Rain

I still have mine. Studiophile SP-B5. One of the first piece of gear I bought after my M Audio Delta 44 in 2001. Everything in my little home studio was M Audio - audio interface, MIDI keyboard, preamp, Trigger Finger (drum pad controller), monitors... Everything was solid, except the Trigger Finger - that one never worked properly. I think I still have a little USB audio interface that I used with my portable rig in 2011-12, somewhere in storage. I was also quite happy to be able to get a native version of Pro Tools after Avid bought M Audio. A huge plus for me. I tested the Studiophiles for the first time in over a decade last year. They still work fine. The little pop sound they make when powered up brought me right back. I wrote and "mixed" so many songs on these. Only issue I ever had with them was a blown fuse just a few weeks after I bought them. They were rock solid ever afterwards. They hold lamps and tchotchkes quite well, too.

Foo Fighters - Rope

The Jesus Lizard - Rope

Celtic Frost - Into the Crypts of Rays

Voivod - X-Ray Mirror

Double post.

I’m not very good at spending money on stuff for myself. I’ve finally replaced the 9 year old dying Mac in July after a year of postponing and calculating and reassessing, and I was pressured to make a move because the upgrade options were getting fewer and more expensive by the hour. Otherwise, who knows how much longer I would have stalled… But a few weeks ago, I felt an urge to listen to Back in Black on vinyl, so I bought the album on Amazon. And a turntable to play it. Well, that was like opening the floodgates. Amazon must be very happy with me, as I’ve been re-building the record collection at a rather fast pace (especially for someone usually so careful with money). I find myself constantly looking for the next vinyl, and I have a bunch of them in my cart at all time. My last catch is a 45 rpm/2 discs version of Sad Wings of Destiny that I found on eBay. Sealed. With the embossed cover. Cool stuff. I’ve always looked fondly on the good old days when I’d put on a record and just lie on my back on the floor and listen. Used to be my favorite thing as a kid - putting the headphones on and listening to 8 tracks. That set up makes it easier to do just that. No display, no smart phone, just me and that one record that I pick. Also seems easier to commit to an entire album too - you can’t just scroll and click on something else. That’s been my thing after work recently. Try and listen to an album a day - instead of just having music playing in the background while I do chores or look up stuff on the internet. Hadn’t really done that since the 90’s. Amusing, considering that I'd done away with vinyls, CDs and tapes all those years ago and embraced the digital era. I sold my entire collection in 2004, although I did start buying CDs again after settling here in 2013. I'd simply import them on the computer and store them. And so now I’m looking into CD players, for the same purpose. But since hipsters don’t think CDs are cool, CD players are a lot harder to find and a lot more expensive than a relatively decent turntable.

The Tea Party - A Certain Slant of Light

I didn't either until recently.

April Wine - Sign of the Gypsy Queen

David Bowie - Eight Line Poem

And now, back to our regular programming. Judas Priest - Burnin' Up.

Speaking of not heard since the early 90's... Alice Cooper - Cleansed by Fire

I don't think I'd heard this one in 30 years... Pearl Jam - Wash

There I go again... AC/DC - What's Next to the Moon

Def Leppard - Satellite

Our Lady Peace - Supersatellite

Georgia Satellites - Keep Your Hands to Yourself

Goldfrapp - Felt Mountain

Ok, one last one. Because, in the words of Captain America: "I could do this all day". AC/DC - Baby Please Don't Go

AC/DC - Go Down (Yeah, I've been listening to these guys a lot recently).

AC/DC - Shot Down in Flames

AC/DC - Down Payment Blues

I've been listening to them a lot lately and came to the realization that, considering what little talent I was granted, it would have done me a world of good to spend more time studying Malcolm and Angus and less time ignoring the limits of my skills and hoping to magically turn into Randy Rhoads. Just bought myself a turntable last week and most of the AC/DC vinyls I want (covering the 1975-83 period ) and I usually put one on after work, put the cans on, lie on my back on the floor, and marvel at Malcolm's rhythm work. No display, no phone or tablet - just me and the music.

I had a friend who played in an AC/DC tribute band who swore by Chibsons. Great guitarist, too. That one is a Gibson. A very nice guitar, although I don't play it as much as I would like, I always seem to revert to my (cheaper) Les Paul Studio. These are the ones I keep around. The SG, a Mexican Player Strat, a 7-string Schecter Hellraiser (mighty fine guitar), my beloved LP aka the Angry B!tch, and my first quality guitar, Marian, the 1996 US Fender Strat. But yeah, I always end up with the LP in my hands.