Hey ho to all the mutant goons that missed me. I've had other things that have taken priority over me ramblin' on the internet about various scores and cool new tunes that have found their way into my hands. I never really wanted that, but that's why i think i'm opening the floodgates again for some more nonsense. I've had a rather large move back to my homeland of eastern canada recently and not only do i find myself with a bit more time on my hands, but i'm also lacking in any halfway decent record hole where i can dig for hours and hours to pull out some total gems. It's for those reasons that i've not only decided to resurrect my postings, but also agreed with myself to spread out the posts from just me talking about scoring rarities from a far corners of the earth. I don't quite think i have my shit together enough to compile an physical zine, even though the thought has popped into my head enough times that i probably should, but instead i figured it'd be easiest to bring the "Garbage" blog back to life until i become overwhelmed with responsibilities once more. Gotcha? Fuk rite on. But i should admit, in all that has been going on and without any wonderful record stores at my disposal, i'm still buying as many legit platters as my wallet can keep up with. Somehow, i manage to still get rid of alot of my pennies. I guess it makes sense that growing up in the good ol NS taught me mailorder was a good allie for any struggling punk rock youth fighting the isolation out here. Of course, i've taken this on again and have been keeping up with a healthy amount of trades, private purchases and everyone's favorite, the online market place.
The Crux / Crash 12" on No Future was one of the last essential records on the label that i needed to track down and unfortunately for me, probably one of my favorites. Many a time i could have easily dropped the ball and just shelled out for one, but i decided to stick to my guns and hope for the cheapish copy that i knew was to be found at any given minute. The Crux tracks are total perfection for anyone who gives a damn about UK82 in any sort of light as i'd say it's a nice mix of that and early hooligan music like the Cockney Rejects. I'd even go as far as stating it'd be a good starting point for anyone looking to get into punk music in general. Sadly, the legacy of Crux was just these 4 songs and one more on the NF comp A Country Fit For Heroes, but i'd say it's a hell of a one to leave. While these tracks might as well be tattooed on my brain by now, i hadn't managed to hear the Crash tracks in all these years since i figured i'd be listening soon enough when i finally scored one of my top wants. Anyhoo, with CS on tour in the jolly UK in the summer of hate (isn't that 2008?) our driver / good friend Cootington Smythe mentioned that he might have one around in his basement somewhere, left over stock from when he used to own a record store. While i was promised that he'd hook me up, we lost contact for a while and i kept on the hunt. Flash forward to a couple weeks ago when i received an email out of the blue from Cooter and sure enough, he'd found my record. Meanwhile, while i was glad to cross that one off the list and hearing the Crash tracks finally (not bad at all, especially Fight For Your Life! The rest leave a bit to be desired though. Apparently this was an ep in itself before No Future picked it up and put out the split, but i've never seen one.), i had won an auction for another record that i'd be holding out on due to the stupid current prices it had been fetching. That would be the first RUDE KIDS single, Raggare Is A Bunch Of Motherfuckers (on Polydor of all labels? ) which is a mid tempo'd swedish assault, rough as hell and tough as nails while all the while still carrying a great tune! This diddy has been posted on countless blogs, so do yourself a favor and put a search engine to good work for you and your ears. The first 3 singles from these RUDE shits are a good point for anyone who wants to hear some classic swedish stuff that doesn't sounds like our friends Anti Cimex or thee SHITLICKERS. In fact, i'm still hankering for the two follow up singles to this (Stranglers and Absolute Ruler) so someone better step up to plate and get in touch. Can't say i was any less but tickled pink when this showed up in my mail box the other day. Apparently a leftover stock copy from Cory Rusk's distro? Sure, but it won't beat the time i sold a SEX VID record to Keith Morris.I'll also mention that as per usual on Halloween, CS played the Halloween Fucked Up Weekend this year in my old stomping grounds of Toronto and not only did i have an amazing time, i was also welcomed back with more than a warm welcome from old friends. It was good times to enjoy real coffee again, flip through some record bins, eat some delicious food and see a few bands in the process. Two of which included the CRO MAGS (Twice) and the first reformation of YOUTH YOUTH YOUTH, both of which were probably the best bands i've seen in recent memory. Anyways, i leave you with a bit of that YYY set. Sorry to the person who was shooting it. That was without a doubt, me stagediving directly on top of the camera.
