King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King Review

Definitely an interesting album.  Any album that has a Mellotron is usually pretty cool.  This is a concept album released in 1969.  This album is widely thought of as the start of the progressive rock genre.  It is a great album and very listenable all the way through.  I am sure if you listen to it a few times in a row it would be even better.  The cool thing about the album is that you can hear it transitioning from psychedelic rock to prog rock as the album goes on.  You should most definitely have this in your collection if you enjoy prog rock or just interesting music.  

Hounds - Puttin' On The Dog Review

Released in 1979.  This is your typical hard rock / classic rock album from that era.  There is a slight difference though.  Every song sounds a bit different, which is very hard to find on an album from that time.  There are a few covers on the album, Do Wah Diddy, and Under My Thumb.  The Under My Thumb cover is pretty funny because I think the lead singer is trying to make fun of Mick Jagger by singing just like him yet way over the top.  A decent album overall with a few synthesizers mixed in from time to time.  I would recommend checking this one out if you like music from the late 70's that isn't mainstream sounding. 

Glass Moon - Sympathetic Vibration Review

Released in 1984.  This is a British new wave / pop rock band that is a cross between Duran Duran and the Police.  Not a terrible album, but not a great one either.  Something different to listen to if you are in to this kind of music.  There are a few good cuts on the album but nothing special.  The entire album in a whole is just OK. 

The Woodentops - Well Well Well Review

Released in 1986.  This band is like a new wave / alternative / pop band.  Pretty decent record overall.  Side one starts off really rocky and upbeat for the first 3 songs and then the entire rest of the album is weird and dark sounding.  I recommend picking this album up if you want to hear something different.

Dire Straits - Dire Straits Review

Their debut album released in 1978.  One of my favorite bands, but not my favorite album by them.  A great album for a debut, and completely, entirely listenable.  Obviously, track one on side 2, the single, Sultans of Swing is one of their hits and is great.  The guitar is very clean, tube audio sounding, and the vocals and everything else is awesome.  I don't think I ever realized until today that they are a British band.  They certainly don't sound like anything else that came out of England in the late 70's.  Pick this one up for sure.  It belongs in your collection!

Rex - Rex Review

Not to be confused with T.Rex.  This band is mediocre at best.  I can't find a good cut on the entire album.  Horrible and worse than Kiss.  It pretty much sounds all the same.  It is not something that is even remotely listenable.  The lead singer might have a good voice if he wasn't pushing it to limits that make him sound laughable.  Avoid this crap at all costs unless you enjoy crap.  Being removed from my collection as I type this. 

Blues Magoos - Psychedelic Lollipop Review

I picked this album up a few years ago at a thrift store.  I had no idea what it was at the time.  I often will pick up albums for a quarter and take a chance on them.  This album came out in 1966 and is one of the few monaural albums I own.  It is a pretty decent album.  I guess it was considered psychedelic rock but it sounds more like the Monkees mixed with a surfer band.  Lots of organ and clean drumming.  Not really my cup of tea but something different to listen to from time to time.  Definitely worth picking up if you like this genre of music.  Just keep in mind, this is more garage sounding, not Pink Floyd or Spirit.  

ZZ Top - Eliminator Review

Obviously a classic for songs such as "Legs", "Sharp Dressed Man", and "Gimmie All Your Lovin".  I recommend "TV Dinners" off side two.  Awesome song, you will not be disappointed.  The album is great all the way through.  Definitely a classic blues rock album.  A must have for your collection.

Jefferson Starship - Spitfire Review

This is their 3rd album and I have mixed feelings about it.  Released in 1976, it is a mix of rock and disco.  The rock element of the record is about 60 percent and the disco 40 percent.  It is not a bad album in my opinion but it is not great.  The guitar is awesome, the vocals are good, and everything else is just mediocre.  I usually like albums from this time period but I am just not feeling this one.  Maybe I will give it another listen in a few months and see if it is better?

Golden Earring - To The Hilt Review

Simply put, I do not like this album.  I couldn't find a decent song on it.  Quite frankly, it sounds like shitty disco to me.  Every time it starts to get kind of heavy and rock sounding, it switches to shitty disco sounding crap.  I am actually taking this album out of my collection.  It's horrible, stay away from it.

Petra - Never Say Die Review

Released in 1981.  A christian rock group that is very similar sounding to REO Speedwagon.  Not a great album but there are a few good songs on it.  It is kind of all over the place musically.  It is not really a record that I would listen to over and over again.  My favorite cut on the album is track 2 on side 1, Chameleon.  Not very much to say about the album really, kind of mediocre.

Pink Floyd - The Final Cut Review

Simply put, I don't not like this album.  I am a huge Pink Floyd fan but just can't get into this.  It is basically The Wall part 2.  Released in 1983, it is a post war concept album dreamed up by Roger Waters.  The main problem with this record is that it seems all Roger Waters.  The rest of the band is there somewhere in the background playing very tidy instruments for Mr. Waters.  There is no musical feeling to the album save for Roger Waters belting out verse after verse of war hate.  I can see why the other members decided to leave after this.  It really did not seem like a collaborative effort.  Very repetitive and generic to me, but a must own because it is Pink Floyd.  It will stay on thee shelf for awhile.  I will more than likely revisit it in the future.  Maybe I will like it then?

Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin Review

Their first album released in 1969 remains one of their best.  Not a bad cut on this album.  Every song is great.  They definitely had a unique sound for the time and were a well gelled band for sure.  Robert Plant has that unmistakable voice and Jimmy Page is awesome on the guitar of course.  John Paul Jones is superb on bass and the organ, and John Bonham plays a nice clean sounding drums.  This album is a must have for anybody's collection because you will listen to it over and over again.  It never gets stale and is always kick ass sounding.  It is hard to pick a favorite cut on this record because they all all great.  I am going to go with Dazed And Confused for my favorite.  The last song on side one.  Check it out!    

Pink Floyd - The Endless River Review

In the words of Jeff Lebowski, "Far fucking out man."  This album is pretty awesome even if you are not a Pink Floyd fan, I think you would have to appreciate this.  Recorded in 1993 and released on 10/11/2014.  Contains 3 members of the group (no Roger Waters).  Double album and it comes with a full size 16 page glossy containing pics of the original 1993 sessions.  It also comes with a digital download coupon.   The album is all instrumental sans the last song which has a few verses.  The whole flow of the album is quintessential Pink Floyd as you would expect.  It sounds a lot like Momentary Lapse of Reason meets the Division Bell.  It's no DSOTM, it's some next, next, next, next gen PF music.  It is very listenable at anytime and I highly recommend that you pick it up and give it a listen.  Just don't expect it to be rocking out or even heavy sounding, it's very mellow Floyd.  Pick it up on Vinyl, of course! 

Depeche Mode - Ultra Review

Released in 1997.  I have the the 2007 Re-Issue Vinyl.  Hands down the best Depeche Mode album ever.  People will argue and say that 80's Depeche Mode is better but this album is awesome!  It has the perfect balance of new and old style DM.  Excellent to listen to all the way through.  Even if you are not a Depeche Mode fan, I recommend giving this one a listen.  A lot of the songs that you thought were older songs are actually on this album.  I will say that this Depeche Mode album is a lot more "electronic" sounding than any of their others.  "Sister Of Night" is my favorite cut on the album.

Journey - Escape Review

 

Released in 1981.  Everybody knows "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Open Arms".  Side one is more or less the poppy radio side of the album and side 2 is more the rockin' side.  Pretty good album overall and definitely a decent listen all the way through.  Journey at its peak for sure.  Steve Perry's vocals are amazing as always and it almost hurts the record because he kind of takes away from everything else.  A good cut to listen to on this album that many people probably never heard is "Stone In Love".  I am always looking for hidden concept albums because I am weird (and I have a theory that there are a ton of concept albums out there and people just don't realize that they are, or they were by accident), this one almost works as a concept through the first side and then sharply falls off.  I think all of Journey's albums together make a big conceptual piece though.  I am getting way to deep on Journey here.  Overall a pretty decent record.  Pick it up for Steve Perry's killer vocals and Ross Valory's excellent bass riffs. 

My Equipment

I had a few people ask me what I use to listen to vinyl on.  I think I have a pretty awesome setup and I got really lucky piecing it together because it contains some expensive components.  Here it is:

Sony STR-D511 Stereo Receiver.  55 Watts per channel RMS
Philips 212 Electronic Belt Driven Turntable with touch sensitive controls
ADC XLM MKII Cartridge and Stylus
Klipsch KG5 Speakers with built in crossovers

Here is how I acquired it:

Sony Receiver - No big deal, they are cheap.  However, as a testament to Sony products, I purchased this receiver brand new in 1993 and has many hours on it.  Works great.

Philips 212 Turntable and ADC XLM MKII cartridge and stylus - Picked up at Salvation Army Thrift Store for $25.  Yes, an awesome find considering the turntable ranges from about $100-$200 depending on condition and the cartridge and stylus about $250.  I just recently repaired the turntable because the touch sensitive control was not working.  It was a pretty easy fix, I located the schematic online, studied it and found the potentiometers that control the TS controls and turned them up.  I also recently spent $20 on a new stylus.  The turntable sounds awesome!  Another thing to note is that the ADC XLM MKII cartridge and elliptical stylus are one of three carts and styli that are considered to be reference quality.

Klipsch KG5 Speakers - Picked up at Goodwill for $15 for the pair.  Another awesome deal considering that these speakers go for about $65-130 a pair used.  They were $400 each when they came out.  They are widely used in movie theaters for surround sound.

That is my equipment.  I gues I could get a better receiver but would I really notice the difference?  I am very happy with this setup and it sounds awesome!

Lawrence Welk - Calcutta Review

Great album!  I believe it came out in 1960.  Featuring Frank Scott on the harpsichord.  Solid album all the way through and very listenable.  The quality of the recording is superb for its time and definitely a great instrumental album.  The harpsichord is strong throughout the album and it adds character and strangeness to the record.  The female background singers harmonies and "vocals" adds an eerie but good sound to the entire album.  Beautifully arranged and well written.  Albums like this are a lost art and I am happy to have it in my collection.  I recommend this album to anyone, even if you don't typically like instrumental music.  It has that tropical island, no cares in the world kind of feel to it.  I am looking forward to breaking this one out this summer and sitting outside in the shade with the portable record player and a cold drink.   

Rush - Hold Your Fire Review

I am a huge Rush fan so I will try and write an unbiased review.  Released in 1987 and not a very popular Rush album.  This album is definitely only going to be appreciated by a "Rush Head".  It is more of a soft rock album and not hard rock.  I happen to like the style of Rush on this LP while most would probably wonder why they went this direction.  As Rush is always a constant musically evolving band over the last 40 years, this album proves that theory.  I always joke that this is a shopping album meaning that you could easily hear any song on this album on the overhead speakers at the grocery store and not realize it was Rush.  Rush is way too cool for that though, right?  I like every cut on the record except the last 2 songs, "Tai Shan" and "High Water".  I have never been able to get into them even after 25 years of being a "Rush Head".  The LP overall is great though and I recommend it for anyone's collection as it is truly a Rush stepping stone LP.  Side 1 is the stronger side for sure.