//Record Club, Vol. II
iongreenville record club

Record Club, Vol. II

Brett Barest

A couple of weeks ago we talked about John Durham and Local Green’s Record Club concept, and how that might make for a fun, healthy, socially distanced activity with friends. The more I heard about it, however, the more I wanted to participate in Record Club for myself. Lacking friends of my own, John invited me to join this past Monday’s Record Club made up of himself and the rest of The LOZ Band –  Josh Forbus, Wes Treadway, and Dr. LuvBeatz.

I did not know what to expect from a Facebook group chat with four local artists or what album we would be listening to for that matter. Beyond the concept itself, the how this whole thing was going to play out was a mystery to me until John sent a message out to the group with a Spotify link to The Cars’ 1978 debut album, cleverly entitled The Cars. Pleasantries were exchanged to let everyone know the gang was all here and, without a starter pistol or any other cue, we each hit play when the clock struck 9pm.

Now, as a child of the 1980’s I am familiar with The Cars in all the most casual ways possible. I know their sound is unmistakably something all their own, I know all the radio hits, and I remember being a kid captivated by their music videos way back when MTV actually played music videos. What I must admit, though, is prior to Monday evening I doubt I ever sat down and listened to a Cars record from beginning to end. Thankfully, my first foray into Record Club changed all that.


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John introduced the album as “ridiculously stacked with catchy songs” with “some of the most perfectly recorded synth stuff ever.” If that sounds like high praise, it is well deserved as six of the album’s nine tracks not only received plenty of radio play but went on to be featured on the band’s eventual greatest hits record after a long, illustrious career of making great music. Each track brought back its own memories as a spirited conversation ensued, noting particular riffs, beats, or guitar solos, making comparisons to related acts, or simply marveling at how much a particular song “sounds like cocaine… the early part of the night, not the drained, pre-dawn part”.

All in all, it was a quick, nine song listening experience but, in the end, it was so much more than that. I sat down in my office with a cocktail, put on my headphones, and listened to an album the way the band originally intended – in its entirety. Sure, I know The Cars the band as represented by all of their hits (and this album has plenty of them) but to hear those same songs as a package deal is an entirely different experience. The opening three tracks, “Let the Good Times Roll”, “My Best Friends Girl”, and “Just What I Needed” are a solid reminder that The Cars’ musical career came out strong right out of the gates. Then, the album just keeps on delivering hit after hit with even the couple of tracks I was not familiar with holding their own with the old favorites.

Most of all, I got to enjoy the album with color commentary courtesy of four talented local musicians every step of the way which only enhanced the affair. We all hear different things in different moments and to have that intimate group of shared thoughts and opinions in real time was something truly unique. Originally, I compared Record Club to the old tried and true book club concept but this synced listening format blows that completely out of the water. In short, I was originally intrigued by Record Club but I am now wholly in love with the idea.

So, what happens going forward? We are currently working out the details on that but encourage you to submit your name and contact information for a more expansive Record Club in partnership with Local Green and iOnGreenville in the near future. Local musicians from the Local Green music collective will pick albums and moderate the conversation, leaving you with the opportunity to kick back and enjoy the ride. With regular live shows seemingly further and further out on the horizon, this is a great way to celebrate our love of music, stay in touch with local artists, and hopefully maintain some bit of sanity along the way. 

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