'She plays her vinyl records/ Singing songs on the eve of destruction'

I just want to take the time to say this: (and I couldn't resist the title)
I HAVE THE "1,000 HOURS" E.P. !!!!
Yes, that's right. I totally forgot that Reprise Records re-issued all of Green Day's albums on vinyl- every single one! So in addition to the fabled '1,000 Hours' E.P. I also have "Slappy" and the original '39/Smooth' L.P. It's really amazing to say that I now own these things...they're such 'fabled' items to obtain. And at this point, I just really like like looking at them. Everything is completely the way it's supposed to be...replicated to a tee! Anyway, it's so amazing to have these vinyl copies. I love having those records, because everything seems so much large than life, y'know? Like it's been completely blown up so you can see every possible detail and you just kind of lose yourself in it. I love listening to them and re-hear all those songs as if for the first time! I love the artwork, and the goofy pictures of the band inside, and the cramped, hand-written lyrics inside.
But '1,000 Hours' is still my favorite.
I'm not really sure why, though...Maybe it's because on the back it says, 'Billy: guitar, hat, Mike: bass, hair, John: drums, bus." Or maybe it's because every time I pull out the teeny vinyl .45 and it says copyright 1991 on it. OR maybe I absolutely love the whole damn thing because it has handwritten lyrics and doodles and blurry pictures and hastily scribbled thank-yous.
And the only thing that proves it's a reissue would be the fact it says 'greenday.com' in the lower left hand corner. ;)
So, I encourage those of you who haven't ever heard a record before to go out and find one of them! It certainly opens up a whole new perspective on your favorite band.
And yes, the Green Day-ness won't stop. ;)

For the Love of Vinyl

Once again, I'm going to talk about music. I've always loved the experience that comes from listening to music and how it can become a personal thing for some people. I can connect to a band and a song in depth, and somehow I begin to call it, 'mine.' If I like a band, and then someone else likes it, I end up thinking they aren't true fans. Plus, they're taking 'my' band and now I have to share....
Anyway, growing up in a digital age eventually saw the 'extinction' of cassette tapes and now CDs are on their way to being obsolete. I hope that this doesn't happen however. In my opinion, downloading can be easy and helpful, but it's also very impersonal. When you get an album, you can actually hold it in your hands, and flip through the lyrics booklet to read what the artist has written to you. The best parts are when you find little messages or a strange sentence that makes you smile. It's the fact that the bands are putting together this album and all that hard work went into it, and people are basically ignoring that to download one song. So frustrating! I mean, I understand if you only like one song, or if it's the most popular one, but at least listen to some of the other songs!
With that said, I love the hands-on approach that owning a CD can give you. If you download, you miss all the lyrics and the colors and the images. Where's the fun in that?! I absolutely love vinyl albums. When you get them, they come in a big cardboard sleeve and they can come in different colors depending on how many are pressed. I'm starting my own collection now and I have vinyl copies of "Highway to Hell," the Clash's self-titled debut- the US Version, "Rock and Roll High School" soundtrack, and "Ramonesmania," and my favorite Ramones album- "Rocket to Russia"- with pink vinyl! Those are all regular vinyls, though. I also am the proud owner of three .45s, "Mother Mary" by the Foxboro Hot Tubs, Dee Dee Ramone's last songs, and the Pinhead Gunpowder 7" EP. Both that one and the Foxboro Hot Tubs have come out this year, which just goes to show you how some bands can understand the importance of intimacy with the fans. (I get a kick out of explaining the difference between an EP and an LP, too). Not only is there fun in explaining everything, I find it amusing to look at all the record labels, from Lookout to Jingletown to Adeline. Looking up those record labels exposes me to new bands and other stuff you just can't get with downloading something. It's also the fact that I love these records; when you play them the sound is different and it you can hear the crackling of the needle in the grooves. That sound always makes me smile, and to me, having a band give me that emotion through their album is more important to me than downloading a single song to play on an Ipod, where it eventually loses it's relevance. That is something I just couldn't stand.

Shoes

I haven't really been writing much, and I apologize. This week has been busy for me. It seems like we're being called upon to do a lot more homework this week... must be the Thanksgiving break coming up.

Anyway, I feel the need to write about shoes. I'm not really sure why, either...I'm just going through a 'shoe' phase right now. That in itself is strange for me. I'm not really a freak about shoes, but I certainly don't mind trying them on and looking for new ones. I always feel stupid about it, too.... It's like, 'what are you thinking about shoes for?' It's not really like me to want something so material (unless it be music-related). But I really think shoes are pretty cool. There's just something about wearing the perfect pair of shoes.... I think they're kind of empowering. If I'm wearing the right shoes, my attitude changes. I get this feeling, almost like 'I can take on anything' vibe - if I'm wearing the right shoes. The uncomfortable ones bring about feelings of frustration and being disgruntled. I'll stare at my feet and will a better pair of shoes to suddenly appear on them. Sometimes shoes can ruin a day or make it.

I've also developed a liking for certain shoes. It's so weird that something so simple can make me all confident and stuff! I love, love, love Converse All-stars. I finally managed to get my hands on a pair of real ones and I love them. I can't wait to break 'em in and wear them until holes appear on the sides.... I don't have high-tops, though! I've ALWAYS wanted a pair of those. I can thank the Ramones for that....

I'm also partial to shoes called 'brothel creepers.' People call them 'creepers' now, but I'll always know them by their original name. I might be one of few who really like these stupid shoes. They're kind of like, 'short punk dude' shoes. They make you taller, which is exactly what I need!! Yay! My fave is black right now, although I like the white ones with the little black squares on the top. The brand is Tuks or something, but who cares. They'll always be brothel creepers. I guess I just have a thing for retro stuff....Where the heck do you find a pair....?

My favorite shoes I own now, though, have to be my beaten-to-crap pair of Converse look-alikes. (Yes, I know it's cheating). They take the fave position because I've had them since the 8th grade and I love them. They're so comfortable and worn; I'll be needing glue for them soon. They've been with me for concerts, school, my senior pics, just about anywhere I go. Not to mention, my 'lucky' safety pin is stuck in the laces on the right shoe. Nobody has my shoes like I do, and I love the individuality of that... So... I just seriously wrote an entry on shoes. Go me.

But I'm sure there are people out there who know exactly what I'm talking about.... :)