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AAA VinylAlbum Reviews
The Doors’ L.A. Woman Puts You Right in the Band’s Rehearsal Room on Acoustic Sounds’ Stunning New 200g 1LP UHQR Edition
Mike Mettler  |  Oct 02, 2024  |  0 comments

In honor of Audiophile Day (October 2), I spent the balance of my afternoon and evening hours spinning some of my favorite LPs, both new and old alike. With that in mind, let me tell you a story about The Doors and the big beat of Analogue Productions’ new 200g 1LP UHQR edition of their April 1971 studio swan song with Jim Morrison behind the mike during his lifetime, L.A. Woman. Read on to see why this new Clarity Vinyl edition belongs on your turntable now. . .

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Analog Gear News
SME Model 15 MK2 Turntable
Mike Mettler  |  Oct 01, 2024  |  0 comments

If anybody knows how to make turntables and tonearms right, it’s SME, the stalwart British company who’ve been manufacturing high-quality high-end gear since 1959. Recently, SME updated their vaunted Model 15 turntable to MK2 status, and that’s the version we’re looking further into today. Read on to see all the features and specs for the Model 15 MK2 table. . .

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FeaturesTurntable Reviews
Turntable Buyer’s Guide: Five (or Six, or Seven) Things to Look for When You’re in the Market for a New Turntable, Regardless of Price
Ken Micallef  |  Sep 30, 2024  |  4 comments

With the vinyl resurgence, we live in a golden age of well-made turntables, many of them at prices affordable to one and all. With that in mind, we wanted to present you with a buying guide of sorts that takes into account all types, interests, and wallets, covering a wide-swath price range starting around a baseline of $650 on up to a champagne level of around $30,000. Read Ken Micallef’s in-depth turntable primer, which should be able to help you find a truly great table that fits your current needs, handles your upgrade aspirations, and/or addresses all the essential parameters of solid design and performance for practically any price. . .

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Album ReviewsShort Cuts
Short Cuts, Vol. 17: A Fine Mixture of Gospel, Jazz, Funk, Soul, Dance, Pop, and Disco Can Be Found on a Trio of Exciting Current LPs From Lady Blackbird, Chappell Roan, and Sylvester
Mark Smotroff  |  Sep 27, 2024  |  1 comments

A trio of new releases share some wonderful and often heartfelt aesthetics across a variety of genres, dance music-infused sounds, personal identity, and artistic freedom, and we’re covering all three of them today together under our Short Cuts album review banner. Read Mark Smotroff’s roundup review of three wonderful LPs from the always adventurous female singer Lady Blackbird, chart sensation and vocal marvel Chappell Roan, and a full live concert reissue from the vaults of the late, legendary dance music pioneer Sylvester. . .

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ALBUM RELEASE NEWSAlbum Reviews
Bob Neuwirth’s Acclaimed Self-Titled Folk-Rock Debut Set for 50th Anniversary LP Reissue Via Sunset Blvd. Records on September 27
Mike Mettler  |  Sep 26, 2024  |  2 comments

What becomes a cult-favorite legend most? When it comes to onetime Bob Dylan tour manager, noted folk artist, songwriter, painter, and producer Bob Neuwirth, it seems quite befitting that a long-awaited reissue of the artist’s self-titled 1974 debut album is set to receive new life on vinyl with a 50th anniversary 1LP reissue on Sunset Blvd. Records on September 27, 2024. Read on to see why you might want to get your hands on Bob Neuwirth sooner than later. . .

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Album Reviews
Inner Groove Records Graces Us With Another Lost Gem: This Time, It’s a Smooth and Cool Reissue of Today’s Youth – Tomorrow the World, the 1969 Debut LP From Little-Known Texas-Bred Soul Vocalist and Guitarist, Little Janice
Shanon McKellar  |  Sep 25, 2024  |  1 comments

What does it mean when a little-known album that hasn’t been reissued in 55 years becomes available again? In the case of Today’s Youth – Tomorrow the World — the 1969 debut from Texas-bred vocalist/guitarist Little Janice that was recently reissued as a 180g 1LP by Inner Groove Records — it means discovering some absolutely fantastic of-era soul, blues, and R&B music that’s been lost in the mists of time. Read Shanon McKellar’s review to see why Little Janice’s one-and-only LP deserves many a spin on your turntable. . .

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Analog Gear News
Le Son SL1 MKII MC Phono Cartridge
Mike Mettler  |  Sep 23, 2024  |  5 comments

We’re all about seeking out affordable cartridges, which is but one reason why coming across Le Son’s SL1 MKII MC phono cartridge is such a fine sight to see. Read on to see all the features and specs of the Shanghai-based company’s new SL1 MKII MC cart. . .

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Album Reviews
Nick Lowe’s Storied Legacy Remains Very Much Intact With the Cool Music Found on His Fine New Yep Roc LP, Indoor Safari
Mark Smotroff  |  Sep 20, 2024  |  4 comments

The prospect of reviewing a new album by Nick Lowe is both exciting and daunting. How do you fairly encapsulate a new release from a man whose reputation is etched into the music history books via his many classic LPs and production work that arguably helped shape the sound of the late-’70s and early ’80s new-wave movement? Well, when you produce an album that sounds as good as Lowe’s new Indoor Safari LP does, it’s less daunting to review a record that can stand proudly alongside his legacy creations. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why Indoor Safari — which also happens to be “powered by” Lowe’s current tourmates, Los Straitjackets — belongs on your turntable today. . .

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Analog Gear News
AVID Acutus Dark Iron Turntable
Mike Mettler  |  Sep 19, 2024  |  1 comments

It’s been a minute, but AVID have announced their first new turntable since 2018 — and it’s a beauty dubbed the Acutus Dark Iron, which takes the place of the prior Acutus Dark Limited Edition model to now serve as the new entry point in their top-line Acutus series. Read on to see all the features and specs for the Acutus Dark Iron table. . .

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Interviews
RIP JD Souther: A Consummate Songwriter Talks About Buying Turntables, Mastering for Vinyl, and His Indelible Collaborations with Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, and Roy Orbison
Mike Mettler  |  Sep 18, 2024  |  6 comments

JD Souther, a consummate American songwriter known for co-writing hits and choice deep cuts for (and with) the Eagles as well as for his poignant collaborations with James Taylor, Roy Orbison, and onetime life partner Linda Ronstadt, passed away at age 78 at his home in New Mexico on September 17, 2024. In an updated and expanded interview with AP editor Mike Mettler, Souther discussed his appreciation for good turntables and mastering for vinyl, how long it took “New Kid in Town” (one of the many hit Eagles songs he co-wrote) to finally come to full fruition, and what artists/producers must do to make “great” vinyl masters. . .

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