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ira
Bands squared
April 25, 2008 12:23PM
Just thought of this silly meta-list topic:

songs about musical artists

Song for Michael Jackson to Sing
Listening to the Higsons
Silicon Teens
Levi Stubbs' Tears
The Man Who Died Everyday
Ramones
Jackie Wilson Says


... you get the idea
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diskojoe
Re: Bands squared
April 25, 2008 01:21PM
Hi, We're The Replacements-TMBG
Otis Sleep On-Arthur Conley
Cole, Cooke & Redding-Wilson Pickett
The Baltimores-Jonathan Richman
Tribute to A King-William Bell
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rhettlawrence
Re: Bands squared
April 25, 2008 04:20PM
"Kim Gordon's Panties" - Rapeman
"The End of the Ramones" - The Mr. T Experience
"New York Doll" (is that what it's called?) - Robyn Hitchcock

There's gotta be a million of these....
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erikalbany
Re: Bands squared
April 25, 2008 03:02PM
Sweet Gene Vincent - Ian Dury/Blockheads
When Smokey Sings - ABC
Nightshift - The Commodores ("Marvin, he was a friend of mine...)



Post Edited (04-25-08 17:09)
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breno
Re: Bands squared
April 25, 2008 03:26PM
"Blondie" - Iron City Houserockers
"Johnny Cash" - Sons and Daughters
"Killing Me Softly with his Song" - Roberta Flack (I think)
"Crow" - Jim Carroll Band (I think it's about Patti Smith, but maybe not)
"The Unseen Power of a Picket Fence" - Pavement
"Velvet Underground" - Jonathan Richman
"Porcelain Monkey" - Warren Zevon
"Closer to the Light" - Bruce Cockburn
"J For Jules" - Til Tuesday
"The Beatles and the Stones" - House of Love
"Two Cool Rock Chicks Listening to Neu!' - Ciccone Youth
"Madonna" - Sparks
"His Indie World" - Mary Lou Lord
"I Was a Rock Until the Radio Rolled Me" - Tracy Ullman (and did David Essex do it originally?)
"Johnny Mathis' Feet" - American Music Club
"The Wreck of the Arthur Lee" - Robyn Hitchcock
"The Teardrop Explodes" - The Negro Problem

I STILL maintain that "Prove It" by Television is about Talking Heads, but I can't find any documentary evidence to back it up.



Post Edited (04-25-08 17:31)
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madisdadi
Re: Bands squared
April 26, 2008 07:20AM
yes it is, I just read "Sonic Transmission" and Verlaine had jabs about a lot of bands in his songs including "Prove It".
On the reverse side, the Damned wrote "Idiot Box" about their encounter trying to open for Television in LA.

Other TV fun facts:
Verlaine was a twin. His twin brother John died of a drug OD.
Verlaine thought Eno ripped off his demo tapes and Roxy Music and just re-wrote some of the songs.



Post Edited (04-26-08 10:20)
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MrFab
Re: Bands squared
April 25, 2008 03:23PM
The Higsons were a band? Never heard of 'em. Thought that was typical Hitchcock nonsense, like the Higsons were some eccentric middle-class family, eating lots of porridge. This puts a whole new spin on things...

Both Jonathan Richman and The Television Personalities did songs called "Velvet Underground"
The TVPs also did a Syd Barrett song.
Replacements "Alex Chilton"
Daniel Johnston "The Beatles"
Tom Tom Club "Genius Of Love"



Post Edited (04-25-08 17:58)
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Nile
Re: Bands squared
April 25, 2008 05:46PM
"Levon" - Elton John
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Aitch
Re: Bands squared
April 25, 2008 11:17PM
"I Can't Get Bouncing Babies By The Teardrop Explodes" - The Freshies

"Strummertown" - Stiff Little Fingers

"Screaming" - The Neurotics

"King's Call" - Phil Lynott
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ira
Re: Bands squared
April 26, 2008 07:03AM
Elvis is Everywhere - Mojo Nixon
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breno
Re: Bands squared
April 26, 2008 07:48AM
Vindication!

I knew that I had read years ago that "Prove It" was a response to Byrne saying "I don't have to prove that I'm creative" in "Artists Only," and that when Verlaine says "Chirp chirp/the birds/they're givin' you the words" it was a shot at "Love Goes to Building on Fire", where Byrne does indeed sing "Cheep cheep cheep cheep cheep/Sing like little birds".

I knew I was not imagining that!
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madisdadi
Re: Bands squared
April 26, 2008 08:18AM
Verlaine also liked to use "codes" in his song:
I See No Evil" is a near anagram for Television and his kiss off to Hell ending with "I'm running wild with the one I love" reference to Hell's displeasure with Verlaine's relationship with Patti Smith.
He also thought Byrne wrote "Psycho Killer" as a response after he wrote "Torn Curtain" (both titles being taken from Hitchcock movies).

Lou Reed tried to sneak a tape recorder into CBGBs to record TV and had to be confronted by Verlaine . That was why he thought Eno took their demos to Roxy music and Ferry ripped him off for Siren.



Post Edited (04-26-08 10:27)
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madisdadi
Re: Bands squared
April 26, 2008 08:30AM
perfect cousin undertones
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breno
Re: Bands squared
April 26, 2008 02:41PM
hmmm, yes. Every time I've ever listened to Siren my first thought is how much it sounds like Television. I can definitely see Verlaine's point. It's just like that time I heard Mariah Carey on the radio and thought it was John Lee Hooker. Yes, I can definitely hear the similarities.
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madisdadi
Re: Bands squared
April 26, 2008 04:22PM
" 'Venus's' narcotic metaphor (You know it's like some new kind of drug) had been stolen for 'Love is the Drug', and the way its music suddenly stops had been copied on 'Sentimental Fool'. Verlaine's phrase 'This case is closed', from 'Prove It', appeared intact on 'Whirlwind', and 'Prove It's' use too of 'birdcalls' had been co-opted for 'Nightengale'.There was even an example of a particular piano playing technique Verlaine had used, 'a certain kind of harmony with 2 hands', that cropped up on 'End of the Line'." p65
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breno
Re: Bands squared
April 26, 2008 04:57PM
Hmmmm. Yes, I can see that now. And yknow what, Paul Thompson played drums and so did Billy Ficca! And both bands inhabited Earth! And Bryan Ferry was dating Jerry Hall, and she had a prominent, beaky nose just like Patti Smith!

Because yknow, drug metaphors were unheard of in rock before that, as were songs that suddenly stopped, references to birds and the usage of well known phrases from popular culture. And hell, Brian Eno, who wasn't even in Roxy Music by this point, is well known for not having any ideas of his own....

Sorry, I just think there's a wee chance that Verlaine was being a tad overly paranoid, if those are his reasons for believing that one of the most adventurous bands of the 70s needed to swipe his ideas (for what was ironically their least adventurous album at that point in their career.)

Anything is possible, but it just seems to me that Verlaine was really reaching with all this.
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madisdadi
Re: Bands squared
April 26, 2008 05:07PM
he was (is) extremely paranoid and always complaining of people ripping him off. Ironic that he took "Mr. Tamborine Man" and played it back to front for "Days". Maybe he thought Dylan was ripping off his thoughts he had as a lad in Delaware............
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dj45rpm
Re: Bands squared
April 26, 2008 05:30PM
Wasn't the 13th Floor Elevators' "Fire Engine" listed as "The Blow Up" on the live tape of the same name and credited to Verlaine (though whether he actually told ROIR that he composed it or the tape's compiler made a boo-boo I couldn't say).

Also:

Cock Sparrer: Where Are They Now?
Exploited: Sid Vicious Was Innocent
Special Duties: Bullshit Crass
Black Randy & The Metrosquad: San Francisco (not quite about them, but it namechecks the Avengers and the Dils)
Clash: 1977 (namechecks Elvis, Beatles, and the Stones, albeit not in a positive way)
Psychic TV: Godstar (about Brian Jones)
Shonen Knife: Redd Kross
Television Personalities: I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives
Leyton Buzzards: No Dry Ice Or Flying Pigs (about guess-who)


Not to mention about 1,200 hip-hop songs where rappers are dissing other rappers.
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breno
Re: Bands squared
April 26, 2008 05:10PM
Hmmm, yes.

That's all. I just noticed that I'd begun my last two posts with that phrase and felt the need to toss it in one more time.
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Justj0hn
Re: Bands squared
April 30, 2008 12:54AM
as cool as kim deal[dandy warhols]
Lou Reed Pt 1 / Lou Reed Pt 2 (Where Are You)[Public Image Ltd]
Sickman[Foetus]....allegedly about Blixa Bargeld
Nick Cave Dolls[Bongwater]
Annie's Gone[Redd Kross]...about Ann Magnuson(who's in the video)of Bongwater/Pulsallama.
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Justj0hn
Re: Bands squared
April 30, 2008 01:00AM
"Sickman[Foetus]....allegedly about Blixa Bargeld"

oops, meant to type "allegedly about either Blixa Bargeld or Nick Cave".
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breno
Re: Bands squared
April 30, 2008 05:54AM
"Never Gonna Come Back Down" - bT (Guest vocalist Mike Doughty lusting after DJ Rap)
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Mr Manager
Re: Bands squared
April 30, 2008 09:29AM
I Don't Know Where Dan Treacy Lives - Mr. T Experience
Range Life - Pavement
Melt Show - Old 97s
You'll Dance to Anything - Dead Milkmen
Coax Me - Sloan ("I think Consolidated's okay...")
Ready Steady Go - Generation X
International Tweexcore Underground - Los Campesinos!
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rebecca
Re: Bands squared
May 03, 2008 07:18AM
OK this is fun:

Sex Pistols-New York
Johnny Thunders-London Boys
Lords of the New Church-Lil Boys Play With Dolls
David Bowie-Song for Bob Dylan and Queen Bitch
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MrFab
Re: Bands squared
May 03, 2008 12:10PM

The Spinanes "Jad Fair Drives Women Wild"
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erikalbany
Re: Bands squared
May 03, 2008 12:32PM
Pee-Shy "jad fair"
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satchmykels
Re: Bands squared
May 03, 2008 02:01PM
noise addict - i wish i was him
stinky puffs - i'll love you anyway
replacements - something to du
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jglauner
Re: Bands squared
May 03, 2008 10:20PM
End of the Ramones - Mr. T Experience
Johnny's Gonna Die - The Replacements
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erikalbany
Re: Bands squared
May 05, 2008 06:59AM
How could I forget?:

"Link Wray" Jason (scorcher) Ringenberg

A song about my favorite guitarist by one of my least favorite singers.
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madisdadi
Re: Bands squared
May 05, 2008 07:45AM
i must not think bad thoughts X
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zwirnm
Re: Bands squared
May 05, 2008 06:30PM
Who is the X song about?
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erikalbany
Re: Bands squared
May 06, 2008 07:48AM
It lists bands: minutemen, DOA, black flag, and a couple I forget. . .



Post Edited (05-06-08 09:48)
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madisdadi
Re: Bands squared
May 07, 2008 06:29PM
i hear the radio its finally gonna play new music you know the british invasion but what about the minutemen fleasheaters doa big boys and the black flag were the last american bands to get played on the radio please bring the flag
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STEVE
Re: Bands squared
May 08, 2008 07:08PM
TVP- oxford street oops, part time punks
mojo nixon-don henley must die
plimsouls-playing with jack
fountains of wayne- at the laser show

one more...tackle box-mark lindsey's ponytail

killer topic



Post Edited (05-08-08 21:25)
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ira
Re: Bands squared
May 09, 2008 10:29AM
itunes shuffle just chucked up Amusement Parks on Fire: "The Ramones Book"
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STEVE
Re: Bands squared
May 09, 2008 03:51PM
drop nineteens-ease it Halen
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Jermoe
Re: Bands squared
May 09, 2008 09:11PM
Not sure, but I think Brad may have been referring to "Life is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me" (1974), by Reunion...the first song I remember obsessing over as a kid.

I think Foo Fighters' "My Hero" is about their drummer, Taylor Hawkins. If the song is written by one member of the band about another member of the band, does it qualify (leaving Fleetwood Mac & Pink Floyd for the moment).
"Good Time Boys" - Red Hot Chili Peppers (salutes Thelonious Monster, Firehose, X & Fishbone)
"Song for Whoever" - The Beautiful South (an homage/parody to Elton John)
"Michael Stipe" - P (featuring Gibby Haynes & Johnny Depp)
"Astley's in the Noose" - The Wonder Stuff (hating on the hateable Rick Astley
"James Brown" - B.A.D.
"Not Now James, We're Busy" - Pop Will Eat Itself
"Michael Jackson" - Fatboy Slim (also refers to Tina Turner)
"Debbie" - The B-52's (Debbie Harry)
"Whitney Joins the JAMS" - The Timelords, a.k.a. The KLF (about Whitney Houston)–they also recorded a version of "Doctorin' the Tardis" with Gary Glitter (whose "Rock & Roll [Part 2]" they'd ripped off originally), and called it "Gary Joins the Jams", in which Glitter refers to his own songs. It's all quite post-modern.
"Rock Me Amadeus" - Falco
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STEVE
Re: Bands squared
May 09, 2008 11:44PM
I'm outta my league here.
Jermore spinning a mutherfucker of a web.
The web ?
See Jermoe.

What kind of loudspeakers do you have?
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diskojoe
Re: Bands squared
May 10, 2008 08:58PM
Here's something I listened to last night: "You're Right Ray Charles" by Joe Tex

STEVE, do you think the Rays are the Team of Destiny this year?
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erikalbany
Re: Bands squared
May 11, 2008 10:51AM
Joe's ray charles reference makes me think of one I've forgotten:
Van Morrison, "these dreams of you"
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STEVE
Re: Bands squared
May 11, 2008 05:23PM
Pointed sticks soon dull philosophers.

The question, as I rephrase it then.. is not do i think the rays will win the A.L. East. But rather will they continue to beat the Yanks, Red Sox and Orioles?

Probably.

They like us ride an unseen wave of hope.

(Shit , bands squared right? Well, in keeping with the topic...The Band. The song 'Cripple Creek.'
Where Levon Helm says he's got "Spike Jones on the voxx"



Post Edited (05-11-08 19:25)
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M. Johnson
Re: Bands squared
May 11, 2008 10:47PM
We could go walking down the lane,
Together hand in hand.
But if you think it's gonna rain
We'll stay at home and listen to The Band...

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Michael Toland
Re: Bands squared
May 12, 2008 07:26AM
Let's not forget Nick Lowe's "All Men Are Liars":

Do you remember Rick Astley
He had a big fat hit, it was ghastly



Post Edited (05-12-08 12:04)
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erikalbany
Re: Bands squared
May 12, 2008 09:34AM
Juliana Hatfield "My Sister" (mentions del fuegos and femmes)
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breno
Re: Bands squared
May 12, 2008 11:45AM
Speaking of Juliana Hatfield, isn't "President Garfield" (from the same album as "My Sister") about Henry Rollins?

And I seem to remember that "It's About Time" by the Lemonheads was Evan Dando's plea to Hatfield to knock it off with the virginity and just sleep with him already.

I think "The Man Who Invented Himself" by Robyn Hitchcock is about Syd Barrett.

"Boy" by Ian Hunter - I think it's about Bowie, but not sure.

"How Do You Sleep?" John Lennon spitting bile at McCartney

"Let Me Roll It" McCartney's olive branch response.

"All Those Years Ago," "Here Today" and "Well, I Don't Know" - George, Paul & Julian's responses to John's murder.

"Bloody Motherfucking Asshole" - Martha Wainwright's loving tribute to her pappy.

John Lennon "Beautiful Boy," The Beatles "Hey Jude" and Loudon Wainwright "Rufus is a Tit Man" - songs about future musicians.

"Miss Williams' Guitar" - the Jayhawks

"D. Boon" - Uncle Tupelo

"Haley's Comet" - Dave Alvin

"Tunic (Song for Karen)" - Sonic Youth

"Elvis is Dead" - Living Colour

"Lightnin' Hopkins" - REM

"A Day Without Me" - U2



Post Edited (05-12-08 18:18)
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Heff
Re: Bands squared
May 13, 2008 10:17AM
Young Fresh Fellows -
Hank, Karen and Elvis
Amy Grant

Mojo Nixon -
Debbie Gibson is Pregnant With My Two-Headed Love Child

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larryepke
Re: Bands squared
May 14, 2008 03:03PM
"Rock and Roll Heaven" - a song that makes me want to go to hell instead.

And then there are the songs about the band that sang them:
"Rich Kids" by Rich Kids
"Ballad of Paul Revere" by Paul Revere and the Raiders.
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diskojoe
Re: Bands squared
May 15, 2008 06:26AM
Going back to back in the day, you can't forget "Sweet Soul Music" by Arthur Conley, in which everyone mentioned & the singer himself have all passed on.

Also, there's "(Here They Come) From All Over The World" by Jan & Dean, the theme song from The TAMI Show, the URGH! A Music War of its day & equally (along w/its sequel The TNT Show) & sadly unavailable on DVD.
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erikalbany
Re: Bands squared
May 15, 2008 09:29AM
Leadbelly is mentioned in a host of Van Morrison songs, most notably "Astral Weeks" (as Huddie Ledbetter).
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ratboy
Re: Bands squared
May 16, 2008 07:00AM
Put Boston's Rock and Roll Band into the category of songs about the band that sang them.
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Justj0hn
Re: Bands squared
May 16, 2008 02:02AM
Poor Ol' Jeffrey Lee[World/Inferno Friendship Society]...Jeffrey Lee Pierce(Gun Club)
Bruise Violet[Babes In Toyland]....allegedly about Courtney Love.
Drop Dead/Celebration[Siouxsie And The Banshees]...targets 2 former band members.
Free James Brown(So He Could Run Me Down)[Foetus]
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Delvin
Re: Bands squared
May 16, 2008 07:26AM
> Put Boston's Rock and Roll Band into the category of songs about
> the band that sang them.

Ooooh, yeah, come on! Everybody Wang Chung tonight!
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breno
Re: Bands squared
May 16, 2008 07:54AM
Other bands with songs about themselves:

The Monkees - "Hey Hey We're the Monkees"
The Archies - "Everything's Archie"
Adam & the Ants - "Antmusic"
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Baby Appeal"
Mott the Hoople - "Ballad of Mott"
The Clash - "We are the Clash"

Beatles - "Ballad of John and Yoko"

And I haven't scrolled back up through here, but has anyone mentioned "Roller's Show" by Nick Lowe yet?
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Delvin
Re: Bands squared
May 16, 2008 11:14AM
Don't forget "Clash City Rockers" and the Peppers' "Organic Anti-Beatbox Band."

Also ...

Kool & the Gang - "Hollywood Swinging"
D-12 - "My Band" (actually, hip-hop is rife with such self-referential songs)
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rhettlawrence
Re: Bands squared
May 17, 2008 03:37PM
Well, about half the early Chili Peppers' songs reference the band, so that doesn't really count, does it? About like rappers' boasts....

Same goes for the Blues Explosion, come to think of it. Is there a song on any of the albums where Spencer doesn't shout out "BLUES EXPLOSION!" at some point in the song?
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larryepke
Re: Bands squared
May 19, 2008 09:49AM
And of course "Complete Control"!
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Delvin
Re: Bands squared
May 16, 2008 11:15AM
And the Van Halen song "Top Jimmy."

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STEVE
Re: Bands squared
May 19, 2008 09:39PM
TP!

The only audiophile network with four whole threads per year.

One for each season!

Cool!!

Tell all yer friends



Post Edited (05-19-08 23:39)
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