Stephen Mejias

I Pledge Allegiance

Stephen Mejias Apr 28, 2008 First Published: Apr 28, 2008

Dusting is boring and makes me sneeze, so I had been putting it off. I don't know how many months and months had passed. It had been awhile. In fact, to an outside observer, it might have appeared as though I was trying to determine just how much dust I could collect on my bookcases. It was even starting to bother me. My bookcases no longer boasted their cheap cherry shine, but had taken on a soft, sickly grey. This weekend, I figured it was time.

Stephen Mejias

Buddha Said

Stephen Mejias Apr 25, 2008 First Published: Apr 25, 2008

Buddha said:

Stephen Mejias

The Wind Cried: Vinyl

Stephen Mejias Apr 25, 2008 First Published: Apr 25, 2008

If you visit our">http://forum.stereophile.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/1646">our Gallery, you'll see that Christian bought an LP. Vinyl, that is. Funny thing about that: Christian doesn't own a record player.

Stephen Mejias

Sincerely Concerned

Stephen Mejias Apr 23, 2008 First Published: Apr 23, 2008

Dear Readers,

I admit it. When Jerry commented to last">http://blog.stereophile.com/stephenmejias/041408really/">last week's entry, saying that vinyl wears out with every single trip around the platter, it kind of shook me up. My heart raced and blood rushed to my head. I began to sweat. What had I done? What was I getting into? How would I afford this? Had I stepped into AlexO's bottomless pit?

Stephen Mejias

Stereos for Every Room

Stephen Mejias Apr 23, 2008 First Published: Apr 23, 2008

Besides the reading I do here at Stereophile, I read a lot on the morning train. When Murakami is pissing me off with his cats and dead friends, I turn to the free dailies handed out by the dudes in the bright orange jackets standing outside the station. I pick one up and I say to myself, "I think I'll get a little stupid this morning." I go for Metro&#151"the world's largest global newspaper." Dressed in a cheery green and with a friendly font, it is clearly designed for those in jeans and sneakers, whereas AM New York is meant for the more serious suits.

Stephen Mejias

The Picture Disc Idea

Stephen Mejias Apr 22, 2008 First Published: Apr 22, 2008

A couple of nights ago, I got this big idea that I'd go shopping for some picture disc vinyl to go along with the component we'll be featuring on our July cover. (Hint: It's not a speaker.) You know, I was thinking it'd be no problem to find Jimi Hendrix all lit up in a purple haze or, better yet, some new indie band dressed in skinny jeans and moccasins being chased by a puma, or something. But I discovered that new picture disc vinyl isn't all that easy to come by. Surprisingly, I found that today's picture discs come from three main sources:

Stephen Mejias

Love, MERGE

Stephen Mejias Apr 22, 2008 First Published: Apr 22, 2008

To cheer myself up after the picture disc disappointment, I went ahead and bought Attack & Release by The">http://www.theblackkeys.com/">The Black Keys and Trouble In Dreams by Destroyerhttp://www.myspace.com/destroyer">Destroyer;. Of course, I couldn't buy only two albums. Two is an even number, you see. So, I also picked up Light">http://www.lightintheattic.net/">Light in the Attic's beautiful Betty Davis reissue.

Stephen Mejias

Slow, Slow Burn

Stephen Mejias Apr 22, 2008 First Published: Apr 22, 2008

The gorgeous gatefold opens up to show watercolors of The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney. In the left sleeve, you'll find a glossy lyrics sheet and a complete promo CD!

Stephen Mejias

Meant To Be Played

Stephen Mejias Apr 22, 2008 First Published: Apr 22, 2008

I'm not quite sure what's going on in the art here, but I can't stop looking at it. I love the colors. If music wasn't meant to be played, I'd hang this up on my wall.

Stephen Mejias

Zappa! Zappa! Zappa!

Stephen Mejias Apr 21, 2008 First Published: Apr 21, 2008

Truth is: I know diddly-squat about Frank Zappa. I've heard this and that, of course, and all I've heard has always been intriguing, but, for no good reason, I've just never taken the time to dive into Zappa's world. Perhaps it's because his world seems so enormous and wild and foreign. His world is full of barking pumpkins and utility muffins and Sprechstimme and other things I can neither imagine nor pronounce. I mean, even his name is strange. Like an exclamation, like a shot of electricity. Zappa! Say it three times, and something bad might happen. Zappa! Zappa! (No, don't!)