Vinyl Verdict

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Plouffe talk about their favourite singles. Jamie brings a bucket of singles to share with the boys, before getting into his single - Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer". Plouffe brings his beloved single by Takako Mamiya "Love Trip" and discusses the mystery surrounding the artist. Wrapping the episode, Bell talks about Kero Kero Bonito's "Flamingo" and how much fun it is. If you wondered what our favourite singles were - or whether Jamie knows how to read a clock - come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Plouffe listen to Plouffe's next pick, The Growlers' Chinese Fountain. Their fourth studio album, Chinese Fountain could best be described as psychedelic surf and garage rock, with a lot of the lyrical content dealing with finding and losing love. Upon release, the album received positive reviews, with many reviewers saying that it was one of the best indie albums of 2014. The album also charted well, hitting #7 on the Heatseekers chart and #35 on the Billboard Indie chart. Will the boys put this album at the top of their charts, or will this Heatseeker leave them shot down in flames? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Plouffe listen to Jamie's next pick, the Beastie Boys' Paul's Boutique. Either one long single LP, or two LPs in the case of Plouffe's special edition copy, Paul's Boutique is their second album. Coming three years after the release of the wildly successful License to Ill, this album was a wild departure from that album. Early critical reaction to album was largely mixed, with reception of the album becoming overwhelmingly positive as time went on. The album is notable for having 105 samples in 53 minutes of music, far more than any rap album at the time and essentially making it impossible for rap albums in the future to have as many samples as well. With two of the crew already owning the album, what will their verdicts be? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Plouffe listen to Bell's next pick, Yaeji's EP1 + EP2. A compilation album comprising her first two EPs, EP1 +EP2 has been described as being in both the lo-fi house and trap genres. The album features lyrics in a combination of both English and Korean, reflecting Yaeji's upbringing in both the United States and Korea. Will the boys go to the club and beat up the beat, or will they give the record two thumbs way down? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Plouffe listen to their picks for the records they regret adding to their collection. What makes a record a regretful experience? Is it bad art? Poor quality audio? Or is it that it's a Rush album? Come along and share in the regret with us! 

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Plouffe listen to Plouffe's next pick, Blind Melon's Nico. Released after the death of lead singer Shannon Hoon, Nico is named after his daughter, Nico Blue. Nico is a compilation album made up of odds and sods from various Blind Melon recording sessions, answering machine messages and alternate takes. Proceeds from the royalties and album sales were initially placed in a college trust for Nico Blue. Will the boys find the album to be the greatest album in the world, or will it be just a tribute? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Plouffe listen to Jamie's next pick - The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St. Recorded mostly in the basement of Keith Richards' rented villa in the south of France, Exile on Main St. was recorded at a time of transition for the band. While reviews at the time of release in 1971 were mixed at best, it has been since re-evaluated as the Stones' greatest album and has earned accolades including #7 on the list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in Rolling Stone and a prestigious 10/10 from Pitchfork. But will the boys like it at all? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Plouffe listen to Bell's next pick - Mac Miller's Swimming in Circles. Released posthumously, Swimming in Circles is a box set of Swimming, his fifth album and Circles, his sixth and final, studio album. The albums explore themes relating to the era of life Mac Miller felt he was in at the time. Both albums were critically well received at the time of their release, with many reviewers praising how cohesive and introspective the lyrics were. Will the boys heap praise on the albums as well, or will they find the records to be a journey that is just swimming in circles? Come along and find out!

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Plouffe are joined by Colin Worobetz to talk about his pick - Jungle - For Ever. Jungle is a neo-soul/funk band from England, consisting of only two members because much of their sound is based in electronic techniques. On tour the band expands to seven members! Released in 2018, For Ever is Jungle's second album and it went to #10 in the UK and #6 on the US Billboard Top Dance/Electronic albums chart. Will the boys put this album at the top of their charts, or will the album go up in flames like a disco inferno? Come along and find out!

**Vinyl Verdict apologizes for the sometimes crunchy audio in this episode, the person responsible for this has been fired from a cannon into the sun**

On this episode of Vinyl Verdict, Bell, Jamie and Plouffe listen to Plouffe's next pick, Jazz Spastiks' Scratch & Sniff. Jazz Spastiks are an underground hip-hop and beat making group from the UK, sometimes referred to as the "rough smooth duo". Scratch & Sniff is a record with a theme centered around smells and was sold with a booklet with you guessed it - scratch and sniff stickers for each track. Will the record pass the sniff test with the boys? Will it be an olfactory delight or just smell like an old factory? Come along and find out!