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ANDY PEKOLL:

When I moved to Madison, the search for new and innovative music continued, though a venue for this eluded me. That is, until a friend told me about Strictly Discs about 4 years ago.

I can honestly say that my appreciation has been honed throughout these years of attending musical interventions at Strictly Discs. Some of the best that I have found throughout my time frequenting the store are included in my Playlist, though my favorites are continually being refined.

For more about Andy, check out his blog below.
Sebastian
Sebastian

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2008

  

ANDY PEKOLL

ARCHIVES



1. How long & why have you been shopping at Strictly Discs?

about 5years, ever since I got fed up with the only other record store I knew about in Madison (which unfortunately was the Exclusive Company). Luckily, a friend was able to introduce me the store and the rest is history

2. Favorite release of 2007:

I have wavered on this for awhile. I really enjoyed Fionn Regan’s The End of History, though I think I have to agree with other’s that I have talked to, that after seeing him perform only a couple weeks ago, that Jens Lekman’s Night Falls Over Kortadala is definitely the best album I heard last year.

3. First piece of recorded music you purchased and in what format:

Not sure which was first, but I know the first cassettes I ever bought were Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill and U2 The Joshua Tree. The first cd I ever bought from Strictly Discs was Luomo’s The Present Lover.

4. Music guilty pleasure:

I personally don’t feel guilty about this, though I have been ridiculed for it, but I love Huey Lewis & The News. I grew up listening to them and have loved them ever since.



5. Favorite all-time concert/show:

I have to say the Andrew Bird @ Café Montemartre was by far my favorite show.

6. Favorite all-time album cover:

Leftfield’s Rhythm and Stealth. One of those covers that sticks in your head and reminds you of when you first saw it. Most covers fade away in your mind, but this one stuck. The contrast between the completely black background and the very colorful and sadistic looking Japanese Samurai outfit is very fitting for the album.

Leftfield
Rhythm & Stealth


7. If I'm tippin' one back, I'm probably at ________ having a ___________

If I'm tippin' one back, I'm probably at home having a Ale Asylum Hopaliscious.

8. Consumer item I cannot live without:

iPod, which leads to……..

9. Percentage of time listening to music via the following medium:

CD player: 25%
iPod: 75%
Turntable: 0%

10. Favorite music website:

Both Pitchfork and Muzzle of Bees. Pitchfork is great for finding anything that might be coming out, already out, etc… Muzzle of Bees is great for everything local.

11. Song you never need to hear again:

In addition to all Scream-o Hardcore that is played on the radio (you know who you are!), anything by Shakira. That deep vibrato that she does should never come out of a female singer. Without seeing her, I would have guessed that she was juicing!





Having grown up in Sheboygan, I had limited access to music outside of mainstream culture. I recently cleaned out my collection, and am amazed at some of the music that I previously listened to, now being just a memory dashed away not so gracefully. I occasionally got lucky finding something new, having befriended the manager of a small, local CD store in Sheboygan. He turned me onto a few things here and there, but mainly helped develop my appreciation for music. When I moved to Madison, the search for new and innovative music continued, though a venue for this eluded me. That is, until a friend told me about Strictly Discs about 4 years ago.

Since living in Madison, I have found many things that would have been met with a confused look of disdain from any CD store within a 50 mile radius back home, which tells you how horrible the music scene is there, hence the nickname, Sheer-Boredom. I can honestly say that my appreciation has been honed throughout these years of attending musical interventions at Strictly Discs. Some of the best that I have found throughout my time frequenting the store are included in my Playlist, though my favorites are continually being refined.

For a good portion of the time spent going to Strictly Discs, I have often wished that I was an employee there. I thought of the benefits of being able to hear new music all of the time, having great conversations about the next great artist, suggesting new music to the average music listener and seeing them listen with awe and shock to an artist they would have never listened to before. But I realized that it wasn’t necessary to have a job there to be able to do all of those things, I just needed to spend most of my free time hanging out at the store and spending a lot of what little money I had on buying new music. Oh well, at least I can take comfort knowing that there are more people out there as particular about what they listen as myself.



ANDY'S JUKEBOX RATIONALE

1) Afterclap – 13 & God
-This is by far one of the coolest collaborations I have ever heard. The pure zaniness of Themselves gets a dose of composure from the Notwist, as the Notwist get to play around a little more. I love the contrast between the two completely different singers, attempting to sing in harmony but yet get a cool natural reverb effect going on in this track. By far the best song on the album.
2) Tori Oshi – Nobody
-Not the strongest DJ album I have ever heard, but one of the best individual tracks I have heard. The dynamics involved really play to the other-worldly, while grounding it with creative usage of physical instruments.

3) Did Me Good – The Elected
-I have been a fan of the Elected since the first review I read of them in the Onion’s AV club. I can honestly say I had never heard anything by Rilo Kiley before listening to the Elected. Sun, Sun, Sun is a much more accessible album than Me First, though it may not be as creative. There are many good songs on Sun, Sun, Sun, but this is the one that speaks to me the most.

4) Southtown Girls – The Hold Steady
-This is another band that I speak honestly of. I hated them the first time I heard anything by them. It took until I heard Boys and Girls in America to really understand how good they were. After seeing them perform on my birthday this past year, I really took a liking to this song mainly because it speaks to my whole mentality of life. As much as I want to be the adventurous type, I tend to stick to the reliable.

5) Jumpers – Sleater-Kinney
-After hearing so many songs about angst and the like from the grunge era, I would tend to relate to this more recent song the most when it comes to personal frustrations. We have all had those days where everything just goes wrong and all we want is a way to release it. Not only does this song put those thoughts into words, I think listening to it is also a great way to release those stresses.

6) Lull – Andrew Bird
-My favorite song by the Bird-man, and out of 4 times, he has never performed it live when I have been in the audience. Best song writing, catchiest tune, and one of the coolest harmonies I have ever heard. Weather Systems is a must for anyone who likes Andrew Bird’s music.

7) Rollercoaster – M. Ward
-Part sweet love song, part condemnation of an up and down relationship, and all old time sound makes this one of the highlights of M. Ward’s Post-War. I love all of the little things he adds to this song, like the creaking in the background and his echo-laden vocals. Definitely a song I think of when I think of all of my past relationships.

8) Hussy – Crystal Skulls -Speaking of thoughts of past relationships….just kidding. This classic rock with an indie twist band has not made it on many radars, but is one of my favorites of the past couple of years. One of the best groups to listen to when just sitting back and relaxing, they have such an appeal to many generations that I am still surprised they have not been picked up by many people.

9) Maple Leaves – Jens Lekman
-Jens always speaks from the heart, and this is no exception. He has learned how to convey all of his pain and heartache into beautifully constructed melodies. Jens is a star in his prime and, we can all hope, that he never finds the one, cause then it will be all hearts and daisies. I just can’t see that being as beautiful has heartache and pain 

10) Sunday – Bloc Party
-Bloc Party is one of those bands that broke onto the scene with great fanfare, but many people did not believe they could sustain. Though A Weekend in the City did not receive as many rave reviews, it is one that has grown on me to a point where I prefer listening to its complex melodies more than the hard hitting sounds of Silent Alarm. After seeing them perform in Milwaukee and the double drumming that occurred on this song, I have deemed it as my favorite by a great band.
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