#nowspinning Staff Vinyl Picks
In the opening track "I Need a Teacher," Hiss Golden Messenger's MC Taylor yearns for "beauty in the broken American moment." As Terms of Surrender unfolds, the lyrics struggle with difficult questions and try to make sense of life's complications. Joined by Jenny Lewis' harmony vocals and Aaron Dessner's guitar, the band explores emotive sound scapes that are new for Hiss listeners.
Rolling Stones "Exile on Main Street"
Recorded in tax exile while the Stones holed up in the South of France, Exile on Main Street finds the band at their creative peak. Initially criticized because the songs didn't seem cohesive, the album's breadth and diversity show what's possible when Keith Richards has plenty of extra time on his hands.
Chavez Ravine takes place in LA during the 1950s. Unlike a lot of concept albums, the story is easy to follow. It kicks off with a groovy, laid-back “Poor Man’s Shangri-La,” then quickly takes you on a wild journey complete with The Dodgers, Mexican Culture, UFO landings, Joe Friday, and an increasing fear of Communism.
