Vinyl (852 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.69 on 36 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Tardleby the Scrivener (View user info) at 2008-01-21 15:10:37 EST
I've been listening to Pink Floyd and The Grateful Dead a lot lately. It started with some old vinyl but now it's all digital. The internet is great for getting music and I have a new laptop to store and play all that legally-purchased, you may rest assured, music on. I even bought one of those iPod knockoffs to play mp3s. It plugs into the car stereo too.
My dad gave me his record collection a while ago when he lost hearing in one of his ears. I wasn't into his type of music (Van Halen woo!) but I did have a few records and CDs, so I took them. They sat for the longest time. Things happened.
Since lately I've been blessed with more free time, I started cataloging the old vinyl, recording it onto the computer, and combining it with the ripped CD tracks I had and stuff I've purchased online. It's not necessary to listen to the music to do that, but it helps when you're ripping tracks from a vinyl record. You may have to edit the files to remove pops and skips and such. So over several months I've listened to my dad's Pink Floyd and Grateful Dead and Rolling Stones and Beatles and Hendrix and Zeppelin and Aerosmith and Jefferson Airplane and Strawberry Alarm Clock and Deep Purple and Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult and all the rest. Some of it is crap. Most of it is pretty good, though.
You can't really compare recording quality from those days to today - that Pink Floyd track those guys did for "A Show of Hands" (http://www.ubersite.com/m/101290) was probably recorded in higher fidelity than any of the records I was digitizing. But you can compare innovation and the ability to surprise and capture the listener. I think today's music is as new today as that stuff was back in it's day. As progressive, as innovative, as piss-your-parents-off, as good for any other reason you can think of. That music on the vinyl is just old music now, it's been around forever, so only old people listen to it regularly. By 'old', I mean 'older than me', that is. But now, see, I'm old by my own definition, since I've been listening to The Grateful Dead exclusively, when I'm listening to music, for better than a week now. I'm going through that whole collection again. It might take all year, but I don't mind. There's good stuff there.
Of course, I may just like their music because it's in my blood. It's possible that I was conceived at a Dead show. My dad told me that once when he was drunk. "In Vino, Veritas", as has been said. It makes a good story anyway. Or it might be just that I'm actually getting older and want my music to slow down a bit. I don't dance or trance or headbang or mosh, but I can listen to the music. These days, though, I like my relaxation music to help me relax rather than just drown the world out.
For whatever reason, I'm finding a connection there in the stacks and stacks of groovy rockin' wax, and with all the other music it's inspired me to go listen to. Wish I could have told him that.
User Reviews
Submitted by wookie (user info) at 2008-01-22 09:53:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Rhymenocerous (user info) at 2008-01-21 15:22:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Vinyl is still the shit.
Submitted by rorrim (user info) at 2008-01-22 08:22:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2008-01-21 18:29:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by rorrim (user info) at 2008-01-21 16:04:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
The sound of vinyl is uncomparable to digital stuff. harmonics and that crap..
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A spectrum analyzer will show harmonics and nuances on vinyl that are completely missing when digitally recorded.
At least some people still know their facts. However, playing digital through tube-equipment may salvage some of those harmonics. Tubes sound 'warmer', because they produce these 'odd' harmonics, while digital and transistorized amps only (re)produce the 'even' harmonics.
Guess why Lenny Kravitz bought the old Apple studios-equipment ? (all tubes.. Listen to the sound of his productions, and you know what i mean.)
Submitted by MudWhistle (user info) at 2008-01-22 07:24:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
There is a road, no simple highway,
Between the dawn and the dark of night,
And if you go no one may follow,
That path is for your steps alone.
Submitted by DeathJester (user info) at 2008-01-22 02:24:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
You can't go wrong with Pink Floyd.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2008-01-21 21:09:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Heh.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2008-01-21 20:35:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
What she said.
Submitted by sadie73 (user info) at 2008-01-21 20:33:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by joedaddy (user info) at 2008-01-21 20:16:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
my entire collection is on vinyl however, i am blessed to have the ability to play it through a quad set of JBL SR-1 studio monitors
the system is packed in 4 Bose 2'x3'x5' cabinets including an x-tra woofer in each box, for a total of 8
4 ring tweeters and 4 2" mid-range horns(with 35kilo drivers) finish off the back end......
it's all powered by McIntosh equipment including piggy-backed MC 602 power amps
breaking windows is no problem...killing small animals is no problem
the purpose was to feel the music rather than hear it
and that I have accomplished in spades
it is the most prized possession i have
***
sorry to take up your time
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Like what I said about a GOOD amplification system. JD has it ALL!!!!
Submitted by joedaddy (user info) at 2008-01-21 20:16:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
my entire collection is on vinyl however, i am blessed to have the ability to play it through a quad set of JBL SR-1 studio monitors
the system is packed in 4 Bose 2'x3'x5' cabinets including an x-tra woofer in each box, for a total of 8
4 ring tweeters and 4 2" mid-range horns(with 35kilo drivers) finish off the back end
it's all powered by McIntosh equipment including piggy-backed MC 602 power amps
breaking windows is no problem...killing small animals is no problem
the purpose was to feel, the music, rather than hear it
and that, i have accomplished in spades
it is the most prized possession i have
***
sorry to take up your time
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2008-01-21 18:31:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by ilikesteak (user info) at 2008-01-21 16:26:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I like to keep my vinyls on vinyl. And stay away from my 8-tracks.
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8-track had the best fidelity of all when played through a primo amplifier. The problem was wrapping the tape around itself, causing lots of tape breakage.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2008-01-21 18:29:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by rorrim (user info) at 2008-01-21 16:04:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
The sound of vinyl is uncomparable to digital stuff. harmonics and that crap..
=========
A spectrum analyzer will show harmonics and nuances on vinyl that are completely missing when digitally recorded.
Submitted by gonefiguring (user info) at 2008-01-21 17:39:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
OK, okokokOK! I'll get a Sigur Ros CD. Just stop hitting me.
Submitted by Creepy_guy (user info) at 2008-01-21 17:32:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2008-01-21 17:23:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
That's why I love that band. For as atmospheric and subtle as it can be, it's really powerful and can transform my perspective of my surroundings altogether. Most people I know who listen to them or Mogwai and that type of post-rock (though I tend more toward SR than any others) have at least one memory like that. 'Njosnavelin' is that song for me, ( ) as a whole, really. I remember O telling me once about driving around listening to SR while it was snowing, it made me wish it was snowing here at the time. It's really conducive to a lot of different moods.
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It is really powerful, totally agreed. And yeah, especially when mixed with snow. *laughs* I live in a small town, about fifteen minutes of a city. When it gets foggy out during winter, the lights of the city blur straight up into the sky and fill the clouds with red, orange and yellow. I've always thought of Sigur Ros as the audio version of that sight; a sort of underestimated, artificial beauty that I wish more people would have the chance to experience.
Njosnavelin is a beautiful song... I was able to see them play live once and that song was one they did that really blew me away. I try and never go anywhere without access to music and usually have a Sigur Ros cd close at hand. Never know when you'll run into something extraordinary and I try to have music to accompany it. You know, just in case.
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2008-01-21 17:23:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
That's why I love that band. For as atmospheric and subtle as it can be, it's really powerful and can transform my perspective of my surroundings altogether. Most people I know who listen to them or Mogwai and that type of post-rock (though I tend more toward SR than any others) have at least one memory like that. 'Njosnavelin' is that song for me, ( ) as a whole, really. I remember O telling me once about driving around listening to SR while it was snowing, it made me wish it was snowing here at the time. It's really conducive to a lot of different moods.
Submitted by Creepy_guy (user info) at 2008-01-21 17:09:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
With the Sigur Ros stuff in mind... A friend of mine asked me if I could give her a lift to a party once and I agreed to it, having nothing better to do that night. She had an ipod with her, loaded with Sigur Ros and Mogwai, which she gave to me as I wasn't going to be drinking. She told me to put it on and go wander around. I didn't feel like wandering, so I put it on, headed for the living room and made one of the arms of the couch my chair for the night.
We had gotten there really late and a lot of people had left. There were only a few left; two of which were having a conversation in the living room. They were both messed up and trying to figure out who should take this random girl out on a date; the girl happened to be sitting right between them. They were both blubbering messes, stoned and drunk as all hell.
What I remember about it though, is that (from my point of view, only) the entire conversation, when mixed with the music, took on an entirely different feeling. Sigur Ros' song Vaka was playing throughout most of this, followed by Glosoli I believe. It changed the entire conversation from two stoned idiots blabbering to each other about a girl who was sitting akwardly there between them, into something completely different. It became completely fucking depressing, and AMAZINGLY emotional. I bought every Sigur Ros cd I could find the next day.
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2008-01-21 17:05:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Also: the Grateful Dead channel for live concert recordings. http://www.sirius.com/gratefuldead
Submitted by bart (user info) at 2008-01-21 16:36:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Old music is always better because time has filtered out most of the crap.
Vinyl is great and I like the vinyl hiss, but records are way too big and inconvenient for most purposes.
Submitted by Rhymenocerous (user info) at 2008-01-21 16:34:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Listening to Sigur Ros while driving the Golden Circle in Iceland is euphoric. I recommend you all try it.
The Cancer Conspiracy is excellent music as well. Instrumental band, mellow, technical, progressive, and amazing. I have their newest on Vinyl. It is incredible to say the least.
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2008-01-21 16:32:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 grateful dead.
Between my dad and I, we have nearly all the music they ever recorded, including Dick's Picks and live concerts. They perfected rock and roll.
Submitted by ilikesteak (user info) at 2008-01-21 16:26:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I like to keep my vinyls on vinyl. And stay away from my 8-tracks.
Submitted by kereineko (user info) at 2008-01-21 16:19:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm to young to know what vinyl looks like but I have heard some copied tapes and cd's of vinyl. There is this whole scratchy thing going on that I find very relaxing and peaceful. My parents didn't even listen to vinyl now that I think about it. I kind of wish my grandparents held on to their music, I love the music they listen to. Eitherway, you post made me smile thinking about people putting on a good song and just gelling out to it.
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2008-01-21 16:05:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
i miss my vynil... i hope my brother still has my old records. lots and lots of punk records and 7".
i used to go to sleep listening to plaid retina. I always enjoyed the very strange dreams thier twisted and dark music seemed to generate.
Submitted by rorrim (user info) at 2008-01-21 16:04:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
The sound of vinyl is uncomparable to digital stuff. harmonics and that crap..
Submitted by monkeyswithguns (user info) at 2008-01-21 16:04:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Saw RatDog at Norfolk once, but to be honest, it kinda sucked. Vinyl kicks ass though, if for nothing else than the album art.
Submitted by gonefiguring (user info) at 2008-01-21 15:56:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I've heard a couple of Grateful Dead bootleg tapes. Rough recordings, but still very energetic sound.
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2008-01-21 15:52:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I've seen the Dead about 37 times, along with Ace, RatDog, JGB, JGAB, Other Ones, and plenty of other incarnations. Blitzkrieg_Bob is right. There were concets and there were concerts, but there was nothing like a Grateful Dead show.
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2008-01-21 15:50:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I love going to sleep to Sigur Ros (really good live show, too). Actually, they are one of the few bands atmospheric enough to be on the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of when I listen..it's so easy to miss the nuances if there are other distractions around, so I usually only listen at night.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2008-01-21 15:48:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
The only way to listen to The Dead is live. Since that's no longer possible, there are a gazillion live recordings out there.
I'll post a few songs here later on tonight.
Submitted by Creepy_guy (user info) at 2008-01-21 15:47:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I've found the same is true for me these days. I used to fall asleep listening to whatever I'd listen to during the day- I remember living in a dorm and going to sleep to Metallica and Danzig every night. These days, I need something more mellow or I won't fall asleep.
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Same here. For a while, I would go to sleep with metal or alternative playing really loudly, but now it just keeps me awake. When I found out about Sigur Ros...problem solved.
Submitted by gonefiguring (user info) at 2008-01-21 15:46:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
"Aoxomoxoa" is playing right now. Roots of the Jam Band tree. Thanks, dad.
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2008-01-21 15:32:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by sicosemen (user info) at 2008-01-21 15:27:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I bought vinyl sheets to make clean up a breeze.
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I have vinyl underwear for the same reason.
What?
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2008-01-21 15:28:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"I think today's music is as new today as that stuff was back in it's day. As progressive, as innovative, as piss-your-parents-off, as good for any other reason you can think of."
Agreed. I'm over 30, and I often hear people even younger than me say "there's no good music anymore, anything worth listening to was written before 1990, etc." Well that might seem the case if all you listen to is top 40, but there is a lot of great music written today, if you can let go of what you think it's 'supposed' to sound like based on classic or different music.
"These days, though, I like my relaxation music to help me relax rather than just drown the world out."
I've found the same is true for me these days. I used to fall asleep listening to whatever I'd listen to during the day- I remember living in a dorm and going to sleep to Metallica and Danzig every night. These days, I need something more mellow or I won't fall asleep.
Submitted by sicosemen (user info) at 2008-01-21 15:27:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I bought vinyl sheets to make clean up a breeze.
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2008-01-21 15:27:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
i liked this post.
vinyl is badass, btw. it has a character and warmth to it that digital recordings don't.
grimm is a crankypants. you drop a deuce on this guy for buying music(his comment about being 100% legal seemed pretty tongue in cheek to me actually), but you get up in arms when hadley or bamf does that to you for doing something THEY wouldn't do, i.e., be a shitheel in an interaction with a landlord? c'mon, dude.
Submitted by gonefiguring (user info) at 2008-01-21 15:26:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Sorry, Grimm, I forgot to put in an emoticon for you after "all legally purchased". Mea culpa.
Submitted by Rhymenocerous (user info) at 2008-01-21 15:22:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Vinyl still sounds good. I've got a pretty good collection thus far, but still missing a lot. One of my favorites to listen to is J. Geils Band when they recorded 'Musta Got Lost' live in Boston. That song has the most epic intro.
My friend has an old school metalcore band's vinyl. It's ridiculous. The intro to the first song is so heavy it makes the needle jump. That's some dead serious sound quality.
Back in the days of early hardcore, bands like Minor Threat, Bad Brains, and Black Flag had to make each and every single album cover. They'd get the designs printed on poster board, then they would fold along the dotted lines and glue each side to one another to make the cover for their record. They did that for thousands of albums all by hand.
Dedication.
Vinyl is still the shit.
Submitted by Grimm (user info) at 2008-01-21 15:21:27 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
You pay money for music? How bout u send me your money, and I send u music?