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While My JVC Vibrates the Concrete

Lyle Owerko likes boomboxes.

When I think of the boombox, I think of growing up in Newark, New Jersey; I think of Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing; I think of making mix tapes in my bedroom, recording popular songs directly from Z100 and Hot 97; I think of my parents, young and happy, taking us to Jersey City's Lincoln Park, which, at the time, seemed like a million miles from home, and now is home; I think of my father making sure we had the right number of size-D batteries; I think of my first experiences with hi-fi.

In this video, Lyle Owerko and Fab Five Freddy discuss…

Lydia Lunch: <i>Queen of Siam</i>

Lydia Lunch's 1980 album Queen of Siam (ZE Records ZEA 33006, LP) is so impressive&#151both sonically and musically&#151that, while listening, you might just find yourself compelled to send an enthusiastic, breathless text message to one of your friends.

"Dude," you might write, "do you have Lydia Lunch's 'Queen of Siam' on vinyl? Ooh, it's great fun on the hi-fi!"

And, if all is right with the world, you just might receive an equally enthusiastic and breathless message in return.

"You have to be kidding! I am listening to it right now. No joke. WTF!"…

Music For Pleasure Time

I just got off the phone with Nathaniel Friedman, a writer working on a "vinyl revival" piece scheduled to appear in an upcoming issue of Penthouse, that finest of fine men's periodicals. I think it went fairly well. If nothing else, it gives me an excuse to buy the magazine.

"I'm mentioned in an article in here. No, dude, really…"

We explored the possibilities surrounding this so-called "vinyl revival," discussed vinyl's ineffable soul, pondered its influence on the music industry, on hi-fi, and on the world, in general. I talked about vinyl's ability to communicate…

Daft Punks

Digital sales rep, Jon Banner, just shared with me this bit of beautiful brilliance.

Ah, physical poetry. Ah, sweet ironic movement.

Oh, Golden Boots

I would give just about anything to be Andy Macleod for even a single day. (Lord, hear my prayer.)

I mean, the dude is an excellent bass player. (Legs, legs, legs.) And notice that unique brand of self-assuredness in his eyes. (Oh, golden boots.) The man has got it together. (Such savage locks of wild hair falling free, falling free, never anywhere for you to land.) If nothing else, I'd like to just reach out and give that man five, you know, press the flesh. (Flesh! If I die tonight, so what, there's nothing left to build.)

The new album from Lights, the world's…

Wicked Game

The sound of women singing. I love them all, always have:

Leah Carey
Busy Gangnes
Elizabeth Harper
Jane Herships
Sophia Knapp
Jessica Lauretti
Caroline Polachek
Molly Shea
Linnea Vedder

<i>Spiritual Unity</i>

At around 1pm on July 10, 1964&#151almost exactly 45 years ago&#151percussionist Sunny Murray, bassist Gary Peacock, and saxophonist Albert Ayler met at the Variety Arts Recording Studio just off of Times Square to record what would become the first jazz release for Benard Stollman's ESP-Disk. The studio was tiny and cramped and its walls were covered with Latin album covers and its doors were open so that the musicians could breathe. Can you imagine how hot it must have been?

The label began as Esperanto Disk; it was Bernard Stollman's vision to create a label devoted to…

Afterwards

Afterwards, we spent the most delicious morning together, just holding one another. Everything felt so thick and hot and gorged. We couldn't help but move slowly. Time felt eternal.

A Bit Too Heated

I know, I know. Things were going pretty fast, but it all felt so natural and neither one of us wanted it to stop. When it all got a bit too heated, we slowly moved on to the couch.

Afterwards...

Making Moves

And then I just sort of couldn't help myself. I mean, maybe you've been in a situation like this, too. I don't know. It was kind of just hanging there, waiting to happen. I know we had only just met&#151I hope you don't think less of me because of this&#151but I really think the time was right.

So I made my move. I know, I know...