#VNYL - Vinyl Record Curated Subscription Box #1 Review
Preface:
Let me begin by saying that I am a subscription box addict. I have tried LootCrate, Bark Box (as gifts), Sprezza, Hello Fresh, Blue Apron, and 3 others that aren’t even good enough to mention. For the last 12 plus months, I have done everything to expand my record collection. Beginning by digging through stacks and signing up for Vinyl Me Please, and really taking off thanks to a subpar living situation, reallocation of funds, overactive garage sale season, and gracious donations from my aunts, uncles, and parents, my collection has grown from about 25 to 314 records and counting. To say this collection is eclectic would be an understatement. To view my entire collection visit https://www.discogs.com/user/jguiney/collection.
After a year with Vinyl Me Please, I have actively been searching for a “Better” subscription service. I read about #VYNL and Flying Vinyl, and have been cooling on the Vinyl Me Please offerings, so I decided to give #VYNL, the first curated record subscription box, a shot. Whereas VMP releases one record a month, that members can “SWAP” for something that better fits their taste, VYNL has the customer fill out an exhaustive profile and pick a “#vibe” that all records will pertain to. For my first box, I picked the #SpringBreak Vibe.
I signed up for #VYNL at the end of February, and spent 3 hours answering questions and connecting social media accounts to give the staff the roundest profile I possibly could. After about a month, countless Slack messages back and forth with the #help channel, I noticed that my box had been “curated” but was still sitting somewhere in their warehouse. I notified them through the Slack channel, which is a great way to connect the community, and within 3 days my first box was “shipped”.
I was excited to get my first box, after watching other unboxing videos and seeing how well the curator matched the other members, I couldn’t wait to see how someone with a vast knowledge to curate music was going to expand my collection. The result and reviews of my first box are below. I think I will give them one more chance to see if the curation gets better as time goes on, but box #1 was a 2 of 5.
The VYNL box costs $38.00/month
This card was included in my VNYL Box to explain the curation.
As a record it flows better than the first cut.
Spirit Club - Slouch
“Nathan Williams pop project Spirit club songs like if the Beach Boys got weird"
Initially I thought ‘Didn't The Beach Boys already get weird on Pet Sounds?’
Weird transition into the first song.
The transition between the "Fast Ice Intro", and "Fast Ice" is a warning shot for the rest of the record. It wasn't small enough to be accidental and it wasn’t drastic and planned well enough to feel intentional.
I could see the weird Beach Boys comparison, but as a Beach Boys fan it’s a stretch.
Musically there wasn't anything I wanted to turn off, but the juxtaposition of whiny emo-ish lyrics, described by the band as "darker lyrical concerns of heartbreak and loneliness.", paired with the inspiration that they took "from the beach boys and vocal groups such as the Flamingos and the Cadillacs" comes off disjointed, confusing, and, similar to the Carly Rae Lil Yatchy remix of Rob Base and Dj Eazy Rock's "It takes two" where it has the basic musical elements, similar bpm, and talented performers, just not good. The whole feel and message make it a sludge to get through. At times it unintentionally sounds like a parody the music it’s referencing. Spirit Club's use of falsetto, for example on Your Eyes Tell Lies almost seems mocking and annoying; more than musical.
If I'm not listening to lyrics, it would be a decent car trip album, or maybe by the pool or the beach.
2 of 5 (40 out of 100) (It’s like a cloudy day at the beach,..yeah you’re at the beach, and you could build a sand castle or go to in the water, but you won’t really. You’ll just sit there and reminisce about how much better the beach is when the sun is out and the sand is warm.
I probably won't listen to it again, I wouldn’t turn it off, but I would never choose it over the Beach Boys, or the Safaris.
Nick Hook gives the listener a glimpse into his relationships with each (guest) artist.
Nick Hook - Relationships (2x White LP)
"Next, Nick Hooks ‘Relationships’ featuring everyone from 21 Savage to Hudson Mohawk.”
This seems to be the utility record out of the 3, It’s great for anyone looking for a newer producer on the come-up with an interesting sound that may also appeal to you if you like interesting mixes of popular songs.
Right away, the cover art and gatefold resonate with me filled with imagery and inspiration that span over a decade of Hip-Hop icons and references.
Starts out as a complete album concept piece.
Beginning with the computer start-up sound, you are immediately transported to his studio aided by the musical progression over the next 2 records (ok 3.5 of 4 sides of music).
With guest vocalist on almost every track and a voice mail from Action Bronson, Nick Hook gives the listener a glimpse into his relationships with each artist. The energy and electricity from the album seem to pull from a session between friends just vibin’ out in the bright yellow room adorned with sharpie tags. The eclectic nature of his relationships, takes the listener on a sonic journey, into the stripped-down drum heavy Gucci’s zone where 21 Savage is requesting some Head and back out Another Way through a mix of dance, electronic, and international sounds.
Dirty Beats, grimy rhymes. Plus, ILoveMakonnen and most of the other collaborators that add vocals to this record, so yeah, this artfully crafted compilation is just what this box needed to save it.
4 of 5
I have already spun this multiple times and it will find it's way into my rotation.
Jalal Salaam X Ewonee. Past Lives
Past Lives did have 1 saving grace. The 2nd Disc; Instrumentals.
Jalal Salaam X Ewonee. - Past Lives (2x LP, Album)
“Finally this record “Past Lives, full of those warm, natural samples that make the best Hip-Hop Beats.”
Past Lives is the only compilation between Jalal Salaam and Ewonee The Beatnik. Dropped as a cassette in the summer of 2016, and pressed to vinyl in 2017, I am still not sure why this was included in my box.
According to the sticker on the cover- Urgent, conscious rap shit over dirty ass beats.
These ain’t no trap beats and they ain’t that dirty. PLUS if this is conscious rap shit, I wish I could hae heard it without it fighting with the ret of the mix.
Disc 1 Vocals
The rapper plays in the offbeats, sometimes spinning interesting tales, others missing the deliver while spouting braggadocios lyrics. Musically, the lyrics and tracks seem to compete with themselves. I Like The smooth beat but the off beat rapping battles for attention instead of adding to the musical tapestry.
Songs like The World and Observe, allow the listener to see the potential of what's this album could have been. As the record goes on, Jalal Shalaam’s flow seems to get more familiar with the Ewonee.’s beat structure, but they never really seem to connect hand-in-hand. Complex sound clips also compete with the lyrics for attention and the listener is forced to actively listen to lyrics that generally aren’t worth the effort. Plus, sometimes, the levels just sound off. ( This could be my mid grade set up.)
Unlike the Spirit Club record, Past Lives did have 1 saving grace. The 2nd Disc; Instrumentals. Thankfully this was a 2 LP set, and the 2nd LP is just the instrumentals with select sound drops. The instrumentals include most of the sound clips, that were continuously competing with the lyrics on the first disc, and feels like a complete project rather than just raw beats.
Though some songs drone on and almost make up think your record may be skipping, and other beats drop abruptly to show where highlighted lyrics may have sat, stick with the instrumental disc, missteps like that are few and far between.
Disc 1 Vocals- 2.5 of 5
Disc 2 Instrumental - 3.5 - 4 of 5
2 LP set - 3 of 5 (Honestly, without the 1st Disc, I would have called this a 3.5 as an instrumental collection, sometime adding more isn’t really a good idea.)
I'll play this again. It's good to have on around the house as a relaxing sound track for cooking or just chillin.