Big Black Plastic Circles

In Noises on 13 May 2012 tagged , with no comments

Debates around sound quality aside, music on vinyl is unquestionably a better experience than tacky CD’s or ephemeral computer files. Most folks don’t really care that much for the experience of music outside of hearing the music or seeing a band live. It may be a hangover from my youth (staring intently at Iron Maiden’s prodigiously detailed Derek Riggs masterpiece Somewhere in Time while listening to the album), but the whole package that goes with a well packaged album adds to the music, and brings it to life. The physical manifestation of an album (or single) isn’t just packaging, a storage medium, or a souvenir – when done well it is a real world projection of the spirit of the music and as much a part of the experience as the music itself. Vinyl is the ultimate expression of this. The music exists, by way of tiny dimples, as a part of the physical item that is the record, rather than just data stored on it. It’s in the grooves – the record is the music. If there was no longer any electricity you could still find ways of hearing the music. And due to the medium’s necessary size, the packaging is has so much more presence, and is able to carry very detailed imagery and readable words.

A lot of the vinyl I purchased when I was a kid (when the only other alternative was cassette tapes, which were horrible) has gone astray (I still have the Somewhere in Time LP though). These days I listen to new music on Spotify, then buy the stuff I really like on CD – this is fine (and much more cost effective), but the whole experience is lacking something. I don’t want all the music I buy to be on vinyl (nor would this be possible) but I find myself desiring the vinyl versions of the records that, through the years, I’ve really loved. So I’m about to embark on a journey – probably an expensive one – to compile a collection of vinyl of the albums that really mean something to me, for the music, for the artwork, for the band photos, for the very celebration of music, and finally, to give a little something back to these bands for bringing such joy into my life.

So here is a working list of the albums that I wish to purloin, in no particular order. It is not a comprehensive list of my favourite albums – some I have no love for the packaging  (eg. Warrior Soul – Space Age Playboys) of and some I already own on vinyl. There are also albums of which the music I’m fairly so-so on, but the artwork I adore (various Ed Repka covers). This is a living list, so items will be added and struck off as time goes by. Here goes.

Alice Cooper

Alice in Chains

Amebix

Amplifier

Anthrax

Alcest

Barkmarket

Baroness

Black Sabbath

Cathedral

Cobalt

Coven

The Darkness

Darkthrone

Death

Deathspell Omega

Deicide

Devin Townsend

The Dillinger Escape Plan

Earth

Electric Wizard

Guns n’ Roses

Iron Maiden

Krallice

Massacre

Megadeth

Metallica

Misfits

Morbid Angel

Motley Crue

Motorhead

NWA

Obituary

OM

Opeth

Pavement

Pink Floyd

Rainbow

Sepultura

Slayer

Sleep

Skid Row

Soundgarden

Soundtracks

Suicidal Tendencies

Stetsasonic

Torche

Ultramagnetic MCs

Wolfsbane

Yob

 

UPDATE #1: Iron Maiden’s Live After Death received via a nice man on eBay complete with guide booklet and original fan club flyer. It’s an absolute pleasure to behold. So pleased. I’ve not listened to this album for a while. It’s easy to forget just what a landmark live album is. By that point in 1984 Maiden had produced 5 of the best metal albums ever produced, before or since. The performance is exemplary and Bruce’s intra-song banter is the stuff of legend (“The moral of this story is this is what not to do if a bird shits on you, RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER!!!”). Four words “SCREAM FOR ME LONGBEACH!!!”.

UPDATE #2: I now have in my possession a copy of Iron Maiden’s Killers. Great condition, great cover, great album. Killers is always overshadowed by it’s successor, but Dianno’s last Maiden album is crammed with classics, and really shows a nascent band coming into its own. Who could have predicted what would follow? Also received a nice copy of Motorhead’s Bomber. Purchased because it contains my favourite MH track – the title track  – and cos the cover has my favourite plane depicted on it (the Lancaster) with Lemmy and co.’s faces on it. Brilliant! Just ordered a brand new copy of YOB’s Catharsis, an album I only possess on MP3 recorded from the vinyl. It’s damn hard to come by and the vinyl is a limited edition. It’s a very special album. Really looking forward to getting this one!

UPDATE #3: Had an indulgent shop at HMV and got myself a copy of Devin Townsend Project – Addicted! Brand new 180g gatefold red vinyl from Back on Black records. It’s really nice to get some brand new vinyl. Looking forward to giving this a spin. Also picked up a copy of Pavement’s Water, Domestic EP from Matador.


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