Doing a search on the Obs, it seems that Drinky may be the Ob to help me out...

What records do I start with? Which ones to avoid?
Anyone interested in putting together a tenner or even a twenty-er, based on their large catalog?

Gracias.

Great band!

Not sure I'll be able to put together a mix anytime soon, but I can give you kind of a rough guide to their albums.

My favorite Royal Trux albums, sort of in order:
Thank You
Cats and Dogs
Veterans of Disorder
Accelerator

I think you could start with any one of those. Cats and Dogs gives probably the best overall representation as it's a sort of transitional record between their more chaotic/experimental early sound and their more straightforward, Stonesy later stuff. I started with Accelerator which is very much in the latter category. Initially, I don't think I was all that impressed with it, but I've come to really appreciate it. I definitely prefer their later era although I enjoy the early stuff to varying degrees.

Their most notorious (most experimental) album is Twin Infinitives which is maybe somewhere in the neighborhood of famously difficult stuff like Trout Mask Replica, the first Half-Japanese album, and maybe The Red Krayola and early Residents. It's a trying listen, and while I wouldn't call it bad, I've never fully warmed up to it.

I actually don't think there's anything in their catalog from their s/t debut all the way to Veterans of Disorder (probably their last good album) that you should necessarily avoid. Where you start will depend more on what you're interested in and what you think you'll like - raw, unique, experimental stuff or groove-heavy Stones-influenced drug rock.

I'll post more on this later. Over the past couple of years, they've become one of my favorite bands. I'm still kind of slowly working my way through their catalog, and there are a few records in that run I mentioned above that I've heard only once or not at all.

Also, I think DumpJack kind of got into them a little bit, not that he posts anymore.

I've never heard a song by them that sounded anything, even a little bit like any version of the stones. And yet I read the stones reference in every review I ever read of them.

can you suggest a stonesy song of theirs?

I only remember them from my college radio days. I didn't want to review the album because the cover looked like this:

that's what their music sounds like.

It's a general reference point for sort of ragged, pre-punk early '70s rock-and-roll. They never sound exactly like the Rolling Stones, but if you're going to insist that they never sound "even a little bit like any version of the stones" then you're being too literal. There are probably other early '70s bands that they sound more like, but it doesn't matter. "Stonesy" is short hand for a broader style and era.

Anyway:







I guess it makes perfect sense to me that the Stones comparison could be troublesome for a lot of people, particularly Stones fans. I mean, I like the Rolling Stones. They have some great albums. I don't really consider myself a "Rolling Stones fan" and never have, though. Most of what I enjoy about this band is they ways in which they don't sound like trashy '70s rock revivalists, but a warped, damaged, basically updated, and even more trashy version of that general aesthetic and some of the underlying themes. Most classic rock purists will hate them, and they are probably supposed to. Not that you're a classic rock purist, but I think if you're approaching this band with the initial preconception that they should sound like the Stones, you're doing it wrong.

I don't expect that most of this board's Stones fans would have any use for this band. They're more likely to appeal to the lo-fi indie/noise rock set.

This is the album they made to get out of their major label deal. The cover is intentionally repulsive. It's also the only thing from their 1988-1998 run that's still out of print, I think.

They got their other major label album Thank You (also my favorite of theirs) reissued on Drag City recently so I don't think the fact that Sweet Sixteen is still OOP has anything to do with licensing/legal issues. I think it has more to with the fact that the entire thing was a piss-take, cover included. Of course that doesn't drastically separate it from the rest of their catalog. I've only listened to it once, and I didn't think it was bad.

well that's the thing, when I first heard them I was deep in my lo-fi period. Sebadoh's Bakesale was a huge sellout piece of corporate rock to 18 year old me. Maybe I loved lo-fi more than I actually liked it. But at that most lo-fi accepting moment these guys didn't click with me, and I figured it was because at the time I thought the Stones sucked. But now I adore the Stones and still have a soft spot for lo-fi, and while I hear the lo-fi, I don't hear what I love about the stones. I don't hear any blues, I don't even hear the Dolls, I don't even hear John Spencer.

Where as when I finally heard The Fall, I totally understood why people compared Pavement to The Fall.

OK.

This thread piqued my interest due to the references.
And then I listened to the the entire discography via one-minute snippets from Allmusic.
Stylistically, I understand how this would be interesting in a past stagnant commercial music production period
Musically, it's forgettable.

Feeling even better about where I stand on this.

"And then I listened to the the entire discography via snippets from Allmusic." I'm going to use that sometime.

OK.

Sorry I didn't waste several years feigning interest in this sloppy "raw" bullshit because I was bored?
It doesn't hold up. I guess you had to be in whatever magical enlightened place you were 20 years ago to actually "get it".

Well I'm glad you were at least able to take the time to come share your expert opinion with us.

Royal Trux is boring. Ok?
I think we can agree on that.
You can debate the finer points.

No we can't.

Oh ok crabby pants.

On a different note, were you the dude who was into US Maple?
Because I just got my aluminum cased re-press of "Long Hair in Three Stages" from Skin Graft and that shit is so fucking tight.
I think about it a lot.

Yeah I love US Maple. I didn't know about that aluminum case thing and will have to look into it.

There was supposed to be a documentary getting done about them a few years ago. I guess the guy who was doing it gave up and just ended up posting some of the choice live footage and some of their music videos on YouTube. I still wish he would finish it.

That's why we pray.

http://www.skingraftrecords.com/shop.html
Looks like they jacked the price $20 from the pre-order.

I felt a little violated paying $50, but $70?! Vinyl prices are getting out of hand. Although it's not as disappointing as dipshits buying cassettes for $15 because they don't know any better than force fed hype.

US Maple holds up IMO. Never heard of them until about five years ago and Long Hair in Three Stages is close to perfect.

The tangential thought is: who the fuck collects or purchases vinyl? Would a thread full of recent purchases, pre-orders, sales and promo codes be helpful (sans those that enjoy paying +30% for the sake of nostalgia from their sacred local record store plus 7% local taxes or simply just enjoy collecting Lawrence Welk records from estate sales)?

This list is predicated by overpriced local record stores without a dialogue.

For example (JUST TODAY (7/13)):
1. Pre-order from record companies if possible -- No Age, Obits and His Electro Blue Voice LPs from Sub Pop with LOSER benefits including 7"s, colored vinyl and mp3 codes (for about $15 overall less than retail). (or in the example listed three paragraphs above, save $20 on a US Maple pre-order). Generally, pre-ordering takes advantage of batched packaging and shipping.

Direct ordering from record companies that generally distribute their stock to vendors may contain hidden shipping and handling charges that are disproportionate to the item(s) purchased (e.g. Sub Pop: $7 shipping and handling for a single record) (see #10).

2.Today, Polyvinyl Records "Garage Sale" (generally a gentle entity) added new items that a subscriber is notified by via email listserve: http://www.polyvinylrecords.com/store/i ... listID=191 (not as good as it was a month ago; e.g. -- every Deerhoof LP for $8)

3. Random browsing encountered a mint copy of Mogwai "Rock Action" (2001) LP for $15 on eBay.

4. That god damn "Let it Be" Replacements LP that I'll never get for less than $80

5. I purchased two common Hank Williams 1950s records for $7 total including shipping.

6. Several open auction Lee Hazelwood original press LPs hovering around $10 and a bunch of Michael Yonkers '70s LPs for $8 with two days remaining in the auction.

7. Ebay >>>> discogs.com in terms of price. Wait around long enough and create saved record/LP searches on Ebay.com for records you want. Saved searches generate daily emails every morning and once in a while you'll get a sweet ass deal on something you've been looking for...otherwise add your desire to your "Watch List" and wait to act the sniper at the auctions' last seconds.

8. When you can't locate a record via auction (it should be your first search) or you don't have the patience, the new records from independent sellers in fine print listed in the table below the Amazon.com main listing pages are usually a reasonable deal (Exceptions include. MM: Moon and Antarctica for $14 and JT: FutureSex/LoveSounds for $9). Yes, you better be aware.

9. For example at InSound.com (which usually rips you off $2 per album) you can use a 15% discount code "firstjul15" / "firstaug15" (jul / aug == 3 digit month codes) as many times as you want on payment for new records.

10. Discogs.com is THE most reliable reference for real record prices/values/bidding on your album of choice. In regards to auction sites, never pay more than the top price on Discogs.com unless you're really coked out.

11. Always note shipping costs. Calculate total cost including shipping if not explicitly stated in the header (usually displayed as "calculate shipping" in fine print below). Unexpectedly paying for $12 shipping is unwelcome.


This was a meeting?
Same lines repeated. Just scream a bit.

I hear the stones in the third one you posted, i like that one.

You might like the album Thank You.

also from that album:




and the first track I posted.

Not sure why I didn't post "Ray-O-Vac" first. It's one of my favorite Royal Trux songs.

Huh. Guess I should seriously consider selling my vinyl.

If you have similar items and a couple dudes want to get into a pissing contest, you could make a lot of change. I've seen Let It Be go for $160.