TVD'S MORNING WAX - 9/13/07
Silver Sun - Test (Mp3)
Silver Sun - Golden Skin (Mp3)
Silver Sun - Julia (Mp3)
Silver Sun - Far Out (Mp3)
Silver Sun - This 'n' That (Mp3)
Silver Sun - Nobody (Mp3)
...we're a little like the 'CD District' this morning. Here's one cover that I'd love to have at 12" for sure. Not to mention the band just kicks proverbial ass. Think the Beach Boys meet Jellyfish meet...er, Stone Temple Pilots? Could be...

TVD'S MORNING WAX - 9/12/07
Talk Talk - Such a Shame (Mp3)
Talk Talk - Dum Dum Girl (12" Mix) (Mp3)
Talk Talk - Living In Another World (Mp3)
Talk Talk - April 5th (Mp3)
Talk Talk - Happiness Is Easy (Mp3)

Rhino Reissues Joy Division Vinyl

Limited edition collector's box and individual 180-Gram Vinyl releases due.
Joy Division's 1979 debut UNKNOWN PLEASURES is a landmark album that established the band as principal architects and ultimate icons of the post-punk movement and the U.K. Manchester scene of the late '70s. UNKNOWN PLEASURES' ten classic songs resonate with the atmospheric textures and deep sonic spaces of Martin Hannett's production. Highlights include “Insight,” “Disorder,” “New Dawn Fades” and “She's Lost Control.” The latter song is the inspiration for the title of the 2007 film Control, the acclaimed Anton Corbijn-directed feature chronicling the life and times of Joy Division's lead singer and principal songwriter, the late Ian Curtis.

Joy Division's 1980 follow-up CLOSER, another seminal post-punk masterpiece, ranks #157 on Rolling Stone's “500 Greatest Albums Of All Time.” Musically and lyrically driven by the prevailing despair of Ian Curtis - who killed himself only months after the LP was released - CLOSER was also produced by Martin Hannett, who weaves sprawling emotional chaos and shifting atmospheres and textures together into an enormously powerful ten-song tour de force. Stand-outs include “Heart And Soul,” “Isolation,” “Eternal,” “Decades” and the wrenching “Twenty Four Hours.”

The compilation STILL came out in late 1981, over a year after Curtis' death. Comprised of twenty studio outtakes, b-sides, live cuts and other rarities, all the tracks were previously unissued at the time of STILL's original release except for “Glass” and “Dead Souls,” both compelling studio recordings from 1978 and 1979, respectively. STILL also presents material from Joy Division's last-ever concert, recorded at Birmingham University in May 1980 including the only time they performed “Ceremony” live (the song would later become a New Order single). Another track captured at Birmingham is “Shadowplay,” a selection covered in 2007 by The Killers for the soundtrack for the film Control. Other highlights include a live cover of The Velvet Underground's “Sister Ray” and a 1979 studio recording of “Something Must Break.”

Joy Division formed in Manchester, England in 1977, and had an immense and profound impact on contemporary music in a very brief time together. They recorded only two full-length studio albums, UNKNOWN PLEASURES and CLOSER, prior to lead singer Ian Curtis' 1980 suicide, just before the single “Love Will Tear Us Apart” became their breakthrough hit. The remaining members - guitarist Bernard Sumner, bassist Peter Hook and drummer Stephen Morris - disbanded Joy Division after Curtis' death, and re-formed as New Order.

In addition to this limited edition collector's box housing all three titles, individual 180-Gram Vinyl releases of UNKNOWN PLEASURES, CLOSER and STILL are also available.

TVD'S MORNING WAX - 9/11/07
The Evolution of "Aberdeen."
From demo version, to the production heavy LP version, to the live version. I'm not sure which I prefer...
Danny Wilson - Aberdeen (Demo Version) (Mp3)
Danny Wilson - Aberdeen (LP Version) (Mp3)
Danny Wilson - Aberdeen (Live Version) (Mp3)

TVD'S MORNING WAX - 9/10/07
Of course we take requests!
The Vapors - Spring Collection (Mp3)
The Vapors - News at Ten (Mp3)
The Vapors - Sixty Second Interval (Mp3)
The Vapors - Waiting for the Weekend (Mp3)
The Vapors - Letter from Hiro (Mp3)

Sophomore Slumps That Weren't Day continues with the Vapors' "Magnets," the follow-up to the hugely (and quite singularly) popular "New Clear Days," which of course contained that tiny little hit "Turning Japanese."

Trouser Press wrote some time back, "One of the first in a breed of fresh-faced bands who fit neatly into the UK pop charts . . . while retaining vague new wave credibility, the Vapors started at the top and quickly sank from view. Their first single, "Turning Japanese," was a coy paean to masturbation and an enormous international hit; the inability to match it made both of the Vapors' subsequent albums big disappointments. They weren't that bad, though.

"Magnets" lacks a peer for "Turning Japanese," although "Jimmie Jones" (about Jonestown) nearly meets the challenge. Unfortunately, Fenton's greater aspirations and budding political conscience are severely out of step with the band's unbreakably commercial image. Had they not been doomed by their own devices from day one, the Vapors might have proven well worth following."

Disappointing indeed.

Interestingly, the "Magnets" cover was designed by Martin Handford, later famous for his Where's Waldo books, depicting an accident scene close up, but from a distance, looks like a man's eye.

So, close your eyes again -- turn the volume way UP -- and pretend these guys are playing Fort Reno or DC9 ...and you'd have your new, old, favorite band.

TVD'S WEEKEND SHOTS - 9/07/07
The Vapors - Lenina (Mp3)
The Vapors - Daylight Titans (Mp3)
The Vapors - Silver Machines (Mp3)
The Vapors - Galleries For Guns (Mp3)
The Vapors - Jimmie Jones (Mp3)
The Vapors - Live At The Marquee (Mp3)

TVD'S MORNING WAX - 9/6/07
Sophomore Slumps That Weren't Day, wherein we'll make the case for some follow-ups that were quite sadly overlooked. First up -- Modern English's "Ricochet Days." Close your eyes and forget you ever got really, really sick of "I Melt With You" and these tracks sound as fresh as can be...well, 20 or so years on.
Modern English - Blue Waves (Mp3)
Modern English - Heart (Mp3)
Modern English - Rainbows End (Mp3)
Modern English - Spinning Me Round (Mp3)
Modern English - Ricochet Days (Mp3)
In addition -- note the cover art by 23 Envelope, subject of yesterday's 12" Canvas Retrospective. Wonderful stuff...

A TVD 12" Canvas Retrospective | 23 Envelope

23 Envelope was the team of Vaughan Oliver (graphic design and typography) and Nigel Grierson (photography), who designed the artwork for almost all 4AD releases until 1987.

Oliver and Grierson met in their late teens, as school boys, at Ferryhill Comprehensive, County Durham. Their friendship began in the art room, chatting about their mutual passions for art and rock music. For both of them, designing album covers was a natural ambition. "Record sleeves," says Grierson, "seemed like the greatest thing you could possibly do."

Bolan's Birthday Celebrated with Vinyl Reissues

September 16 will mark the 30th anniversary of the death of Marc Bolan, mastermind behind glam-rock titans T. Rex. Bolan died only a few weeks before what would've been his 30th birthday, and in remembrance of both anniversaries, a number of Bolan projects are underway in the next few weeks.

First up is "Souls We Miss", an exhibition of photographs of Bolan taken by the late Keith Morris. The photos will be exhibited at London's Redferns Music Picture Gallery for the seven weeks following September 14. On September 15, London's Shepherd's Bush Empire will host Marc Bolan: The Celebration, a concert featuring Marc's son Rolan,Marc Almond of Soft Cell, producer Tony Visconti, T. Rex tribute band T. Rextasy, Blondie's Clem Burke, and many more.

There are also several Bolan documentaries in the works, including a BBC 4 special, ITV's "20th Century Boy" airing September 8, and a BBC Radio 2 program on September 15. Apparently, the ITV special contains such revelations as the fact that Bolan lost his virginity at age nine. Whoa.

Then come the records, and there's a lot of 'em. Edsel Records will release a trio of T. Rex vinyl singles with previously unavailable tracks on each B-side. September 17 sees "Metal Guru" backed with an acoustic demo of "The Slider". The next Monday finds "Children of the Revolution" paired with a electric demo of "The Leopards". And October 1 finds "20th Century Boy" matches with "Teenager in Love", an acoustic duet between Marc and his longtime girlfriend, soul singer Gloria Jones.

Following on October 1, also on Edsel, is Live 1977 + In Conversation, a double-disc set consisting of live cuts and an interview. The first disc contains performances from the final T. Rex tour, with punk icons the Damned guesting on the encore of "Get It On". The In Conversation disc is culled from an interview conducted by Steve Wright with Bolan and Gloria Jones. It includes several acoustic on-air performances. Finally, on October 15, Edsel will release Interstellar Soul, a three-CD set collecting exclusive tracks, home demos, and other rarities. The package will arrive in a numbered edition of 5000.
(Thanks to th' Fork.)

TVD'S MORNING WAX - 9/6/07
...is also a TVD Recommends, lucky bastards! Four from the very fine Snowden...
Snowden - Anti-Anti (Mp3)
Snowden - Good News (Mp3)
Snowden - Chin Up (Mp3)
Snowden - Come Around (Mp3)

TVD'S MORNING WAX - 9/4/07
A morning cup o' classic Joe, live at the Hatfield Polytechnic 11/29/79.
Joe Jackson (Live) - One More Time (Mp3)
Joe Jackson (Live) - Don't Wanna Be Like That (Mp3)
Joe Jackson (Live) - I'm The Man (Mp3)
Joe Jackson (Live) - Got The Time (Mp3)
Joe Jackson (Live) - Friday (Mp3)

TVD'S MORNING WAX - 9/4/07
...and we're back...
Arnold - Float My Boat (Mp3)
Arnold - Fleas Don't Fly (Mp3)
Arnold - Ira Jones Goes To The Country (Mp3)
Arnold - Fishsounds (Mp3)
Arnold - Windsor Park (Mp3)

TVD'S WEEKEND SHOTS - 8/31/07
The Bathers - Twenty-Two.mp3
Danny Wilson - Pleasure To Pleasure.mp3
The Blue Nile - High.mp3
The Bathers - Dreamless.mp3
The Blue Nile - Stay Close.mp3
Danny Wilson - The Ballad Of Me And Shirley Maclaine.mp3
(...all Scots, wee hours edition.)

TVD Recommends: Foreign Born

From the new LP "On the Wing Now"
Foreign Born - In The Shape (Mp3)
Foreign Born - Union Hall (Mp3)

From the "In the Remote Woods" EP
Foreign Born - We Had Pleasure (Mp3)
Foreign Born - Escape (Mp3)
(Snap 'em up!)

TVD'S MORNING WAX - 8/31/07
(Big 12" Edition)
Echo and the Bunnymen - Silver (12" mix) (Mp3)
Tears for Fears - The Way You Are (12" mix) (Mp3)
Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (12" mix) (Mp3)
Paul Young - Come Back and Stay (12" mix) (Mp3)
King - Won't You Hold My Hand Now (Heavy Times 12" mix) (Mp3)

Dupont's DJ Hut Destroyed in Blaze

A blaze occurred this morning (8/30) at the building that houses Dupont Circle's DJ Hut (and home to TVD's favorite pizza place, Alberto's.)

The floor of the store is a mess of shattered glass, water, insulation, and the bamboo that lined the shop’s ceiling. Much of DJ Hut’s stock of LPs are melted or smoke damaged, including the whole of the classics and new singles sections. The turntables in the shop are also ruined.

“All of our store has been pretty much destroyed,” says co-owner Chris Stiles.

A few records appear still playable, including discs by Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth, Bob Marley and, EPMD; what’s salvagable is being carried out by staffers. The box set of Coldplay singles behind the counter “won’t be sold at $120,” says Stiles. It’ll be considered part of our their “fire sale,” he jokes.

Stiles doesn’t have much confidence in the condition of the store’s rarest and most expensive stock, which was kept in a separate room in the back of the shop–that’s where firefighters barreled through in their efforts to stop the blaze.

Still, Stiles is optimistic. He says the store and its stock is insured, and that DJ Hut may move to temporary digs soon, depending on what the damage assessment is. And, he points out, this isn’t the first fire at the shop: it suffered one about a year and a half ago. After that incident, Stiles says, the staff affirmed, “nothing can stop us. We still have that attitude.”

TVD purchased its Stanton deck there and the staff couldn't have been more knowledgeable and helpful. Here's hoping they're back on their feet very soon.
(Source: WCP)

TVD'S MORNING WAX - 8/30/07
(Last big weekend edition)
Arab Strap - Speed-Date (Mp3)
Arab Strap - Here We Go (Mp3)
Arab Strap - Love Detective (Mp3)
Arab Strap - The First Big Weekend (Mp3)

TVD Remembers Hilly Kristal

NEW YORK, Aug. 29 It is with deep sadness and regret that we inform you of the death of Hilly Kristal, who died on Tuesday, August 28, 2007 from complications from Lung Cancer. Kristal, 75, founded the legendary rock club CBGB and ran the club for 33 years. A singer and songwriter himself, Kristal opened the club to showcase "Country Bluegrass and Blues"; instead the club became a breeding ground for Punk rock. Among the many acts that called CBGB home were Blondie, the Talking Heads, Television, Living Color, Patti Smith and the Ramones. The club closed in October 2006, but CBGB continues, with a retail store in New York City and worldwide merchandise sales; in addition, there currently are plans to open new CBGB clubs in several locations.

Kristal is survived by his daughter, Lisa Kristal Burgman, son, Mark Dana Kristal, son-in-law Ger Burgman, grandchildren Jenny and Adam Burgman, CBGB, and the thousands of artists and musicians who played the club.

A private memorial service is planned. A public memorial will be held at a later date. Contributions in Hilly's honor may be made in his name to the American Cancer Society or to the Hilly Kristal Foundation for Musicians and Artists (168 Second Avenue, PMB 207, New York, NY 10003).
(Source CBGB)

TVD'S MORNING WAX - 8/29/07
(Four from Norway's Even Johansen aka: Magnet)
Magnet - Heaviest Heart (Mp3)
Magnet - Little Miss More Or Less (Mp3)
Magnet - I'll Come Along (Mp3)
Magnet - Duracellia (Mp3)

TVD'S AM Gems - 8/28/07
The Raspberries - Go All The Way (Mp3)
Ringo Starr - Photograph (Mp3)
ELO - Telephone Line (Mp3)
Paul McCartney & Wings - Jet (Mp3)
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band - Whatever Gets You Thru the Night (Mp3)