Rough Love

I've just checked google analytics and noticed that some people actually look at this site, so I supppose it's about time I did an update of sorts. I'll try and get back into the swing of more regular posts now that the music drought that usually comes with Christmas seems to have passed.

Firstly, and most importantly, my ipod died last night and deleted itself. After a half-hearted attempt at trying to recover the files i decided to bite the bullet and just start again from new with it. So, my vague plan is to fill it up again with a more considered selection of music, some of which may find it's way onto this blog. At the moment, I'm quite excited by the prospect although I'm quite sure that will change to frustration once I begin the task of slowly burning all my CDs again.

For now though, my hard drive and ipod are looking streamlined, and sitting right at the top of the pile is the new Rough Trade Counter Culture compilation which arrived in the post earlier this week.

My opinion of Rough Trade is rapidly deteriorating as it looks as though it's becoming more and more commercialised. I guess it's part of their strategy to survive the internet taking over the music business but I kind of liked it when it was tucked out of the way in a basement rather than it's new East London guise. In many ways it seems a bit like the NME. Once I felt it was cool and slightly underground to read it and now it just seems to have become synonymous with a lacklustre scene, trading on cliche and past reputations.

Despite my misgivings theres a few tracks on the compilation which I've been enjoying. Most notably this one by Battants:

Battants- Kevin (1989)

I haven't had time to read the sleevenotes to the compilation yet but my housemate Ed informs me this is an old song. I like being reminded that there are still songs this good floating around that I have never heard, but at the same time it's a bit concerning that none of the more recent stuff stands up to it.

EDIT: having read the sleeve notes, this isn't an old song at all! hooray for new music!