I've had this one sitting around for over 2 months, still in its wrap and begging to be unboxed and spun. Today's the day! One of the more expensive records I've ever bought, I'm not even going to say how much. But damn it sounds great. I've never been a huge jungle fan, but there's just something about this album. It just "gets me". Looking forward to getting to all the bonus material here as well, but for now I'm really enjoying the OG version. It sounds very fresh to my ears, and surprisingly good and bassy on my less-than-hifi system.

First spin since just getting it about a month ago. Nice droney organ jams for my lazy Sunday.

Ew "organ jams"...

Ambient bangers by Bing & Ruth.

I'm in a corny kind of mood, I guess 🤷‍♂️

One last spin before we head out to the desert! The best album by them, in my humble opinion. They started off almost a little TOO experimental, then got a little too corny as they approached the 80s. This album sits firmly in the sweet spot.

If I were to listen to this properly, I should be tripping balls right now, but as it stands I still have some errands and driving to do. So, a little micro dose of shroom will have to do. And it does! Lovely album, it's been awhile since I've listened to it.

Last Saturday, I met up with my old pal Craig Danger in South Park for lunch and record shopping. We had lunch at the Station. I had the turkey burger and an unsweeteded iced tea- no beer. I gave up alcohol (for a year) for New Years, and I'm watching my weight and cholesterol. Craig Danger ordered something decedent like a greasy cheeseburger with a fried egg in it, the bastard.

We then proceeded to Vinyl Junkies for the digging, focusing almost entire on their "Digger's Den". I was determined to come away with a much reduced pull this time- capping at around $50 instead of my usual $100. Just been spending too much lately generally. Besides, I'm starting to run out of room for these records, and I have a huge backlog of unlistened-to stuff at this point. Anyways, I did pretty well- kept it to 7 records and comfortably under $50.

But then we stopped at The Reverie Room and I blew my cap on a $35 reissue of Tangerine Dream's "Phaedra". Oh, well. I still kept it all under $100 AND I picked up one of my favorite albums of all time. I'm calling it a win!

Up too early again, so I felt like spinning something low key to avoid waking my wife. I decided on one of my Environments albums that I haven't listened to yet. I've been very curious about Environments 11 since I bought it, though I imagined I would go in order, and so have a few to get through.

But na, I'm too curious. I mean look at that album cover. What were they thinking? I imagine that they probably running out of ideas and/or money by album #11, so they hired some seedy marketing guy to come in and sexy up their brand. Hilarious!

As for the content... I tried starting properly on Side A with "Alpine Blizzard", but had to stop it after about a minute. Turns out that I don't find ghostly, howling wind to be very low key and comforting. Quite the opposite, actually. So Side B's "Country Thunderstorm" it is. For whatever reason, I DO find the sound of thunder calming. Maybe it's nostalgia. It's doing the trick right now.

I will say though that "Country Thunderstorm" is not very novel. I haven't listened to the entire series yet, but I'm pretty sure that that thunderstorms have featured in two or more past albums. Maybe I'm being unfair. I mean, how original can you really get with this concept, especially by the 11th album? They tried something "new" with "Alpine Blizzard" and failed, so "Country Thunderstorm" is the safe choice that saves the album.

Not to disrespect the Environment series. I think it's brilliant as a whole, and I love digging into them again after all these years. But Environments 11? Not so great. But hey, it was cheap and I got a laugh at the sexy cover. Win win!

Okay, not exactly/strictly Irish in celebration of St. Patty's Day, but it's close, right? And anyways. I've just been on a huge Steeleye Span bender these days that just happens to coincide with this holiday. I just pulled this from the Vinyl Junkies "Digger's Den" for $5 last Saturday, and I was eager to give it a spin. I'd heard it before on streaming, and didn't like it much then (compared to their earlier stuff). But now, I'm finding it very good indeed. Indeed!

Last night while laying in bed unable to sleep, I got it in my head to play this album today. I haven't listened to it in a long time. My go-to Beatles album is and has always been Magical Mystery Tour, almost to the exclusion of anything else (yes, even that "Peppers" album). So here we are, and it's great. I've always been a little down on their later period, but I think I'm finally warming up to it in my old age.

I still think that early "Love Me Do" shit can go take a hike, however. 😜

I forgot that it had this cool lyrics sheet with the photo collage. At some point a few years ago, I took all the 8x10 portraits of them that used to be in here, and framed them. Sadly, they are just stacked in my closet at the moment- I took them down to play around with projecting visuals on my office wall. That project died a slow death- I really should put those back up.

Ok the one thing I hate about listening to albums in this modern era- the need to turn those fuckers over after each side. I miss the old players where you could stack them up and the player would drop them one-by-one. I imagine if I found one of those in the wild now, they'd probably cost a fortune.

Anyways... time to get up and flip the record over. I could use the exercise, anyway...

Finally broke out my newly ordered 2025 remaster of Seminal Live by The Fall. Always been one of my favorites by them, in spite of its many detractors (and even from the band itself haha). It sounds better than ever, and was in bad need of a remaster, really- always seemed to be recorded too low.

Every once in a blue moon I bust out a bit of classical music. I got this for $2 at M Theory last month, and am just now getting around to listening to it. It's fine so far. I suppose I was expecting something more modern/experimental. I don't know why, given the subject matter 😂. But it's not bad, I like it well enough.

Minstrel In The Gallery was good, but of course it made me want to play this one. A classic!

Up too early again. Might as well keep on the 70s folk rock vibe. I've always loved The Tull but never strayed far from Aqualung. To help correct that, I picked this up from the Digger's Den at Vinyl Junkies in South Park a while back. Only now getting around to spinning it. Digging it so far!

Keeping the Steeleye spanning. This album is definitely more heavily produced than previous albums- a little more rockin' and a little less folkin'. But I'm still digging it so far.

Love me some Steeleye Span! This is their 3rd album, I believe. I've been slowly collecting them all, I have I think 4 of their early albums. I've spot checked some of their later stuff, and I'm not as taken with that. Maybe it'll grow on me, though.