May 2006 Archives
I've finally caught the MP3blog bug -- not so much as a contributor (obviously) but as a visitor. As readers here might guess, I wander back and forth between the trainspotters and the archivists. I certainly don't want to wallow in the past, but I'm always interested in seeing how others look at things I already know (expanding the context) and uncovering what I might have missed first time around.
I've decided to contribute to the mix with a few tracks from a fairly obscure compilation, T.M.I. 015. From what I've been able to gather, this sampler was mostly a way for some Pittsburgh folk (with a link to Carnegie Mellon's WRCT and some exquisite out-of-town connections) to capture various odds and ends. Some punk, some arcana, some new wave, overall a fair representation of ideas germinating in the 1983-84 timeframe. The two "best known" bands are Dancing Cigarettes (the art-damaged pride of Bloomington, IN) and Tripod Jimmie (featuring sometime Pere Ubu guitarist Tom Herman). The one you really SHOULD have heard (but didn't unless you had already come across this comp or were in northeastern Ohio in the early 80s) is the F-Models -- raw punk stomping from Kent, OH that would fit nicely on Something I Learned Today or Strange Reaction.
Anyway, I'm offering up some selections from side two of the compilation (skipping the Dancing Cigs for now). In addition to the F-Models and Tripod Jimmie, I picked two new-wavey tunes (that might fit the Little Hits model) that still resonate for me -- Nominal Bond for the broody moments and the Moroccos who (thankfully) fall somewhere short of the west-coast hippydippy moments of Missing Persons.
- F-Models -- It's Not Right
- Nominal Bond -- More
- Moroccos -- Wheel of Fortune
- Tripod Jimmie -- Serenade
Also, Chris Koenigsberg (who contributed a solo track) has posted MP3s of his old band Carsickness.
Breaking news from the BBC: Apple Computer has successfully defended itself against breach of contract claims brought by Apple Corps (the Beatles' private record label). Read all about it and check out my past coverage for additional background. I look forward to tracking down a copy of the opinion (if the case actually resulted in a written opinion and not a ruling from the bench).
Seen at the north entrance to the Dupont Circle Metro station on May 5, 2006...
I didn't realize that the victors at the Battle of Puebla wore Nikes.
