Frankie - Jimmy Eat World: Bleed American
There are obviously hundreds of albums I’m dying to add to my vinyl collection, but this week I finally got to add one that’s been on that list since the beginning of time: the fourth studio album Bleed American by emo sweethearts Jimmy Eat World. This album has moved me since the first moment I heard “The Middle” on a high school mix CD. To me, it’s a perfect album. Every song compliments the rest; there isn’t a single song I’m just indifferent about.
I think everyone I know has heard the song “The Middle,” it being the #1 single on the album, but my favorite song has to be “Hear You Me,” a haunting tribute to an old friend. “A Praise Song” is a classic head nod to bands that influenced these song writers; including a Mötley Crüe reference, it’s a song quite literally meant to praise friends and heroes, with its repeating line of “Crimson and clover/ over and over” from the Tommy Jones and the Shondells song “Crimson and Clover” the most prevalent. Every song on “Bleed American” is so catchy, it’s hard not to love the album from start to finish. I don’t know any other band that can cheerily sing the lines “you rip my heart right out” before following it up with the heart wrenching chorus “If you still care at all/ don't go, tell me now/ If you love me at all/ don't call” It’s easily one of the best albums in alt history and I’m so excited to finally have my hands on a copy. It’s like someone gave Hawthorne Heights a synth.
I picked up my pressing of “Bleed American” at Magnolia Thunderpussy in Columbus Ohio, pressed on 150 gram vinyl.
Michael - The Rolling Stones: Hot Rocks 1964-1971
I absolutely love The Rolling Stones and if you were to ask me, I would say they are pound for pound the greatest rock and roll band of all time. I am highlighting The Rolling Stones this week in particular because The Stones announced a U.S. Tour and I was able to score tickets to the Houston show! Recently, Keith Richards was quoted as saying that this may be The Stones' last stadium tour. If this turns out to be true, it's been one hell of a career and I am excited to see them on their potential swan song.
I am sharing this particular vinyl because it was my first ever vinyl of The Stones (granted I had CD's before). It is a greatest hits collection of their songs from 1964-1971 and includes some fantastic tracks such as "Paint it Black", "Sympathy for the Devil", "Wild Horses", "19th Nervous Breakdown","Get off My Cloud" and many more. I got this record at my all-time favorite record store Omega Records in Dayton, Ohio.