I Think Heaven Just Exploded

WOW.

Terrible Blueberry

First of all, never get the blueberry pancakes at the Herndon Amphora. They make it with blueberry batter and it tastes like a freakin' doughnut. It's terrible. Second, I bought a ton of records in Alabama and North Carolina:

PEGASUS RECORDS (Florence, AL)

Metallica - ...And Justice For All (Half Speed Remaster)
A-ha - Scoundrel Days
Todd Rundgren - A Wizard / A True Star
Candlebox - Candlebox/Lucy (both albums in a double LP)
Rush - Permanent Waves
Bulletboys - Bulletboys (Sealed)
Bob Dylan - Infidels
Bob Dylan - Empire Burlesque
Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key Of Life (w/ Booklet & 45)
Electric Light Orchestra - Eldorado
R.E.M. - Green
Loverboy - Live from Dayton, OH (w/ Autographs Etched Into Vinyl... wow)
The Plimsouls - Everywhere At Once
Simple Minds - Sparkle In The Rain
Boy Meets Girl - Reel Life
Al B. Sure - Missunderstanding 12"
Father MC - Lisa Baby 12"
The Jets - Make It Real 12"
The Jets - Rocket 2 U 12"
Trixxx - Remember 12" (amazing cover on this one)
Then Jerico - Fault 12"
Cathy Dennis - Just Another Dream 12"
J.A.M. '86 (Jersey Artists For Mankind) - We've Got the Love 12"
Chico DeBarge - Talk To Me 12"
Stacey Q - I Love You 12"
Pet Shop Boys - Domino Dancing 12"
Pet Shop Boys - It's A Sin 12"

I am in love with Pegasus. There are so many incredible 12" finds there for next to nothing. I mean, two Pet Shop Boys singles for a buck each?? Then Jerico, The Jets, Chico DeBarge, Boy Meets Girl (album), all in great condition for a buck??? It's a pop lover/crate searcher's dream. And there is plenty more to grab for the next time and the next time and the... I'd say the best find though was the J.A.M. '86 Jersey Artists For Mankind single. It's all E Street band/Stone Pony musicians doing a We Are The World knockoff. And they are all on the cover in a group photo, everyone except Springsteen who is listed in the credits with a guitar solo, but I guess was too busy touring the globe as a walking american flag to stop by a truck yard under a bridge in Jersey to take a picture w/ Clarence, Max, and Nils. HILARIOUS. The Candlebox literal double album and Songs In The Key of Life w/ 45 are pretty cool too. Actually, I'm super psyched to put each and every one of those records on my turntable for one reason or another. Especially that half speed remaster of Justice... whoooo boy is that gonna RIP.

After Alabama, it was on to Wilmington and CD Alley. Unfortunately, I didn't get to make it over to Gravity Records because I was w/ my Parents and I'm pretty sure they only wanted to wait for me to shop for records once. It was probably a good thing though, because I didn't need to spend any more money than I did. This time I picked up three newer ones that I've been meaning to get, a Fastbreak LP that I have put back the last three times I've been there, two older Michael Bolton LPs (someday, I WILL have them all), and a couple others... good stuff. It was also the beginning of getting all of the Nada Surf records, in reverse. The List:

CD ALLEY (Wilmington, NC)

Obits - I Blame You
Nada Surf - Lucky
Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
Michael Bolton - Everybody's Crazy
Michael Bolton - Michael Bolton
Desmond Dekker - Compass Point
Fastbreak - Whenever You're Ready
Electrelane - This Deed 7"

And finally, the stuff I've been getting at shows. Nothing more satisfying than coming home with an LP or 7", except for both.

SHOWS

Engineer - The Dregs
A Cosmonauts Ruin - The Inverse of Man 7"
Talbot Tagora - Lessons In the Woods or a City
Japandroids - Post-Nothing
Abe Vigoda - Skeleton
Jay Reatard - See/Saw 7"
Middle Distance Runner - The Unbeliever 7"

Good times... Can you believe I didn't eat ANY pancakes on my trip though??? I'm kind of ashamed of myself. As you can see on my personal blog, it seems like I ate everything else, but for some reason, I was craving more Spanish type breakfast materials (or waffles) in the AM. If I could do it all over again, I think I'd get the pancakes every time. But that's just another reason to go back.

Updates

So quick updates w/ pancake review... first the review:

The Gazebo in Williamsburg, VA

Very satisfying. This was my second time there, the first being the morning I got married, July 29, 2006. This time, I was down there for my annual running of sound for local graduations so I can make money to buy camera gear extravaganza. It went well and so did this celebratory breakfast at noon the day I left to come back.

Blueberry Buckwheat Cakes: Large Stack
Coffee: Short Stack
Home Fries: Medium Stack
Service: Medium Stack

Also chowed on a good veggie omelet and biscuit. Sounds pretty good right now actually.

As for records, I have been doing a lot of purchasing at shows since I've been trying to photograph much more live music. Mostly 7 inches cause they be the cheapest. The only actual record store I've been in the last couple of months has been Plan 9 in Williamsburg, which afforded me a sawheet deal. Thank you Scott. ;) Here's the rundown of what I have acquired since California.

7"

Rogue Wave: Lake Michigan (import)
Fleet Foxes: Mykonos
Real Estate: Fake Blues
Love Is All: Wishing Well (with a sweet FNM Epic cover as the B-side)
Title Tracks: Every Little Bit Hurts
Joey Cape & Jon Snodgrass: Who Wants To Get Down?

LPs

Cut Off Your Hands: You and I
Blue Giant: Target Heart
Jon Snodgrass: Visitor's Band
Husker Du: Warehouse: Songs and Stories
Phil Collins: Hello, I Must Be Going!
The Waterboys: S/T (my second copy)
Queen: News of the World
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Pack Up The Plantation LIVE!
Queen: Live Killers
The Who: Tommy (took me long enough)
The Church: S/T
Modern English: After the Snow
Men Without Hats: Rhythm of Youth
Talking Heads: Little Creatures
Lindsey Buckingham: Law and Order
Simon and Garfunkel: Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon and Garfunkel: Bookends

Yep, pretty happy with all of those. Next update should hopefully be after I get a shipment in from Vinyl Collective of some sweet hardcore. Until the next time, go eat some pancakes.

The California Pancake Adventure

I literally ate pancakes every day in California.

IHOP (1)
Sheraton (3)
Jerry's (1)

I have to say that the cakes at the Sheraton were pretty kickin'. Not as good as the french toast, but they most certainly held their own. Coffee was whatever, browns were whatever and the sevice was decent. But it was a buffet, soooo whatever.

Sheraton @ Disney

Cakes: Large Stack
Coffee: Short Stack
Home Fries: Short Stack
Service: NA

Now for Jerry's on Ventura in Studio City. I was expecting more from the diner vibe. Cakes were pretty sog, lacking the necessary crisp. Home Fries were on level w/ The Sheraton, grilled potato cubes. Eggs were good. Coffee was enjoyable and the refills were perfect. Oh and the OJ was fresh squeezed goodness. Paid out the waz for it, but it was HQ. But having an extended breakfast with friends I rarely see made up for any portion of the meal that was lacking. Can't wait to go back and try the rest of their extensive menu. And I will absolutely get the onion rings. Shared some and woah were they good.

Now for Amoeba. Holy cow. I was in there for about two hours and I think I covered maybe 1-2% of it. EXTENSIVE. I'm talking black metal vinyl section. I'm talking dubstep vinyl section. I'm talking entire rows of selections from an artist instead of just a few choices. If I lived near there, I would need no other record store. But I would need a second job. Cause I might as well star in The Money Pit, Part 2. Hopefully I'll get to visit their San Fran location sometime in the near future.

Purchases:

Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion
Madhouse: 8
Down Foundation/Dead Thirteen 7"
Disfear/Doomriders 7"
The Kind That Kills/Anchor 7"

If I had more money I would have picked up Meshuggah's Obzen as well as Royksopp's new one Junior, which is total stellar all the way through. Next time...

Out of State Cakes

I have to say, it's pretty exciting to have your first meal in a state you've never spent any time in be pancakes. That state this time was California. Now, it was nothing too original, Harvest Grain 'N Nut cakes at an IHOP in Anaheim, but whatever - those were some fine 'n tasty cakes when you factor in the 3-hour time delay. Coffee was horrendous.

IHOP #2 in Anaheim:

Pancakes - Large Stack
Home Fries - Short Stack
Coffee - Extra Short Stack
Service - Large Stack

It has been quite a while since I've talked about records. Shame... Picked up a few here and there - Killers Spaceman Picture 12", M83 Before the Dawn Heals Us, Bell Magic Tape 7"... Other than that, not too much to report. I am hoping to hit up some Mega stores tomorrow, specifically Ameoba Music. I'm almost guaranteed to find some awesome stuff there, but at what cost, we shall see... It has been faaaar too long since I've searched some bins. Definitely looking forward to it.

Quick Note About Online Purchases

Got the reissue of Screeching Weasel's My Brain Hurts a few weeks ago from Vinyl Collective. I preordered that thing months ago. Either way, it's genius. And about a week and a half ago I got an order in from Equal Vision Records - Modern Life Is War: Midnight In America and One King Down: God Loves, Man Kills 7". Lovely hardcore sounds. I can't see myself ordering anything from their new bands cause they are mostly neon screamo comedy shows, but the older portion of their catalog is killer.

I've got a Best Buy gift card burning a hole in my wallet right now, but I think I will save it for the vinyl release of U2's No Line On The Horizon, which is quite fantastic (but you didn't hear that from me).

P & R In Wilmington

Went to Wilmington last weekend, which was great because I ate pancakes and bought records.

First off, the purchases at CD Alley...

James Brown: Live at the Apollo (180 Gram Reissue)
Tones On Tail: Lions/Go! 12"
Billy Ocean: Tear Down These Walls
Naked Eyes: Fuel For The Fire
Heavy D & The Boyz: Nuttin' But Love 12"
The Family Stand: Ghetto Heaven 12"

I am not all that familiar with the "Back To Black" vinyl reissue series, but I love the Apollo record, so I'd rather have a reissue now to listen to until I can find an original pressing. Although, according to the 33 1/3 book on it, there were a ton of different pressings including different running orders and track cuts. So I guess it's time to get collecting to figure out which original is the best. Worth it though, as is the 33 1/3 read.

All the Tones On Tail stuff is great, but I have only heard it digitally. I need to pick up Pop and any other singles I can find. And I also need to listen to some serious Bauhaus and check out the rest of Love and Rockets. So far I only have the S/T.

Totally psyched about the Billy Ocean. His singles blaze my pop soul. Tear Down These Walls was produced by Mutt Lange and Arranged by Teddy Riley, so you know there's some golden musical veins ripe for the listening. And speaking of Riley, can I just take some time to bow before his greatness? Kool Moe Dee, Heavy D, Keith Sweat, Johnny Kemp, Bobby Brown, Al B. Sure, Big Daddy Kane, Wrecks-N-Effect, Funkin' Michael Jackson's DANGEROUS... and that's all before he was 25. Ridiculous.

Now, on to the pancakes.

The Dixie Grill on Market Street - RATINGS:

Pancakes - Extra Large Stack
Home Fries - Large Stack
Coffee - Short Stack
Service - Extra Large Stack

Pancakes were perfect. Nice and crispy on the outside and supremely cakey on the inside. The home fries were tasty, but left a bit to be desired, mainly with the spices. One of the flavors was off, but I couldn't put my finger on it. But the onion to potato ratio was great, so that saved it. Coffee was so-so. SO, I drank a lot of it to make up for it. That is truly the only solution. Lots of refills on the drinks = good tips. And they were playing a some really fantastic 80s-ish Dylan over their stereo, but I can't figure out what it was. One of the tracks was super Joshua Tree. Maybe that's why I liked it so much.

I feel like the most difficult part of the Perfect Pancake Place is going to be a good cup of coffee. The focus is on the grill and not the percolator. As long as they keep it flowing, you get so high off the caffeine and the rocking cakes that you forget about the quality of the brew you are guzzling. I would like a place that combines the quality of a local coffee shop with the perfection of diner cakes. If I could get a large stack of supreme blueberry goodness and a solid cappuccino then they would have my business every weekend. Throw in a variety of fresh juices and some vegetarian bacon/sausages and I will flat out double my tip. I have a feeling I am not going to find that anywhere around here.

Consolation? Billy Ocean rules.