Check out these eight influential albums

This weekend, I went down to Boo Boo Records in downtown SLO to check out some of the albums most influential to me. All of these CDs have had a vital role in shaping my love for music, and each is diverse and unique in its own way. If you haven’t heard some of these, I suggest you make it your priority to get your hands on them; these are eight classic albums that you cannot afford to miss!

Indie stores worldwide unite for Record Store Day

Photo: graciepoo on flickr

When I was younger, most kids were hanging around at the park on their free time, or maybe immersing themselves in some Grand Theft Auto. But when I wasn’t hanging out with my friends or playing sports, I was begging my parents to take me to my haven, the local Tower Records, so I could flip through the endless rows of glistening jewel cases in hopes to find something that struck my attention. This, sadly, is an experience alien to most kids these days; an experience that defined the greater part of my childhood, but will most likely never be realized by the youth of the future.

Record Store Day is here to change that. Record Store Day is this Saturday, April 17, and is an annual celebration where independent record stores all over the world unite to honor music, musicians and record store counterculture. It also serves as a reminder to the general public that record stores indeed still exist, and are still standing while combating the growing threats of low sales and music downloading.

London's Rough Trade is one of the most prominent international supporters of Record Store Day. Photo: donnierobot on flickr

It has become something of a 4^th of July for the music world, with top artists making appearances at local stores, and record labels pressing limited edition CDs and vinyl to be sold just for the day. (A full list of this year’s releases can be viewed here.) Although only in its third year, Record Store Day has expanded from the 700+ independent stores across the United States to international stores, with shops in major music markets like the UK, Japan, and Sweden contributing to the cause.

Here in San Luis Obispo, Boo Boo Records will be celebrating the day by offering live performances every hour on the hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. These shows are completely free of charge. Artists appearing include The Northstar Session, Jade Jackson, Ghostporn, and Threes & Nines. A full list of artists performing can be found on Boo Boo Records’ official Facebook page. SLO’s perennial music store will also be offering free silk screening and exclusive giveaways throughout the day.

If you haven’t stepped foot in a record store in a while, Record Store Day is the perfect day to change that. If you’re looking for something new to listen to, I encourage you to see what Boo Boo’s has to offer. You’ll be surprised at the gems you can find with just a quick browse and a little motivation.

Boo Boo Records is located at 978 Monterey St., downtown SLO.

Record Store Day hours: Saturday, April 17, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information on everything Record Store Day, check out the official event website.

Four tracks for your Monday morning

Right when you think it’s that time of the year again when every day is the perfect day to spend at the beach, you step outside and it looks like a hurricane just hit. This is the unpredictability of San Luis Obispo at its finest. But hey, on the bright side, over the past week I have come across some ridiculously good new music, and the following songs are the cream of the crop. I guarantee that these four tracks will get you excited about the potentials of music in 2010 and hopefully forget about this torrential downpour.

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Jamaica

I Think I Like U 2

Control Freak Records

Jamaica, France’s latest feel-good indie-pop export has just landed. Think ‘United’-era Phoenix with less emphasis on calmness and a little more on electric guitar.  The duo, comprised of Antoine Hilaire and Flo Lyonnet, collaborated with Xavier de Rosnay (one-half of Justice) and Peter Franco (of Daft Punk engineering fame) on this summery blast of a first single. The So-Me directed video is just another addition to his fantastic resume of work (“DVNO”, “D.A.N.C.E.”, “Good Life”), and I have a feeling it will be one of the coolest things you’ll see all year. Check it out.

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Flight Facilities

Crave You / Crave You (Cassian Remix)

BangGang 12s

I just discovered this track a couple days ago and cannot believe what I’ve been missing out on for the past 3 months! All discussion aside, this track is on point. The Sydney duo has combined a minimal, yet banging instrumental, an absolutely sublime vocal from Giselle, and just the right amount of 80s to create the ultimate chill out track. And if the original isn’t quite enough for you, Australian producer Cassian takes the track from the after party to the main room of the club, adding a plunking piano riff and a substantial dose of disco.

The entire package, including additional remixes from the C90s and James Curd, is available to buy on Beatport right now.

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Mason

Exceeder (Felguk Remix)

Tasted Music

Mason’s ‘Exceeder’ was without a doubt THE tune of 2006, regularly bringing every wallflower and their mother down from the rafters and onto the dance floor. Well, Brazilian wunderkinds Felguk have dug it out from the vaults and turned it into an absolutely insane electro assault. Think of it as an auditory A-bomb, if you will. This is hands down the best electro house track I’ve heard this year to date, and I expect it to clobber everything in its path when it comes to decide the anthem of Ibiza 2010.

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MoonRunners vs. Daft Punk

Feels Like Magic

Currently unsigned, for more info: MySpace

Over-sampling is getting a bit tedious these days (e.g. Chiddy Bang), and when you’re fiddling around with something as legendary as Daft Punk’s ‘Around The World’, the results would rarely come out as listenable. But for some reason, this product is simply fantastic. The MoonRunners, an upcoming London electro-hop ‘collective’, mesh their verses around a sample reorganized just enough to seem innovative. But in all reality, they have created something so unashamedly saccharine yet ridiculously catchy that you’ll find yourself pressing repeat a good ten times. Or in my case, 14. The track is backed by an effortlessly outstanding video, and the fact that they only spent £55 on it (for parking tickets) just makes it that much better.

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The rain doesn’t seem so bad anymore, right?