So I was at this moving sale today, and the guy was clearly in the industry, as he had approximately twelve bazillion CDs, many of which were still wrapped and had stickers on them that said “Property of (Insert Record Company Name Here). Not for resale.” So I guess this was illegal file sharing or whatever, but it was still fun. Man, I love Crime.

Anyway, while sorting through said mountain of music, I thought it would be fun to get a few random albums (which were all fifty cents, by the way. Score), chosen for various reasons, and review them for this fine publication. Perhaps I could even do it all summer long. Thus, Garage Sale Album Reviews was born.

 

The Roots of Acid Jazz - Various Artists

Now, I’m normally no Jazz fan, but I thought it might be a good idea to broaden my horizons. I also thought the whole “Acid” thing sounded awfully enticing. The Roots of Acid Jazz is not a bad listen at all, and I’m sure I’ll put it in again at some point when I’m having a pretentious Stuff White People Like style dinner party. Really, though, the first track (“Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac” by Dizzy Gillespie) was so painfully awesome that the rest of the compilation was a bit of a let-down. 

 

 

 

Brotherhood of Electric: Operational Detectives - Wellwater Conspiracy

I picked this gem because it contained the word “Electric,” and I’m a sucker for that shit. Unfortunately, the album was not so much electric as a lazy late 90’s attempt at grunge with a synth thrown in there. It was like a couple of guys who really liked the Smashing Pumpkins and noise had to make an album on a dare or something. Not that these guys are bad musicians, per se. I mean the technical quality of the album is pretty good, even if the recording quality is poor. It’s just that the songs all suck. A lot.

 

 

System of a Down - System of a Down

I love System of a Down. I really do, despite the fact that I haven’t listened to them actively since high school. Anyway, I figured now was as good a time as any to start listening to them again, and seriously, these guys kick ass. This album kicks ass. I love “Suite-Pee” and “Sugar” and pretty much every other song on this album. Serj Tankian has the coolest voice ever and everything else about SOAD is also better than everything else in existence. This was the best fifty cents I ever spent.

 

 

I Am an Elastic Firecracker - Tripping Daisy

Yes, Tripping Daisy, you are. So clearly I picked this CD because the album cover was so strange. But holy shit guys, I put it in and it immediately kicked my ass with its awesomeness. It’s loud and good and weird and what’s better is that upon further investigation, I discovered that Tripping Daisy is the band that Tom DeLaughter, Mark Pirro, and Bryan Wakeland were in before they started The Polyphonic Spree. Luke tells me this is common knowledge, but I find that hard to believe since I didn’t know it and I know everything. Anyway, I would like to state that this was actually a way better spent fifty cents than the fifty cents I spent on System. Also, you can buy I Am an Elastic Firecracker on Amazon for one cent. I’m just saying… do it.

 

 

Photograph Smile - Julian Lennon

Wow I did not expect this to be good. I just bought this because I was kind of morbidly curious, I guess, about what kind of crap music the son of a great like John Lennon would make. But it’s kind of good. I suppose I could complain that it sounds like a John Lennon cover album, but it doesn’t. It actually sounds like John Lennon. Only a little gayer and with more filler.

 

 

 

 

High/Low - Nada Surf

God I love the 90’s. This album is even better than I remember. And I really just have to throw the video for “Popular” in here:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Living End - The Living End

The Living End are another old favourite of mine that I haven’t listened to for about 9,000 years. Again, I have no idea why I stopped listening to them. I went through this phase at the end of high school/beginning of university where all music made after 1983 was offensive to my ears and Led Zeppelin was the ultimate everything, so that might have had something to do with why I abandoned my favourite bunch of Australian punks. That was stupid. The Living End roxxxxx.

 

This whole random CD buying extravaganza was seriously a good idea.

Posted by Jocelyn

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