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There used to be nothing like popping the shrinkwrap on a new LP and breathing in the heady aroma of cardboard, ink, glue, and vinyl. Don't tell me to get a life - I already tried that. I was dragged into the digital age kicking and screaming when I came to the jarring conclusion that the odds on the new Cramps album (at that time, "Stay Sick") being released on vinyl weren't looking all that great.

If it was up to me, I'd still be buying vinyl instead of aluminum of whatever the heck it is CD's are made of. Analog recordings are warm, rich, and comforting and while I can appreciate the convenience of CD's, there's something about their stripped, clinically clean, and overcompressed sound that leaves me cold. Besides, how can you fully appreciate cover art and graphics when you're viewing it on something that fits in your pocket?

Although I've upgraded many of my old vinyl LP's to CD, my collection still numbers in the thousands and at the risk of boring anyone to tears, I thought I'd share some which may have slipped through the cracks or just don't quite get the attention they deserve.

"Mondo Deco" - The Quick (1976)

After The Runaways grew disenchanted and distanced themselves from their Lothario-like manager Kim Fowley, Fowley didn't sit around gathering dust and/or cobwebs, quickly moving on to his next group of pubescent kids armed with guitars, bass, drums, amps, shag haircuts, and a dream - The Young Republicans - whom he rechristened The Quick. Now considered legendary in some circles, the band is probably better known for the groups its members went on to (Rembrandts, Cruzados, Three O'Clock, Weirdos) rather than this terrific little gem, which stylistically resides in that black hole between Anglo glam and new wavy power pop. Comparisons to Sparks are inevitable in light of the fact that vocalist Danny Wilde (later of Rembrandts and "Friends" theme song fame) chirps like an adolescent Russel Mael on helium (is that redundant?) and "Mondo Deco" was produced by ex-Sparks guitarist Earle Mankey. Although sleepy-eyed guitarist Steven Hufsteter's songs lack the skewed pop smarts and wiseguy wordplay of the Mael brothers, "Mondo Deco" shouldn't be so quickly dismissed. Sure their cover of The Four Seasons' "Rag Doll" is cute, but songs like "No No Girl," "Hillary," and, especially, "Hi Lo" are coated with thick wads of goo and full of more hooks than a tackle box, all targeted for your frontal lobe. I still occasionally come across this album in dollar bins, but it's a treasure at any cost.



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