Everywhere I turned, it was the VPI or the Nitty Gritty, the VPI or the Nitty Gritty, the VPI or the Nitty Gritty. And I figured that that would be the case. I suppose I was hoping for some alternative; something that would prove appealing to my particular blend of wants and needs. Meaning, what, exactly? I don't know. Maybe my record-…
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I sent some crazed e-mails to my audiophile friends, all like: Dude, I'm at my wit's end over here. I can't make sense of any of it. I know so-and-so uses a VPI and what's-his-name uses a Nitty Gritty, but what's YOUR method? Huh, huh, huh?
And so, I turn back to the VPI. Or the Nitty Gritty.
Like most things in hi-fi, these roads have been walked before. In the short time I've spent researching and enjoying hi-fi, I have yet to define a dilemma, controversy, or fad that someone else hasn't already encountered and tackled. I have discovered nothing new, I have done nothing new. It's almost frustrating, like a constant flick to the ear of my delicate self-worth. How can I tread new ground in a hobby that is so rich in history? How can I leave a mark? Perhaps, rather than attempt to leave a mark, I should…
CG?
Oh, yes. The famous Corey Greenberg. I've never met the dude, but I've heard—time and time again, I'll add—that he was a pretty special writer. And so I went back to the issue—Vol.17 No.5—to see what Corey had to say.
Interestingly, reading Corey Greenberg's report on record-cleaning machines was a bit like looking in a mirror. Just a bit. But I flatter myself. Corey Greenberg was a professional audio reviewer. I am not. I'm simply trying to find my way through this and that, trying to enjoy my music, and hoping to learn something…
I spent yesterday at my mom's house, celebrating my sister's 14th birthday. Uncles and aunts and cousins are scattered around the house, laughing and eating and shouting at the television screen as if someone is just going to die if the Celtics don't win this game. See me and my sister sitting side by side, somehow apart from it all: She's absolutely engrossed in Weird N.J., Vol.1 (I'm very proud of her), and I'm similarly rapt by Acoustic Sounds' "Under the Radar" list.
Man, this damn vinyl thing. It is changing my life. I had never been one to do much online shopping,…
Still, I have a long way to go before I catch up with this young music lover.
But I'd love to introduce him to some Digable Planets or A Tribe Called Quest.
You know how life is: It's just one damn thing after another. I spent some time attempting to re-imagine this blog and I dealt with a health issue. clickfor sound effect Well, I'm better now and I have some fun things (I think) in store.
Such as?
Factory tours (I leave for Focal within the hour), designer interviews, small reviewlets, and, of course, some Friday cat-blogging and the usual linkage.
Stay (ahem) tuned. click for sound effect
"So how many records did you buy last night?" Elizabeth asked me.
"Six."
She gave a look—a sort of grimace—that expressed sympathy for my bank account. I nodded.
"What did you get?"
"I've had this total crush on a girl called Santogold.
"Her music is this dub, hip-hop, indie-rock fusion, and it's really fucking great. The store had her full-length, but only on CD. I almost bought it, but I held back because I know I'm eventually going to buy the vinyl. So, instead, I just bought the LP single. It was six bucks."
"A 45…
My first record cleaning purchases: A Hunt EDA carbon fiber brush for dry-cleaning (footnote 1), a MoFi brush for wet-cleaning, a couple bottles of MoFi fluid (Super Deep Cleaner for the really nasty records, and Super Record Wash for the plain old dirty ones), 100 Polyline inner sleeves (because of all the different options these were the least expensive per sleeve, but, at some point, I'd like to try the MoFi rice paper sleeves), and 100 4-mil outer sleeves (because 4-mil seemed just thick enough, and because I liked the packaging).
I am totally pumped to spend some time…
Her name was E. and the gentle quaver in her soft voice gave me the impression that she was nervous, anxious, young. Something about it seemed sweet, seemed sincere. Which made me want to help her more. She was calling from England, and the connection was crystal clear. I could hear her perfectly, though she was so far away. She was doing research on the high end hi-fi industry.
"I'm not so sure that I'll be able to help," I said, "but I'll certainly try."
We talked about this and that, and I could sense that she was taking notes, when she finally asked, "So, how do…
Reminds me of so many of the '80s music videos that absolutely scared the bejesus out of me. Love it.