As we all know, some (by which I mean, an infinitesimally small percentage of the format’s total production) used LPs (or, some claimed-to-be unopened “New Old Stock” LPs), sell for crazy money. Which, of course, incentivizes much flipping through the used-LP bargain bins.Here’s one example: What I call a “record-store LP” (meaning, not an acetate, test pressing, or promo) of Led Zeppelin II sold, not too long ago, for $4,500.00.Of course, it was not just any old used... Read More

Grunge was the leading musical movement by the turn of the 1990s; its successor emerged from the Bay Area punk scene. Green Day became a household name around 1991 with a sound merging the intensity of hardcore punk with melodic power pop twists. Local label Lookout Records released their first two albums 39/Smooth and Kerplunk, the latter becoming the label’s best-selling release. Independent, limited distribution labels didn't typically sell out of initial 10,000 copy pressings in one day. Green Day started to outgrow its reach; a bidding war arose amongst major labels wanting to sign the band. Free meals, trips to Disneyland, and A&R reps tattooing the band’s name on their ass wasn’t enough to entice them. Producer Rob Cavallo devoured the band's demo and understood the group better than anyone; Green Day signed with Warner/Reprise in 1993. Frowned upon in the eyes of the punk establishment is the idea of "selling out." In Green Day’s eyes, it was merely an exercise in seeing how far they could take their artistry to a larger demographic. Signing with a major label helped the band bridge the gap between the DIY aesthetics of punk and the mainstream.

Should I stay or should I go? No, I wasn’t listening to The Clash. I was mentally weighing whether or not to attend the 2023 Toronto Audiofest. I almost decided that I didn’t have the time or money, but in the end, I went. And boy, am I glad I did!On my first visit to Toronto Audiofest in 2022, I was struck by how different an audio show can be in a location other than the good ole US of A. Maybe it’s simply the friendly, chill Candian vibes. Perhaps it’s the personal warmth and excellent organizational skill of the show organizers, Michel Plant and Sarah Tremblay. It’s both these things and more.

Blue Note Records has announced the 2024 line-up for the Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series. The acclaimed series is produced by the “Tone Poet” Joe Harley and features definitive all-analog, 180g audiophile vinyl reissues that are mastered from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray of Cohearent Audio. Tone Poet vinyl is manufactured at RTI and packaged in deluxe gatefold tip-on jackets. The titles were once again handpicked by Harley and include acknowledged... Read More

Rhino High Fidelity today announced the next two releases in its series of limited to 5000 copies, $39.98 reissues, again coupling one rock and one jazz title, this time with Herbie Hancock's Crossings (1972) and The Doobie Brothers' The Captain And Me (1973).Kevin Gray cut AAA lacquers directly from the original analog stereo master tapes. The 180g Optimal-pressed record are packaged in laminated Stoughton Press "Tip on" jackets and feature scans... Read More

Here's the first of at least two long form videos shot at last weekend's Capital Audio Festival. Large Friday and Saturday crowds plus strong industry participation and a large contingent of vinyl vendors made this a high energy exciting show. Rega's high-tech Naia made its American debut. The dealer took it apart for the camera. In a series of stills you'll see what makes it unique. You'll see and hear about an electronics line from Bosnia... Read More

It’s an interesting time in the classical recording industry, to say the least; some would say the industry is almost bipolar in its opposing tendencies.On the one hand you have the traditional major labels that I and many of you grew up with - like Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Philips (now all swallowed up by Universal Music Group), plus EMI (now part of the Warner Music empire), RCA and Sony (formerly Columbia/CBS) - putting out somewhat sporadic new releases that... Read More

At this year's Capital Audiofest, Infigo's CEO Hans Loomen walked me through the company's MM/MC phono section equipped Method 7 preamplifier. It's a thoroughly modern, beautifully made, infinitely configurable preamplifier. Cost is $20,000. Infigo always gets great show sound and this year was no exception. Read More

“Are you okay? Did something happen?” asked my audio pal, Colin.“I’m crestfallen. Life seems to have lost all meaning,” I reply. “I had to pack up and send back those Luminous power amps, and now I don’t feel like listening to music on my system.” But of course, one evening a few days later, I was spinning Mellow Waves by Cornelius using my Ampsandsound Zion Monos, and feeling it big time. The Zions, which had become chopped liver only a week prior, were back to... Read More

He'll sell his transmission line speaker to you as a $100 plan, and hopefully soon as a "flat pack' you self-assemble and then buy the crossover network and drivers from Madisound. Package cost is max $1000.00/pr. Blanchard showed off his creations in partnership with Geshelli Labs—the Florida-based family cooperative that builds DACs, and headphone amps. He's hoping to have all of this up and running very soon. transmission Line cutaway Read More

Spatial Audio was Clayton Shaw's previous open baffle based loudspeaker company. His new open baffle speaker debuted at Capital Audio Fest 2023. Here, Shaw describes the Caladan and his ideas behind it. There was a pretty intense buzz at the show about this speaker. I heard about it from more than a few friends and fans I spoke with before and during the show. This speaker was really fun to listen to—dynamic, vivid yet not over-saturated, and it seemed to go... Read More

Instead of the usual show walking tour, for Capitol Audio Festival I'm going to highlight interviews with new product manufacturers and their products. Regional shows like Capital Audio Fest attract new, small manufacturers debuting never before seen products, some of which will never be seen again. But some might make it to another level so all are of interest. Here I speak with Belleson's Brian Lowe. If you go to the Belleson.com website you'll find... Read More

Years ago, a lawyer friend said to me half seriously that the Federal Trade Commission should adopt a “Truth In Rock Band Labelling Act,” the main provision of which would be that a nationally touring “icon” band could not advertise themselves as “The XYZ Icon Band” unless more than half of the original members including the lead singer and primary songwriter(s) were still in the band. If such a regulation had been enacted, the Rolling Stones would now be the... Read More

Large crowds, robust manufacturer participation and many product debuts made Capital Audio Fest 2023 a roaring success. Day three awaits as i type this early Sunday morning. One of the show highlights was the large room in which was a system consisting of a full array of Audio Research electronics driving a pair of Acora Acoustics VRC Reference Loudspeakers. A new VPI Titan "double stack" Direct Drive turntable fitted with Audio Technica's now sold out... Read More

1977 was a turbulent year for Pink Floyd. With bassist/primary songwriter Roger Waters asserting more of a dictatorship role, the band slowly drifted from being a collaborative unit. The rise of punk rock made Pink Floyd and many of their progressive rock contemporaries to be considered “dinosaurs.” In turn, the murky production value and Orwellian political themes explored on their then-new album, Animals, was their response to the shifting musical climate. The connection between Pink Floyd and their audience was lost during their In The Flesh tour from the same year. Rather than enjoying the band’s spectacle of flying pigs and inflatables, the raucous audiences were more concerned with setting off fireworks and riding hallucinogenic highs. This tension culminated with the infamous final show of the tour at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, where Waters angrily spat at a member of the audience.