Hey hey. How are you all doing? Sorry no check-ins this week. There were a lot of albums to listen to and write about, so the personal stuff got put to the way side. I’m here, and it’s Friday, so what better time to have a nice personal, mental cleanse.
So last week I was off work Thursday and Friday. My wife was heading to Indianapolis for a two-day conference for work so I decided I’d take a couple days off and de-compress at home. I’ve got plenty of time to take off this year, so I figured a four-day weekend was in order.
Thursday I headed to Fort Wayne and met up with my work pal who had been off on medical leave for two months. He was cleared to go back to work last Friday, so we fit in some vinyl hunting and lunch on his last day off. We visited Welcome Back Records, which the owner opened and ran Neat Neat Neat Records for several years in Fort Wayne before selling it to someone else. He decided he wanted back in the game so he started Welcome Back Records, as well as opening a vintage clothing store his stepdaughter runs. He’s also in the high end, Hi Fi business with vintage and extremely expensive audio equipment. And he builds record cabinets. He’s a man of the people.
My buddy and I had visited Welcome Back Records back in September of 2024 when it was at a different location. They moved last month to a new place(which ironically is only about half a block from the OG NNN Records spot.) We wanted to check the new location out. It’s decent. Nice size. They’re still getting things together there(you know how moves go.) My buddy showed up about 5 minutes after I got there. He’s only a few blocks from the shop, so it was no big deal. I had a few things in mind I wanted to look for, but couldn’t find any of them. I ended up getting Maserati’s VII, and a brand new copy of Eric Slick’s Wiseacre. Not albums I had any intention of buying, but sometimes those are the best ones. I knew I didn’t want to break the bank, so I was looking specifically for used. Oh, I also bought used CD copies of Anthrax’ Attack of the Killer B’s and Miles Davis’ In A Silent Way. I’m always looking for CDs for the car and changer at home(listening to the Anthrax on the way home that day I discovered it was the “edited” version. Damn!)
After we were finished digging the crates we headed over the the Electric Works building for some lunch. Electric Works is an old GE plant that sat dormant for decades. The city got federal funds to renovate the place for public use. It’s a massive complex, and sadly 3/4 empty. There’s maybe 11 businesses in it and that’s it. I guess it’s very expensive to rent or lease a spot, and the owners are pretty picky about how you run it. There was supposed to be residential built in as well, which would bring them a lot more business. That’s something they desperately need.
Anyways, the place is massive and beautiful but it’s like walking through a damn ‘Dead Mall’. We got lunch at Chapman’s Brewing, a local brewery staple. There used to be one right down from where my daughter lives but it was closed awhile back. The one we ate at is all that’s left. It’s a massive space. A glassed in room in the center of the spot has all the beer tanks, and there’s a massive bar as well. There was tons of seating as we were the only ones there. The gal that waited on us was very bored, so she was happily bringing us several samples of their beer selection(which is overwhelming.) I think we each had 8 samples, then decided on a dark beer I can’t recall the name of. Tasted like a porter or stout. It was very good. My food was great as well. An incredible smash burger with some tasty fries.
Overall it was a great day. Music, burgers, beer…3 of the 4 main taste groups.
I worked on some music on my time off as well. Might try to finish this batch up soon, as I’m already itching to work on a new project. I also watched the MAX series The Penguin on my time off. Great show, and Colin Farrell continued to amaze as Oswald Cobblepot(Oz Cobb on the show.)
I’ve been trying for like the 3rd time since 2015 to try and get thru Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian and have come to the conclusion that that book just isn’t for me. I want to get into it as it’s regarded as a masterpiece of modern American literature, but I just can’t lock into it. Not sure what it is. Maybe I’m just a moron. Anyways, I’ve moved on to Michelle Zauner’s Crying in H Mart. So far I’m really enjoying it. I also started reading All Star Superman, written by Grant Morrison. Another great one as well.
The biggest news lately is the large influx of records that have hit my doorstep over the last couple weeks.
First to hit was a care package from the U.K., courtesy of Library of the Occult Records and brains behind it, Tom McDowell. If you’ve been paying attention over the last few years I’ve covered quite a few releases -as well as done a few song premieres – for this amazing label. I first heard of Tom via his electronic music project Dream Division. The early stuff was very heavy synth; a mixture of soundtrack vibes and late night horror/sci-fi moods. I was a fan from the get-go.
In 2019 Tom started Library of the Occult Records, a place where he could release his own music, as well as the music of artists he admired. A collaboration of artists exists there; from the musicians themselves to album artwork to writers hyping the work via blubs written for obi strips to the worlds created via all of that working together. It’s an amazing world to get lost in. Artists that have released through the label are Timothy Fife, Dream Division, Ogre, The Psychic Circle, Ivan the Tolerable, Modified Magic, Witchboard, Ivy Chalice, Graham Reznick, Horned Relic Self, and many more. Each release given great care to make it the best looking and of course sounding.
Tom sent me a box with some past releases, as well as some super cool posters and the single coolest slip mat that I own. I’ve recently been getting caught up with what’s come out, and if you’re a regular reader you’ve probably seen the reviews. Current favorites are The Cube of Unknowing’s Bog Summoner, Traffik Island’s Ghost Notes, The Psychic Circle’s Wizards of the Watchtower and Horned Relic Self’s Column of Shadow. If you haven’t explored Library of the Occult, you definitely should. Especially if you like things a little off-kilter with a lean into the darkness.
International Anthem out of Chicago sent me their spring bundle. It was their three spring releases for $65. I couldn’t pass that up, especially since all their releases are amazing and pressed like it’s an artform. Those three releases are as follows: Macie Stewart’s Where The Distance Is Blue, Alabaster DePlume’s A Blade Because A Blade Is Whole, and Gregory Uhlmann (SML, Anna Butterss, Duffy x Uhlmann, Perfume Genius), Josh Johnson (SML, Jeff Parker ETA IVtet & New Breed, Meshell Ndegeocello, Anna Butterss, Leon Bridges), and Sam Wilkes (Sam Gendel, Louis Cole, Chaka Khan) Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes. The cool thing about this is that if I hadn’t bundled I probably wouldn’t have bought two of these(DePlume and Stewart), so I’m very glad I bundled.
My favorite out of all three would definitely be Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes. I’m a huge fan of Johnson’s work, especially what he’s done in the past with Jeff Parker and SML. This album is up there with all of those, especially the SML stuff. It’s kind of funky and experimental, and has a vibe all it’s own. Maybe one of my favorite of the year so far.
Macie Stewart’s is very cinematic with lots of piano and mood. Very cool. And Alabaster DePlume has some very stunning moments as well.
I also picked up the new Nels Cline album, Consentrik Quartet. No explanation needed. The journeyman guitarist’s latest release from the great Blue Note Records. There really is nothing that man can’t do.
Last but certainly not least is The Complete Works of Tina Brooks. I just recently discovered Tina Brooks. A hard bop saxophonist that sadly never got the respect or audience he deserved. I saw one of his records on Blue Note’s website as a spring sale record. When I gave the album a listen I knew I wanted to get it, but then saw that in 1986 Mosaic Records put out a 4-LP set of the complete works of Tina Brooks. It was highly regarded as an incredible set sold in a vinyl box and a booklet, and was a super clean pressing. After a little research I found a copy of the now out of print set on Discogs. Wasn’t cheap, but I made an offer and the seller took it. Listened to it for the first time yesterday and definitely no buyer’s remorse.
The new Deafheaven comes out today and there’s a copy waiting for me at Karma Records. And two weeks from tomorrow is Record Store Day 2025. I haven’t been much on board these last couple years. Nothing really interested me as so much of it feels like 4th and 5th represses of stuff there’s already plenty of. The fun of the super rare releases seems to have dissipated into a cloud of rehash and overindulgence(15 color variants of Taylor Swift…WAR boxsets that nobody asked for). For the most part I’ll mosey into the record shop in the afternoon and go through what’s left to see if anything tickles my fancy.
This year there’s like 4 albums I’m interested in, so I’m racking up some writing money so I can afford them. Once again, I’ll head in later in the day and see what’s left. If they’re there I’ll get ’em. If not, at least I know that John at Karma sold some albums that day. That’s what’s important.
On a final note, I’ve been thinking about dogs. In-particular, as to whether I’m ready for a new dog yet or not. Still very much grieving the loss of my pal Otto. Missing the hell out of him and our daily routines. I’m stuck between wanting that companionship again and enjoying not having to worry about taking care of a pup. There’s a lot of freedom that comes from not having a dog at home. No rush to get home after work to let them out, vacations are much simpler to plan, and just having one less thing to worry about in general. That last few months with Otto was pretty hard on me, watching him slow down and see how he struggled so much in the summer heat. I felt like a neurotic in the company of everyone else who seemed to not really worry.
I’m the worrying type(just ask my wife.) It’s in my DNA. So not worrying about my old dog not being able to jump up or get overheated while trying to crap in the backyard, or having accidents in the house because he’s old has been a tiny relief to my brain. None of that erases the 14 years of joy he gave me and my family. I have no regrets, but death is hard. Whether its a parent, friend, or your family dog. And thanks to the algorithm I see how many people lose their beloved dogs everyday on my social feeds.
So we’re nearly 4 months from losing Otto, and I’m starting to feel that tug on my heartstrings. Maybe it’s time. If it does happen I’d like to wait till after summer before we’d get a dog. We have plans in the summer, so maybe one full summer before we dive into the world of dogs once again. We’re even toying with the idea of getting siblings. That’s double the fun, and double the damage. And double at the vet appointments.
We’ll see.
Sorry for such the long post. Wanted to cover my bases and let you know where I’m at currently, which is hanging on for dear life in the face of change, political and social fuckery, and just trying to enjoy my time with my family, friends, and stacks of records.
Happy Friday.
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