Articles of Faith – Complete Vol. 1 1981-1983 (2002)

Volume one of a two volume compilation put out by Alternative Tentacles collecting entire recorded output of early California hardcore. Songs are fairly well formed with production and styling cleaner than most contemporary bands. Interesting band, not without some historical significance, but purchased more to add a little depth to the punk holdings in the collection.

Acquisition details: post-marriage, record fair at Littlefield in Park Slope, circa 2017.

A Frames – Black Forest (2005)

This was sadly A Frames’ last record, but they went out with a bang. This was the first A Frames record I got into. It received some critical acclaim when it was released and on first listen it did not disappoint–its arty noise punk and if you’re inclined to that sound this will check all the boxes. As compared to their prior records, the band adds a number of new textures, with touches of electronic textures and, of all things, an almost ballad, without losing the stark, dystopian hallmarks of their sound.

But below the surface they also deepen their general thesis about modern society, producing what amounts to a song cycle around Nazi Germany and the holocaust, the art punk answer to In the Aeroplane Over the Sea or perhaps Gravity’s Rainbow. The often allusive lyrics paint a bleak vision of society following industrialized fascism that have even more power 15 years (one right wing populist, and one global pandemic) later…

No people, no trucks, no cars
No movies, no TV stars
Humanity is erased
Black forest left in its place

No burgers, no sports, no jokes
Civilization was a hoax
Fire smoldering, ash and death
Black forest, the after-breath

No churches, no garbage cans
No punk, no garage bands
No organism left to grow
Black forest and fallout snow

We can’t say we were not warned…best recollection is this one is from Academy Records.

America – History: America’s Greatest Hits (1975)

This band was largely, and not without good reason, written off as a Neil Young rip off, nonetheless “Horse with No Name” is worth the price of admission (which should surprise no one to be was approximately $3). Otherwise the remainder is generally inoffensive collection of mid-70’s folk rock. Surprised to find that side one was reasonably pleasant listen, but otherwise unremarkable.

Acquisition details: fairly certain this one was a garage sale find, but it was definitely in the sub-five dollar range purchased solely for their one memorable song.

A Frames – 2 (2003)

This band features prominently in the A’s of our collection. They are a totally idiosyncratic take on punk; staccato noise punctuated with dystopian lyrics about the deleterious effects of technology on our society. A Frames aren’t the band we want for these times, yet they became the band that we need.

Acquisition details: bought pre-marriage (but while together!), circa 2008 at Academy Records in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. 2007 re-release from French Label Born Bad Records, white vinyl.

Bonus memoir detail, we caught A Frames’ last NYC show in 2009 at the Cake Shop on the Lower East Side (RIP). They went on late (apparently a Cake Shop requirement) but were incendiary.

Duane Allman – an anthology (1972)

Solid two disc set of some of Duane Allman’s choicest guitar cuts.  Highlight by far is Duane’s playing on Aretha Franklin’s take on “The Weight” recorded 1969. Purchased specifically to study Mr. Allman’s slide technique–which was and will always be exquisite.

Acquisition details: pre-marriage, college circa 2002 at In Your Ear!, Cambridge, MA.

Air – Sexy Boy and Casanova ’70 RSD Picture Discs (2016 & 2018)

Record Store Day exclusive picture disk/splatter vinyl of singles off Moon Safari. For us that monkey will always be iconic, J got a copy of an oversized promo poster while interning in the music industry in college and it has hung in each one of our homes since we met.

Acquisition details: post-marriage, purchased online from Turntable Lab circa 2018/2019.

AC/DC – Back in Black (1980)

We start with the fundamentals: classic rock among the very earliest of the acquisitions.  This is one of those records that just works better on vinyl.  Neither one of us is much of an AC/DC fan, but there is a reason this record sold umpteen million copies. Highlight will always be hybrid picked opening riff to Rock ‘N Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution.

Acquisition details: in college, pre-marriage, circa 2002; $2.99 somewhere in Boston.