It just so happens I have Friday off. This Friday. Black Friday. Truthfully, I booked it off months ago — not because I wanted to go shopping, but because I’m the final band on a three-act bill Thursday night and I usually get up at 4 a.m. for work.
But talk about an unintended bonus! While everyone else is off taking advantage of the traditional discounts at their favourite stores, people like us will be lining up to spend loads of money on something impulsive: Record Store Day. This is, of course, an opportunity to visit an independent music store to get your hands on an exclusive record, a special new re-release or something not seen before. I’ve had a chance to go over the list of hundreds of albums being released into the world Nov. 24 and I’m gonna let you know a few I’m kinda excited about, or at least — I understand why some of you will be.
First stop is the new EP Gory Scorch Cretins by Matt Cameron. I’ve been a fan of the former Soundgarden drummer since I first heard Loud Love when it came out, its predecessor Ultramega OK and then Badmotorfinger when the band finally broke through. But just as much, I love the first album by Hater — Cameron and bass player Ben Shepherd’s side project. And Cameron’s solo album Cavedweller is astounding. This new EP is done with Melvins as his backing band, after he approached them at the Chris Cornell tribute concert a few years ago. The title is a play on their debut, Gluey Porch Treatments.
Speaking of Melvins, I always loved that they copied the style and format of the KISS solo albums from 1978. Well, for RSD, there’s a fifth solo album to add to your Kollection — a re-released and re-packaged pressing of Eric Carr’s solo album Rockology, with the late drummer featured in a solo album-matching sleeve in full Fox makeup — which makes it officially the second-best of the solo albums after Ace Frehley’s one.
I’d be stoked for the 30th anniversary edition of Dr. Dre’s The Chronic if it wasn’t a CD reissue. Still, it’s tempting in that it comes in a retro disc “longbox” — with rolling papers.
I’ll pass on the live albums from both Faces and Flaming Lips — and yet ANOTHER Grateful Dead show. Though I’m tempted by the 1977 Little Feat live album. Some of this show from the Manchester Free Hall was previously released on the deluxe edition of Waiting For Columbus, but this is the full concert. Feat were at the height of their powers then — go to YouTube and watch the Rockpalast stuff from ’77. So good.
Another live set I’m interested in is Sparks’ Live at the Record Plant from 1974. I checked to make sure they do This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us.
The last RSD album I bought was Joni Mitchell’s Blue outtakes, so I’m obviously curious about the Court & Spark demos. However, it would have to be pretty special to top my mid-’70s quadraphonic copy of the original album.
I’m tempted by Willie Nelson’s landmark 1973 album Shotgun Willie — now a two-record set with outtakes and alternate versions.
Olivia Rodrigo has a very cool release coming Friday — a 12” purple vinyl by Third Man of bonus tracks from her Guts album.
My partner turned me on to Tank & The Bangas (who were part of Bluesfest in Ottawa this past summer!). We have their 2022 album Red Balloon. For RSD on Friday, they unleash a followup EP called Floating.
Next up, two soundtracks! I really enjoyed Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City, the only film I got theatre tickets for this year. The soundtrack, as with all Anderson’s movies, is awesome. You can get an orange vinyl two-record set on RSD. The other soundtrack is a favourite of mine from high school — Judgment Night. I’ve actually never seen the movie, but the soundtrack is amazing because it features collabs between alt-rock and hip hops big names of the early ’90s. I put so many of these on mixtapes back in the day — especially Another Body Murdered by Faith No More & Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.
I keep a selection of kitschy or cool Xmas records, but one I’ve never managed to get is The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album from 1964, featuring Little Saint Nick. It comes out Friday on green vinyl, so.
Gonna pass on the TWO Jerry Garcia albums, as well as the new Joan Jett record (it’s not great).
And then there are three which I’d be lucky to find, because I suspect they’ll be popular. An overdue re-release of Madlib’s Before The Verdict from 2010 — the first release in the Medicine Show series he did. I’d be very popular with my stepkids if I managed to score the new Post Malone compilation The Diamond Collection. I don’t own any Post Malone, so this seems like a real good place to start. And then there’s Gram Parsons. There’s a double live album dropping Friday. It was recorded in 1973, when he and The Fallen Angels were touring his first solo album.
From the same year (the year I was born!) comes a remastered re-release of the classic self-titled funk-groove album by Ripple. I would love to start my weekend by dropping my stylus on I Don’t Know What It Is, But It Sure Is Funky.
When I was in college, I loved my cassette copy of Uncle Anesthesia by Screaming Trees. It began a life-long fondness for Mark Lanegan. I can’t wait to hear the shambles-era Live At Egg Studios album.
That’s more than enough to wipe out my Xmas budget.
Check out the full American list HERE and view the Canadian list HERE.
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Area Resident is an Ottawa-based journalist, recording artist, music collector and re-seller. Hear (and buy) his music on Bandcamp, email him HERE, follow him on Instagram and check him out on Discogs.
