In this issue of Music You Should Be Listening To:

We’ll take a wondrous musical journey with New York based band, Alberta Cross. I’ll discuss their September release Broken Side of Time, as well as their recent set in the Daytrotter studios.  In one word… Amazing!

We’ve also got some big news this week including not one but two upcoming releases from New Jerseys own, Real Estate. In the next 30 days the band will release their highly anticipated debut album as well as a brand new EP.  Jack White is also making headlines as he gears up for a new project featuring one very unlikely pairing. He’ll put his producing skills to the test as he once again teams up with a rock and roll icon.

Finally, I’ll let you in on the upcoming schedule for MySBLT. On the docket we have the first in a series of interviews with up-and-coming bands as well as a few concert reviews. Big things, they are a-coming! Read the rest of this entry »

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Hello, and welcome to the first installment of Music You Should Be Listening To. This blog is your one stop shop for all things indie rock including album reviews, concert highlights and the latest news on the bands that no one has heard of… yet.

I had all intentions of using my first entry to review some great new album that is dropping in November, however, I encountered a bit of a problem… I’m still stuck on the early fall releases that are continuing to blow me away. So instead I’ll let you in on what I’ve been digging since September. I’ll also hit you with some news that will definitely help you get through those cold winter months (hint: January is going to be chalk full of new releases from some of the superstars in Indie!) Read the rest of this entry »

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Erika Kapp, our Springsteen CD catalog contest winner!

In honor of  The Boss’  60th birthday and to celebrate his series of shows that closed down the old Meadowlands, Sony/BMG was kind enough to donate almost the entire Bruce Springsteen CD catalog, 15 CDs and 3 DVDs, for us to give away….thanks guys!

Ms. Kapp was one of over 200 entrants who vied to win this prize, and she won in the random drawing.  Congratulations to her!

We had a lot of fun with this and plan to do more in-store contests in the future… keep your eyes peeled for the next!

Hope to see you soon.

Springsteen Entry Box

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Meet The Beat Rats, a four piece band from New York City, who recreate the sound, style and attitude of an early sixties British combo with utter perfection. The best rock and roll has always been built upon a skeletal foundation of a few basic chords, trashy drumming and impassioned vocals, and “A Cellar Full Of Rats!” trembles and shakes on such ground. Energy and enthusiasm are doled out in spades, making for a collection of highly infectious songs.

A happening hybrid of peppy Mersey pop inspired melodies, surf slanted guitar licks and rugged garage rock overtones inhabits each and every corner of the album. Having studied and adopted the finest points of the masters, The Beat Rats are today’s version of The Big Three, The Pretty Things and John, Paul, George and Ringo wrapped in one explosive package. “Only 16,” “She’s Twisted,” Mine All Mine” and “The Beat Rats Theme” are executed so convincingly that you can’t help but be blown away by the band’s undying devotion to the music they play. But “A Cellar Full Of Rats!’ is no cheesy nostalgia type effort, as the delivery is fresh and vital. Scruffy, raw and teeming with danceable grooves, here’s a record guaranteed to warrant repeated listenings.

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Recently arrived: over 200 Classical Audiophile LPs!

It feels like it has been ages since we have had a large quality classical audiophile collection come in, but we are pleased to announce a great one today. For those not in the know, these types of records were mainly produced in the late fifties through the mid-to-late sixties using all-tube recording equipment on high-quality virgin vinyl. They are sought after as much for their sonic qualities as for their performances. Some folks think these are the perfect media to showcase their premium stereo systems.

This collection includes many RCA Shaded Dogs, Mercury SRs, and other miscellaneous audiophiles, but the real highlights are an incredible assortment of British imports. There are dozens of original Columbia SAXs, (blue/silver labels and slightly later red/black), early Deccas (many wide-bands, both edition 1s and edition 2s), and early E.M.I.s (blue/gold labels); its a rare day that we see so many of these rare British pressings at one time.

Because of the scarcity of these records, and because so many of our valued customers are looking for them, we do request that you do not call us to put items on hold. We want to make sure that everyone has an equal opportunity to buy them. First come, first served please!

Also note if you are not familiar with our store…we are a bricks-and-mortar walk-in store only. We do not ship.

Hope to see you soon.

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Death as a subject in rock music (or “nec-rock-philia” as some wags have dubbed it) is nothing new. It showed up in everything from Mark Dinning’s 1959 one-hit wonder Teen Angel, to J. Frank Wilson & The Cavaliers’ romance-comic-like tear-jerker from 1964, Last Kiss to Bloodrock’s grinding, dirgey, death-metallic 1971 hit, DOA. Nonetheless, when Jim Carroll’s single People Who Died arrived at the radio station I spin for back in 1980, my jaw hit the floor. What was this guy up to? What was this guy on? Read the rest of this entry »

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There have always been two Woodstocks – the event and the myth.

Woodstock the event consisted of lots of rain, little food, bad acid, and sometimes bad music.  Woodstock the myth, according to festival promoter Michael Lang, gave young Americans “a sense of possibility and hope” that “spread around the globe.”

Lang’s long-awaited memoir, The Road to Woodstock, sheds new light on the event even as it offers more undeserved hoke about the importance of those three days at Bethel, NY in August 1969. Read the rest of this entry »

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Todd Rundgren poses as master of disguise during his time travel back to 1973. Photo by Lynn Vala

On the two and a half hour drive from my home base in the fascist surrounds of Salisbury Township, Pennsylvania to Stamford CT, all I kept saying to myself is “This better be worth it, I am too damn old to be doing this!!!”  There were extenuating circumstances this time.  I had first volunteered to assist in the production, working concession organization the night before.  This was when the show was not yet a minor tour, and only happening in Akron OH on the sixth.  I had even been contacted by my former band mate from The Goodz, Marc Blanc, and he had proposed my best thing to ever happen to me and I join him and his cousin Jaime to venture first to Penn State, then to the Rock and Roll hall of fame in Cleveland.

Their proposition had become pricey, and times, as you know and can well verify for yourselves, are tough.

I had decided as temping as this was, I had to decline.  This is where the volunteerism had come into play.  I made sure to contact one of the promoters, someone who I must interview, with his partner Cruiser Mel, as they are most fascinating topics, yet the nicest, down to earth people you will meet, Doug Ford and let him know I could not attend but would lend assistance in anyway possible, promoting it in the blog, etc.  Did I mention they were nice?  Mr. Ford then suggests that if my best thing to ever happen to me and I were interested, we could work concessions, sorting merchandise by size, type etc. the night before the show.  This was when the show was in Akron OH and was a one-off.  Interest became so great that a second show was added.  Then a show in Stamford CT., then Bethesda MD, London, and more.  I had contacted Mr. Ford and asked could the arrangements be switched, and while the opportunity to sell merchandise was occupied, the spots available were assisting in the ticket sales, Will Call and reserved V.I.P. tickets.

Follow me through an adventurous, enlightening and needless to say entertaining evening, an evening I like to call 999 (09-09-2009).

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Rundgren takes the mic back from Sulton for the ever popular 'Soul Medley'. Photo by Lynn Vala

Rundgren reemerges with an Orange suit on, much like the one worn during the Liars tour.  This medley is obviously what they rehearsed the most, or it at least sounded that way as apart from some errant Theremin notes (and those things were hair-trigger at best) this was as tight as it gets.

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Direct from Valenica’s email newsletter!

Hello, friends. Read the rest of this entry »

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Ever enchanting Amos warms the ivories on her trusty Bosendorfer piano. Photo by Lynn Vala.

Picking up from last time, we are now reviewing the concert show for Amos’ most recent release Abnormally Attracted To Sin.  Red Bank to the average visitor (which I consider myself to be) is a quaint hamlet akin to Philadelphia’s South Street before the Mardi Gras riots of a few years ago.  After a lovely dinner at a local diner, we venture to the venue.  An all-American meal before seeing a show from an all-American girl.

Who just so happens to live in England.

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San Mateo School of Rock – The San Mateo County Fair (August 22, 2009)

 When rock and roll reared its raunchy head in the fifties, the majority of folks believed the music was just a fad. But how wrong they were. The beat goes on and on and on. Generation after generation, kids are strapping on guitars, picking up drum sticks, screaming into microphones and forming bands. And that brings us to School of Rock, which was established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1998. More than a decade later, the school thrives, with operations dotted all over the country now. Read the rest of this entry »

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At the height of their career, Paul Revere & The Raiders were a serious threat to The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and all those other shaggy-haired British combos troubling the charts at the time. Born in the Pacific Northwest, the band not only harvested a heap of hit singles, but they were also regulars on Dick Clark’s “Where The Action Is!” television show, which naturally provided them with a double dip of exposure. The group’s faces further adorned the covers and pages of teen magazines, transpiring them into genuine superstars. Decked out in colonial war uniforms, Paul Revere & The Raiders were additionally recognized for their wild and crazy live performances. Synchronized dance steps, coupled with goofy jokes were always part of the program. Read the rest of this entry »

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As many of you regulars know, we normally have an extensive selection of classical CDs in stock; probably the largest in New Jersey.  This week we are happy to announce the purchase of a huge collection of 11,300 titles swelling our classical bins to the busting point! Read the rest of this entry »

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On the outskirts of town, there is a scarlet mansion.  Well maintained, and heavily visited.  The police know what goes on there, and they look away.  Those who enjoy visiting the scarlet mansion come and go frequently.  Each bringing in their cares and woes and after an hour or so visit, they leave without them.  What is the attraction?  The girls.

Anyone who knows Tori Amos, knows that she refers to her songs as girls.  When the girls want to come out and play, Amos inserts them into the song list, records them, or just pals around with them.  If there was ever an appropriate allegory for a Tori Amos album, the above seems to fit.  On the outskirts of town?  Definitely a fringe artist, Amos only enjoyed minor success at the beginning of her career.  As she became more established, her sales numbers leveled off until she was unceremoniously dumped by Atlantic Records.  She did sign a short-lived deal with Epic, and they released some very interesting if not earnestly successful records.  My most notable is “Strange Little Girls” which was an album of covers done in her own inimitable style.  A scarlet mansion?  Come on, look at her.

I’m not about to call one of music’s smartest redheads a blonde-wood bungalow.

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     Many people probably wondered how Brand New was to follow up there 2003 Emo Rock masterpiece Deja Entendu. The album’s success was unheard of for a band of their genre, as the band landed the cover of Seventeen magazine, air time on TRL, and even the approval of veteran rock critic Rolling Stone magazine. To top this fairytale of an album release, they got a record deal with DreamWorks Entertainment, estimated at a worth of one million dollars. So come November 6^th, 2005 the release date of The Devil In and God Raging Inside of Me, a lot was resting on the shoulder’s of Brand New.

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The genesis of Five Man Electrical Band goes all the way back to 1964, when they came to be as The Staccatos. During the next several years, the Canadian band was regularly heard on local airwaves, earning them a gold star as one of the region’s most respected acts. Personnel shifts occurred, and in 1969 The Staccatos changed their name to Five Man Electrical Band. Read the rest of this entry »

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