The Welcome Wagon

The other day I was sitting in the studio when the little red light on my blackberry started to blink. After watching it buzz and vibrate across the desk I checked it to see what was up. It was a message from my wife. She said she just got a new record in the mail, that had the coolest cover. She would not even attempt to describe it. She said "you just have to see it". When I got home and she showed it to me I couldn't wait to hear it. I knew that if the same creativity and craftsmanship went into the music that this would be an excellent record.

A Welcome Sound

The Welcome Wagon is a project by Presbyterian pastor the Rev. Vito Aiuto and his wife Monique. It is not just a great looking album, it also sounds great. The beautiful, traditional, Christian, folk lyrics mixed with The WW's original sound makes you think of old time, Sunday morning service. Except you could only wish your church was this cool. A lot of instruments and voices were used on this record, that, along with, a masterful production from singer/ songwriter Sufjan Stevens, gives us and album with something for everyone. The track "Sold! to the nice rich man" has a big pop, country sound that would be right at home on an eight track, CB radio, combo player. There are also a few surprise covers on this album; The Smiths' "Half a Person" and The Velvet Underground's "Jesus".

Get on the Wagon

This is one of those albums that does not quit from the first track to the last. I would highly recommend this album on vinyl. Don't worry, it comes with digital downloads. Or you can buy the "not as cool" version on iTunes™.

A New Groove

If you are like most people you are now buying most of your music online, using a service like Apple's iTunes™. These music services have revolutionized the way we consume music by giving us more choice and convenience. I am amazed buy the variety that I find online, when I am searching for music. Most of the time I have one of those "Oh I remember that song" moments. Online music has started and revived many artist careers. It has given us access to artist that we might have never heard of and some that we have completely forgotten about. But in this digital age, when everything that can be recorded in ones and zeros is at our fingertips, other, more physical, things are slipping away.

The B Side 

For those of us who grew up listening to cds, cassette tapes and vinyl, but in the last few years have converted our music library into digits, something has not felt right. We look down at our iPod™ and see what the album cover is supposed to look like, but beyond that we do not have anything tangible. Also, most digital libraries are not made up of albums but of tracks bought piecemeal, online, for 99 cents. We are not hearing the music like we are supposed to. A whole, two sided, album offered continuity, deeper cuts, and track placement that linked each song to the next. Instead of owning the works as they were originally composed by the artist, most digital libraries are made up of top 40 singles. It is the equivalent of owning a museum with paintings of Mona Lisa's smile or focusing in on one brush stroke in van Gogh's "The Starry Night." You are not seeing the full picture.

Back on tracks
The record companies have started to address this problem. About a year ago the independent record companies started releasing vinyl with digital downloads attached. This trend has become very popular and now most of the major artist including The killers, Coldplay, Radio Head, Beck, and just about anyone else who has released an album in the last year, have released their album on new vinyl. This is truly having your music cake and listening to it too. Every album I have bought lately has been on new vinyl. I still use the digital downloads for my iPod™ and computer but I like listening to the vinyl version when I can. Vinyl sounds great and looks cool. The analog warmth coming through the needle gives the music more weight and presence than the cold digital tracks. 

Put the needle on the record
It is simple to start your vinyl collection. Most major electronics stores have started selling turntables again and I will post some links to places online that sell new vinyl. Your iTunes™ library will stay full of digital tracks and you will also have the vinyl to listen to and look at. Perfection!
 

Links:

Amazon Vinyl

Amazon is a great new vinyl source. They stock most new albums on vinyl and reprints of less recent artist.  

musicstack.com

This is a good source for new and used records. If you are not interested in the digital tracks and just want the vinyl you can usually find it here for a good price.

Waterloo Records

You won't find everything you are looking for at Waterloo online but if you ever get a chance to go to one of their retail locations, take it. It will take you back to the days of going into a record store, not knowing what you are looking for and coming out with something you are completely in love with. 

Polyvinyl Records

Polyvinyl is a whole record label dedicated to new vinyl. Every record they distribute is available on vinyl with digital downloads.