Q&A Remix With Chris Farren

The Q&A Remix is a frequent column on IHTOV in which people from all walks of life answer a set of pre-written questions about their vinyl collection. Today we welcome international rock star Chris Farren.

Have you ever bought a record just for the artwork?

I have an Against Me 12” From Her Lips To God’s Ears which has an Ad-rock remix on it I think - ANYWAYS the art is by my favorite artist Steak Mtn and it’s one of my favorite things he’s done. It’s really just a bunch of yellow feathers but I love it.

What’s the first area you head for in a record store?

Wherever I think it’s most likely the “Chris Farren” records will be, and then I will either have a smug sense of satisfaction if they have any or I will start spiraling into a small “what am I doing with my life” crisis.

What’s the most treasured album in your collection and why?

My wife bought me a FROZEN soundtrack picture disc like 10 years ago and it was nice of her to do that for me, I think she had to drive like 2 hours to get it so I think it would be rude of me to say anything else.

Which artist do you have the most records from?

I am not but looking at my collection it seems I have the most stuff from Mt. Eerie/The Microphones, Tegan & Sara.

Do you have a favorite live record?

I love Beach Boys Party! which is actually a fake live record with pre-planned mistakes. I also have and like Neil Diamond’s Hot August Night.

What are your first memories of listening to records?

My mom had a bunch of great records that were my introduction to albums and music as a whole really. Billy Joel - 52nd Street and Queen - Night at the Opera are the ones I remember listening to the most.

What genre is most represented in your collection?

Looking at my collection now it is either “records that came out between 2005-2012” or “records of bands I went on tour with”. Is that a genre? Indie rock?

What’s the weirdest record you own?

I have a Suicide Machines test press because a record label I was on sent it to me by accident once. I guess it’s not a weird record but it was a weird experience putting on a test press of what I thought was going to be one of my albums and it was decidedly not that.

Chris Farren is a prolific songwriter who made his name recording with Jeff Rosenstock in Antarctigo Vespucci and before that, the Floridian punk band Fake Problems. In 2014, Farren started releasing music under his own name. His latest album is Doom Singer (it’s great - ed)

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