Thursday, June 26, 2014

Trader Rock on Tumblr


Greetings, rockers. 

A quick reminder: please set your dials to our new home (on tumblr), Trader Rock. Lots of full albums, songs, rock n' roll photos, and kick-ass musical ephemera to delight you there.

Thank you, and be excellent to each other. - David (Trader Rock).

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Trader Rock Tumblr


Forgot to say that I'm now posting a lot of stuff at my new Trader Rock tumblr

Here you'll find photos, extra videos, MP3s, and reblogs of other stuff I find interesting or cool. Having fun with the more social, sharing elements of the tumblr platform. Check it out.

 

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

When You're Strange: The Doors documentary


When You're Strange, Tom DiCillo's 2009 feature on The Doors, is not your typical recent-vintage rock doc. filled with interviews from random talking heads. 

Rather, this film is largely comprised of original footage of the band and its charismatic lead singer and focal point, Jim Morrison. Johnny Depp narrates as the film follows the group's formation and early days through to the recording of their studio albums, live shows, and not-infrequent controversies. 

There's some valuable discussion of the group's musical influences, from Sinatra and the blues to fellow L.A. rockers, The Byrds and Love. I especially enjoyed this aspect of the film, as the legacy and influence of their Sunset Strip contemporaries is sometimes overlooked. 



You can watch the film here or rent/buy it via Amazon.com, if you prefer.

Check out these extra interviews with Robby Krieger and John Densmore at PBS' American Masters webpage. Ray Manzarek was also fond of the film, which he felt got The Doors' story right.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Loud Lucy - Ticking

Loud Lucy - Ticking



Does anyone remember this Loud Lucy single? This came out when I was about 16, back when the Chicago alternative rock scene was speeding through a minor post-Pumpkins gold rush.

Had to check the production credits to find the name of Brad Wood - I recall that he was the local producer of note at that time, having worked with Liz Phair and other Chicago notables. 

This single has that sound of your friends' now-seasoned senior year band, shined up with a bit of mid-'90s production gloss. Takes me back.

Interesting sidenote: Amazon includes a review from Jim Dero, who notes the band's debut album was originally recorded with Jack Endino, but scrapped as it was "too polished"(!). That's not a tag I expected to be hung on the engineer of Nirvana's Bleach and the first Thrown-Ups album.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

The Turtles - Elenore

The Turtles - Elenore



"Elenore, gee I think you're swell. Ah-haaa!"