Matthew Berlyant: December 24, 2006

Picking the Bones of Tower Records, Part 2

Last week, I listed ten CDs that I picked up for 50% to 70% off at Tower (mainly here in Philadelphia but also at one of the Manhattan locations) over the previous few weeks. This week, here are ten more CDs that I picked up at 70% to 80% off at the sole remaining store here in Philadelphia that closed its doors for good a few days ago. I haven’t gotten around to playing most of these yet, but I have comments for a few of the ones that I have listened to.

1. Esquerita – Vintage Voola (Norton)
2. A Certain Ratio – I’d Like to See You Again (LTM)
3. Aztec Camera – Frestonia (Warner Music)
4. Auntie Christ – Life Could Be a Dream (Lookout)

   This is a pummeling and powerful punk rock record. I can see why Exene still plays “The Future is a War” with her current band The Original Sinners. Getting this album on CD made me revisit it and I think I’ve underrated it in the past, so I feel the need to rectify this error in judgement. It’s certainly by far the angriest and most pissed-off Exene has ever sounded and its themes of media manipulation and wayward, apathetic youth are sadly just as relevant today as when this was recorded ten years ago.

5. APB – Something to Believe In (Young American)
6. Marshall Crenshaw – Downtown (Wounded Bird)

   Having this on vinyl, I was reluctant to pick up this CD reissue (sans bonus tracks or liner notes, in typical, minimalist Wounded Bird fashion, though props must be given to them for even releasing lots of long out-of-print material on CD), but for $4 or so, I couldn’t resist. This is one of Marshall’s finest efforts.

7. Nick Garrie – Nightmare of J. Stanislas (Rev-Ola)

   This orchestral pop classic from 1968 was inexplicably out of print for many years before this Rev-Ola reissue, which also features several rare, also long out-of-print single tracks and demos from around the same time period. The sound (in terms of the mixing) is unfortunately way too much in the “loud” category (like too many reissues and new records these days), but the music is exquisite. This highly orchestrated affair is recommended for fans of THE ZOMBIES’ masterpiece Odessey and Oracle as well as late ‘60s SCOTT WALKER.

8. Wall of Voodoo – The Index Masters (Rykodisc)
9. Penelope Houston – The Pale Green Girl (DBK Works)
10. Hall Renaldo Booker – Oasis of Whispers (Alien 8 Recordings)

    I don’t have the room to list the latest purchases I made at Tower the other day, so as an added bonus, here they are:
    COSMIC ROUGH RIDERS – Stars Look Different from Down Here (Warner Music)
    CITIES – Cities (YepRoc)
    CANNIBAL AND THE HEADHUNTERS – Anthology (Rampart Recordings)
    BLUETIP – Polymer (Dischord)
    BELLRAYS – Have a Little Faith (Cheap Lullaby)
    APB- Radio One Peel Sessions (Young American)
    ANNIE – Anniemal (679 Recordings)