Monday, November 30, 2009

Woot-woot! (In the business, we call this a "teaser"...)

Hey. So, you know how you've been talking about us behind our back, saying things like, "Yeah, it's a cool store, but I wish they were open on weekdays", and "I'd shop there, but I'm only in DTR during the week!"? Well, get ready for all those excuses to be null and void.

That's right, people.

Weekday hours, coming soon to Tyrannosaurus Records.

Now what?

; ))

--TRx

Sunday, November 22, 2009

"Here come the Holidays, " he said with an ironic chuckle...

I know that all of you are wondering what is new and happening at TRx for the holidays. Here's the skinny:

--Keep an eye out for a live in-store with Paco Jones, Seattle's own singer-songwriter-ambient virtuoso. Not really a holiday thing, I guess, but topical nonetheless.

--Christmas with Beer! Not only is it my preferred way of celebrating the holiday, but it also happens to be a brilliant holiday-oriented comedy album (check it here: http://www.myspace.com/christmaswithbeer). The best part: it's local! Support local music, you bunch of bah-humbugs! Also, working on confirming a date for this to be performed LIVE, in the store. Put that in your giftbags!

--Gift Certificates. What more do I need to say? Want an awesome gift that will be A) Cool, B) Local, and C) Independent? Who doesn't? Come and get one! Or ten...

--New music. Yes, it is coming! Should have new titles (and new-to-us titles) in the coming weeks from Bear in Heaven, Real Estate, Yacht, Telekinesis, and MORE! Who are you to resist?

--Stay tuned for more info on live music, local happenings, new records, and other cool stuff from your good frends at Tyrannosaurus Records and Extinction Studios...

L8R
--TRx

Sunday, November 15, 2009

NWxNW = Kickass







So...









There was a little rock-show in Renton. Hopefully, you were there. If so, you are one of the lucky ones. If not, well...enjoy these pics.








It was a good, clean night of good, clean fun.


Our deepest heartfelt thanks go out to all the performers: Ophelia's Thunder, Cock and Swan, Broken Water, Thunderbird Motel, and Spotlight Dance Company. As well as Arts Unlimited, who hosted the work of local artists in the lobby.

Keep an eye out for info on more live music, rocking your face off at a venue near you...
--TRx
roar.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Oh, this old thing?


Thank you, Bob! We love our new awning!! It's pretty much the best thing ever...

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Album Review - I was a lover... "Strong drink is Raging"

I was a Lover Delorean was a DealerStrong Drink is Raging

Indie rock today is often a conglomeration of mash-ups. I find myself often describing a band to someone who has never heard them as a combination of BAND “A” and BAND “B” (for instance, I’ve been known to compare the band Cymbals Eat Guitars to a combination of Smashing Pumpkins and Arcade Fire—not the best example, because it doesn’t hold up to much scrutiny, but it is a good place to begin the dialog, and you get the idea…). Upon listening to the new album by Ventura, California’s I was a Lover Delorean was a Dealer, I find that I need some new algebra. A + B = C simply does not work for this band.
The opener, “Grey Ships”, kicks the album off on a somewhat experimental note with lots of saxophone and some nice keyboard riffing. It also sets the tone for a vocal performance unlike any you are likely to hear this year. Frontman Christopher Bykowski rages like an unholy marriage of Black Francis and Robert Smith, using his lower register to affect amazing amounts of emotion along with some degree of theatricality. “The Amaretto Was Poisoned” owes a debt to a lot of the dance-rock prevalent today, with echoes (no pun intended) of The Rapture in its driving, guitar-heavy crescendos. “He Has a Dreamy New Convertible” finds a middle ground between the dance-y side of the band and the rawk-ish side—it reminds me of what Interpol might sound like if they decided to have fun with their music every once in a while. For me, the high point of the album is “Chop ‘em at the Hands”: it starts simply, with a deceptively catchy piano melody, then goes to work. No amount of description really does this song justice, so I’ll leave it at that.
Again and again, the rhythm section of Patrick Crowley and Kyle Garcia amazes with its tightness and chemistry, always threatening to take the album over but never overbearing. Dario Slavazza, multi-instrumentalist, also adds a necessary dimension with sax and keyboard/piano, breaking up anything that could turn into a “typical” rock effort with well-placed atmospherics.
Ultimately, while the parts of this album (and, indeed, the band) can be compared to other bands and cross-referenced into the annals of classifiability, the sum of the parts is something completely new and original. So forget your algebra, lest you end up with an equation that would stump Good Will Hunting. Just listen…

--n

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Random thoughts and stuff

(for anyone looking for a focused blog post: please, do yourself a favor and turn away now. this is just me typing whatever occurs to me and then posting it so I can say I am keeping the blog at least somewhat "up to date"...)

NWxNW is full steam ahead, all systems GO. Tickets are printed and ready to be sold, posters are being disseminated...things are happening... We really hope to see EVERYONE there!

After being sold out of Cock and Swan merch, we now have it back in-stock! Both albums (Noon Hum and Marshmallow Sunset), more of the cute baby-blue tee-shirt, and a killer new brown and yellow shirt. I am trying to resist the urge to get one of those for myself, but I can't hold it back forever, people! Get in here and buy one! Of course you will also have the chance to peep them live, playing at NWxNW. And no one will judge if you wear the shirt of the band that you go to see. At least, I won't. To your face. ; P

New titles on the horizon for the next month or so will (hopefully) include, but are not limited to: Grizzly Bear--Veckitamest (Special re-edition with Bonus Tracks); Thao with The Get Down Stay Down--Know Better Learn Faster; The Raincoats--vinyl re-issue; Nirvana--Bleach (20-Year Platinum Re-issue); Justin Radford--Off the Spring (it's a rock-opera! What else do you need to know?!); Headlights--Wildlife; Asobi Seksu--Re-wolf... Plus plenty of others...

Extinction Studios (AKA: our awesomely modified, (almost) state-of-the-art recording space) has completed its first project, replacing the soundtrack to a short film by a Seattle-area writer/director! We have liftoff...! To get more details or set up a time to record, contact Bob @ giantrobotguy@gmail.com!

Shows I will miss this month include Pinback, The xx, The Black Heart Procession, et. al.--not to mention what by all accounts was a mind-blowing set last week by BLK JKS. All lamentable, indeed, but my full-time job gets in the way of my going out to shows. Get out and enjoy live music people... Don't be like me.

It was a really good Halloween this year. We had a lot of cute kids dressed as grotesque monsters during the daytime, and a great time across the street at DC's Bar & Grill at night. Where else would you get to see rock legend Slash mixing it up with street pimps, zombies, and a cow in a bikini (I am still not sure what that dude was supposed to be...)? That's right. Nowhere.

And I guess all this means that the holiday season is about to really kick into overdrive. If I forget to say it later, and I very well may: Happy (upcoming) Holidays to everyone out there in the blogosphere...

ps: Come in and buy records/CDs!! (How's that for subliminal marketing?)

"ROOOOAAAAARRRRR!!!"
--TRx