Sensory Dispensary

“The record you didn’t know you needed is what I am listening to in the other room.”


AI_IMAGE: A dimly lit vintage record store back room, shot at eye level across wooden bins overflowing with vinyl LPs. Warm amber light from a single hanging bulb casts deep shadows. Faded concert posters line the dark walls. Wisps of incense smoke curl through the golden light. The mood is intimate, analog, and deeply atmospheric with rich sepia and brown tones against near-black shadows. | photorealistic | landscape
Bin Diving

Week of June 14 – 21, 2026

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People browsing vinyl records in a vintage record store with labeled sections and music posters

It was a busy week for Bin Diving, lots of full albums including some favorites, some not so favorites and one I don’t even remember listening to. Here’s the details:

Monday June 15, 2026

The cover of the UFO album Lights Out
Far Out

This is a time capsule album for me, brings me right back to my teen years. “Love to Love” is just so fucking good, and that outro solo gives me chills.

The cover of the Rod Stewart album A Night on the Town
Copacetic

Was making a playlist for a friend who is having surgery so was here to add “The First Cut is the Deepest” to it, so decided to give this one a listen. Not his best but “The Killing of Georgie (Pt. 1 and II” is one of my favorite things he has done in his solo years.

The cover of the Rush album Hemispheres
Far Out

Gina is upstairs on a Zoom call so it’s safe to get my Rush fix. I like this album a lot, “La Villa Strangiato” still blows me away with its technical prowess, and self indulgence.

The cover of Van Halen's debut album
Far Out

I listen to this occasionally just to remind myself how revolutionary Eddie Van Halen was. Not my favorite album of theirs but it’s the one that unleashed his talent into the world, and the world should be forever grateful.

Album Cover for Scream and Light Up The Sky by The Honorary Title
Far Out

I wish I remember how I discovered this band but I am sure glad I did. One of those things I can’t describe and probably shouldn’t like – but it’s just so damn catchy, lyrically interesting and vocally expressive. I recommend this one.

Tuesday June 16, 2026

Album cover of Straylight Run by Straylight Run
Copacetic

Good music for the morning when it’s quiet. A little emo and sad but it was alright.

Wednesday June 17, 2026

Album cover of Boz Scaggs by Boz Scaggs
Bummer

Drop right in on “Loan Me a Dime” which features a really great Duane Allman solo, but otherwise you can probably skip the rest of this one.

The cover of Frampton's Camel by Peter Frampton
Far Out

Frampton Comes Alive! was so huge, you almost never hear the studio versions of any of his songs. Shame, this is a great album straight through.

Cover of Wilco's album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Far Out

The album that almost never was. The world is a better place because it is.

The cover of the Sun Kil Moon album Tiny Cities
Copacetic

I forgot to write notes as I was listening to this one. I honestly don’t remember what I thought of it. I might have liked it, I did listen to the whole thing. I guess that’s the review.

Album cover of Raspberries by Raspberries
Bummer

“Go All The Way” kicks this off strong but the rest is unremarkable and pretty sappy. I thought I liked them more than I did when actually listening to this.

Thursday June 18, 2026

The cover of Joh Lord's album Sarabande
Copacetic

It’s big and bombastic and bordering on ELP pretentiousness. Should be a movie soundtrack. The title track stands out as the most listenable.

The cover of the album Thrill of the Arts by Vulfpeck
Copacetic

My buddy Ross who was also a big Gov’t Mule / Allman Brothers fan listened to these guys a lot so thought I would check it out. I didn’t hate it but…

Friday June 19, 2026

Cover of the album Hard Candy by Counting Crows
Copacetic

I have a love / hate thing with this one. Big fan of Counting Crows and songs like “If I Could Give All My Love”, “Butterfly in Reverse”, “Up All Night”, and “Holiday in Spain” make this worth a listen. I don’t skip over the rest, but maybe I pay a little less attention.

The album cover of Crowded House by Crowded House
Far Out

I’ve never met a Neil Finn song I didn’t like.

Saturday June 20, 2026

Cover of the album I Want to see the Bright Lights Tonight by Richard & Linda Thompson
Far Out

This is one I really like and I always listen all the way through. No theme or concept, it’s just so well done it deserves your time and full attention.

Cover of the album The Allman Brothers Band by The Allman Brothers Band
Far Out

So much live material I have collected over the years but it’s still good to go back to where it all started. I can’t imagine hearing this for the first time. Obviously classic, essential, and an intro to the best live band of all time.

Album cover of The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion by The Black Crowes
Far Out

My favorite Crowes album. The thing I have the most trouble with about this album is accepting that it’s nearly 25 fucking years old.

Cover of the album Straight Up by Badfinger
Copacetic

The original 4 hit wonders, this one features two of them. You couldn’t write a more compelling story about possibility, talent, tragedy and fraud than the story of Badfinger. Destined for greatness, financial and managerial troubles hampered any chance they had. Shame, this is good time listen.

June 21, 2026

The cover of the album Abbey Road by The Beatles
Far Out

I could write volumes about this one, maybe a series of Ted talks. I waver when asked which is the best Beatles album, but when I listen to this one, it’s so fucking obvious. A remarkable farewell gift from the greatest band ever.

The cover of the album Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel
Far Out

Some of my favorites by the duo come from this one. Shit, throw “Homeward Bound” and “The Boxer” on to it and I wouldn’t need to listen to anything else.


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Essentials

No collection is complete without these picks.


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