News

• January 13, 2011 at 10:58 AM

  Record Store of the Week: Good Records (Dallas, TX)

  [caption id="attachment_3160" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Dude's STOKED! photo by Brian Lopiccolo"][/caption] Everything's bigger in Texas, so the saying goes. But did you also know that everything is "more gooder"? That's right! Case in point, our Record Store of the Week - Good Records (Dallas, TX)! Good Records is exactly that and then some--a great store with an amazing staff and a stellar curatorial sense. This week Chris Penn (one of the dudes that makes Good Records good) took time from his busy schedule to chat with us. So next time your checkin' out the Dallas scene, make sure to swing by Good Records and try to find a bad record. We dare you! So, tell us some stuff about Good Records. Do you really only sell "good" records (sorry, had to ask)? Boy does the shop look sweet. Good Records was started February 7, 2000.  We wanted to give people an adventure in listening.  We wanted to create a store we would shop at.  We decided to carry records we deemed to be good whether it be Alice Coltrane or Alice Cooper.  We run the gamut of all musical genres but try to weed it out for our customers and only give them the bumper crop to choose from.  I think our friend Jim Fairchild from Grandaddy/All Smiles/Modest Mouse said it best, "Good people, good ears, and good curatorial sense. Good Records." [caption id="attachment_3161" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Photo by Brian Lopiccolo"][/caption] You've hosted a lot of local and national touring acts at your in-store performances. Got a favorite? Any cool ones on the horizon? Some of our past instore performances have included sets by: Grizzly Bear, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Queens Of The Stone Age, Grandaddy, Death Cab For Cutie, Regina Spektor, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Erykah Badu, Black Angels, Starlight Mints, ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Beachwood Sparks, Brightblack Morning Light, Enon, Califone, Black Lips, No Age, Ariel Pink, Old 97's, Feist, Tegan & Sara, Great Lake Swimmers, Blitzen Trapper, Beach House, Centro-matic, Peaches, Dirty Projectors, The Mooney Suzuki, Danielson, Dark Meat, Fuck Buttons, Giant Sand, Heartless Bastards, Pinback, Ruby Suns, Toadies, Daniel Johnston, Demetri Martin, Of Montreal, The Polyphonic Spree, Kingsbury Manx, Long Winters, Mates Of State, Mountain Goats, Stardeath And White Dwarfs, Album Leaf, et. al. (Ed. - our jaws are on the floor!!!) Picking a favorite is like picking your  favorite offspring but if i was forced to pick one it would have to be Grandaddy. We sold so many copies of The Sophtware Slump that when they routed their tour they purposely left a day off in Dallas to reward us with a full blown instore. They played almost an hour and a half.  People overflowed into the middle of the street. [caption id="attachment_3162" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Photo by Brian Lopiccolo"][/caption] What’s your favorite record right now? One of my favorite records right now is Malachai Ugly Side Of Love.  I think a lot of people that needed to hear it didn't. What is the coolest/most prized record has come into your store that you never thought you’d ever see? One of the recent used LP finds that has come in was an original pressing of Dennis Wilson's Pacific Ocean Blue in pristine shape.  Needless to say that never made it to the sales floor. What is your favorite Light in the Attic release and why? I am going to pick two of my favorite Light In The Attic releases.  From modern times The Black Angel's Passover from modern times.  A friend/manager came into the store and gave us a copy of the EP and we were hooked.  We have been fortunate to have them play the store several times.  From the reissue department I choose Like a Ship... (Without a Sail) by T.L. Barrett & The Youth for Christ Choir.  This release typifies what I think Light In The Attic does best...find a killer release and give it a rebirth and allow it to find new ears.  The first time we played it in the store I immediately earmarked Like A Ship for my deejay sets.

  

  OK, now for the serious question. In mortal combat between Concrete Blonde and Blonde Redhead, which band would emerge as the victor? Blonde Redhead would win hands down at Good Records. Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons came out the first year we were open.  We still play it to this day and it elicits one of two reacions.  "Who is this?" or "This is such a great album."  We have sold tons of copy of this.  It is one of our 'High Fidelity/Beta Band' type albums. What’s the funniest/weirdest/strangest encounter you’ve had with a customer in the store? Probably our best two celebrity encounters were with Glen Danzig and Luke Wilson. Glenn Danzig bought a used copy of King Crimson In The Court of the Crimson King and Luke Wilson came in on two separate occasions. On his second trip Luke was scouring for Bob Dylan bootlegs. I told him he should just ask Mr. Dylan as I think he was filming a movie with him at the time. [caption id="attachment_3163" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Photo by Sofia Retta"][/caption] And lastly, how's the scene down in Dallas? Any cool local bands we should be on the lookout for? The music scene in Dallas is good.  We have a little bit of everything going on.  You should check out New Fumes, Leg Sweeper, True Widow, RTB2, Chameleon Chamber Group, to name a few... [caption id="attachment_3164" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Good Records...where cops and chickens shop!"][/caption] ---------------

  Good Records - http://www.goodrecords.com/ - http://www.facebook.com/goodrecords

  1808 Greenville Ave.

  Dallas, TX  75206

  214-752-GOOD

  Mon-Thurs 10am-11pm

  Fri-Sat 10am-Midnight

  Sun 11am-9pm

• December 27, 2010 at 03:42 PM

  Just a Sweet Taste! Our Favorite Distro Reissues of 2010!

  Here at Light In The Attic, we're not the only ones digging deep to bring you killer wax. And luckily for us many of our favorite reissues and rediscoveries over the year come in as distro titles, so we get to drool all over them right when they come out of the shipping crate. Hears a little list of some of the albums that got us down right feverish in 2010. Here's to an equally mind blowing 2011!

  Charanjit Singh: Synthesizing - Ten Ragas To A Disco Beat (Bombay Connection)

  This title came our way back in May and right away, LITA's Josh Wright (AKA The Dude With The Plan), perked right up. I mean come on, this record is the stuff of legend. Only a few hundred copies known to exist (CHECK!), TB-303 and TR-808 synths/drum machines (CHECK!), Indian disco (CHECK!!!). Bombay Connection really knocked this one out of the park.

  

  El Gusano: Fantasia del Barrio (Heavy Light)

  Late '60s / early 70s Texas psych and chicano soul mixed with heavy Vietnam vibes made this release a real stand-out this year. An instrumental concept album, expertly executed and now, after decades of languishing in obscurity, can sit proudly on all of our shelves. Heavy Light...Dig!?!

  

  Ranil Y Su Conjunto Tropical: Ranil's Jungle Party (Masstropicas)

  Man, the party kept going all year long with this dandy little release from Masstropicas. Mixing deeply funky psychedelic-surf guitar jams with traditional “huayñdance music, Ranil and Co. get down and dirty Peruvian style. The result is a style mash-up not unlike African “Juju” or “High-Life” music, popularized by the incendiary Stratocaster guitar playing of King Sunny AdéIn fact, think of Ranil’s Jungle Party as King Sunny Adéamming with some Andes dudes while on vacation in Peru. So good...

  

  Blundetto: Bad Bad Things (Heavenly Sweetness)

  This their first full length is a blend of sultry cafe soul, late-night acid jazz, and laid back, umm blunted riddims to make up twelve flavorful, mostly instrumental groovers. But if that wasn’t a hard enough sell, check out the range of guests who flex their muscles to chill: former Bones Brigade ripper-turned-backpack world beat maestro Tommy Guerrero (“Ken Park”); the horn section from Daptone’s fine Budos Band (“Mustang” and “La Carretilla”); East Bay MC Lateef the Truth Speaker (“My One Girl”); and the chameleon-like Shawn Lee (“Nautilus” and “La Carretilla”). Sounds like Heavenly Sweetness to our ears!

  

  Los Saicos: Demolicion! The Complete Recordings (Munster)

  We were so excited about this release. I mean, we couldn't shut up about it. Want proof, click HERE, we dare you!!! But seriously, this rare collection of singles from Los Saicos rocked. All the way back in Peru in 1965/66, Los Saicos were tearin' shit up and today, thanks to the fine folks at Munster, we have the proof. And boy does it sound good.

  

  Daniel Johnston: The Story Of An Artist (Box Set) (Munster)

  And last, but certainly not least, the great Daniel Johnston. And what a god damn sweet release it is. We were literally drooling when this came in. This deluxe and limited edition box set packs in the very early recordings by one of the most gifted songwriters of the last three decades. Includes Daniel’s six cassette-only albums recorded between 1980 & 1983 – 129 recordings straight out of the original cassettes, packaged in individual sleeves. CD or LP box set choices made this release the cat's pajamas. Essential. Thanks again, Munster!

• July 11, 2010 at 05:10 PM

  Distro Fever: Daniel Johnston, The Story Of An Artist

  New to the Light In The Attic inventory is this excellent box set from the fine lads over at Munster Records. We take pride in our role as a distributor of releases from other fine reissue labels, and titles like this make it apparent why. This box set of Daniel Johnston's early recordings includes six albums previously released only on cassette. This is an important release for many reasons, but specifically because of its documentation of Johnston's early work, which is both insightful and a proper introduction to an artist whose influence on a wide swath of contemporary music is nearly unmatched. Here is Munster's description of the title:

  Limited edition box set (6xCD & 6xLP) of the very early recordings by one of the most gifted songwriters of the last three decades. Includes Daniel’s six cassette-only albums recorded between 1980 & 1983 – 129 recordings straight out of the original cassettes, packaged in individual sleeves. Both formats include a 64-page booklet with extensive notes by Everett True and interviews with Daniel’s family and friends. Plus many rare photos, Daniel’s artwork from those years and a two-sided A2 poster. And here is a trailer for the documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston: Purchase The Story Of An Artist here.

• May 19, 2009 at 07:09 AM

  Light In The Attic Road Trip - Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia & Portland - Blog #1

  First of all, we have to apologize for the delay in our first official correspondence. We had an unexpected run in with the law. We got into a shot contest at the Doug Fir bar with the Russians. The last thing we remember we were trying to steal a boat.

  

  The day started off slow as we had no room in the van and the seat belts in the back weren't working. We called our friend Brent who was nice enough to loan us his band's van (Brent Amaker & The Rodeo) and told him they weren't working. "Cowboys don't use seat belts, but for your safety, there are some condoms in the glove box. Welcome to the Rodeo" he said. So we all took a deep breath and hit the road.

  

  Our first stop was Hi-Voltage Records in Tacoma, where the owner spent a good deal of time looking through all the vinyl and cd's that we are hauling. He had first pickins' of the goods and he grabbed a bunch! So our first stop was a total success. Our stop at Rainy Day Records in Olympia was great, and the wind was blowing like a tornado mixed with a hurricane mixed with hell. Troy was excited to find a Black Lips vinyl he'd been looking for, so he made his first purchase. Olympia was cool but we had to bust outta town to get to Portland since we were behind schedule.

  

  In the van, the four of us were laughing so hard at our own jokes (mostly about a fictitious man with the last name Utthole, first name Rob) that it distracted us from finding our way at times. Then we started coming up with other first name's that would be funny if you had the last name Utthole. Sandy looked back from the passenger seat and said, "what about Herb".  We all collectively busted out laughing so hard that we missed our first exit into Portland. This led to a 40 minute scramble trying to find out where the hell we were. We finally found our first record store in Portland and we put our game faces back on. Time to sell some mutha fuckin' vinyl, yo!  Mississippi Records is amazing. The music knowledge these guys had made me feel like I've been listening to Miley Cyrus records for 32 years. Super cool people and they dove head first into all the product we brought. They were like kids in a candy store, so we spent a good amount of time there. Cody shot some great footage of the store and interviewed the owners a little bit, Troy bought a cassette copy of Yip Jump Music by Daniel Johnston, then we were off to the next stop! More stores and more hauling crates upon crates of vinyl and cd's in and out of back doors, side doors, ally ways, and sometimes even on the side of the road. Tyson, our driver has been a big help since he is tougher than Cody, Sandy and myself combined. It was approaching night, and it was time to find our Hotel and get checked in. We knew we had to get up early and hit more stores in Portland before we head further south. The four of us went to The Doug Fir, which may be the coolest venue ever, and we FINALLY got to sit down and have dinner at 10pm. Oh, and of course cocktails.

  Day two is upon us, a bit more of Oregon and then look out California record stores! We are on our way.

  Follow the trip live on Twitter