Ep. 19 – Amazing Sale! – July 29th, 2008

I went to Blast in the Past today and it ended up being one of the best hunts yet!  I was going to go to record time but i decided to go to Blast in the Past to see if Joe, the owner, could use an Alabama album i had lying around.  He said no… but i figured as much.  So i browsed the CD’s and found one i had been looking for.  But then he told me about a huge blowout sidewalk sale he is having this weekend.  He said that any vinyl in the store under $10 was only $1 and any vinyl above that was 50%.  He even said he would give me the sale price today!

“Pop” – U2

I ruckus-ed this album two years ago when i read Mark Salomon’s book “Simplicity.”  He mentioned that he listened to this album a lot during a particular part of stavesacre’s early touring days…  it got me interested in this album by a band i already liked.  Pop is a different kind of U2 album.  Released in 1997 this album has quite a different sound from earlier U2 albums.  It’s dark and heavy with synthesizer and driving drum machine beats.  It is a hard album to interperet lyrically.  I believe it has some of the most blatantly christian messages to some of the songs (most sound like prayer to God in times of darkness) but it also the only album that i know of that U2 swears on… in the song “Wake Up, Dead Man” which is steeped in religious overtones the opening lines state:

Jesus, Jesus help me
I’m alone in this world
And a f*cked up world it is too

I thoroughly enjoy this album even though some hardcore U2 fans do not like it because it is so different from other U2…  I think it’s worth a try though.  Got it on CD.  Price Paid: $6

The rest of the albums i found today were all Vinyls because i couldn’t pass them up for $1 a piece.

“Monolith” – Kansas

This is a 1970’s Kansas release before major member changes.  I think it is before Kerry Livgreen’s conversion to Christ and John Elefante’s joining the band but i am not sure.  I haven’t listened to it yet but it has a pretty sweet cover!  Space Indians!  Price Paid: $1

“Point of Know Return” – Kansas

I have this on CD already and it is one of my favorite progressive rock albums.  Saw it and decided to snag it.  Price Paid: $1

“Desperate Measures” – Kansas

This is one of Kansas’ releases post Kerry Livgreen’s conversion and post John Elefante’s joining the band.  I haven’t listened to it yet but i am sure it is great lyrically, hopefully i like the music.  The cover is amusing.  Price Paid: $1

“Rattle and Hum” – U2

Double Live LP with Bob Dylan and The Beatles covers plus many amazing U2 songs!  How could i pass it up!  Price Paid: $1

“War” – U2

Have this on CD.  It is my favorite U2 album.  I was so happy to find it on Vinyl and for a buck!  Price Paid: $1

“2112″ – Rush

I also found another great album by one of my other favorite progressive rock bands.  Great listen!  Price Paid: $1

Such an amazing haul today and it isn’t even the sale yet.  I’m going back this weekend to see what else i can find!

Albums that Stir Up Memories of Past Relationships

I mentioned in my post “A little more about the mission…” that i believe music is closely related to memory.  I was thinking the other day about how certain albums in my collection remind me of past relationships and i thought i would share them with you (within reason, this is the Internet so I’m not gonna get too personal…)

• 1. Christina —— Albums: Cries of the Past by Underoath and The Changing of Times by Underoath.

Christina was my first girlfriend.  We dated for a few months late freshman year, or perhaps the summer after freshman year.  These two albums in particular bring up memories of that period of my life.

This was a really weird time in my life.  I had just transferred from christian middle school to a public high school.  My closest friends were my friend Tim from my church youth group and my friend Kevin from my old school.  Kevin and his older brother introduced me to underoath and i really got into them and that kind of heavy music at the time.  Then in high school i met my friend Andrew and he downloaded these to underoath albums and burned one for me and i had him burn me a mix for Christina.

• 2. Jamii —— Album: About a Burning Fire – Blindside

Jamii was my second girlfriend.  We dated from winter to spring of my sophomore year of high school.  During the previous year of high school Blindside had become my favorite band and I anxiously awaited the releases of this album for months, on that day in February when it finally came out i remember Jamii’s Dad driving me and her to Best Buy so that i could get the album.  Later that year i used the song “Eye of the Storm” off this album to make the first video i ever produced myself.  That year of my life was the one that set the course for what i would later choose as a career.  I was in a Mass Media class in which we produced three videos, a commercial, a fake news segment, and a music video.  I used the blindside song as the song for my music video and had my friends Matt, Clare, Tim and Josh act in it for me.  For my first production ever i thought it turned out really good.   Anyway, that class sparked an interest in me.  The next year i signed up for a class in which we would put on the news for the school everyday via video production.  i took that class for the next two years and i think it was what i enjoyed most about high school.  When i had to try and pick a major for college, TV production sounded great because i would get to do the same stuff i enjoyed in high school for a living, and that’s how i ended up at Ferris State University.

• 3. Christine (not Christina — this is a different girl, lol.) —— Albums: I am Hollywood by He is Legend and Mmhmm by Relient K

Christine was my third girlfriend and my first semi-serious one.  She was a really sweet girl.  We dated for about 7 months during my junior year of high school.  These two albums remind me of that time because they both have to do with birthdays… hers and mine.  I got her mmhmm by Relient K for her birthday because Relient k was her favorite band at the time.  Then when it came time for my birthday she ordered I am Hollywood of the Internet for me because i couldn’t find it in any stores.

• 4. Katie —— Albums: Son, I Loved You at Your Darkest by As Cities Burn and How to Live With a Curse by Stavesacre

Katie was my fourth girlfriend but i consider her my first serious girlfriend.  We dated from the summer before my senior year of high school to the fall of my freshman year of college.  There are way to many albums that remind me of that year and three months of my life so i picked two that some things up well (again without getting too personal).  Son, I Loved You At Your Darkest came out that summer and i remember cruising around listening to it with her.  More specifically i remember listening to it as we drove to the place where i then asked her out.  Our youth group (well, my youth group at the time) was remodeling their building so they were having Wednesday night meetings at another church.  i asked her out in front of that church before a meeting one night.  I was kind of a big dork, but she said yes…  That was the beginning of our relationship.  The other album sums up not quite the end of the relationship but the point at which things started to go downhill.  Don’t get me wrong, i loved her until the day we broke up (may a bit longer…) but looking back now i can see where things started to go wrong.

Stavesacre’s album came out in may.  May was ugly in a lot of ways…  The first a can’t share with you but let’s just say that something big happened.  About a week before that happened i was hanging out with Katie and her  dog Echo got really sick.  She had to be put down.  I went with her and her family to the vet and was there with Katie holding Echo’s paw as they put her to sleep.  It was a very sad day and it is even now hard to think about.  I stayed with her as long as i could but she just wanted to spend the night with her family.  I was crushed that i could do nothing to comfort her.  That just happend to be the same day i had gone to Tree of Life, our local christian bookstore, to pick up my special order copy of Stavesacre’s new album.  I remember driving to youth group early, it was a wednesday, and sitting in my car and listening to the album a couple of times and thinking about that crappy day.  I think the music made me feel better…   That is a memory that still rears it’s head every once and awhile when i pop that album into my stereo but thankfully i can still enjoy that album.  It’s bittersweet.

Those are the albums that stir up memories of my past relationships… i hope that the only albums i add to this list will be the ones that remind me of my future wife.  After Katie i realized i had been going about dating kind of the wrong way and i made a commitment before God to take a break from dating until my junior year of college.  Well, that is quickly approaching but i am not going to dive back into the mode of always seeking someone to be my girlfriend.  i am only going to get into a relationship again after a lot of praying and hopefully that girl will be the one i spend the rest of my life with.

Ep. 18 – U2 Remasters – July 26th, 2008

Went to record time today to see if they would take a record off my hands.  I got an Alabama record from salvation army the other day for 50 cents because it was in good condition and i thought i would check it out.  I thought they might have a Mountain or Creedance Clearwater Revival sound and that would have been nice… no, it was straight up country… *shudder*  Well, they said that they probably couldn’t sell it so I’m stuck with it (Joe at Blast From the Past might take it… I’ll try their next…)  I did some browsing while i was there.

They have the new u2 remasters of Boy, October and War on vinyl.  They are $20 a piece though… i really want War on vinyl and maybe someday I’ll spring for it.  They also had the Joshua Tree on vinyl remastered but that was like $30… not sure why… it could be a little older, harder to find…  i looked through their new arrivals and even saw an original copy of Boy.  It was $25.  If only i could afford to drop that much on an album, that’d be awesome!  I did end up getting a CD and an album while i was there though:

“Boy” – U2

Haha, lots of U2 for me lately huh?  Someone must have traded in their old copy this week because this is the first time i’ve seen a copy of this album (i got it on CD, the vinyl i mentioned earlier would have been nice but, yeah $25 is out of my price range at the moment).  I listened to the album in the car a couple times and even at work today and i have to say it’s really good.  Price Paid: $6

“Moving Pictures” – Rush

This is a really great Rush album!  It is probably the “last” (chronologically) Rush album i thoroughly enjoy until “Vapor Trails.”  Great songs like “Tom Sawyer,” “YYZ” and “Limelight” make this album solid, and i think that even the lesser known tracks are high quality.  Listened to this album a lot during the tail end of my high school years and it’s great tp own it on vinyl.  Price Paid: $6

I’ve got a few weeks if summer left then it’s back to school.  I go to scool far from record stores so the rate i obtain music will probably slow but i will always stay on the hunt for good music and hopefully one day i will complete the hunt-list.

Ep. 17 – Rock-a-billy’s – July 24th, 2008

I was hanging out with David-Chad today and he knew of a used CD store in Macomb called Rock-a-billy’s.  We went and checked it out and i found some good stuff.  It was not a very big place but they had a lot of god stuff in their, especially on vinyl.  I saw the Beatles White album!  It was $55 though…  But there were some good ones that i could actually afford.

“Southern Weather” – The Almost

This is a superb album.  This is Aaron Gillespie’s solo project.  Aaron is the drummer and back-up vocalist for Underoath.  On this record he does everything; the songwriting, guitar, drums, bass and vocals with a little help from a few friends (surprisingly one other named Aaron [Sprinkle that is])  I flat out love this album and think it’s better than anything Underoath has put out.  But that’s just me (and frankly all my favorite Underoath album are ones that Aaron sings a lot on.  Price Paid: $7.99

“October” – U2

U2’s second album on vinyl in great condition!  I was flabbergast!  Price Paid: $6.99

“The Unforgettable Fire” – U2

Another great U2 album on Vinyl.  So excited!  Price Paid: $6.99

One other cool thing was when the guy rung me up he gave me a free pack of U2 buttons!  He said they were a promotion given out with any U2 cd to promote the remasters they are releasing at the end of July.  He gave him to me with the two vinyls anyway which was awesome!  If you live near there i suggest checking out Rock-a-Billy’s, i saw a lot of hard to find Vinyls.

Ep. 16 – Haggling is Fun – July 22nd, 2008

 

Since i had so much money left after hunting yesterday i went out again today.  I went to Rcord Time first, picked up a couple good things.

“Survive, Kaleidoscope” – Underoath

I picked this up because it is a live DVD and CD and they play a couple songs off of “They’re Only Chasing Safety” which is an album i love by Underoath.  I’m not crazy about their new one, Define the Great Line.  I’m hoping this DVD / CD combo will help a few of those new songs rub off on me…  either way i get to see Aaron Gillespie rock out by drumming and singing at the same time (he does both extremely well, even at the same time!!)  Price Paid: $8

“Masque” – Kansas

This is one of my other favorite Kansas albums.  A little less well known but on par with their two biggest hits which i already own.  They had this on Vinyl at Record Time and i didn’t know when I’d get the chance again so i picked it up.  Price Paid: $3

 

“In-a-gadda-da-vida” – Iron Butterfly

Haha.  This song/album pretty much sums up my last two years of high school.  It was the theme song for me and band of wacky friends.  I first heard this song through my friend George Lutz III.  He had this big ol’ conversion van that me and my friends would always pile into when we wanted to spend the night having fun.  He would always play crazy music from “Rock Me Amedeus” by Falco to “Atomic Dog” by George Clinton.  He played this 17 minute classic many times at full volume, cruising down gratiot or down harper yelling at old ladies, or just before entering Meijer to kill some time by pretending one of us was blind… those were the days.  Last years my band even covered this song as an omage to Mr. Lutz.  It was in the new arrivals at Record Time, on Vinyl… how could i say no?  Price Paid: $2

That was all I picked up at Record Time today.  I decided to go by Hot Hits for a second time to pick up a couple albums i remembered seeing there but didn’t feel like getting at the time.  I picked them off the shelf and took a look at the disks and they were actually scratched up… they were probably still playable but Hot Hits is a little pricey and i didn’t want to overpay for scratched up CDs.  I decided to try and haggle with the guy a little.  I showed him the scratches and said i’d give him $5 a peice for them.  He look and the disks and saw that they ideed were scratched and he apologized.  He then took them and said he would clean them for me.  He put some wondex on them and buffed them with what looked like a table grinder with cloth on the rotars.  He gently held the disk up to the spinning cloth covered wheel and slowly rotated the cd with his fingers.  It worked like a charm.  He got rid of almost all of the scratches on both CDs!  But that’s not even the best part… he gave them to me for the price i named!  I got them both for $10 plus tax.

“The Adventures of the O.C. Supertones” – The O.C. Supertones

First release by one of the two great christian ska bands.  Solid album, no hiding the christianity which is great.  The lyrics are straight forward and glorify God.  A little rough sounding considering it is their first release but the listener is willing to forgive the roughness because it is expected with this kind of genre.  Price Paid: $5.30

“Chase the Sun” – The O.C. Supertones

This is the album the Supertones released 3 years after their debut album.  It sounds a bit more polished, a bit more professional and it flat out rocks.  So many good songs.  I love the song “in between” i which the chorus claims:

 ”What I am is in between what i want to be and who I am”

I love this!  He talking about the struggle of following Jesus and how we strive to be perfect but never reach perfection.  Even the Apostale Paul spoke of this struggle in the book of Romans.  I really identify with it, i’m a work in progress.  Highly recommended album, check it out!  Price Paid: $5.30

 

I was quite amazed that my attempt to haggle actually worked but i’m sure glad it did.  It made today a very productive day of hunting!

Ep. 15 – Different Salvation Army – July 21st, 2008

I went to a different Salvation Army today to check out their selection of Vinyls.  I found that they charged a little bit more but heck it was worth it, i found some good stuff!

 

“Rumors” – Fleetwood Mac

Oh man.  “You can go your own way” is such a great song.  This album is legendary and i found it in near mint condition at a Salvation Army!  This is waht being a music hunter is all about!!!!  Price Paid: $0.49

 

“Mona Bone Jakon” – Cat Stevens

I haven’t listened to much Cat Stevens, but one of my friends likes him.  Since you can’t beat the prices at salvation armies i tend to buy any album i have even remotely heard of (within reason) if it’s in good condition.  I figure if i listen to it and don’t like it i can sell it to the record store for a little more than i paid for it .  Price Paid: $0.49

“Wednesday Morning, 3am ” – Simon And Garfunkel

I like Simon and Garfunkel but i have never heard this album.  Hopefully it’s a good one.  The record was in great shape.  Price Paid: $0.49

“Bookends” – Simon and Garfunkel

same as the other one above.  Haven’t heard it but i’ll give it a listen.  Price Paid: $0.49

Quite a few good finds and i didn’t spend a whole lot.  Looks like i can go out hunting again soon

Ep. 14 – Salvation Army – July 14, 2008

I went to Salvation Army to look at Vinyls this time.  I actually found some!

“Leftoverture” – Kansas

I have to say, this is one that was at the top of my “Vinyls I would buy” list.  It’s funny it ended up being the first one i bought.  The cover is a little beat up but the record looks to be in decent condition.  Can’t complain.  Price Paid: $0.33

“Tommy” – The Who

I bought this for my friend.  He is a big The Who fan and this is their best album.  For the price i thought i might as well pick it up for him.  Price Paid: $0.33

Then i went over to Record Time to browse a little and i found one more good one.

“A Farewell To Kings” – Rush

I got really into Rush about senior year of high school.  By the time i graduated high school i had downloaded every Rush album to date.  I sorted through them and have come to find a certain 5 or 6 that are my favorites.  This one ranked among them and when thinking of what to buy on vinyl Rush was a no-brainer.   This a very good album and it contains one of Rush’s most famous singles “Closer to the Heart.”  I can’t wait until after work so i can listen to this album!  Price Paid: $6

Good hunting today, but i think that’s all for a little while…

Ep. 13 – St. Vincent DePaul’s – July 13, 2008

Went to a St. Vincent DePaul’s today to look at Vinyls.  My friend told me she gets hers there for 10 cents.  She said that you don’t find anything very often though.  Well i didn’t find any good Vinyls but i actually did find some good cd’s!

“Lift” – Audio Adrenaline

Great release by a great christian band.  I think the title track “Lift” is great as a praise song.  Who would of thought i’d find it here.  I found it unopened!  Price Paid: $2

“Point of Know Return” – Kansas

I got really into Kansas last year.  I illegally downloaded a few of their albums, and this was one of them.  Only recently did i find out that a lot of Kansas’ later releases are heavily christian inlfuenced because Kerry Livgreen gave his life to the Lord.  Kansas’ albums are very good and i’m excited i found this one.  Price Paid: $2

“Under a Blood Red sky (Live)” – U2

U2’s legendary live album featuring live tracks recorded at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre.  My interest in U2 has been reaffirmed since purchasing Achtung baby and War and the album released after the War Tour in 1983 caught my eye.  For the price it was well worth it!  Price Paid: $2

Well that’s all for today.  A couple of unexpected finds from an unexpected place.  It just goes to show that however unlikely, it still pays to take a look!

Ep. 12 – One Mans Trash… – July, 11, 2008

…is another man’s treasure.  So the saying goes… well over the past few days i proved that true.

I have bought a lot of cds this week.  The first bunch i bought off ebay.  Hey Music Hunter, i thought you said you were going to hunt in stores and stay off the internet?  Yes, i was but i was curious so i checked ebay to see if they had anything rare by my favorite band stavesacre and sure enough they did.  I also found someone who was selling a bunch of cds i liked rfor really checp because they bought them intending to start a store.  I guess that fell through.  That sucks for them but it was good for me.

“Absolutes (Advance)” – Stavesacre

Someone on ebay was selling an advance copy of Stavesacre’s album “Absolutes” and i couldn’t pass that up.  The album was released in 1997 so i bet an advance copy is pretty hard to find.  It’s a really good album and it was on the hunt-list, so it’s a Double Whammy.  Price Paid: $5.98 (including shipping)

“Catch For Us The Foxes” – Mewithoutyou

One of my favorites bands.  This album is dark and ambient, heavy and beautiful.  Perfect experimental post-hardcore.  I really recommend this album, and i think the track “My Exit, Unfair” is my favorite mwy song.  Bought on ebay, new.  Price Paid: $5.79 (including shipping)

“4 Wall Blackmail” – Dead Poetic

Got really into these guys freshman year of high school (maybe a little before that).  This album was really good and i listen to it many, many times.  These guys have remained one of my favorite for years so when i saw this album on ebay brand new for cheap i snapped it up.  Price Paid: $5.99 (including shipping)

“No sir, nihilism is not practical” – Showbread

Their first album and what got me interested in them in the first place.  I think they have matured musically since this release but it is still a good listen.  The voice of Reese Roper (formerly of Five Iron Frenzy) is featured on two tracks on this album.  Found on ebay, new.  Price Paid: $1.04 (including shipping)

I also made a trip to record time today and picked up a few things:

“New Way to be Human” – Switchfoot

i like this sound much better than the newer popular switchfoot.  I noticed it the last time i went to record time and i decided to get it this time. Price Paid: $6

“5 score and 7 years ago” – Relient K

The best release by Relient K in my opinion.  The song Deathbead is to die for (no pun intended).  the whole record is a nice return to Relient K’s christian roots where their waws not much evidence of them in “mmhmm.”  Price Paid: $6

“Fall + Winter” – Jon Foreman

Switchfoot frontman Jon Foreman’s solo project.  4 ep’s in one year, one each season; these are the first two.  His music is passionate emotional folk.  It’s really well written and a little sad, but for this sad is good.  Give it a listen even if you don’t like switchfoot.  I liked it and at first i didn’t even realize who Jon foreman was.  Price Paid: $13.99

Also, today i was driving around and i stopped at an estate sale to see if they had a record player for sale.  Turns out they did.  It was stuck in some back room, still plugged in with cords running behind cabinets and such.  I helped them dig it out and talk them down to $20.  So i got me a record player today!

Ep. 11 – A Rather Random Assortment – July 7, 2008

I went to Blast in the Past today and found a couple great things.  Upon walking in a was assaulted once again by inane chatter.  Today, Joe (the shop owner) and his cohorts were discussing their first sexual encounters.  I tried not to pay attention as i browsed their selection.  I actually found some good stuff:

“RaggaMuffin Hip-Hop Vol.1″ – Various

I have always liked the sound of Reggae Music but before purchasing this album the only Reggae artist i listened to was Matisyahu.  I am very careful about the music i listen to.  I try not to listen to music that has bad subject matter, and i usually look for christian artists in whatever genre I am interested in before anything secular.  I recently found a website completely devoted to Gospel Reggae and was able to find some christian Reggae artists so i have been keeping my eyes peeled.  This compilation is all Christian Reggae or Reggae influenced artists, and it is really cool.  Worth checking out if you are a Reggae fan!  Price paid: $6.50

“Hope in Anguish” – East West

East West in a killer heavy rock band.  I have been really into “Light in Guenevere’s Garden” recently so when i saw this album I did not hesitate to pick it up even though it was a little bit pricey.  It was sealed so i got a pretty good deal.  Price Paid: $12.50

“Frail Words Collapse” – As I Lay Dying

I listened to this album a lot early in high school and was among the albums that would be my first taste of heavy metal.  I eventually grew out of this type of music and have shifted towards more melodic stuff but because i listened to this so much i still enjoy the songs when i am in the mood.  Price Paid: $5

“War” – U2

This is one of U2’s best releases and an album I have enjoyed for quite some time.  I recently added it to the hunt-list and I had no trouble finding it.  This album also has, in my opinion one of the coolest album covers of all time – just looks at those eyes!  Price Paid: $6.50

Good Hunting today.  Tune in next time, same blog time, same blog channel.