TVD Weekly Wax | Adrian Borland/The Sound

Threw himself under a train, poor Adrian did. And while it might be unfair to mention that up front, I've discovered 95% of his music with that knowledge in mind. Why is it that the most creative of us are so self-destructive?

Yesterday's live tracks we're from 1985...did they sound dated to you? Maybe in the snare tone and some of the keyboard washes, but otherwise...man, that's what I need. Pure literate punk energy.

Brittle Heaven has been on our Links List since the inception of this blog and does a far better service to Adrian's history and memory than a week of posts could ever do. I urge you to give 'er a click while we concentrate briefly on the music...

...which is fine spot to reiterate that Renascent, those guys down there on the left in blue, have an exceptional catalog of releases by Adrian's band The Sound (alas just on CD). I pestered THEM to come aboard TVD and we're damn proud to see their fine efforts highlighted here.

Trouser Press called 'From the Lions Mouth' "bright, dramatic and sometimes powerful. A riveting LP — the group's best." We'd be hard pressed to disagree.

The Sound - Winning (Mp3)
The Sound - Contact The Fact (Mp3)
The Sound - Possession (Mp3)
The Sound - The Fire (Mp3)
The Sound - Silent Air (Mp3)

"'Lion's Mouth' could be the end of the line for me and 'rock' records--it's that good. -Steve Sutherland, MELODY MAKER

TVD Obligatory Mention: Vinyl record sales double in '08, CDs down

Sales of LPs have more than doubled online and are regaining overall market share.

Audiophiles have long argued that vinyl records offer better sound quality compared to CDs or MP3s, but their stoic loyalty in the face of change was seen as little more than nostalgia over the 25 years digital recordings has dominated the music industry. In recent years, however, sales of LPs -- that's short for long-playing records -- have more than doubled online and are regaining overall market share, thanks to new converts looking for more than they can find in an MP3 selling for 99 cents online.

In 2008, 1.88 million vinyl albums were purchased, more than in any other year in the history of Nielsen SoundScan , which began tracking LP sales in 1991. The previous record was in 2000, when 1.5 million LP albums were sold. More than two out of every three vinyl albums bought in 2008 were purchased at an independent music store, according to SoundScan.

Vinyl record sales rose 14% between 2006 and 2007, from 858,000 to 990,000. In contrast, CD sales plummeted over the past three years, from 553.4 million in 2006 to 360.6 million in 2008. MP3 sales grew from 32.6 million to 65.8 million during the same time period, according to SoundScan.

Industry observers say vinyl record sales have skyrocketed because new buyers are discovering the value of owning albums, with their cover art, large liner notes and warm sound.

(Read the rest right here.)