While typin' this I'm surround by what could be best described as a Christo-type work of art, everything around me is covered in plastic. As of tomorrow we will, albeit temporarily, no longer have a roof over our heads, not to mention the fact that it looks like I won't be able to take a shower here for at least three weeks !. Yep the re/de-construction of HQ is in full effect.
But as promised I'll still try to give you some updates on what I'm diggin' culture wise.
So here goes; Bacchus Archives have just reissued the stellar first 45 by LA powerpop legends The Quick. Main tune on this 45 is 'Pretty Please', a song most of you will know as by either the Dickies or Redd Kross, but to quote Dobie Gray; "the original is still the greatest". The latest batch from Ace Records includes a solid soul comp with all tunes related to the war in Vietnam. ''A Soldier's Sad Story' is easily one of the best soul comps since those Dave Godin compiled 'Deep Soul Treasures' series. From Soul Jazz comes 600 % Dynamite, a real "grower" featuring a bunch of fantastic (and even to me) obscuro Jamaican hits, that are sure to highlight your next shindig. Hey, I gotta agree with Lindsay's POV on the Nomads tribute disc. The fact that there are a number o' tunes on this that the guys did in tribute themselves, should be evidence enough that they are masters at creating their own body of work no matter the source.
'N yeah, this might seem like shorthand, I know... Too bad, but I'm headin' for my last shower in what might be weeks right now, so please forgive me for bein' so brief here....
Damn, almost forgot mentioning the Dirtbombs latest. Easily one of the top 5 p-rock/garage discs this year...

Stop the world the MTV awards are coming to Edinburgh this week. It's gonna be a massive boost to the local economy don'tcha know? The price we're paying is that it's getting saturation coverage. Forget the fact that Edinburgh has no tangible music scene as such but it does have a castle. And at Christmas time, it has a dirty great ferris wheel planked in front, or to the side rather, of Scott's Monument in Princes Street, just along from Bargain Books. All Edinburgh is these days is a soulless money drain. Damned scenic looking in a fur coat, nae knickers kinda fash but is there no end to the constant "gies yer money" vibe. Meanwhile good folks like the Mouats are trying to put on quality entertainment there on a regular basis and get piddly wee audiences. It's an ill-divided world right enough...

In a proper world, The Nomads would enjoy the megastardom they deserve and The Demolition Doll Rods would have been the combo to put Detroit back on the map but we cannae have everything... stand by for the Nomads tribute 20 Years Too Soon comin' atcha this very week courtesy of Big Bongo/Wild Kingdom. It kicks off the party with The Dictators 16 Forever and hammers home the message that those Solna boys introduced us to some damn fine tuneage over the years. Voladoras do more than justice to The Way (You Touch My Hand) and I'd say that all told, this is a damned goodnatured project. More than just a bunch of covers, there's some heart and soul here. The Hellacopters Pack of Lies makes one wonder what it'll take to hep the kids to the fact that they should be selling the tickets and records that T*rb*ne*ro are. Can we get to turning the tables here?

Still getting to grips with this broadband and severing the ol' ties with AOL. Never had this kinda guff with pen, paper and stamps. This is like moving house without actually moving. A proper posting soon, nae kidding. Swedish readers may be interested in picking up todays DAGENS NYHETER to read a report on Glasgow by Niklas Wahllof who suffered for his art I can tell ya. It's not on line but early reports are most favourable.