United Artists Records | UK | LP | 1978 | UAG 30199
That’s because today, this is post number 1000. And try as I might, I only have a single track by 999 on a compilation. You’ve got one guess, and you’re right. It was June 24 of 2010 when I started blogging. There has been a lot of water under the bridge since then. I really need to print hard copies of each post and have them to refer to so I can avoid writing about the same old bands, more often than merited. Within reason.
The last year saw me go off on a tear and devote over 80 [almost] consecutive posts to a monomaniacal examination of one of my favorite bands, Simple Minds. I promise not to do that again any time soon, and given the complexity of my feelings over those Scots it’s not likely to happen.
One negative piece of fallout from the exercise has been the…”ballooning” shall we say, of the reviews I have been writing ever since. It seems to me as if I’ve lost my ability to hammer out a post that gets to the crux of the matter in 500-700 words. I blog during my lunch hour at work, so brevity is to be encouraged, if you can believe that. Now, I’m more likely to dig a little deeper in my analysis. Not always to my benefit.
So I need to try to reign in my tendency to overwrite. Given that everything here is a hasty first draft, and I am frantically trying to record my numerous thoughts about music in a hurry, this will be difficult for me. But the beauty of comments is that I can hold back, or remember something later that would be a good fit to flesh out the post in the comment dialog that occurs with the fine readers of this little corner of teh interwebs.
As for the commenters, they make it much better than it would be without them. Shoutouts to the crusty regulars that have seen fit to stick around even after six straight months of posts on Simple Minds! A doff of the Aztec Energy Cone® to old friends like Brian Ware, chasinvictoria, ronkanefiles, and JT who go back years with me. I truly appreciate them keeping their ears to the ground here in spite of the miles that separate us. These comments have also been truly gifted with the presence of people whom I’ve not had the the pleasure of knowing for decades, but their contributions to the dialog here have enriched my time doing [and perhaps your time reading this] this immeasurably. I’m talking about people like Nick, Tim, zoo, Simon H, Stephen Shafer, StellaVista, ianbalentine, vlad, and Taffy. Gavin has been a relatively recent presence here, but he’s definitely one of us and I look forward to more contributions from this most compatible mind. I’d love to shop for records with each and every one of you!
I wil hold out a special recognition for a presence so reliable here, he’s practically the co-writer on this blog. Of course that could only be Echorich. A guy, who I actually have shopped for records with! Such a gift! I am amazed that anyone with their own blog would pour such time and care into their posts to the comment threads here as he does, but I swear that he posts 10 times as much as commentary here than what he does as posts in his own little corner of the internet. And the quality of his writing forces me to up my game to meet him on an even keel.
So after five years and 1000 posts, where do we go from here? I’ve not changed the theme of the blog since day two, when I switched from Blogger to WordPress. I’ve slightly tweaked the widgets; as recently as last week, in fact. I may go off and rethink everything soon. Or not. What I am mulling over would take real time that I probably don’t have. I know I gravitate to the same handful of bands but that’s a factor of the collector’s sickness that I carry. I’ve got thousands of releases by about 200 bands. Maybe. Years ago I attempted a tally of each distinct band in the Record Cell and it was <150 at the time. It’s true I tend to vertically rather than laterally collect.
I think that the focus of the blog needs to come back to my primary passion; remastering releases for my “vanity label.” But that is dependent on time and money to buy the records I still need, so who knows if that will play out. I don’t plan the blog in advance or write ahead of posting, so it’s pretty immediate. If there’s anything you would care to see me write about, there’s always a comment field or the contact form to post me an email. Special orders don’t upset us. If I have anything to say on a subject, I’ll do it. Let’s gear up for the next thousand posts.
– 30 –
Post-Punk Monk 
Thanks! for this blog. Really great topics, and well written.
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johnnydark – Thanks for the vote of confidence. For years I was only writing this blog… in my mind [taps cranium] and it feels good to get these thoughts down if not on paper then the next best thing.
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johnnydark – Thanks for the vote of confidence. For years I was only writing this blog… in my mind [taps cranium] and it feels good to get these thoughts down if not on paper then the next best thing. I’m thrilled that someone who writes a Windham Hill blog can find sustenance here.
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Many congratulations Monk, 1000 posts is an enviable achievement and one I MAY someday come close to. But as you have noted, I find it much more enticing being given the subject to discuss than running my mouth off on my own. The best use of the interwebs is real communication and PPM promotes that with remarkable ease. An even better result of PPM has been the opportunity to meet you, Sue and Charles to enjoy face to face communication, record shopping and the thrill of Simple Minds Live!
Here’s to 1000 more!
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Echorich – More than once chasinvictoria has talked of Monk-Con where we would all have libations and h’ors d’oeuvres while we await John Foxx + The Maths setting up for a special concert in the adjacent theatre. Crowdsourcing could make happen! We all need to hang out for a weekend. We could have a panel where we all brought cherished records to discuss and play. I’d pay for that!
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As the kids say: X-TREEM LYKE!!!1!!!
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Congrats on reaching yet another milestone. Yours is one of a scant handful of music blogs I check daily, and the only one I’ve ever commented on. Thanks for making me (and my blowsy opinions) feel welcome. Bring on the second millennium!
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Taffy – You only comment here?! I’m touched. Thanks for sharing with us. We are all enriched for your involvement. Anyone who takes their moniker from the daughter of “Female Trouble’s” Dawn Davenport is all right in my book!
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Congrats! Here’s to the next 1,000 posts! I always love reading this blog (and gleefully followed you through your fantastic examination of Simple Minds’ discography) and greatly appreciate your opinion and insights on all things post-punk. I’ve tracked down many releases missing from my record collection after reading about them here. Thank you!
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Well done sir! I have to say, when you and Chas moved on and left me behind in Orlando it turned out much differently than I had ever imagined. Still continuing our conversations as if you were all right here. I’m not the most prolific commenter, but I’m enjoying every minute of it. Thanks for all your efforts.
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Brian Ware – How could I do otherwise? In 14 years of living here I can count the friends I have made here on the fingers of one stump.
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This blog is now a vital part of my daily life and I hope to get to know all the regulars in turn!
I’m afraid I keep resurrecting old threads too,as I cannot help myself making the odd comment on such superb pieces of writing.Well done for 1000 posts Sir!If I can get her to keep still for long enough,I will post Toyah over to you in a Jiffy bag!
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Gavin – That is quite a mental image, re: Toyah. As for old threads, may I paraphrase Ian Hunter by saying “Old Threads Never Die!” I was gratified that someone finally left a comment on the apparently ignored Gina X Performance Rock G.P.A.! Better late than never!
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Monk – i am truly in awe of everything you post. You always manage to publish during my last hour at work and i really look forward to seeing something new at the end of the day. I know i’m a bit of a newbie compared to some but i can see real passion in both your writing and in the comments too. I shall be raising a glass for you this weekend so congrats on the milestone and here’s to many many more……….. now where is that ‘Der Amboss’ 12″er………..
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Congratulations, PPM. There are only so many blogs a person can read in a day, but I always make time for yours. That’s the highest compliment I can give. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
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Brian – Probably more of the same, I’ll wager! I still haven’t picked a topic for today. Any requests?
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Well, since you asked (or maybe you only asked Brian!), I gotta tell you that one of my fave topics was when you dealt with faux wave songs. In that vein, you recently mentioned “hindsight hits” – I think that would be fun to explore. But whatever you do I’ll be reading along, whether I have something opinionated to say about it or not!
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Taffy – I think at least a little research is needed for hindsight hits, though that’s the sort of thread that will really shine once people start commenting. Obviously, no one person could make such a list. As for faux new wave, that a lot of fun to contemplate. I wish I could remember more of those. I also got a charge out of the “token new waver” post which nestles easily aside those threads.
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I’m all in for Hindsight Hits as well! That will be a topic that could break WordPress’s descending commentary format!
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Echorich – Don’t you love it when that happens?! I was reviewing one thread recently that had the final response only a few characters wide! Let’s try to break WordPress!
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You’re on Monk!
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Monk, you are the man! This is the only blog I read, music or otherwise. Keep up the great work!
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Lovely site. I discovered Monk about a year ago through a China Crisis post. I visit nearly daily and am always learning a bit more about my favourite era of 1980-1985. It’s comforting to know there are others out there who enjoy listening and collecting to the same music as myself. Keep up the good work.
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Agree with all the comments, my favourite blog by far.
Saturday wouldn’t be complete without having a catch up of the week’s posts along with coffee and a croissant in my favourite cafe! Thanks.
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Hi PPM
Congratulations on a great blog. I recently discovered your blog and share some of your music passions.
I am interested in your mastering process. Have you of do you plan to do an article on the technical process. I am an amateur musician and have attempted mastering my own material, and it’s a pretty challenging gig.
The reason I ask is that I am often impressed by well mastered compilations that take material from disparate sources and make it one coherent piece. It’s like magic.
On an unrelated note, have you any intrest in The Comsat Angels and The Sound? Both great post punk bands that never got their due.
Be safe and be kind as our NZ Prime Minister is keen on saying right now.
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Davis – Welcome to the comments! Thanks for your kind words. As far as mastering, I do it, to a point, only from vinyl. I always master flat from vinyl. I feel uncomfortable putting any thumbprint on the sound from vinyl. apart from the removal of pops and minimization of noise without affecting the overall frequencies on offer. I once went through the entire range of processes attached to a project of mine to give an idea of what I do and the thread does the trick.
Albums were mastered once and I strive to simply reproduce the sound since I am making files from what has already been mastered downward on the chain. Where things get sticky is when I sometimes mix CD and vinyl sourced files. I suppose I should be using EQ to make the digital files sound as close to the vinyl souced materials as possible, but that strikes me as backward. As you say when doen by pros, it results in magic but I have not yet done the hundreds of hours to begin to go down that rabbit hole. I’m still caught up in removing vinyl artifacts as my “thing.”
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