Turntable Tuesday | Black Keys, Magic Potion

Ever since I got to see the Black Keys by a stroke of luck (and an awesome friend, thanks Lori!) back in the spring of 2012 in Milwaukee I have been pretty much in love with their music. We have been slowly collecting their albums whenever we can. 

Magic Potion has some of my most favorite songs Your Touch & You're the One. I just love the feel of this album... raw, gritty and the blues really come through, just like you would expect.  The songs are just so fitting yet amazing for something that was produced using subpar equipment in the basement of the band's drummer Patrick Carney.  

All of the songs this awesome LP are all written and composed for the Black Keys by the Black Keys (a first in the band's history at the time). Overall if you haven't given Magic Potion a listen I highly recommend it!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Turntable Tuesday | Interpol, Antics

There are really not that many bands that I would say that I really love. I would say that I am almost the same way with people... I have many people in my life that I like, that I consider friends but few that are in that inner circle if you know what I mean. I have the same relationship with music and bands. Many I really like but few that I really love. The band Interpol is one of the few I really love... like as in one of the few I really want to see in concert (and immensely regret not being able to get tickets to their Milwaukee show this past November but sometimes that's just life).

When Antics came out in 2004 it really was the album that not only introduced me to Interpol but made me fall in love with this band. The song Slow Hands may have been a bit over played on alternative radio at the time but it still is the song that I can't get enough of and probably never will! That said there are SO many good songs on this album from Next Exit, Evil, Not Even Jail and C'mere. So few records I can listen to all of the way through and like all of the songs but this is one of them! I think another reason this album is one I love as it reminds me of the time in my life while I was living in Chicagoland and my husband and I (who was my boyfriend at the time) had just moved in together.... so lots of good feels and memories are associated with this music, never a bad thing! 

It seems as though I wasn't the only who had a love for Interpol's Antics as it was named to countless top 50 albums for 2004 including everyone from Pitchfork, Rolling Stone to Spin. With a very alternative rock meets slightly post punk with a touch of mystery yet up lifting feel you simply can't listen to this album without smiling, even if it is just a little bit. When I found this record i was very excited so if you haven't given Interpol a listen put it on your to-do list today!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Turntable Tuesday | Into the Wild Soundtrack

I am not sure about you but there really isn't anything like a great movie that also has a great soundtrack. To be honest, Into the Wild really is the complete trifecta for me... great movie, great soundtrack AND a great book. That is pretty much the order I experienced them in as well (a little backwards I know, most people read the book before a movie including me) but I am actually quite glad I was able to take in the beauty and sadness that is real life story of Christopher McCandless in the order that I had. 

Every since this movie came out in 2007 I have been obsessed with it and the soundtrack. The movie has a such a very special place in my heart but so does the album in a very standalone way. For those of you who don't know the entire soundtrack is actually Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam's first solo album. Its got such a mellow, bright yet melancholiness and a very clear folk vibe to it that you can't help but to love it. When the soundtrack came out on vinyl a few years back my husband knew that it would be the perfect birthday gift for me... and he was right!

It's not often that I can listen to an album, let alone a soundtrack in it's entirety and absolutely love it but this one I completely do! With the movie being produced by Sean Penn he had hand picked Eddie Vedder for this project having worked with him in the past on a couple of songs for other movies like Dead Man Walking and I am Sam. The song Guaranteed from the album even won a Golden Globe in 2008. If you haven't seen the movie, heard these beautiful songs or read the book you REALLY need to today!!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Turntable Tuesday | White Stripes, Under the Great Northern Lights

We are HUGE Jack White / White Stripes fans in our house... there really isn't anything else quite like Jack White's music and we truly believe he is one of the most unique and creative artists of our time. I have always loved his fondness for getting to the purity of the music and putting down the damn cell phones for an hour or two and enjoying his show if you are there to witness his performances live. 

On the live topic, there are few and far between any really "good" live records out there anymore and it is quite rare for us to purchase one because of the sound quality to be honest. Thankfully this post is about the opposite... one of our favorite live albums of all time, The White Stripes Under the Great Northern Lights!

The concept for the Under the Great Northern Lights came from the idea that The White Stripes wanted to tour every providence in Canada back in 2007, something they had not done until that time. It was inspired by the idea that Jack White had relatives in the Nova Scotia area before they moved to Detroit to work in the auto industry and was purely a personal endeavor not a financial one for the band. With a bit of urging from their manager they also filmed the entire experience as well and if you haven't had the chance to watch the documentary of the making of this album it is quite awesome as well!

Many of the White Stripes most well known hits are featured on this album like Blue Orchid, Seven Nation Army, We Are Going to be Friends, Little Ghost, Icky Thump just to name a few and so many more. Plus it includes some awesome bagpipers and the most amazing Jolene cover you will ever hear! 

On a bit of a sad side note, after this tour the rest of the White Stripes upcoming tour dates were canceled due to Meg White's extreme shyness (clearly visible in the film) and acute anxiety. Shortly there after their brake up was announced and this was the last time Meg performed on stage.

If you love the White Stripes though and haven't heard this I HIGHLY recommend it!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Turntable Tuesday | Pink Floyd, Meddle

Record lovers and Pink Floyd fanatics alike know this album well but some of you may not. To be perfectly honest I am not as familiar with it as I would like and as familiar with it as many of the later Pink Floyd albums, so shooting this gave me the opportunity to revisit the unique sound that is Meddle. 

Unlike most Pink Floyd albums Meddle released in 1971 really didn't have a true "theme" if you will. Due to this the album itself is largely an experimental piece of work that really laid the groundwork for their later sound, from attempting to capture unique tone of music from every day life to making music from household items.

Though as a full length album it is clearly very "Pink Floyd" the standout song from the album is Echoes the 20min+ song that takes up the entire side 2. What is also especially unique about this album is the collaborative production effort put forth by the entire band. Going forward much of the band direction was lead by in most part by Roger Waters, Meddle was not. Another icon element of this album is the cover, which happens to be a macro of an ear underwater... which later the band itself did not like and did not feel represented the work well. It is also only the second album with a gatefold photo of the band (something they would not do again until 1987's A Momentary Lapse of Reason.) 

If you are a Pink Floyd fan this album is a must check out!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Turntable Tuesday | Sufjan Stevens, Carrie & Lowell

I am not sure about you but we are HUGE Sufjan Stevens fans in our house! We just love his unique, soothing, quirky and a bit melancholy style there is no doubt. We already own his Michigan and always popular Illinoise so when we heard he was coming out with a new album that was really getting back to his roots were were slightly hesitant but nevertheless excited. In fact our record purchases (of new albums) has slowed a bit recently due to trying to save for some home remodeling projects (that I hope to possibly show once they get a bit further along). That said when we heard that Carrie & Lowell was coming out last week and I happened to be out in the market in a town with a great record store (shout out to Revival Records you're awesome!) they day it released I knew I had to stop in and pick it up.

Carrie & Lowell really does get back to Stevens' roots, it's exactly the type of sound you would expect from him. We had already been listening to some of the first songs released leading up to the album and already knew we were going to like it including the title song Carrie & Lowell as well as Should Have Known Better and Fourth of July.

It's very well known this album is a self reflection album of Carrie & Lowell themselves, Stevens' mother (who was bipolar, schizophrenic and suffered from drug addiction and substance abuse issues that abandoned their family when he was a small child) and his step father of the time Lowell. It documents the time that he spent in Oregon with them as a child as well as his feelings about her after she passed away in 2012 of stomach cancer. 

It's exactly what you would expect both sad, a little funny and beautiful. With the VERY slow transition of the seasons in the Northwoods with Spring trying to arrive and Winter fighting her tooth and nail I just can't get enough of this album, it seems so fitting right now. If you have the chance to pick this one up I highly recommend it!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Turntable Tuesday | Back to the Future Soundtrack

I'm not sure about you but I love 80's movies and one of my all-time favorites has ALWAYS been Back to the Future! I mean who doesn't love this movie?! We have the full trilogy on DVD and actually still watch it on regular basis, it's just one of those great movies you can flip on and it can play in the background while you are doing things around the house or if you feel like garbage and need a couch day... you know what I mean! 

Though yes I love the trilogy in it's entirety (even you Back to the Future II), today we are solely talking about the original one that started it all. Something I think we can all agree on is probably the two most recognizable things about the soundtrack. First, the two iconic Huey Lewis & The News songs The Power of Love (which went onto be a #1 hit all in itself) and Back in Time. Secondly, is the large impact that the instrumental component of the soundtrack plays figuratively and literally in the film created by composer Alan Silvestri that plays throughout the movie. In the 50's era you also get to hear some of the classics from the times like Marvin Berry and The Starlighters' Earth Angel, Mr.Sandman by The Four Aces and Johnny B Goode even played by Marty McFly with The Starlighters.

When we came across this find we were both surprised and excited since we didn't know it even existed, what can I say it was a great day! 

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Turntable Tuesday | Veruca Salt 45

Veruca Salt is one of the bands I listened to the most in my teenage 90's years. In fact I think permanently "borrowed" my sister Lisa's Eight Arms to Hold You CD (haha sorry Lisa!) I have always loved awesome chick rocker bands or ones with female vocalists like Veruca Salt, Sleater-Kinney and Garbage so it's no surprise that last year when the 2014 Record Store Day list was released and a 45 by Veruca Salt was on the list there was no doubt we would get that... and we did!

As I am typing this I realized too that we have never featured a 45, an equivalent of a single. Most 45's are either 1-2 songs per side and much smaller than the standard 10" size. This particular Veruca Salt 45 has one song on one side and two on another. The three songs featured include their 90's anthem hit Seether (which I have ALWAYS loved) and then two special new songs The Museum of Broken Relationships and It's Holy. 

This little album is exactly what you think it would be both short and sweet. I am so happy we were able to get this as we were recently looking at the 2015 Record Store Day lineup and realized how limited a release this really was so we are lucky to have found it. 

Are you looking forward to this year's Record Store Day and any albums you are excited for? What 90's band do you miss most? This one would be right up there for me!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Turntable Tuesday | Death from Above 1979, The Physical World

I honestly had not heard any music from Death from Above 1979 until very recently when my husband Matt picked up this record not that long ago. Sure I had seen it in my Instagram feed but really wasn't familiar with it in any other way. Well after it spinning all weekend I am very excited we have it in our collection! 

With an awesome rock sound that packs a punch Death from Above is right up my alley! After a few spins my next question was if the album came with a digital download as my driving tunes have become, well a bit stagnate. (Believe me I love spinning records while we are at home but I definitely need tunes while I am driving too!)

This Canadian rock duo has been around for some time so I can't believe I am just hearing about them! The Physical World has so many great songs, especially the singles Trainwreck 1979 and Government Trash. The more I listen to this album you can totally hear the influences of other artists their producer has worked with like LCD Soundsystem and Nine Inch Nails yet Death from Above's unique sound clearly flows through.

If you haven't had a chance to spin this one recently I highly recommend you do!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Turntable Tuesday | Joy Division, Closer

I will never forget where I was when I first heard a Joy Division song.... it was in fact Atrocity Exhibition this very first song on Closer. I was in a record store hunting for albums and I just couldn't get over how it seemed both new and completely familiar to me all at the same time, something I knew I would have to have in our collection. 

If you are a music lover you most likely have this in your collection, in fact it is listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Though none of the songs besides Isolation were really breakout hits from the album itself if you play this record from start to finish it is a masterpiece of work. Really, it isn't even a question. Not to advocate CD's but the 2007 remastered work does include a song by Joy Division that everyone is certain to know... Love Will Tear Us Apart.

The haunting sounds of this album is a tribute to the late Ian Curtis who sadly committed suicide two months prior to Closer's release. Like me, when you hear Joy Division and it sounds familiar, there is a reason for that. After Ian's passing the remaining members went onto form the wildly successful 80's band New Order. It's funny when I am in a mellow or melancholy type of mood this is EXACTLY what I want to listen to, so if you find yourself in that mood on occasion this album might be the thing for you too!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Turntable Tuesday | Alice in Chains, Jar of Flies

I could be wrong but I don't know how you could have been a teenager in the 90's and not listen to Alice in Chains, especially the album Jar of Flies. I guess my age is really starting to show when I can remember this playing on MTV and now thinking how in the hell is this record over 20 years old! I mean where did the time go!?

Jar of Flies was the release by Alice in Chains in 1993. An interesting fact I recently read about this album was it actually was never intended to be released at all. That just simply blows my mind! Written and recorded in just one week this Grammy nominated and has since been certified triple platinum.

Part of what we all know now as the grunge scene Alice in Chains too were from Seattle and with songs from Jar of Flies like No Excuses, I Stay Away and Don't Follow cemented them forever as one of the best and most well known bands of this era. Sadly with the passing of Layne Staley the music that Alice in Chains could have went onto make was not meant to be but for a brief period of time we were graced with some pretty amazing music that will live on forever!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Turntable Tuesday | Trainspotting Soundtrack

What can I say, 2015 blogging didn't exactly take off like I thought... some life came and happened. Between some work, some sickness and a damn deer taking out the side of my suburban it's been a real fun start of the year what can I say! I have decided that I am going to try to not be so hard on myself if I miss a post or am late posting now and again. 

So in terms of records we all have our "whales" if you will and the soundtrack to the movie Trainspotting was my husband's. Recently he saw it for sale and he had to understandably have it! I know I watched the movie as a teenager back in 1996 directed by Danny Boyle and starring a young Ewan McGregor & Jonny Lee Miller like my husband when he was the same age but he lived for the soundtrack of this movie. I even recently read that in 2007 the editors of Vanity Fair magazine ranked the Trainspotting soundtrack as the 7th best soundtrack in history too. 

Listening to this soundtrack now present day it really is amazing and timeless almost 20 years later. Songs by artists like David Bowie, Underworld, Joy Division, Iggy Pop, Primal Scream, Lou Reed, Elastica and more... its just awesome! If you want to learn a bit more about this crazy 90's drug fueled capper, check out on Trainspotting IMDB. Plus the sunny, neon orange vinyl simply makes me smile when I know I could really use it, how about you?!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Turntable Tuesday | Run the Jewels, Run the Jewels 2

Are you into rap music? Well today I have a treat for you! Full disclosure... for a long time I was never really into rap, I think it was a relatability issue for me (I live and grew up in the quite Northwoods of Wisconsin, hours from the hardships others face in larger cities that many rap albums portray) not necessarily the actually sound of it. Through the years I have really grown to love old school rap and appreciate new rap as well.

My husband is the one who introduced me to Run the Jewels the rap duo of acclaimed Atlanta rapper Killer Mike and New York based rapper / producer El-P. The album Run the Jewels 2 (as the album indicates) is their second studio release and was also recently ranked the #1 album of Pitchfork's Top 50 2014 albums. With awesome hooks, beats and lyrically does not simply repeat for the sake of repeating (a rarity amid it's pears) there is never a dull moment while listening to Run the Jewels 2!

We have pretty much been listening to this nonstop since arrived in early December both on vinyl and as digital download in the car as well. Word of WARNING for those of you faint of heart... this one is quite vulgar and NC17. You might not know it from my posts but I can certainly have a mouth of a trucker at times and work in a very male dominated industry so I rarely take offense to that type of thing but I understand that it might not be for everyone, hence the warning. That said, if hip-hop music IS your thing this really is a great album and you should give it a spin today!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Turntable Tuesday | Frank Sinatra, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

It's funny but I think sometimes Christmas starts to bring out the vinyl lover in all of us... and I love it! My husband and his family always had records when he was young (though like most everyone as he got older they slowly made their way to crates in the basement only to be rediscovered later). My family never had records to discover them as an adult has been such a wonderful experience for me.

My husband and I both have always been into music but when we first started getting into records heavily a few years ago one of our first purchases on this journey was a vintage Magnavox record cabinet from one of my aunt's Pack Rats Estate Sales including some of the warn vinyl within it. This purchase occurred just before the holidays when we were in the process of purchasing our home and staying with family. Frank Sinatra's Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas was one of those records and once we started playing it everyone loved it and wanted us to keep playing it. Now this album has turned into one of our favorite Christmas records! 

This album is more of a compilation as it is Frank Sinatra and friends... such said friends includes the likes of Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and Rosemary Clooney!  Of course I adore the vintage art on the sleeve and label plus it has countless classic holiday favorites like Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, The First Noel, Jingle Bells, Silent Night and more! Do you love playing classic records as much as we no around the holidays?! What is your favorite?

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo