openupyourskull

Yesssssssssss

Finally saw them for the first time last night and I'm still buzzing. So, so, so damn good. In for the silver on this one.

Not too many here - basically an even mix of obtained in person, purchased via record store and purchased secondhand.

Vinyl

Cults - Static LP (test pressing)

Albert Hammond, Jr. - AHJ 10"

of Montreal - Young Froth/Taypiss LP

TOY - Motoring 7"

Wolf Alice - My Love is Cool 2xLP

Wolf Alice - Moaning Lisa Smile 7"

 

CD

Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes

Gerard Way - Hesitant Alien

Nicky Wire - I Killed the Zeitgeist

 

Cassette

Temples - Sun Structures

Didn't take too long for me, but there were definitely some tough choices in there... and some not so much.

 

The Cure - Disintegration (1989)

Radiohead - OK Computer (1997)

Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible (1994)

The Horrors - Primary Colours (2009)

Deerhunter - Microcastle (2008)

Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism (2003)

Blur - Modern Life is Rubbish (1993)

Suede - Suede (1993)

Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures (1979)

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs (2010)

$21 shipped from Amazon UK for those who have been on the fence:

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00THHHD9S/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=

I have no regrets on buying the box set but it's good to see this get a proper no-frills pressing.

 

Cannot wait.

Stereotypical, yes, but Radiohead in Mansfield, MA in 2012. Skipped school to buy tickets (for those unfamiliar, Radiohead's presale/"good" tickets go on sale on a specific date but the time is unknown, so you have to keep checking the website hourly) and the ONE time I stepped away from the computer they went up, so I had to settle for a seated ticket. A few weeks later, a friend of mine surprised me with an extra pit ticket she had snagged when a few more were released.

I begged my parents to let me cut class yet again to get to the venue early and they grudgingly obliged, so I queued all afternoon to get a spot on the barrier. I was 16, and it was the first time I saw a band that really meant something to me. I hate to be that tacky person and say it was like-changing, but... that shit was life-changing.

 

And I'm going to cheat and give a runner up to the Manic Street Preachers in Cambridge, MA this past April. I never thought I'd be able to see them (their US tours are incredibly sporadic - this was only their third or fourth time playing the Boston area since the early 90s), so I jumped at the chance even though it was during finals. Queued for another afternoon in freezing temperatures to get front row, no barrier in a 525 cap room - a big difference from their arena shows across the Atlantic. Top that all off with hearing an album as intense as The Holy Bible played in full and it was just insane. I only wish I could've followed them around for this one... but I'm flying out to Ireland next month to see them play at Electric Picnic to make up for it.

Type 1 here, my 7th anniversary is coming up in June. For me it was triggered by a flu I had in 6th grade which resulted in a few months of constant thirst/peeing and I ended up in the hospital for the entire last week of school. I got a little bit lazy about it in early high school but I'm trying to get a better grip on it while I'm young... but on the bright side my sugars for the past couple months have been the best they've ever been.

I'm still doing individual insulin injections, I've thought about the pump but the idea of having it constantly embedded in me kind of skeeves me out (and admittedly I'd be worried about it at shows since I'm usually in GA with people pushing and shoving everywhere). Still deciding whether I'd like the "freedom" of single injections vs. the better control of the pump. My A1C is usually in the low 8 range and my goal is to get it below 8 for now.

Finally got to see of Montreal last night... the most gloriously fucked up show I've ever seen.

PSYCHED. I'll definitely be picking this up... but I'm gonna hold off for a bit and see if any other options pop up.

Both of the HT pressings arrived today, packed surprisingly well. Haven't had a chance to spin either yet but the colors look so damn good, especially TBP.

My TBP and Three Cheers were shipped this afternoon with tracking. I ordered sometime around 2:58, I think.

Hell yeah, new track rocks. Off to preorder!

DFA1979 tonight to finish off the year, and grabbed a ticket the other week to see Ride in NYC next June - psyched!

First order arrived today (2 records) in perfect condition in a frustration-free mailer. I'll probably be going in for a second round, such a great deal.

Heard him preview a bunch of new stuff when I saw him last month and if that performance was any indication this album is going to be fantastic.

Finally made it to Toronto last night after wrestling with planes, subways and buses (which are surprisingly clean compared to Boston) all afternoon. I'll be hanging out at the Riot Stage for the most part today since I'm basically here for The Cure, then back home tomorrow.

Found a blue (chase) Tobias at Newbury Comics today... for 60 bucks. Lame.

You're missing the two best albums!

 

I know, I know... I'm always in the wrong place at the wrong time when the OG presses pop up for a decent price on eBay.

Slowly but surely getting some of my band collections photographed... here's a handful of my main ones. None are anywhere near complete but it's still fun to try. Apologies for the godawful iPhone photos.

 

The Cure:

 

 

Radiohead (forgot to put the Best Of box set in there):

 

 

of Montreal:

 

Yup.

 

Radiohead - OK Computer (original UK Parlophone press)

The Cure - Disintegration (original US Elektra press and 2xLP reissue)

The Horrors - Primary Colours

Saw Arcade Fire a couple nights ago. They always put all of their energy into every show - it's amazing and so enjoyable to watch. I was caught off guard too when Win Butler took my cellphone from the audience and filmed. That was a nice touch to the evening and I'm happy I got a video of just how much I enjoyed myself, filmed by one of my alltime favourite lead vocalists. Dan Deacon was a great opener too - he really got everyone hyped up.

 

Saw them on Tuesday night and had pretty much the same experience, right down to the phone thing. One of the greatest shows I've ever been to, incredible energy from both the crowd and the band... damn. Tried to see if I could swing seeing them again in NYC this weekend but no dice.

Converse and Docs for me. I have contemplated getting a pair of Vans, though... my B&W low tops are looking pretty worse for wear.

So fucking bummed. I too can't remember the last time I was this shaken up by a celebrity death... the rumors of suicide make it all the more painful.