Check out our tumblr for our year-end top 10 albums lists. We’ll also be adding lists from some of our friends, so stay tuned.
Swap Bin
Staff Lists: Top 10 Albums of 2011
Wednesday, December 21st, 2011Howard Jones – Action Replay EP #recordswap
Tuesday, October 18th, 2011If people remember Howard Jones at all, it’s likely for his ‘fork in the light socket’ mane and circus clown suits. He epitomizes the style-over-substance 80′s, 
undermining his dramatic appearance with really square songs. The Action Replay EP was essentially a profitable way to sell Jones’ hit single “No One Is To Blame.” The rest of the EP is made up of remixes and a couple of B-Sides.
No one is clamoring for Howard Jones’ deep cuts. That said, “No One is to Blame” is a killer tune. Gayngs have covered it. Phil Collins played drums and produced it (this should have exceptional appeal to my father). And hey, it’s the first song on side one. You don’t have to place the needle in any difficult places to make the pretty noises happen.
The rest of the EP is for Jones’ fanatics only (Howard raps on “Bounce Right Back”). I’m sure there are some out there. I remember this girl named Sue who was a few years older than me and got me into an R-Rated movie by saying she was my sister. She definitely loved Howard. I like to imagine she still does. So Sue, if you’re reading this, come to our Record Swap!
George Baker Selection – Paloma Blanca #recordswap
Friday, October 14th, 2011People are always saying you can’t judge a book by it’s cover. What about an album? This record features images on BOTH the front and back of the sleeve of
George showing lots of chest hair and with a white dove perched on his finger. How could I not judge at least a little?
Rock snobbery aside, I had no idea what to expect. I gleaned from the liner notes that George is from Holland. That didn’t really help, so I actually put the record on. My partner’s wife witnessed our inaugural listen and commented that it, “Sounds like music you’d hear in a Puerto Rican bar.”
So what the hell does it sound like? Parts of it are nearly klezmer. There are bits of Carribean music. A lot of it reminds me of the Latin ballads of Julio Iglesias. Most of the songs incorporate an “oom-pah” beat, strings, horns, and the cheesiest lyrics ever committed to vinyl. I’m guessing that English is not George’s first language.
Hold the presses! Pan flute solo. Wow, that totally makes it for me. This is the greatest album ever recorded. Someone please come to the swap and take it. Otherwise I’ll spend my work days dancing around the office to the dulcet tones of Mr. Baker and not getting anything productive done.
Brian Auger – Search Party #recordswap
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011
Anyone know that brain-scrambling synth-strumental on the first side of Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life, “Contusion?“
Brian Auger’s 1981 record Search Party is basically six “Contusions” in a row. Imagine a small army of synthesizers and a Hammond playing completely different songs at the same time. If you like the sound of that, you’ll love Search Party.
Is his name pronounced “Aw-ger” or “Oh-jay”?
Is this guy getting paid by the key change?
Was the abrupt end partway through the last song intentional, or just a flaw in the pressing? Either way, was it a giant relief?
Come take Search Party off our hands and you can decide.
Eddy Grant – Killer On The Rampage #recordswap
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011
The first thing you learn about Eddy Grant comes from the sleeve of Killer on the Rampage. The dude likes short shorts. He’s wearing them on both the front (red) and back (baby blue) cover. That short shorts mentality – kind of square, a bit off-kilter – permeates the album.
Everybody knows “Electric Avenue.” It is one of the greatest party jams of the 80′s and, with the right speakers, the bass line will rattle your teeth. I was really hoping there would be a few hidden gems on the album. Unfortunately, that’s not really the case. This is a collection of bland reggae and Latin-infused pop tunes with lots of prominent, but uninteresting synth lines. Aside from the aforementioned classic, the only tune I dug was “Too Young to Fall,” which was very catchy, though it was nearly ruined by a synth fill that sounded alarmingly like someone passing gas.
Friedman Iverson Inaugural Record Swap October 20th, 4-6 p.m.
Tuesday, October 11th, 2011
If there is anything we like more than practicing law, it’s listening to records. With the aim of maximizing the fun we have in the office, we’ve decided to launch a monthly record swap. The concept is simple: We’ll provide beer and snacks and a box full of records. You bring a record or two you’re willing to part with and swap it for something in the bin (or trade with one of the other attendees). All we ask is that the records you bring in don’t skip. We want everyone to walk away happy.
We’ve been crate digging and we’ll be posting brief reviews of some of our finds on this blog. So come down to our office on Thursday, October 20th, from 4-6 p.m. Our address is 2609 Aldrich Avenue South, Suite 102, Minneapolis, MN 55408. Need directions? Got questions? Hit us up at info@friedmaniverson.com or 612.396.5477. Hope to see you!