Scott's Favorite Record #12/#13
Scott’s favorite records number twelve: This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb – “Of Chivalry and Romance in a Dumpster”. This is an oddball 10”-sized record, of which I have a few. It’s a cool size. The auto features on the turntable don’t like it.
TBIAPB were a great folk-punk band that I was really into for awhile. I never got to see them but I dug their scene and the music is great. This record is very DIY. Black print, white paper, folded insert with no custom anything. Note the sticker—even it is hand-cut. When I get a sticker with anything—a record, an order in the post, anything, I always think of early record purchasing criteria for Lewman and myself. One, if it had a skateboard or any reference to skateboarding on the cover, it was an automatic purchase. Two, if there was any suggestion of anything free with the record, it was a must-have: “Free sticker enclosed” was a deal-sealer every time. This record included a free sticker, but I have no idea where or when I bought this. It is a first pressing from 1998, but I don’t think I was really into them until quite a few years later. They are one band that didn’t really make the transition into the digital realm. The only thing on Spotify is a split seven inch with a band called “Shellshag” where they cover each other’s songs. Also, do not put that sticker on your bike if you’re flying with it.
Hüsker Dü – Land Speed Record is Scott’s favorite record number 13. I think Metal Circus is a better Husker Du record and I definitely bought it first, but I think this one is more interesting.
It’s a live recording, and not recorded that well, either. The band plays really fast and some of the songs are dumb—Gilligan’s Island is ridiculous, especially with what we know now. The songs all kind of sound the same here, which is ironic as later Husker Du music is so diverse and progressive. “Celebrated Summer” is my favorite Husker Du album. Anyway, I love Husker Du and I got to see them live in 1988, during the “Warehouse: Songs and Stories” tour. They seemed uninspired and like they didn’t want to be there, but they sounded great, regardless. Actually I think Zen Arcade is my favorite Husker Du album.
This is a first pressing record on the New Alliance label, as identified by the yellow and green labels. I bought it from Flipside Records in Kalamazoo when it was in the interior of the downtown pedestrian mall and not at the end where it resided until, well, the end. PS Flip Your Wig is one of the most underrated Husker Du albums. Another favorite of mine.
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