Ah, Record Store Day! When all things vinyl are sought after on near fanatical levels, by people ranging from aficionados to merely the curious. Where one might walk in with next to no knowledge, and just by being in the room and being a keen listener, might glean enough knowledge from just passing conversations to be considered a pro.
The “holiday” itself was fairly recent, as it was conceived by a wounded industry reeling from the recent download craze. They had to do something, and very quickly, to justify their existence in a fast-becoming-online-only world. And so, record companies, record store owners, and other people “in the know”, got together in 2006 and came up with an international holiday that would allow all things pressed an dround to be fought over by the unwashed masses! It is a beautiful and scary thing to behold in person: the hipsters, frat/sororities, the flower children of now, the dazed newcomer, all clamoring to find those could-be rarities, or that last album that completes their esoteric, personal collections. Or maybe a mint Rick Astley record. Don’t look at me like that….
Moving on! Everyone and their first grade teacher is there, searching, hoping, and jostling for that sought after black gold. And this year, the author came away with some RSDO (Record Store Day Only) editions to peacock over:
MACHINE HEAD- KILLER & KINGS DEMO
This was a really cool find, as it came in 4(!!!) different album covers, on blood red vinyl. My copy was the Devil, which is amazingly intricate and perfectly captured in the tarot style.
The record itself is really great, with the demo version of the new hit “Killers and Kings”. Its a ripping song, with all the verve and vigor that MH is known for! Th eB Side is an Ignite cover of “Our Darkest Days / Bleeding”. The cover is, again, absolutely up to code with what they have done in the past, so its going to absolutely get turned over and played again. And again. And again.
PRONG- TURNOVER
Another awesome band thats been around a couple times, Prong has released another buster of a record on a really cool, subtle green splatter vinyl. The A Side is “Turnover“, and it really doesn’t mean the record. It’s thrashy, catchy, and very Victor on the vox! Loved it the minute I popped it on. B Side is an industrial remix of “Best Served Cold“, and its a slowed down, machinated version of the newer song. It’s probably not for everyone, and sounds kind of Nine Inch Nails. Still fun to listen to even if that’s not your thing.
JUNGLE ROT- KILL ON COMMAND
Death metalheads unite! THis is a slightly not-really-new release, but the RSDO is a very good thing to have in ones collection! The vinyl itself is a very cool orange, black, white splatter marble, and the sound quality is grindingly brutal. These guys are war-mongers, and they take very little time getting to the brutality of it all. This is pure death metal, and they wield it like a fiery sledghammer made of barbed wire. Love the album, the orange vinyl just cements it for me.
Honorable Mentions:
I did take part in the Used Vinyl offerings, as they were half off, and got TURBO BY JUDAS PRIEST, TEJAS and FANDANGO BY ZZ TOP, a KEEL album, and HEADHUNTER BY KROKUS. my friend also snagged a SIMON AND GARFUNKEL, but he isn’t writing this so no more will be spoken about him.
