Harper Defeat Watch I

This Conservative government is positioning itself to hold power for a generation or more. Conservative leader Stephen Harper is working on making Canada an Alberta-style democracy. For those non-Canadian readers Alberta is one of our provinces where, despite its many great citizens, one party rules with no effective opposition for decades at a time. If you believe I'm exaggerating, see this news item, which explains how the Alberta Conservative Party is celebrating its 40th year in office (and they replaced the Social Credit Party, who'd been in power for 36 years!).

With the death of New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton and his already unruly and inexperienced caucus in grave danger of washing away, as well as the political assassination of The Liberal Party, Harper now stands essentially unopposed in Parliament.

I'd like to think that everyone who believes in democracy, regardless of their specific ideology, would be deeply fearful of Canada becoming a one-party state.

I take some hope that today one lone MP is discussing an NDP-Liberal coalition. The two parties should swallow their pride and merge in the name of democracy or they could well be spending the next forty years in the political wilderness.

The Wasps: Rubber Cars (1979)

Roberto's Rarities:
An irregular MRML series powered by the wild generosity of our reader, Roberto: Enjoy and don't forget to leave our benefactor a thank-you comment.

The Wasps are not the most obscure English punk/new wave band of the late seventies. After all, not only did Overground Records release a collection of the band's material called Punkyronics but the entire bootleg series Teenage Treats (see HERE) was named after their debut single. However, here in 2011 their album has fallen out-of-print and even when it was available, it left off their second single, Rubber Cars and replaced it with demo versions.

Tell us what you think of The Wasps in the the COMMENTS section (where the link for Rubber Cars can be found) and if there's demand for it maybe we'll post more rarities by them.

Remember This: Rock n' Roll Revival (1975)

Roberto's Rarities:
A MRML series powered by the wild generosity of our reader Roberto: Enjoy and don't forget to leave our benefactor a thank-you comment.

Why of course I like seventies glam, though I'm more drawn to it's fifties-lovin', novelty-centric pop elements then it's proto-metal side. (This split is otherwise known as, "The Sweet's Desolation Boulevard Side One vs. Side Two Debate").
Firmly on my side of the split is this nifty little novelty number by UK band Remember This, which seeks to encapsulate the history of rock n' roll in 3:08. To learn more about this single go visit Barracudas member Robin Wills' great blog, Pure Pop.



Reactions to this rarity, which is a little outside our usual zones of obsessiveness, are strongly encouraged and can be left in the COMMENTS section (where the Rock n' Roll Revival link can be found).

The Singles: T.V. Deceives (1981)

Roberto's Rarities:
An irregular MRML series powered by the wild generosity of our reader, Roberto: Enjoy and don't forget to leave our benefactor a thank-you comment.

The Singles from Ireland put out this single on Mint Records in 1981 (one track was comped on Powerpearls - see the series HERE) and the A-side is absolutely wound-tight, amped up power-pop-punk with a roundhouse hook. Highly recommended!



Reactions to these two way-cool obscurities are strongly encouraged and can be left in the COMMENTS section (where the T.V. Deceives link can be found).

The DP's: If You Know What I Mean (1978)

Roberto's Rarities:
An irregular MRML series powered by the wild generosity of our reader, Roberto. Enjoy and don't forget to leave our benefactor a thank-you comment.

When, in 1978, punkwagon-jumpers The Depressions jumped off after one LP and some kicky if not life-changing singles, like "Messing With your Heart" they scrambled aboard The Next Big Thing, power-pop and re-named themselves The DP's.

While it's The Depressions' album that was re-issued by Captain Oi (now out-of-print), the DP's album, If You Know What I Mean might be the better of the two albums, if just because the band, former members of a Who/Small Faces cover band, seem more comfortable using their power chords for pop rather than punk.

For an informed and witty overview of the The Depressions metamorphosis into the DP's visit the invaluable Worthless Trash.


Let us know you think of The Depressions/The DP's in the COMMENTS section (which is where you'll find the If You Know What I Mean link).