Push It

This weekend was a good weekend for both Music and Biking.

First, the vinyl and CD finds. Emily and I headed to Salvation Army as she needed to get something. Crap, they were closed for remodeling. No problem. There happens to be a Goodwill just down the street.We went there. It was crazy. People were lined up outside. I think it was a 50% off of everything sale. Moving on. I hit the music section and came out with 5 LPs and 2 CDs. $6. My total was $6.00. Here's what I got. CDs...Stone Temple Pilots, No. 4 and Muse, Absolution. Both Great. The LPs were OK. George Harrison, George Harrison; Heart, Dreamboat Annie (Nautilus Pressing); Wings, At The Speed Of Sound; Beach Boys, 66/69; and Neil Diamond, The Jazz Singer. Yeah...I thought I would try it. As I have standards, I will not buy unless they appear to be like new. That is the music.

Secondly, the biking. Not a lot to say here. I rode. I pushed myself farther than I have ridden in a very long time. I headed out and was feeling pretty good. I added a few miles to my route and finished at just over 30 miles. The weather is perfect and the helps tremendously here in Phoenix. Now, I just need to figure out how to go faster and farther.

Back in the saddle

I'm back. Back to this blog, back to biking (on a regular basis).

As much as I love music / vinyl and listening to it, I'm not the best authority on what's new and amazing as I don't get to get as much as I would like. So, I've decided to, by suggestion of my wonderful girlfriend, to add another thing that spins. Bikes. I LOVE BIKING! I ride as much as I can. It relaxes me.

My biking history. I've been riding for approximately 18 years. That does not include when I was a child cruising around on my huffy. This is packing up the car and heading to some great trail, wherever that may be. Michigan riding was great single track. Norther California was amazing riding. The most fun I've ever had on a bike would have to be in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. (Not a bad beer either)

Now I am in Phoenix. I've been to the hills here a couple times. Not too bad. NOT the most fun I've had mountain biking. So, I've resorted to getting out as much as possible on the canal trails. I can really log some miles on them! That's where I am at this point.

If anyone has any suggestions for mountain riding in the phoenix area, please let me know. 
Does anyone else like the new Foo Fighters album as much as I do?

Even the loser get lucky sometimes.

Yes, it has been a while since I have written anything. But, I have been busy. Sort of.
Here's what I wanted to talk about. My Birthday gifts!
I got lucky...very lucky. Emily...THANK YOU!
Tom Petty & The Heart Breakers Debut. White Vinyl. RSD limited edition release.
Nirvana's Hormoaning EP. Very cool Orange / Red & black swirled vinyl.
Also a couple of the Side By Side 7" Titles from Warner...Red Hot Chili Peppers & Ramones
Green Day & Husker Du...and a Flogging Molly 7".
Not a bad song on any of these.

Now to change the subject slightly. I like a good beer now and then. At the grocery store (while Emily waited very patiently) I walked up and down the beer aisle. I like to try new beer when I can. So, I went for one I had not had. Samuel Adams Blackberry Witbier. WOW. I couldn't believe how much flavor this has. I like it.
Any beer suggestions out there?

A Quick One

No, this has nothing to do with the Who. Sorry.
If you haven't already, you can get Nine Inch Nails "The Slip" HERE

There is your quick one.

Nitin Sawhney "Beyond Skin"

 When it comes to Hip Hop, dance and Electronic music, I've never had much of a liking for it. When you add in some jazz, world, drum & bass and mix it all up, you get one of my favorite albums of all time. "Beyond Skin" by Nitin Sawhney. It flows from beginning to ends without missing a beat. Hard to find in any format..UK only release I believe. The vinyl is VERY hard to find. I did recently spot one at  Audiophile USA. If you're looking to try something different. This gets my top recommendation!

Best day ever thought up.

Some people go shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Great sales...and...crowds? I don't really know. I'm not a day after Thanksgiving shopper. The one (shopping) day that I look forward to is in April. It's a Saturday typically in the middle of the month. It's called Records Store Day click here to learn a little more about it...if you're interested. There couldn't be a better day to get some records. Special RSD released, limited edition titles, colored vinyl and often freebies.
 Now that you have a tiny bit of info on Records Store Day ( I'll get into it more later), I present to you one of my recent RSD purchases. Bad Brains "God Of Love." Not the first title on my list of want, but it was on there. I had the CD when it was originally released 16 years ago. This reissue comes with a bonus 2 track 7" with the tracks "Let's make love" and "It's agreeable." good tunes both of them. My 7" has a mis-label. Both sides contain the Side A label. With that increase the value down the road? Doesn't matter too much to me. I like the album...it stays in my collection. "God of Love" has a pretty even mix of Hardcore and Reggae songs. For me, not a bad song on it.

Back to RSD...I'm there at the store when I asked the very helpful staff if he had the Bad Brains. He brought me the reissue of their first single which was reissued in red, gold and green...VERY limited quantities and Black...not limited. He did bring me the album I wanted. I missed out (my own fault) on the "Pay to cum" single. What could I do. I'm not a rich man, so I couldn't get everything. I was happy to find that the Bad Brains were and still are giving "Pay to cum" away free on their web site. So, i didn't completely lose out. Check the Bad Brains out here. The download is no longer free...but it's worth the couple of bucks it costs. Or, go to your local independent record store and buy the 7"...black version. Pick up some other up and coming artists and a few more Bad Brains titles. Have fun.

Love & Rockets

Last LP on the table was "Express" by Love and Rockets. Great album. I remember as a kid getting their self titled album with "So Alive"...around 1989. "Express" precedes their self titled by about 3 years.  It's been a long time since I've been able sit and listen to the entire album. Again, great album. Worth a spin at least a couple times a year.