Josiah is an on-air host on Sirius XM’s indie channel, Sirius XMU ch. 35, and spins an all vinyl set this Sunday, January 26 at the DC Record Fair from 4PM–5PM. —Ed.
“There are two things I will never, ever look up online: The translation for Sigur Ros lyrics, and how vinyl actually works to create the sound it does. It’s all just too magical. For me, knowing would ruin it.”
“My mind can easily comprehend how sound waves are broken down to digital 1s and 0s. I can totally buy that. But to drop a needle on a spinning slate, and to feel the music’s full sonic range… It’s all kind of crazy, really.
It’s that mystery that sold me, and no more than only a few years ago. There are no childhood stories to wax poetic about here. Growing up, records were something in some basement box, underneath those other boxes. Music came from CDs and Napster. Adults would joke: “do you even know what a record is?” Definitely not. Not until this very decade, when all the cool kids started collecting. Winston Churchill said that books are best left unread until you’re old enough to appreciate them, and that it’d be a pity to read them too young. That sums up my late-discovery relationship with vinyl, and I’m grateful for it.
This past month, after pushing through a scorched earth of 2013 year-end best of’s, retrospectives, lists, and meta-lists-of-lists, it’s time to move on. It’s time for the future. For the next seven weeks straight, here are the week-by-week 2014 releases that will lure me back into the record store.”
WEEK 1:
Bill Callahan – Have Fun With God, Drag City, 1/21
Bill is doing a full-blown DUB version of last year’s amazing Dream River! Nothing else needs to be said.
WEEK 2:
Hospitality – Trouble, Merge/Fire, 1/28
Hospitality circa 2012 was charming. This year brings a more moody set. And you might mistake some of these vocal turns for Tegan & Sara… in a good way.
WEEK 3:
CEO – WONDERLAND, Mute, 2/4
CEO is Eric from The Tough Alliance. His solo debut was really fun, and Swedish things generally work out OK for me.
WEEK 4:
Temples – Sun Structures, Fat Possum, 2/11
In 2012, Tame Impala channeled just about everything ever from The Beatles. In 2014, Temples do it much better.
WEEK 5:
Guided By Voices – Motivational Jumpsuit, Fire, 2/18
Robert Pollard is god. Late-career reunions/renaissances are really nifty things. See also: Dinosaur Jr.
WEEK 6:
St. Vincent – St. Vincent, Loma Vista, 2/25
That brass collab with David Byrne was a thing that happened. But if you picked up her stellar “KROKODIL” 7″ on RSD 2012, you know she’s also been chomping away at edgier stuff.
WEEK 7:
The Men – Tomorrow’s Hits, Sacred Bones, 3/4
They’re a capital “R” Rock And Roll Band. If this track doesn’t make you want to see their live show, something might be wrong.
