End of All Music’s Record of the Month Club's September Pick Revealed

Stepping into The End of All Music feels like taking a step back in time, back when the primary source of music wasn’t found online through streaming sites or crammed into an iPhone, but rather on a smooth vinyl, each one tucked snugly in a case with its own unique album art.
Located on North Lamar Blvd in Oxford, Miss., The End of All Music and its owner David Swider prove that vinyl records aren’t going out of style anytime soon, and they wish to spread the love of the medium with their Record of the Month Club.
Each month, paid subscribers are treated to a new vinyl hand-picked by the store staff. The staff hopes that the service introduces subscribers to new artists and sounds that might not have heard of otherwise.
The September Record of the Month is I am the Cosmos by Chris Bell, posthumously printed by reissue label Omnivore Records. Bell was a member of the Memphis-based pop-rock band Big Star in the early 1970s before moving onto solo work, until shortly afterward he unfortunately, died in a car wreck in 1978. 1 The reissued album is remastered from the original 1992 release and comes pressed on a stunning clear vinyl record.

Although a relatively obscure album, the track “Speed of Sound” was featured in the 2008 romantic comedy-drama film Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, while Scarlett Johansson and Pete Yorn covered “I Am the Cosmos” for their 2009 collaborative album Break Up.
Fitting for the September Record of the Month, the album beautifully encapsulates the transitional nature of the month as we move from summer to fall. Hard-hitting, active songs slowly settle down into more relaxed, calming melodies.

“It’s a part of Memphis music and rock music, in general, that really needs to be heard,” Swider said regarding the album. “It’s crazy to think that songs this good were never released until some twenty years later, and it makes you wonder how much stuff does go unheard and unreleased, and it’s really nice to finally see an artist kind of get the due that they deserve. Unfortunately, he is not around to see that, but at least his record will live on, and that’s really special.” 

Even if you’re not a Record of the Month subscriber, the album is available in-store as both vinyl and CD. If you are interested in becoming a member of The End of All Music Music’s Record of the Month club, you can sign up at this link: https://theendofallmusic.com/record-of-the-month-club/.

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Zach Hollingsworth is an intern for HottyToddy.com. He can be reached at zhhollin@go.olemiss.edu.