The Record Collector, Part II

(Second in the series. Next up, Repo Records, also on South Street.)

Since I really began paying attention to what I was getting myself into, I recall Repo being one of my favorite record stores to frequent. Back in high school I was mightily into pop-punk and Repo was my mecca offering me the entire catalogue from every small punk band in Orange County. The music playing was always punk, usually some riotous NYCHC or ’79 influenced kids that couldn’t play. I bought plenty an album from here from All to Agent Orange to the Ataris’ EP on Fat Wreck (not that bad!). Of course, over time, as happens with many others, my tastes gradually evolved to still like the noisy and obnoxious (albeit, punk’s structures got tiresome so developed noise took its place), but also embrace the soft and delightful. In short, I fell in love with the Dismemberment Plan my senior year in high school, became a DJ my freshman year for my college’s radio station and began my pretentious journey into the world of indie rock and its surrounding sub-headings.

I’ve continually visited Repo throughout my years of high school, college, and beyond, and a strange thing has happened. Repo has almost followed my musical maturation (or I followed its?). Gone is the punk rock on the store’s monitors and, in its place, today’s NOW That’s What I Call Indie. The punks that frequented the store must have grown up and realized the genre’s limitations and the store has adapted to the change.

Although the records they play are different, the actual store hasn’t changed that much. The punk racks are still in the front of the store, but pared down to only one rather than two. The other CD rack is indie/rock/avant/everything else. Move to the back and you’ll see the vinyl racks, which are relatively new and generously expanded. They’ve got tons of new and used records, way too much to wade through without a spare hour, but they do have some wonderful finds. Repo is a great place to look for something that Spaceboy doesn’t have. It’s also deceptive in its size, consisting of only two 15’x15’ rooms they pack a ton of LPs, CDs and 7” in there.

Repo’s staff is probably one of the best I’ve ever encountered. Rather than act stuffy and snobby about the music they sell, they generally seem excited to share with you the music that they love. I recall the summer I got my record player I picked up Godspeed You Black Emperor’s Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven. The clerk, a young indie girl, proceeded to share with me some records I might like if I like that one. In all of my years of going to record stores, this was the only time a store clerk went out of their way, without me asking, to recommend some music to me and walk out behind their bench to show me where it was located and talk about what it sounded like. Must be that punk rock inclusive spirit, rather than the indie exclusivity. (Also, funny aside: I had eaten a fried-onion cheesesteak earlier which made me beef and it stunk up the whole store. I was the only customer in there. Fucking embarrassing.)

Repo’s main flaw is its new music section. You have to actually ask for the record you want, if it’s new. This is a terrible idea for the impulse buyer, such as myself. I can’t always remember which new records are currently available. They don’t put them in plain view and they don’t put them with the other, older records. Change that, if anything.

Obviously, I’ve got a lot of memories tied to Repo Records, but for good reason. For all its dilapidated features inside and out, the punk rock spirit and indie record selection make for a great shop. The store has grown with a trajectory similar to my tastes and I’m sure the shitty green awning hiding on South Street will continue to make chills run down my spine. Oh the possibilities!

What I bought:

- Can: Monster Movie
- John Fahey: John Fahey Plays Blind Joe Death LP
- Man or Astroman? 7”
- The Locust 7”

Swedish Meatballs

Listening to Dungen’s Ta Det Lungt, it’s immediately evident that what we’re dealing with here isn’t the new psychedelic faction issuing yet another disc of overlong drone mind-melts, but the old world order. Psychedelic music’s recent incarnation has fashioned psych as a body music, which is strange. Think of it, the most outwardly, not to mention druggy, psychedelic bands today (Animal Collective, Sunn O))), Acid Mothers Temple, for example) use drone and music that foregoes and sometimes overloads the ears to become a viscerally physical thing. Of the three, AC remain more song oriented, but one listen to Here Comes the Indian and you’ll hear what I mean – digital washes make the hair stand up on your body. Even the oscillating acoustic guitars on Sung Tongs are hit rather than strummed or in constant crescendo/diminuendo pairings. Point is, volume and sound can be cerebrally disorienting and become wholly physical.

Dungen, on the other hand, use the old standard of mind-bending psychedelic experience, that may make them, dare I say, more capable. Where experimental psychheads use new methods to explore undeveloped terrains (sometimes to glorifying results), a band like Dungen and one of my favorites from last year, Comets on Fire, place more importance on technical prowess all while pushing the envelope of experimentation. Often times avant-garde and experimental psych music can seem aseptic, leaving emotion at the door in the void of experimentalism. On the flip side of that coin, retro leaning psych can seem contrived and boring.

The great thing about Dungen, is they never succumb to falling in a rut and not pushing boundaries. Their music is rarely if ever boring, only familiar through some of the melodies that seem to waft out of a bong from the late 60’s. There are the 8-9 minute guitar workouts, but the guitar is rarely aimless or stoned noodling, instead it’s unafraid to pounce and zoom. Perhaps the most psychedelic thing about Dungen, for better or worse, is that all of Gustav Ejstes’ vocals are delivered in his native Swedish. This creates the disorienting on top of the familiar. Its as if the music was written in English but the words are from another planet.

My only gripe, which is small, is the production. Ejstes and co. go for the 60’s sound and most of the time, the music sounds a bit thin and could be fleshed out to sound much fuller. But this is a small problem with an album that on the whole delivers music far outdistancing their experimental and retro peers. Dungen have given us an album for the ages – avant enough to be interesting yet unafraid to adorn their work with the brushstrokes of masters of their art.

The Record Collector, Part I

(As I mentioned earlier, I will attempt a series of posts about record stores in the Philadelphia area. First up, Spaceboy Music.)

Spaceboy had to regretfully move its shelves from its previous location at 409 South Street where it shared the renowned Zipperhead awning. The space, while bigger, distinctly lacks the previous store’s charm. The floors are now carpeted instead of wood, the walls are white instead of, well, not noticeable before. Also, and most importantly, the vinyl is in the same room as the CDs, unlike the other location which separated the vinyl from the used CDs from the new CDs. The new Spaceboy is at the corner of 7th and South, further away from the nexus of South Street – Jim’s Steaks.

Aside from all my nostalgia for the old location – ah, many a dollar spent there – the new spot still does have a wonderful selection of music. The newest and most popular records are still highly visible and right next to/behind the register. I love that they do this so you can look at what’s come out and easily find the new CDs that you came for. My only problem is that, usually, when you’re trying to read the records, the clerk is standing right there like a bonehead, staring uncomfortably at you while you glance from top to bottom. In my experience, eye contact with unsociable music dorks sucks. And, yes, nearly all music folk are reclusive, as the consumption of “high-art”/indie music is a singular and unsocial thing – I’ve never seen anyone signing along to an Acid Mothers Temple record.

Located around the walls of the store is the newest vinyl (and other CDs) that they’ve gotten in, which is usually some pretty great stuff. They always have a 6-7 new Soul Jazz records, typically compiling old soul, blues, funk, reggae and jazz music into beautiful packaging very well worth the sometimes ridiculous prices. Most of the names you see are a who’s who of record collector panty wetters – anyone from Sightings to Iggy Pop to My Bloody Valentine to Lightning Bolt. Lately, Spaceboy has featured an increased number of psychedelic and noise records, which, not coincidentally, fall in line with most of my recent record purchases and plays.
While new releases or new reissues are displayed on wall racks, most old records and back catalogues of artists are relegated to the racks bordering the store. CDs are listed alphabetically by rock (guitar-based or more standard instrumentation), hip-hop, electronic, and used. Vinyl is stuck on an island in the center of the store and is difficult and extremely exhausting to look at, categorized by used and new vinyl.

Record shopping is an exhausting affair and the way the records are set up at Spaceboy allows you to minimize your time spent in the store. Most people are looking for new stuff and therefore ask the clerk, who will snag it off the wall. For those of us looking to make an experience of it, it does take a while trying to find the right thing and vinyl is particularly bad, as bands with “M” names (and all letters) are all just thrown together -- there is no seperation for artist by name.

Lastly, the clerks at Spaceboy, although awkward and snobby, are very knowledgeable. Ask them about the Pissed Jeans record and they’ll probably know what it sounds like, giving you a few reference points (Black Flag, Scratch Acid, Flipper were what I got) and a “it’s good” or “cool”. If they don’t like the record, you risk being a tourist and they will absolutely try to make you feel that way. I personally have no time for this elitism, particularly when it is with strangers. Even moreso, you are a representative of your business, Spaceboy records – don’t scoff at me for liking a certain thing. Of course, this has never happened to me as my tastes are impeccable.

Overall, Spaceboy is a great store. You can find most anything here that you’d want to find, minus the super-obscure stuff which is either sold out or at Mondo Kim’s in NYC. I’d recommend this place to anyone for its convienence of location and selection, but just avoid the occasional jerk-off record store guy.

What I bought:

- Menomena: “Posh Isolation” b/w “Tung Track” (7”)
- The Psychic Paramount: S/T
- The Poster Children: No More Songs About Sleep and Fire
- Dungen: Ta Det Lungt
- The Secret Machines: The Road Leads Where It’s Led
- Gang Gang Dance: God’s Money

Website

I don't know who this guy is, I didn't read far enough to figure out what happened, but this is simultaneously the funniest and saddest blog I've ever read. Click: http://nemoming.blogspot.com/

He calls himself "Dying Fish AKA Fish That Can't Swim". Wow -- that girl must have been something else.

All Apologies

Hi!

This summer has most likely been a boring event for most of you GoldSound readers. (All 3 of you -- Hi Christine!) I don't know why I've been so slack at the posting thing, but I can't seem to get into it. I've been busy, but not so busy that I can't write.

I really do hope that things are going to pick up. I'd like for people to read this. Unfortunately for me, there really isn't a dearth of hipster music sites for people to wander to when this one isn't up and running. Therefore, rather than try to be snide, snobby and a shabby pitchforkmedia-lite, I'll attempt to do my best at reviewing the music and scenes that I love in an energetic, positive and interesting tone. If I backslide, you can all keep me in the know.

Up soon:

• Review different independent music stores in the city of Philadelphia and its surrounding area. (This will most likely be ongoing since I can't take the time, or money, to look at records in 5 different locales.)
• Go to a concert and review that shit. Sorry, I wanted to review the Wilco show but it's too long gone in my head.
• Review the Sufjan album. (Probably won't get to this soon -- save this for the end-of-the-year wrap.)
• Buy new records and review them.

Since I am indisposed at the moment, here's some things I listened to and liked in the past few weeks:

• The Fucking Champs: III
• Devendra Banhart: Rejoicing In the Hands
• The Faces' "Ooh La La"
• The Dismemberment Plan's "The City"

Also, plan on a sexy site design if I can figure it out. At least some links up in this jawhn.