Music Monday: Weezer

Hi all! Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday!

Today's Music Monday is a rundown of Weezer's 2010 release, Death To False Metal.

I cranked this one up and was immediately confused. The Weezer I know (smart, catchy, slighlty rocking) was not the Weezer I was hearing for the first few songs. A quick Google search later, things were a little clearer. DTFM is a release, right on the heels of Hurley, of songs that for one reason or another, didn't make the cut on any of their albums. The reasons they didn't make it are fairly apparent on some of the songs, but there are a few great standouts.

"Everyone" and "Trampoline" are some of the tracks that really reflect the positives that keep Weezer going. "Everyone" has great lyrics and "Trampoline" opens with one of those Weezer-esque riffs fans know and love.

My main complaint with the less impressive songs is that the lyrics and music are just too simple/slow for what I expect of Weezer. These songs, while not awful, definitely could kill the pop/rock buzz that Weezer albums are so good at creating.

Reviews of Death To False Metal seem to run the gamut from high praise to musings on how Rivers Cuomo lost his mojo...any opinions?

If you are looking for Weezer albums on vinyl, we currently have Hurley (free CD of the album included), as well as several Weezer releases on CD.

Feature Friday: Stocking Stuffers & Gifts!

Hi all! Today's post is on affordable, unique, and fun stocking stuffers and gifts from the POPshop!

Check out these goodies for the special people in your life!

Music lovers/party people:

Pick Your Nose cups!

Party picks!

For sushi lovers:

Gama-Go Coin Purse!

For vintage-loving ladies:

Anne Taintor Coasters!

Come on by and browse the shop for more great one-of-a-kind holiday gift ideas! We also offer handmade POPshop & Spazz gift bags!

Music Monday: Collections

Welcome to another Music Monday!

Today's feature is collections!

Do you collect records of a favorite band or artist? As a small record store, we have the opportunity to hand pick the records we stock.

We often come across great hard-to-find releases on vinyl and help music lovers

complete their collections of a band's albums.

If you are working on completing a collection, let us know! We'll keep an eye out and update you as vinyl comes in.

As always, thanks for supporting local business!

Gift Cards are here!!

Not sure what to give for Christmas this year?

Check out our brand new (and snazzy!) POPshop & Spazz gift cards!

These are double-sided, glossy cards that can be purchased in any denomination. They are good for any item in the shop and perfect when you want to give a unique present of handmade goods, offbeat gifts, and music! 

Come down and pick up one, or lots!!

Feature Friday: Cozy Up!

Welcome to Feature Friday! Every Friday, we'll highlight new products in the shop!

The weather is getting chillier and the season is perfect for cozying up! Check out these great goodies that will have you warming up in style!

Hand-blended organic peppermint and green teas from Good4U:

Pretty travel mugs (these make a great gift!):

And for the cerebral sipper, Reading Is Sexy Mugs! Smart, cute, and eco-friendly (made of corn!):

We also have super stylish POPshop & Spazz gift cards, perfect for Christmas gift-giving!

Have a great day!

Music Monday!

New blog feature! Every Monday we'll highlight a new or interesting album in the shop!

This week: Deftones Diamond Eyes (Limited Edition White Vinyl)

This album has been hailed by some metal authorities as the best metal album of the year. The Quietus says, "Album of the year? I don't know, but it's better than getting piss on your leg!"

This album comes out three years after the bands' last release. During that time, bassist Chi Cheng was in s serious car accident that left him in a coma. While he recovered, the band did studio work with Sergio Vega (Quicksand) filling in. These sessions evolved into Diamond Eyes.

Vocalist Chino Moreno on the album:

"The songs recorded for Eros are very special to us as they are the latest with Chi (and we certainly hope not the last); they have history and significant meaning to us. However, as we neared completion on Eros, we realized that this record doesn’t best encompass and represent who we are currently as people and as musicians. And although those songs will see the light of day at some point, we collectively made the decision that we needed to take a new approach, and with Chi’s condition heavy on our minds while doing so. We needed to return to the studio to do what we felt was right artistically. Our inspiration and unity as a band is stronger than it has ever been before and we needed to channel that energy into our music, and deliver to our fans what you rightly deserve: the best Deftones record that we can make."

Best metal album of the year?

You decide!!

Monograms & More

Hi all! Here with a little update on a new aspect of the POPshop! We make a continued effort to support local artists, musicians, and so on.

This local artist is my mom, Donna Joseph. She sews, monograms, embroiders, and quilts. We are now offering her handmade tea towels, hand towels, burp pads, cosmetic cases, bibs, pillowcases, canvas totes, and more. She uses bright colors, fun designs, LSU & Saints themes, and can do anything from playful and modern to classic and elegant.

All of the items in the shop feature monogramming and can be custom monogrammed for you, included in the price of the item! She also will monogram items you bring in (shower curtains, linens, bags, placemats, etc.!)

Custom orders generally are ready for you within 1-2 weeks.

We also take the sewing business on the road, so you may see us around town at places like local schools and the Council on Aging (shown below).

Thanks for your continued support of the shop, and we hope you enjoy this new line!

Bottle Trees!

Stop by and see these gorgeous locally-made bottle trees just in at the shop!

They are beautiful, complete with unique little leaf designs! These would make a great holiday gift or decor item.

New Tees

The "5 Inch Tee" Series

"The idea is as simple as it is classic. We wanted our new tees to be soft, white and with a nice design. The graphic on the shirt fits in a five inch square. There is no text or any other printing. Each shirt is handcut. And not in some sweatshop, but in a factory in Los Angeles that treats its workers right: good wages, health insurance, in-house Yoga and English as a Second Language classes for those who want them. The shirts are screened in Port Angeles,WA by our friend T-Shirt Mike. He believes in fishing and playing rock music."

Currently in stock: Broken Heart, Sunflower (above)