French horns, banjos, and strap-on wings. What else do you need?

180 gram pressed directly from the masters. This is why I listen to vinyl.

Plans | Death Cab for Cutie

I bought this album on CD in late 2005. I had never heard anything like it. Plans changed my life in a big way.

And it sounds great on vinyl. Clear. Warm. The piano on Brothers on a Hotel Bed sounds like it is just across the coffee table from you.

Death Cab Trivia: For years I thought the band’s name referred to a loud guitar speaker cabinet and someone’s sexy girlfriend. Turns out that “Death Cab for Cutie” is actually an old 60’s song about a girl who dies in a taxi. So there is that. Maybe you already knew.

Oh, Inverted World | The Shins

New Slang + Garden State = Royalties for life

The Album | ABBA

So I am trying to listen to every vinyl album I own this year. And somehow I happen to own this one. It is not really a favorite, but I guess I have to listen to complete my goal.

The Age of Aquarius | The 5th Dimension

Two number one singles. Two Grammy awards. And a cover of Sunshine of Your Love only eight months after it was originally released by Cream. Bold.

Face Value | Phil Collins

I am not really a fan of things from the 80’s. I don’t like the music, and I certainly don’t like the fashion. But I like this album. And there is a banjo on it, which is awesome.

Also, someone broke the law to sell me my copy.

Prospekt's March | Coldplay

This album sounds like an MP3 downloaded from Napster. The CD is much better.

This is my turntable.

He’s always been a trendsetter. But could David Bowie have caused the latest fad sweeping the nation – the credit crunch? It may sound like a ridiculous question, but it’s not as mad as it seems. [Mirror.co.uk]

Uh, yes it is.

Reformation of bands is never my idea of a good idea. [Jeff Beck]

Hunky Dory | David Bowie

This album was released on December 17, 1971. I have a preview pressing that was made on October 19 of that same year. The sleeve is generic with a handwritten note indicating the title and the date of the pressing. The track listing was made on a typewriter and glued onto the sleeve. The LP label is also generic with a typewritten track listing.

Dancing in the Street | David Bowie & Mick Jagger

This is a 12″ single that was released in 1985 as part of the Live Aid charity movement. Cool.

A new product called the Gabriel Turntable was just released at CES. It costs up to $64,000. But each owner gets his or her name engraved on it, so there is that. [CNN]

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars | David Bowie

“It Ain’t Easy” sounds like Jack White.
I mean, Jack White sounds like “It Ain’t Easy.”

There is a lot of really great slide guitar on this album.

Miles & Monk at Newport | Miles Davis & Thelonius Monk

Under the Blacklight | Rilo Kiley

This was my most listened to album of 2008. And the only reason it didn’t make 2007 is because it came out halfway through the year.

Punch the Clock | Elvis Costello

This album sounds like something that could have been released in the mid-70’s. There are no 80’s synths or over-reverberated snare drums. “Shipbuilders” and “Pills and Soap” are really laid back – very chill.

I have to tell you sorrowfully and truthfully: Count Basie was not a real count. Nat King Cole, not a real king. And Queen Latifah? Hmm, not in the technical sense. [Elvis Costello]

Turnstiles | Billy Joel

This is the album that got me interested in Billy Joel. The first night I listened to it I was sitting in my crappy orange chair with all the lights turned out. Nowadays that is what I think of every time I put it on.

Led Zeppelin II

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road | Elton John

Tonight was my first listen to this particular copy of this album. It is a double album, and when it was time to switch to the second LP I found a second copy of the first LP in the sleeve. So that sucked. (See photo.)

Led Zeppelin – II
Led Zeppelin – III
Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin – Presence
Led Zeppelin – In Through the Out Door
Led Zeppelin – Coda
John Lennon – Mind Games
John Lennon – Rock N Roll
Creedance Clearwater Revival – Pendulum
Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John – Caribou
Billy Joel – The Bridge
Billy Joel – Cold Spring Harbor
Billy Joel – The Nylon Curtain
James Taylor – One Man Dog
The Police – Ghost in the Machine
Jeff Beck Group – Jeff Beck Group
Jeff Beck Group – Rough and Ready
The Beatles – Rubber Soul (mono first pressing)
Elvis Costello & The Attractions – Armed Forces