this track, truly is: thanks Nate, and well, thanks to my dad, too.

“I can tell by the way that you baby talk, I can see by the way that you switch and walk…”

- Madi 

  • 109 Plays
  • Glitters Like GoldThe Cribs

Glitters Like Gold

- The Cribs

I popped over to my favorite record shop earlier today to grab some 7”s (got some great Bowie today) and figured I may as well grab a copy of the new Cribs record “In The Belly of The Brazen Bull” and I must say, it’s a brilliant record. 

I’ve been excited for this record ever since singles, “Chi-Town” and “Come On, Be A No-One” came out and seeing them live in Boston a month or so back didn’t help to calm that fire. It’s their first record since the departure of Johnny Marr last year and their first as a three-piece since 2007’s “Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever”, and it’s clear that these Wakefield lads haven’t forgotten what Marr taught them. Their signature garage thrash is all over this record, with mountains of feedback and epic guitar solos aplenty, but their is a softness and honesty present that wasn’t on their earlier material. 2009’s “Ignore the Ignorant” showed the band could be soft and melodic but, for the most part, lacked the loudness and fury of previous records and “In The Belly of The Brazen Bull” is a perfect marriage of those two sounds.

Tracks like opener “Glitters Like Gold” (listen to it above) have that classic Cribs sound, albeit a bit more theatrical, but tracks like “Anna” and “Back to the Bolthole” are all together new sounds for the Cribs, and it’s on these softer tracks that this album really shines. Lamenting, a little self-loathing, and barebones, these tracks are just brilliant. There’s even acoustic guitar on “I Should Have Helped”, a brave move for a band like the Cribs, but one that works and really pays off. All in all, it’s a great record and a must have for new and old Cribs fans alike. 

As a believer in vinyl being the superior format, I must compliment the fantastic packaging job for this record. Good quality casing, and a really cool etching on the D-Side of the record. And it came with a transparent purple 7” of Chi-Town as a little bonus. Pretty sweet. Go buy it now. NOW!!!

 - Sam

Yes, I am once again raving about TOY. I can’t help it. They are too good. So if you are on the TOY bandwagon I think you’ll appreciate this brand new song entitled “When I Went Back”!

Recorded for the TopmanCTRL sessions, “When I Went Back” is the B-Side to new single “Motoring” (reviewed earlier on this very blog) and I must say, it is absolutely smashing. It’s got a really chill vibe to it, a sound that TOY haven’t really explored much. Heavy on the synths with an almost lounge/soft jazz feel to it. Quite bizarre really, but I know I’m digging it. A physical release is set for April 23rd in the form of a 7”. As with TOY’s previous work it will be released on Heavenly Recordings. Be sure to grab a copy before they sell out.

- Sam

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