The Vinyl District

Mad Crush lead guitarist Mark Whelan worked at New World Records, a small independent shop in Charlotte, NC, in the late ’80s and early ’90s. He reflects on his time behind the counter. —Ed.

“Being surrounded by vinyl, listening to records all day expanded my taste, which is what I wanted.”

“Opportunities to explore music were scarce then, when you could only hear what was on the radio or what friends owned, or what you could afford to buy. Maybe it was a bit more exciting to listen to something the first time because of the ceremony it required—taking a record home, pulling off the shrink-wrap, and laying around on the floor or couch listening while studying the album cover. Record stores are part of that treasure hunt, the feeling that something fascinating was probably lurking in a bin somewhere….READ MORE

Cheap Tissue, S/T (Lolipop) The first LP from Los Angelinos Cheap Tissue delivers solid dual-guitar ’70s punk action, which is appropriate as they’ve shared stages with The Vibrators, Zeros, and Slaughter & the Dogs. Pulling off this sorta thing across a full LP is a difficult trick, but these cats don’t falter, in large part because they rage a little harder did than most of their root influences, and get the job done in under 25 minutes. This makes for a pogoing good time, but they also keep a handle on the melodic thread, with a handful of these dozen cuts accurately described as catchy, a factor enhanced by occasional vocal harmonies amid the raw-throat roar. The Damned and Dead Boys comparisons aren’t off target, and if you need a record to help delay wearing out your copy of L.A.M.F., then step right up. A-

 

Baby Robot Media is a music publicity and media service agency with employees in Los Angeles, Memphis, Atlanta & New York and represent musicians from all over the world. We specialize in promotional ( PR ) campaigns for albums, singles and videos, tour press, radio, music video production, music marketing, social media campaigns, Spotify campaigns and creating promotional content. Our mission is to help great unknown bands reach a wider audience and to help already successful artists manage their brand identity and continue to thrive. Our music publicists have over 50 years of combined experience in the music industry. We are known as one of the best in the business.

“I clearly remember the first vinyl record purchase I made.”

“I had just graduated high school and wasn’t what I would call a ‘music aficionado’ by any means. It took a friend of mine dragging me to Criminal Records in Atlanta, GA, to show me what it was all about. He was a music nerd–the guy with a terabyte or so of music saved to multiple hard drives at his house. He became my music liaison; he knew my tastes and helped me extrapolate beyond them and find new music that I’d be interested in. So, what records did I walk out of the store with that day? Album by Girls and the National’s High Violet. Both are responsible for shaping my tastes, and both are still in heavy rotation today. In fact, I think I’ll go put them on right now.

I lived in Athens, GA, for seven years, and would constantly kill time thumbing through the collections at Wuxtry and Low Yo Yo. Those two hold a special place in my heart, as I cut my teeth as a musician in Athens. The folks who worked there were all musicians and they were all super inclusive and supportive of the local scene, which is something that tips me off as to whether a certain store is worth spending your time and money in. Are you getting the High Fidelity treatment or do you feel welcome? Record stores are by their nature (maybe not the Amoebas of the world) small businesses that survive by serving the local community. It should feel like a local coffee shop, not a Starbucks. Also, I’m obligated to mention that Peter Buck worked at Wuxtry back in the day. Doesn’t get any more gangster than that.

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This NYC trio (guitarist-vocalist Gordon Lawrence, drummer-vocalist Isa Tineo, and bassist Sid Simons) has apparently stirred up a ruckus in live performance, with the Gotham fuzz getting called and arrests made, and the scarf-worthy glam-psych-punk on display here fits the promo email’s description of the group as “an anti-social petty thief, a male hustler, and a delinquent runaway” quite well. But the songs here, a few of which are strong enough to initially strike the ear as covers, plus a solid umpteenth version of “I’m Not Like Everybody Else” (that enhances a mild KBD vibe), translate well from the safety of my couch. READ MORE…

 

Baby Robot Media is a music publicity and media service agency with employees in Los Angeles, Memphis, Atlanta & New York and represent musicians from all over the world. We specialize in promotional ( PR ) campaigns for albums, singles and videos, tour press, radio, music video production, music marketing, social media campaigns, Spotify campaigns and creating promotional content. Our mission is to help great unknown bands reach a wider audience and to help already successful artists manage their brand identity and continue to thrive. Our music publicists have over 50 years of combined experience in the music industry. We are known as one of the best in the business.