Steve Wiley here, co-owner of Hoodlums, and official Record Store Geek.

For a long time now, I’ve been sending videos to my friends in lieu of email.  I don’ t profess to be cute enough for video (yes, it pains me to have to look my goofy hair, etc), and the lighting isn’t exactly studio-quality, but it allows me to inject a bit more personality than when I am strictly writing (which I like to do as well).

In these videos, the topic often moved to music, which is natural… since I’m a rambling toad and talking about music and movies is what I do.  So a while back I thought “Wow geekboy, maybe you should put these things on the Hoodlums’ Facebook page, since you do recommend and sell music for a living” (the actual thought was longer… that’s a recap).

So that’s what I did.  If you are a fan on Facebook, you can stop here.

If you’re not, I’m adding the vids to the website/blog… in case you need some new music (and because we just can’t “social network” enough).   Hopefully they aren’t too annoying, because after twenty-two years in this wacky industry, I have thousands of albums that I can passionately recommend.

Some of the videos are directly to the clowns I grew up with (Nodak cats with names like Slo, Ratch, Seif, Lenny, and Rubberhead).  Some are to family members.  Some are just to the customers in general.  They all have a bit more of a written description on the Facebook video page (along with links, etc.), in case you want the full impact.  They are all one takes , so there are plenty of gaffes.  Wanna talk more about the album?  Comment here or on our Facebook page… or better yet, come down to the store.

And now, the Record Store Geek recommends…

Bebel Gilberto.  “Tanto Tempo” &  “All in One”. 

This is about the supreme Brazilian wondergirl.  I still listen to “Tanto Tempo” twice a month… from beginning to end (which isn’t the case with lots of albums).

Big John Patton.  “Let ‘Em Roll”.

Amazing Blue note album of smokin’ hardbop jazz with an organ/guitar/vibe/drum combo that really moves.  I was listening to it on the ‘pod while walking, and I had to spew posi for someone to hear.

Michael Franti “Everyone Deserves Music”

This one is for Ratch’s kids.  They’ve been listening to T-Pain, and I felt the need to intervene with some positive hip hop recommendations.  It all starts with the mighty Franti… but the Facebook recap on this one has a bunch of links to other hip-hop.

Whiskeytown “Stranger’s Almanac”

Ryan Adams way back when he was David Ryan Adams.  This album, somehow, just keeps getting better for me.  Just typing this makes me want to listen to it.

Frank Zappa.  Making of Apostrophe/Overnite Sensation DVD.

This one is for Seif, the Nodak boy who turned me on to Zappa.  This Zappa DVD is amazing… simply loaded with all those closest to the man and the process.

Allman Brothers “Brothers and Sisters”

The one and only Allman Brothers… a pure rock and roll recommendation for my fellow “early 80′s” HS grads who may have missed it.

The Faces “Ooh La La”

This one is for my sister, to help her understand why I dog Rod Stewart about recording four albums full of standards.  This band is rock at it’s cocky best.

That’s everything.  Any new video recommendations will be posted first on our Facebook Page (it’s a great place for recommendations… because the non-video hoodlums weigh in there as well)