SPIRAL SCRATCH RECORDS

More lists, Buffalo '11 and new instock report

2012-01-21T14:28:00.008-05:00

So a few more lists came trickling in following the last post.

Pat Shanahan...a man who needs no introduction, but will get one anyway. Lead man of the soon-to-be defunct hardcore punk outfit Everything Falls Apart (bunch of records increasing in quality with each release) and tours...some overseas. Also 1/3 of White Whale, a post-punk juggernaut an arguably the best all around band operating in the Queen City at this time. In addition to this and that, Pat publishes SUBJECT zine and #2 just came out and is available at Spiral Scratch or wherever Pat is at that particular time. It's a quick, good read. Interviews with significant bands and released in a timely manner...welcome back print music zines and screw yer blog Anchovies!!!
Pat Shanahan's Top 11 records of 2011

1. GG King - Esoteric Lore
2. Predator - S/T
3. Plates - S/T
4. Brain F - Sleep Rough
5. Puerto Rico Flowers - 7
6. Brown Sugar - Sings of Birds and Racism
7. Total Control - Henge Beat
8. Mind Spiders - S/T
9. Shitty Limits - Speculate/Accumulate
10. Marked Men - On/The Other Side
11. Video - Leather Leather
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Brian Kedzierski. The brains behind on the long running Gold Soundz Radio Program on 91.3 fm WBNY in Buffalo...a staple of indie and beyond music that is never "mailed in" like the Sabres, who he loves so much. Always informative, always a cool listen. One of WBNY's longest running jocks/radio shows. Back in the days when radio was king, your stinky podcast hadnt been invented yet and the local show covered the significant bands of the local scene, Brian was a huge part of that (until some know-nothing clowns ran him out). One of three jocks who uses the turntables. Also, a really nice guy. anyway, here's his list:

I knew I probably acquired the smallest amount of new rock ever, last year. So I was beginning to think I would be unable to get to eleven, but I found a few. In no particular order:

The Joy Formidable- “The Big Roar” (Atlantic)

Not paying for my television can sound like an insurmountable bump to most people who love wires cramming things into their lives, but I found a gem. Cool TV, which I recently found is now available on cable, comes to me via WNYO’s only digital sub channel. It is all music videos, including live performances now included on DVD from bands from the black and white era to today. I was humming Black & Yellow before most people at the mall, and I also found this Welsh band. “Whirring” was the song I saw a few times, which I u-tubed the band and then saw them in Rochester this past September.

Thee Oh Sees “Castlemania” (In The Red)

By great recommendation from Anchovies, I listened to this band and saw them at the Bug Jar in 2010 (sadly missing them last time around.) Good to know the band didn’t break up, as I originally thought when reading inside this disc John Dwyer recorded all the songs himself (save for two vocals by Brigid Dawson.)

Low “You May Need A Murderer” DVD

This quiet, look into the lives of couple Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker’s lives at home in Duluth, with their two children, Mormon faith, and on tour. There are some unplugged snippets of Low songs as well.

Low “C’Mon” (Sub Pop)

Low’s ninth full length, and third for Sub Pop. A mix of their known slo-core style, along some recent bombast. Haunting and solid as ever.

The Raveonettes “Raven In The Grave” (Vice)

Danish duo of Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo’s fifth full length recording. More of the Raveonettes style that has been heard since Lust Lust Lust: Something that can be performed by two people on stage rather than a full band, less of a stab at charting on Billboard. Lyrical material a bit darker on this one though.

Sloan “The Double Cross” (Yep Roc)

Halifax, Nova Scotia four-piece’s 10^th full length in their 20 year history. The one band I have followed the longest. Most likely because they never gave up! I’m not wishing they would, although their 7^th, Action Pact (a hefty stab by the band at breaking in the US), left me wanting something different. They came back hard with their 30 song Never Hear The End Of It, and now The Double Cross has them remembering some good pieces of past work without entirely re-recording past songs.

Men “Talk About Body” (Red/I Am Sound)

Some electronic dance music from Le Tigre member J.D. Samson and company. Some naughty lyrics effecting themes of sexual compromise and LGBT awareness. Slick sounding but would probably work way better with a few rickety synths and sweaty armpits in a living room.

Dum Dum Girls “He Gets Me High” (Sub Pop)

A four song e.p. follow up to their 2010 debut I Will Be. More of the same style from I Will Be along with a rousing rendition of The Smiths “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.”

The Pixies have not released any new music, but have been on a Doolittle 20^th anniversary tour for a couple years now. Watching them play the whole album plus b-sides in Rochester this past November was a treat.

And the final item, which is actually number one on the list, is getting engaged to my wonderful lady Jessica, this past spring. She has recently started helping out Anchovies with Thee Scratch, which makes her all the more desirable!

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Adam Mayes/ sales guy Cobraside Distro/West Side correspondent

1. William Shatner- Seeking Major Tom

2. Blood Orange- Coastal Grooves

3. Jeff the Brotherhood- We Are the Champions

4. J Mascis- Several Shades of Why

5. Tom Waits- Bad As Me

6. the Oh Sees- Carrion Crawler/the Dream

7. Black Lips- Arabia Mountain

8. Spits- Spits (5th)

9. Wooden Shjips- West

10. Boots Electric- Honkey Kong

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So, let that be the final nail in 2011. A great year for music, indeed--and a bad year for you to stop paying attention. Some folks say they don't follow new music but when did any of us "follow along"? We've always had to dig for the jewels. Before the internet, it was strictly the zines and older generations passing down the knowledge. Get a catalog in the mail and read about some band called Husker Du. Now with the internet some think it's easier...but there's just more shit out there, more poorly written reviews and blogs and just too many bands. So maybe it's harder...but you still have us to help you along. Where'd that Moonhearts record go, anyway?

Overlooked from the initial "Lists Post", on purpose, was the onslaught of Buffalo bred releases of note from last year. here are a few 12" releases that made their way into Spiral Scratch (if they didnt, we probably didn't get to hear them) and were significant enough to be mentioned herein.

Like a Panther-Rockpile lp This band is an island and that makes for desperation, unique sounds. A true indie band with noisy tendencies that is finally getting some notice in various online music sites, Rockpile is the result of more than a few years of a band making a record for themselves. It's a good one at that and hopefully the world starts to notice, though we told you so the day they were brought in. Oh, Bret used to be in Mockba in case you're keeping score. His lady plays drums and has evolved, over time, into a force on the traps.

Brown Sugar - "Sings of Birds and Racism" shit, man...this record was enough to make me hang it up altogether. It's a benchmark kind of record that will be looked back at in years to come. This is hardcore punk the way i've always wanted it to be like around here, but is the exception...and always has been in Buffalo. By the time Brown Sugar made their debut longplayer, they had become more than just a hardcore band...the influences and whatnot had made their way into the songwriting. (For further evidence, seize a copy of the Tropical Disease 7" on Fashionable Idiots (in conjunction with Feral Kid Records) for further weirdness and more-than-by-the-numbers-hardcore. Unreal. A month-long tour shows they mean business. Now just keep it together to make some more records, doo's. This is not just a local band as they are revered nationwide.

Mark Norris & the Backpeddlers - Songs of Guilt & Revenge - Once upon a time, Mark Norris led the local juggernaut Girlpope--a band most noted for killer live sets, cover sets (Slade sticks out) and a key influence on a garage rock scene that would emerge in their wake. Unfortunately, Girlpope disbanded before their time and years later Norris would make, in my opinion, his best set of recorded songs in his musical career. Backed by some respectable hired guns (and facing tragic circumstances in his life) Songs of Guilt & Revenge transcends so much nationally hyped flavor of the month garbage and once again shows Buffalo how it is done. In my opinion, it's the best thing he's ever done-- Norris' finest hour (or however long it is). A key local release of '11.

the Fucking Hotlights - High Society Torture Party Controversial superstars? High Society Torture Partiers? Dirty rock and roll hep cats? You love 'em, you hate 'em--it doesn't matter because Buffalo does need a band (or three) like this. First off, and this is important, this is a great looking record--a fine detail often overlooked by bands laying out their best hand. It sounds good, too. Grimy rock and roll from the AmRep school of noisiness. The live show is certainly a site to behold, but the record puts the songs in a more enjoyable light (unless you've had 12 beers and want the hot-n-handsome Johnny Toohill rolling your ankles while the band calmly delivers the soundtrack to his mental breakdown. I suppose either way, you're getting your moneys worth.

Lieutenant - LP Buffalo Hardcore fans have waited a long time for the release of this bombastic explosion of pure hardcore. They even got together one night and played an overwhelming set to commemorate the occasion. Featuring members of Resist Control (Matto), Gas Chamber (Pat Bolger), Lemuria (Alex Kerns) and local hero/jack of all trades/now ex-pat Eric Ellman–calling this a supergroup would be unfair and corny, yet ultimately true as all of the members are currently in other actively successful bands and 3 out of the 4 run record labels, all of which had a hand in releasing this. Matto’s Peterwalkee label, Bolgers’ Warm Bath Label and Kerns’ Art of the Underground all have their stamp on this slab–limited to 300 copies (100 which are colored). I’d give this one about a month or so to sell out. A snapshot of Buffalo activity right now, though the band is most likely not functioning on a regular basis–this document will be an essential album regardless. Probably sold out at this point, but do yourself a service and keep up on the activities of the labels who released this (all locally based). Peterwalkee, WarmBathLabel and Art of the Underground.
That is all for now as far as local bred LP's that passed through the shop in 2011. We are aware other great lp's came out, too. We'll get to those next post, along with the slew of amazing 7"'s and cassette tapes (Mallwalkers tape-only debut, Utah Jazz) and the hardworking labels that produced them.

One more thing not to be overlooked is Matt Smith's (HiLo Studio) digital only lp that he made, on his own, in his own studio. If there's justice in 2012, it will find a proper release and these songs will be heard live.
Until then, they can be found at : HERE
The name of the album is Immediate Concerns and features 8 killer tracks recorded on the eve of Christmas Eve, 2011. Hopefully physical copies and a backing band (featuring me!) are in the near future. meanwhile, Smith is part of Roger Bryan & the Orphans--who themselves released a critically acclaimed lp in '11 as well.

Rational Animals - Bock Rock Parade Technically not "local", these critters from Rochester have come a long way from the first time i saw them bashing on their instruments in a stinky basements to the weed(ing out)-rock punk they have evolved into, mining later-era Black Flag terrain though not aping it--putting their "upstate ny" stamp all over it. I guess you know what i'm getting at. Don't pass by their 7" singles, either...but this lp is a band growing up and dropping out. Too cool to overlook and we went out of our way to make sure these were in stock. Raised by Feral Kid and "matured" (probably use that term loosely) with their debut lp.

Thanks for reading. Here are some recent in-stocks:

Cheater Slicks - Our Food Is Chaos lp (early works with Alpo from real kids on bass!)
Cheater Slicks - Guttural Live
Florence & the Machine - Ceremonia
Cut Copy - Zonoscope
Electric Wizard - Black Masses
GG King - Esoteric Lore
the Saints - Eternally Yours
James Blake
Beach Boys - Smile Sessions lp (restock)
Yuck s/t
Foster the People - Torches
Culo - Life Is Vile...and So Are We
Intended Play: $1.98 lp featuring Matador?True panther Sounds artists and unreleased tracks from Fucked Up, Stephen Malkmus, Girls, Ceremony, Cold cave and more. 2 bucks!!
Black Keys - El Camino
Nothing People - Smells Like Metal
Mark Lanagen Band - 7" with exclusive b-sides
Guided By Voices - Let's Go Eat The Factory
Howler - America Give Up
Real Estate - s/t
Total Control - Henge Beat (final copies, out of print until further notice)

tons of used stuff, restocks and more in-stocks expected early the week of january 23rd.

also new in store are some beautiful, framed silkscreens and posters of the likes of the Who, MGMT, Hendrix, Kiss, Roky Erickson and more. Large full size and smaller sizes...none over $20. we also have a ton of new buttons made locally by Bit Part Buttons.

Dig Buffalo's indie record shop. Why shop anywhere else? Why?! Oh, because you like wasting money? Well that's not smart. We always order direct and, at the moment, order exclusively from independent distributors. Oddly enough, it's cheaper that way and we don't deal with corporate vermin. And you pay less and that's really all that matters.

anchovies
1.21.12
5:47 pm

2011...these all go to '11

2012-01-11T01:39:00.023-05:00

2011. Coulda been a good one for you or a shit one. Either way, you'd have to have had your head buried deeper than a rabbit hole to miss even a handful of the great music that was released last year. It seemed overwhelming at times to even keep up with new stuff that was coming out from all directions. Some would-be classics, perhaps. And what else is there when all is going bad? Music. And regardless of sales graphs and numbers-- '11 was a great year for music. Standout albums, ep's, reissues and even the occasional "fan club release".
Speaking for myself, i could't possibly make a complete list as I didnt hear enough stuff to call that a fair, definitive list. It's a chunk of stuff that, as i spend my days behind a counter at Spiral Scratch, listened to repeatedly and was moved by in some form. But what's my opinion worth over any customer or "helper"? So instead of this post being about me--it's about others whose tastes i value as much as my own. Some even more. Never fool yourself about record store workers who sneer at you...they are merely humanoids who chose to work at a record shop (good move, too) over the local convenience store or cubicle hell. Your opinion is as worthy as anyone's (in most cases...but I still don't get the Black Keys, I'll trust they do something for you.) It's more about how important these releases were to us and that we took the time to express ourselves about them via this sloppy blog. We hope you get satisfaction, information and pleasure from, too.
2011 ended hard for me but I can find good in it. I did, and i too made a list. Lists spark debate sometimes, they can make you take a second look or totally question someones taste. Best case, they introduce you to something you may have missed. So without further ado, let's check out what Spiral Scratch and our friends found good about 2011. In no particular order...

Caitlin Hogan-Lazar
part-time employee, (sub)culture expert, soon to be "worlds greatest mom" and Spiral Scratch interior designer/organizer.

Best Album: Davila 666 - Tan Bajo

tie: Puerto Rico Flowers - s/t

Best 7": Diarrhea Planet - Aloha

Best reissue: John Spencer Blues Explosion - Now I Got Worry

Best song: Brain Flannel - Hand's in the Jar

Best show: New Pornographers @ Town Ballroom

Best new drummer in Plates: Jordan N.

Best cover song: Fatal Figures - Combination Pizza Hut Taco Bell (das racist)

Best Album Cover - Washed Out - Within And Without

Best Flyer- Cages, Sonorous Gale, River of Ichthyosis @ Mohawk

Best New Zine - Subject #1 (pat shanahan)

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Derek Neuland - part-time employee, consultant, CEO of Bit Part Buttons and general 'sweet dude'. Also, one of the Thirsty Dudes* and zinesmith. A crucial asset to our little shop here. Derek responded swiftly with lists aplenty. Enjoy...

Top 11 Albums:
Fucked Up - David Comes To Life Dead Language - s/t Lemuria - Pebble Pains of Being Pure At Heart- "Belong" Joyce Manor - s/t Wild Flag - s/t Jay Z/Kanye West - Watch The Throne Shoppers - Silver Year Oathbreaker - Maelstrom Ke$ha- I Am The Dance Commander + I Command You To Dance:The remix album Big Eyes- Hard Life

11 Best Live Bands
Crystal Castles
Thou
Magrudergrind
Big Eyes
Joyce Manor Ume Procecession Lemuria Off With Their Heads Pleasure Leftists Screaming Females

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Anchovies - owner, Spiral Scratch, big jerk and sloppy looking guy living a dream as long as I can while the rest of the world crumbles around me. I also love music, my mom and old lady, and miss a bunch of folks a lot which makes me crabby sometimes. here are some things that made me very happy, in no order at all, in 2011.

11. Human Eye - They Came From The Sky
Not their first, though most definitely the apex of Timmy Vulgers Human Eye. A bit weird, surrounded by incredible musicians--this may be his crowning achievement so far. Timmys Organism was no slouch either, but TCFTS is a whopper of an album that must be heard.

11. Total Control - Henge Beat - Don't ever let anyone tell you Australia isn't the home of the some of the best rock and roll ever made. You can take the Saints who owned first wave punk and go in all directions. Currently, Eddy Current Suppression Ring have caught the ears of the masses, and with good good reason. Mikey, who plays guitar with the breaking ECSR is also a key cog in this ace aussie outfit. Post-punk, some electronic, some rave up rockers--often herky jerky--Total Control strung it altogether (overshadowing several other great aussie releases) in seemingly effortless, perfection. This is real deal music, folks. Hey, I dug the ICEAGE record but it pales in comparison to this gem. Do not overlook their half of the tour split with thee Oh Sees whom they opened for across the US in 2011. Which leads me to...

11. Thee OhSees/Total Control/Paul Cary @ Bug Jar, Rochester, New York.
Ok, i was turned on to the Oh Sees by my pal Richie right about the time peanut Butter Oven was released. Shortly after, the amazing HELP came out and since then I've been preaching curious customers in their direction as best I can. Yes, Dwyer & Co. release an album every few months and they are not always perfect but considering the body of work to excellent quality, thee Oh Sees deserve every accolade they get. The 2011 lp was no slouch at all (both of them!) notwithstanding. Seeing them twice before, by the time this show happened thee Oh Sees had finally caught on way passed the small garage rock set that was the scene they emerged from. A packed house, half traveling from an hour west (that's here) and a body of new fans. My little secret had gone viral. I could have found a million reasons to say i enjoyed the other shows better, but this was the best show i'd seen all year. Adding the awesome Lars Finberg on second drum kit--this band is in peak form, commanding and just a mindfuck of a great performance. Total Control killing it right before (albiet some sound issues) was nearly as potent, but this was thee Oh Sees show and extending jams showcased how "on" this band is. You will NEVER see a show like this in an arena, not even the Town Ballroom. This is how rock and roll was meant to be viewed--and while thee Oh Sees are confined to small clubs, they will probably destroy it every night. My favorite show of the year. Traveling in a car full of cool was just gravy.

11. Brain F = - Sleep Rough - Punk rock with a girl singer. Not my usual cup of tea, but this lady sings/talks in such a unique and effective way (with male vocals responding) while the music is quite raucous, rough and grating. It takes a few listens, I suppose--but probably one of the more unique and killer punk albums in quite some time. the songs become catchy while maintaining a rowdy edginess. The singles are even more raw, but this album flows and evades comparisons.

11. Dayang q-t 50 scooter - nothing non-musical or human lifted my will to live like the $500 scooter i bought myself towards the end of the summer. Never would i have thought i'd end up on two wheels and speed just ain't my thing, but this scooter (which took some heavy vandalism and bad luck) was my favorite toy/vehicle ( i kinda destroyed the rest anyway). I am a lonley scooter nerd and plan an upgrade in 2012. maybe I'll make a friend who has a scooter and we can start a gang. 800 miles in 3 months. farthest trip: Buffalo to Lewiston and back.

11. Homostupids -Strawberry Orange Peach Banana lp
I almost forgot how this is far and away, my favorite Homostupids release since the first single. It's certainly not for everyone, but it's for me, man. Spinning off was Steves'amazing Pleasure Leftists 12" which is 180 degrees of difference--an outstanding Joy Divison-esque fronted by a killer female vocalist. I'm combining both of these releases into one since I wasted one on a stupid scooter! (ok, yer not stupid...but was it necessary??)

11. Sex Church - Growing Over A band we were fortunate enough to have booked and decided to have play in our own dungeon. The vibe, lighting and sound were all perfect that night, too. Those lucky enough in attendence saw a truly great band deliver the goods. meanwhile, since the early singles and subsequent 12" from last year, Sex Church is on a steady incline of improvement. Growing Over is yet another cerebral, post-punk, dreamy psych-guitar (and hooks) and effects driven piece of beauty. It was a pleasure to continue being sold out of them and knowing people had caught on to Sex Church without any (criminally unfair) online hype or chatter.

11. Psandwich - Northern Psych - Ron House is back (Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments) and although we never were able to stock this semi-obscurity due to its lack of availability, i'm not sure i listened to a record more than Northern Psych. The man can not only dance, but still belt it out in a love it or hate it cowl. Not every song is great, but the majority are serious winners. Advice: seek this out or i'm going to drive to Columbus Discount headquarters and grab some for stock.

11. Eddy Current Suppression Ring - So Many Things (double lp singles comp)
Spanning the first single, to scarce early versions of early songs to the different side of ECSR (demons demands among other longer, droning jams that are longer and more hypnotic than their typical lp tracks), this comp is really an essential release to one of Planet Earths greatest bands.

11. GG KING - Esoteric Lore - Almost passed me by, one of two shockers that I discovered in the last weeks of 2011. Ex-Carbona, this surpasses my beloved Carbonas (much different) and anything previously heard from GG King (two good singles). But this is just phenomenal. A dark, punk masterwork? Do i speak too soon as I haven't had 12 months to absorb...all I know is I can't stop listening to it and I apologize for not having stocked this. If there are any left, it is on order. Another is Mikal Cronin (Moonhearts) stunner of a solo album (in stock!) which was sent to me from Buffalo ex-pat (and all around nice guy who works for a distro we like) Matt Byrne. Produced by Ty Segall (and crazy flute by John Dwyer) this is more of a killer pop album with garage rock undercurrents than a garage lp. Some real sweets on this album that truly needs to be heard by garage and indie nerds alike--both will appreciate the talents of Cronin.

11. I'm leaving this slot, the final (even though there is no order here) open to those great albums i just didnt spend enough time with--but i know i will and i know i'm digging them already. Kitchens Floor (their second?) "Look Forward To Nothing", the Men "Leave Home", Pheremoans - "It Still Rankles", Tyvek "fast metabolism" ok--this is a top 11 but i simply ran out of room, and the vast number of crucial reissues or unearthed stuff like the Saints "Eternally Yours", Poison Idea "Darby Crash plus" 2x lp. Also absent is the onslaught of Buffalo bred music i have purposely left off so I can go into depth in a future post. I'm rambling...let's hear from the the others.
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Andy Czuba. Another consultant, part time counter jockey and straightenr up of all things unorganized. A solid dude...but they're all solid, or they wouldn't have keys to the place on their keyrings! Also, a wildman in hardcore band the Strangers.

- Encoffination - O Hell, Shine In Thy Whited Sepulchres-
-Trap Them -Darker Handcraft
- Deafheaven - Roads To Judah
- Zola Jesus - Conatus
- DJing for the first time
- Throwing awesome shows for Trap Them, Gaza,
and Weekend Nachos
- Seeing Thou and Wolves In The Throne Room in the
middle of the woods in Vermont
- Rescuing my 3rd cat, Coach Dad
-Rescuing a several week old kitten from the outdoors where it would
have surely died
- Taking up Photography and having photos appear on
records and in magazines
- New job that I actually don't hate
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MARISA VIOLET
Large event co-ordinator, spiritual guidance, Record Store Day counter princess and all things indie rock consultant--this post would be incomplete without the input of our better half. Remember...behind every sloppy, poorly dressed, immature and disoriented man, theres a ...wait a minute. thats not the saying! Lets just get to the list. as with most of these, there is no particular order.

Top Albums

-Zola Jesus - Conatus
-Wild Flag - s/t
-Vivian Girls - Share The Joy
-Real Estate - Days
- Atlas Sound - Parallax
-Cut Copy - Zonoscope
-St. Vincent - Strange Mercy
-Bon Iver - s/t
-PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
live shows
-Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings/Charles Bradley @ Town Ballroom
-Mark Kozelek (solo acoustic) The Mansion House, St. Catherines, Ontario
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Chuck Barrels, CEO Terminal-Boredom.com , co-host of Scratch -n-Sniff Radio, musical mastermind, ultimate Scratch consultant and one of the greatest dudes walking earth. A true man's man (whatever that means). His name is actually Richie. Here is his list.

10 RECORDS FROM 2011 YOU SHOULD BUY FROM SPIRAL SCRATCH

(OR MAKE DAVE ORDER FOR YOU IF THEY ARE OUT OF STOCK)

Disclaimers: listed in no particular order; no local bands included so no one is offended; all products were released in the 2011 calendar year.

1) HUMAN EYE “They Came From The Sky” LP (Sacred Bones)– I never thought a band could be as cool as Hawkwind, but then again I never thought a mutant like Timmy Vulgar could exist on this worl either. Best record of 2011, whether MRR wants to covert them or not.

2) FEEDERZ “Ever Felt Like Killing Your Boss?” LP (Broken) – reissued for the second (third?) time, this is one of the most underrated classic punk LPs from a band that also never really got their due. Sick stuff.

3) POSION IDEA “Darby Crash Rides Again” LP (TKO) – the earliest recording of PI, 1981-82 demos and a live radio set from ’83. Fantastic sound considering the source material, great liner notes from Jerry A, gatefold with photos, etc…Pig Champion’s guitar never sounded so primal.

4) TV GHOST “Mass Dream” LP (In the Red) – if you saw them kill at Soundlab, you know what I’m talking about. The A-Side of this might be my favorite sequence of songs all year. Weird and scary and punk.

5) HOMOSTUPIDS “Strawberry Orange Peach Banana” mini-LP (Fashionable Idiots) – AMERICA’S GREATEST BAND unleash another masterpiece. This one is their ‘Dark Side of the Moon’.

TYVEK “Fast Metabolism” LP (M’Ladys) – the LP they should have released a couple years ago finally sees light as it should have been presented. DIY art-punk of the highest caliber.

7) CHEATER SLICKS “Our Food Is Chaos” LP (Almost Ready) – essential early recordings from the masters of misanthropy.

8) SEX CHURCH “Growing Over” LP (Load) – if you were transported to another dimension during their performance in the basement of the Scratch like I was, you should already own this. If you missed it, you should immediately buy the best guitar-psych record of the year.

9) GG KING “Esoteric Lore” LP (SOD/Rob’s House) – ex-Carbonas frontman puts together a schizophrenic KBD/goth/metal classic.

10) Folded Shirt s/t 12" (Fashionable Idiots) – pure genius. That’s all I can say.

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Last, but not least is the bearded lothario. The man who defies space and time constraints in the name of rock and roll, screen printing , and just being a great man. He hasn't manned the counter in some time due to his busy schedule, but we hope to have him back as soon as he is able. He also runs the wildy prolific Feral Kid Records with the fruits of his labors, nearly single-handedly giving the Buffalo punk scene a voice on vinyl. Somehow, he found time to make a 2011 retrospective list. Read on...

Top 11 of '11

Any moron who makes blanket statements saying that no good music comes out anymore is CLEARLY not paying attention or listening to the right records. This year was insane!!!! There are far too many good records, and I won't cheapen any of them by attempting to put a numerical order to these. My top 11 records will be listed in alphabetical order and are my favorite 11 records of any format that came out this year.

The Beach Boys - SMiLE LP Capitol Records

I'm not gonna spend too much time bothering to talk about this one. What could some chump like me say that hasn't already been said about this record? The sticker on the shrink wrap of SMiLE refers to it as "The Most Anticipated Record In Rock 'N' Roll History". It's the shelved recordings that were to be the followup to Pet Sounds in 1967. What else really needs to be said? I can understand someone's skepticism, but It's actually quite good and a lot darker at times than people seem to think The Beach Boys are capable of. After hearing this record I can certainly see why the recording of it led to some mental breakdowns for Mr. Wilson, or maybe it was that pesky kid next door….who knows? Either way; dark, goofy, catchy, beautiful record.

Brazilian Nuggets Volume 1; Back From the Jungle LP Groovie Records

I am an absolute sucker for compilations such as these. This is the first of a three volume set which i cannot WAIT for the next two to become available. Every aspect of this LP rules; from the killer artwork, to the full color photos in the gatefold, to (most importantly) the music contained within the grooves! The archaeologists at Groovie Records have exhumed a cavalcade of hits here. It spans a pretty diverse realm of tunes from the '60s and '70s in Brazil. Dingy garage gems are intertwined with weirdo psych influenced jams and bizarre rock 'n' roll type tracks which WOULD be some very anthemic songs if they weren't cursed with their obscurity due to the oppressive regime of Brazil at the time. Anyways, this comp rules. Pick it up if you dig any aspect of garage rock, psychedelia, pre-punk weirdness, or have an interest in world music.

Davila 666 - Tan Bajo LP In The Red Records

I had been hearing good things about this band for a while now and snoozed on them for far too long. The snooze button was intentionally hit once again though even after hearing the praise of this LP. I just couldn't get past the godawful cover art of this one. It's terrible! It truly looks like nothing I would ever want to hear. All of that, however, melts away once you actually hear the record. These songs are incredible and will be stuck in your head like the worst radio pop songs….the difference is that these songs are actually GOOD! Be prepared to possibly seem culturally insensitive as you WILL be singing these songs at high volume in the shower even though they may not be in your native tongue. Hopefully any Puerto Ricans within earshot will understand the sheer power of these poppy garage rock gems and not be offended by your poor spanish; misinterpreted and sung at high decibels.

Dead Language - s/t LP Iron Lung Records

This behemoth record has received a good amount of hype since its release, and with good fucking reason! It's unreal! The angriest hardcore record I've heard in a long fucking time! There is NO reason for anyone reading this to not have this record. I mean, come on, its IRON LUNG with local madman Dave Bailey (Gas Chamber, Solutions, Cages….) on bass with the dude from No Comment singing and also has dudes from Walls and Pig Heart Transplant doing other things (not entirely sure who did what so i don't wanna give the wrong info).

Death Trap - No Hicks EP Feral Kid Records / Warm Bath Label

Alright, I recognize that it may seem a bit screwy that i am putting a record that I released on my Top Records of the Year List. Egomaniacal, huh? Well I don't care! It's THAT GOOD! This record has been in the making since 1984 and only saw the light of day this year (even though the labels on the record say it came out in 2010, it did not). This record deserves ANY sort of excitement that it creates. Death Trap is the missing link between KBD punk and 80's hardcore. How in the world this had gone 27 years without seeing the light of day is the most monumental travesty that I can think of. Having been listening to these songs very regularly for the last number of years while we worked out the specifics of the release, I can honestly say that they do not get old or lose their edge. Truly the best kept secret in punk! Buy this record and bow down to the mighty Death Trap!!

Group Flex - Flexi 7" Compilation Castle Face Records

In 2011 aesthetics cannot be overstated. We live in a time where people don't think they need to buy records because the music is instantly available at their fingertips without spending a cent. Well my friends, this comp is a perfect example of how to break people away from that mindset. It's BEAUTIFUL! This is a steno bound book containing 5 flexi 7"s (and one record pressed on cardboard, yikes) each with a different band on them and cool artwork. You turn to the flexi you want to listen to, put the book on your turntable, and play the whole damn thing! AND it actually sounds really good. This is truly a work of art. Bands include; Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall & Mikal Cronin, The Fresh & Onlys, Barb Wires, and Blasted Canyons and the whole thing is very listenable. Super catchy and memorable tunes by most of the bands.

Human Eye - They Came From The Sky LP Sacred Bones Records

Human Eye is another band that I had seen live before being aware of their recorded output. After seeing them for the first time a few years ago, and taking the time necessary to pick my jaw off the floor, I was eventually able to slowly make my way over to the merch table and somehow formulate the words necessary to explain that I wanted to purchase anything they had for sale, though it was probably just a lot of grunting and pointing. Human Eye's records up till now are good, don't get me wrong, but I've always felt that there was something missing. Whatever the hell it was, they FOUND it on this LP. It's INSANE! I don't even know how to begin to review it, its just plain bonkers! To fully experience Human Eye, I must insist that you go out and see them, but this record is the closest that i think they will ever get to capturing the intensity of their live show.

Lieutenant - s/t LP Art of the Underground / Warm Bath Label / Peterwalkee Records

Roughly seven years ago I was lucky enough to see this bands beginnings at their first Buffalo, NY appearance. It was pretty awesome then, and in 2011 when they played again it was mind-blowing! This LP has been talked about around the area here for a very long time and now that it has finally seen the light of the day I couldn't be happier. Four of the heaviest hitting dudes in the local area really upped the ante with this record. Pissed off fast hardcore punk with killer riffs, heavy drums, and demented vocals. Oh, and that pretty bass outro, FUCK! WELL worth the insanely long wait!

Organized Sports - "i'm So Proud of Him" LP Bulkhead Records / HIV Town Records

This year i was not only lucky enough to get into this band, but was blessed with seeing them in three different cities; Cleveland, Buffalo, and their hometown Portland, OR. From the first night seeing them i was floored! This is my kinda hardcore, pissed off from start to finish, and incredibly sincere. Super entertaining live, and the record does not disappoint. There is no bullshit on this LP whatsoever. If you like old sounding, pissed off hardcore-punk, you HAFTA like this band.

Rational Animals - Bock Rock Parade LP Katorga Works Records

Rochester, NY's unwanted bastard child returns with their third release to date, this time with their debut LP - Bock Rock Parade. I am a very biased man when it comes to this band, having put out all of their releases up to this point, but i had nothing to do with any aspect of this record. I can't help but WISH that i did though. It rules so damn hard! The riffs have gotten a bit more complex from the first two EP's and at times almost seem like they could be the song playing as you ride on a carousel. Even with the circus riffs though, the grit on the solos and the anger and desperation coming through on the vocals make this one downright disturbing record. I challenge you to be in a good mood while listening to this, and i mean all of that in the best possible way.

Shoppers - Silver Year LP Feeble Minds / Dugged Conscience

This has been one incredible year for western and central NY bands putting out killer records. Shoppers "Silver Year" LP is no exception to that statement. I've seen this band a handful of times over the last few years, and watching them progress to this has been awesome. Silver Year is a masterpiece. This record is really dark and disturbing in musical and lyrical content. When i got it on cassette before the LP came out, I couldn't stop listening to it. I just let it play over and over and over again feeling that there was still more to grasp from it. I feel like there should be more said about it, but STILL am not able to adequately put it into words. I love this band, and this record. They're becoming a touring machine, so do yourself a favor and find a way to catch them.

###

Wait, there's more to come...a few customers submitted lists! Without their permission, here they are!

Joshua Cerretti posted:
Good Luck 'Without Hesitation'
Office of Future Plans 's/t'
Pygmy Lush 'Old Friends'
Roll the Tanks 'Broke 'til Midnight'
Hawks and Doves 'Year One'
Bridge and Tunnel 'Rebuilding Year'
Star Fucking Hipsters 'From the Dumpster to the Grave'
Elliot Brood 'Days into Years'
Scorpios 's/t'
Mastodon 'The Hunter'
Samiam 'Trips'.
I think that's 11.

"Uptown" Bobby Ellis, browser and man about town:
Ice Age - 'New Brigade'
Real Estate - 'Days'
Twin Sister - 'In Heaven'
La Sera - 'La Sera'
Total Control - 'Henge Beat'
Destroyer - 'Kaputt'
The Beets - 'Let The Poison Out'
Sea Lions - 'Everything You Always Wanted To Know...'
Thee Oh Sees - 'Carrion Crawler/The Dream'
Pure X - 'Pleasure'
Men - 'Leave Home'

Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to write about the records you loved or the good times had in 2011. If you'd like to contribute a top 11 of '11 list, it's not too late. send us an email at spiral scratch records and we'll post it. In the meantime, we'll do our best to re-stock many of these and keep the best of '12 coming in as we can. remember--you are the shareholders and you keep us alive, no multi-millionaire backing here. but we shall grow in the coming year and keep you supllied with the best music available. you can help letting us know just what that is, too.

part 2 forthcoming.

anchovies

1.10.12

5:39 a.m.

December Report: Car Crash, Holiday Party, Incoming...

2011-12-19T02:59:00.004-05:00

I don't hate the holidays...but I sure can't wait until they are over. Everyone above 30 years old has a bad memory (or misty eyed good one) re-ignited during the joyous season of consumption, getting together and eating and/or drinking. I try not to be a winter whiner. Wino, maybe. They don't have to suck (read below about our Holiday Miracle™ Xmas Party at Spiral Scratch '11) and so far, they don't. Quite an accomplishment given the current surroundings. My holiday season received a jolt at he hands of a 100+ year old tree in Kenmore, NY about 5 houses down from Chateau D'Anchovies. (did you know it's an automatic traffic ticket if you strike a tree in kenmore, Ny with your vehicle? well. it is. funfacts!) It was a day like any other...I was running late to open the shop--pre-empting a shower, coffee or splash of water to the face I began the coast to the stop sign in the vehicle I received after my beloved father unexpectedly passed away in 2008. A 2005 Ford Explorer. USMC bumper stickers and various religious items planted inside by my mother which I didn't dare remove.

I never particularly cared for 'the truck'--except when i could engage 4 wheel drive and drive through snowbanks with the greatest of ease. But i felt part of the old man in that vehicle with me, which I shamefully let become my office on wheels. It had a particularly annoying feature: a constant beeping until all seatbelts were engaged. I backed out while lighting a cigarette, slammed it in drive and checked the time as I turned to buckle up for safety. How fast was I going? No idea. I was approaching a stop sign. or so I thought. A surreal jolt and the world had turned on its side. In addition, I felt my head wet (two streams of headblood) and my side pierced with a sudden pain. I drifted off the road and struck a tree, flipping "the truck" on to it's side. no air bag deployment...just the sound of vehicle fluids pouring from a huge open wound on the right front end. I thought it might blow up as I began crawling through broken glass and trying to salvage a box of my favorite records which was riding shotgun.
Fuck it! She's gonna blow while I'm picking up records, trapped inside a vehicle on a quiet Tuesday afternoon. Physical Graffitti! Alladin Sane! Perfect copies! Back into the box. Still, nobody had arrived on the scene. I could see a local baby sitter just looking from the safety of her porch as I tried to open a door. None were cooperating. I turned back to gather more cherished items. Well into shock and "what the hell just happened?" mode, I was somewhat clear thinking (for me, anyway) I hoped nothing "sketchy" or even..."illegal" had been left inside that could make the worst situation worse. I checked the usual spots. Clean as a whistle. (what does that even mean? you'd think a whistle would be filled with old spittle and gross shit. I've never thought about it. Idioms. Maybe it's the sound?) "Unlock the door!" i tried, but it wouldnt work. Put the truck in park, more records seperated from broken glass, more blood. Eventually I'm helped out and dusting myself off it sinks in. I'm not hurt enough to not be "up shit creek" (now there's an idiom i GET). I've destroyed the truck. My dad's truck. Now the last time I was in a serious car accident, I was a tiny child of sorts. I don't even remember it. This, my cherry popper. The ugliest sound, a ton of metal and rubber slamming into an immovable object (or, in some cases, another ton of metal and rubber which is movable--but devastating still.)
The police arrive, the fire department and eventually a meat wagon crawls to the scene on all fours. Think i'll just take my records and go home for the day. Some guy is helping me carry stuff to my porch before they take it away. It's early afternoon and I'm clearly sober, but if you hit a tree 50 feet from your driveway, you get the drills. the light to the eyes. the sobriety tests, the option to get a free ride to kenmore mercy™ or walk home. i go home, aching and the neighbors still aren't speaking to me. Happy Holidays, neighbor. 3 days later i make sure i haven't popped a lung ( 2 cracked ribs which, in case you are not aware, hurt like a motherfucker /HLMF. (sorry folks).
###

Holiday Miracle at Spiral Scratch (beta) December 17th, 2011

An offhanded idea due to lack of holiday party invites blossomed into the first Spiral Scratch Holiday Miracle & Xmas Party! (but...the deals? it said super deals!)

Thank you to all who attended the holiday gala in our newly civilized dungeon/storeage & showspace. We were, again, humbled by all who atteneded and hope your time was as good as ours. Though we remained open until passed 1 a.m., it wasnt about records so much as it was hanging out, listening to music, eating, drinking, sulking with good people. And make no mistake, you're all fine folks for walking through those doors. Pictures forthcoming and will be edited into this post.

Music supplied by Teo (papa t) Lazar and Anchovies.

We hope to do more events like this without a reason in the future, too.

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Incoming:

Thee Oh Sees/Total Control split 12" By now, if you read this blog or shop at SS, theres a good chance you are familiar with at least one of these bands. Upstart aussies (featuring Mikey from Eddy Current) Total Control unleashed a whopper of a debut album on an unsupecting public (Henge Beats) while Thee Oh Sees continued to dominate in many ways. remaining consistent at the fever pitch of releases must be a daunting task...but Thee Oh Sees seem to have plenty of gas in the tank. Here are 4 killer tracks from each band who recently toured North America.

CULO - LIFE IS VILE...AND SO ARE WE! (Deranged) Yes you are, Culo...just not Kurt Vile. He has a new 12" out which is the bonus disc of the recently repackaged "Childish Prodigy" LP. Culo have very little in common with the Philly songwriter and I'd imagine not too many people own both albums! This here is a collection of Culo's singles (trendy thing this report). Goddamn. Culo are a spastic, punk-type hardcore band from Chicago. A slew of singles to their credit are gathered here on a fine introductory singles comp. Punk ain't dead, ya big jerks. And if you long for the good ol' days, here's a good band to check out who, while influenced by the past, are just using it as a guide while creating NOW sounding punk rock. Check 'em out HERE (mp3).

EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING- So Many Things (Goner) One of three croooooshial [sic] singles comps that were released in December, So Many Things carries you through the very early days of the band (started on a lark by 4 australian record plant employees at a work christmas party back in 2003). Bare bones rock and roll, ECSR have released a slew of singles (most oop and hard to find) and 3 stellar lp's. While members seem to be taking time off to work on other projects, get acquainted with a chronilogical collection featuring a killer pagans cover, the bands tendency to release longer, hypnotic jammers that showcase their live show and chemistry as a band. Shit, I could talk all day about this band...one of my favourites of the last few years. A must own for all fans of the band.

TY SEGALL - SINGLES 2007-2010 (Goner) - I recall, at the advice of consultant/guru Richie "Chuck Barrels" K. of terminal-boredom fame, ordering Segalls debut 12" in the early days of the shop. "This kid is a wunderkind. He's gonna get big." Well, I may often absorb credit for great music barrels turned me on to (but thats the way its supposed to be, anyway) and spreading it to anyone who would listen to me. Many did and in 2011, Ty Segall is pretty big considering the genre, not to mention he has excelled as songwriter in that time. Here, this double album chronologically lays down Segalls rise in both songwriting and fidelity; the early days were killer, yet pretty lo-fi. He loves covering songs and putting his own stamp on them (if you are lucky, you own a killer lp's worth of T-Rex covers aptly titled "Ty Rex") along with ace b-sides (and a sides). Some of his finest moments came off these 7" records over the last few years.

OFFICE OF FUTURE PLANS - s/t (dischord) Featuring DC figurehead J. Robbins, this band started off as a one-off live show and ended up as a collaborative band who have recently released their debut album. Good looking men with very little hair, but a fine pedigree. They also have a 7" out, and this should make fans of the band and/or its members (drummer darren zentek was also in kerosene 454). Straight from Dischord Records along with a hefty restock from the labels back catalog, and Helmet's "Strap It On" & "Meantime" and Sonic Youth's "Evol" & "Sister" reissues.

MIKAL CRONIN - s/t Cronin fronts a garage rock band (who kick ass, by the way) called the MOONHEARTS and while this album was produced by Ty Segall and features wildman John Dwyer (thee Oh Sees) blowing into a flute--this ain't no garage rock record as much as it is a killer rockin' pop album, well produced by Segall. seemingly coming out of nowhere (and suggested to us by Matt Byrne, a buffalo-to-chicago distro sales guy), Cronin has people talking after rave reviews (including an 8.1 poke from Pitchfork) and a buzz from the internet intelligentsia. And that's a good thing when you know the album is gonna hold up, you can't stop listening to it.
Another bright spot in the very prolific SanFran garage scene, Cronin tends to lean more towards psychedelic pop, catchy harmonies and sometimes rocking out. But it's an accomplishment for such a young man and top notch album released by the thoroughly awesome 0 label, based out of Chiago and big helpers following our shop fire.

SIGUR ROS - INNI Sigur Ros vinyl has been no easy task to stock, except for the "Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust" lp which you will usually find in stock, it's been hard to obtain. Inni is a 3 lp set detailing the Icelandic post-rockers live show in both audio (3xlp or 2x cd) and visual (dvd) form. With an unbeatable price, we proudly have a few of these to go around--though they were first thought to be limited.

other incoming new things of note:

Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire
Mark "BBQ" Sultan - Whenever I Want/Whatever I Want (clear)
Torche/Part Chimp split 12"
the Saints - Eternally Yours (reissue)
Kylesa/Victims 7"
Waste Management 7"
Deafheaven (and a healthy Deathwish™ restock)
M83 - Hurry Up We're Dreaming
Real Estate - Days
Jesus Lizard - Club
Guilty Pleasures lp
Screeching Weasal - Carnival...
Spits - V
Brain F
Brown Sugar lp/7"
White Whale/Mallwalkers split 7"
Drug Party cassette series: Dirt Eyes, Utah Jazz, Mallwalkers, Rat Mask

plus loads of previously enjoyed product, new Melted Record Bowls, lp+7" sleeves, 45 spindles, and GIFT CERTIFICATES good on anything in the store--including special orders.

thanks for reading.

anchovies
12.22.11
5:47 a.m.

and happy birthday to one of the most solid dudes i've been privileged to know since i was 10 days old. J.Zampano turns 41.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING/INDIE BLACK FRIDAY

2011-11-23T15:45:00.001-05:00

2011...the end in site, has been a rough year on many of our firends and family. Somehow,we muster up the power to trapse through the holidays, which can make tough times even tougher. On the flip, we have a lot to be grateful for here at Spiral Scratch--good friends and support and good records to listen to to. There is no better drug. there is no better relief for what ails ya'.
A few nights back i sat pressed up against the soundboard as a packed Bug Jar were blown to bits by thee Oh Sees (and earlier, Total Control--a fantastic band from Australia featuring Mikey from Eddy Current Suppression Ring) and, i felt truly ...umm...happy. No shoves or lack of space by the growing fan base could bring me down. I watched them commandingly deliver, with a healthy addition of Lars from the Intelligence/A-Frames,the best set i've seen maybe all year and seemingly watch them grow up--or get the attention they deserve. I hope they continue to, they've worked hard and are the real deal. I'm thankful i made it, recognized so many Buffalo folk and am still reeling from it. Obviously, we have much more to be grateful for...but I'm just rambling now. Oh, and I'm really not Willie Nelson, Eric.

Happy Thanksgiving (eat whatever it is you eat. then eat more. wake up and eat more cold stuff. lay around. or do whatever it is you do...hopefully it doesnt involve working). Thanks for another great year and may your holidays be as tolerable, even perhaps happy (?!) as they can be. Oh look....

We will be CLOSED Thanksgiving Day and open REGULAR HOURS for INDIE BLACK FRIDAY™. I don't see the reason in waking you earlier on what might be a day off. Relax, we'll be ready for you.
In addition to the stuff you probably already know about, expect some cool exclusives from Guided By Voices (limited 7", Matador), Mark Sultan (limited press lp), Reatards (savage young Reatard reissued on scarce clear vinyl) and other great titles that will be going quickly--please check back for updates later today for the finalized complete list) as well as putting out some great used stuff we've been saving for a special day and TONS of incoming stock--new releases and some re-stocks we havent had in in quite some time. Some things you won't find anywhere else.

The RSD sanctioned titles include, but may not be limited to:

Type O Negative Box Set 6 lp behemoth box including their Roadrunner catalog:
(limited to 1000 box sets)

Slow, Deep and Hard The Origin of the Feces (original "artwork" cover. rarely seen) Bloody Kisses October Rust World Coming Down Life Is Killing Me
each album features extensive, new liner notes, artwork and at least 6 stickers.

Ryan Adams 7" demo tracks/unreleased versions recorded during Ashes & Fire sessions. (limited to 3000 copies, worldwide)

Pink Floyd - the Wall singles. Cool looking box containing a full color poster, 3 picture sleeve singles from the lp. (limited to 4000 boxes)

Jimmy Cliff - Sacred Fire 12" Lp (scum stats unknown)
.
Black Keys - Lonely Boy 12" ep
special version, quantities unknown--but here's how they cut the record .

Iron & Wine - Morning Becomes Eclectic - A 12" along with a bonus cd featuring songs recorded live to air on KCRW fm.

Pete Townsend - Quadrophenia Demos, Volume 1 10"

The first of two 10" Eps featuring six demos from the Director's Cut re-release of Quadrophenia, produced, authorized and overseen by Pete Townshend. This individually numbered 10" EP and the one scheduled for Record Store Day 2012 provide a unique insight into the creation of this landmark album.

TRACK LISTING: "The Real Me (demo)" "Cut My Hair (demo)" "Punk (demo)" "Dirty Jobs (demo)" "Is In In My Head? (demo)" "Anymore (demo)" "

and, while we didn't get everything we asked for...with quantities of top selling major label artists being 3000 or less, it's impossible for everyone to get what they want and not be stuck with crappers that dont sell either! we won't complain, it just makes ya look bad...but check out the sponsers of this "indie black friday"---all corporate giants! we know how you roll, too. someone tell them they are fucking it up for the fans while the flippers rejoice and have titles listed on ebay 2 days before they are to be released (and at super inflated prices). if the past is any indications--don't go nuts if you don't get it on Friday, as many of these releases will become more readily available and/or their inflated values will plummet within a few weeks making it much more affordable. Just a thought from someone learning the hard way.

lastly, due to severely limited quantities--we cannot hold anything, so please don't ask. I kinda have a hard time saying "no". This is a first come, first served deal and nobody gets special treatment around here. we're all equal freakshows. Maybe elsewhere, but not here. Normally we would, but it's not fair to everyone else. get to the shop at noon--you'll increase your odds. at least we're not dragging you outta bed at 9 am!

-to the "unsanctioned" I.B.F. stuff/sneak peak:

Reatards - Teenage Hate/Fuck Elvis. Finally reissued by the awesome folks at Goner Records in Memphis. Clear wax version, which was very limited. primal 90s punk played with real, not forced, emotion and reckless abandon. yes, you were something of a prick, jay...but we miss you and your ever changing music greatly. rip, jeffrey lee lindsay.

Mark Sultan (aka BBQ) - Whatever I Want/Whenever I Want (clear vinyl editions)

Guided By Voices - We Won't Apologize For The Human Race 7". Something tells us these won't be around long. This new offering is special as it features the real GBV once again-Bob with Sprout, Mitch Mitchell, Greg Demos and Kevin Fennell. While i wouldnt expect a Bee Thousand 2.0, this mid-fi pre-lp 7" should perk up some fans who've been with 'em since Propeller came out. Or maybe earlier...that's just when I was first smitten by GBV.

Rest assured, we will "cook" up something to save you money on Friday, too. We have beefed up our used and new sections, too. But we are confident we've found a way to give you the best music and the best prices and you won't have to worry about getting trampled to death, elbowed for that last Bieber pic disc remix 8" or whatever else is otherwise awful about the real Black Friday. As a matter of fact, the real crazies will be done by the time we open at noon. ish? no...it'll be noon.

a quick look at some non-Indie Black Friday releases that are incoming!

Mummies - Tales From The Crypt legend has it this 'import' was to be their SubPop debut--but it wasnt crummy enough sounding and they scrapped it, told SubPop were to stick it and broke up. Real Punk! Their best sounding release, and in 'one reporters opinion', their best record.

Sig Ros - Inni A 3x lp withy live dvd direct from XL recordings. Sigur Ros vinyl is no easy task. we've also kept it cheaper than anywhere we searched.

Voivod - To The Death '84 2x lp. The demo and more of their early days finally repressed to wax.

Sam Cooke - Live at the Harlem Square Club. Mr. Soul delivers a raw and amazing live set. Pure soul without studio numbing it down, a raucous set for Sam Cooke and essential.

Pig Heart Transplant 7" Another noisy blaster from Iron Lung Records.
Double Negative - Hardcore Confusion Volumes One & Two.
Davila 666 - Tan Bajo - The Puerto Rican garage rock locos take a turn for the more soulful on their second, adventurous record. A staff and customer favorite.
More restocks from Atlas Sound, Career Suicide, the Spits, Nothing People, Pheremoans, Pixies, Sonics, Gories and a big box that will probably show up amid the chaos on Friday. phew.

Finally, if yer not on our email list (which we use sparingly for special events...not weekly spam), drup us a line at spiralscratchrecords@yahoo and we will add you.

see ya soon
anchovies
11.23.11
4:41 p.m.

Indie Black Friday...Fall Report...other important stuff

2011-11-17T01:36:00.009-05:00

A few weeks ago, Buffalo musician Tony Lorenzo was shot and seriously injured while walking in the Elmwood Village. Obviously, the Buffalo music scene was stunned, angered and quickly mobilized benefits to help out Tony and his family during this difficult time. While he may be lucky to be alive, the road ahead will be a challenge for Tony and his family. A good guy that seemingly was liked by all, Tony most recently played in Ritual Quarantine and had been a serious shredder in Sons of Azrael in the past. Shaken Stylus, Inc. quickly organized a successful benefit and keeping an eye on the BuffaloShows.net message board will keep you in the know with future benefit shows. We obviously know the potential generosity of the Buffalo music scene when we had our fire and this is obviously a more serious and personal situation. Remember, a little bit goes a long way when everyone is involved. Let's not forget this senseless act that has turned a family upside down and injured one of our own. We continue to be humbled by the generosity we received in our own time of need--keep it coming, Buffalo. Anyone organizing a benefit show is encouraged to stop by the shop and we will offer up something to be raffled off--a gift certificate or something along those lines. In the meanwhile, you can donate via paypal™ at helpingtony@gmail.com . Donations go directly to the family. There is also a reward for the spineless prick responsible for the shooting set up by Mayor Brown and the BPD. You can donate to this as well by going to this site: rewardfortony@gmail.com . A 2 day benefit show is happening at Club Infinity January 7-8. For more information, check facebook event METAL FOR TONY. thanks for reading. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Second Annual Buffalo Decency Rally took place at the Ukranian/Dnipro Center last weekend featuring a ridiculous display of Buffalo Punk, Hardcore, Noise, Dark-Core, Grind and...Cages! If you weren't there, you truly are square. For the second year in a row, amazing silkscreened posters were made to promote the event. If you'd like a piece of history, Mr. Weese dropped off a bunch at the shop. $5 for civilians and free if your band played it (and you dont have one). Incredible artwork on heavy paper listing all the acts that performed.
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Indie Black Friday. Friday, along with the rest of the usual critters, will take place for a second year at Spiral Scratch. we have placed our order but until we get a definitive list of whats coming, don't want any misinformation on our mighty blog of truth. I.B.F. is the product of the folks behind Record Store Day and features exclusive releases. We can't hold stuff, dont exactly know whats coming yet but we hope for things like Type O Negative box, Iron and Wine "Morning Becomes Electric" lp. Justin Townes Earle "Slippin' and Slidin'", Jimmy Cliff 12", Wilco 10" among them--as well as some "unofficial" releases. We did choose to pass on some $10 7" singles...as that is disgraceful pricing/gouging and I dont want to feed the beast. These often become available after the release date (which we actually follow!) for more reasonable prices. We'll unearth tons of never-seen used vinyl on this day, as well in order to keep things interesting. Record Store Day™ is a great boost to indie record stores but greed, rising prices and flagrant record flipping (often by the stores themselves) are turning it ugly at times. As a result, we are avoiding the overpriced stuff while still participating to the fullest of our abilities.

Some new releases in-stock this week
thee Oh Sees - Carrion Crawler/The Dream LP - Second lp released in 2011 (they've been churning out records at a fever pitch for years now) and this is clearly the better of the two and LOUDER of the two as well. As the band gains much deserved attention from both indie and garage punk camps they are in no way letting up here. Allegedly conceived as two seperate 12" ep's, this long player flows perfectly as it was recorded all at once and displays organ, uptempo numbers and slashing guitar work. here's a sampling taken from a more reputable music website called The Dream. They are on tour with the amazing aussie band TOTAL CONTROL (members of Eddy Current Suppression Ring and UV Race) and PAUL CARY and will be striking Rochester on November 21. We recently had the Oh Sees/Total Control 12" tour split but supplies remain very limited. This lp is in stock along with Total Control's Henge Beat. Henge Beat is yet another amazing offering from Australia mixing electronic elements with driving post-punk and late 70s UK new wave--yet somehow it comes out a perfect garage punker. On Iron Lung Records, it is among the finest lp's released in 2011 and apparently they steamroll it live. Do NOT pass by Total Control (like Pitchfork™ has). Here's a taste: Carpet Rash from Total Control's Henge Beat lp .

WOUNDED LION - IVXLCDM LP - If you enter our doors, you know that we have been devotees of In The Red Records since Larry started putting out excellent records over a decade ago. Quality control is tight and we're tickled to see the label getting more exposure and successful. Based in LA along with the label, Wounded Lion present a form of art punk that recalls late 70s LA punks Urinals as well as Wall Of Voodoo, Suburban Lawns. So there is hope for Los Angeles after all? Wounded Lions second album has garnered rave reviews, has the reliable In the Red stamp and employs the Intelligence main main, ex A-Frames drummer (and current Oh See's percussion man) Lars Finberg adding more percussion and slashing telecaster action. Dig it here.

TYVEK- Fast Metabolism - "At long last, the vinyl debut of this flawless compilation of TYVEK’s early singles. Long out-of-print, and still in high demand, Fast Metabolism was initially issued as a CDR only release, and quickly caught fire around the world. Hailing from Detroit, and behaving as if Wire had been the world's only hardcore band, Tyvek were (and still are) a much needed adrenalin spike through the breast plate. These songs eventually were released as four very hard to find 7-inches between 2006 and 2008. Issued in an edition of 2,000 copies, with deluxe tip-on jackets, and mastered for precision by TIMOTHY STOLLENWERK, with the vinyl lacquers cut by BOB WESTON, this is a co-production between Brooklyn, New York's M'lady's Records and Portland, Oregon's Water Wing Records."

YUCK - (Deluxe Version) LP - A nice vinyl reissue of up and coming band YUCK (brought to our attention by a customer), this double lp set features the self titled lp and an entire 12" of singles & b-sides. For a couple bucks more, we figured you'd appreciate the tack on so you can see the progression the band has made in a short time. As written by the fine folks at Revolver/Midheaven, "...This is a confident, wildly ambitious record, but also one which brims over with a ragged warmth and tenderness, tipping its hat at alt music heroes past such as East River Pipe, Dinosaur Jr and Sparklehorse while at the same time retaining a unique identity entirely its own." I just couldn't put it so eloquently as I'm a n00b to YUCK. Come and get 'em, they're moving quickly.

Still holding strong in the 7" section:
Double Negative - Hardcore Confusion Volume one & two Mark Sultan 7" King Khan & BBQ 7" Punch 7" (their latest) Teen Idles ep 7"

Sorta recent in-stocks/releases
ZOLA JESUS - Conatus LP (and the 2009 lp, The Spoils)
THE WAR ON DRUGS - Slave Ambient lp
HUMAN EYE - They Came From The Sky lp
DINOSAUR JR. - first three lp's
QUICKSAND - Slip lp (back for a short time)
BOYS NEXT DOOR (Nick Cave's late 70s punk band pre-dating the Birthday Party)
ECHO & the BUNNYMEN - Porcupine, Ocean Rain & BBC RADIO SESSIONS lp's.

Our used bin continues to expand daily as we sort through recently acquired collections. Tons of goodies at the lowest prices. Why shop elsewhere? Why pay more? Whats wrong with you?!! They can keep us out of the phonebook and the record show--but they cant keep you from taking advantage of the best, cheapest records around--be it the latest releases or used product. We VPI clean our used records and will soon make that machine available to you! Details to come. (VPI are the ultimate record cleaners...google 'em if yer not aware what the hell i'm talking about.
anchovies 11.17.11 4:33 a.m.,e.s.t.

p.s.

The Frustrations (Detroit) will be performing an in-store in the SS Dungeon this saturday, 11.21.11. Buffalo's Final Insult will also be playing as well as Melody (Mayday, Utah Jazz) & Britt (Final Insult, Utah Jazz)...we hope. We advise you show up, sorta behave by 6 pm as the shows must end around normal closing times.

Night of the Living Blog

2011-11-01T02:45:00.009-04:00

Halloween has come to a an end, 54/partly sunny is now considered "nice weather" and Spiral Scratch pounded its chest a few times as we stumbled through our 3rd anniversary of survival serving Buffalo and surrounding areas what we truly believe to be the best vinyl records currently available, learning the new needs and desires of our new location and staving off broken windows, vermin, crazy neighbors and some sort of troubled economy. We spend hours searching for the lowest prices so we can easilly provide you with the lowest prices...usually anywhere. I know this, because I check. That goes for the recent influx of great used records that have been coming in at a steady pitch.
Anyway, let's keep this brief so i can sneak in a few innings on the PS3 before the sun comes up. While there is a healthy batch of new releases and restocked classics (and sorta new releases restocked), the re-issue machine has been chugging out classic stuff--some not exactly "reissue" since it was never released either domestically or at all. The brand new VOID - Sessions 1981-83 unearths an lp's worth of demos, rarities and odds-n-sods. Up until now, VOID's legend was 16 minutes and 1 side of an lp--the classic Faith/Void split--a record indie god Bill "SMOG" Callahan proclaimed among his favorite records ever-"especially the Void side". VOID (along with the FAITH) were something of a hardcore punk enigma of sorts, and a great one at that. Until now, known for their incredible blasts of raw punk on a split lp. What took so long to share twice as many tracks to the world? Even the Pitchdorks took notice, giving the album a 7.3. Whatever, it's here for you now and a rather hot item (we got the last 5 copies from Dischord direct while a new batch is pressed up). VOID would later head into a more metal edged direction and broke up as their shows became uncontrollably violent. Before, they recorded an unreleased lp for Touch & Go Records which the band refuses to release.
So whilst on the topic of that legendary split lp, FAITH also was given similar treatment--Subject To Change. the album--again, as with most all Dischord reissues, has been remastered and cut from the original source tapes making for killer sound quality, unearths the bands Subject To Change 12" along with an 11 song demo (many re-recorded for the split lp, which has never gone out of print as in stock as well. More melodic, less chaotic--the FAITH were a hugely respected band in the DC scene and also have stood the test of time.
More Dischord stuff:
Lungfish - The Unanimous Hour Joe Lally (solo lp)
Teen Idles - 6 song 7" ep reissue
Rites Of Spring
Fugazi (celebrate their entire catalog...its all here)
Minor Threat

Dischord has also hooked us up with a local distro who has some big time reissues at the fairest prices we've seen. Helmet - Strap It On and Meantime lp's. Sonic Youth - Evol & Sister are among the titles we snatched up. More to come in the future.

90's vinyl was often an afterthought, a short and half-assed way to appease the band who demanded that it be released on vinyl. Often the quality suffered and the limited runs make the value high. Don't snub a good reissue as the industry has discovered that silver plastic discs grossly overpriced and inferior would not last them long. Helmet, however, was a product of the great Amphetamine Reptile label--one of the great labels of the 90s (a sound often heard today in bands lick Pissed Jeans and early Clockcleaner) and HELMET (and Melvins, of course) was the band that received the most success, though the label is laden with amazing, cult bands like Hammerhead, Cows, Halo of Flies and more. I've often said the real grunge music of the 90s was coming out of a label in Minnesota, not Seattle. And theirs a reason why the out of print catalog fetches $50 and up per out of print title. This is real deal music that has stood the test of time. Now trust us, we won't steer you wrong.

More reissues:
TALK TALK - Laughing Stock (the final, non-commercial critically acclaimed lp available for the first time in the US. Stay tuned as we try to snatch up some imports of the Spirit of Eden lp)
DINOSAUR JR. - self titled, You're Living All Over Me, Bug (due November 1st)
CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH - So they just put out their 3rd lp, Tess suggested we reload on the first one. So we did. Tess, your copy is in the special order stack.
DOW JONES & the INDUSTRIALS - Can't Stand The Midwest 7" one of the greatest, catchy punk rock songs ever laid down. Guaranteed to get a room full of people who've never heard it bopping their heads (and possibly breaking shit).
COCKSPARRER - Shock Troops - Just too catchy to be a simple oi band, yet too tough to be a power pop band. The best. And this is their best. You're no fun if you cant get down with Cocksparrer. Seriously.
FEEDERZ - Ever Felt Like Killing Your Boss? (complete with grip tape)

NEW RELEASES (incomplete list)
Wolves In The Throne Room - Celestial Lineage 2x lp
Brown Sugar - Colored Flexi
Tom Waits - Bad As Me
M83 - Hurry Up We're Dreaming
The Oh Sees/Total Control split US tour lp
Zola Jesus - Conatus
Punch - Nothing Lasts 7" ep (lots of semi-recent Deathwish stuff in stock, too)
Mean Jeans/Hollywood split 7"
Hollywood - Stunts lp (Big Neck Records is seriously back with a vengeance. Aside from recent Buffalo output (White Whale, Fatal Figures 7", check out the new website and upcoming release schedule at www.bigneckrecords.com)
Big Neck was born in Buffalo in the late 90s as an outlet for the garage punk scene, expanded worldwide releasing Lost Sounds, Ponys, Mistreaters, Bantam Rooster and more while relocating to Virginia while continuing to churn out great rock and roll. Hopefully you know this already, but just in case...Big Neck is a highly respected, long running indie label distributed by Midheaven/Revolver, Dischord and more.

Kitchens Floor - Look Forward To Nothing - More aussie stuff we dig so much, we urge you to buy this immediately. Video posted on our facebook™ page as the 'Scratch of the Week'
Spits V - who doesn't love the Spits? The fifth self-titled and they still are a institution of pure fun--ramones, dumb and synth. whats not to love?
King Khan & BBQ 7" Mark Sultan (aka BBQ) 7" (lp's on the way)
Human Eye - They Came from The Sky (Timmy Vulgar, the man behind Clone Defects and Timmys Organism) became a folk hero in Buffalo due to his antics at a post-Rust Belt Revolt party. Meanwhile, as Timmy's hair continued to recede, the wildman continued to get more adventurous with his current bands. Influenced by bands like Chrome and such, Human Eye is a must for those who like it a tad on the weirder side, yet without pretense and a love for blazing guitars, synths and some of the best drumming the world doesn't know.
More from Sacred Bones: Population 1280, Zola Jesus, Moon Duo, the Men and more. ordered direct.

We'll talk more later as it's late and we're expecting some seriously cool orders in the coming days. I'll do my best to keep the blog back up and running, too.

A HUGE thank you goes out to Malik, Stokes, and Shaken Stylus for their hard work with the Population 1280 "3rd anniversary show" (and to the Fatal Figures and especially White Whale for "falling on the grenade". The support is appreciated. A week later, the shop hosted Sex Church (the lp is currently sold out, but one of the coolest indie bands going right now) and we thank them for playing, Mugsy for collecting dough, the counter ladies-'risa & sam, free useage of the pa (again), Sex Church for playing and all who attended and bought stuff...it was a great night all around. We're still learning the ropes, how things are done, and how to deal with jealous jerks while maintaining class...its been a bumpy ride at times and all the help is appreciated. ArgyBargy Printing (Biff), Bit Part Buttons (Neuland)--Team Scratch for helping fill the schedule (yes, you know who you are) and YOU for reading this self indulgent shit and supporting our little shop.

More later.

anchovies 10/31/11 - 11/1/11 (whoa)

Blagged and Blogged. (slight return)

2011-07-24T13:33:00.008-04:00

Where have we been? Lazy, busy, sweating....basically doing thangs. but the blog is our main source of information without you actually coming into the store (which, of course, i highly suggest). The recent influx of quality used lp's and 7"'s has been staggering. Titles by Love, Minor Threat, Judge, the Doors, Hendrix, Coleman Hawkins, Lightning Bolt, baroness, the Kinks, Modest Mouse, jawbreaker just tip the...iceberg?

Meanwhile, we've been doing our damndest to keep up with a load of cool new releases while making sure to keep things affordable. Pressing prices rise, but we can guarantee you wont find new vinyl cheaper! if you do, let us know. We're also pretty sure you won't find the latest PUERTO RICO FLOWERS "7" 12 inch anywhere else around town. And if yer not hip to this puppy...it's Jon Sharkey III (ex-Clockcleaner) delving deep into dark, new wave territory. If you were lucky enough to snatch up a copy of Clockcleaners posthumous "Auf Wierdershen" 12", it's a perfect progression...though many kilometers away from the early, heavy thud of earlier Clockcleaner releases. A surprise hot item for us, we'll have more in the week of July 24th. With that order comes re-stocks of the first three EYEHATEGOD albums, reissued in gatefold double albums and painfully limited. Let us quickly mention the Castle Face "Group Flex" bound five-flexi disc book featuring exclusives from OhSees, Ty Segall and more bay area greatness. These can be found under the counter, are not cheap and are a great investment if you catch my drift. More on the flexi-disc front, we still have Gas Chamber (buffalo/nyc) flexi's, an absolutely beautiful multi-colored flexi from our own Brown Sugar (feral kid) and a NSFW cardboard "flexi" from Les DEMONIAQUES--dee dee dum dum girl & the band Tamaryn. Super limited JAMC cover.

ICEAGE - New Brigade We here at Spiral Scratch tend to be skeptical of the outta control internet hype machine--tastemakers who often have little...taste. However, this explosive post-punk masterpiece created by Danish teens lives up to the talk. It's a post-punk album with touches of hardcore (you wont hear any breakdowns or screams) and glorious british new wave, though it apes nobody. It'll probably hold it's weight years from now, too.

new in-stock:
EYEHATEGOD- Dopesick, Take As Needed For Pain, In the Name Of Suffering. all packaged nicely in gatefolds, all double albums and if its like last time, they wont stick around long.
Davila 666 Tan Bajo -Puerto Rican sensation takes things away from the garage and blows away their debut. One of the great albums to come out this year (along with Pheremoans and Sex Church, who will be playing here in October). All songs en espanol, but you'll be singing along regardless.
Crystal Stilts - 2nd album from nyc unit.
My Morning Jacket Circuital 2x lp Guitar Wolf - SpaceBattleshipLove
Dead Language - s/t lp
Backpeddlers- Songs of Guilt & Revenge - While Norris may best be recalled as the leader of GIRLPOPE, this may be his finest work on record to date. Most likely overlooked, this album blew me away on first and subsequent listens and had the right sound that Girlpope managed to capture ,live, but not on record. Here is a work that displays Norris' talents with the right amount of punch and sonic "oomph" to put all the pieces together. The songwriting is top notch, too.
Bon Iver - self titled
Blitzen Trapper-Destroyer of the Void 2x lp
Reatards - Teenage Hate 2x lp - The earliest days of Jay Reatard resulted in some of the rawest, purest punk rock of the 90s. Harder than most hardcore, realer than most anything coming out at the time. No rules. Essential listening, with a complete extra disc of unreleased, early material. Long out of print, Goner Records has brought it back.
An order direct to Deathwish has brought us new material from OATHBREAKER and 108 along with crucial reissues from INTEGRITY, CONVERGE, REIGN SUPREME and more.

Deep Six Records has reissued a Brutal Truth/Spazz 7". In Stock.

more Buffalo bred LP's!
LIKE A PANTHER- ROCKPILE -Brett, ex-Mockba guitar slinger, and his wife Cindy formed Like A Panther quite some time ago. In that time, the band has come miles. Wisely, they took their time before rushing into a release, but the band is certainly ready for ROCKPILE. The kind of indie that is subdued yet feels it's on the verge of explosion (or implosion) at any given time. Quiet vocals that creep under the music, this is an under appreciated band for sure. The good part is they aint letting that hold them back and have unleashed a self-assured and GOOD album.
FUCKING HOTLIGHTS LP (currently sold out) we expect more of these soon. A sonic assault from a handsome bunch. Incredible cover art belies this explosive slab of wax.
more local talk on the next update. Don't forget Emcee MD's debut rap exploration CD with autographed poster and strap-on power glove.

In additiony Segall's latest lp on Drag City--Goodbye Bread (possibly his best to date), we have unearthed the somewhat rare Ty Segall band- Live in Aisle 5 lp, a high quality live set performed with full band. A re-issue of his debut lp and a recent 7" also are in stock. Segall appeals to the garage rock set as much as he does the indie crowd which speaks a bit about whats on these records...great fuckin' songs! We've been on the bandwagon since day 1 (thanks, richie) and the consensus is he gets better with each release, though all are essential if yer a fan. If yer not--what are you waiting for?

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TONES ON TAIL - Weird Pop A very nice collection of the post-Bauhaus trio that is so much more than the Club Hit "Go" might have you believing. Theres the original version of "Performance" on here, along with the bands best remembered tracks.

Attention FUCKED UP fans. Of course you own their latest, critically lauded 2x lp "David Comes To Life" by now, and you probably love it. But if you missed the pre-order, we have ALL of the limited companion 7"'s that came with it in stock right now. Like so many other labels, we order direct with our friends at matador to bring you the lowest prices possible from anyone in the Matador Group--which includes 4AD, XL Recordings and Beggars Banquet. All have some interesting releases due out in August, so stay tuned. And remember to follow us on facebook for up to the minute reports and incoming.

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Reissue Stuff:
Flower Travellin' Band-Satori Japanese heavy duty psych-rock pressed on 180 grams.

Lots more on the way this week, so stay tuned. Latch on and follow this thing! Tell your friends!

We know its been a tad warm and uncomfortable, but we thank you for your continued support.

anchovies
7.24.11
4:18 p.m. e.s.t.

1:31 a.m., april 16th 2011

2011-04-16T01:31:00.001-04:00

i think we're about ready. our biggest yet.

i'm going to try to sleep now. see you critters in the morning.

if i don't get rolled on the way to the car...

no running.

no pushing.

no STEALING.

anchovies
1:32 a.m.
4.16.11

Record Store Day Update III: the Final Conflict

2011-04-12T02:22:00.011-04:00

Just a few days away...and if we can somehow keep up this weather, things could turn really nice.

The boxes have begun to arrive, as has the bad news (several titles delayed until next week)--but thats just another reason to come visit.

DOORS OPEN AT 10 A.M. we will be inside, but you wont...until 10 a.m. :)

and just a few groundrules in place, as we have since we started taking part in 2009--one RSD exclusive per customer. No exceptions, and no holds. We've got some cool stuff coming in above and beyond the "official" Record Store day sanctioned releases.

The Oh Sees have quickly became one of our customers' favorites--the extremely prolific John Dwyer led band who straddles the line between garage punk, psych, dreamy summertime pop that breezes softly and uptempo rock and roll (with vocal help from Bridged Dawson that provides an unmistakable harmony with the hyperactive--yet sometimes tame Dwyer). prolific is actually a bit of an understatement for thee Oh Sees who have released about 5-6 lp's since we've opened our doors. in addition, trying to keep up with that and their singles is quite the chore. This sorta-Record Store day Release should lighten the search for fans--thee Oh sees Singles Collection : Volume One & Two. Opaque Red and solid green records and, of course, painfully limited.

Another interesting one that you wont find on the .pdf comes to us from Permanent Records in Chicago. A split 12" limited to a mere 750 copies featuring Toledo noise creepers PUFFY AREOLAS and the twisted guitarist from the amazing BIRDS OF MAYA, PURLING HISS. Released on a special "deep groove" 12" slab (providing extra loudness--it's all about the deepness of the grooves, not the grams of vinyl). One track each--both around 8 minutes long. Although these have been delayed direct from Permanent--we still managed to score copies from a nice distributor. Confusing, but who cares...as long as you have a shot at the lp. Of course, we'll have more when they run out in the coming days.

Trouble In Mind, another supercool Chicago label has offered up a 4-way 7" for Record Store Day--featuring our beloved Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Jack Oblivion, Mean Jeans and one more putting their spin on a wide array of cover songs--all exclusive tracks that will not and do not appear anywhere else.

arrivals:
Black Angels
Vivian Girls 7"
Superchunk "Strings" lp
Antony & the Johnsons
Discordance Axis
Deerhoof/XiuXiu 12"
Revelation Reissue 7"'s (en route)
Mates of State
OFF!
Rise Against 7"
Wild Flag 7"
Gold Panda
Of Montreal
awaiting:
Fucked Up lp
New Pornographers 7"
Deerhunter 7"
and a rather large box of titles....too many to list. will update when they arrive.
there are also lots of cool restocks coming with these orders--Bill Callahan, Kurt Vile, Clockcleaner, Wipers, Low, Stooges, Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Mogwai, Subhumans, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Bob & Gene (classic Buffalo soul!), Black Keys, Black Lips, Black Flag and Black Time. Sorry, no Black 47 or Black Uhuru on the horizon...

**quick manifesto**
to help you all who read this better understand why i don't list all the "stuff we're gettin'" is a complicated one. i'm not being lazy...i just don't know what will come regardless of what we ordered. even this late in the game. the game is a little bit sketchy at times and it's not as simple as "placing an order", rather...you put in for a limited piece and hopefully you spent enough money with that distributor for them to "hook you up". We're a small store, a mom & pop...and we live week to week like most of the rest of you out there. It's a shame such a fun day can get so sketchy (and weird) behind the scenes, but that's my problem! Not yours! We're pulling out all the stops to make this our best Record Store Day ever! And make no mistake, Record Store Day, in the end, is a fantastic thing for the shops, the fans and everyone involved. We just wish they'd make more of the records! With all the cool stuff happening inside the shop, LLoyds Taco Truck will be parked right outside for you to maul foodstuffs. And don't be afraid to stop in before...we've got some cool stuff in-stock and heading to the used crates already. we are NOT holding back anything at this point, it's ging out as fast as we can price it! **end manifesto**
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IN-STORE PERFORMANCE LINE-UP (set times and performers are subject to change!)

11:30-12:15 Matt Smith (of the Orphans)
12:30-1:15 Tony Flaminio(of the Failures Union)
1:30 -2:00 Mark Costantino (of Fences Make Good Neighbors)
4:00-4:30 White Whale
5:00-5:30 Mallwalkers

stay tuned for up to the minute updates here, on facebook, twitter and if im really bored (doubtful), myspace!

i'm a wreck; a human mess! i do it all for you!
anchovies
4.12.11

RECORD STORE DAY UPDATE : Part Two

2011-03-27T23:53:00.010-04:00

Be prepared for an earlier opening time and some musical acts--some of the finest in town as a matter of fact. Tony Flaminio (Failures Union), White Whale, Treetop, Mark "Mark" Costantino (Fences make Good Neighbors/ex-Exit Strategy) are just a few of the confirmed acts who will be playing our dollar bin dungeon. And like an easter egg hunt--ever stack is worth a flip. We have become a bit more liberal with our buck specials as space limitations demand. No more gouged out Streisand turds...but maybe a mint copy of the first Cars album ain't such a bad way to blow a dollar bill. Just an example.

So you want lists? Here's a few titles we've ordered for ya:

Bad Brains - Pay To Cum 7"
Beach Boys (78 rpm?!)
Black Angels - Phosgene Nightmare 10"
Blitzen Trapper
Big Star - Third (test press edition)
Antony & the Johnsons - Swanlights
Puffy Areolas/Purling Hiss split
Boris - Attention Please
Discordance Axis - The Inalienable Dreamless lp
Eddy Current/Mean Jeans/Jack Oblivian/Wrong Words 7" (SXSW/RSD only)
Rise Against - Join the Ranks 7"
Gold Panda - Marriage 12"
Black Angels - Another Nice Pair
Quicksand s/t 7"(opaque blue)
Burn 7" s/t (opaque yellow)
Youth of Today s/t 7" (opaque red)
Elliott (gray vinyl) lp
Mates of State - Team Boo 12"
Boris - Heavy Rocks
OFF! - Live @ Generation 7"
Superchunk - Heres Were The Strings Come In lp/7" (hmmm)
Owen - O, Evelyn
Ryan Adams & the Cardinals
Plates - Garth Butcher ep (white vinyl with black specks)
Vivian Girls 7"
Kill Rock Stars compilation
Busdriver - ATM 12"
Of Montreal - Past Is A Grotesque Animal 12"
New Pornographers 7" (unreleased track)
Fucked Up (as V/A) - Town Comp LP (an entire lp of outtakes from their forthcoming album due out in june! A cool back story to this one, which will be released in an interesting concept form--but we'll let you discover the story on your own! Super limited.)
*check for super-marked down Fucked Up albums direct from Matador in the shop now!
Deerhunter 7"
Black Market Baby - Potential Suicide 7"(classic Killed By Death tracks and more, recorded by the legendary Skip Groff at Inner Ear and boasting 2 never before released tracks)super limited and essential DC hardcore punk.
the Frustrators Griller (red vinyl)7" featuring mike dirnt of some other band...
Touche Amore ...To The Beat of a Dead Horse lp
Flaming Lips (you know the deal...)

ok...if i keep going, there will be no part 3! This year, Record Store Day has really exploded. Over 250 "official and exclusive releases" and the smaller indies are getting in on the act, too. So add that to the 250 and things are officially 'off the proverbial hook'. we happen to find that in many cases, these smaller labels releases are the TRUE exciting items and we tried to snatch as many as we could. these are the records with the songs you won't find anywhere else.

Of course, the standards were focused on too...but there is more to Spiral Scratch Record Store Day 2011 than these exclusive slabs from some killer bands, and the live in-stores. Expect special giveaways, NEW Spiral Scratch t-shirts! Canvas Record Tote Bags (printed by our great friends at ARGY BARGY PRINTING and designed by Mark Hatley of Hatley Editorial & Design
.

More records? After our unfortunate fire last May, we packed up due to situation of our building, reluctantly at the time. Happy off Elmwood...we are still finding boxes of unpriced vinyl that never made it out of storage. A HUGE box of 7", old 45's was unearthed. We will be pricing these (the Nice Price™) and putting these out on Record Store Day, too. Some real classics including some local heroes of days gone by. This is not to say we will be with-holding used vinyl--it will go out as usual and we have been slammed lately--but this particular box has been deemed our exclusive RSD used box.

Just to be fair, please don't ask for holds or multiple copies of any exclusive titles. It puts me in a difficult spot and it's just not fair. We don't want to lose friends, break hearts or grant anyone special privileges over anyone else...so let's be cool and make this fun, because thats what its all about. And keep your eyes out for us...last year was the first time we actually witnessed a theft. as corny as this sounds, we're all kinda friends here, a small shop like this...watch our backs and we'll watch yours if you catch my drift. We'll be fully staffed--but if you see something shady, please let us know. And if yer hungry ( we recommend coming on an empty stomach), LLoyds Taco Truck will be out front with limited edition tacos, 180 gram burritos and opaque guacamole colored vinyl (maybe)!

Lastly, we hope to make this a great day for all our customers/friends who keep the ship afloat. And all of you who helped us after the fire--we haven't, nor will I ever, forget the lift we got from the people of Buffalo, labels as big as Matador and as small as Tic Tac Totally and Trouble In Mind. Receiving a package of records from my favorite band, the Cheater Slicks along with tons of others from as far as Italy and France has made this all worth while no matter what the outcome. Martin from Sit-n-Spin rebuilding our melted counter in the sweltering August heat, Norelle donating a laptop and the tons of folks who offered a hand or words of encouragement. Especially Bill Nehill and the benefit show--all who attended, all the bands who seemed to kick a little extra ass than usual that night, my mom and Team Scratch and basically anyone who has spent the time to walk through the door. Donny, the Artvoice cover, Buffalo Rising, Ryan from UB Generation and the Skunk Post....this could go on for ever, so it's time to wrap it up for now. The point is, we're gonna do our best to thank you on Record Store Day and every day before and after, for that matter. Thank You. Again.
-------------------------------------------------
Incoming Stock Report
DAVILA 666 - Tan Bajo Everyone I knew who attended SXSW this year (and missed the Screeching Weasel show!) came back raving about Davila 666. You need not understand a single word from this Puerto Rican 6 piece who have graced us with their second record on the never-fail In The Red Records. Though some of the shout-along garage thumpers of their first album have been replaced with sonic layers and potent songwrting, sometimes recalling the jangle of 60s girl groups (as performed by wild, shirtless Puerto Rican crazies), touches of psychedelic rock with a successful progression from their JAMC/VU garage rock of their debut...this band has taken a step forward (not to say the debut isn't essential--it is) with a tremendous sophomore effort that earned them the attention of "the big music media" this time around.

UV RACE - Homo The one-two punch this month from In The Red comes from Australia in the form of UV Race (did you catch their fantastic performance at the Fun Home last summer? when they were joined by mikey "eddy current" young?). well fans of ECSR won't be disappointed with pals UV Race on this, their second album. This is a band who dabbles in proto-punk, post-punk, krautrock and psychedelia...ultimately churning out some outlandishly catchy tracks. male and female vox, a cozy organ and more great aussie rock and roll. A band to watch.

LIEUTENANT s/t Buffalo Hardcore fans have waited a long time for the release of this bombastic explosion of pure hardcore. They even got together the other night and played an overwhelming set to commemorate the occasion. Featuring memebers of Resist Control (Matto), Gas Chamber (Pat Bulger), Lemuria (Alex Kearns) and local hero/jack of all trades Eric Ellman--calling this a supergroup would be unfair and corny, yet ultimately true as all of the members are currently in other actively successful bands and 3 out of the 4 run record labels, all of which had a hand in releasing this. Matto's Peterwalkee label, Bulgers' Warm Bath Label and Kearns' Art of the Underground all have thier stamp on this slab--limited to 300 copies (100 which are colored). I'd give this one about a month or so to sell out. A snapshot of Buffalo activity right now, though the band is most likely not functioning on a regular basis--this document will be an essential album regardless. Check it out here.

BRITISH SEA POWER - Valhalla Dancehall By now, you know if you're a British sea Power fan or not, as they are not newcomers to the world of indie rock...which means they probably won't be getting the press of "the next big thing", yet you know what to expect from them. The sounds of UK post-punk, played proficiently and with a sense of humor in tow. And to think a good number of indie bands towing this line have a short shelf life, BSP have been at it for quite some time and their is probably a reason for that. Think about it for a minute...then stop down, we have them in stock waiting for you.

TY SEGALL BAND - Live In Aisle 5 Somehow this well recorded live album, featuring a full band backing up the young Segall, ha vanished. That means these are already out of print and selling for well over $20 online! But since you've been so kind to us, we're going to play dumb on this one and just price it as we normally would. Now I'm not a big fan of live albums, especially when it's not not Dylans with the Band, but this has a great, full sound to it, fun banter and the usual oddball covers thrown in with the hits that Segall loves to blast out. You can hear the beer bottles clanging together, the loudmouths in the club and most importantly, the songs. An important record for any fan of Segall, who has a new album in the can to boot as his name righteously gets out their to the masses. Once again...we told ya so.

HOMOSTUPIDS - Strawberry Peach Banana Kings of Skull Rock...shit, kings of punk rock as far as some of us are concerned, our beloved Homostupids played in our dungeon a few days before this "long playa" was released and word on the street is they went into an actual studio (instead of placing a boombox under water) to record this one and the results are what was always hiding--songs! Personally, I love it all, but after seeing them live I was longing for slightly more 'audible recordings' and the crushing results are here, folks. Though not for the faint of heart..if you like it raw, dropped on the head and loose, this shits for you. Featuring the ex-singer of Nine Shocks Terror, aloose-cannon buffalo ex-pat, 15 years removed and a tireless drummer (and guest appearances by Josh's young daughter on guitar/ramblings...hell, she probably named the album AND the band), this ones a keeper. Their "slick album", it's still rough around the edges and crushing. Primitive punk rock for those who still believe.

More punk than since that first single, as a matter of fact. Wanna watch them kill it in the Spiral Scratch Dungeon? Click here and compliments of the shaky camera/show document-er Clint Carr.

LOS DUG DUG'S s/t aka Lost In My World (description "borrowed" from more another source, yet right on the money) Los Dug Dug's self titled debut (also known as "Lost in My World"): the "must have" first album (1971) from psychedelic guru Armando Nava and his band, recorded after their failed trip to NYC did not produce the stardom they had been promised—pain and disappointment sparking great song-writing on this, the first Mexican psych album in English. An American tourist was so impressed that he offered to bankroll a trip for the band to New York City. The group played a handful of live dates and recorded a few demos, but having no money to pay the union fees necessary to earn them the opportunity to play NYC's larger venues left them with little choice but to return to Mexico. Los Dug Dug's immediately began work on their first LP for RCA Mexico, little knowing at the time that it would become a classic of psychedelia. [The results of failure and band differences essentially splitting up the bands first incarnation is this] heavy, explosive album, a record which captures the fever/dream humidity of flower children running amok on a July afternoon. Essential. 180 gram vinyl.

KEY RESTOCKS
MUMMIES - Play Their Own Records The first Mummies album, actually a singles comp, is finally backin stock alongside "Never Been Caught". Essential 90s garage punk.

SEX CHURCH - 6 Sons With... Sex Church is a band from Vancouver, Canada. Their music is inspired by depression, frustration, disappointment and other such inner turmoils that are the sources of great works of art.
Like bands such as The Wipers and Cheater Slicks, Sex Church takes that gloom and doom and spews it out in a punk and garage blueprint mixed with some hard driving krautrock repetitiveness as well as melodic shoegaze elements and turn something ugly into something beautiful.
"6 Songs by Sex Church", their debut full length LP, shows the world what this band is truly capable of featuring moody numbers like "Old Enough" "I Don't Wanna Die" and "The Floor", as well ripping hard driving numbers like "Not Anymore" "Ghost" and "Mistaken".
A perfect follow up to their single on Sweet Rot Records and a perfect record for fans of bummer rock n drone. A Spiral Scratch unanimous Top 10 of 2010 pick.

OF MONTREAL - Hissing Fauna Are You The Destroyer? The 2007 career defining master piece from Athens, GA pop masters. A personal opus, reissued in fine form. Deluxe double lp packaging with 2 180 gram lps and a 18"x24" poster included, as well as the free download.

CHEVEU - 1000 lp "Paris, France's Cheveu's newest release 1000 shows a much more polished and slicker sound than their previous releases, portraying the band's growth and adventurous, other-worldly style. That's not to say it doesn't sound like a Cheveu album, which is usually pretty damned difficult to pinpoint anyhow. Expect a whole new foray of sounds that include full horn arrangements, crazy Run DMC-style beats, and the usual flurry of noisy electronics and Rolling Stones-type blues riffs. Limited to only 1,000 copies on black vinyl in North America. Amazing cover art made out of fruit stickers and other fun stuff."

-SERGE GAINSBOURG - "...Melody Nelson"
-DEATH - "...For The Whole World To See"
-CRASS - "Feeding of the 5000"
-CRASS - "Penis Envy"
-STRAIGHT ARROWS - "It's Happening"
-VERNON WRAY - "Wasted"
-LOW THREAT PROFILE s/t
-MARKED MEN s/t
-CITIZENS ARREST - "Colossus"
-LCD SOUNDSYSTEM - "Sound of Silver"

7"
-COLA FREAKS
-WOMEN IN PRISON
-SONOROUS GALE (restock)
-XRAY EYEBALLS
-PSYCHED TO DIE
-NOFX/SPITS
-OFF! 4 ep box (restock)

Not sure wether to apologize or flex "deez" for the length and effort of this post, but thanks for reading regardless and come visit soon!

anchovies
3.28.11
5:18 a.m.

RECORD STORE DAY UPDATE : Part One

2011-03-17T01:04:00.005-04:00

here it comes. here it comes. here comes the Record Store Day nervous breakdown....

so you want to know whats coming?? well, we'd love to know for sure ourselves...but the truth is, we really don't know for sure. quantities can vary, no matter what you hear, certain titles have been limited to tiny pressings.

As usual, you can see whats happening straight from the source via RecordStoreDay.com

But...we kinda want it to be a surprise...but the cats cant help but come out of the bag. We wont keep you totally in the dark (like Billy Squier). Bigger releases from Syd Barrett, Superchunk, Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, Skip James, Fucked Up (sorry, we're not on the cover this year), Television, Velvet Underground, Opeth, Mates of State, Bad Brains, Discordance Axis, Fleet Foxes, Grateful Dead, Mississippi John Hurt, Blitzen Trapper, New pornographers, neurosis, OFF!, Of Montreal, Rise Against, Rival Schools, QUEEN, Boris, Youth of Today, Quicksand, Elliot, Justin Townes Earle and loads more. And i do mean loads. Plus, our regular stock will be beefed up and some "hold back" used records will be available on this day.

To us, whats more exciting is the smaller labels/bands that do well in our little shop offering exclusive RSD releases you may not find anywhere else. These, will be the surprise. And we are certain you'll flip over some of them...as we have ourselves. Remember, the best way to get the inside scoop is to drop in and say 'hello'.

A few weeks back, we hosted a 'test show' with some live-n-loud bands. Things went well, so we'll-for the first time, be able to offer live music (in our dungeon just a few steps away from the racks). We are still confirming acts, but promise some of Buffalo's finest acoustic, indie, punk and "otherwise unlabeled" musical acts performing when we're not spinning cool records. More announcements in the coming days, folks. Be patient...this will be our third Record Store Day and we've learned a few things in that time. Our new location offers much more room to roam for customers, too.

Our good friend, Susan Tanner and her hubby Marty Boratin are "hard at work" in Austin at SXSW. Susan is moderating a panel based on this very event! Two very awesome people who deserve to be having FUN right now. As for the RSD panel, read about it here.
-------------------------------------------------------------

whats back in stock recently?
CITIZENS ARREST A NYHC classic--the band Ted Leo once shouted for (though not on these recordings--just a demo). The complete 2 disc anthology compiles the bands entire recorded output, packaged with an in-depth full size booklet of pictures, discography & lyrics, as well as a full sized poster. An essential document from an essential band--back in print for a time. Don't miss out this time as they went fast last time and quickly disappeared from our grasp.

QUICKSAND - Slip We scored a few of these and don't expect them to be around long, either. A 90s classic album, available on vinyl at a price that "wpnt cost you an arm and leg".

SPARKLEHORSE - 2 reissues on Plain Records,
more classic 90s reissue here--but of a different variety. Heavy and light. A couple of crucial albums. The heavilly acclaimed debut from 1996, Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot, which comes with bonus 7" and Good Morning Spider--the 1998 album released after leader Mark Linkous nearly fatal drug reaction and subsequent year long stay in a London hospital. A brutally honest take on Americana, darkness and straight-up honest songwriting.

INFEST- DEMOS LP/SLAVE LP

MUSIC MACHINE - TALK TALK

THEM - Angry, Young Them A young Van Morrison and his ferocious 60s garage band.

A fully loaded "incoming/used" bin to keep you occupied, too.

Lets end it there for now---so Part II is even more exciting, eh? I'm kinda tired, too and the cat is trying to type....

anchovies
3.17.11
2:27 am, e.s.t.

happy
birthday
mom!

Marching into March

2011-03-05T05:27:00.012-05:00

It's just over a month away from the highly anticipated RECORD STORE DAY. we're excited just as you are...but the stress will be on our end. try and let us know what you seek beforehand so you wont be disappointed. once again, we can't afford the "independent truckload" of releases ( a lot of them garbage, anyway), so lets just be specific as always. its the way we like to play it. quality always trumps quantity.

Issues at hand: our latest incoming stock. Some cool new releases, essential reissues, crucial restocks and oft overlooked classics.

PJ HARVEY - Let England Shake - Harvey's #8 studio album in a remarkable 20 year career was one whose music was based on pre-written lyrics--dark and gloom subject matter like the darkest of them all-war. In this case, The Great War--WWI, but thats just the symbolism and the subject matter--coupled together with the songs produce an album unique and unlike anything the Great Queen Polly Jean has done before. Might as well stand and take notice now, as this one is sure to be lauded at years end.
TALIB KWELI - Gutter Rainbows Freed from the confines of a major label, as the cliche goes, Kweli here makes an album that he wanted to make and made for himself. Though the overwhelming production is said to have been stripped down somewhat, it is certainly not a major departure album. Fans will certainly be pleased with Kweli's classic rap formula, rather than forced attempts to reinvent it. No, we dont just sell punk records.

CLOCKCLEAN ER - Nevermind (this description has been lifted, with great respect/without permission, from NYC Academy Records blog--because I, a huge fan of the band and Mr Sharkey himself, couldn't have said it any better myself. Sharkey hated many things, and was hated back with vigor...but he loved and was loved Buffalo. A closer look into the man can explain that. regardless, read on)
Fan Death Records is proud to bring you CLOCKCLEANER’s legendary first LP Nevermind, receiving its first vinyl release. Allegedly written while singer/guitarist JOHN SHARKEY was suffering from a weeks-long case of bilateral amnesia, Nevermind shocked those listeners lucky enough to hear it with its acidic, misanthropic noise-rock spew. Live, Clockcleaner took an uncompromising approach towards alienating audiences, bands, and venues, leading a local alt-weekly to crown them "the most hated band in Philadelphia" in a cover story. While more sensitive types bristled at tracks called "Interview w/ a Black Man" and "Gentle Swastika" (among others), those who were able to stand through their seizure-inducing live shows and vulgar display of reverb found that this band actually wrote songs. Darkly humorous songs with an attitude corrosive enough to melt the mustache off a Northern Liberties Man Man fan. After you've come to know and love Babylon Rules and Auf Wiedersehen, you'd be doing yourself a favor by coming back to where it all began. Includes a download.
KLEENEX™/LiLiPuT - 4x LP Box
With Mississippi Records, it's a safe bet you are being exposed to something interesting, perhaps overlooked during its lifetime and packaged beautifully--you're gettin your moneys worth. This 4 LP box doesnt musically expand upon the previous 2 cd KillRockStars Anthology, but it does break it up into 8 sides of vinyl with a beautiful book all packaged into a tough as nails old school tip-on style box. We thank Dave @ Revolver/Midheaven for tipping us off to these before they vanished (they havent vanished from the shop yet...what are you waiting for??). A truly unique, all female band from Zurich, Sweden--Kleenex may be best known publically for Kimberly-Clarks demand they change their name (hence, Liliput), but their fances never dropped the Kleenex. Instead, they became unofficially referred to as Kleenex-Liliput. Musically, the band was a unique punk band (with an occasional male passing through the line-up), feminist and up-front.
They toured with the likes of the Raincoats, Subway Sect, Gang of Four and Swell Maps. In 1980, the corporate giants ame down on them for their use of Kleenex. Not to be overlooked, is a 10"x10" full color booklet, 12 pages long, of photos and words. A crucial piece of music history presented right and worth every penny. Hopefully when they're gone, they make more as their is clearly a demand.

BRIGHT EYES A reissue of a collaboration betwixt Nina Divona & Bright Eyes originally released on Crank! in 2004, now issued by Saddle Creek with 4 additional songs (making it a long player) on 180 grams of vinyl and with download in tact.

SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE - Asleep On The Floodplain - released in a few weeks back on Drag City, this is their latest.

LOW ANTHEM - SMART FLESH - Another one only a few weeks old, this is Low Anthems follow-up to their '08 debut. Dreamy Americana. As the Washington Post has put it, "The Low Anthem isn't the first bunch of indie rockers to experiment with older string-band instruments and echoes of the songs of pre-1940 rural America. But no one has done it better than this Rhode Island trio... That's because very few bands have paid so much attention to detail, or to beauty."

JAZZ, DADDY-O
Chet the Jet, my late father and spiritual partner (we were to be partners before his passing shortly before we opened) was a wild jazz fan...as wild as i am a punk rock geezer. Eventually, I took notice. Going beyond that, helpful customers have made suggestions and through my own further research, we have continues to stock classic jazz reissue records. The obvious, some may say, like Coltane, Mingus, Charlie Parker, Ornette Coleman, Brubeck along with some other incredible yet lesser known "beats" like Theolonius Monk, Lee Morgan, Grant Green and others can be found mixed in the new and used albums. Sometimes the glut of reissues makes it hard to keep up and while we do our best, we always look for the input of our well trained customers. Don't be shy...let us know what you're after. If you're tired of seeing 3 figure price tags on beat up early presses, many of these reissues are done by the original labels who released them in the first blace (Blue Note, Impulse!, Vanguard, etc). Lately, we have dabbled into the works of Archie Shepp and some other new ones. you'll just have to keep flipping or miss out. we recommend coming to visit as the weather gets somewhat more tolerable.

KEY RESTOCKS
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM - Sound of Silver 2x lp
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM - This is happening 2x lp
FRESH & ONLYS - s/t
FRESH & ONLYS - Play It Strange
RESIDENTS - Not Available
TOM WAITS - Closing Time
OH SEES - Dog Poison
SHANGRI-LA'S - LEADER OF THE PACK
MAYDAY! 7"
COWORKERS/INERDS split 7"
LEMURIA - PEBBLE
DRI - Violent Pacification 7"
OFF! 7" Box
OWEN - New Leaves
THE JAM - All Mod Cons
I OBJECT 7"
OTIS REDDING - Pain In My Heart
TOO $HORT - Life Is...
BLIND WILLIE MCTELL - Early Years 1927-1933
BIG BLACK - 3 7"'s

PREVIOUSLY ENJOYED -
As preparation for the february 18th show in the dungeon, as well as our good pals/former neighbors at RISE ABOVE TATTOO informing us of untold boxes of surviving used records in the bowels of our former location, the "used section" has blown up with some super cool titles and great deals. We're packed to the max, so come find some gems and help us make space for more incoming stuff. Dust gatherers have been relocated to the Dollar Bin where some excellent deals can be found. And if you still love those plastic silvery discs, we have a good few rows of still-in-the -shrinkwrap discs from national and local artists. Lots of great titles from Jay reatard, Hold Steady, expanded Ramones discs, baseball Furies, Iceberg, My Bloody Valentine, Dirtbombs and basically no junky shit. Also, it should be known not a single cd is over $9.99. We pride ourselves on our low prices of both vinyl and digital--which involves not beinglazy when ordering and your patience is appreciated. As is your support. Thank You.

anchovies
3.5.11
7:37 a.m. (!)
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post script post script post script post script
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MATADOR SUPER SALE (and various other Matador related releases)
In a reverse move in the topsy-turvey world of rock and roll [sic], the mighty Matador Records has slashed prices on some classic, essential releases. Some of these, in stock, include classics from GUIDED BY VOICES (Alien Lanes, Under The Bushes Under The Stars), JAY REATARD (Watch Me Fall), INTERPOL (self titled), MISSION OF BURMA, NEW PORNOGRAPHERS (Electric Version, Twin Cinema)and some choice other surprises.
In addition, the latest from Philly's "Constant Hitmaker", singer-songwrter Kurt Vile--Smoke Rings For My Halo. Vile has moved away from the lo-fi charm which graced his earlier albums in favor of a straight ahead style with cleaner production which opens the door to appreciate both Vile's penchant for melody and pretty impressive guitar playing. In the past, that has been obscured (in a good way) by white noise, space sounds and limitations of a 4-track recorder, all hallmarks which gave him the "psychedelic-folk" tag--now everything is out in the open and the result is another move in the right direction for this incredibly talented kid. Great songs make a great album.

anchovies
3.5.11
4:54 p.m.
###

SKULL MUSIC IN-STORE

2011-02-21T21:43:00.012-05:00

2.18.11
a date we had all somewhat cautiously approached. many concerns were brought up and for a tiem, there was consideration the entire show be moved. for one, the HOMOSTUPIDS are not your average punk rock band. with at least one ex-nine shocks terror member (and he's not really the "crazy" one), i personally have attended shows of theirs were i thought my life was endangered. but buffalo proved itself once again.
*

no, it wasn't tame by any means. and thats a good thing. these shows are not meant to be tame. they are supposed to be a little dangerous. and by god, it was. but we incurred minimal damage, no theft (that we are aware of) and most of the attendees are customers/friends...all who kept an eye out for anything over the top.

the evening of music began with the beloved UTAH JAZZ, Buffalo's long awaited spastic, bass-less garage punk band featuring members of MAYDAY!, Brown Sugar, Baast and a couple ex-City Creeps.
The smiling bloke on right guitar was instrumental in putting the entire thing together, along with an unpictured Chuck Barrels--both of whom saw that the Spiral Scratch Dungeon was game ready.
Of course, one of punk rocks finer units, HOMOSTUPIDS, returned to Buffalo to play where they enjoy most--below sea-level. Some fans frustrated with their lo-fi recordings get a taste this trio means serious business, can play and have songs to back it all up in the live setting. They seemed tickled to be back in Buffalo--which they are admitted fans of. Tickled pink and even rare smiles:

Rounding out the evening was post-hiatus PLATES. Eventually, and without being too self-indulgent, we took to the floor and banged through a set that began under cover of darkness.
*

We'd like to think it was a smashing success and thank all who took time out of their busy friday evening to converge upon the 'Scratch to witness this show.
Our crack security squad: Chuck Barrels, Malik, Marisa & Sam, Stokes!, Carson and all of our customers and friends who again, had fun and got ugly--but respected our little place. And although these particular shots were taken by Anchovies and Stokes--a special thanks to Clint Carr for his hundreds of shots that can be seen here: lots of pics and video

anchovies
2.22.11
3:18am

return of the BLOG

2011-02-13T23:06:00.019-05:00

(banner by mark "joops" hatley--A+ dude)

where did it go? laziness? perhaps...but then it vanished. and now its back.

no further questions!

it's been a long, cold winter for all of us...and, for many of us, that means being a hermit more often than not and what better way to hole up in your crib than with some cool records to keep things interesting? none, i say. and we've got what you need (in most cases...if not, let us know what you need and we'll do our damnedest to find it as quickly as possible).

our pal Felix von Havoc (and the man who helped coined our store "Spiral Scratch" has, through his fine Havoc Records label, reissued some classic punk rock. We are proud to serve up reissues from DISCHARGE, VARUKERS, MDC and more. This is also our source for classic titles from BAD BRAINS (Rock For Light---superior euro mix), The PIST, REGULATIONS, POISON IDEA (Feel The Darkness) and more.

a snapshot of some recent units to have come through the door (and out the door, in most cases)

FEBRUARY 18th: a day that might live in infamy.
of course, there is much more happening every day. we have been making a conscious effort to unleash hundreds of used backstock, which had been sitting unpriced for months as we try to keep up with collections coming in frequently. in an effort to make room for the upcoming HOMOSTUPIDS/PLATES/UTAH JAZZ show on february 18th. if you plan on attending, we ask you respect the Scratch, our neighbors and everyone around you. any dickheads will be promptly removed by our "Heavy Dudes Security Team™". And yes, the cameras do work. we ask you not to be that guy (or girl). also, keep in mind space is LIMITED. we love you all, but in the interest of safety, the law, our lease and others who want to enjoy this show--we will be forced to turn folks away if it becomes too crowded.

SCRATCH and SNIFF zine:

Issue #3 will be out soon! If you missed the first issues, a small reprint will be made available for a time. After issue #1 is gone, it will be gone for good...don't sleep. Editor-In-Chief B. Gaffney is hard at work laying it all out while our foxhole buddy Chuck Barrels will man the repress machine.

SOME LOCAL RELEASES OF NOTE:
A four-way split involving some of Buffalo's coolest singer-songwriters, playing acoustically for the most part, a part of the BORN TO KILL vinyl compilation 7".
Fences Make Good Neighbors (members and/or ex-members of Exit Strategy, Failures Union, Palomar Sky Survey (!)), Ellen West (Missing Planes), Tony Flaminio (Failures Union) and the amazing Bill "Tracey Morrow" Nehill. A digital version includes extra tracks. Brought to us from One Percent Press/Headless Actor.

Another comp of note comes to us from Warm Bath Label entitled BUFFALO BRUTALITY. As you could imagine, this title is self-explanatory. Some of Buffalo's most br00tal including Inerds, Resist Control, Avulsion, Morax, Ordinary Men & Women, Scheisse Krieg & Ancients of Earth round out this crushing 7" record.

Lindsey & Jack Topht, Buffalo's favorite "power couple", make their 7" vinyl debut (in anticipation of a lengthy tour), all with handmade covers. Everything you'd come to expect from this eccentric dynamic duo, right down to the incredible artwork on the sleeves.

To Hell And Back -- technically an Albany outfit, THAB features the beloved Matto and have unleashed a full length of straight ahead ROCK. Think Turbonegro sans homosexual imagery or Kiss with balls and without the make-up. LP is pressed on opaque blue wax and comes with a digital download. Keep an eye out for their release show coming up when the weather breaks. Another Peterwalkee release. (Don't forget the Figgs "Sucking In Stereo" reissue from a few months back)

Unwelcome Guests also have graced us with their latest 7".

From the ashes of long running, under appreciated BLOWTOPS rise the FATAL FIGURES. More Scientists, Pussy Galore influenced dark garage punk. They are now armed with a debut 7" which includes, surprisingly, a Pussy Galore cover. After parting ways with their frontman Creepy Dave Brand, the remaining members forge ahead as a trio proving that these folks are "lifers" who are unfazed by the criminal lack of attention they have received locally while achieving acclaim internationally. Released on none other than BIG NECK RECORDS.

We will also be re-stocking crucial Feral Kid Records releases including Mayday!, Coworkers/Inerds split, Rational Animals, an upcoming Death Trap 7" and pretty much everything else that is offered from this important prolific Buffalo imprint.

Other new releases of note:
Dismemberment Plan - Emergency 2xlp reissue.
OFF! 4x7" box set with fancy booklet. Playing at the Mohawk Place 3/30.
Low Threat Profile 12" long player.
Dirtbombs - Party Store 3x lp. An adventurous homage to detroit electronic/house music played by one of the greats, led by garage legend Mick Collins.
Mogwai - Hardcore... 2x lp/7"
Lemuria - Pebble Hardworking Buffalo outfit unleash breakthrough album, out of place, on Bridge 9 (!!!).
Lemuria/Cheap Girls split 7"
Boomgates 7" - Aussie outfit featuring Brendan Suppression of Eddy Current Suppression Ring, his girlfriend and some other blokes.
Straight Arrows import LP - More Aussie greatness...one of my favorites in recent months, a psychedelic-pop killer of an album.
Gentleman Jesse - ...Wrong Guy 7" After unleashing one of the great power pop albums in recent years in 2008, Gentleman jesse & His Men hit the road hard for a time and return in top form with this limited 7" ep. Another gem that no self-respecting power-pop fan should be without. And make no mistake, this is the real deal--not some Warped Tour schlock pop punk turd masquerading as power pop.
Ride - Nowhere A classic shoegazing masterpiece available on thick vinyl for the first time in...quite some time. Includes their standard Vapor Trails. An all around classic of the genre.
plus new stuff from DESTROYER 2xLP, AGAINST ME (7"), DUM DUM GIRLS 12", SUPERTOUCH 7" and plenty more.
Restocks (partial)
The Fall - Live at The Witch Trials/Dragnet/Grotesque LPs. One of the greats. Now significantly cheaper than previously. Why are you paying more, sucker? We also have This Nations Saving Grace and the Wonderful World of the Fall in stock.
Shangri-La's - Leader of the Pack/'65 LPs - still on Red Bird!--sorry collector geeks, but these are identical to the originals and sound GREAT!

Blind Willie Mctell - One of the great country-bluesmen; a fantastic collection of many of his great numbers. A must for any early acoustic blues fan. Which brings us to:
Bukka "Booker" White LP, reissued by the excellent 4 Men With Beards Label, the same bearded fellas who bring us fine reissues by WIRE, TELEVISION, BUZZCOCKS, FUNKADELIC, FLIPPER and more. Top quality.

That's all for now. Stay tuned for Part II of this entry and we'll keep you informed of things going on at the Scratch.

Don't forget to tune into SPIRAL, SCRATCH & SNIFF RADIO every saturday at our NEW time, 10-midnight on saturday evenings. Too anti-social for the endless dance-party circuit? Dig the longest running (15 years?!) free-form rock and roll radio show in Buffalo! With hosts Anchovies, Chuck Barrels & Get Mugged! Rock and roll, punk rock, hardcore, power-pop, post-punk, proto-punk, new wave, noise and whatever else feels right.
Tune those transistor radios to 91.3 fm or check it out on streaming live at wbny.org

thanks for reading and come visit us soon!

anchovies
2/14/11
5:07 a.m.

Thanksgiving, Danksgiving & Indie Black Friday

2010-11-21T13:25:00.013-05:00

Black Friday,a pockmark on our society, our country and those who inhabit it. People literally are killed in a mad rush in the freak hours of the day in seek of a bargain. no self-respecting Spiral Scratch customer would be caught dead at one of these freak shows (we hope---geeze). plus, you'll find plenty of bargains at the Scratch every day. Typicallly not our busiest day of the year, the folks who have brought to us Record Store Day had a brilliant idea--Indie Black Friday. Thats right, we've been sitting on this box of stuff, only to be unleashed on Black Friday. However, there is no chance of us opening at 7 a.m. Unless you hear different--regular hours. (flexibly, noon.)
Whats in the box, you say?
Exclusive releases from Drive-By Truckers, Gaslight Anthem, Iron & Wine, Jimi Hendrix, Slayer, Soundgarden, MGMT and more. yep, thats all the info you get. In addition, we are outing a bunch of recently discovered used records that have been in storage since the move to Bryant Street. some real winners in there, and other gold nuggets we've acquired recently. More collections coming in as the days pass, too much pricing for one man.
Speaking of this madness, Matador, and 4AD recording artists The NATIONAL have released an expanded edition of their album HIGH VIOLET (cd only). This disc will be made available separately for the one day only price of $8. that's right, *8 bucks for a full companion disc/download featuring an updated recording of Terrible Love, unreleased tracks, and some bonus live material. A 7" will also be released in conjunction with the disc. Violet Friday, Goddamnit! *one day, only.
Spiral Scratch is the ONLY VIOLET FRIDAY participating store within a 100 mile radius! This includes surprises from Matador, 4AD, too pure & XL Recordings...things you might be interested in like reissues from the Fall and other cool stuff. Prices viciously slashed.

Lastly, the highly sought after Spiral Scratch Gift Certificates will make their return this week, along with some brow-raising re-stocks, new releases and whatnot.
-The Parting Gifts - Strychnine Dandelion (featuring Greg 'Oblivian' Cartwright)
-Tyvek - Nothing Fits Tyvek, who we watched grow up, are peaking with their second proper full length, not to mention some nifty cover art.
-Iron Lung - Life. Iron Lung. Death. (re-issue just released last week)
-Neil Young - Le Noise accidentally sent to us, we are selling this a hair above wholesale making this overpriced record almost affordable. we will be returning them after next week. you wont find it cheaper--if you do, someone's cheatin'
Torche - Songs For Singles
Earth - A Bureaucratic Desire For Extra-Capsular Extraction
Purling Hiss - PSA/Hissteria/Purling Hiss. Michael Polizze plays guitar for 'lo-fi' guitar psych creepers, Birds of Maya when he is not recording his own, fuzzed out psych/space blasts on his solo albums. As someone noted, Polizze sounds, at times, like he's playing guitar to save his life. Fans of heavy, fuzzed out, spacey psych-ROCK take note...three solo albums re-released on 3 top notch indie labels (Richie, Woodsist and Permanent Records (super cool folks from chicago, who double as chicago's best record shop).
Man Or Astro-man? Debut lp from surf astromen. where were you in '92? Loserpallooza? Bringin'the mosh™? Look what ya' missed! Estrus has unveiled more copies of this classic debut. We have them for you.
NEW 7" records!
OHSEES, DUM DUM GIRLS, KITTY LITTLE/SCIENTIFIC MAPS split, INTEGRITY reissues and more restocks. Lots of killer used vinyl priced to move unveiled this friday (11/26). No peeking...

Support your local labels!
In addition to our constant touting of the mighty fine Feral Kid imprint, and ex pat label BIG NECK RECORDS--several regional labels are putting out quality, good looking product. The bands are not necessarily local--these are people pouring their hard earned money into releasing music they believe in and should be commended, if nothing else, for their efforts in making Buffalo a better place to be--musically speaking. I mean, what else is there, anyway? also: Buy their records.

--Peterwalkee Records! Matto seems, from afar, to defy "time constraints" of daily life. he's in like 5 bands, goes to school and runs a record label. Most recently, Peterwalkee has reissued the class act Figgs "Sucking in Stereo" album. Thats just the tip of the 'berg, as they say from this Capital District DIY Maniac. A recent Kitty Little/Scientific Maps 7" and another Figgs release, the Casino Hayes 7", are recent releases from this ongoing label.

-WARM BATH LABEL. Recently cherry picked 7 of buffalo's most brooootal and released a compilation on 7". (one band per inch!) Resist Control, Inerds, SCHEISSE KRIEG, Ordinary Men & Women, Avulsion, Ancients of Earth and Morax.
Warm Bath also has a gnarly distro which can probably be accessed at their myspace page

-Desire Path Recordings upstart label with an LP release of Solo Andata's Ritual. read more about Desire Path here.

-One Percent Press No stranger to buffalo music and beyond, good ol' boy stephen "percent" floyd has, upon relocating to the Empire State, dedicated resources to putting out records by (and playing bass for*) Everything Falls Apart, Failures Union and more recently non-localized bands like Venice Is Sinking and involvement with a split band/split label 12" from the Convocation. Read more about the label, whats going on and the mysterious Minnesota "connection" at their official website, which boasts audio and visual clues as to what to expect from the labels offerings.

*i wanted that job.

-Last, but not least, the pretty prolific Vega Vinyl, which has put out area and non-regional releases. The Giant Squid album looks about as cool as anything i've seen released in quite some time. VV spares no expense. Also in stock from the label is Damiera, Constants and a 3-way lp featuring East Of The Wall, Year of No Light & Rosetta. Read all about them here.

if you know of any other labels releasing good stuff based in the area, let us know.
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11/26 [friday] Don't forget the JOE BOMPCZYK MEMORIAL TRIBUTE SHOW.
this show is a benefit for joe's kids, as joe, a founding member of buffalo's legendary ENEMIES, succumbed to a bout with cancer. he was a dear uncle to our own richie and a buffalo music benchmark. we will be donating a gift certificate in addition to the other stuff the organizers have going on.

12/1 [wednesday] Spiral Scratch Night at the Mohawk!!
The Scratch and Mohawk become one as staffers unite and play their favorite records.
DANCE PARTY! Donations to the Buffalo Animal Shelter will enter you automatically to win a hefty gift certificate, too. please check their site, see what they do and do NOT need and if you have some laying around...bring it down. If you cant make the dj night, bring it here!
celebrity dj's include:

anchovies
still bill
"mark"
t.m. street pervert
barrels, chas

shenanigans shall ensue.

anchovies
11.21.10

"what's the name of this place again, brah?"

2010-10-28T04:08:00.009-04:00

*******
blogging. time consuming, yet crucial to the curious consumer. this posting is dedicated to my late best friend, my dog of 9 years--rescued at 2-ish, the british bred chocolate labrador retriever who stumbled into my life (as it was crumbling), took shits in the weirdest of places, would eat anything but celery (good for him, i wont eat that crap either)and probably the most willing to hang out with me these passed few years. He succumbed a year long battle with cancer and arthritis a few weeks ago leaving my world quite emptied. I understand this is the STORE blog, but i would be remiss without eulogizing one of the creatures on this rotten planet that meant the world to me.
as a result, some things have slowed down (he telepathically helped me order in new stock). i apologize if these have effected/affected you in any way, or i've been a grouch behind the counter-- and i have been. short wick. but things continue blah blah blah. the milkbones remain on the counter and if yer strolling by with your french poodle, don't hesitate to bring them in. this goes for your bikes, too. now, on to the business at hand.
I: Incoming/New Releases

the latest from legendary imprint, In The Red Records, brings forth a batch of new and upcoming releases.
CHEAP TIME - Fantastic Explanations A few years back, Memphis' Tennessee unleashed Cheap Time's debut, a herky-jerky catchy punk rock record that drew comparisons from early Redd Cross, most notably. The band even, through much begging with basement show folks, played a blazing set at the late Death Trap located at 29 Custer Street. They were unknown at the time, but managed to leave with a hundred bucks, some food and a batch of new fans. Then Jeffrey Novak retreated to the bedroom and unleashed a major departure solo album, all of which he wrote and played. The light pressing (500?) was so good, it stunned folks. 60s pop influenced (someone said it made XTC sound like george jones) all around, it was packed with well written hits.
On Fantastic Explanations, that solo album style worked its way into Cheap Times uptempo punk style and these are the results. A top shelf sophmore album.

FRESH & ONLYS - Play It Strange The girls are gone, the uptempo garage rock ravers are gone, but the mood isn't quite as dark as their previous album. Not content to sit in one place for long on their third album (an 8.0 on Pitchfork so you have to own it). While the rest of the world is catching up with the Fresh & Onlys, Spiral Scratch customers have been snatching up their singles and lp's--3 in a year and a half with this being the first to escape any semblance of an unfair "lo-fi" tag. Well crafted and memorable, often dreamy 60s pop (i think they've left the garage completely) songs that fill an album that is being critically acclaimed and coinsidered a "best of so far" by some high brow publications. **Waterfall= from "Play It Strange"

coming soon from In The Red (11/11) TYVEK Nothing Fits LP (their masterpiece?) and The PARTING GIFTS (featuring Greg 'Oblivian' Cartwright of Reigning Sound!)
*all Reigning Sound lp's back in stock and several 7"'s on the way.

BELLE & SEBASTIAN - Write About Love - The latest from this force of indie rock comes with a free 7" with "bonus tracks" and a contest in which you....write about love (300 words) and send it back to Matador (secret code inside). More details at the counter. This may be Belle & Sebastians finest moment in years, at least a few. A certain step away from the preceding album, which, if you like, is available alongside reissues of Tigermilk, If You're Feeling Sinister and the Boy with The Arab Strap.

More from el Matador: the recent efforts from RATATAT (LP4) ,DEERHUNTER 'Halcyon Digest', BRITISH SEA POWER 12" (6 songs), MISSION OF BURMA (plus the reissues now available as single budget priced lp's and deluxe editions, Pixies and pavement back catalogs.

Some other newer releases:
NOBUNNY-First Blood (incredible follow-up to the smash hit debut (also in stock) plus an assortment of Nobunny 7 "'s.

WOVEN BONES- In and Out and Back Again LP - not that new, but worth noting--comparisons to VU and Jesus and Mary chain abound, the Woven Bones stand strong on their own merits and the recent 7" shows them stepping away from the minimal fuzz and offering 2 great tracks of new material.

INSUBORDINATES s/t - These Rochester punks are no joke, though their frontman with the dangling earing would like you to think so. Maybe he has pissed you off and maybe he tried hard in doing so, but just let the record spin and realize one of the best straight forward punk rock records released recently has come from nearby Rochester, NY. Alongside "buddy bands", 7" records Braincar and the Narc's are in stock, there is finally something brewing in Rochester besides homicides.

WIPERS - OUT TAKES - Recorded between 1979-1983, these 13 tracks are culled from the bonus tracks of the original first 3 lp box set, hand picked by Greg Sage and drawn from the original tapes. This, along with the first 3 WIPERS albums, have been stocked-ordered direct from Jackpot Records in seattle who spared no expense. These are by no means throwaway tracks, rather different approaches and takes on essential tracks from the early days.

A-FRAMES - 333 A 3 record set of singles, demos, unreleased tracks from one of the great, yet criminally overlooked, bands of the last decade. (Drummer Lars now fronts the Intelligence) A career spanning behemoth of a package not just for superfans. Probably limited, but i'm not sure.

Moonhearts s/t - Debut longplayer from the artists formerly known as Charlie & the Moonhearts (Chaz plays drums, by the way), with assistance from the amazing Ty Segall (we have his latest 2 albums and a split with UK band Black Time in stock) present their 7 track (no joke) is full of fuzz and scuzz and memorable blasts of raunchy goodness. Dig in while they last.

more recent units:
Black Angels - Phosphene Dream 2x lp (playing Buffalo soon!)
!!! - Strange Weather Isn't It (marked down!)
Azure Ray - Drawing Down On The Moon LP
Real Estate - s/t 7"
Antony & the Johnsons - Swanlights lp
Fucked Up - Year of the Ox 12"
Jeff The Brotherhood - Heavy Days
Forgetters 7" (Blake from Jawbreaker)
Make Do & Mend - Bodies of Water
Les Savy Fav - Root For Ruin
Ex-Humans - s/t (catchy punk from ex-Carbonas)
Red Red Red - New Action LP
Circle Pit - Bruise Constellation
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
II: Reissues Current

Some reissues instock include those demented Swedes BRAINBOMBS and their Urge To Kill LP and SINGLES compilation. Lyrically, they claim to be influenced by a writer named Peter Sotos (whatever, dudes), but this is clearly not for the faint of heart. Musically, the seminal style is minimal, noisy slashing with spat out singing in broken english, words that would make a feces slinging gg allin cringe. This is not of much consequence, since the music is so good and these records have been sought after in the years following their initial release (when they were ignored). Keep in mind the last record to spin before fire claimed our North Buffalo location was, indeed, a Brainbombs record.
DROPDEAD reissues, 3 lp's straight from the Armageddon Shop.
Influential metal/hardcore heroes Zero Tolerance have had their first 7" reissued, with early Sick of it All and Agnostic Front records.
A 10 song 7" from Negative Approach slap's their first demo onto wax for the first time.

Don't forget previously enjoyed/used records are going out every day, trying to keep up with a recent influx.

Entry to be continued...suns coming up.

anchovies 10.28.10

PART 2 More Reissues and Restock Action & SCRATCH & SNIFF #2

Post Modern Blooze & Propoganda. From the makers of Spiral Scratch and carefully edited and put together by our own "employee", damage controller and general rock and roll wunderkind, Get Mugged Gaffney--comes the second installment of Buffalo's Only Rock and Roll Mag. Chock full of writing about our favorite music, interviews and grainy photographs. Going fast.

MORE REISSUES & RESTOCKS: A quick look
Reissues from
STRIKE ANYWHERE (Exit English and Change Is A Sound)
DISCHARGE - War Is Hell (featuring 1978 demo 7" tracks). we are expecting the first 2 Discharge records in the coming weeks, as well. These, i gather, will sell out quickly.
DRI - Dirty Rotten LP & Dealing With It
GODFLESH - s/t
LUNGFISH - Pass and Stow
This coming week is a huge week for us with new orders coming in, so stay tuned for more....Integrity, Converge reissues en route. We bet the farm this week.

Next post: A look at some local/area labels and their releases.

anchovies
10.29.10

3 weeks. Semi-Update.

2010-09-01T02:10:00.005-04:00

it's taken some time to adjust to the new digs here at 291 Bryant Street, as it has our UPS™ driver who cant seem to find the place. we've had a few orders sent back--but they should all be back in our grimy hands this week.

keeping up with demand has been an issue, but have no fear--we're catching up as we speak. please try to be patient with your special orders as we...get our heads around the continued support. we didnt expect an AV cover, but thank all who made it happen. and BuffaloNews™ coverage. truly, we are not worthy...well, maybe a little. show us a quality photoshopped version of the cover and you can walk home with a gift certificate worth your while. ok, now to business:

in stock this week includes, but is not limited to, new releases from:

The Sword
shellac
Birds of Maya (fans of heavy ROCK, take note)
The Intelligence (lars, ex-drummer of a-frames). Their best since Icky Boyfriends?
Sex Church (staff pick) this is an addition of 500. we have a few more left.
Pelican
Double Negative
Personal & the Pizzas
Dirty Projectors
waaves
Libyans
Ty Segall
and more...

reissues
DROPDEAD (3 different titles)
DRI
Mummies
Pretty Things

plus plenty of restocks of new and classic titles. in addition, new & hip used records are coming in more frequently than ever. Keep an eye on the incoming bin.

**cool local music supplied by the prolific Feral Kid Records label, which has most recently offered up a split record with Inerds and Coworkers, an incredible surf-punk record by Mayday and a healthy back catalog of singles, 12 and 10 inch records--mostly buffalo and rochester bands. in addition, new releases from White Whale, Iceberg, Gas Chamber. A few more i'm forgetting, but are no less worth checking out.

stay tuned for a real update as our influx of orders land at the counter (we hope) in the coming days.

we'll be carrying tickets as promoters see fit to bring them to us. no service charges, unless you use a credit card in which we must claim a buck. limited tickets to a rather interesting show coming up will also be announced in the next update.

doors open at noon.

2010-08-11T01:22:00.006-04:00

wednesday august 11, 2010.

after a complicated trail of snags, good times and good people (we would have possibly shut down for good if it weren't for the outpouring of support), sweat, lamenting lost records...out of print favorites...and finally, being forced to move the entire shop...we re-open SPIRAL SCRATCH in the Elmwood Village today at noon.

we are still struggling with electrical, banking and pricing issues--the place looks good enough to soft open with a GRAND OPENING being planned.

starting over in a empty room painted pink was no easy task. we changed colors.

to show strength and resolve, we brought what was left of the old counter--which was rebuilt by Martin K.--it's original owner at Sit-n-Spin. He received much support from his beautiful son, Foster. Norelle and my mom donated computers and we used benefit money to buy a new register and credit card terminal, along with fantastic wood bins and displays built by Marcus...an idea we spied from a reborn shop in Pittsburgh (also a generous doner of records), Mind Cure Records Mike. His shop was built by himself and buffalo native Pat C., but Pat C. now lives in Pennsylvania.
Anyway you get the picture...well...you will.
here:

pretty fancy...and a sneak peek at some of the fine slabs we carry...just a peek.

one of those puppies is not for sale, however...an autographed 12" (one of 3 of the remaining copies) encouraging autograph by the legendary Jon Spencer (Blues Explosion, Heavy Trash, Pussy Galore, Boss Hogg, Honeymoon Killers, etc) following his show a few weeks back. Spencer is a soft spoken, nice guy--contrary to his stage presence or whatever has been said about him over the years. here's a close-up:

someday, i will sit down and make a giant list of all the people, record labels, bands and such who have lent a hand in slowly getting us back on our shaky feet. that day wont be today, however. Don't think for a minute we have overlooked anyone. We are and will be here for if and when YOU get knocked down and need a hand...that, you can depend on.

Team Scratch. Richie, Marisa, Brandon have been the core during the rebuild. There have been others, too. Donating time, sweat, ideas and work. We have received help moving in the heat from several others, too. We, again, appreciated it all. It cannot be stressed enough how important everyone coming together was to the survival of the store. Starting with Norelle, Rhinoceros, Bill/Spicoli and the massive Mohawk Benefit, Iceberg & Stokes and continuing from there. I fear if i continue, i will forget someone, but soon an S.S. Hall of Fame post will detail it all. In the meantime, the minds of Team Scratch (in lieu of my own spinning head, brainless & hairless head) have put together a new look Spiral Scratch in the Elmwood Village. Once again, the focus remains the same, the prices stay as low as possible and we ask you to avoid tripping on extension cords, touching electrical outlets (you WILL get tazed, bro) and if someone wanders in and asks for change to "catch a bus", go ahead and suplex them on the sidewalk.

pictured: Chuck Barrels, Interior Design/Record Guru/Termbro

It's come a long way, baby.

"some" new stuff in stock or on it's way, includes (but is not limited to)
* new marked men 7"
* broken social scene lp
* against me lp
* black sabbath 180 gram reissues
* jimi hendrix experience 180 gram reissues
* brian eno bbc sessions lp
* sst records restock (minutemen, descendents, black flag, etc)
* gg allin "always was..." lp and early 7"
* riverdales lp
* gaslight anthem lp
* arcade fire lp (cheap!!)
* leadbelly
* lee 'scratch" perry lp
* mummies (both estrus and telstar lp's--limited again!)
* oblivians (popular favorites, soul food, 9 songs)
* real kids s/t lp
* pretty things lp
* of montreal (several)
* off with their heads/dear landlord 7"
* corpus dei split 7"
* neu! & neu '75
* can monster movie (UA press) lp
* bastard noise lp (should be in on wednesday)
* death - for all the world to see
* personal & the pizzas - raw pie singles comp (punk!)
* cap'n jazz reissue lp
* Touch & Go Book assembled by Touch & Go founder Tesco Vee! all the zines in one book...an absolute must-have for an early 80s hardcore fan. these will vanish quickly.

plenty more, too. including used stuff donated. more to come, too.

we'll be in touch. thanks again, all.

-anchovies 08.11.10

it's been awhile...

2010-07-18T23:22:00.004-04:00

Sure as shit has been awhile. Rebuilding a record store ain't easy and truth be told, we hate to move.

yes, North buffalo is not the ideal spot for a record store--but things were going ok. Nobody had been run down crossing the street and the non-existent parking situation
wasn't in everyone's best interest (your knowledge of NB streets was crucial to this...or your willingness to park at KwikFill™.

We held out for the windows and door to be replaced and the minor damage to be addressed, but as of press time we have seen nothing but an electrician take a peek at some outlets and the plywood remains. We will miss our clubhouse that was, for a brief time, Sit-N-Spin before we moved in. We loved our neighbors at Rise Above Tattoo and Kellys Korner, as well as customers who lived nearby. And it was, well...close to home. For me. But they say the customer always comes first....somehow you still found us. Thank you.

Since the first wave of benefits and donations, we have received a steady stream of care packages to beef up the used section/replace my personal stuff lost from all across the world.

And if you're ever in Pittsburgh, seek out Mind Cure Records. The owner, Mike, personally donated me a huge box of killer albums and he is just getting on his feet himself.

So the big news is it isn't blue inside and its off of Elmwood on Bryant Street. A few more details to pound out and we will be ready to serve you the latest, the best vinyl available today. We have been able to make some orders, but rebuilding a shop costs money, takes time and the ordering will pick up even more after we open. Meanwhile, keep in tune to when exactly that will be...it will be soon. It's gonna be weird, it's gonna be different, it's gonna be pretty interesting...a new adventure to embark on.

More to come in the coming days....but get ready for Spiral Scratch Grand Opening 2.0.
Counters By martin K.™

The Fire and the Damage Done--and what came next

2010-06-10T01:19:00.010-04:00

ohh ohh, the damage done...

Wednesday May 18, i receive a call from dale...a young, aspiring tattoo artist from the mighty Rise Above Tattoo-our neighbor at 2531. it's around 9:35, and i'm watching the yankee game on the tube with a burger in hand. i had closed up shop after a quiet night to the sounds of the recent Brainbombs - Obey reissue. I had kept a close eye on the door because, in case you have never heard the Brainbombs, these critters are a swedish noise band whose lyrical subject matter has been said to be of the type to make GG Allin, at his worst, cringe. Personally, I'm unimpressed by that aspect of the band and it's shock value...it's the music that drives me. A killer of an album.
Anyway, Dale informs me the shop has caught fire--our worst nightmare. Some quick action by passers by and the Buffalo Fire Department contained the blaze to the back counter area--but the devastation is significant. Special orders, a shit heap of unpriced, recently purchased used records, registers, computers, personal items, our stereo system, prized possessions and the store in-store play library (about 200 or so of my own personal collection) are destroyed. Everything on the walls and the entire bin of 7 inch records also are ruined. However, the set up of the store which has most of our new and used stock and the back room are spared. Some small miracles, but a whole lot of painful casualties are lost.
To make matters worse, our insurance agent has left us dangling for weeks and only a fraction of what is lost has been covered. To date, we have received $0 in insurance money. Due to potential legal action, i refrain from commenting on that matter further at this time.
Some of our friends stop by the grim scene, call, post on the internet their concern and condolences. Richie stands by me as the final nail is pounded into the emergency plywood enclosure.

Rumors debunked:

we did NOT burn to the ground
we are NOT closing down
the brainbombs record did NOT combust with flames of evil

"Everything happens for a reason"- the late, great Leonard Palumbo, Sr. (1940-2008)

A few customers donated records to replenish our used section, people we didnt even know donated money into our paypal account and Buffalo band RHINOCEROS immediately stepped up to the plate and donated their cut of a rather well attended show. We forever thank them all, be it $1 or a box of records. Or a hug.

The night of the fire, an equally rattled Bill Nehill, a shop fixture, sometimes employee, constant customer and great friend tells me this-"It's time to find out who is who in this town."
Bill organizes a benefit show which is planned for June 3rd at the bar he works and books bands at. Due to the short notice, it's a Thursday night and the bill is quickly filled with some well established local acts. Everything Falls Apart, Roger Bryan & the Orphans, Failures Union, Funnyman Bill Nehill, All Of Them Witches. The turnout is staggering. The bands, all of them, deliver fierce sets on an unusually hot and humid June night. The bartenders-Bill and Spicoli, work for free donating all their tips at their insistence. The bar is full of friends, familiar faces, strangers--everyone of them appreciated. Buffalo, my friends, is really a great fucking place to be. This was a night I won't ever forget for the rest of my life--an overwhelming conglomeration of faces you don't often see in the same room, at the same show.

Thank you, Bill, Eric, Joe and everyone who has been kind enough to show the slightest bit of interest, donate a few records, sell some records (we really need them now more than ever), offer their services, play a show to help us out or organize a benefit. We can't wait to give it back. The wheels are in motion, thanks to you.

Outside of Buffalo, we have received thoughts and help from our own heroes...the Cheater Slicks, Goner Records, Icki, GiGi in Italy, Tom from Memphis, Matador Records/Dave, Tommy at Edge and others i'll remember later and add to the huge list. how can we repay the favor? just let me know...i'll be there for you. Even Fucked Up, who erroneously thought i emailed them, plugged our benefit show on the 3rd.

We owe you all and will repay the support when we land back on our feet...which i promise will be sooner than you think.

Like i said, orders are being made so don't be shy...email us your wants, needs...or if you need a hand with anything i can help with. we are lucky to be born in a city full of great people who dont always get together...lets keep it together.

and to wrap this one up--we are YOUR store. let us know what you want to see and, goddamnit, i'll do everything i can to get it there as best i can.

thanks to Team Scratch, as always-Richie, Mugged, Marisa, Bill and anyone else who sat behind that counter, suggested stuff to get in, etc--we are coming back and stronger than ever. maybe at 2531, maybe somewhere else...but we'll be back before you know it,

THANK YOU and stay tuned! we love you.

*to keep in touch, as always, email us at spiralscratchrecordsATyahoo or pal up with us on facebook and send us a message. you may call the store or me personally if you have records for sale at 716.316.5589, or if you need any further info. or just wanna say hello.

-anchovies, 6.10.10

Post-Record Store Day Ramblings/Happy Mayday!

2010-05-01T16:48:00.039-04:00

RECORD STORE DAY 2010:
A day of broken records (our best day ever...doubled), broken dreams (that goddamned Daytrotter 7:...). good times, great performances, shorted orders, shoplifters and missing cameras and lots of record buying.
We thank y'all again for checking us out, for coming back and buying stuff and supporting Artvoice's least favorite record shop.

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We sure are proud as punch to be carrying a few new local records to get excited about: Mayday (aka Seasonal Geese) 3 song ep and the brand new Sonorous Gale 7", along with a split record that include's Buffalo's Failures Union. The Mayday and S D records are self-released and all our bands to be aware of.
In addition, some stragglers from Record Store Day...Monsters of Folk, Black Keys and REM Chronic Town, to name a few.

New Releases*New Arrivals*ReIssues*ReStocks*ReRun

EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING - Rush To Relax LP Aussie phenomenon ECSR seem to have the attention of a wide range of music fans at this point Coming together almost on a lark, 4 record plant workers for a band to play a work xmas party...release some singles and the rest is history. Full fledged stars in their home country, ECSR is slowly getting it out to the masses the world over. No trend hopping, no gimmicks, no bullshit--finally the good guys win. A;lso in stock is their second, Primary Colours...and we're expecting the self titled debut back any day now.

TOWNES VAN ZANDT - Live At The Old Quarter, Houston, Texas The mighty Townes Van Zandt--stripped down and laying it all on the line in front of a receptive crowd, recorded in 1973. Van Zandt is candid and away from any studio production here--the way a live album should be. Recorded in 1973, 2x LP pressed to 180 gram vinyl.
We have, in stock now, several other Townes' albums-his second studio album "Our Mother The Mountain", "Delta Momma Blues" and this double-live set.

CIRCLE 1 - Patterns of Force - Here's a rare find and we only managed to get a few. Circle 1 was a early 80s Southern California hardcore band with, along with the brute force of the music, a bit of melody. Infamously led by the hulking John Macias who had his friends and enemies, met an untimely death after being shot by an LAPD officer following him throwing a person off of Santa Monica Pier. Macias, a lot of history reports, was huge, strong and had some screws loose...often a dangerous combination. The band was also known for it's violent shows and a somewhat "creepy" following Macias led.

A few other restocks include BAD BRAINS incredible "Rock For Light" on vinyl, with the superior "euro mix"--different than than the PVC mix and miles above the atrocious CD mix. I know these may seem like slight nuances...but on this classic album, it made a world of difference. Another example, which is also back in stock for a time, is REAGAN YOUTH "often mistaken by the casual browser as a hate band due to the ironic imagery and name", comes a reissue featuring the superior early mix for vinyl--miles for lively than previous reissues. Last, but not least, we have the CRO MAGS "Age of Quarrel-Before the Quarrel" demo lp. Many songs appeared on their legendary debut, some did not. The mix of the demo, ironically, blasts the proper albums sound to pieces in terms of sound quality--a bright, bombastic counterpart to the flatter production which followed.

heres a few more new releases:

SHE & HIM - Volume Two She, Zooey Deschanel, and Him (no, not HIM), M. Ward, return for an appropriately titled follow up to last years equally appropriately titled Volume One. Building off of the acclaim of that first album, Volume Two is no re-write, but picks up where its predecessor left off.
Ghostface/Method Man/Raekwon - WU MASSACRE - It's back to the basics for the core of the legendary WU TANG CLAN. Production by RZA. Read the AV Club Review HERE

Trouble - Psalm 9 - 1984, metal was speeding up or often preceded by the word thrash. Meanwhile, these seminal doomsters were slowing down, creating a template for what we now call doom metal. Strange religious themes are the undercurrents to this out-of-time masterwork of metal that was, unfortunately for the band, decades ahead of it's time. Along with early Saint Vitus (also in stock now!), these bands are now receiving their due praise in the form of beautifully packaged reissues like this one on the usually more restrained Siltbreeze imprint. Clear 70's Sabbath influenced at a time when that was mostly ignored. Ignore it no longer.

Poison Idea - Feel The Darkness A classic of American Hardcore Punk, Poison Idea epitomized sloth and debauchery. Forming in 1980, they were one of the few successful at fusing metal with simple hardcore punk with classic results, as the 90s saw hardcore and punk parting ways for a time...both sides could get down with Poison Idea. Feel The Darkness, originally released in 1990 is one, if not thee, bands high points--chock full of classics. Shadily reissued by Epitaph in 1996 (the band was unhappy with the deal and, reportedly, still is to this day), this vinyl import should do the job for a long lost (but never forgotten) classic hardcore punk document. RIP Pig.

CARIBOU - Swim 2x lp Admittedly, I know little of Caribou other than it earned high marks across the board. Tastemakers Pitchfork dot calm delivered it an 8.4-read all about it here
or you can check out a review here from a less obnoxious, more detailed source (still receiving an 8.5) right here.

CHIN CHIN - Sound of the Westway - All female band formed in Switzerland in 1982, influenced by the Ramones, first wave british punk, 60s girl groups and a flare for pop hooks. Though considering themselves a punk band, these swiss ladies helped set the blueprint for noisy indie pop on this classic album. Another long sought after album reissued (with download) with style.

HARLEM - Hippies - More of the good time jumpy garage that was laden on their debut Free Drugs ;), HARLEM has found themselves signed to the huge Matador Records who probably hope they will be the next Black Lips. As of right now, they are sure as hell more listenable. A fine follow-up and just in time for spring...

PUFFY AREOLAS - In The Army 1981 - From just a few hours left on the 90 west (cleveland!) come these Puffy Areolas and their debut lp on Siltbreeze Records. Careful when searching Google for this band, too...check 'em out HERE. Filthy, dirty with equal parts psych/noise and influence drawn forth from some KBD type bands, In The Army 1981 is a blast o' bombastic punk rock...of the dirty kind.

NICE FACE - Immer Etwas - "Immer Etwas -translated, "Always Something", is the first full length release from this one man bedroom recording project turned full on 5-piece live band. Nice Face (Ian Magee) have been turning out singles, comp tracks, and cassettes at a steady clip over the past two years and change. This LP is a solid thirteen tracks of drum-machine driven blown out hook-laden punk rock." (Sacred Bones). A welcome mix of lo-fi electronics, and guitar driven punk rock...just don't call it garage, cause Magee recorded it in his bedroom. And don't call it "lo-fi, because it is not. This is further proof you can make a lot from just a little. And another example of the cream (of the genre, overcrwded already) rising to the top. Beautiful silkscreened covers and most likely limited to low numbers. Here's a pretty spot-on review to accompany my confused, yet glowing account of this album.

THEE OH SEES - Warm Slime - Another? I'm still digesting the gear change of "Dog Poison" and the weird one song 12" Quadrospazzed when Thee Oh Sees churn out another lp--this time they're back on In The Red and a welcome return to their louder, more rockin' sounds heard on the HELP & MASTERS BEDROOM lp's. Can you keep up? Sure I'm trying to peddle records, especially ones I like, but this band is so prolific and so good, for all the pushing, those pushed always came back for more. Among their best works is Warm Slime. It's not the same record, and i have a feeling this is gonna sound even better when the weather stops it's schizophrenia.

MOUNT CARMEL -s/t Here's a winner, alright. Forget everything you've ever heard about the Siltbreeze Record label and/or the current music scene in Columbus, Ohio. Mount Carmel is a straight forward blues-rock power trio with no attachments.
Drawing inspiration from British and American heavy blues rock from the 1970s, they spend most of side 2 covering TEN YEARS AFTER'S "Hear Me Callin'" It doesn't get overbearing, nor is it some other "stoner rock" band coming down the conveyor belt. They know when to keep things sparse and when to go for the kill. Memorable songs, great riffs--a fantastic lp hopefully we'll be hearing more about soon.

Scratchy Favorite
HOME BLITZ - O.ut O.f P.hase - Yes, this came out late last year and yes it's probably been posted on this blog before, but I'll be goddmaned if it isn't one of the most played records behind the counter.
Danial DiMaggio and his Home Blitz unit, oft compared to Jonathan Richman, Daniel Johnston, Dead Milkmen simply writes these quirky (sometimes) pop songs--sometimes on the sidewalk. This album shows more of hyper approach here and there, field recordings of just....noises. When the songs kick in, its pure joy. The perfect pop songs, loose, an occasional flub...but the charm can't be denied. Watch for a possible June show in Buffalo!

REISSUE of thee UPDATE/MONTH/YEAR/etc...

OZZIE - The Parabolic Rock 1975-1982
Credit Chuck Barrels with this one (and a slew of others). And credit the man behind SS Records. OZZIE were a genre-proof proto punk, proto-glam, wave, art rock...proto ev erything except what was blasting into everyones heads in the early 70's. They found themselves playing with punk bands in their native Northern California, as they were too off center to fit in with the Bowie's, Roxy Music's, BOC's they were clearly influenced by...hard rock with those proto-new wave/artsy/punk/weird tendencies makes for a strange, but fantastic musical garbage plate. Drawing from the bands limited released output and lost tapes, this is a double lp that is packaged with all the fixins' (gatefold with plenty of eye candy: flyers, pictures, etc and a insert sized booklet with extensive notes.) As is standard with SS Records, this shit is taken seriously and done right. An essential piece of rock history I reckon won't be around forever. If you wanna hear it (or anything else mentioned herein), just ask.

More Reissues....
JESUS & MARY CHAIN - Darklands
MAZZY STAR (all 3 albums)
THE FALL - Dragnet/Grotesque
MENTORS - first 12" on Mystic plus extra 7" and other shit. "valu pack"
UNIFORM CHOICE - Screaming For Change
YOUTH OF TODAY - Break Down The Walls
LIFETIME - Jerseys Best Dancers (Hello Bastards & s/t still here)
SPEED, GLUE & SHINIKI - Eve Pounding Japanese Psych/Hard Rock masterwork.
CLASH - London Calling
THEM - Angry Young Them (Mono)
SPACEMEN 3 - Sound of Confusion
SPACEMEN 3 - Perfect Prescription
PUBLIC IMAGE LTD - Second Edition
TROUBLE - PSALM 9 (80s early doom)
THE EAT

OTHER NEW RELEASES/NEW STUFF/SEVEN INCHES/ETC
In addition to some cool stuff from the CREATION, CAN, DESTROYER, ART MUSEUMS, WOODS, WHINES, RAINCOATS, LIMP WRIST, HUNX & HIS PUNX and a long overdue SST Records order full of BLACK FLAG, HUSKER DU, MINUTEMEN, SAINT VITUS & DESCENDENTS.

some incoming 7" records you should know about include, but are not limited to:
VILE GASH POTENTIAL JOHNS, MIND ERASER, PSYCHED TO DIE, DEEP SLEEP, BAD SEED, HOMOSTUPIDS, BLACK FLAG, TY SEGAL, NEBULA/QUEST FOR FIRE split, BORIS #2 & #3, MAYDAY, SONOROUS GALE, FAILURES UNION, ACID REFLUX

well, that's all for now. plenty to absorb. plenty to listen to.

and don't forget SATURDAY NIGHTS on WBNY, listen to thee Men of the Scratch & Scratch & Sniff Quarterly Magazine play these records and more. It streams live at the link there and plays on yer ghetto blasters in the Buffalo area tuned to 91.3 frequency modulation.

5.1.10,5.8.10
-anchovies

Record Store Day 2010 & other stuff

2010-04-15T03:42:00.006-04:00

Record Store 2010 is finally upon us. Shrouded in the dark, our invoices started appearing today...when you deal with small distros and deal direct label to label...this is the day you hold your breath because more and more, it's the big guys running the show. And why not? This has turned into a big cash crop for certain major labels who have deprived Hold Steady fans of a release nobody seems to be able to get their hands on. We apologize in advance. However, its not all negative...there's loads of cool stuff coming.

Obviously, our proudest piece is Fucked Up's Daytrotter 7". What a concept. I rarely enter a competition...but i felt i already had the perfect photo. By now you've seen Spiral Scratch as the cover and title of Fucked Up's donation to RSD. 9 other stores were chosen across North America--obviously we like ours the best. We even made a RSD banner with it. Shit, look at that. Exciting.

With the help of our al-volunteer staff--we will open
the door at 10 am. A playoff hockey game helped
with this decision--we know Buffalo is a hockey town and it's been awhile since we made the post-season, so come in and brave the crowds...you
can go 'cross the street and have a beer and beef for breakfast (or something healthier off the Kelly's Korner menu) then come back and buy more records in between periods. We will also be open later than normal if need-be --9 pm.

In lieu of the small allocations of Record Store Day product, we have loads of new stuff coming in Thursday and Friday. We also have an exclusive FAILURES UNION Record Store Day 7" no other store will have on Saturday, plus the brand new Sonorous Gale 7". Support Local Music and Support your local record store.

If you read the Buffalo News article, let us remind you we are NOT downtown--we are located in North Buffalo. The address above should help...though someday,. we will be a local chain with locations all over the area. Sounds like a good idea, huh? Yeah,. i don't think so either.

SPIRAL JAZZ
Lately we have been experimenting with classic jazz reissues. Coltrane, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, Grant Green, Lee Morgan, Charles Mingus and more. The response has been staggering. So as an added surprise on RSD, we will unveil our backroom used jazz lp's along with the reissues for you to check out. Some very interesting titles. What started as a punk & indie store as litersally "spiraled" into the best of everything (except showtunes...no showtunes, though we do have a used soundtracks section.)

There will be plenty of new releases, restocks of the rock, punk, indie, soul, funk and jazz variety in addition to the loads of Record Store Day Product.
Most of the RSD stuff we ordered did indeed come, though the quantities were smaller than we had hoped. This was due to labels and/or bands cutting numbers and larger stores (like Amoeba out west) getting what are small numbers for them and tiny shops like us getting nil, or 1 or 2.

We will try and keep it safe but we cannot hold things for people. Titles will be re-stocked as they are sold, so try and get their early. In special circumstances...you will have to visit us at the shop--no emails or messages, please. And remember--this is a day for the dying breed of record stores--not your day to turn a buck flipping records online. One title per customer. No exceptions. There...those are the rules.

RSD TITLES
Not tipping our hand completely, we will be offering a Ted Leo 7" (exclusive tracks), Rodriguez 7", an Arthur Russell 12" and a various artist comp, plus a Pavement compilation (all vinyl) from our pals at Matador Records. Of course, we will have several "Spiral Scratch" Daytrotter 7"'s with our cover on it.
Roky, Devo, Sonic Youth, Jimi, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Against Me!. Album Leaf, Joe Strummer, Gorillaz and plenty more.

NON-RSD NEW RELEASES
MGMT-Congratulations (limited version on sale!) with coin and sceatch iff civer)
EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING - Unlikely aussies become one of the best bands in the world. The new album is Rush To Relax We sold 5 copies the day it dropped and are fully re0stocked,
JONSI - of Sigur Ros. Solo effort.
X-Wild Gift Their second album which hasnt legitimately been reissued in at least 15 years.
Lifetime - Jersey's Best Dancers The third and final re-ish from NoIdea. Originally on jade tree.
Others include late 70s albums from The Fall, Television Personalities.

Now read the damn blog...my eyes hurt.

-anchoives

Record Store Day 2010 Update/RIP's/Incoming...

2010-03-19T12:30:00.000-04:00

I: 1950-2010/RIP(s)

While we don't like to turn this into an obituary page, rock and roll lost 2 important figures earlier this week--both born in 1950.
We were stunned and saddened to here the news of Alex Chilton passing away suddenly from an apparent heart attack. His work in the almighty Big Star and as a solo artist--and the teenage with the raspy "2 pack-a-day" voice in the Box Tops before all that. Their biggest and most memorable song, "The Letter" has been a personal favorite of mine since I was a kid...it always seemed too short. I wanted that song to go on for 5 minutes. Maybe more. Of course, that was the age of 2.5 minute pop songs. Chilton's work with Big Star is legendary, and you can read (or have already read) and heard all about them by now. We hope. Needless to say, Big Star was criminally overlooked in the public eye during their existance--but their stubborn genius too great to be overlooked by the bands they influenced. But this is not an entry to sell records. That will come below. RIP Alex Chilton.
The same day, at nearly the same age (59,60 respectively) longtime Maximum Rock and Roll columnist who, though not a "Robert Christgau" award winning music journalist--his wild enthusiasm for punk rock, both old and new, made him a legend at MRR. Even if you weren't down with his tastes, he made it fun to read anyway. He was admired and well loved and our sympathies go out to his family, friends and his biggest fans.
Certainly, with the passing of Vic Chesnutt, Mark Lincus/Sparklehorse and Doug Fieger--it's been a downer of a few months for some of our loyal customers and we share in your misery. Trust us, we do. Between the lot of them...someone must have lost at least one person they admire, and that's never fun. RIP Bruce!!!!!!! and RIP Alex.

II: RECORD STORE DAY : April 17, 2010
Shit, that's all i got. Here's some of what's been offered--but not promised to us here.
Live performances, free mini-corn dogs and other bullshit stillbeing planned...so let us know if you're after anything in particular. Matador is also offering a limited Pavement retrospective lp, a Ted Leo 7". That's all for now...

III: Incoming: New Releases and Re-stocks, re-issues and loads of previously enjoyed records.

Red House Painters - Songs For A Blue Guitar This one went fast the first time around and has bee tough to track down, like much of Mr Kozelek's records. A double lp's worth of Songs For A Blue Guitar--freed from his fiormer bandmates, baring his soul and a little legal red tape, this batch of songs dates back to 1996 and has been handsomely re-issued by Plain Recordings. Also finding it's way back to 2531 is Sun Kill Moon's "Tonight The Sky"--a full length companion piece to his acclaimed "April" lp from 2008. As is often the case with Kozelek vinyl...it's limited and disappears quick. We'll try and keep 'em around as best we can.

The Baby Huey Story - The Living Legend Ironically (is that proper useage? let me know in the comments section, creep) released after his untimely death, Baby Huey was 400+ pounds of pure soul...another situation where he didnt attain the popularity his incredible music warranted. of course, dying didnt help his cause. Regardless, this album is an essential that we just can't get enough of over here at the Scratch. Produced by the almighty (and also the co-writer/writer of several tracks here) Curtis Mayfield, the giant fell victim to his vices (eating and heroin) at the tender age of 26. Another example of a massive (no pun) talent overlooked until years after it's release--the Living Legend is a soul classic.

Lifetime - Hello Bastards The mid-90s benchmark for melodic-hardcore, in an overcrowded genre, Lifetime's debut became a cult classic almost in an instant. As it went out of print after it's initial release on Jade Tree in 1995, it also became a pricey collectors jewel. The fine folks at No Idea Records have made this slab affordable for the common folk with this re-issue (they have since re-issued all of Lifetime's lp's--Jersey's Best Dancers should be arriving next week or so).
Unlike many of their counterparts in the genre, Lifetime has stood the test of time with their fans and are even making new ones with these re-issues.

Die Kreuzen s/t - "The Crosses". Milwaukee's die Kreuzen's self titled LP was, and remains, the cream of 80s hardcore, though not given nearly enough credit for their self titled powerhouse of midwestern creepiness backed with not-so-typical sounding musical outbursts--making it sound perfectly timeless and a forerunner to noisy indie rock/post-punk, "grunge" and the weirder side of punk rock to this day. Truly deranged vocals and guitar meandering that goes beyond the 1-2-3 go power chording. (not that that was a bad thing, by any means) As with a lot of mid-western hardcore, there were no barriers to remain inside of and as a result, these bands have aged with perfectly fucked up grace. A true classic of the genre that could have come out last month and sounded right in place. Released, and re-released with an mp3 download by Touch and Go Records, these also seem to come and go. Fans of aggressive music should not be without one. Barrells has put it in his top 2 hardcore records and that is a 5 star statement.
Thomas Function - Celebration The debut lp after a couple of acclaimed singles from this hard-to-pin down band from Alabama.
Though embraced by the garage rock community perhaps the most, they are anything but. They have a catchy as all hell clean sound that fuses perfectly jangly (i swore i'd never say "jangly" again...i lied) guitars/acoustic guitars, a young augie myers on cheapo organ and a warbly vocalist that sounds like a teenage tom verlaine from Television. Confused? That's just the beginning.
Rootsy? They're cooking up something here and it's equal parts rock and roll, old r&b, bluegrass/country...shit, each song seems to have a personality of it's own. I kinda regret passing on this band at first, as this was released in 2008, but it's never too late to mend.
See for yourself HERE

IV: More restocking action!

Screamers - Demos LP Seminal LA synth punk band's only studio recorded material.
Bad Religion - How Could Hell Be Any Worse?/Suffer/No Control LP's
Patti Smith - Horses LP
Velvet Underground LP's--including the "mono banana". All 180 gram vinyl.
Dead Boys - We Have Cum For Your Children LP
Blue Cheer MONO reissues of Vincebus Eruptum and InsideOutside on Sundazed
Grant Green - Green Street LP
Thelonious Monk - Monk LP
Alkaline Trio - This addiction LP/mp3 card
Agnostic Front - United Blood 7"/Victim In Pain LP
Cramps - Off the Bone LP

and more coming. next week...including the highly anticipated brand new Eddy Current Suppression Ring lp, She & Him Volume #2, Jawbreaker "Unfun" reissue and more... (there's always more).
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Well, that's about it for now folks. Don't forget TUESDAY, March 23 is a FREE IN-STORE show with: Bill "Tracy Morrow" Nehill, Singleman Affair (Chicago) and A Relative Term. Show at 6 pm, sharp.

anchovies
3.20.10

Marching Into March

2010-03-02T13:27:00.000-05:00

From the makers of fine radio and thee finest rock and roll record boutique this side of Delaware Avenue! Out now and available at all Spiral Scratch Records locations! (and select shows)...soon elsewhere:

POST-MODERN BLOOZE

Scratch N Sniff zine: Music writing from America's diseased underbelly .
Issue:1 features the ramblings of ROT SHIT (pittsburgh), features on late 60's obscure rockers of indigenous decent, LINCOLN STREET EXIT, BRAINCAR, some columns, grainy photos and record reviews you really should be giving credence too. These people like records, like rock and roll, work in record stores and broadcast their favorite records every saturday night in a small fm radio booth while the rest of the world slurps down overpriced drinks in urine soaked taverns...or worse.

Issue #1 is out now and available here NOW.
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Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me 3x lp box ($24.99) [cd available upon request]

Fans of Joanna Newsom know she transcends folks-pop music. A surprisingly extensive follow up to her acclaimed 2006 effort, Y's-Have One On Me is over 2 hours long. According to recent reviews...it's not enough. Packaged as a box set and priced to sell! Hurry before they vanish.

High On Fire - Snakes For The Divine 2x LP/CD

The fifth studio album from ex-Sleep guitar wizard Matt Pike and the power-trio shows no signs of letting up or settling into a formula. Instead, the band is said to have made a progression on this double-yet avoid the familiar concepts and technicalities that are all too evident on today's more popular metal bands. They would rather pummel you, instead. And that, they do.

Infest - 10" - Mankind [deep six records]

Ventura, California's INFEST blazed a trail for one of the hardcore offshoots we now know as 'power-violence'. To the untrained music nerd, Infest is just brutal hardcore-and damn good-n-fierce at it. This 10", originally released in 2004, compiles the Mankind 7", as well as 4 compilation racks. The band existed from the mid 80s, dissolving in the mid-to-late 90s. Their recordings are much sought after and we hope to have the reissue of No mans Slave back in as soon as the people in charge make that possible.
*In case you missed out the first time around, Deep Six is sending us directly, more copies of the mind blowing Low threat Profile 7".

King Khan & His Shrines - Three Hairs and You're Mine LP

Following the dissolution of Montreal based garage punk band, the unpredictable King Khan (of the amazing King Khan & BBQ Show!) worked in several projects--the Black Jaspers (recently reissued for the first time) and just prior to that, formed the amazing Shrines in late 1999. Unlike his garagey, lo-fidelity pre and post projects, this is well produced soul/funk with a full horn section. This here is a repress of their elusive first album.
Check it out if you dont trust me: "Don't You Walk Away Mad"

other stuff in this week:

Ted Leo & the Pharmacists -The Brutalist Bricks LP - Brand new, just in as I was about to wrap this shit up--The Brutalist Bricks finds "the Pharmacists" as a 4 piece (including Teddy). This ex-punk/Chisel vet effortlessly writes infectious pop songs, a 10 year solo career finds him landing on his third label--Matador, of which these came straight from. Tune.

High On Fire - Art Of Self Defense LP Their debut album. Compare & Contrast. Includes a bonus 7".

Desert Sessions Volumes 1-6 LP/euro import versions,2 volumes per LP. A long out of print concept led by QOTSA/Kyuss leader Josh Homme, a cast of familiar names and a big sack of mushrooms collaborate in a desert studio. Rare and limited.
Blue Cheer - Vincebus Eruptum/Insideoutside [deluxe 180 gram MONO reissues.] Just released on the fantastic Sundazed label. We still have "budget" versions of Vincebus Eruptum and Oh! Pleasant Hope on standard vinyl. Don't let the "budget" scare you off--these are just as likely to blow your head off as the fancy mono audiophile ones.
V/A - Our Boy Roy [Roy Orbison Tribute] Today's BEST garage rock/punk superstars pay homage to the mighty Mr. Orbison, all with their own unique twists. Features: Cheater Slicks, Ty Segall, Demons Claws, Jacuzzi Boys, Charlie & the Moonhearts and more!
Wasted Time - Futility lp Highly acclaimed hardcore-punk band returns heavier than ever. Real deal stuff here for those still board. No throwback, revival type stuff here...just what it says.
GISM - Detestation - High quality "reissue" of Japanese hardcore classic. limited units.
She & Him 7" - Two new tracks in anticipation to forthcoming Volume 2 LP.
Do Make Say Think - Other Truths LP Canadian post-rock outfits sixth album, on Constellation Records.
Mos Def - The Ecstatic - Critically acclaimed "return to form"...music journalism's way of saying it's his best in quite some time.
Priestess - Prior To The Fire LP Signed to TeePee Records, this is the long awaited second album from Montreal based hard rockers.

Make sure to check out the Matador debut of Philly acclaimed singer/songwriter/spaceman/noisemaker Kurt Vile's latest (and first for Matador), Childish Prodigy. It's a favorite of ours, too.

Lastly, Matador has graced us with lower priced reissues of the Pavement catalog--including Wowee Zowee and Brighten The Corners.

More to come.

anchovies
3/5/10

Spiral Scratch News & Notes 2.15.10/8

2010-02-15T23:30:00.001-05:00

In case you haven't heard, Matador Records selected one of our photos to be used on a limited edition Record Store Day (coming in april) record by Toronto's Fucked Up! We are among 10 stores chosen nationwide to be used as a cover and title of a special 7". Thats our cover up top, and for more info directly from the bands blog, check it out at
www.lookingforgold.blogspot.com

In addition, Fucked Up has just released a double lp set of singles, rare and alternate tracks, unreleased material called COUPLE TRACKS. Of course, we have them in stock right now. Also in from MatadorDirect:

Kurt Vile - Childish Prodigy Singer-songwriter Kurt Vile is finally breaking out after last years top notch "Constant Hitmaker". Vile, who occasionally uses a backing band (the Violators) also relies on spacey sounds and other noises to compliment his hard hitting bedroom pop. Check out Space Forklift from Constant Hitmaker and the upbeat Freak Train from his most recent album, Childish Prodigy.
Girls - LP
Jay Reatard - Watch Me Fall Jay's final proper album before his untimely death recently showcases his evolution a a melodic indie rock punk. We also carry both his singles collections--Matadors 2009 collection and In The Red's 06-08 collection, which showcases his more aggressive side. The further you go back into his vast catalog, the more intense the music gets. Just make sure you don't bypass one of this generations great talents.
More recent arrivals:
Sigur Ros 12" vinyl by this band has proven hard to come by. this is a brand new 12" and is gracing the shelves right now.
Melvins s/t 12" more 12"'s, and from another band who's vinyl availability is painful. Includes a 9 minute cover of the Wipers "Youth of America"
Flaming Lips "Soft Bulletin-" A reissue. Still holding steady with their latenst, "Embryonic".
Magnetic Fields - "Realism" lp
Jimi Hendrix 7" - Unheard song from 1967 recorded with 'the Experience graces side b while Valley of Neptune is the title track of a forthcoming 'lost album' recorded in early 1970. Limited.
Spacemen 3 - Reissues and finally on great sounding vinyl. "Sound of Confusion", "Perfect Prescription" and an unrelated 2x 10" called "Playing With Fire". These are going very fast and we've heard the initial pressings are running out everywhere.
Home Blitz - O.ut O.f P.hase A staff favorite. More mid-fi, catchy bedroom pop. Jonathan Richman, Dead Milkmen and Daniel Johnston are among the many comparisons i've read...but this is just a great record that should be spinning on your turntable. Take a chance before every jerk in town is bowing to Danial DiMaggio's masterpieces.
Ween (reissues) We have access to all of them, but currently White Pepper, 13 Country Greats and the Mollusk are in stock.

Raekwon - Only Built For Cuban Lynx II the latest, and our foray into the world of hip-hop is expanding. We also have the latest from Mos Def and the original "Cuban Lynx", which comes in a dj sleeve only, as well as the Wu Tang Clan re-issue of "36 chambers". Our used section of hip hp/dance has grown enough to warrant its own section, as well.

Last week, arrived a shit-ton of restocks. Archie Bell & the Drells, Bad Brains, Big Star, Velvet Underground, Dead Boy, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Stooges, Dead Kennedys, Captain Beefheart, Blue Cheer, Sonics, Oblivians, reigning Sound, Hunches, GISM and more! Lots of jazz, too: Coltrane, Lee Morgan, Charles Mingus, Ornette Coleman and more!

Coming soon: New REGULATIONS lp, New Eddy Current Suppression Ring lp, She & Him 7", A Roy Orbison Tribute "Our Boy Roy"featuring thee finest garage punk bands around today, an Infest 10" and lots more.

make sure to follow the blog, or follow us on facebook or that ridiculously confusing Twitter for up to the minute announcements, sales and incoming.

also don't forget this FRIDAY 2.19, a FREE IN-STORE! OPEN LATE!

and last but not least, from the braintrust of Spiral Scratch Records--and edited and calmly laid out by our Sunday Schoolboy 'Get Mugged' Gaffney (with contibutions from the staff) is Buffalo's first and only rock and roll print 'zine--aptly titled Scratch-n-Sniff. So ARTVOICE™ refuses to acknowledge our existence or distribute their mag at our shop (conspiracy theories abound--we can't afford an ad), rejected our emails and record reviews, so we did what any self-respecting person (or people) would do--we made our own goddamn magazine. Here is the logo:
No holds barred. First issue features record reviews, interviews and other pieces about music. Stuff we like and think you might, too. If you'd like to be judged or be considered for contributions, or hate/love mail, please write us at our store email:
spiralscratchrecords@yahoo.com
or send us mail at 2531 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14216.

if you made a rock and roll recording and want it considered for review, send it there or just drop it off.
These are full sized zines (8.5x11) and are NOT advertisements for the store. The writing is honest, occasionally brutal and...honest.
They will be free with a moderate purchase, available at shows or whoever else will distribute them. Issue #1 is completed, laid out and being produced at this very moment.
If you miss the days of holding in your hand, an honest and informative (and fun) publication on great music and other things we consider great (or at least damn good), keep an eye out for these.

as always, thanks for reading and your continued support.

anchovies
2.15.10

###

quick update for 1.11.10-1.11.

2010-01-17T14:29:00.000-05:00

INCOMING STOCK

week of January 11

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Iggy Pop - The Idiot

Iggy Pop - Lust For Life

Dry Rot - Philistine

Spoon - Transference

Spoon - Written In Reverse 7" (includes non-lp b-side)

Girls - Album

The Bitters East b/w Foreign Knives 7"

Home Blitz - O.ut O.f P.hase

Thee Oh-Sees - Masters Bedroom Is Worth Spending A Night In (repress)

Ty Segall - Lemons (restock)

Agnostic Front - United & Strong: 1984 Demos

Bad Brains - Rock for Light (euro mix/import)

The Points - Beat In Hell 7"

Fresh & Onlys - Second One To Know 7"

Bygones - By

V/A - Maximum Rock and Roll Presents - Wecome to 1984 compilation

Wasted Time - Futility

Vampire Weekend - Contra

plus plenty of restocks.

2010-01-16T16:36:00.000-05:00

JAY REATARD DEAD AT AGE 29

On the morning of January 13th, at around 3 am Jay Reatard, real name Jimmy Lee Lindsay, was found dead in his sleep by his roomate, Jeffrey Novak. He was 29 years old. Needless to say, all of us at Spiral Scratch were extremely shocked and saddened by this news. We had hoped it was a hoax, but as details unfolded, it was not. The world had lost one of the great talents of the last 10 years. A controversial, moody and outspoken character, Jay had created or had a hand in some of the great world of often overblown and overhyped world of modern music ever since he sent his first demo tape to Memphis based Goner Records at the age of 15. Jay was no hype, though-he was the real deal.
The later part of the 90s, Jay's band the Reatards (where he adopted a surname that would stay with him) mixing the garage trash of Memphis local heroes the Oblivians with raging punk rock. In an era where punk rock had taken the road to bad hardcore or to the malls, Reatard was saving many of us from that. Making real punk rock when most fools had given up on the whole thing.
That rudimentary project would soon give way to the Lost Sounds, a synthezier driven (a tad before using synth was over every hipsters records) yet still aggresive band where the talent began to show with his songwriting and arrangements, with then-girfriend Alicjia Trout and Rich Crook. Trout and he also ran Shattered Records out of Memphis. During his time in the Lost Sounds, the band visitied Filthy Rich and myself at WBNY for a live performance on the air before a show at Mohawk Place, where i met them for the first time. We, dreamily, talked with the band about releasing the live performance--a plan which never came to fruiition. They were all about it, though. Buffalo's Bart Hart had released the bands first album on his Big Neck imprint, though they'd soon head for higher ground on bigger indies. Buffalo saw some of the earliest and most intense Lost Sounds shows, and also saw Jay's moody side, too.
After a bitter break up as the band was gaining in popularity, Jay took a role in several notable projects-Angry Angles, Final Solutions, Bad Times and i'm sure i'm missing some. His real breakthrough in the indie world came on his solo Blood Visions album, though. The major labels came courting him with contracts in hand-but he would settle with giant "indie" Matador Records.
Jay was making a bigger and bigger name for himself, both through controverisies and his recorded output.
Biography aside--you can read better written ones all over the internet, we feel like we lost one of our own. This was not a post to sell records, rather one i felt compelled to write.
Someone we watched grow up musically and whose music impacted our lives. Its different than losing a close friend or a family member--i know this personally, i'm still dealing with the passing of my father months before we opened this store, but it still hurts and we remain in shock. This one hit close to home. He was a true talent, not some flavor of the month bullshit that was being hyped by the online rags that seem to control taste. He was responsible for some of the great music of the last 10 years, but above all that, was one of us.
I can only imagine what his family and friends muct be going through right now. Our deepest sympathies are with them at this terrible time.

RIP, Jay Reatard. 1980-2010.

anchovies
1.16.10

YEAR END UPDATE -

2009-12-31T14:32:00.000-05:00

So long '09--you've had your downs and ups, but we'll be glad to see ya go. Theres a new decade waiting...

Well, i suppose it hasn't been any worse (or even close) to late '08, and we've seen some mighty fine records released this year, a nice year for the shop hopefully insuring many more to come. Buffalo, you've done us proud by supporting, helping, suggesting and mostly...supporting our little thing (did i mention supporting?) here. Without you, we are just another bad idea that actually came to fruition. We're proud you like records--good ones, we're proud to see bands from here releasing beautiful record albums™...Everything Falls Apart, Sonorous Gale, Failures Union have all been kind enough to allow us to sell their hard work put to full length vinyl. Roger Bryan and the Orphans, in late '08 too. In addition, there have been great singles, compact discs and cassette demos--the feral Kid Records stable, self released cd-r and tape demos by some bands we are proud to call our own.

In the coming days, we'll get deeper into our favorite releases, re-issues, songs, singles and all that...but a quick "thank you" to our customers, supporters, volunteers, employees and my mom who is always there when the phone gets turned off! And of course, dad who is watching from above--hopefully satisfied we are still standing, trying to get better at what we are doing every day--and will someday clean up behind the counter and get organized in the back.

"Acid Rock!"

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A few new releases, re-releases and various thangs we've brought into our abode lately you may be interested in (by no means is this everything...i'm running out of '09 here)

thee Oh Sees - Dog Poison Quite a feat that the OhSees, a band who put out too much material, have battened down the quality control hatches the last two years. In this year alone they released the amazing HELP lp--one i thought would top my years favorites, then release this complete departure musically (less of the garage crunch, more flutes). Another gem...some might even (and have within our own ranks--mutiny!)say it's their best since '08. Here's a band that seems to be hitting a peak of sorts...releasing great albums and not the same albums. We love them, we can agree on that. We think you might, too.

Animal Collective - Fall Be Kind 12" A collection of tracks created before, during and after the making of their epic Merriweather Post Pavilion double album from earlier this year is by no means an odds and sods collection of casatways--rather songs that just didnt fit on the mammoth album for one reason or another. It has received rave reviews from fans and sketchy sources alike. But we are able to draw our own conclusions. 180 grams and with free download.

ABRASIVE WHEELS - When the Punks Go Marching In
Though formed around the time of the first wave of punk in Leeds, UK-the Abrasive Wheels would not release their classic "When The Punks Go Marching In" album until 1982, during the UK82 period.
Finally seeing a proper, non-picture disc (blech) re-issue treatment, as are many great, yet often forgotten bands of the era.

BARONESS - [Blue Album] Savannah, Georgia's BARONESS (originally from lexington, VA) would be shortchanged if they were referred to as simply a metal band; their ravenous fans know they are much more that. Hot on the heels of last years acclaimed "Red Record", the "Blue Record" received 4 and 1/2 stars from the reliable All Music Guide who boldly declared it on of the years top hard rock releases, period. More mind blowing artwork (from guitarist John Baizley), incredible deluxe double 180 gram vinyl with beautiful inserts and, of course, a free download. These came to us directly from RELAPSE, so you won't pay anymore than RELAPSE would charge you. This is a lot of record for not a lot of loot, in this day and age. Remember if you're a fan of anything RELAPSE related, we have established a direct line with them to bring you the best possible prices on their releases.

the FEELIES - Crazy Rhythms - "Of the countless bands to emerge from the New York City underground during the post-punk era, few if any were as unique and influential as the Feelies; nerdy, nervous, and noisy, even decades later their droning, skittering avant-garde pop remains a key touchstone of the American indie music scene."-AllMusicGuide (5 stars)
Here is a little piece of greatness maybe overlooked in a year of long overdue re-issues--The Feelies first lp released in 1980. Herky, jerky, VU influenced indie blueprint restored in its original glory. Also, ask Weezer if the cover looks familiar?

FLAMIN GROOVIES - Flamingo lp/Teenage Head lp/Slow Death lp.
Deluxe reissues of legendary San Fran cult band, often dubbed an "American Stones minus the blues with added nods to early rock and roll", the 'Groovies found themselves as a band out of time playing greasy rock and roll in hippie dominated Haight-Asbury in the late 60's. They remained a valid cult band who were incredibly influential regardless and found even greater acclaim in the friendlier confines of Europe. After Roy Loney split in the early 70s, the Groovies forged on cutting their classic power pop anthem and signature song, "Shake Some Action", which can be found on the 71-73 comp, SLOW DEATH. Released by the good folks at Norton Records, who also supply us with the Sonics, Gories, Dictators and loads more garage/soul albums--again, coming direct from the source.

FLAMING LIPS - Embryonic 2x lp - Not many bands are capable of holding their fans interest and releasing credible albums over a 25 year span. The Flaming Lips have managed this feat, continuing to make respected and acclaimed albums nearly 25 years after their debut, while re-inventing themselves countless times along the way. This time, it appears the band has taken bits from their noiser, wilder earlier days and started another "period".
Embryonic is another well packaged, double lp that has been a great seller and kept longtime fans eager for more. We seem to have a hard time keeping them in stock for long, so don't let this one slip by you.

HOMOSTUPIDS - the Load Skull Music. With Lean Steve ex-Nine Shocks Terror, an ex-Buffalo neandrathal-man and one of the most tireless drummers in the biz, Cleveland's wild HOMOSTUPIDS unleash their second "long player"--and while it may be their best "sounding" recording to date (aww, hell...it may be their best record) the band still sounds like frenzied cavemen with guitars. A slight evolution in sound from the Intern, the Load is one giant punch in the face and a kick to ribs before you realize you've hit the asphalt.

wait....theres more, including a blast of Matador re-stocks (Pixies, Pavement, GBV and more, as well as the latest lp's from Mission of Burma, the Mountain Goats and up and coming, critically acclaimed Lp's from Kurt Vile. Also, there is the latest from Yo La Tengo, the sprawling double, Popular Songs.

From the land of Dischord comes the anxiously anticipated re-issue of Jawbox - For Your Own Special Sweetheart, their great major label debut back in the hands of it's creators. Also, Gray Matter, Fugazi, some Dischord comps from years past and re-stocks of the classics.

Also in-stock is the Stone Roses self titled brit-pop masterwork, a snazzy re-issue commemorating the 25th anniversary of it's release.

Oh hey...look what the SST folks found in the back corner of their warehouse....a pallet full of ORIGINAL Saint Vitus albums. Just in time for the stoner rockers to discover them, re-discover them or just blaze to them. The label that usually supplies us with Black Flag, Husker Du, Minutemen and Descendents ( Milo is BACK!) records unearthed original copies of Born Too Young, Mournful Cries and the 2x lp comp of the early years, Heavier Than Thou. These are NOT re-issues, they are original copies of the albums long thought lost, sold out or...who knows. Whatever the case may be, they are here for now. We are not sure when the well will run dry, though. Now please find a pallet of Dicks, (LA) Stains and (Canadian) Subhumans records.
-----------------------------------------------------------seven inches----
Low Threat Profile 7" 10 blasters on seven inches for five bucks. I'm no math wiz, but that sounds like a good deal to me. More on the way from Deep Six, including a long out of print INFEST reissue.
Marked Men/This Is My Fist split 7"
Lemuria - Ozzy 7"
Fresh & Onlys - Trouble In Mind/Second One To Know 7"
Useless Eaters - sucked in 7"
Rational Animals - Distorted Temptation ep
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well, thats about enough to absorb for now. There will be a second part to this update with some staff favorites from the year (and other totally objective shit) along with reports of recent re-stocks from Real Estate, Mantles, Crime, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Hot Snakes (Suicide Invoice is here!) and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. And just when the hell those Spacemen 3 re-issues are coming in.

Until then, keep warm and get down to Scratch and see whats happening. After all, we can't tell you everything new that is in the store...that would kill the surprise of finding that thing you've been after. And take me forever to type. Thanks again for all your support, on behalf of Team Scratch.
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something else to look forward to in the year 2010:

details forthcoming.

anchovies 1.2.10

HOLY CRAP....WE MISSED OCTOBER!!!

2009-11-03T17:30:00.000-05:00

A Long Overdue Update: PART ONE!

So a lot of things have come and gone since the last update, but heres a bit of what we have to offer. Since so much is expected next week, this will be a two-parter. First things first, as Nunzio used to say...
A special thank you to FENCES MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS for playing an early fall in-store performance.
Led by Exit Strategy/local crimestopper Mark C. and joined by Failures Union Tony F. and all-around local hero, Renee Rockfool Roberts on percussion.

Speaking of FREE in-store performances, Spiral Scratch is proud to announce one of our favorite aritsts for the last 15 years or so (through his work in the almighty Oblivians, Compulsive Gamblers, and most recently, the Reigning Sound--Greg Cartwright will perform solo on Sunday November 22 at 1 pm! Be punctual as space is limited. This will take place the night after the Reigning Sound play Mohawk Place. Of course we will have all the Reigning Sound albums in stock, as well as most of the Oblivians prime material and the most recent:

Greg Cartwright - Live at the Circle A - Greg "ed oblivian" Cartwrights first live solo foray gives you a taste of the pure honesty and soul when everything except the guitar and voice is stripped away. Recorded in Milwaukee and released on Dusty Medical, a very cool label run by an ol' Milwaukee rock and roller in his own right. Lp includes bonus 7" and is available now!

NEKO CASE & HER BOYFRIENDS - Furnace Room
Lullaby - Recently arrived and going quick, Neko Case is a good example of the cream rising to the top in an overcrowded genre. After starting off as a New Pornographer, she has successfully set off on her own with an onslaught of solo acclaimed solo albums. Much of her back catalog remains in stock as well.

KING KHAN & BBQ SHOW - Invisible Girl - The eagerly anticipated third long player from a band who mix doo wop and garage rock--both with the highest regard and respect, while also exposing a sick and twisted sense of humor on other tracks. Their talent cannot be overlooked, though--their songwriting and delivery is pure as the music they worship. One of the years finest already and a challenging feat, considering thier debut has acheived 'classic album' status as they grow out of their cult band britches and into the hands and ears the world over. Expect them to get the attention they deserve as "Invisible Girl" gets it right again.

CRIME - San Francisco's STILL Doomed - Reissued once again by Swami Records, CRIME--"San Franciscos First and Only Rock and Roll Band", as they humbly coined themselves, represent Northern California's first wave of punk (influencing and/or covered by bands like Flipper, Sonic Youth and more). Crime were anti-punk punks--dressing in SFPD uniforms and releasing their own singles at a time when such acts were unheard of. Musically, they took Chuck Berry-era riffs, added a dopey vocal sneer and had a complete disregard for tunign their instruments--which they clearly could play. For further reference, check youtube for their famous live performance at San Quentin Prison! Classic.
BUILT TO SPILL - There Is No Enemy
We wondered how Built To Spills latest, a double lp with accompaning bonus cd, earned itself a "parental advisory" sticker marring the cover artwork when this first arrived. Perhaps learning that this may be Built To Spills most urgent efforst in at least 10 years (it also earned them a 7.9 on the Church of Pitchfork), maybe it all makes sense. Described as "unpredictable" and "unexpectedly terrific", this might not be one to pass by.

LEMURIA - Ozzy 7" The only new 7" to make the new update (though we have loads of new ones in stock lately), this comes from our own LEMURIA and was recently officially released a week or so at a release show in St. Catherines, Ontario. Wonderfully packaged in a heavy cardstock fold-in sleeve. We are proud to be carrying these so soon and hope you take advantage of their proximity! Grab one before they disappear, silly.

JUDGE - What It Meant: The Complete Discography
Classic NYC Straight Edge hardcore (ex-Youth of Today) band operating around the late 80s and into the early 90s. Their heavy message was backed with heavy music--metallic hardcore that would dominate much of the 90s, especially in NYC. Here lies the "complete discography"--inside a well packaged gatefold album including many of their painfully expensive collectable releases.

HUMAN MESS - Follow You Home - Spinning at 45 rpm's, this is pure hardcore punk, stripped down and raw as hell. Fans of early Poison Idea, take note--don't pass this one by. Recorded brutally LOUD, the songs pass you by quick but you'll want to take a few listens reagrdless. I've read comparisons as varied as Discharge to Angry Samoans but do yourself a favor and forget all that and take for what it is. A killer 12".

PORTUGAL. THE MAN - It's Complicated Being A Wizard - Though classified as an ep, this one sided 12" pushes the limits with nearly 25 minutes of music on one side, while the flip features an etching of a drawing by PtM's John Gourley. Also included is the obligitory mp3 download card.

DIRECT CONTROL - Farewell
More blazing hardcore-punk from members of Government Warning and Wasted Time. Fast, tuneful and strikingly fun. This was not reviewed in Pitchfork, but if it were, we predict it would have received a 7.9, along with 5 paragraphs of bullshit.
Speaking of Government Warning...

GOVERNMENT WARNING - Paranoid Mess
Highly anticipated second full length from Richmond, VA's Govenrment Warning-following a killer debut and a flurry of singles. A step up with songwriting and tunes that call to mind "the golden age of hardcore punk" ranging from speedy blasters to hooky mid-tempo thrashers, this band is the real deal. Great recording from a band that is for real.

Also, just in this week:
New LIGHTNING BOLT 2x lp
New LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
New Pains At Being Pure at Heart 12" AND Remix 12"

We also just received a cool box directly from NORTON RECORDS which includes brand new re-issues of FLAMIN' GROOVIES "TEENAGE HEAD" and "FLAMINGO" lp's, as well as a few from the SONICS- "HERE COME THE SONICS" and "SAVAGE YOUNG SONICS". Since these came direct from the source-we offer the lowest prices possible on these and many other titles.
Fans of ROKY ERICKSON will be pleased to see the double lp "Don't Knock The Rok!" (with the Aliens) as well as an import version of his first album with the Aliens. The Double LP "The Evil One", which features some of Ericksons best work and compiles his first two albums with the Aliens in a deluxe gatefold presentation should be back in stock by next week. While you wait, we have the 13th Floor Elevators "Psychedelic Sounds" in MONO form at the "Nice Price" as well as the "You're Gonna Miss Me" documentary DVD.

Also back in stock:
GALAXIE 500 reissues! All 3!
JESUS LIZARD resissues! Cheaper than INSOUND!
GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPOROR
MARKED MEN "Fix My Brain"
OM "God Is Good" second with Albini at the knobs!
RAEKWON "Only Built For Cuban Linx" Double LP Classic!

Lots of 7" product in, as well! Stay tuned for part 2 of the November update!

Thank you for your continued support!

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The FALL LINE & SUMMER CLEARANCE at SPIRAL SCRATCH

2009-09-23T17:33:00.000-04:00

NEW RELEASES/SUPER-SALE/RE-STOCKS/UPCOMING INCOMING--see below:

It's always busy in the fall for new releases. So we gotta make a little room. That means our already ROCK BOTTOM prices on vinyl, cd and dvd have been ruthlessly slashed (by our ruthless price slasher). More details about that later...
First, the new booty:
POLVO - In Prism The first rumblings in 12 years or so from this great 90s establishment, released as a double 12" that was mastered at 45 rpms, is already being lauded as one of those rare "reunion" lps that is on par with the bands best work. Comes packaged with great artwork, a gatefold sleeve and the now obligatory high quality download. With 3/4ths of the original lineup still in-tact, this is one reunion not to be overlooked. Polvo never really got their due so the "cash-in reunion tour" that is so popular these days is not a factor here. Polvo is back.
Still in stock was their last album before the silence...SHAPES and the 1992 album, COR-CRANE STREET.

STEVE EARLE - TOWNES (limited 2x lp) Grammy award winner Steve Earle, who has amassed an incredible following in past decade or so, pays homage (finally) to his mentor of sorts, the legendary Townes Van Zandt--both troubled, yet sincere, great American drifter singer-songwriters. (Townes Van Zandt died in 1997, but has received overdue acclaim recently as well culminating in a documentary film released this year).
Here is Earle performing a double albums worth of Van Zandt covers-both acoustically and plugged in with a backing band.

COALESCE - Functioning on Impatience [10 year anniversary press-limited] Without getting into the breakdown/scum stats of colors, numbers and whatnot--here is the limited 10 year anniversary edition of 90s hardcore band COALESCE - Functioning on Impatience. Coming in a skeletal die-cut cover and 180 grams, here is your (brief) window to own a piece of hardcore history (or be a nerdy collector). Whichever it is, we snagged a few and they are gracing the racks right now.

REIGNING SOUND - Break Up Break Down - Memphis garage rock legend Greg Cartwright sudden and drastic shift from raunchy lo-fi raunchy rock and roll to quiet, country-tinged quiet mood pieces on the Reigning Sound's debut, Break Up Break Down (2001) Put this up against yer favorite alt-country record, though never christened as such, and discover a masterpiece that was criminally under the worlds radar at the time. They would eventually return to a more uptempo rock and roll band (see this years Love & Curses, and catch them live at the Mohawk Place in November--2 days before ex-Oblivian band mate passes through town!-- Jack "Oblivian" Yarber, an equally talented singer-songwriter in his own right). This debut is just now seeing it's proper vinyl issue as Sympathy For The Record Industry resurrects itself, unleashing collectable vinyl pieces back to fit a working stiff's wages. Also in stock were the long sought-after OBLIVIANS 10" records, "Six Of The Best" and "Oblivians". Dig the real down-home punk rock of the 90s!

EVERYTHING FALLS APART - Relief lp Brand new recordings from long running local hardcore outfit. Everything Falls Apart is one of a few bands who got this old geezer running back to the basements. On Relief, they build on the raging hardcore of their early singles and mature into a more song oriented (hey, the early songs were killer too...i dont know what im trying to say here) approach ala Naked Raygun--but still with much more power behind it. Great sound (recorded at HiLo Studios by Matt Smith and mastered by the legendary John Golden) and fine packaging to go along with it. An all around great effort from a great band. In stock. Release show 9.26 at Argyle.

PEARL JAM - Backspacer 2x lp Ninth studio album by the long running Seattle rockers, Backspacer is also available at Target™, as you probably know by now. However, you will not have to dodge red & khaki clad stressed out "team members", long lines, or blazng red shopping carts full of big bags of catfood, baby diapers or Cherokee/Masimo brand clothing. We have our single aisle and it's always an express aisle. Anyway, bad jokes aside, this is Pearl Jam's first since 2006 and produced by Brendon O'Brien, whom they last worked with in 1998 (Yield lp) and features the artwork of editorial cartoonist Tom Tomorrow. Double album within a deluxe gatefold sleeve. Hot shit.

More incoming:
VIVIAN GIRLS - Live on WFMU lp (1000 pressed)
JUDGE - Discography 2xLP/CD
CREATION - Best of... LP
? and the MYSTERIANS - 96 Tears LP
KID DYNAMITE - cheap shots...youth anthems LP
DINOSAUR JR. - Farm/Green Mind restock lp's

upcoming any day:
David Bazan, Avett Brothers, Pearl Jam, MAYYORS 12", Hot Snakes!, OhSee's, Fresh & Onlys, Kurt Vile, Girls, Yo La Tengo (recently sold out new 2x lp) and a long overdue order with
SST RECORDS!

Not at all limited to the cover shots you see here, but as many crucial back catalog classics and essentials direct from the SST Warehouse & Greenhouse now relocated to Texas. Cheap!
Black Flag, Descendents, Husker Du, Minutemen, fIREHOSE and more! LP's, 7"'s, 12" eps!
A real shitstorm of classic american music at the lowest prices possible.

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SUMMER CLEARANCE SALE!!
It's not dead stock...but it's kinda getting in the way. Great titles that get one chance at finding a happy home before they are returned for store credit. Some as low as cost...some teetering below. The BLACK CRATES are now stuffed...some slashed as much as $4 off! No bullshit titles (we try not to order that stuff to begin with).
Albums by: AFRAMES, BRIGHT EYES, CURSIVE, KIMYA DAWSON, DESCENDENTS, CHEAP TRAGEDIES, the DILS, the OBITS (rick fork frobergs latest project), DECEMBERISTs, CHRISTIAN DEATH, TOTAL ABUSE, BRIAN WILSON and more!
CD's by: RYAN ADAMS, BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE, BLACK LIPS, BLACK TIME, BLITZEN TRAPPER, CAT POWER, DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE, LOST SOUNDS, MY MORNING JACKET, MOGWAI, PINBACK, POISON IDEA, RADIOHEAD, STEREOLAB, WHITE STRIPES & more! All drastically reduced like overripe vegetables at the shady grocery store!

In addition ALL DVD's are $1 off sticker price. If you have seen our modest selection of DVD's, you know--quality reigns supreme over quantity.

Stop by and have a look-see....we'll be here! We hope...

Stay tuned to this blog for upcoming updates, show announcements and more. Thanks for reading.

-anchovies 9.23.09

End of Summer Update

2009-09-12T18:21:00.000-04:00

************************************************************************update!!!

Approaching our 1 year anniversary, Spiral Scratch is very excited to announce our upcoming used jazz & blues sections as well as a totally packed collection of 'previously enjoyed 7" records/45's (everything from hardcore to soul) which we will be unveiling in time for our anniversary "gala".
Slashed prices, unseen used back stock and some rare records and dvd's are just part of the whole sh-bang.

In the meantime, check out some of the latest incoming while it lasts. We have established some direct ordering deals with Hydrahead Records, among others, and bring you some of the latest rockin' swill for the lowest prices imaginable.
Dig it, man.

JAY REATARD - Watch Me Fall lp - The first official full length for Matador (following last years explosive single collection), Reatard (ne: Lindsay) continues to drift away from his manic punk roots of The Reatards (and loads of other projects like Lost Sounds, Angry Angles, etc) and drifts more into catchy indie ROCK territory with this new batch of songs. Say what you will about his 'tude--the guy has worked hard to get where he is at and continues to back it up with another album full of cool. Poppy, aggressive (at times) and contained on this well produced long player, which officially turns the corner for Reatard--loaded full of of acoustic guitars, strings, melodies that stick and well crafted songs. Coming direct from Matador, we have seen this one listed at $5 more than what we have it for. Choose wisely. They're moving quick.

VENOM - Black Metal lp English black metal pioneers, Venom's BLACK METAL lp, the bands second album, is considered a benchmark and /or blue print for extreme metal. In addition to its greatness, its influence on black, death and thrash metal is massive--regardless of their abilities or criticism thereof. Totally satanic and lightning fast, they have stood the test of time with young fans still seeking them out.
We still have a copy or two if the IRISH ASSAULT lp, which compiles early radio broadcasts, demos and other odds and ends. Serious Venom fans should not overlook this high quality "import", either. Very limited quantites. 180 grams on what i believe to be clear vinyl.

NO NEW YORK Compilation - V/A - This incredibly influencial and critically acclaimed collection was originally released in 1978 under the production of Brian Eno. Containing 4 bands (4 tracks each), No New York was thee seminal document of the short lived New York City "No Wave" scene and features James Chance and the Contortions, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks (Lydia Lunch), Mars & DNA. We've seen originals go for $40-$50, though this Russian import (180 gram) is well under $20. Described as ferociously avante-garde and ugly music, it's effects can still be seen in independent music today--though in a much more homoginized state. Love it or despise it, it's here for you.

TV GHOST - Cold Fish Tom Shannon of the CHEATER SLICKS remarked, "This album sounds like a nightmare." I think that was meant as a compliment. This Lafayette, Indiana band ushers in a vile and squalid new disposition to ugly art punk and carves out a black hole of pestilence that will delight its sufferers to no end. If one can swim through the murky grime long enough to let one's frazzled senses adjust, it's clear how effectively TV Ghost incorporates the licentious nuances of The Cramps' earliest scuzz, no wave's cacophony, and Suicide's terrifying throb alongside cavernous bellows from the depths of the third layer of hell.

TORCHE - HEALER/ACROSS THE SHEILDS 12" w/ dvd - Their latest offering, packaged with a dvd inside and some wild cover art. Limited quantites.

some more re-stocks this week:
Dinosaur Jr. - Farm lp
Dinosaur Jr. - Green Mind lp
Why - Elephant Eyelash
Why - Alopecia
Harvey Milk - Life...The Best Game In Town lp (last copies)
Big Business - Head For The Shallow
Big Business - Mind The Drift
Big Business - Biz-Bot Re-Mixes
Grizzly Bear - Horn of Plenty lp
Can - Moonshake
Charles Mingus - The Clown
Forgotten Rebels - In Love With The System lp
Akron/Family - Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free
Assemble Head In Sunburst Sound (playing buffalo soon!)
Sonic Youth - EVOL lp
Sonic Youth - Sister lp
Sonic Youth - The Eternal (their latest! lowest price anywhere!!)
New Order - LowLife
New Order - 1981-1982 (not the expensive re-issues!! Factory Records imports @$11!!)
Icons of Filth- Onward Christian Soldier (last copies...these were a bitch to track down)
Clouds - We Are Above You
King Tuff - Was Dead
The Sword - Gods of the Earth
The Sword - Age of Winters
Dead Kennedys - Plastic Surgery Disasters
Dead Kennedys - Bedtime for Democracy
MC5 - Kick Out The Jams
Wavves - s/t
Mogwai - Mr. Beast 2x lp

TY SEGALL - Lemons/TY SEGALL - s/t
As the northern california psych-garage scene flourishes, you can safely put TY SEGALL among the best coming out of that scene, or any scene for that matter these days. His latest, Lemons, will undoubtedly be among the favorites we've heard this year--no brainer top 10 material here; even an improvement on last years self titled debut which won us over, too. Lemons confidentally builds on the debut with better songs, better sound--but dont dismiss the first--it's just we're seeing a guy improve on his craft. Using a lo-fi buzz and nod to 60's psychedelic garage music (he covers Captain Beefhearts immortal "Dropout Boogie"), Segall writes great songs and keeps getting better. Not the overly raucous garage rock, but a more song driven, late 60s approach. I couldnt put this one down for weeks and it's even received acclaim in publications we normally sneer at. Perhaps his appeal is more widespread than we imagined (though Barrels declared long ago: "This kids gonna be huge"). Both of Segalls' lp's are in stock, and he has recently joined forces with San Frans SIC ALPS, whose double album singles collection also remains in stock. Inquire within!

13th Floor Elevators - Psychedelic Sounds of... Speaking of 60's psychedelic/garage music, we'd be remiss not to mention we are holding some copies of thee pivotal grandaddy of the genre...the first 13th Floor Elevators album in glorious MONO--it's definitive form according to experts on the subject. International Artists™ edition. Also, keep your eyes peeled for the frequent appearance of their second album, Easter Everywhere. In addition, we are carrying the fantastic Roky Erickson and the Aliens albums, including the A+ The Evil One 2x lp, the rare Gremlins Have Pictures collection of odds and ends and Weird Tales.

DVD RE-UPs

URGH...A MUSIC WAR on DVD!!!

BEST OF FLIPSIDE VIDEO: Volume 1 (featuring Bad Religion, Dickies, Weirdos and Circle Jerks! Actually this is volume 1+6 from the original series that was on VHS with mucho added footage and full live sets from the bands. Great quality footage. Great bands. No lo-fi camcorder crap here...the Flipside crew used the best gear they had at the time, used multiple angles and best sound available.

Thats all we're tipping for now. As stated in previous updates, keep tuned for anniversary happenings, our used 7" unveiling and more incomin stock.

Also, drop in and check out our out-of-town shos calender and dont miss out on any cool shows happening up the road apiece.

-anchovies 9.14.09

Los Scratchos Locos: Late August Update!

2009-08-25T16:05:00.000-04:00

Back In Scratch...

TEAMSCRATCH™, under the watchful and helpful eye of Mr. C. Barrels, e.s.q., came together to cover a sleepy week and a half Mexican retreat taken by myself and new wife. We thank them all for their help during this time and now are feverishly getting the hot rails to hell back on track to bring you some cool new releases, re-issues and otherwise essential records to keep you off the streets.
We are also proud to be carrying the print zine, All Things Ordinary #1--in limited supply:the
creation of you-know-who...(derek neuland, of course). Pocket sized and, as you would expect, a great read! In the back with the other zines...don't be fooled by it's size--its packed with cool.

NEW RELEASES/INCOMING PRODUCT OF NOTE:

PISSED JEANS - King of Jeans (sub pop) - Third time is the charm for these filthy Allentown, PA noisy rockers. Well received and selling like griddle cakes, King of Jeans is being touted as the bands best work since the early singles. We have already had to re-order a new batch, so don't delay. They recently blew the doors off the Mohawk Place, in humble fashion, at a Spiral Scratch sanctioned event.

GRIZZLY BEAR - Horn of Plenty (kanine) - The latest from this acclaimed lo-fi Brooklyn based unit who are on the upswing as of late, recently appearing on a much talked about (at least in thisd store) appearance on late night tv.

REIGNING SOUND - Love and Curses (in the red) - Greg "Oblivian" Cartwright could very well be Americas most overlooked and most deeply honest sounding great songwriter. Unfairly pigeonholed as a "garage rocker" due to his past indiscretions as an Oblivian/Compulsive Gambler, Cartwright has been delivering some of the most honest and pure American rock and roll under the Reigning Sound--whose last lp appeared in 2004. Love and Curses does not disappoint and even sits along the bands finest work--but you can see for yourself, as we have all their stuff right here for you. ....................................................................

SOUND CARTOGRAPHY - Volume 1 Another fine offering from Dave Baileys NancyJo Records, in concunction with Warm Bath. Sound Cartography features the prolific Pat Bolger (Running For Cover, Gas Chamber), Jon Kortland (Iron Lung), Greg Wilkinson (Brainoil) and Dave Bailey himself. From the NancyJo blog:
"Sound Cartography is concerned with the investigation of how individuals react when presented with unfamiliar material. Using a linear sequence, each consecutive participant ultimately determines the structure & feel of the record, taking cues from the previous submissions. A libretto echoing out from the sound of space stations slowly deteriorating."

Beautiful packaging on a fold-out heavy duty chipboard cover and artwork provided by Mark Sirek and Shepard. 300 copies.

HIGH PLACES SOFT CIRCLE split 12" (with download)

COCTEAU TWINS - Head Over Heels - The second, career re-defining album--regarded as their finest, Head Over Heels came out on 1983 0n the 4AD label. The re-issues are still on 4AD and, we think, a little cheaper than you'll find them anywhere else. More importantly,

RICHARD HELL & THE VOIDOIDS - Destiny Street - The follow up to the untouchable Blank Generation lp, this one is unfortunately overlooked and lost in comparison--which is unfair, because it's a killer album with several bona fide classic tracks.

SLIM HARPO - Raining In My Heart - Slim's first from 1961 on the Excello label. Crucial blues.

KINKS - Preservation Act 1 / Preservation Act 2 - 1973 and 1974. Ray Davies embarks on a complex concept which became these two albums (sold seperately, batteries not included). Some of the great, mch of it overlooked, great Kinks songs can be found on these two deluxe limited run 180 gram reissues.

SIC ALPS - A Long Way Around To A Shortcut 2xlp - The elusive singles and odds-n-ends from this acclaimed psych-garage band. pitchfork review .

TOXIC REASONS - Independence lp (midwest hardcore punk legends debut 1982 classic)

SCREAMERS - Demos 1977-1978 - Though this seminal band never made it to the studio proper, these great quality demos serve as a document to the seminal synth-punk Screamers-who were a key cog of the LA punk scene in the late 70s, though they never recorded a proper album or toured. Features In A Better World, Vertigo and more.
FORGOTTEN REBELS - In Love With The System lp (first album, original versions on Star)
BIG STAR - #1 & Radio City lp's (#3 enroute) - The first three lp's from Memphis gods.
ELLIOT SMITH - XO lp & Figure 8 2x lp - Back in print and back in stock, in their original presentations and 180 grams of wax.
RUDY RAY MOORE - Dolomite Soundtrack
ROY AYERS - Coffey Soundtrack

Spiral Jazz
In anticipation to unveiling our used jazz records, which have been compiling for the last 6 months, we've began bringing in some classic re-issue recordings from John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Ornette Coleman, Brother Jack McDuff, Miles Davis and more. So dont be surpirsed if you flip passed Mingus' Clown lp between the Misfits 'Static Age' and a reissued power pop masterpiece by Milk N Cookies.

7" Explosion!!!
I: New Stuff

BLANK DOGS - Waiting 7" The perfect primer to their debut double album and slew of mysterious 12" records. Finally, Joy Division/Cure worship done right with a mind of its own.
LEMURIA/OFF WITH THEIR HEADS split 7" - Our own LEMURIA-- a band who has earned their stripes through hard work and cool pop songs team up with OFF WITH THEIR HEADS. Only a few left.
TY SEGALL - CENTS 7"- More garage-pop perfection from northern california. A gem. In anticipation of his Lemons lp, which should be here any day. W ho is this Ty Segall, you say? We also have a copy or two two of his debut long player (pictured to the left) in stock.
LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS - Fredonia imprint Whaleplane Records offers up this cd-r equipped slab. RIYL: Mogwai/Ghosts & Vodka
*coming soon: Gaslight Anthem 7"'s, Gas, Drunkdriver (new*), DryRot, Kim Phuc, Hard Skin, Cult Ritual, Direct Control and more.*

**Also stay tuned for the super secret unveiling of our coveted (and massive) used 7" collection...record flippers, stay away; Barrels will break your dirty double-dealing thumbs. It's a treasure chest, painstakingly researched and priced by our hardworking, double-shifting Chuck Barrels. These will go public in the coming days, so keep checking the blog as this is where it will be announced publicly.**

II: OLDIES YOU DON'T HAVE TO FINANCE!

MISFITS - 3 HITS FROM HELL 7"/ Bullet 7" - Misfits vinyl fans rejoice: you can now own these elusive and expensive rarities for around 7 bucks. They sound great, too.
DICKS - Hate The Police 7"/Peace? 7" Hate The Police os one of the ultimate punk rock documents. Period. Essential in every sense of the word. Featuring "All Night Fever", with Bufx on the mic.
MUMMIES - Uncontrollable Urge/Girl You Want. Kings of the 90s garage explosion, wrapped in ace bandages and banging on broken farfisa organs. Doing Devo, wrapped in a fake SubPop sleeve with the SubPop q&a between the label and the band. Fantastic.
NIRVANA - Smells Like Nirvana 7"/Foretaste 7". Unissued studio recordings from 1991. 4 songs on each records.
BAD RELIGION - 1993 Peel Session - 4 tracks recorded for the late mr. peel from the Recipe For Hate era. They also do "What Can You Do" from the Suffer album. All live in the studio non-lp cuts. Cheaper than the first time we had it, but painfully scarce.

Theres more...but we'll save that for later. Until then, thanks again to our customers (not the 2 whiners!) and everyone at Team Scratch for their support, time, sweat, blood, tears, bad jokes, good jokes and...money. --anchovies 8/26/09

p.s.

"fuck yeaaaah!"

A Mid-Summer Nights Scratch Update

2009-07-24T02:22:00.000-04:00

It's 2 am and i'm on my second...make that third root beer float. No time to sleep. Its time to talk shop. New records have arrived! And more are on the way.

The last week or some and the coming weeks are some pretty exciting releas es, including re-issues and new albums from some of our favorites. We've been eagerly awaiting the seminal Galaxie 500 vinyl re-issues of their 3 studio albums. They have finally arrived and we are proud to bring them to you--an often overlooked late 80s/ early 90s trio whos down-tempo and simplistic dreamy drones (ala VU) pre-dated more successful bands who would rise to prominence after Galaxie 500's demise. (They would split into Luna and Damon & Naomi). These vinyl editions were remastered by Alan Douches and Kramer at West West Side Music, cut by Kevin Gray at AcousTech, pressed to virgin vinyl at RTI, and packaged in old-fashioned tip-on style jackets at Stoughton.

2 days later...still working on the update.

Also in stock:

RUSTED SHUT - DEAD Pummeling constantly since the mid 1980s, Houstons RUSTED SHUT are an institution of negative, repetitive riff heavy and harsh rock. Not to be pigeon-holed as noise rock or sludge (or the marketable "stoner rock" stamp--though they display all these traits), Rusted Shut can appeal to fans of Flipper or the Brainbombs as well as the Melvins...but they present their negative outlook in a dirtier fashion as all of the aforementioned. Allmusic calls it a "monstrous powerhouse" and they have found an approproate home on LOAD RECORDS. New fans can fear not starting right here where old fans can rejoice in the filthy pessimism of DEAD.

COSMOS - Jar of Jam Ton of Bricks - Guided By Voices nerds rejoice! Bob Pollard is a busy man these days...among his latest projects is this album...a collaberation project with Richard Davies...the psych-pop fella who fronted the amazing CARDINAL and also led the band MOLE.
This one has been regarded as one of Pollards more accesible indulgences of late, with shared vocals--though Pollard sings twice as many songs while Davies' and his hired guns, including Malcolm Travis (Human Sexual Response, Sugar) and David Minehan (The Neighborhoods) handle the arrangements. An interesting collaberation that has some picky fans very pleased.

MATES OF STATE - All Day 12" A re-issue of a the indiepop husband and wife duo, Mates of State, All Day was a career defining release. Includes their revered cover of David Bowies Starman. Re-packaged in all its glory on 180 grams of vinyl and free mp3 download.

THE OH SEES - SUCK BLOOD - Another re-issue, though this one is from 2007. The Oh-Sees (aka OCS aka thee Oh-See's aka...) delivered probably the best album of this year with the surprise "HELP" and are about to issue another as well. This is the lp that preceded "Help" and, though with a more mellow and dreamy vibe...more evidence that we are talking about one of the best bands in the world at the current moment. Also in stock is the split 7" with Ty Segal (Sic Alps) who also has his second solo album en route to the Scratch and another 7" single. The Oh Sees are led by John Dwyer (ex-Coachwhips) and feature shared vocals with Brigid Dawson, offering a unique take on what has been described as 'the Mamas and the Papa's meeting up with the Cramps'. Coming soon "The Masters Bedroom". And hopefully a re-stock of "Help"..which repeatedly sold out to a wide range of music fans--it crosses several genres. Seems like everytime the store copy gets a spin, another one goes out the door. Great bloody spattered white vinyl, too.

more incoming stuff of note:

CURSIVE - Mama I'm Swollen - The latest (third) longplayer from this Omaha, Nebraska band on Saddle Creek™. Playing Buffalo on the 31st. I wish we had tickets to sell you, but we do not. We will, however, sell you their albums.

BEASTIE BOYS - Ill Communication - The Beastie Boys 1994 album which assured their superstar status for good. Also in stock is Paul's Boutique and Check Your Head--all of which have been re-issued in top quality packages. Superfans take note: Pollywog Stew shows up every so often here on vinyl...it might be a week or so, but it's coming back. In the meantime, dig these three handsome reissues.

BUTTHOLE SURFERS - Brown Reason To Live 12"- The first release from these twisted acid damaged Texans--featuring some of their most well-known tracks and a sign this band wasn't your typical hardcore punk band. All of their albums are unique and sound like a completely overhauled band up until the point they were discovered by the mainstream around two decades after thier first release.
They weren't hardcore at all...they were vulgar, they could play well and were inventing their own genre, that has never been duplicated, though their unique and distinctive sound would influence post-punk and punk bands forever, whether they realized it or not. They could write sludgey and twisted dirges alongside catchy or weird blasters and subdued pop numbers...and they did all that on theirground-breaking debut released by a very enthusiastic Jello Biafra and his Alternative Tentacles label. It remains one of the most unique and adventurous documents to come from the hardcore era. Essential listening and priced to move! The follow-up will be here soon, also.

some re-stocks:

MEATMEN - We're the Meatmen and You Suck! LP - Tesco Vee and the early classic lp that combined their early 12" eps. Offensive as hell from the man who really started Touch & Go Records. This is the labels first release. Speaking of which...
NECROS - Conquest For Death LP Here is Touch and Go release number #2, featuring Corey Rusk--the man who eventually took over Touch and Go (and subsequently ran it into near bankruptcy in the last year--though they survived and will re-issue the Jesus Lizard back catalog soon). Early midwestern hardcore punk.
PIXIES - discography of all studio lp's--now including Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde, alongisde the staples that are Doolittle, Surfer Rosa and Come On Pilgrim.
V/A - Last Kind Words:1926-1953 - "Wonderful compilation of rare blues and gospel from hard-to-find 78rpm laquers. All Classics!" [barrels]

CRAMPS - Off The Bone LP - Early Cramps vinyl is not easy to find. This import compilation offers some of their greatest (gravest) stuff dating back to late 70s and early 80s material.

Also restocked our classic Dischord material (SST is next update):

Minor Threat - First Demo Tape 7"
Minor Threat - s/t 12"
Minor Threat - Out of Step 12"
Fugazi - In On The Kill Taker LP
Faith/Void split LP
Four Old Seven Inches On A 12" LP (SOA, Teen Idles, DC Youth Brigade, Gov't Issue)
Flex Your Head comp
Dag Nasty - Can I Say?
Dag Nasty - Wig Out At Denkos

And finally, as we finish off the painstaking pricing process of our used jazz records, we grabbed a few classic reissues from the likes of John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus and more! Stay tuned for more news and comment. And records. (CDs if you desire)

-anchovies

P.S.
Don't Forget...the good folks at SPIRAL SCRATCH and TERMBO are bringing you DRUNKDRIVER (nyc) with PLATES (last show ever?), BROWN SUGAR and RATIONAL ANIMALS (rot-chester) MONDAY AUGUST 3 at thee MOHAWK PLACE! 8:30 pm is go-time.

###

July 7: A Good Day For A Scratch

2009-07-07T15:39:00.000-04:00

This post is more or less a reminder of a few things. First, our sale bin ($1-$4 off marked prices) which always includes new and classic releases...no turds, has been re-loaded with marked down titles. We will also be unveiling a massive used 7" section-it's been growing like a mold (the records are not moldy, though) in back while we sorted, priced and made sense of what we had. It is vast, priced to move and loaded with goodies. We'll let you know HERE when it goes public.

Don't forget we have the new SONIC YOUTH on sale (priced below most wholesale prices we've seen). Only a few remain...and we probably won't be getting more. We're busy tracking down re-issues of their earlier albums now.

Speaking of sales...our Wilco+Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band $3 kickback applies up until the show or when we run out of one...whichever comes first. If yer just after the new Wilco lp, mention this post and get a buck off the list price (which we thought was a bit steep anyway).

A few re-stock copies of Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colours (it's since been re-pressed, though these are from the initial batch) remain. Yellow Covers this time. Check out these hott traxx from the album:

Incoming: A few new, fancy and limited (1000 copies, in most cases) titles arrived this week, direct from the smokey offices of Southern Lord Records. Remember...direct orders=lower prices!!

PELICAN - Ephemeral LP - Their first release on Southern Lord is widely being touted as a "return to form". Gold vinyl, pressed to 180 gram vinyl and painfully limited to 1000 copies.

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM - Black Cascade 2x LP/Two Hunters 2x LP - Olympia, WA triumvirate of 2 brothers and a pal who are one with nature, winter solstice and black metal leanings. This is their second and third LP respectively, both of which have received rave reviews, and their first for Southern Lord. Deluxe gatefolds, the usual 180 grams of wax and limited quantites, though we are unsure of the scum stats on these.

SUNN 0))) - Domkirke 2 x LP - 2008 release in deluxe gatefold packaging.

EARTH - Radio/Live - Another handful of this RecordStoreDay™ Vinyl Saturday title, these are also severely limited and our first batch went fast. We didn't get many, so don't wait on this one. This one has a fabric-type sleeve with silver foil lettering on the cover. 3000 were made in this form.

****This just in from Matador Records!
Get your Pixies fix here--we now are carrying, in addition to the oft seen Surfer Rosa and Doolittle lp's, their Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde long players (and, of course, Come On Pilgrim). Thats every Pixies studio album...so take your pick.

Also, the latest from Columbus 'sensation' (and SHITGAZE™ torchbearer), PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT (try to get past the worst band name in many years/biggest interview shit-talkers) with their ironically titled Shitgaze Anthems 12"--as they have left behind the distorto lo-fi sound behind that both helped coin a sub-genre and influenced an army of like-minded bands such as Wavves, Times New Viking, Vivian Girls, Pink Reason (Kevin probably coined the term 'shitgaze'), Eat Skull (we do carry most of these bands, just in case you were wondering...) and scores of others-- for a cleaner sounding record this time around.

HARLEM - Free Drugs ;) - Debut album from up and coming Austin band...which has been welcomed with rave reviews. Fantastic NUGGETS-esque rock and roll with a big sense of humor and no shortage of fun. Highly recommended from Team Scratch. From the trusty-worthy Smashin' Transistors webzine: "It's obvious in the way the chug & chime on some of the songs that their water has been spiked with a good dose of the Velvet Underground doing bong rips instead of junk shots on songs which is not something all that uncommon of course but it's then tempered with as good amount of Roky-like psychosis (you can especially hear it in the screams-which also may remind some a bit of Dan Kroha's singing in the Gories from time to time as well...and maybe even....GASP! A touch here and there of the Pixies), elements of baroque pop and and a dollop here and there of folkish whimsy.
The general framework of the tunes ARE of the "garage rock" persuasion but things are tweaked and twisted a bit where there are a lot of different dimensions to the songs which make the entire album interesting & clever than something just typical and shopworn."

Stay tuned for more updates and a special announcements soon!

-anchovies