suvroc

I bought some music today. Let me tell you about it. I haven't done one of these posts in a while, mostly cause I just haven't really been buying that much music. I blame a lack of extra money as well as having little ambition to go music shopping. Having a busted record player doesn't help. I haven't been able to muster up much excitement for anything all winter that doesn't involve hanging out with Rachel, doing my radio show, or watching Heroes or Sopranos. I go into a medical study tomorrow for 10 days. Maybe by the time I get out it'll be warm out and I can break out of this mental hibernation. Pass the pick axe, eh?

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I looted the cheap bin at Sound of Market, which is this somewhat off-the-music-nerd-radar shop in Center City. It's owned by Israelis, which has always amused me for whatever reason. The first floor is electronics and it's as shady as any place in Manhattan. I appreciate shady electronics stores. It probably has something to do with my background. There's a number of Israeli-owned/run businesses on that block, at least three that I know of: Sound of Market, a jewelry shop, and Anthony's Pizza.

Rachel and I went to Anthony's before the Amebix show. I had my suspicions before about the place and the burly hairy guy behind the counter being much more an Avraham or Amos than an Anthony confirmed them, let me tell you. We sat in the back corner under a giant American flag. I couldn't stop giggling. I'm guessing that it's been Anthony's for years, long before the Israelis came around. I'd be impressed if that wasn't the case, though. Can you imagine?

"I'm opening a pizza shop. What should I call it? Jerusalem Pizza? Nah. It's not going to be kosher, though I'd like to have falafel. Pizza Italia? I just can't do that. But maybe... what's a stereotypical Italian name? Tony! Tony's Pizza? Anthony's Pizza! That's it! I'm a genius!"

Typical Israeli logic. Let me tell you. We're a bunch of crafty mothers, for better or for worse.

But back to the story at hand... Actually, hold on: I have a related story to tell, and it's quick!

So I forgot my cell phone charger at Rachel's place up in Jersey. I'm an idiot. While I could charge my phone at my friend's house and get my charger back when I see Rachel this weekend, I won't be seeing her for a week and a half due to the aforementioned medical study. This is our problem, Dude.

On my way out of Sound of Market I stopped in the electronics part of the store - run by a mixture of Puerto Ricans and Israelis - and asked them for a charger. Dude pulled one off the shelf, we verified it worked, and when I asked him how much, he said $19.99. Bullshit. I said something about not having enough cash on me and of course he goes and halves the price. Like I said, bullshit. I tell him that I need to go to the money machine but that I'd be back for it.

I figured that if I couldn't get a cheaper price in Chinatown, I'd actually keep my promise.

I took out a $20, broke it in the Chinese grocer on veggie jerky, malted soy milk, and pork fu, got some bubble tea, and then hit up a cell phone store. They had the same charger for $7. I bet the Africans back in West Philly would have sold me the exact same thing for $5, but I decided to not chance it. The place in my hood is a stand on the corner of 40th and Market and I didn't know if I felt comfortable enough buying something without trying it out first.

This just shows you that Africans > Asians > Puerto Ricans/Israelis. But you knew this already, I'm sure.

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Onto the music!

Common Market Tobacco Road - The newest from Seattle's second most famous hip hop act (after you know who and his anaconda). We had a copy of this down at the radio station for a bit and I played a couple cuts off of it once or twice. I saw Common Market open for The Murder City Devils in 2006. It was awesome. I expect this album to be just as good, if not better as I won't have to dodge any yuppies drunkenly slam dancing this time around.

Charlemagne Palestine Karenina - The name caught my attention, obviously. Then I noticed it was distro'd by World Serpent. For $3, I figured I couldn't go wrong with anything World Serpent put out. Turns out I was right! Minimalist composer, contemporary of Philip Glass and Steve Reich, creator of, according to Wiki, "intense, ritualistic music in the 1970s, intended by the composer to rub against Western audiences’ expectations of what is beautiful and meaningful in music." This specific album came out in 1997.

Charlemagne Palestine Schlingen-Blängen - Because when you're buying random things out of the $2 bin, you can't get just one! This one has our hero composer rocking out on the organ for 70 minutes. I'm excited. If you also want to be excited, you can download the album here Go!

June of 44 The Anatomy of Sharks - My collection of pretty gatefold June of 44 albums is almost complete! I don't know this album though I'm sure it will be awesome. For those of you not familiar, they were a math rock/indie/experimental collective that existed from 1994-2000.

Seaweed Seaweed - Do you remember the early 90s? I do. Dirty garage-influenced punk from Tacoma. The art was done by Nikki McClure and on the back of the album is a line that reads, "Continuing to support our Olympia & Tacoma scenes." How much more Northwest pride do you want?

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This post took too long to write. I need dinner.