My Technics SL-B1 Turntable

While downloading albums through iTunes and streaming songs on Pandora or Spotify have become industry standards, I've also found myself drawn to the music-listening practices of yore. Over the past few years, as friends have unveiled vinyl collections in their apartments and stores like Urban Outfitters* began selling portable turntables, I realized I appreciate, and am intrigued by, the classic system. There is something about the active relationship between the art form and the listener - taking an LP out of its sleeve (after remarking on its creative artwork), placing it on a turntable, setting the needle to the appropriate groove and listening to the remarkably intense sound emitting from the speakers - that I like being a part of.

I vaguely remember my parents playing records every once and a while during my childhood, but with the advent of CDs, their turntables were casually sold at yard sales and their records were delegated to the basement with an unhopeful future. The years went by and the records sat, forgotten, in their subterranean home. Just over a year ago, while chatting on the phone with my musically-inclined Uncle Ed, who's lived in California for the past twenty-plus years, he told me I could adopt a turntable of his that was in my aunt's attic in Queens. I was thrilled (!), and on the next visit to my parent's house, I went down to the basement and began flipping through my mom's pretty stellar record collection. I thumbed through the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan, Sly and The Family Stone, CSNY, David Bowie and more, and happily took them over to my apartment. I was especially excited to listen to the classic bands whose music I didn't own myself. (I also took two Fisher speakers from my parent's house ... it's remarkable what you'll find in a basement!)

When I finally set my eyes on the Technics SL-B1 turntable (circa 1980) I discovered that the rubber belt had eroded over the years and was preventing the very necessary spinning action to take place. I did a little research, purchased a replacement belt online and was all set, except for one minor thing. I did not have a receiver. Due largely to my own procrastination, I waited an entire year before purchasing a receiver, but purchase one I did - through eBay - and after hooking up the speaker wires, I now have a fully functioning record player.

I guess I get a nostalgic kick out of experiencing music as it was experienced in a bygone era. However, it's also a great time to be a music fan today, as you can access music through so many platforms. More and more albums are available on vinyl (which, when purchased, usually come with a CD as well) and fans can easily download a plethora of music online. It's really neat to be able to purchase quality music from both the virtual iTunes store and the physical record store. Speaking of record stores, Record Store Day is also attributing to the current resurgence in vinyl's popularity.

So, I'm definitely still a newbie in this area, and learning as I go along, but I have a list of albums - new and old-school - that I can't wait to get my hands on. First up on my list is a band I've become acquainted with over this past year, the incredible Fleet Foxes. I've also been eyeing some great shelves from The Container Store, so my lovely little entertainment center won't have to sit sheepishly on the floor.

*I was in the Urban Outfitters on 14th Street last winter and purchased this Aaron Morris photograph of a record store. I think the angle of the photo is really interesting and it's been hanging above my living room couch ever since ;)

Ra-Ra for Ta-Tas!

This past Sunday, my family got together for an American Cancer Society breast cancer walk in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. My Aunt Karen was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and, thankfully, after catching it in a very early stage and undergoing the necessary treatment, she is now cancer free. We walked to support her and everyone who is affected by this awful disease.

I have to give exceptional props to my 83-year-old Grandma, who walked the entire 5K distance, only stopping a few times to rest. Ten years ago she was diagnosed with lymphoma, but remains unbelievably strong - not even the toughest chemo got in her way. I am proud to have such brave women in my family!

A few humorous catchphrases kept the mood of the walk light, here are some that I remember: 1) Ra-Ra for Ta-Tas 2) Save 'em all, big or small 3) T.I.T.S (Together In Tough Situations) 4) Keep 'em bouncin!

Let There Be Light

I've been thinking of ways to make my living room a little cozier lately, and have finally come up with a plan of action. A new lamp.

I absolutely love the store Anthropologie, but as most of its clothing is out of my price range, I am left to browsing most of the time. One particular browsing session lead me to the home department, which is exactly in line with my taste - and surprisingly offers a lot of affordable goodies.

These lampshades are eclectic and shabby-chic, and would pair splendidly with an antique brass base I already have. While they do carry a pretty hefty price tag - coming in around $100 a pop - I think I'll splurge and buy myself one.

http://www.anthropologie.com

PaperTrail

Hi Everyone,

Just a little update - my Will Knox post was featured on Paper Trail music blog, check it out here!

Will Knox; Recharging the Relationship Between Music and Art

I can’t think of a better place for a singer-songwriter to display his or her craft in its rawest form, than at the Lower East Side’s Rockwood Music Hall. The space that holds Stage 1 is roughly the size of a studio apartment, and the exposed brick walls and minuscule stage add to that bare-bones sentiment.

I hadn’t been to the venue in a few years, but after browsing a recent amNY article about an alternative/folk singer, my interest was piqued. Will Knox, a British transplant who now resides in Brooklyn, became disenchanted by the fact that physical art has lost its prominence in music. Since the advent of digital downloads, the need for album art is almost nonexistent. And while digital booklets available on iTunes offer fans a one-dimensional version of traditional liner notes, there is something to be said of holding a fantastic record sleeve or imaginative CD booklet in your hands.

With that in mind, Knox created a comic book to accompany his latest EP Lexicon. The book, illustrated by Robin Ha, details the tragic story of a man overcoming life’s hurdles. It is with this effort that Knox aims to reconnect the long-standing relationship between music and art.

Knox began his performance at Rockwood with the song “Belly of the Beast,” off The Matador & The Acrobat, which was inspired by living in New York. We were given a glimpse into his jovial manor throughout the hour-long set, when he cheerfully exclaimed, “I really like writing songs, which is very convenient when you’re a songwriter.”

He then transitioned into “Footprints on the Moon,” which exemplified the clear, velvety quality of Knox’s vocals. He proved the strength of his voice by, what I can only describe as, yodeling in a few songs, most notably in Lexicon’s brilliant “Ice Capades.”

His third selection off The Matador & The Acrobat was “Buckled Knees.” During the show, Knox declared his dissatisfaction with L.A., a feeling he partially attributed to the fact that he doesn’t know how to drive, and one he details in this tune. Due to the acoustic nature of the set, we couldn’t experience the fleshed out version of the song, which boasts a banjo and a fiddle. However, his tongue-in-cheek lyrics - “On my way to join the circus that they call Hell A … I’m as empty as the pockets of my skin-tight jeans” - filled that void.

Accompanying the set was drummer Timur Yussef, who sat unassumingly in a corner off the bite-size stage and carried each song with his skillful use of mallets and brushes.

Ari Herstand joined Knox and Yussef on stage for the beautiful love song “The Ship and the Storm,” playing trumpet, and “Cog in the Machine,” playing piano. Before performing “Cog in the Machine,” the singer let us in on a secret of his. “I miss having long hair,” he explained, “there’s so many things you can do with long hair, like ponytails … well, I guess that’s about it actually.” Corny as it sounds, it was a humorous intro to a song that resonated with almost everyone present - a song about being unhappy with your job. Unfortunate as it may be, many of us find ourselves as cogs in a machine. It is also worth noting that the song’s video deserves a look. While Knox sings, his now regretful haircut is documented in reverse.

To add to the comedic undertone present during the show, Alec Gross was welcomed to the stage for a rendition of the song he co-wrote with Knox, “The Ballad of Frankenstein.” The final selection off Lexicon was “Bullets.” This bluegrass-infused pop ballad was one of the nights more upbeat songs. To end the night, Knox spared no emotion while singing “Immigrant Hands.” As an immigrant himself, he told the crowd he was inspired to write this song after taking his mother to Ellis Island. Whether you or your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents are immigrants, the song was incredibly relatable. It spoke vividly to his experience in this country and his ability to create a vision through song.

Art and storytelling were central themes of Will Knox’s performance. And while he has come of age in the digital age, he still believes wholeheartedly in the relationship between traditional art forms and music. Through his songs and comic book, he is successfully perpetuating that concept.

A Family Affair

Last weekend I went upstate for the christening of my cousin Brant's two children, Sean and Katelyn. With the exception of my Aunt Rosie and Uncle Ed, it's not often that we get together with all of my dad's family, so I was really looking forward to it. For starters, Brant and his wife Tara live in this beautifully restored farmhouse in Putnam County, that dates back to 1820. Needless to say, my historical-house aficionado parents (and myself) were enraptured. Homes back then were built with such character, from the wide-plank wooden floors to the detailed molding on every door frame and fire place. Brant is an expert handyman and crafted this 190-year-old home into a modern day country-chic abode.

Lake Carmel, Putnam County, New York

As is common at christenings, there were little kids everywhere. One particularly curly haired little boy named Donavan, inspired me to tuck his name away in my back pocket, as a possible name for a little boy of my own one day. (In the far off future, I reassured my family.) What can I say, I have a thing for Irish boy names. The crème de la crème, however, were Brant and Tara's two ridiculously adorable kids.

My mom and Katelyn

Sean is almost two-and-a-half and Katelyn three months - you just want to eat them both up. Katelyn reminds me of my sister Kerry, who had enough rolls in her arms and legs as a baby to feed a small family. I don't know what it is about fat babies, but they melt my heart. While Sean was off playing with the other kids, humorously slipping down the Slip N' Slide, me and my mom couldn't get enough of Katelyn. Unfortunately, the poor thing has acid reflux (!) and has to take a special medicine after her bottle. My cousin Dan's girlfriend Yasmin learned this the hard way, after being the lucky recipient of a healthy dose of baby spit up. I was lucky enough to steal her away from my Uncle Jeff and hold her for an hour. And while her pudgy little feet popped open the buttons on my dress, giving everyone a very unintended view of my midrift, I loved every moment.

What a face!

After a wonderful day, I took Metro North back into the city with Dan and Yasmin. In fact, we almost missed the train because Dan was saddled with the important task of filling a cooler with beer for the trip. (Did I mention we were Irish?) Between the cold beers and entertaining stories, it was a perfect ending to the day.

I guess I just have a soft spot in my heart for family, and fat babies, because I got home feeling really happy. For me, no matter what else is going on in life, it's always comforting to recharge the ol' battery with family.

Sunday Stroll

Today, I embarked on a journey. A journey that took Lindsey, Roe and I three and a half hours; down 2nd Avenue, into the bowels of the Lower East Side, through Chinatown, over The Brooklyn Bridge and straight to Grimaldi's.

A leisurely stroll down 2nd Avenue, from 93rd Street to East Houston, and then through Chinatown, speaks volumes to the unique sights and sounds New York City offers its pedestrians. Our ultimate goal was to walk over The Brooklyn Bridge and treat ourselves to a well deserved pie at Grimaldi's. On a clear day like today, the views from the bridge are exceptional. Pier 17 in the South Street Seaport, the Financial District, Governors Island and the Statue of Liberty, Midtown glimmering off in the distance - it's beautiful.

As we walked through The East Side's varying neighborhoods we took in the surroundings. And while the questionable smells of raw seafood on Market Street didn't exactly wet our appetites, the aroma of freshly baked pizza in Brooklyn sure did.

I must be honest, after waiting in line for over an hour at Grimaldi's, the consensus was that this wasn't the BEST pizza we'd ever eaten, but it was damn good.

For our return trip, we walked over The Manhattan Bridge. The views don't match up to those offered by The Brooklyn Bridge and the rattle of the elevated N train isn't the greatest for conversation but it's still a pretty cool walk. (Try not to walk into the chain link fences like I did though, it really hurts :P)

Sundays are normally thought of as lazy days, and while mine usually are, it is nice to get out there and hit the pavement. Lace up those sneakers, slap on the sunblock and go forth!