2017 began with a hangover. Relative to other recent hangovers it wasn’t that bad, but still…it is never pleasant. I was wise to pick wine as my drink of choice on New Years Eve. My usual mélange of bourbon, beer and whatever else I can get my hands on often makes for a debilitating hangover. Maybe I’m finally growing up. I even tried to help my eventual recovery in advance by consuming a large amount of deep dish pizza and gnocchi before the revelry began. Sure, I was a little groggy and parched upon awakening on the first morning of the new year, but it was nothing a strong cup of coffee wouldn’t cure.
I rolled out of bed and threw on a hoodie before putting on some slippers and grabbing my cash and keys. As I walked out the front door and down to the street I noticed an usual amount of cars backed up in front of my driveway. Living on a big touristy street means often having your driveway blocked by idiots taking photos of themselves or their families. But this was kind of unprecedented. Especially for a holiday morning. That’s when I turned to look over my shoulder:
Okay, whatever, so it’s not the best photo in the world. Coffee was a higher priority for me. If you really want a close-up photo let me Google that for you.
In case you missed the first iteration of the LED MELVINSÂ concept, click here.
Playing records at the wrong speeds is not a revelation most people make at the age of 30. It happens when we are five years old and we want to make the Beatles sound like Alvin and the Chipmunks. It is a cheap gag 99% of the time, and the results are more eye-rollingly “funny†than genuinely funny. And, honestly, that leftover 1% is not much more sonically intriguing.
Years ago I started to experiment with trying to find wrong speed gems among the thousands of 99-cent 45s we sold at the record store. In 2013 I posted the first compilation of slow songs. The next year I was asked to guest DJ at a bar in Eagle Rock by Lance from Permanent. After a few hours of psych and space rock and sips of drink and maybe a sip of smoke, “Young Turks” at the wrong speed closed the night. Rod Stewart never sounded as perfect as he did in that moment. That’s when I started to search for a second batch of  tunes.
In honor of my neighborhood being rechristened with a green-friendly moniker, I figure now’s a good time to post my latest discoveries.
01. ABBAÂ – L.O.L.
02. Kush – Calm Sawyer
03. Splashing Rum Kings - This Harm
04. Scat Benetar – Heartbreaker
05. Chronovan – Catch The Promethazine
06. New Oyster Cult – Fear The Creeper
07. Odd Stewart – Yung Percs
