neepheid

All we need to do is compile an agreed and codified definition of what "being a dick" is.  Then be anti that.  Simple not simple!

 

I will send out album requests, once my random person selector has selected persons. The topic for this batch is:

 

"An album you love that you don't think other users will have heard"

Uh-oh, this time it actually is personal

I'm still in, despite me not posting my thoughts on the last selection yet.  I've listened to two of them, my head's not been in it lately, will sort that out soon

I should never have sold it and now I have it back - my Epiphone Les Paul (not so) Standard bass.  EMGed to hell and back (2x HB pickups, BQC 3 band EQ with mid sweep), selector switch in its rightful place.  Played my first proper gigs with it. Played it at band rehearsal last night and it was ace.  Couldn't be bothered taking new photos, so have an old one:

Rich Lewis in BoD - ou7shined@gmail.com

Dean Blunt - Black Metal

I found this hard work to be honest.  I was on a bus at the time and in hindsight a snooze probably would have served me better than listening to this.  A bleak sparseness to it all, glitchy electronica in the background which seems perpendicular to the whole thing.  The vocals bugged me in particular, a particularly bad combination of low register and lack of adherence to a tune which grated with me a bit.  I didn't enjoy it much, it's not that any of it seemed lazy either, there's clearly been effort and thought put into it, but it was wasted on me I'm afraid.

Ariel Pink- Pom Pom

The first time I listened to this I was rather bewildered by it all.  What kind of record IS this?  What does it want to be?  Does it even know?  One thing's for sure in my estimation - it's too long.  I think it would have benefited from excising some of the wackier interludes, evening it out a little and making it a little less WTF.  All the same, I mostly enjoyed the ride, it seems to inhabit the kind of weird world that my mind does frequent from time to time, albeit after consuming ten too many cans of Red Bull.  It seems to be a nod to so many things, as if someone had assembled all their heroes and influences in a room then ran around said room high fiving them all for an hour.  It is absurd, it is preposterous, but for all that it seems to revel in it and I can't help but raise a smile about that.  Use sparingly though - the only reason I don't have diabetes after listening to this is that I suspect it's more saccharine than sugar.

The Decemberists - What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World

A pleasant listen.  I enjoyed how the opening track built up from almost nothing to a full on guitar/choir/strings thing.  Then moving onto a brass driven thing which had me thinking back to some Boo Radleys stuff.  Then piano pops up in track 4 to drive things along.  Better Not Wake the Baby made me smile, here's the banjo.  Later on there's a moothie.  It's almost like a tour of instruments.  That's principally what I took from it, that and it being very polished and professional sounding.  I'd give it another listen, yeah.

The whole place needs a bloody good sandblasting.  Even if they took the weeds/shrubbery out of their gutters and roof it'd be a start.

The only thing I've even been tempted by recently is a semi hollow. I've tried plenty of Epiphones - hated them all, I can't get on with the necks, a Fender Coronado (yuck) and a Fender Starcaster. I really liked the Starcaster, but since I am quite a small person, the body is too huge for me to comfortable play. Tried a Gretsch Electromatic hollowbody and that was nice too. One of these could be spicy.

Guild Starfire IV? http://guildguitars.com/g/starfire-iv/

Hagstrom Viking?  http://www.hagstromguitars.eu/index.php?option=com_zoo&view=category&Itemid=6

Hagstrom Deuce-F? http://www.hagstromguitars.eu/index.php?option=com_zoo&task=item&item_id=327&Itemid=36

Water Torture - Pillbox 

You are right. It's all about the current that will be allowed to pass through the breaker without tripping it.

It's all about the current above which ensures that all the lights go out when one bulb blows

Oh, I forgot to update my car story.

So, after the two Fiestas, I had a 6th generation Civic 1.4i 3 door hatch.  A bit like this one but a darker blue with a wanky name like Deep Adriatic Pearl or something.

I continue to fail to understand what's so "granny" about this Civic, I think it looks great - big fat lights, long-ish bonnet, curvy rear.  Went around in it for many happy years (6 or 7) and only got rid when I was approaching MOT time and "'eard a noise".

Then I got a 7th gen 1.6i VTEC Sport:

Again, a long term relationship ensued (6 years or so) but it came to a shuddering end last year when I lost control on the Ellon - New Deer road not far from Auchnagatt at a corner and binned it into a wall:

Oops.  I replaced it with a 8th gen Civic EX, and so far I'm very happy with it, apart from its reliance on electricky sensors and such-like.  My 7th gen was probably my last "simple" car.

That's us up to date.  The 9th gen Civic can bugger off, don't like what they've done at all, so hoping for a good long run with this one.

In People's Republic of Torry, albums recommend you.

What are you planning to sell, Neep?

 

I can't afford any of your gear, but I want to fantasize about being able to buy some!

 

xx

A few Gibsons, maybe my Jack Casady.

Planning a downsizing later in the year, and the only incoming thing will be one of these strange Yamahas (if I can ever find one)

SBV-J2

SBV 800MF

Yada yada, neck dive, yes Einstein, I'm aware there might be balance issues

I'm ok with the writing, not so hot at the finding stuff to listen to though.  I'll give it a go.

My better half bought me a DiMarzio Model One bass pickup for Christmas, and here it is in my Midtown Standard.

Warning - the Model One is a direct replacement for the old school sidewinder "mudbucker" pickups which Gibson used to use.  It is not a direct replacement for the modern TB+ pickups masquerading as mudbuckers Gibson are using these days.  I had to take the chisel to the pickup route to take a few mms off each side before it would fit.  That'll teach me to assume stuff.  Had a spare 500k push/push pot in the spares box so I wired it series/parallel.  Parallel sounds nice, series is beefy but a little less boomy than the stock pickup.  Haven't had a chance to use it in a band scenario but it's a definite improvement on its own.

Let's see:

Glenmorangie

Bowmore

Aberlour

Scapa

Laphroaig

Glenrothes

Bunnahabhain

Whyte and Mackay for cooking

Gentleman Jack

Gordon's

Angostura 1824

Diplomatico Reserva

Wray and Nephew

a raspberry gin of unknown origin

Estonian coffee liqueur

Vana Tallinn (orange liqueur)

plus various miniatures

Couple of bottles of red.

That'll do.

Thanks Matt, ATB.

 

I personally think that the secret weapon on the album is one David Woods. Usually, I would say that all those awesome pinches, scrapes and biddly boos are what takes the songs to the next level, but Woods was on fire over the weekend. Not only has he written parts that compliment the songs and not overpower them, he was giving it 100% for the recording. Top guy!

I've always rated Woods and his drumming.  Also, it's as enjoyable to watch him play as it is to listen to him - world's happiest drummer, I reckon.

As an aside, I'm so glad you said 100%.

Lovely stuff. No, for realz. Singing seems more confident and controlled in this release vs the EP, and You Look Like a Purse is a fantastic track 1, side 1. GBOL.

Fender 52 Baja Tele in blonde.

 

Flynn Classic British Custom 50 (a white tolex JTM45  clone with a master volume mod).

 

Marshall 1960A cab (trying to source a more suitable 2 x 12).

 

More pedals than I'd like to mention.

No pics?  Liar, you have none of these devices!

Next year some time I think I'm going to move from a single 4x10 cab to a modular 2x1x12 setup.  So many options though, dunno which way to go yet.

You don't even need a record player!

Yamaha BB414X

Sorry, I always enjoy a game of name that bass.