Bad News for Music Lovers: Rhino Records Gutted by Layoffs

Yesterday's announcement that Warner Music Group will be laying off 30-40 employees of Rhino Records marks another sad day for modern-day music lovers who still buy physical product (you know, cd's and records). Rhino has from the outset been a premier reissue and compilation label, and many of their sets simply define genres for the discerning consumer. Some of their modern/punk/indie sets including No Thanks! The ’70s Punk Rebellion, Left of the Dial: Dispatches from the ’80s Underground, A Life Less Lived: The Gothic Box and The Brit Box: U.K. Indie, Shoegaze and Britpop Gems of the Last Millennium are no-brainers in an essential music collection; their other genre sets are also not to be missed (but I couldn't find an easy link to copy like those above). Put simnply, this sucks.
It appears that they are going out with one of the best and most anticipated box sets in recent times, Big Star: Keep and Eye on the Sky. Buy some freakin' real music, will ya', and keep this music industry (the parts that don't suck) alive.

TB

Nice finds at Riverwalk

I admit that I haven't always given Riverwalk Records the credit they're due. I like to check out new music, and I'm partial to Pure Pop's selection in that department. I've also wrongly given RWR the assumption that their selection is just more and more and more classic rock, even though I nearly always pick something up when I stop in. This week:

Husker Du, Flip Your Wig: I saw this in the window the other day and it brought me in. Absolutely stunning power pop punk, five stars no question. I think it's still in print from SST.









Voivod, Nothingface: Have a little of their stuff, but this along with their other mid-late 80's albums have been on my list. Imagine Rush, Metallica, and Pink Floyd in a blender, but is a good way. I needledropped this one and the sound, especialy the punch of the drums, is just awesome.








Traveling Wilbury's, Volume 1: This is just a great record. Hardly groundbreaking, just good pop/rock. It's a little hard to find, but old copies have come down in price since Rhino rereleased their stuff a few years ago.