The Return of the Challenge Thread - February 2020

Day 9 - This One’s a Grower

Noname - Telefone

I was pretty underwhelmed when VMP announced this as their first Rap/Hip Hop record. It’s hard to even remember why I didn’t like it at first - I think probably taken aback by the breezy, effortless style that makes me like it so much now. It’s now one of my overall favorite records of the 2010s.

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Selaws said:
I have to admit that I completely lucked out on this one. A charity put it on ebay with 1 poor photo. I imagine most people assumed it was one of the bootlegs that tends to pop up and might not of wanted to risk it. I ended up getting it for £30 which was a risk, but it was for charity so I thought it was worth it. When it came it was indeed the first press in top condition. There were several times before this when I have had it in my hand for more than double that price and seriously contemplating buying it.

Its a shame but I would be surprised if it was repressed at this point. I was really hoping he would release just 1 more album and tour before retiring but that doesnt seem likely either.
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Is there a known issue with the Tom Waits Island records (and for that matter, the PJ Harvey Island records)? I’ve been waiting for reissues for years - they seem immune to the vinyl resurgence. I can somehow learn about and collect the entire Ofege catalog on vinyl in like 2 years time while still being stuck with my CD copy of Bone Machine.
 
Day 9: Grower

Fiona Apple - Tidal

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I actually wasn’t a big fan of this album when I first heard it and was pretty underwhelmed when it was announced as an RotM a few years back. It’s grown on me a LOT since then, being one of my favourite albums of the late ‘90s and one of the best records I’ve ever gotten from them!
 
Day 9 - This Ones A Grower
Spin a record that didn’t didn’t click initially but now love

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Bobb Trimble "Iron Curtain Innocence"

I bought this based off of the story vs actually hearing and enjoying the music and when I got it home and spun it I was completely underwhelmed! I should have known better than to buy into hype but what can you do? Over the years I've continued to come back to it and found a greater and greater appreciation after each listen, I wouldn't say I love it but when the mood strikes it's a great listen!

It's unfortunate that dude seems to be a tad suspect
 
Day 9 - This Ones A Grower
Spin a record that didn’t didn’t click initially but now love

This would be an instant growth for me. This was the R&HH after De La Soul, but I didn't know much about Erykah Badu so I took a chance with this one, and I'm glad I did! I have maybe half of the series, but this one is one of my favorites.

Erykah Badu ‎– But You Caint Use My Phone

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Day 9 - This Ones A Grower
Spin a record that didn’t didn’t click initially but now love

LOW - DOUBLE NEGATIVE
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Low has always been enjoyable. I remember picking up Long Division in high school from the used CD rack at our local record store. I didn’t really get into them until that stretch of Things We Lost In The Fire (still probably my favorite of theirs) to Great Destroyer. After that I would download each new release with less and less enthusiasm. Their records weren’t bad but they also weren’t different enough to justify listening to them as opposed to their earlier and arguably better past releases. By the time they dropped Double Negative they had almost completely stopped registering with me but after reading some glowing reviews that described this album as something completely different it piqued my interest enough to give it a cursory listen. THE FUCK!?!! This was not what I was expecting at all. It was so jarring and abrasive more like Merzbow than a Low album. I didn’t even get through the first track before I started to skip around to see if It was a bit of a red herring but nope it was all harsh and cold. Alan and Mimi’s vocals had been effected to the point of barely recognizable. I summarily dismissed it but was still amazed by all the positive reviews and year end best of accolades it was receiving. A few months later I came across a new unopened copy of the “Loser Edition” for $14 at Half Priced Books. A quick Discogs check revealed it was going for a bit more than that on the secondary market and though I really disliked it upon my initial and only listen I did find it confounding that others loved it so much so I took a flyer and picked it up. The next day at work I put it on and initially thought I had mad a mistake but I was determined to power on through to see if it clicked and fortunately it did. It was the moment in the song “Quorum” where all the sharp mechanical noise drops out and you are left with a fleeting moment of beauty where their amazing vocals come through before the ugliness comes crashing back. After that it all made sense. I was enamored and still am to this day. Every time I listen I discover new moments to love.
 
D Jilla said:
Is there a known issue with the Tom Waits Island records (and for that matter, the PJ Harvey Island records)? I’ve been waiting for reissues for years - they seem immune to the vinyl resurgence. I can somehow learn about and collect the entire Ofege catalog on vinyl in like 2 years time while still being stuck with my CD copy of Bone Machine.
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Oh man there seems to be lots of issues behind it all. The original Island Records was sold to PolyGram, who later sold it to UGM, who split it into 3 divisions under one umbrella. It basically diluted the company and placed less emphasis on Island's original back catalogue as a result, I believe there are other big-name artists that also have key records which have not seen a reissue as a result.

On top of that, Waits' time with Island was very much his development phase. He split from Asylum to move to Island after splitting with his manager (a lot of people place the blame on his wife, Kathleen, and a lot of friendships were broken because of this by all accounts). Waits never seemed to be one to sell himself out, and its likely that he doesn't care either way about a lot of material he recorded during this time because he purposely used it to develop his sound to get to the point he is today. That's just my opinion though.
 
Day 9 - A Grower

Sugar - Copper Blue

This was sent to me by an out of town friend who is a huge Bob Mould fan and knew I didn't have any in my collection. I didn't exactly dislike at first but was kind of like 'eh, ok, it's power pop.' But by my fifth or so spin, I really got it. Now I can't even pick a favorite track...I love the whole record.
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Day 9: Grower

Japandroids - Near to the Wild Heart of Life

Celebration Rock is a top 10 album for me for this past decade. I was a little disappointed when this one came out, but then I realized that just because it doesn't live up to one of my favorite albums doesn't mean that it's not good. I started to appreciate the little flourishes they did different on this one for what it is.

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Day 10 - Don’t Shoot The Piano Player

Jutta Hipp - At The Hickory House Volume 1 (Blue Note, 1956 First Mono Pressing)

An incredibly rare Blue Note first press which I completely lucked out on. Jutta is surely jazz's saddest story. An incredibly gifted immigrant pianist from Germany who, unfortunately, was pressured out of recording by a small number of her negative and racist peers. Her meek nature wasn't strong enough to push through and she retired to work at a garment factory for the rest of her life and wasn't even aware of her success until a few months prior to her death. This is a fabulous album, well worth listening to!

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