#miss pauling r and various single digit numbers

[sparkly-sediment]

hey so why the fuck is one of the top related google searches for Miss Pauling “Miss Pauling Water Inflation” what the hell is wrong with a significant number of you

[blackkudos]

Craig David

Craig Ashley David (born 5 May 1981) is a British singer, songwriter, rapper, DJ and record producer who rose to fame in 1999, featuring on the single "Re-Rewind" by Artful Dodger. David's debut studio album, Born to Do It, was released in 2000, after which he has released a further five studio albums and worked with a variety of artists such as Sting, Tinchy Stryder, Big Narstie, Kano and Jay Sean. David has 20 UK Top 40 singles, and seven UK Top 40 albums, selling over 15,000,000 records worldwide as a solo artist.

David has been nominated for fourteen Brit Awards: five times for Best British Male, and twice receiving a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

Early life

David was born in Southampton, Hampshire, the son of Tina (née Loftus), a retail assistant at Superdrug, and George David, a carpenter, and grew up in the Holyrood estate. David's father is Afro-Grenadian and David's mother is Anglo-Jewish and related to the founders of the Accurist watch-making company; David's maternal grandfather was an Orthodox Jew and his maternal grandmother a convert to Judaism. David's parents separated when he was eight and he was brought up by his mother. He attended Bellemoor School and Southampton City College.

David was bullied by other students at school. He wrote and released the song "Johnny" in 2005 about his sad memories of being bullied.

David's father played bass in a reggae band called Ebony Rockers. As a teen, David began accompanying his father to local dance clubs, where DJs let him take the microphone.

Career

Early career

David's earliest exposure came when he worked on a B-side to British group Damage's cover of "Wonderful Tonight", on the track "I'm Ready". He then started doing vocals for the English garage duo Artful Dodger, on tracks such as "Something" and "What Ya Gonna Do".

Wildstar Records first became aware of David when the artist's then manager Paul Widger met the label's co-owner Colin Lester and played some of his music. Lester later told HitQuarters that he was particularly impressed by the first song he heard, "Walking Away", saying "That was an absolute stand out ... It struck me that any seventeen year-old that could write a song like this had huge potential." The Wildstar boss was further won over when, on later visiting the artist's home in Southampton, he found David's tiny bedroom stacked from floor to ceiling with 12" vinyl records, commenting: "That convinced me he was the real deal and not just some kid acting out the part." At that point Lester offered him a development deal with his label. When Lester later heard the song "7 Days", he said he immediately heard a number-one record and promoted the contract to an album deal the same day.

2000–03:

Born to Do It

and

Slicker Than Your Average

The song "Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta)", from the Artful Dodger album It's All About the Stragglers, hit number two on the UK charts in 1999; thus, paving the way for a solo career. David's first single, "Fill Me In", released on Colin Lester's and Ian McAndrew's Wildstar Records, topped the UK chart and was the first of a string of four top 10 singles from his debut album Born to Do It, which eventually sold more than 8 million copies worldwide, earning multi-platinum status in more than 20 countries. The song "Key to My Heart", taken from the US version of the album, was also featured on the award-winning Warner Bros. animated film Osmosis Jones.

The success of David's debut, which was written almost entirely by David and Mark Hill of Artful Dodger, led to the United States release of "Fill Me In" in May 2001. It reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Born to Do It was released in the United States on 17 July 2001, peaking at number 11 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold over 1 million copies. The single "7 Days" hit the top 10 in the U.S.; although "Walking Away", which had reached number 3 in the UK and number 5 in Australia, missed the top 40 in the U.S. and was the last of his singles to chart there.

In April 2009, MTV viewers voted Born to Do It as number 2 on their "Greatest Album of All-Time" poll, behind Michael Jackson's Thriller.

The follow-up album, Slicker Than Your Average, was released in 2002. The album's first four singles continued David's streak of top 10 hits in the UK, bringing a total of nine consecutive top 10 hits until "World Filled with Love" peaked at number 15 in 2003. None of the six singles released from the album charted in the U.S.. Although "What's Your Flava?" and "Rise & Fall" (duet with Sting) received airplay on the urban contemporary and soft adult contemporary formats, they did not make the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart or the Adult Contemporary chart. However, "What's Your Flava?" made the Rhythmic Top 40 chart (number 32), Mainstream Top 40 chart (number 24) and the Top 40 Tracks chart (number 37). According to the RIAA, Slicker Than Your Average was certified Gold in the U.S..

David also commented that the album title could be looked at in two different ways: "On the one hand, it's coming across like I'm arrogant. On the other hand, it's saying I have a lot more composure on the album.""

The album was leaked onto the internet prior to its official release but David was not too bothered as he feels it "spreads the word".

2005–08: The Story Goes... and Trust Me

David later signed on with Warner Music and put together his third album, The Story Goes..., which was released worldwide in August 2005 (excluding the U.S. where it was never released). The first single, "All the Way", returned him to the top 3. The second single, "Don't Love You No More (I'm Sorry)", tied with "7 Days" as his longest-running single in the charts since "Re-Rewind", spending 15 weeks inside the UK top 75. The album's third single, "Unbelievable", debuted at number 18 in March 2006.

In 2007, David collaborated with British rapper Kano on his album London Town, for the single "This Is the Girl". The track was released on 27 August 2007 and debuted at number 18 on the UK charts.

The first single from his album Trust Me, "Hot Stuff (Let's Dance)", was released on 5 November 2007. David successfully sought permission from David Bowie to sample his 1983 number-one single "Let's Dance". The single was a top ten hit, whilst the album charted at number 18 on the UK Albums Chart. "6 of 1 Thing", the second single to be taken from Trust Me, charted at number 39 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming his third-lowest-charting single to date.

"Officially Yours" was released on 23 June 2008 and peaked at number 158 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming his lowest-charting single to date and was the final single from Trust Me. In July, a new track titled "Are You Up for This" started receiving airplay on various radio stations as part of a promo with Ice Cream Records, which also featured a remix with Wittyboy called "Nutter Butter". On 17 August 2008, David performed at a birthday tribute concert for songwriter Don Black at the London Palladium. He performed the song "Ben", originally a hit for Michael Jackson.

David took part in Soccer Aid 2008 at Wembley Stadium on 7 September 2008. He picked up the "Man of The Match" award on the night and played in the same England side as ex-internationals such as Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham and David Seaman, and played against the likes of Romário, Paolo Di Canio, Jaap Stam, and Luís Figo. David received two 2008 UK Urban Music Award nominations for Best Album with Trust Me and Best R&B Act. On 7 November 2008, David was recognised for his contribution to the music industry by receiving an honorary degree of Doctor of Music, from Southampton Solent University at a graduation ceremony held at Southampton Guildhall.

2008–09: Greatest Hits

David released his first Greatest Hits album on 24 November 2008. In support of the release, David released two singles to promote the album. "Where's Your Love" featuring Tinchy Stryder and Rita Ora, a homage to his UK garage days, was digitally released on 10 November 2008. The second single, "Insomnia", produced by Jim Beanz from Timbaland productions, a dance track with hard bassline beats, was released the following week on 17 November 2008. Toby Gad and Eimear Crombie provided back-up vocals and instrumental stylings. David also started working with guitarist and recording engineer Kwame Yeboah, both live and in the studio.

On 29 December 2008, a new mix of "Insomnia", titled "Up All Night Mix", was made available for digital download. As part of the Greatest Hits compilation, David re-recorded "Walking Away" with four different artists across Europe, Monrose from Germany, Nek from Italy, Lynnsha from France and Álex Ubago from Spain. The album debuted at number 48 on the UK Albums Chart. From February to April 2009, David toured Russia, the Far East and performed one show in Los Angeles as part of a Greatest Hits tour. He met fans at a meet and greet session at Singapore Changi Airport before his show.

In April 2009, Born to Do It came second in a poll by MTV UK for the Greatest Album Ever, which received over 40,000 votes, beaten by Michael Jackson's album Thriller. On 14 May 2009, David participated in the Hillsborough Memorial football match at Anfield. On 26 July 2009, David participated in the Sir Bobby Robson Trophy match at St James' Park, playing alongside boyhood hero Alan Shearer.

2009–10: New label and Signed Sealed Delivered

On 18 September 2009, fans got the first taste of the new album with an exclusive demo posted on his official website, a thirty-second snippet covering Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours". On 2 October 2009, David revealed to his fans via Twitter and his website that he had signed a new record deal with Universal Motown. The UK edition of Jay Sean's new album All or Nothing which was released on 30 November 2009, features David on a track entitled "Stuck in the Middle". David performed a bold new cover of "I Wan'na Be like You" from Walt Disney's 1967 film The Jungle Book on the ITV programme Ultimate Movie Toons, broadcast 28 March 2010.The first single from David's fifth studio album Signed Sealed Delivered was "One More Lie (Standing in the Shadows)" and it was released in the UK on 22 March 2010 where it made number 76 with the album following one week later on 29 March 2010, which entered the UK chart at number 13.

On 17 March 2010, David released a UK garage compilation album titled Rewind Old Skool Classics mixed with DJ Spoony featuring some of their favourite UK garage hits from the last ten years.

Two weeks later on 31 May 2010, the second single to be taken from Signed Sealed Delivered, titled "All Alone Tonight (Stop, Look, Listen)" was released. The chorus of the single samples The Stylistics' hit "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" but features completely new verses. In the weeks leading up to the release BBC Radio Two backed the single by naming it their 'Record of the Week' and adding it to their 'A-List'. On 20 May 2010, David appeared as a co-host on The Morning Show in Australia alongside Kylie Gillies, whilst regular male presenter Larry Emdur was on holiday. On 27 August 2010, Swiss DJ Remady released an album titled No Superstar on which David features on the track "Do It on My Own". David was nominated for 'Best Video' at the 2010 Urban Music Awards for the song "One More Lie (Standing in the Shadows)". The 2010 Sunday Times Rich List indicated that Craig David is worth £8 million.

2011–13: Collaborations, new material and TS5 launch

David revealed on Twitter that he has worked with record producer Jim Beanz on material for his new album. He also tweeted about working with August Rigo and more recently Fraser T Smith. Whilst doing a show in Russia, David confirmed he had left Universal Music Group and hopes to release his new album in America as well as the UK. In February 2011, David agreed to do a desert trek for Comic Relief as part of Red Nose Day 2011. A host of celebrities including Dermot O'Leary, Olly Murs and Lorraine Kelly treked 100 kilometres across a Kenyan desert to raise money for preventable blindness across Africa.

In May 2011, David made a guest appearance on NRJ12's French reality TV show Les Anges 2 where he offered advice to contestants trying to make a life in Miami. Released on 1 August 2011, David features on Erick Morillo's new mix CD Subliminal Invasion on a track titled "Fly Away". David performed at the Michael Jackson tribute concert, held in Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium on 8 October 2011.

Further to their earlier collaboration, David and Erick Morillo also canvassed a promotional track to DJs and radio stations titled "Get Drunk Up" and also featured it on YouTube. Morillo revealed David would appear on a project with Harry Romero and José Nunez, featuring a remix of the track. In December, he featured on the Blackout Mode dance track "Freak on the Dancefloor" that appeared on the compilation album R&B Collection 2012.

In 2012, David featured on a number of tracks whilst recording his own album, including releases with Stereo Palma titled "Our Love" and a collaboration with Mohombi and DJ Asaad titled "Addicted".

In July 2012, it was revealed David was writing with Backstreet Boys on their 20th-anniversary album, the follow-up to their 2009 album "This Is Us" and the first they released since the return of Kevin Richardson who departed from the band in 2005.

In January 2013, David announced on Twitter that he had signed a publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG). The deal saw David's publishing company, formally known as Bootyman Music Publishing merge to become JEM Music.

Starting in March 2013, David embarked on a world tour starting with three shows across Australia, followed by four in Europe (France, Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands) and finally finishing in May with four shows in England (Birmingham, Manchester, Southampton and London). In September 2013, Capital FM announced that David's DJ show 'TS5' would moveto Capital Xtra every Friday evening from 10:00 pm.

2014–17: Following My Intuition and return to fame

On 2 July 2014, David previewed a teaser track titled "Cold" on his official SoundCloud page. Premiering it on his TS5 radio show the week before, he wanted to preview some of the new music he has been working on in anticipation of his long-awaited sixth studio album. A further teaser track titled "Seduction" was uploaded to the same SoundCloud page in September 2014.

On 5 September 2015, David featured on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge with Sigala where they covered Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth's "See You Again" mixed with the Little Mix track "Black Magic". The following week, on 10 September 2015, David appeared on Kurupt FM's 'Sixty Minute Takeover' on BBC Radio 1Xtra with MistaJam. He performed "Fill Me In" over the track "Where Are Ü Now" and it became a viral internet hit. Two snippets of potential new album tracks were also played on the night and this 1Xtra appearance led to David making surprise performances of the "Fill Me In" / "Where Are Ü Now" remix at Fabric with Kurupt FM and Alexandra Palace with Major Lazer and Diplo.

It was later revealed that the Radio 1Xtra appearance led to a collaboration between David and Big Narstie who also featured on the show and the track they recorded titled "When the Bassline Drops" was played on MistaJam's BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra show on 7 November 2015, it was later revealed the track is to be released under SpeakerBox/JEM on 27 November 2015. David made a surprise appearance on The X Factor on 13 December 2015, where he performed his breakthrough single "Re-Rewind" during a medley with Reggie 'n' Bollie and Fuse ODG. "When the Bassline Drops" debuted at number 50 in the UK and peaked at number 10 on 5 February 2016, becoming David's highest-charting single since 2007.

On 25 January 2016, it was announced that Craig David had signed a recording contract with Insanity Records (a joint venture between Sony Music UK and Insanity Management) and independent company Speakerbox Media.

On 19 March 2016, at the second day of the Ultra Music Festival 2016, during the set of the Dutch DJ and record producer Hardwell, he appeared for present their new track "No Holding Back", which was released on 19 August 2016.

In 2016, David appeared on Kaytranada's album 99.9%, on the track "Got It Good", which he also co-wrote. This song also appeared on his sixth studio album. On 19 August 2016, Craig announced on social networks that his sixth studio album, Following My Intuition, would finally be released on 30 September 2016. It debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, giving David his first number-one album since his debut, Born to Do It, reached the top spot in 2000.

2017–present: The Time Is Now

On 15 September 2017, David announced the release of the seventh studio album, The Time Is Now, which was released in January 2018, along with the single "Heartline".

On 23 November, David released his second single from The Time Is Now, "I Know You" featuring Bastille. David and Dan Smith from Bastille performed the song live a day later on Sounds Like Friday Night. The single peaked at number 5 in 2018, making it David's highest charting single since "Don't Love You No More (I'm Sorry)" in 2005.

The Time Is Now debuted at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart, kept off the top spot by The Greatest Showman: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.

On 31 May 2019, David released a new single "When You Know What Love Is" from his upcoming eighth album. In July, David made a cameo appearance in Love Island, performing the single as a DJ at a Ministry of Sound pool party.

His next UK garage single "Do You Miss Me Much" was released on 23 August 2019.

On 31 December 2019 and 1 January 2020, David performed on BBC One's New Year Live concert at Westminster Central Hall with his full band and TS5 DJ Set.

Personal life and activism

David is Jewish.

David is also an avid supporter of Southampton FC, his hometown football team.

On 24 March 2010 (World Tuberculosis Day), the World Health Organization appointed Craig David as a Goodwill Ambassador against tuberculosis. His first activity in this role was to travel to South Africa to learn more about tuberculosis, where he met people suffering from the disease or having recovered from it, and scientists who have dedicated their lives to fighting tuberculosis. David stated that his mission is to help overcome the social stigma of TB in order to beat the disease.

Caricaturisation on Bo' Selecta!

David was frequently caricatured by comedian Leigh Francis on the British TV comedy show Bo' Selecta!; the show's title itself being a reference to his song "Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta)". Although many other celebrities lampooned in the series appreciated the jokes and even appeared in the series themselves, David—the series' most prominently mocked target—did not enjoy the attention, remarking that the public were no longer taking him seriously. Speaking to The Sunday Times in 2007, David confessed that "The whole Bo' Selecta! thing was killing me for a while because this idiot had a cult following and I was the main caricature. ... Inside it was absolutely pissing me off and hurtful beyond belief. There were times when I thought I just want to knock this guy out".

Although he made an appearance himself on the programme (as the pseudo-fictional tribute act "Craig Davis"), he regretted it. However, he has also denied that his career had been ruined as a result of the show, and has said that he was satisfied with his musical output over the years.

In a 2015 interview with the Daily Mirror, David stated that he had no hard feelings towards Francis, explaining how he had seen him at a wedding and given him a hug, assuring him they were "cool". He further explained in the interview that it was his PR team who suggested that he "play hurt" by the caricature. He reiterated this stance on The Jonathan Ross Show in 2016 and explained that, contrary to popular belief, he had not fled the UK to escape negative attention brought about from the show.

Discography

Born to Do It (2000)

Slicker Than Your Average (2002)

The Story Goes... (2005)

Trust Me (2007)

Signed Sealed Delivered (2010)

Following My Intuition (2016)

The Time Is Now (2018)

[13thfloornz]

The 13th Floor’s Kate Powell spent her Sunday night with Friday Jams at Auckland’s Spark Arena. Photographer Reuben Raj provides the visuals…

Philosophers suggest that nostalgia has coincided with revolution, because during a time of tumultuous change we like to cling to a never-changing past. The soft warm glow that comes with nostalgia gives us a sense of psychological well-being; it soothes our existential fears and quashes our loneliness with shared familiarity.

Sound familiar?

In a world characterised by socio-political uncertainity for an entire generation, the digital revolution is ideally suited to share and trigger nostalgia. Google and various “share” buttons have given us countless ways to revisit the old.

As a result, nostalgia has become a cash cow on an unprecedented level. Within popular culture, the past is being upheld culturally more than the present. Going to a #throwback club night in brand new 90s fashion has become a normal weekend activity. Expressing strong opinions about your favourite childhood film getting a reboot has become a regular brunch conversation. (Jks, we’re too poor for brunch).

ZM jumped onto the nostalgia bandwagon a little under a year ago with its Friday Night Jams segement which paid tribute to R&B artists. It quickly gained a dedicated following which resulted in the Friday Night Jams show, paradoxically on a Sunday at Spark Arena last night.

Featuring Christina Milian, Mario, Kelis, Ne-Yo, Craig David and Sean Paul, it delivered on the promise that it was New Zealand’s biggest R n’ B party on the strength of its names alone. It was the first time to our shores for many of these artists, which only increased the hype among its multi-generational audience.

The new millenium heralded a new era for R&B and there were numerous shifts and developments within the genre during the early to mid 2000s. Sandwiched between the hip-hop and soul infused sound of the 90s and the electronic, heavily produced sound that was popular at the time, ‘aughties’ R&B intertwined sultry sensuality with a playful, collaborative spirit. R&B style permeated mainstream fashion, sports and television, making it a true cultural force of its era. Also, given that it exploded during the rise of the internet and increased sharability, it makes complete sense that for many millenials, it represents the soundtrack to their youth.

Perhaps its nostalgia at work, but at the time, R&B wasn’t my jam. I was far more interested in the garage-rock revival, 80s indie-rock and other generic artsy kid genres and on a deep level that is the music that reminds me of being 16. But neurologists say that because pop music plays so often in the background of our day to day lives whether we select it or not, it has the ability to inadvertently invoke powerful memories. Socials, balls, lunchtimes, first loves and losses, the time your school bullies cornered you in the common room, the first post-high school roadtrip, University parties. They are powerful memories, and I can guarantee if you cast your mind back you’ll subconciously get a song playing in your head.

Bearing this all in mind, it was still a massive trip to walk into Spark Arena to the sight of thousands of people throwing their hands up in the air to Fatman Scoop performing his perpetual banger

Put Your Hands Up. I hadn’t heard it since a very early morning visit to Wellington’s Good Luck bar back in 2012. It put an immediate grin on my face. Scoop was our MC for the evening and he did a spectacular job. His boundless energy was infectious and he was a joy to watch.

Unfortunately I was only able to catch Ne-Yo, Craig David and Sean Paul, and they proved a mixed bag.

With his star power and unquestionable singing ability, Ne-Yo was a clear highlight. Bringing his live band, the Las Vegas singer-songwriter-actor-producer had his entire CV flash up onscreen before appearing onstage to rapterous applause.

Opener So Sick set the tone as he swaggered across the stage pausing every so often to pop and lock (classic aughties) and at one point flashing his abs, which he wiped down with a towel before throwing it into the audience. He knew what the people wanted and was more than happy to oblige. An audience member reciprocated the gesture, throwing a protein bar at him, suggesting that the crowd was hungry for more. Ne-Yo was just getting started.

He commanded the stage with talent and charisma with a career-spanning set. Slow-jam Mad saw him undo one button to a chorus of shrieks, while he showed off his songwriting chops with Beyonce’s Irreplaceable. He then invited two ladies from the audience to dance with him to his new single Push Back, a reggae inspired number that saw both audience members enthusiastically grinding on him. The opening bars of Closer had everyone snapchatting their friends. The energetic performance peaked with plumes of dry ice erupting with the crescendo and he rounded his set off  with Time of Our Lives before tossing his hat into the audience.

Craig David and TS5 were up next. Although starting off life as a DJ some 20 years ago, he found international stardom with his albums Slicker Than Your Average and Born To Do It. TS5 began in David’s Miami home where hosts and DJs weekly parties. These eventually found a following and he now travels the world replicating the house party atmosphere. With just his onstage mixing setup for company, David opened with Re-Wind (The Crowd Say Bo-Selecta). Mixing samples of R&B, Rap, Trap and Electronica, David sang his own material over them and the result was not good. It may have been about “flexing some tunes and putting a new spin on them” but it felt incredibly disjointed. Case in point was when he reworked his classic I’m Walking Away over the instrumentals of Still D.R.E. Seperately, these are great songs, but to force them together just sounds uncomfortable. The beats didn’t  match up, not to mention the awkward coupling of David’s honeyed vocal style with a G-Funk classic. I truly expected better from someone who touts himself as a world class DJ. The attempt to merge Seven Days with Justin Beiber’s Where R U Now was especially tragic. Dressed in a hoodie, what looked like Activewear leggings, and sneakers, David gave the impression that he was about to host a particularly aggressive spin class. It was a real shame, because his vocals were fantastic and he was a gracious performer.

Finally headliner Sean Paul took to the stage. Despite having a host of features in famous songs, his own discography and a live show that consisted of impressive back up dancers, a keytar and energy, the audience still felt “meh.” Which is unfortunate given his legacy as a Dancehall pop pioneer, bringing it into the western mainstream with his single Get Busy in 2003.

As he sang Sia’s Cheap Thrills the crowd seemed confused, which was only amplified by a cover of Ed Sheeran’s Shape Of You. Get Busy and Like Glue saw them perk up for a moment at least. Sean Paul and his backup dancers clad in reggae colours were giving it their all and it was sad to watch the crowd be so unresponsive. Bringing out fellow Jamacian artist Chi Ching Ching for Crick Neck and Rock Da World did little to invigorate the audiences rapidly lagging energy after a long night. Sean Paul seemed to recognize this, and with a quick thank you, he was gone.

A hit and miss night of nostalgic audience memory mixing somewhat awkwardly with performers trying to live in the now.

Kate Powell

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Reuben Raj:

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          Friday Jams ft: Christina Milian, Mario, Kelis, Ne-Yo, Craig David and Sean Paul – Spark Arena October 22, 2017 The 13th Floor's Kate Powell spent her Sunday night with Friday Jams at Auckland's Spark Arena. Photographer Reuben Raj provides the visuals...

[b-sidemusic]

FEATURED BANDCAMP: VARIOUS ARTISTS - THIS WAS THE SOUND OF SUGAR TOWN

https://repeatfanzine.bandcamp.com/album/this-was-the-sound-of-sugar-town Back in July, Cambridge-based indie R*E*P*E*A*T Records released 'This Is The Sound Of Sugar Town Volume 2' - a 13-track vinyl compilation showcasing the Bury St Edmunds music scene, with all profits going to East Anglian mental health charity Julian Support, and featuring the currently-thrillsome likes of Gaffa Tape Sandy, Sun Scream, Janet Street Slaughter, Tundra, Cathedrals & Cars, The Wilsons, Jack Rundell and Siah.  

Hearteningly, '...Volume 2' raised enough money to fund a new music therapy project in Bury St Edmunds, which is currently being piloted at the town's go-to DIY venue The Hunter Club.  To help raise a bit of extra cash, R*E*P*E*A*T have swiftly followed up with a retrospective compilation of Bury bands, 'This Was The Sound Of Sugar Town: A Brief History Of Bury St Edmunds Rock City 1990-2015'.  Co-compiled by B-Side's news editor Seymour Quigley, 'This Was The Sound Of Sugar Town' features 20 songs by a host of bands who were significant to the town's music scene in their respective eras, and includes a number of tracks which, by dint of being self-released in pre-internet times, have never previously been available digitally. 

The full tracklisting is: 1. Ten City Nation – Exhibition Time Again 2. The Dawn Parade – Caffeine Row 3. Thee Vicars – Budget Rock 4. Rats As Big As Dogs – Print 5. Jacob's Mouse – Carfish 6. Glory Glory – Love For Love 7. The Exiles – Come Too Without You (live) 8. The Fashion – Hands Off 9. Obima – Ginga 10. King Blood – Santa Monica Dream 11. Miss Black America – Talk Hard 12. Becky Jago – Baby Barbecue 13. My Hi-Fi Sister – Weak Coffee 14. Chevette – Regular Teeth 15. Tell It To The Marines – Fireworks 16. The Secret Hairdresser – The Welterweight Fund 17. The Siamese Sluts – Have Drugs Will Travel 18. Diastole – Leave Yourself Here 19. Pipehead – Pink Shellsuit 20. The Khe Sanh Approach – Crocodile Teargas

This Was The Sound Of Sugar Town by Various Artists

Below, for your reading pleasure, are the compilation's sleeve notes, with a potted history of each artist.  'This Was The Sound Of Sugar Town' is available on Spotify, iTunes and Amazon, or for the bargain download price of £3 directly from R*E*P*E*A*T.   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * THIS WAS THE SOUND OF SUGARTOWN - TRACK CHRONOLOGY 1990: PIPEHEAD – Pink Shellsuit (Watson) Taken from ‘The Pipehead Demos’, a compilation of cassette demos sold at gigs.   Produced by Pete Alexander. Active late 80s-early 90s.  Pleasingly bitter and twisted, Pipehead were one of very few Bury St Edmunds guitar bands playing their own music at a time when pub rock reigned supreme, regularly sharing bills with the higher-profile Jacob’s Mouse. Singer/guitarist Iain Watson now fronts Americana band The Wilsons. Link: www.pipehead.bandcamp.com 

1991: JACOB’S MOUSE – Carfish (Boothby/Boothby/Marsh) Taken from ‘No Fish Shop Parking’ LP, released on Blithering Idiot Records. Produced by Jacob’s Mouse and Howard. Active c.1988-1995. Jacob’s Mouse’s self-released debut EP and LP (‘The Dot EP’ and ‘No Fish Shop Parking’, the title of which came from a sign outside a chip shop), made serious waves in the indiesphere, and saw them quickly signed to influential indie imprint Wiiija Records (home to Therapy? and Cornershop). They received oodles of John Peel airplay on Radio One, recording a Peel Session in 1992, and toured with many “buzz bands” of the day including Nirvana, Manic Street Preachers, Suede and Th’ Faith Healers.  Kurt Cobain declared them one of his favourite bands, but their increasingly experimental albums failed to sell and they split in 1995. Singing drummer Sam Marsh went on to form The Machismo’s, Volunteers, Zen Reggae Masters and The People’s Choice, and produced records by numerous local bands. Link: www.facebook.com/jacobsmouse 

1993: OBIMA – Ginga (Cerhan/Newsham/Sawyer/Sykes) White label 12”.   Produced by Obima. Active: 1990-1994.   To our knowledge the only 90s indie-dance outfit to have emerged from Bury, Obima pushed themselves hard on the London A&R circuit, eventually being courted by Parlophone Records after catching the attention of Blur ‘s Damon Albarn; however, the band lost out on a hotly-contested major label contract to Liverpool’s Space, and split shortly after. Bassist Michael Newsham formed Loft, before moving to Taiwan; singer/guitarist Ed Sykes and guitarist/keyboard player Adam Sawyer formed Taxi To Mars (2002-2006) and then So-Called Humans (2006-2012). Sawyer and Newsham currently play together Age Of Crisis; Sykes is now a solo artist. Link: None. 

1998: CHEVETTE – Regular Teeth (Dewar/Mayhew/Mills) Taken from ‘Regular Teeth’ 7”, released on Slit Boy Records. Produced by Sam Marsh. Active 1996-99.  Literally the only band doing anything of interest in Bury St Edmunds at that time, let alone the only band to be found doing twatlaps of the cattle market in a vintage car wearing 70s shirts and cowboy boots, Chevette’s hometown gigging was somewhat stifled by a lack of gigging infrastructure; as a result, their most-played local “venue” outside of Cambridge was the restaurant area of West Suffolk Hospital’s staff social club. Singer/guitarist Jay Mills went on to front Volunteers, Rats As Big As Dogs and Italian Books; he also co-founded highly-regarded BSE skate/BMX shop Hardcore Hobbies. Link: None. 

2000: BECKY JAGO – Baby Barbecue (Cooper/Jago/Rhodes) Taken from a 7-track demo CD-R, sold at gigs.   Produced by Richard Locket. Active: Late 90s-sometime in the 00s (on and off).  A gaggle of genuine lunatics, Becky Jago would regularly get so worked up onstage that actual fist fights would break out between members. Drummer Simon Cooper went on to play with Methods Of Punishment, Coronach, A Horse Called War and Men Of Munga.  Singer/guitarist Dave Jago and bassist Paul Rhodes went on to perform together in Hobopope & The Goldfish Cathedral and Cockdaughter; Rhodes later founded enduringly popular hardcore outfit The Domestics.  Jago has also performed with Dr Vosine & Roy McFace, Percythrower, ChinaDoor The Movie, A Day In The Life Of A Housewife, Scare The Normals, Voter Kernel, The Exorcysts, Cheap Heat and Janet Street Slaughter, and he performs solo as Mouse-drawn Cart. LINK: None. 

2001: THE SECRET HAIRDRESSER – The Welterweight Fund (Baldock) Taken from ‘Top Ten Conditioning Tips’, released on Lap Records. Produced by Jason Baldock. Ostensibly a band, The Secret Hairdresser on record was almost exclusively the work of producer/multi-instrumentalist/pop genius Jason Baldock, who also ran the very popular ‘Planet Beet’ indie/alternative night (at long-gone dive bar The Priors Inn) and Old School Studios.  Despite an apparent aversion to playing any kind of industry “game”, the band recorded a Peel Session in 2004. In 2007, Jason relocated Old School Studios to Norwich, producing and performing with a number of bands including Rope Store and Lake Combover.  He currently runs Seal of Approval Records.  His new venture, Carwash Studios, is due to open in Norwich in October 2017.   LINK: peel.wikia.com/wiki/Secret_Hairdresser 

2002: MISS BLACK AMERICA – Talk Hard (Baldwin/Gish/Quigley/Smith) Taken from ‘God Bless Miss Black America’ LP, released on Integrity Records. Produced by Gavin Monaghan. Active: 1999-2006.  Perma-touring would-be stadium punks MBA received critical acclaim very early on after receiving the on-air patronage of John Peel; they recorded four Peel Sessions between 2001-2003, and their first five singles hit Peel’s ‘Festive Fifty’ in 2001 and 2002 (this track charted at #3 in 2002).  The original line-up dissolved acrimoniously shortly thereafter, with bassist Mike Smith, drummer Neil Baldwin and guitarist Gish going on to form My Hi-Fi Sister.  Singer/guitarist Seymour Quigley limped on with a revolving-door line-up until 2006 before briefly going solo under the monicker ‘Open Mouth’.  Smith, Baldwin and Quigley later reunited as Ten City Nation. LINK: www.facebook.com/missblackamericaband 

2002: THE DAWN PARADE – Caffeine Row (McDonald) Taken from ‘Caffeine Row’ EP, released on Sugar Town Records/R*E*P*E*A*T.   Produced by Gavin Monaghan. Active: 1997-2006.  Driven by zesty singer/songwriter Greg McDonald, The Dawn Parade toured hard alongside fellow Bury dreamers Miss Black America, releasing a string of EPs between 2001-2005.  Disqualified from the 2002 Festive Fifty for vote rigging (by a clearly amused John Peel), they were invited to record a Peel Session in early 2003. Like MBA, the band suffered from a lack of stability, with McDonald the only constant member.  Their debut album was released posthumously by R*E*P*E*A*T Records in 2006. LINK: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dawn_Parade 

2003: THE EXILES – Come Too Without You (Dupuy/Halliwell/Miles/Moss) Recorded live in London. Active: 2001-2004.  Although contemporaries of Miss Black America and The Dawn Parade, the far more sensible Exiles chose not to pursue a life of endless touring.  They also released very little, although single ‘The Not Gate’ made enough of an impression on John Peel for him to invite them for a Radio One session in early 2003. Sadly, the band split in 2004 (with bassist Matt Dupuy accidentally concussing singer/guitarist Ben Miles in a joint guitar-smashing at their final gig; Miles then received a standing ovation on the steps of Bury Corn Exchange as he was carried to an ambulance), and their shelved debut album remains unreleased.  Miles went on to form The Siamese Sluts; Dupuy founded The Khe Sanh Approach; while drummer Bob Halliwell released a solo album, ‘Fades’, and played on The Dawn Parade frontman Greg McDonald’s second solo album, ‘Tomorrow England’. LINK: None. 

2004: THE FASHION – Hands Off (Bacon/Drury/Edison/March/Whitford) Demo CD-R, sold at gigs. Produced by Zak Whittaker. Active: 2004-2005.  Formed by singer Sarah Edison after her brilliantly-named sixth-form band The White Trash split up, The Fashion played a handful of life-affirming gigs around East Anglia before quietly slipping away.  Edison, guitarist Adam Whitford, bassist Bradley Marsh and drummer Dave Bacon formed the short-lived DownDog, while guitarist Joel Drury joined The Willycockers.  Dave Bacon currently plays in Americana sextet The Wilsons, alongside Reuben Kemp of Thee Vicars/Rats As Big As Dogs and Pipehead’s Iain Watson. LINK: None. 

2005: MY HI-FI SISTER – Weak Coffee (Baldwin/Gish/Parkington/Smith) Taken from ‘Flashing Lights’ EP, CD-R sold at gigs.   Produced by Gish. Active: 2003-2006.  Initially formed by Miss Black America survivors Mike Smith and Neil Baldwin, My Hi-Fi Sister were later joined by bassist Sam Parkington and MBA guitarist Gish. Rarely playing outside of East Anglia, the band dissipated in 2006 when Parkington emigrated to Australia. Smith and Baldwin immediately formed Ten City Nation; Gish went on to play with Men of Munga and Scare The Normals, and solo under the monicker ‘Hypermagic’. LINK:  http://onedeafear.com/bands.php?id=1 

2005: THE SIAMESE SLUTS – Have Drugs Will Travel (Baldwin/Miles/Steward) Taken from ‘The Best of The Siamese Sluts’ LP (unreleased).   Produced by Andy Taylor. Active: 2004-2005.  Formed immediately after the dissolution of The Exiles by singer/guitarist Ben Miles, The Siamese Sluts also featured Miss Black America/My Hi-Fi Sister drummer Neil Baldwin on bass, and Mark Steward on drums.  Cruelly, their debut album was never released: Miles developed acute tinnitus overnight, and was forced to quit music altogether.  Baldwin would go on to join The Khe Sanh Approach, The Vitamins and Ten City Nation; Steward would later drum for The Birch. LINK: None. 

2006: DIASTOLE – Leave Yourself Here (Langley) Taken from ‘Escalade’ EP, released on Cause Records. Active: 1999-2006.  Originally called Blue Gandhi, the band received airplay from a clearly enthused John Peel after singer/guitarist Ellie Langley handed him a demo at a gig. Sadly, the band never capitalised on the attention and gradually faded from view.  Eventually changing their name to Diastole, their sole “proper” EP, ‘Escalade’, was released shortly before the band split up.  Langley went on to perform solo as Eleanor Lou, and fronted Horse Party between 2012-2017. LINK: peel.wikia.com/wiki/Blue_Gandhi 

2006: THE KHE SANH APPROACH – Crocodile Teargas (Abysmal/Baldwin/Dupuy/Phillips/Watson) Taken from ‘The Extraordinary Rendition of The Khe Sanh Approach’ EP, released on Hanoi Recordings. Produced by Andy Taylor. Active: 2004-2007.  Almost certainly the finest “war disco” quintet ever to emerge from West Suffolk, The Khe Sanh Approach (named after a technique for landing aircraft under fire) featured, in singer/keyboard player Matt Abysmal, one of the finest and most under-celebrated lyricists of all time. Counting former Exiles bassist Matt Dupuy in their ranks as chief instigator, they also rocked like bastards, clocking up an impressive mileage on DIY UK tours. Sadly, the World didn’t know what to make of them and, following the self-release of their final (and best) EP ‘The Extraordinary Rendition of…’, the band abruptly split.   Abysmal went on to join electro/psych outfits The Resistance and Bricolotheque; lead guitarist Richard Phillips and drummer Neil Baldwin (also of Miss Black America/My Hi-Fi Sister/The Siamese Sluts) went on to form The Vitamins; and noisy guitarist Tom Watson went on to found Deep Sht and Real Lies. LINK: www.repeatfanzine.bandcamp.com/album/burn-cambridge-burn 

2007: THEE VICARS – Budget Rock (Whittaker) Taken from ‘Let Us Play’ EP, released on Dire Records.   Produced by Jason Baldock. Active: 2007-2012.  Literally exploding onto the Bury scene (via the BurySOUND band competition) while still at school, Thee Vicars stood out as the only sharp-suited, 60s garage-obsessed teenage punk gang in a scene then largely preoccupied with emo and metal.  Hard-touring to the last, they quickly signed with London beat aficionados Dirty Water Records; second album ‘Psychotic Beat’ received universal acclaim, and the band developed a sizeable following in Europe and the USA, but at the cost of line-up stability (singer, bassist and chief songwriter Mike Whittaker was the only constant member).  Tragically, the band ended with the sudden passing of lead guitarist Chris Langeland in 2012.  Whittaker went on to front The Baron Four; original lead guitarist Reuben Kemp went on to play with The Wilsons, Rats As Big As Dogs and Kate Jackson & The Wrong Moves, and formed the short-lived Black Sands with original Vicars drummer Jasper Kemp (his brother) and rhythm guitarist Marcus Volkert. LINK: www.reverbnation.com/theevicarsgarage 

2008: TEN CITY NATION – Exhibition Time Again (Baldwin/Quigley/Smith) Taken from ‘Ten City Nation’ LP, released on Sturm Und Drang Recordings. Produced by Sam Marsh. Active: 2007-2012.  Formed by reconciled Miss Black America founders Seymour Quigley (guitar/vocals), Mike Smith (bass/guitar/vocals) and Neil Baldwin (yes, him again – drums, vocals), Ten City Nation – having learned the hard way the pitfalls of living la vida loca – toured sparingly and wrote incessantly, clocking up three albums and two EPs between 2008-2010.  A period of inactivity followed; after the band’s song ‘TDK 90’ was used on the soundtrack of a Suicide Girls movie, a collaboration with (Nashville-based Raconteur) Brendan Benson was talked up but never came to pass, and TCN silently disbanded in 2012. Smith went on to form The Birch with former Siamese Sluts drummer Mark Steward; Baldwin formed The Vitamins with fellow ex-Khe Sanh Approacher Richard Phillips; while Quigley formed Horse Party with Diastole’s Ellie Langley and Glory Glory’s Shannon Hope, and later joined Kate Jackson & The Wrong Moves. LINK: www.facebook.com/tencitynation 

2009: TELL IT TO THE MARINES – Fireworks (Bull/Fretwell/Hyland/Naylor/Phillips) Taken from ‘Bridges’ EP, released on All Aboard Records.   Produced by Lewis Childs. Active: 2006-2012.  Equally influenced by evergreen 80s indie stalwarts The Wedding Present as they were by post-hardcore heroes Million Dead, Tell It To The Marines stood out as a beacon of hope in an age when depressingly careerist identikit Kerrang! cover star wannabes reigned supreme.   Big of tune and tidy of hair, their steely determination to succeed via good old-fashioned hard work saw ‘Marines, like Miss Black America and The Dawn Parade before them, cultivate an enthusiastic grassroots following by touring themselves into the ground.  On the receiving end of unhealthy major label interest, the band (by their own admission) “let it go to our heads and went mental”; following fractious tours with You Me At Six and Lower Than Atlantis, the band were told at a meeting with Warner Music that they needed to be “the next Adele”, and split the following week.  Singing guitarists Tim Hyland and Dan Fretwell, along with drummer Jason Naylor, subsequently formed Real Life Charm;  drummer Lewis Bull played bass with Chapters; and guitarist John Phillips is now a conflict archaeologist. LINK: www.facebook.com/Marinesband 

2010: GLORY GLORY – Love For Love (Hope/Yasimi) Taken from ‘Love Music Hate Racism EP’, released on R*E*P*E*A*T Records. Produced by Jason Baldock & Glory Glory. Active: 2008-2010.  Formed by Bury-based singer/drummer Shannon Hope and Norwich singer/guitarist Panos Yasimi after meeting on an Access To Music course, Glory Glory were the scrappy, truculent underdogs of a Norwich-centred scene (dubbed “Twitch Rock” by The Fly magazine) that also featured Fever Fever, Violet Violet and The Brownies.  In their short lifespan the band clocked up a decent collection of support slots in their respective hometowns, but split abruptly in 2010.  Hope went on to drum with Rats As Big As Dogs, Horse Party and Kate Jackson & The Wrong Moves, and released an eponymous solo EP in 2013.   LINK: www.repeatfanzine.bandcamp.com/album/the-love-music-hate-racism-ep 

2013: RATS AS BIG AS DOGS – Print (Hope/Kemp/Mills/Swift) Taken from ‘Stupid Suits You’ EP, released on Sturm Und Drang Recordings. Produced by George Perks & Seymour Quigley. Active: 2011-2015.  Rats As Big As Dogs were effectively a supergroup, featuring singer/guitarist Jay Mills (of Chevette and renowned hardcore outfit Volunteers), singer/guitarist Reuben Kemp (Thee Vicars, The Wilsons), bassist Olly Swift (The Vitamins) and singer/drummer Shannon Hope (Glory Glory, Horse Party), but carved out their own singular niche within the Bury music scene: Fugazi levels of intensity, fierce anti-bullshit rhetoric and uncategorisable musical outbursts that left indie kids and hardcore meatheads alike scratching their heads at every left-turn. Releasing only three EPs over the course of their four years together, RABAD nevertheless played an impressive number of shows before mundane life circumstances slowed their progress to a stop in 2015; Kemp and Hope continued touring together with Kate Jackson & The Wrong Moves, while Mills embarked on an industrial noise project, Italian Books, in 2016. LINK: www.ratsasbigasdogs.bandcamp.com  

2015: KING BLOOD – Santa Monica Dream (Powell) Taken from ‘I’ve Got My Kicks So I Don’t Feel’ EP, self-released download.   Produced by George Perks. Active: 2012-2015. Making a fittingly odd entrance, King Blood’s debut live appearance was at an acoustic singer-songwriter competition; still at school and under-age, they silently loaded drums and amps into a tiny pub corner, played two blistering tropical-dub-punk songs like their lives depended on it, then silently loaded out again. Word spread fast, and during their short tenure, King Blood became a hugely popular part of Bury’s burgeoning, reborn DIY scene (based around The Hunter Club) and released a couple of excellent EPs before heading off to university and calling it a day.  Singer/guitarist Aaron Powell currently writes for The Line Of Best Fit. LINK: www.facebook.com/WeAreKingBlood 

Image credit: 'This Was The Sound Of Sugar Town' sleeve art by Kate Jackson.

[davedimartino]

NEW THIS WEEK 12.09.08

Scant weeks before the holidays, here I sit perusing the week's new releases as Boz Scaggs' Silk Degrees plays in the background. Shoes are off, the fire is roaring, and I’m wondering if this will be the best Christmas ever!

While two distinguished record labels celebrate their very existence via exclusive commemorative box sets, top-notch R&B folks like Common, Avant and Musiq Soulchild release their latest works--and exciting rockers Thrice have seen fit to gift us with a three-CD set recorded live at the House Of Blues!  

Did you ever have the feeling that--I don't know--things are just about as good as they're ever going to get?

Of course, that might be "Lido Shuffle" talking instead of me!

  Common: Universal Mind Control (Geffen) Renowned as a truth-talkin' master o' Hip-Hop with a musical base stronger than many of his contemporaries, Grammy-winner Common returns with a solid set featuring production by the Neptunes and Kanye West and a title track that's getting some radio "traction," if you'll pardon the expression! Predictably the man's knack for candor has him taking on his entire record label--Universal of course owns the Geffen imprint--and its alleged sinister use of high frequency hypnotic tones in its corporate headquarters, so God love 'im for spreading the word! Centuries from now, young record collectors will ask "Is this record rare?"and be told, "No, it's Common!"--so buy it today!

 Brandy: Human (Epic) According to a knowledgeable product description, "Human shows a side of Brandy no one has ever seen before"--and between you and me, Human is actually the album title, so it has positive connotations! Her first album for Epic Records, this disc reunites the attractive young singer with producer Rodney Jerkins, who helped propel Never Say Never to the top of the charts, and together they've crafted a marvelous work sure to please Brandy fans worldwide! Speaking as a man with some degree of copy-editing skills, I’m a tad distressed to note that the spelling of Brandy's name is deliberately ambiguous on Human's cover--does it end with a "Y" or an "I"? Sheesh! Additionally, you wouldn't want to see this sort of artwork on display on any planet containing an intergalactic zoo--but luckily we haven't run into one! Yet!

 Maroon 5: Call And Response (Octone) Heck, if I made albums, I'd try my hardest to get something out in the stores every Christmas! Even if I was lying on a lounge chair in Saint-Tropez with a vodka gimlet in one hand and a hot babe in the other! So why not have a "remix album" put together featuring material from your first two albums messed around with by people like Swizz Beatz, Mark Ronson, Questlove, and, I dunno, maybe Pharrell Williams, too, and simply approve it by phone while your masseuse applies suntan lotion on your back?  Not that this is the case with Maroon 5, mind you--they're cool!--but it's fun to think about!

 Avant: Avant (Capitol) Nothing but nice things to say about R&B ballad specialist Avant, who may be best know for his track "Four Minutes," which made what could have been a very dreary list of microwave cooking instructions "sizzle" with excitement! His soulful sounds shines through on opening track "Sensuality" and on the admittedly rap-friendly title "French Pedicure," and a guest appearance by Snoop Dogg on "Attention" will certainly get yours, if you get my drift! That said, while on one hand he spins a convincing tale--one certain to appeal to the ladies--there is a sense that not all of the story is being sung, that in some ways--ways admittedly hard to pinpoint--careful listeners may find Avant guarded!

 Various Artists: Revolutions In Sound: Warner Bros. Records - The First Fifty Years (Warner Bros.) In the same manner that Sony Music's  100 Years: Soundtrack For A Century was impervious to any sort of relevant criticism because of the mass of its scope--to encapsulate the historic recorded work in its massive vaults--this too is simply unabashedly fantastic if you're a record fan. Plus--between you and me--Warners has always seemed like a cooler label! So here's a collection devoted to the history of the label, jam-packed with pictures, info, historic recordings by people like Frank Sinatra, the Everly Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, Paul Simon, and, of course, Disturbed! Available both in a 10-CD "regular" edition and a deluxe edition featuring lots more--a 240-page book and a USB flash drive --this could only be topped by a large corporate conglomerate actually purchasing Warner Music itself!  Some chance, huh?

 Various Artists: Motown: The Complete No. 1's (Motown) When it rains it pours! Here's every No. 1 single to ever appear on the legendary Motown label, packaged up into a 10-CD set and memorably packaged in a replica of Motown's famous "Hitsville U.S.A." building in Detroit! It's conceptually perfect, the music is inarguably great, and its only flaw--if any--is that a stunning number of Motown classics we all love never quite hit the No. 1 spot, so they're not here! But have no fear, the label offers what may be the best American reissue project out there--the Complete Motown Singles series, currently in it's 11th volume and not to be missed. Get 'em all! On a tight budget? Just buy an actual house in Detroit instead!

Thrice: Live At The House Of Blues (Vagrant) Ever hear the expression "Good things come in small packages"? How about "Deaths always come in threes"?  Boy, there's a cliché for everything! Anyway, this long-awaited collection features two CDs and an extra DVD showing the Thrices performing live at the Anaheim House Of Blues earlier this year! Interestingly, by the look of this album's cover, the House Of Blues is also using Red and Yellow lately, too! I think it may be the best album I've ever heard!

 Musiq Soulchild: OnMyRadio (Atlantic) There's a saying that in the most advanced forms of music, the actual spaces between the notes are more important than that notes themselves. Of course, it was my Uncle Larry who said that, and he was a dope! Oddly, though, the very musical Mr. Soulchild has chosen to remove all spaces from not only the words of his new album's title, but between the words of every song title on the album! If I were a critic getting paid by the word, this would seriously bum me out! Anyway, this record's great and features guests like Damian Marley and the awesome Mary J. Blige, and reportedly "blends old-school soul fervor with new-school hip-hop rhythms"! Heck, that sounds good!

 Roy Wood: On The Road Again, Super Active Wizzo (Warner Bros.) Guess we're at the historic turning point where labels are reissuing great records in purly digital form--meaning if you liked either of these albums by the former leader of fab English band the Move, the way to get them in 2008 is via digital download from Amazon, Rhapsody and "other" places! Falling later in Wood's illustrious career, 1979's On The Road Again featuring great pop songs, superb playing and singing, and a guest appearance by Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. The earlier album, 1977's Super Active Wizzo, actually makes its US debut here, finally, and is very welcome, though slightly less accessible than Wood's other classic works. Interestingly, Wood's earlier effort Wizzard's Brew is also available digitally via EMI! Buy them all and look at them at your leisure!

 Zombie Strippers: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Nine Yards) Last week I had both this album and Britney Spears' Circus in my CD changer! I thought it was long for a single disc!