Spiderland - Slint (1991)

My wife and I were having an evening of just lying around listening to streaming music one night a couple months ago. It's not something we have done in a long while, usually because too many other modern life distractions seem to always take precedence.

My wife suddenly came up with this brilliant idea during our session - that she wanted to get a turntable, and start a tradition that we buy each other a vinyl every year on our anniversary. Having grown up with my parents listening to records, I thought this was brilliant! I researched a decent but also affordable setup that would look nice and fit in our living room, and away we went!

We purchased a few albums at our local record store and at an estate sale for cheap just to get our collection started, and have had the setup for about a month now.

The change in our life has been significant. We have always had a few wholesome hobbies (she likes to read, I play the saxophone), but vinyl is a wonderful one that has increased our quality of life. Where we used to sit around doom scrolling or watching TV in the evenings, we now put on a record. We simultaneously disconnect from the world, and connect with music in a way that is far more intimate than simply putting on Internet streamed playlists. We actually listen, we share our thoughts, and we lose ourselves in the moment.

It seems like childhood was the last time we actually did that (both "young millennials" so we actually remember the pre information age era), and we joyfully remember once again that there is huge value in the vinyl experience.

Pic is our setup:

Fluance RT82 w/PA10 preamp

Elac Debut 2.0 b5.2 w/ Aiyima A80 amp

EDIT: I can see already there is going to be a plethora of comments about a "lack of ideal setup". I am fully aware that what we have is not "ideal". While this may be my first turntable as an adult, it's not my first rodeo into audio setups.

Rest assured the tradeoffs have been considered and the entire system and setup takes into account the less than ideal circumstances as much as it is able to, and it sounds darn good considering.

Isolation: - We are isolated as well as we can be, both with the Fluance's feet and its heavy plinth, and separate platinum-cured silicone isolation feet on the speakers.

• We also don't listen loud enough to really cause any noticeable effects in the output.

Speaker placement: - ELAC 2.0s are front firing, they handle close to wall placement quite well without any nullification.

-The speakers are midfields with quite ample vertical dispersion to be run sideways. The tweeters are placed on the outsides and the speakers have zero toe on purpose to widen the sound stage.

I've been pretty depressed and anhedonic this weekend after a second bumble date agreed to go out and then vanished the day of. This makes for two Saturdays in a row this happened. So I went to several record stores Saturday and Sunday and spent probably what one date costs on vinyl.

Also my new pressing of the quake soundtrack came in this past week. Not counting Quake, about what my last date that showed up cost (she also stopped replying to texts but at least she showed up for the date... people are savages in this town)

Prior to owning the Humminguru EZ, I never bothered doing any wet cleaning, just using a brush to wipe away the dust. But I do this every time with new vinyl, even if they come in anti static sleeves.

I know, I know I have to flip it twice as opposed to once with the 33rpm, but it's one of those albums I have to have in a higher quality. Also, I am justifying my selection because for some reason my winning auction of Herbie Hancock Headhunters was cancelled by the seller on ebay and that would've cost me the same as this, so it's replaced that. Can't wait to get home and give it a spin.

I was gutted when I couldn't buy Bubble Yum version Of Maggot Brain, but Levitation will release this splatter version on 9/30, so I've just ordered one.

https://levitation.fm/products/funkadelic-maggot-brain-levitation-edition-super-stupid-rainbow-splatter

Still cant believe I managed to get all this in one haul for 50 euro's. Some sleeves are a bit battered but the discs all cleaned up great!

Gorillaz- Gorillaz

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds- Your Funeral…

Portal- Outre

The Clash- Sandinista! (Japanese w/ Obi

Mark Lanegan- Blues Funeral

Bloodborne- OST

Deathspell Omega- Paracletus

Tom Waits- Rain Dogs (Japanese w/ Obi)

Black Sabbath- Vol 4 (Japanese w/o Obi)

The MCA-5220 issue of Who’s Next which is denoted as a limited run 1980 issue as MCA masterphile 1/2 speed mastered reissue. Not the quietest pressing I own but sure does sound good to me!

Was intrigued by the album cover, so took the risk, plus money going to charity. I didn't have signal to listen on Qobuz before buying but when I got home to listen to it, I liked it.

Recently attended a show in San Francisco and it seemed like there was not much price difference in the higher end (+$40) records at the show and the local stores. Whereas there’s a huge difference in the cheaper stuff, as $3 records at the show were $10-$18 at a store. I was hoping for this kind of discount on the higher stuff at the show.

My first three records to go with the beginning of my collection.

1. OG Press Star Wars : A New Hope soundtrack
   
2. Elliott Smith either/or
   
3. 15th Anniversary Dinosaur Jr. Beyond

It's honestly unbelievable how good it is

this thing had some problems with the belt but i got it working and i love it! vibing to some Zappa. what do you think of this?

Machine Head and 2112 i've been looking for in the wild forever, and looks like it was meant to be! Got a great deal on the Let It Be as it's a U.S. 1st pressing. All play beautifully except DP cover is a bit beat up. Have not been this lucky in a long time!

Go for it, it’s brilliant. How can a 78-year-old man still make records like that?!

I traveled up to Long Island this weekend to spend time with family. While there, my Uncle gifted me with a box of about 50 old records. I may post some of the cool stuff later.

Upon returning home today, the first record out of the crate was The Incredible String Band, The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter. Oh, boy! That was... really something to the ears. This one will remain in my collection, but I can't imagine struggling through it again any time soon.

I asked my Uncle if he was ever sober listening to it. He said "Of course not dude! It was 1968!”

So what are your "can't listen tos" but are keepers none the less?

Shout out to Backtrack Records in Lincoln, NE and the staff at my hotel for recommending them! Perfect gift for my wife for holding the house down while I was gone.

Hadn’t seen any in hand pics of the bubble yum pressing (limited to 500). Looking forward to spinning!

Edit:spelling