I'm happy to share that my husband Eamon Kelly will be contributing to Crescent & Anchor with a bi-weekly music post in 2014. The idea for this new feature developed in the fall when Eamon began photographing Evangeline with our record collection. What started with just a few images of our daughter holding records has grown into an ongoing father-daughter project that we've decided to call E's Academic Records. Each post will include a grouping of four images from the series. Eamon will share his thoughts about the albums; what makes them special, the feelings and memories they evoke. When Evangeline eventually inherits the collection, these posts will be the perfect accompaniment, a sort of music diary from her father. We hope to spur a conversation with readers, so please comment and tell us what the music means to you! Eamon: We always had records growing up. From a young age, my parents taught me how to handle them and treat them with respect. Some of my earliest memories are those where I am sitting on the dining room floor poring over the artwork while listening to the Rolling Stones, Elton John or Donovan. I still have the first record I ever asked for for a birthday present, Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits. I love to hold the artwork and the ritual of placing the needle on the vinyl and then cranking the volume. Nothing to me, sounds better than listening to my favorite songs on vinyl. Now that I am a father, I am imparting this love of records onto my daughter, teaching her about music and it's value in everyday life.
Clockwise, from left:
1. The National – Trouble Will Find Me, 2013 This was one of my favorite records of 2013 and one of the first pics I took of E holding an album that made me realize I had something interesting going on. The National continue to make great album after great album. They make records that I want to buy again when I'm record shopping.
2. Panda Bear – Person Pitch, 2007 There was a moment a few years ago, while I was on a train barreling towards New York City, that this album opened up a spot in my brain that I haven't been able to close. It's an unbelievable creation. Beach Boys-esque harmonies, big beats, jangly guitars, and even a looped sample of the sound of a skateboard dropping in on a ramp. Probably one of the most important records made in my lifetime. As for the pic of Evangeline...
3. Pavement – Wowee Zowee, 1995 Great underrated Pavement album. The songs are all over the map, from the western soundscapes of "Pueblo" to the tinkling pianos on the Bowie-inspired "We Dance." The anticipation I was feeling before this record came out is still fresh in my mind nearly 20 years later. Evangeline really likes saying Wowee Zowee too.
4. Drive Like Jehu – self titled, 1991 "Spikes to you!" is such a great song and I like to ask E to yell it over and over again. This record reminds me of going skateboarding in Southern California in 1996. A slightly more straight forward punk album than their follow up, "Yank Crime," there are still moments of quiet lulling feedback before full-on guitar gut punches and Rick Froberg's throaty vocals.
Do these albums stir up any memories for you?