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Alright, a few starting comments: 1) I’ve been catching some flak around here for not posting on our blog, but that stops now. And 2) Apparently I’m the music guru in these parts — not to say we don’t all enjoy tunage via our ipods or itunes during the entire work day.

I’ll kick it off with a brief discussion of Iron & Wine and their show was I was lucky enough to attend last night (6/15) at the Newport Theater on High Street. For those unfamiliar with the songwriting prowess of Sam Beam I will describe it in just one word: energemotionastical. For those of you unfamiliar with that word, I’m saying he kicks ass. Raw emotion comes through with every word of his brilliantly written verses and his simple, yet addictively catchy, melodies. A few years back he covered the song “Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service for the Garden State soundtrack which thrust him into the mainstream music scene. Most recently he released The Shepherd’s Dog on SubPop Records (yes, it’s available on vinyl) with much acclaim. It is a bit of a departure from the stripped-down acoustic-only sound that has served him so well to date. But hey guess what? Like everything this man sets his creative mind to, he absolutely crushes it. On this album Sam is joined by a full band, which adds another dimension and expands the possibilities for his music (more on that in a bit). One of my personal favorites from the album is “Boy With A Coin”. Typical Beam lyrics match up with a solid beat and mesmarizing

So on to the show. The Uglysuit opened, but i missed much of their set (from what I heard I’m not that disappointed). Sam opened with several acoustic tunes, making sure he played to the fan base that has helped him get where he is. His sister Sarah added beautiful harmonies which blended perfectly with his finger-picked guitar lines. After several old favorites

Alright, so this is my first post on our prestigious blog. Get excited.

For those of you out there that have no idea who I am, I will let you in on a few details about myself. 1) I’m hilarious, 2) I love music, and 3) I’m not a cocky jerk, I promise.

There is enough web-expertise on this blog, so I think I’ll use my time here in a different way. I have decided to be your personal Music Guru. I’m a dedicated, vinyl freak. I’m viciously opinionated and always honest. And lucky for you, I’ll be here to let you know exactly how I feel about new releases, and maybe some oldies/classics too (and yes, I’l probably let you know about most of my vinyl purchases as I make them).

For those of you in Columbus, Ohio, I’ve got a gem for you. Used Kids Records. At 1980 N. High Street just south of Buckeye Donuts, you’ll find a small black and white sign pointing into a strange entrance. Passing through the door you find steps leading to the gold mine upstairs: thousands of new and used records, CDs, and cassettes. Personally, I use it for the vinyl. I’m kind of in love with the 12″ album art, the warm sound, and the physical satisfaction I get from a vinyl LP. So seriously, get down there and do it old school.

So now that you know what you’re in for, and where to get some of the goods, I’ll hit you with my first set of recommendations.

1) The Shepherd’s Dog – Iron & Wine (or any of their albums, really)
I recently saw Iron & Wine live here in Columbus (at the Newport Theater, one of my favorite venues ever), and I was blown away. Sam and Sarah Beam’s vocal harmonies are so well-done and completely enveloping. The Shepherd’s Dog introduced a full backing-band to the mix. Honestly I was a little worried about this, the Iron & Wine feel is traditionally very acoustic and raw. But after seeing him perform new and old songs with the band, all my concerns disappeared. The same heart and honesty that made his early music popular is still going strong and fueling some surprisingly funky jams (I might be an old Phish-head). Anyway, go out and buy some Iron & Wine, you won’t regret it. Other Notable Release from Iron & Wine:  The Sea and Rhythm EP (2003), Our Endless Numbered Days (2004), Woman King EP (2005), In The Reins w|Calexico EP (2005).

2) The Autumn of the Seraphs – Pinback
I’m new to this band, but their latest release took very little time to win me over. The interplay of the twangy bass and acoustic and electric guitars on this album is warm and precise. The riffs the two principal members have created here are complicated at times, but also catchy.. it’s like a brain exercise (the good kind). Add a drum machine, a piano, and occasional synth sounds as a backdrop and you’ve got music that some would categorize as pop, but with one fundamental difference from mainstream pop: it has substance. Other notable releases from Pinback: Blue Screen Life (2001), Offcell EP (2003), Summer in Abaddon (2004).

One side-note in closing, if I get a comments on these posts asking why I haven’t mentioned Miley Cyrus, [insert disney-generated crap here], Good Charlotte, Fallout Boy, or any other no-talent clown(s) out there, I will be thoroughly upset and probably lose all faith in humanity. So please.. spare me?

Peace.