Mike Mettler

The 1990s were a decade of transition. It was a time when recording artists had to figure out how to move on from MTV-era preening and get back to creating their music more for aural satisfaction, not just visual pleasure. Everclear, an alt-rock trio from Portland, Oregon, made quite a splash during the ’90s — see “Santa Monica,” “Everything to Everyone,” and “Father of Mine,” for starters — but as the calendar turned to the 2000s, bandleader and chief songwriter Art Alexakis had a vision to chronicle how his life was falling apart, in two parts. The first half of that heart-wrenching story, July 2000’s Songs From an American Movie Vol. One: Learning How to Smile, was a smash hit on CD, but it never made its way onto vinyl. Intervention Records righted that wrong back in September 2024 with their limited-edition 140g 1LP translucent yellow version of Vol. One, which is one of AP’s Best Reissues of 2024. During a recent Zoom interview with AP editor Mike Mettler, Alexakis discusses why SFAAM Vol. One sounds better on vinyl, why he always sequences his albums with vinyl in mind, and if a second LP of the overarching SFAAM storyline is in the offing.. . .

Sure to go running through your soul, like the stories told of old: Today (December 10, 2024), Rhino announces the launch of a new audiophile vinyl series that’s been dubbed Rhino Reserves, which purports to offer “legendary albums” on 180g premium-quality black vinyl, as cut from the original analog tapes. Read on to see which two vintage LPs from the 1970s kick off this new series on January 31, 2024, where they’re being pressed and cut, and by whom. . .

The first word that comes to mind whenever we think of the guitar playing of Andy Summers is texture. The once and forever Police guitarist was — and still is, really — a master of tone and feel. He inherently knew how to create a sonic table setting to drape around whatever cerebral subject matter the chief Police lyricist, bassist/vocalist Sting, came up with while also leaving room for his vocals and low-end additions to both breathe and flourish — not to mention how Summers was able to weave in and out of Stewart Copeland’s truly original drumming and percussion embellishments. During a recent Zoom interview with AP editor Mike Mettler, Summers discusses his favorite Police moments on vinyl, his preferred record store haunts in England while he was growing up, and if his 1980s collaborations with King Crimson’s Robert Fripp might soon see vinyl reissues and/or upgrades. . .

Here at AP, when it comes to gear coverage, we try to balance our admitted high-end proclivities with some more affordable options for the analog newcomer and budget-minded alike. Today’s serving comes from the more affordable side of the menu, thanks to Andover Audio. Read on to see all of what the Boston-based company’s new SpinBase 2 turntable speaker system has to offer, including its implementation of their patented IsoGroove technology. . .