Black Friday RSD 2011 has come and gone!

That curiously American pagan feast to obese consumption comes once again this Friday, Black Friday as it is oddly (or aptly) named, and Record Store Day is there to partake in the spending orgy. 

Odd at best that Thanksgiving in America has become not about giving thanks at all, but in lining up and fighting it out with one's neighbors to get the most bargains, and get them first. I think it's pretty sick, but then again, I'm not American, and I certainly did spend a bunch on this year's stuff.

So here is what I have to show for this year - my early Record Store Black Friday :

The Beatles singles box:

It has a cute apple 45 adapter, 2 of the singles are on the Capitol label which I find unfortunate, the others on Apple, the sleeves are nothing to write home about nor are the actual label reproductions, as we expect from Citicorp/EMI the pressings are rather mediocre too, and it will set you back at least $50. There is a lame poster. The sound is actually very good. Not as organic as originals, biut dynamic and clean. Ticket To Ride is a bit worse for the wear, gritty and sibilant. Hey Jude and Something are very impressive. C+.Wait for the vinyl remasters which will emerge at some point.

Pink Floyd The Wall singles box:

Kind of like the Beatles box but only 3 singles, another 45 adapter and lame poster, the box is kind of a wall cutout, another $50 minimum cash grab. D+.Citigroup has a lot of debt to take care of and a lot of bonuses to pay out. Help them out, please.

Bob Dylan mono singles box:

Much better value - I paid $36, the sleeves are nicer, the sound is superb, and it is all around a much higher quality product. B+.

Wheedes Groove singles box:

This is really one of the true finds of RSD that make it interesting. 10 singles in cool sleeves and a really well made box, inserts, a CD, a nearly 100 page super well done booklet, and a full download code, all for $60 (well, I paid $55).  Fabulous old school soul, nice sounding, decent pressings, all around a super set. A+. A bonafide bargain, the only one actually on Black Friday.

Sundazed singles - The Byrds, The Yardbirds:

2 by each, the Byrds ones are really interesting and powerful alternates, maybe $9 each is steep but these are well worth having, a solid B+.

Mr. Gasser & The Weirdos on Sundazed:

Curiosity value perhaps, fun, cool covers that dredged up some long lost memories of 'ratfinks', I wouldn't think these would get a lot of rotation from most but an A for effort here. Hot Rod Hootenanny is the better of the three, Rods and Ratfinks has a certain pervese charm though. My copy of Hootenanny is pretty warped, playable though. Happens a lot from Sundazed. Sound is superb on both.

 Tom Petty Kiss My Amps:

Awesome long EP. Comes with a download code for a FLAC file. Rocks like a bitch. A+.Super record. A real prize. Essential.

Dream Theater Metropolis Vol. 2:

Unlike the abominable Roadrunner Dream Theater vinyl titles, this Rhino pressing sounds super good and is nicely presented. A. Rock solid. Good value at under $30.

 Grateful Dead Europe '72 Vol. 2:

Paid $60 for mine, 4 nicely pressed RTI vinyls continuing from the well done Bellman mastered Europe '72 set of a few months back. A+, this is for me a better set overall. 

Brendan Benson Upstairs At United:

Cool all analog 45 12 inch featuring great renditions of Bowie, Costello, Randy Newman etc. songs, nicely packaged, a bit steep at $15 but very worthwhile. One of the better finds, a solid A.


Iron & Wine Morning Becomes Eclectic:

Generic sleeved 12" 33 rpm EP, includes a CD, great value at $15, very interesting sides and good sound, worth picking up. Good B+.This is what RSD should be actually.


Black Keys Lonely Boy 12" 45:


Not terribly good value - two short songs cut at 45 on a 12" vinyl, not even a download and I paid $15. It is a novelty at best as it plays from the inner groove out to the outer groove, something you really better be careful about. Good tunes that build anticipation for the new LP. Interesting, and good songs and sound, but an expensive novelty still. B for the curiosity.


Last - the Mick Rock - Syd Barrett box, for $35, a pretty decent booklet in a tin case, the 2 track yellow vinyl single being almost a throw-in. For Syd completists only, with includes me I guess. B-.


Aside from the Wilco single, Soundgarden EP, a second Upstairs At United and the Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings LP that haven't arrived yet, I guess that's all for me this American Black Friday 2011. For the Wheedles Groove and Brendan Benson alone, as well as the Petty, Dead and Dream Theater, reasonably worthwhile but I did drop $500 - and really - have not that much essential to show for it. 

Until spring RSD....