Good music isn't over - get out and find it

Did you ever go to CBGB? You know, that club in downtown New York that played host to so many punk bands in the 70s, 80s and 90s?

Do you remember what it was like to feel the press of the bodies around you, smell the smoke floating in the air, to see the sweat dripping off of Joe Strummer as he and The Clash blasted through a set?

Can you recall those memories? Can you recall the feel? Can you wrap yourself in a sweet blanket of nostalgia?

I can't.

I never went to CBGB. Hell, I haven't even been to New York City in my adult life - I think I was in the Big Apple once when I was younger. In fact, the first concert I ever attended was Ferlin Husky at the Hearing Auditorium in Fairbanks, Alaska. I was maybe eight or nine at the time.

After that I saw Warrant at the same place. They were still riding the high of Dirty, Rotten, Filthy, Stinking, Rich and thought, for some reason Fairbanks, Alaska would be an excellent place to promote it. I guess it worked. They put out a couple of more albums with some success.

For the most part, large bands didn't come to Fairbanks. Why the hell would they? Aside from snow, darkness and ball-chilling cold temperatures there wasn't much there.

Fairbanks has grown considerably since then.

Aside from a short stints in the San Francisco and San Diego areas, I haven't lived very close to large venues. And, due to my often off-beat taste in music, rarely do the bands I enjoy come very close to me.

I took advantage of my times in both areas, mind you. I went to Lallapalooza in San Diego and then saw Hate Dept. in San Francisco. I missed opportunities to see bands in both places; Nine Inch Nails in San Diego and Bauhaus in San Francisco.

Ten years in Kansas did little to help me.

My wife and I made trips to Lincoln, Neb. to see bands like Hank III, J.B. Beverley and the Wayward Drifters, an home grown Mother Fucking Saints, to ease our need for music.

Locally we went and saw bands in area bars and taverns.

While those were great, nothing compares to the opportunities missed. I never got to see Black Flag, Bad Brains, Bad Religion, The Misfits (with Danzig), The Clash or any other great punk rock band that influenced the music of today.

Does it mean I have missed it, this musical revolution? No, not at all.

See, there is still a ton of influential, awesome music coming out. There is still so much to be heard; so much to be sung; so much to be performed.

The challenge for me, as it has always been, is to get out and find it.

R.E.M. Out of Time

After 31 years as a band, R.E.M. has decided to "call it a day."

The band made the announcement yesterday on their website. For some folks this may not seem as much of a surprise; the band hasn't toured much in the last several years, new albums come out slower than winter molasses and frankly not a lot of news from them has been released. Many members of the band have been pursuing side projects.

Fans of the band will remember that Bill Berry left the band in 1997. He convinced the rest of the band to carry on without him saying he couldn't leave if they broke up as a result. His reasons for leaving were that he was ready to be done being a pop star.

Berry did perform with the band in 2007 when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Early this year the band released their fifteenth album, Collapse into Now. This would be the final album of new material from the band.

For me this is the end of an era. I have listened to R.E.M. for as long as I can remember. I want to say my first exposure to the band was with the song It's the End of the World As We Know it.

Out of Time quickly became one of my top ten favorite albums with classics like Losing My Religion and Love Shack.

During my senior year in high school I would wander the halls of North Pole High School with a cassette of Automatic For the People. Although it never got airplay, New Orleans Instrumental No. 1 was my favorite song. It was quickly followed by Sweetness Follows.

When Monster was released I was at Warehouse Music in Carlsband, Calif. grabbing my copy. I had to have it. In fact, Monster is the first album I bought on its official release day.

R.E.M. was the music that carried me through the 80s and 90s. No matter what mood, setting or time, I could always find a song of theirs that fit. Admittedly, I haven't purchased their last few albums, but I would never even conceive of getting rid of the ones I still have.

They are forever immortalized in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in the hearts of so many of us that grew up as a part of Generation X.

What's the embarrassing piece in your music collection?

On the radio this morning the DJs were asking what CD or tape listeners had in their collections that they were embarrassed by. This made me chuckle.

First, let me say I am thrilled to be able to listen to actual DJs and not a syndicated program. It's one of the nice things about living in a city that hasn't been completely taken over by the corporate air waves.

But as to the question, this made me think. I own a lot of CDs and records and, for the most part, I am not sure I am embarrassed by any of them. If you ask me why I own something I typically have a good explanation.

With that being said, you will never find something by Nickleback in my collection. If it is there, I guarantee someone left it and I put in a book to keep it safe.

So to find my most embarrassing CD I have to take a stroll back through my past. I once owned a copy of Madonna's song Rain on a cassette. Not sure this would be an embarrassing piece or not.

Some folks might think that The Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack would have been an embarrassing piece as well. However, if you are one of my friends, you listened to it with me. I own the soundtrack on vinyl now. Yep, not embarrassed.

Wow, this is pretty hard. I can't think of much that I would remotely consider embarrassing. I never owned a Spice Girls CD. Thank God.

I did own Ace of Base once. But I actually enjoyed it. I wouldn't buy it now mind you; it's a bit to poppy for my tastes.

So what about you? Is there a CD or tape that you own that you hide from your friends? Do you have that one piece in your collection that you pull out when it's only you home and then run frantically to put away when there is a knock at the door?

Rediscovering an old album - The Cranberries

While trolling through Facebook status' I came across one from my brother, Benjamin Cossel. It says,"I love it when I rediscover an old album." I couldn't agree more.

More often than not music hits me when I first wake up. No, I am not kidding, I wake up and songs fight to get in my head. Those who know me, or who have read what I have written, know that Flogging Molly usually emerges the victor. Lately though, Flogging Molly has been getting flogged by another band of Irish heritage, The Cranberries.

For several days I found myself thinking about The Cranberries. I never put on any of there songs mind you, just thought about their music. Sometimes I would find myself humming "Linger" or whistling "Dreams." I even strummed the opening chords of "Zombie" on my guitar for a bit, but never actually listened to them.

I did a search on Ebay to see if I could find any of their stuff on vinyl, and of course, I did. But I didn't buy it. No, not yet, got to think about it a little longer. Or, as happens sometimes, forget about it for awhile.

So I spent the better part of two weeks doing my best to not think about The Cranberries. I like to operate on a philosophy shared with me by my afore mentioned brother. He says, "When you want to buy something think about it for awhile, if after a few days you still want it, go get it. Odds are though, you will forget about it and move on." Or something like that, you get the premiss though.

So that's what I do.

Last night I sit down at my computer after dinner and a full arm workout, and load up World of Warcraft - I have been a game geek for a very long time. Don't think I will ever change - load up Itunes and hit play.

I zone in to a dungeon run with some fellow guildies and let the music serve as a soundtrack to my gaming. Wouldn't you know it, The Cranberries come on. Well damn, I think.

I finish the dungeon run, say goodnight to my friends and log off the game, Itunes and my computer. I set up the coffee pot, let the dogs out and then back in, and head to bed. I give my wife, Sheree, a playful rashing of shit, and finally settle down for sleep.

My mind wanders a bit while I am trying to sleep. And, wouldn't you know it, The Cranberries came floating back in.

I first heard The Cranberries in 1993. I was watching Conan O'Brien and they were performing. The song they did was Linger. I was hooked then. I bought the album a few days later - see gotta think about these things - and found I enjoyed just about every song on there.

Finally sleep comes and I settle into my Dreams. A few hours later I wake and in my Zombie state find my thoughts of The Cranberries Linger.

Now, after purchasing, rather repurchasing, Everyone Else is Doing it So Why Shouldn't We, on Itunes, I am rediscovering an old album.

Vinyl Resurgence - vinyl records show the largest increase in sales for 2010

Vinyl resurgence by Patrick Cossel
As much of the music industry sees declining or flattening sales, there is one medium bucking the trend.

In 2010 vinyl records saw an increase in sales by 14 percent, according to Neilsen SoundScan, an industry analysis company. According to this report, vinyl was the fastest-growing format with 2.8 million units sold.

But those numbers need to be taken in perspective. Even with this increase, vinyl only accounted for less than one percent of the year’s total album sales.

Still, this format that was once the norm, seems to have remade its mark on the industry.

In Cheyenne, Wyo., Ernie November has been selling records for 15 years.

Located in the heart of Wyoming’s capitol city, the store is a bastion for those who are looking for something interesting and new for their ears.

The store front is covered with posters of bands and shows, giving shop-goers a treat before they ever step inside.

Opening the door tends to fill people with the smell of incense, the sound of whatever music is playing and the sense something unique could occur at any moment.

Manager Keith Coombes, arms covered in tattoos, ears pierced and often wearing a Dickies style work shirt, mans the counter waiting to help people with their purchases or to discuss the new releases for the week.

Coombes has been at the store for all but four months of its existence. He started working there part-time and eventually took over as the manager.

With so much experience in the store, he is pretty tuned in to the local beat. Coombes says the market for vinyl in Cheyenne has always been pretty good. Especially in the last two years.

“There has been an upswing in the last two years,” says Coombes.

Coombes says the reason for the upswing is the downfall in cds. According to market analysis, cds have been decreasing in sales since 2000. In fact, according to Neilsen, those numbers are around 52 percent.

Much of the decrease in sales is attributed to shareware sites like Napster where people can download music for free, albeit illegally.

For those who prefer to walk the line on the side of the law, ITunes has cornered the market in digital sales of music.

But for Coombes, the music provided by digital means and by cd is not the same as you get on vinyl.

“The music is more rich. It is not nearly as perfect and slicked up,” Coombes says.
Coombes adds when bands play live they are not perfect and slicked up. Vinyl is a closer representation.

Coombes says recordings from a long time ago till about 10 years ago were done in analog. With digital recording, Coombes says the sound has changed.
“Digital recording is stale, non-human,” he says.

Despite his personal feelings, Coombes knows vinyl will never return to its heyday.
“It’s not ever going to be for the masses,” Coombes says, “for the serious listener and the music collector they will continue to collect.”

To keep up the excitement for collectors, many albums are released as a limited pressing and sometimes with different colors or artwork on the album.

Coombes said on the third weekend of April, his store, along with many independently owned stores, will celebrate the fourth annual Record Store Day. This event was created to celebrate the unique culture surrounding indie owned record stores.

Many of the special release products for the day have been preordered by Coombes and he is expecting a decent turn out.

“It is an underground thing, but it is gaining in popularity.” Coombes says.

Coombes says this year the store will have the most titles ever for the event.

“My supplier has told me there are over 300 titles being released this year,” he says.

Coupling the new products Coombes says the store will have specials on current stock of vinyl.

In Kimball, Neb. Greg Reinninger has been collecting for more than 20 years. Reinninger said he doesn’t collect colored vinyl or picture discs to date, everything he has is the standard black vinyl.
Reinninger’s first purchase was Michael Jackson’s Thriller album. Since then he just hasn’t stopped.

“I have crates and crates and shelves of them, probably 500 if I had to guess,” he says.

To Reinninger records are much different than cds. He compares the sound between vinyl and cds to a classic car and a new car.

“Take a Model A Ford and a 1990 Ford. When you are driving that Model A you get these Lucky Louse who want to look at you and see what you have done to the car,” Reinninger says.
“When you play a record compared to a cd you get people who look at you and are like, ‘what’s going on?’,” he says.

Reinninger says he will never get rid of, nor stop collecting records. He owns a couple of record players but would like to get a nicer one set up to better facilitate the sound.
When it comes to purchasing new records, the collector says he often gets them from pawn shops or second hand stores.

Reinninger says he never sets out looking for a certain record. Instead, he purchases boxes of them at a time and enjoys going through it.

“I’ll take the whole box. I don’t know what’s in it, but I will take the whole box,” he says.

“I end up with a lot of holiday and Christmas stuff, but it’s all good.” he says.

For others, records are kept even if they don’t have a way of listening to them.

“Still have quite a collection of records. Still love them. But, have nothing to play them on,” says Wanda Milton of Kimball.

Others, who responded to the question “Why do you like or dislike vinyl?” on a Facebook post had the following to say.

“Vinyl has that old hiss and pop to it, each crackle sparks a memory of childhood be it while listening to Fleetwood Mac or the Blues Brothers,” Rob Maes, Cheyenne, Wyo.

“Some of my favorite memories are tied to an LP or 45. I had a tiny record player and played “Cherokee People” over and over till it drove my mom nuts! Graduated to a big Lloyd system - first one paid for with my money - and my grandmother bought me Chicago 10. Just picked up Emmerson, Lake and Palmer, Brain Salad Surgery. I like the imperfect things you catch because mixing wasn’t fake like it is now. If there was no quality to the voice on vinyl, you knew and it wasn’t masked,” Cindi Shroyer, Pine Bluffs, Wyo.

“Vinyl brings me back to my teen years hanging out with my two best buddies listening to their dad’s collection while becoming part of their family,” Christopher Moss, Oregon.

“Vinyl is being in my best friend’s basement, listening to the Beatles and the Stones,” Gabriel Mintz, musician, Washington St.

Even with all these accolades for the medium, there are those who disagree.

“Listening to vinyl brings back good memories from my childhood. Having said that though, from a purely audiophile standpoint, CD/DVD’s offer a person a chance to hear the more subtle nuances of the music. The audio range the laser can pick up is greater than the audio range a needle can pick up,” Alan McLean.

Enjoying Flogging Molly's latest album, Speed of Darkness

I've been listening to Flogging Molly's latest album, Speed of Darkness, for a couple of months now. I purchased the album in vinyl format and was pleased to find a digital download inside the album jacket.

First of all, this is not an album review. I have done those and don't enjoy it. I always feel crappy if I have something negative to say about an album. Conversely, I feel cheap when I say something positive about and otherwise heinous album. So screw that! No review format here. Just so you know.

The first single released off the album was Don't Shut 'Em Down. When I first heard the song I was concerned. It didn't sound like the Flogging Molly that I have grown to love these last several years. Still, I listened to the song, trying to pick out what it was that I didn't like bout it. After several weeks of this I woke up one morning with the song stuck in my head. Try as I might I couldn't get rid of the song. My brain - as it often is - was stuck on Flogging Molly mode. Guess I like the song after all. And wouldn't you know it, there was the Flogging Molly I love. I just needed to listen.

When the album finally released it was a bittersweet moment for me. Here my new record had arrived in the mail but I was in the middle of moving and had my record player packed up. I didn't even unwrap the record until we were in our new home, unpacked and, for the most part, settled. Finally I was able to give the full album a listen.

Back track
I should state that I was able to listen to another song on the album with the 7-inch release of Don't Shut 'Em Down on Record store Day. The B-side of that album is Saints and Sinners.

Skip ahead
So finally I get to listen to the full record. I was excited. I guess I am a bit of a dork, listening to new music gets me excited. Not in the oh-my-god-I-am-completely-aroused-and-must-deal-with-it-now sort of way. Just excited. A bit like a kid in a candy store.

I was impressed. The opening track, Speed of Darkness, is great, Revolution, is great, Saints and Sinners…great! Power's Out, not so great, but hey, every album has one. Still, I don't skip it.

I guess that's what I like about Flogging Molly. I know what I am going to get. Dave King and the gang have been consistent in the more than a decade they have been together. King writes about what's going on in the world today with a tinge of Irish angst. How can you not like it?

By far, I would have to say the album's title track, Speed of Darkness, is my favorite song. Aydin, my red-headed son, would argue. At 8-years-old he loves Don't Shut 'Em Down. His other favorite song by Flogging Molly, the acoustic version of Drunken Lullaby. A kid after my own heart.

An evening with Tom Waits

The speakers pop as I gently lay the needle on the groove. A static hiss, a crack from an almost invisible amount of dust and the music begins to waft.

I lay down, lights out, to listen and be absorbed with the serenade.
It is my time, a personal moment when nothing the world will bother me. I tune out everything else in the world and just focus on the lyrics. Granted they aren't the easiest to focus on but I try nonetheless.

Tonights musical selection is Tom Waits, Swordfishtrombones. I found this gem in the stack of new records at my favorite music store in Cheyenne, Wyo. Ernie Novembers. On that day I was able to purchase two Misfits albums, the new Dropkick Murphys album and of course the aforementioned Tom Waits. All on vinyl. All waiting for the needle to be dropped on them to fill my ears with bliss.
But again, tonight is a meeting of myself and Mr. Waits.

For the uninitiated, Tom Waits is an American singer-songwriter of limited fame. More directly, he has a cult following of fans that are as eclectic as he is. Mr. Waits has also stared in films. Most famously he is known as the portrayal of Renfield in the film Bram Stoker's Dracula.

The album begins pretty gently. Waits is singing in his iconic whiskey-soaked-too-many-ciggarette-smoked-bar-room-laden-voice.It almost lulls me into a false sense of relaxation. It's night time after all and I am trying indeed to shove out the trials and tribulations of the day and unwind. So far so good.
But as is common for Waits, the record changes so fast that it causes palpations in the heart and a twist of the brain.

The album breaks into an almost manic circus theme. Invoking images of crazed carnival vendors hawking their wares in some sort of acid induced vision of hell. A child's worst fear of circus dreams, or rather, nightmares. No wonder clowns are scary!

But that's what so amazing about Waits. His absolute willingness to lull us in and wrap us in a nice warm blanket. He fluffs our pillow and allows us to slowly, softly, fall asleep. And then just as quickly tear us apart and throw us in front of a moving steam engine cruising through at top speed. More than likely laughing the entire time as we scream our last breath right before being slammed in to oblivion!
Thank you very much!

The speakers pop and I am pulled from my musical revelry. My eyes open and my brain begins to acknowledge the world around me. The dogs are barking, the cats are playing and various other things are happening in my home.

I get up, bring in the dogs, separate the cats, and turn off the lights in the living room and dinning room. I shuffle some things here and there in an attempt to shake off the musical journey I just returned from. I stop in the dinning room and look around. Wait, I thought, there is another side.