I don't purchase many books or CDs anymore, and that is due to the fact that I move often. My CD and (later, additionally) books collections have always been very important to me. If I had "all the money in the world" I'd have libraries in my apartments...as I'd purchase several of modest sizes in a handful of my favorite cities.

When I buy a book or CD, it's often a big deal now because I think of it as something that sucks of space - a few more ounces to add to the heavy load I need to carry around or a few more inches of matter I need to fit into some shelf somewhere. Still, there are some things I could never part with, and one is Banned in DC. Now with Grunge coming out, I am as excited as ever to own it, and I will wait to go to my favorite bookstore to get my hands on it, rather than to order it and check the mailbox on a daily basis.

I love everything about American punk and grunge subcultures. I often wish I was just five years older so I would not have been experiencing the height of them all from a sheltered suburban town right after the onset of puberty, but thems the breaks. Either way, there is no real reason why this book shouldn't be purchased, and if you don't want to wait then you can go straight to Amazon and do some damage.

A Look At Teddy Boys

While rockabilly isn't as gentrified into mainstream fashion as punk - as an idea - there are still bits and pieces in so much on the forefront of modern subculture. Over in England, however, there's an interesting twist that's been going on for many years, and more removed from music than what we are most familiar. The "Teddy Boys" are a resurgence of the Edwardian Period, which started in the 1950s and still has a rather strong following. Ben Watts is a photographer who showcases some of the most hardcore of its members. "Some groups of Teds formed gangs and gained notoriety following violent clashes with rival gangs, which were often exaggerated by the popular press." The Wikipedia article continues, "The most notable was the Notting Hill riot of 1958, in which Teddy Boys were present in large numbers and were implicated in attacks on the West Indian community."

Another choice cut: "The early 1990s saw a revival of the original Teddy Boy style by a group of men known as The Edwardian Drape Society (T.E.D.S). Based in the Tottenham area of north London, they were concerned with reclaiming the original style that they felt had become bastardised by pop/glam bands such as Showaddywaddy and Mud in the 1970s. They have been the subject of a short film, The Teddy Boys, by Bruce Weber, which premiered at the Cambridge Film Festival in July 2006."

More from Ben Watts: Teddy Boys

The Return Of Brody Dalle : Spinnerette

Brody Dalle is an incredible woman. She isn't going to revolutionize the music industry nor feminism, but she's come a long way. Starting out as an Australian expat, she married Tim Armstrong (of Rancid fame) while her band, The Distillers, went from a girl-only group to a male-dominated lineup. By the time The Distillers became a household name in Punk Rock America, she was the only female member and an electrifying frontwoman.

The release of their major label debut, Coral Fang, was a HUGE departure from the Hellcat Sing Sing Death House and prior albums, but it was the #1 album of 2003 according to yours truly. It seemed most folks weren't incredibly die-hard about CF, that the signing to Sire softened many of the rough edges that had made them stand out on their previous label rosters.

I won't credit the new direction shown on "Valium Knights" - the only officially leaked song from her new lineup, Spinnerette - solely to her second marriage with Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme, but he deserves a little bit of credit. Her songwriting and production value on the new track is very much touched with QOTSA fury, but she's kept it her own. If more of their rock n' roll marriage is reflected in Spinnerette's forthcoming album, then all the better.

Note: Much credit to Elizabeth Elkins of The Swear for telling me about this <3

MySpace: Spinnerette

The Bronxxx Deliver Their Rock Liturgy

We were going to use our own photo for this, which even has a hand w/ digicam nearly blocking the view of the band, we just couldn't pass up the epic staff shot from the CMJ blog. Needing a break from techno, the Solid PR CMJ showcase was, by far, the best way to kick off our return to New York for the marathon. The Bronx didn't take the stage at Fontana's until after 1am. Every minute was worth the wait as the basement turned into an offensive pit of energy and catharsis. There's a bruise on one of our lips and the dirty-ass sneakers to prove it.

Being in this environment is being alive if you're meant for it, and for some it's similar to churchgrounds for those that seek escape through means other than drugs. The music and the rush is a drug, and The Bronx delivered - just as they had at least five years ago - to turn a room into a chaotic frenzy of punk rock. Pulling one by one from their first full-length, it proves that LP is the stuff of legends, and even after their other releases their live set trumps all other efforts when it comes to stirring a crowd up and giving them exactly what they came for.

MySpace: The Bronxxx