The inimitable visual genius H.R. Giger has passed away at the age of 74 .  Being one of many who'd found his work remarkable in its complexity, abstract and often-futurist vision and, at times, terrifying realism, the loss is felt.  The man could bring truth to nightmares. While he's best-known for designing the iconic Alien creature and for creating more than a few well-known album covers , Giger became an engaging figure for me once I'd discovered Dead Kennedys and begun to question terms like "morality" and "decency."  His piece, Penis Landscape , (or Work 219: Landscape XX ), had eventually led the Kennedys into a legal battle that would ultimately destroy the band, victims of then-Senator's wife Tipper Gore 's reign of First Amendment assault with her Parents Music Resource Center, a group of "concerned" wives compelled to stigmatize artists for being less then sensitive when it came to their lyrical content. The albu...

I took the day off work. Mind you, I'm not one that typically does the "mental health" day, or just decides "I need some time off."  I'm normally paranoid and guilty enough when legitimately sick that I'll bother my coworkers with updates about how the day is going and whether or not I need to plug in and work from home.  I have a complex, so days off aren't my thing. But, I had some things to take care of today and just figured I would try this "relaxing" that everyone speaks so highly of.  Part of trying to enjoy the day involved me hitting the record store.  I kept it very local today and stopped by The Vinyl Closet in North Wales, which is maybe ten minutes from my house. While the store doesn't hold much for those looking for current artists or recent releases, it is a treasure trove for vinyl addicts.  The first time I'd visited, I found a few things to pick up without spending too much loot.  Today, though, I kept on f...

Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead