Delvin, So glad my timing was good! Hope you enjoy it--and thanks so much for the support. (I had a feeling you'd be interested in it, too!) All the best, Steve/Familymanby Familyman
Thanks so much, PPM!by Familyman
Any TPers in this forum who liked/loved 2 Tone ska as part of their new wave mix might be interested in my new paperback book The Duff Guide to 2 Tone, which is available through Amazon. (PPM, if you're interested in a review copy for your blog, let me know.) Here's the blurb from the back cover of the book: "The Duff Guide to 2 Tone features over 70 reviews of reissues of eby Familyman
Great and appropriate set--love that you included the Missing Persons, Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Bowie, and Kiss tracks listed above. Will have to look up many of the others.by Familyman
...and even some EMI CD reissues of "Singles Going Steady" added bonus tracks that messed up the perfection of the original!by Familyman
The Chinkees! Mike Park is a great guy!by Familyman
Kelly's been cranking out terrific Echo and the Bunnymen-adjacent albums for several years now. A fave of mine is "Que Aura" from 2017. Also, as a diehard ska fan, I got a big kick out of the fact that teenage Will liked the music!by Familyman
It's not as funny, but this review of Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell" has always stood out for its accuracy and bite: "Refined and carefully groomed for platinum success, it’s an undeniably good rock’n’roll record that is also reprehensible for its phoniness and calculation."by Familyman
Nice batch of songs! Glad to see the new Furs track in there!by Familyman
Undertones, Madness, Bauhaus, Kraftwerk, Heaven 17...and I was expecting to see Psychedelic Furs touring in support of their new album.by Familyman
...or Jerry Dammers.by Familyman
Trouser Press gets a nod in the NY Times obituary for Johnson: . "In 1991, Mr. Johnston made a joint album with Jad Fair of the band Half Japanese, who had cultivated a similar reputation as an eccentric. But by comparison, the rock guide Trouser Press noted, Mr. Fair “seems about as offbeat as an insurance salesman,” as Mr. Johnston muttered “Poor you, no one understands you” in a warped,by Familyman
Thanks for the feedback, Heff! I'm gonna see them!by Familyman
Thanks, Aitch! Leaning towards going now...by Familyman
Stiff Little Fingers will be hitting NYC this October and performing "Inflammable Materials" (it was released 40 years ago); The Avengers are opening. I've never been a big SLF fan, though I'm wondering if seeing them live will convert me. (After catching the absolutely incredible Undertones earlier this summer, I feel like I have to check out another Irish punk band that I neby Familyman
Zoo, most of the album proper is pretty good (better than I expected), though the "Rock the Casbah" remix with The Beat's Ranking Roger is rough (it's a shame that they never polished this one up and released it). If you can find it for a reasonable amount, it's a good addition to your Clash collection.by Familyman
I picked up the double-LP bootleg of "Rat Patrol" last summer and highly recommend it--it's definitely the version of "Combat Rock" that should have seen the light of day (https://www.discogs.com/The-Clash-Rat-Patrol-From-Fort-Bragg/release/4682629). Also, FWIW, here's the review I wrote of "Joe Strummer 001" in October: .by Familyman
PPM, "Familyman" actually relates to Henry Rollins' twisted spoken word piece "Family Man" (from the Black Flag album of the same name). I could deliver a fairly credible rendition of it in college. I'm all about music-geek websites (and keep an eye on The Quietus, as they usually have some sort of post-punk or New Wave piece or review every few weeks--as does Thby Familyman
Quote(The two music websites that I regularly check out are The Quietus and Slicing Up Eyeballs.) Forgot to add Post Punk Monk!by Familyman
I'm very fortunate that my local newsstand in Manhattan carries Mojo and Record Collector, both of which I pick up from him every month (he also carries Vive Le Rock, which I'll sometimes buy, but almost always regret due to the general poor quality of writing within...). (The two music websites that I regularly check out are The Quietus and Slicing Up Eyeballs.)by Familyman
I'm seeing them in NYC this fall just for the songs between "Empires and Dance" and "Sparkle in the Rain"! Go...I don't know how many other chances you'll have to see them (and if they're half as good as they were on the "5X5 Live" release from a few years ago, it'll be completely worth it!). Also seeing The The and Echo and The Bunnymen thby Familyman
You're welcome, Bip! Yep, "The Boiler" is brutal. I own the 45, but have probably only listened to it once...by Familyman
Back in late 2014, Rhoda Dakar released a fantastic album of Bodysnatchers songs (her backing band included Lynval Golding and Horace Panter of The Specials and members of Pama International): . Here's my review of it, if you're interested: .by Familyman
Requests? How about something off The Suburbs' "Hey Muse" (like "Lovers" or "Our Love") and anything from Kelley Stoltz's "Que Aura" (like "Same Pattern" or "I'm Here for Now")?by Familyman
Breno, When I first encountered Echo and the Bunnymen with the release of "Porcupine" back as a teenager in 1983, I was so dopey and unaware of the The Doors/1960s psychedelia influence (see the Byrds homage "Angels and Devils"--an "Ocean Rain" related b-side to "Silver" that I didn't encounter until their box set "Crystal Days") on the bandby Familyman
I forgot to add the incredible new single "Damned for Eternity" from Brix and The Extricated (which is Brix Smith Smart, Steve Hanley, Paul Hanley, Steve Trafford, and Jason Brown--most of whom, of course, are ex-Fall members...).by Familyman
Thanks for the recommendations, Breno! I'm definitely interested in the "Action Time Vision" and "Sharon Signs..." comps! I've been much more familiar with Cherry Red's great ska ska imprints. Phoenix City has released phenomenal new albums from Rhoda Dakar of The Bodysnatchers/Special AKA and Sonic Boom Six: ; while Pressure Drop has issued a great portion oby Familyman
John Foxx and The Maths: "The Machine" Echo and the Bunnymen "It's All Live Now" The Suburbs "Hey Muse" Garland Jeffreys: "14 Steps to Harlem" Pama International "Love and Austerity"by Familyman
Wakeling is taking forever to deliver this album (this is a crowdfunded record and fans put up their money for it over two years ago). There is a long and very angry thread on The Specials' fan site about it that dates back to June 2014 and makes for a good read: http://www.thespecials2.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=23423.by Familyman
I am physically ill in response to the election results.by Familyman
