Music is, for a lot of people, a powerful force that touches our emotions and reaches deep into the soul. For all feelings and events and life moments, music shapes the way we see, think and feel, from heartbreak to anger and a myriad of emotions in between. From movie soundtracks to the moments of loneliness and fear, and loss and of course, tragedy, music opens our hearts and aids us in our toughest moments. I remember when I was growing up, often alone, an only child, and it was music that kept me sane, kept me company, and without it, I know I wouldn’t be who I am today… Nor can I imagine what I would be like, or if I would be here at all, for without the music that filled my soul, I would have grown up estranged and empty.
With innovation comes the straightening of curved lines and the ironing out of the rawness that is so inherent in life on earth. And with innovation in music, we have lost something in the sounds that care for us. Over the years of moving from vinyl to 8-track, to tape, to CD, and finally to digital, it is even more apparent that we’ve lost something, especially when you listen to a vinyl record on an audiophile system. Vinyl has this rawness, this warmth that delves deep into the soul. Music didn’t used to be overproduced and auto-tuned. Music used to feel real, as if the artists were playing live just for you. There was a warmth in the sound that has since been lost with modern mastering for digital devices and digital speakers that I find to be enchanting.
Vinyl isn’t gone. There is still a feverish underground market of audiophiles who still appreciate vinyl. I mean, think about it, vinyl was the last true physical form of music, and it outlasts all other forms of mass-produced media. Plus, if you are interested in past generations of vinyl, you will find how much more personality was incorporated in the artwork. Very few albums have any sort of art, or message, or cause, or opinion, but the vinyl days of old (especially the 1960-70s rock) are filled with mind-expanding thought, and brilliant eyegasmic art. We’ve lost something along the way, and I refuse to let convenience ruin my ability to connect with the soul through music, which is why I’m a big vinyl lover and collector.
Vinyl isn’t gone. There is still a feverish underground market of audiophiles who still appreciate vinyl. I mean, think about it, vinyl was the last true physical form of music, and it outlasts all other forms of mass-produced media. Plus, if you are interested in past generations of vinyl, you will find how much more personality was incorporated in the artwork. Very few albums have any sort of art, or message, or cause, or opinion, but the vinyl days of old (especially the 1960-70s rock) are filled with mind-expanding thought, and brilliant eyegasmic art. We’ve lost something along the way, and I refuse to let convenience ruin my ability to connect with the soul through music, which is why I’m a big vinyl lover and collector.
Vinyl records are coming back in style, and new pressings are made all of the time, of old music and new, and with the new interest in the realness of vinyl comes an exciting range of new turntables, speakers, amps, and vinyl pressings in all sorts of colors. You may know vinyl records as being made traditionally of black wax, but that is no longer the case; sure, there were some colored editions back in the day, but they weren’t so readily available as they are today. One of my favorite makers of great new vinyl is Newbury Comics, who specialize in unique, limited edition runs of all sorts of vinyl, comics, toys, and beyond.
Newbury Comics releases mostly limited edition colored vinyl runs that are out of this world; from psychedelic swirls to tie dye, and all the colors in between. I reached out to Newbury to gauge their interest in a vinyl feature and they were happy to send over three records that I could test, photograph and feature for you here. They sent along their repressing of two infamous 70s albums in beautiful colors, “Electric Ladyland” by Jimi Hendrix, “Pearl” by Janis Joplin, and a modern album, “The Shepherd’s Dog” by Iron and Wine. Each pressing is limited to 750, 1000, or 2000.
Newbury Comics releases mostly limited edition colored vinyl runs that are out of this world; from psychedelic swirls to tie dye, and all the colors in between. I reached out to Newbury to gauge their interest in a vinyl feature and they were happy to send over three records that I could test, photograph and feature for you here. They sent along their repressing of two infamous 70s albums in beautiful colors, “Electric Ladyland” by Jimi Hendrix, “Pearl” by Janis Joplin, and a modern album, “The Shepherd’s Dog” by Iron and Wine. Each pressing is limited to 750, 1000, or 2000.
What I love about Newbury is that they appreciate the art of vinyl. Each of their repressings come with original or restored art, lyrics, inserts or booklets where possible, and they go above and beyond on their quality of work. They value the music as well as the art and the message behind the artist, which speaks greatly to me. Each vinyl sounds amazing on my Audio-Technica system and they look really, really cool as the Jimi Hendrix LP is a electric blue color, the Janis Joplin LP is a semi-transparent marbled purple color, and the Iron and Wine is an eye-catching marbled solid purple color with accents of pink, blue and white. While color doesn’t exactly matter for the music (though, some hardcore audiophiles like to argue that black is better for sound quality; which I’ve not found to be true really), they are more for personal preference, enjoyment and so collector’s can have a unique pressing of a great album. All in all, I came away very impressed with Newbury Comics’ quality of pressings, and will continue to fill my vinyl collection with their lovely releases. Vinyl is just warmer, man.
If you would like to learn more about Newbury Comics, click here.
Article / Photos by Brandon Scott
If you would like to learn more about Newbury Comics, click here.
Article / Photos by Brandon Scott
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