The Len Price 3: Pictures (w/included cd and bonus cuts)

If you watched the Super Bowl Halftime Show last night and found yourself yearning for simpler times--even for last year when half of the Who--Townshend and Daltrey, took the stage and played ten minutes of music that sounded familiar and went down easy, you aren't alone. Sure, you're open to new music--but, it really helps if it's good. 

The Music
Remember when you didn't care about sound quality--instead, just seeking out good albums full of great songs? The Len Price 3, a British band I discovered through Sirius Radio's Little Steven's Underground Garage radio program, will take you back to that time. The trio's 2010 album, Pictures, features thirteen two-minute songs, in the tradition of early works by the Who and the Kinks, with a bit of the Clash thrown in for good measure. And the current single from the album, Mr. Grey, is very Beatlesque. Younger listeners might even think this band is channeling Green Day.

(The Len Price 3)

The Packaging
The regular weight vinyl, lightweight cover, and single sheet insert are all definitely a bare bones affair. That said, the package includes a cd of the full album, with three bonus tracks not included on the cd-only release. While those tracks aren't quite up to par with the thirteen album tracks, the cd's a nice extra for the vinyl buyer and a convenient way to listen in the car.

The Sound
Pictures was reportedly an all-analog recording. Both the vinyl and cd sound quite good, with an old-school, unprocessed sound--and particularly realistic sounding cymbals. But again, this album really isn't about sound quality.  Buy the vinyl, not because it necessarily sounds better than the cd, but because this music just belongs on vinyl. 

Call half-a-dozen friends, ask them to call six more, and break out the keg, because though you've never heard these songs before, you'll be instantly singing along and the album practically demands a party.

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