Snotty Record-Store Clerk: Unknown Mortal Orchestra's self-titled album on Fat Possum Records is 'what Beck would sound like if he was cool.'
It's the morning after Thanksgiving and you've awakened from your post-turkey coma in relatively decent condition. Sure, your pajamas might be a little snugger and part of you is regretting that second (or third) portion of pumpkin pie, but that's all the more reason to get out and work off those excess pounds while supporting your local record stores during the retail shopping extravaganza known as Black Friday.
To aid in your decision-making, quite a few bands and musicians are releasing exclusive material available only at non-big box retail stores as part of a holiday version of Record Store Day. Here's a preview of some of the deals you can expect at record shops in the Madison area, along with recommendations from staff and store owners of cool stuff to check out.
1900 Monroe Street
Opens at 8 a.m. People who stop by can enter a drawing with prizes ranging from turntables to signed posters from artists such as Wilco and The Sword.
Angie Roloff recommends: "The Bob Dylan and Beatles box sets on vinyl are really great gifts. You can get the regular albums, but the sets have great packaging and bonus materials. As far as new music, the one we're really excited for is The Black Keys 12-inch, because we're so stoked for the new album."
Ron Roloff recommends: "The Black Keys are big supporters of the Coalition of Independent Music Stores, which we are fortunate enough to be a part of. Our annual meeting was in Denver this year and The Black Keys' manager and lead engineer on the new record came to one of the meetings. After the event we were invited to a really cool, old downtown boutique hotel to listen to the new record in its entirety. And let me tell you, it is kick ass. It's going to tear the paneling off your walls."
508 State Street
Opens at 8 a.m. Flash sale on music items and 20 percent off all holiday-related gifts. In-store performance from DJ DSN spinning from 12-3 p.m.
Aaron Miller recommends: "The live acoustic album from Chris Cornell (Soundgarden) called Songbook is really good. Also, Cory Chisel's 12-inch Upstairs at United vol. 2 has a lot of people excited, with him being from Wisconsin and all."
David Peters recommends: "Off the Black Friday list, the John Lennon Imagine 40th Anniversary Box Set is also really cool. I'd also recommend people check out The Civil Wars' Tracks in the Snow.
600 Williamson Street
Opens at 9:30 a.m. Special collectible sale, with rare and hard to find gems from artists such as Lightnin' Hopkins, Ike & Tina Turner, The Fugs and The Kinks.
Dave Zero recommends: "One of our favorites here has been Unknown Mortal Orchestra's self-titled album on Fat Possum Records. The snotty record-store clerk response to why I like it is that it's what Beck would sound like if he was cool [Laughs]. The real response is that it's just a really weird, catchy pop album."
436 State Street
Opens at 9 a.m. 10% off sale on all store items, with many of the titles from The Black Friday list on Vinyl.
Steve Manley recommends: "The things that look the most interesting to me are Wilco's Speak Into The Rose 10-inch with four new songs and the Iron and Wine live album Morning Becomes Eclectic."
254 West Gilman Street
Opens at 10 a.m. Picks from a newly-acquired used set of 1,500 pieces.
Rob Cleveland recommends: "Something brand new is the album from Black Tusk called Set The Dial. It's their second album from Relapse Records, which is the company that broke High on Fire and Mastodon. Another one I can think of is Wolves in the Throne Room, which is real environmentally conscious black-metal. It's an interesting twist on the whole evil, devil-worshiping kind of metal. [Laughs]
Find a complete list of Record Store Day sale items for Black Friday here.
