“My first real experience with a record/record player was Christmas one year when my brother rolled out this towering stereo system along with the album Go Bo Diddley and a Pittsburgh Pirates hat. We stood there listening to the guitar intro to “Crackin’ Up” and the first snare hit on the next track “I’m Sorry” over and over again. It just sounded so good. Later in the evening he (my brother) gave me a chest wall contusion as well… ’twas a great Christmas and one of the best.
“I think the coolest record I own is Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band’s Safe as Milk. I also received this one as a gift, and I love it not just because of the magical music, but because came on white vinyl. What a great lookin’ package…
I remember buying a lot of albums and CDs as a young boy because of the covers. Albums like Meat Puppets II, Captain Beefheart’s Doc at the Radar Station. I don’t do that so much anymore, but it served me well. Most were bought at Louisville’s flagship store Ear X-Tacy RIP. The first vinyl record I bought in a store might have to have been Suicide. I heard “Cheree” and had to have it. “Keep Your Dreams” is a blessing as well.
So many, so many albums were influential to me when I was younger. Growing up I think just about everything makes a difference, but for the sake of naming a few: VU and Nico’s Banana, Pet Sounds, the Forrest Gump soundtrack, all the Beatles, Byrds, Phish and Dead albums, some country boys, rap men, choral music, Madonna—the album with “Lucky Star,”all kinds of stuff.
However in the making of Violet City Lantern, Love’s Forever Changes was a big one for me at the time of writing and recording as well as Alexander “Skip” Spence’s Oar, Women’s Public Strain (which was a revelation to us all), John Cale’s Vintage Violence, John Barry, and many more.”
—Jacob Weaver
Murals’ debut LP Violet City Lantern arrives in stores February 19th via Fire Talk Records and can be preordered here. On vinyl.
