uk

Live in America
$12.98
This group of virtuoso's I believe had the potential to rival Yes, King Crimson and the like if they had stayed together for a few more years. The rhythm section of Bruford and Wetton ranks with the best ever (Bruford/Squire, Bruce/Baker, Levin/Bruford, Moon/Entwhistle, Shirley/Ridley, Bonham/Jones etc). Alan Holdsworth is one of the most accomplished and creative guitarists ever and Jobson really good with keyboards and violin. They sound like a cross between ELP, Yes and King Crimson. What a pity they only had one studio album and a couple of live recording with this line up. A selection from the first album and soon to be be relaesd second. Danger Money was a fine record, but to me just lacked electric guitar to embelish the sound, particularly in concert (dont know if that line up ever made a live recording). This is worth getting if you like the seventies style of innovative rock music played live, plus a few Wetton live recordings thrown in to show he does have a decent voice (Asia were too pop orientated and wasted their talents as far as i am concerned).

U.K.
$14.98
One of the most overlooked album of the early Progressive Rock world,this one raised the standard!

Crap Towns: The 50 Worst Places to Live in the UK
$14.95
Anyone who has had the good fortune to travel to the UK will hit many of the great sights and cities - London, Edinburgh, York, Durham, Bath and more. But in your quick travels you may have wondered what the British locals feel about those unassuming or even visually disagreeable towns you zip past by train or drive through to get to Stonehenge, the Lake District, Glencoe, Glasgow, searching for Robert the Bruce.

At the beginnings of Rick Steves European Guidebooks, there are large maps of the country in question. All of the larger cities are marked in colours of black or grey. Black locations are "places of touristic interest". But the grey locations are "places of little or no touristic interest." What are these "grey places"?

There is now a remedy - The book "Crap Towns" showcases and exposes those areas of grey, with despair, boredom, and poor council planning leading the way. The lack of jobs, a future, or simple healthy entertainment can lead to a downward spiral of alcoholism and chaz violence. Thatcher's dream fulfilled, and one unlikely to be fixed any decade soon.

Readers of the UK "Idler" magazine submitted letters filled with memories, testimonial, fear, dismay, sadness, bemusement, hope for the distant future. All so that a book could be compiled of the 50 worst cities and towns the UK has to offer.

I will only list a few of the 50 - the fun is in being surprised. Hackney, Hull, Peterhead, Croydon, Morecombe, St. Andrews, Bexhill-On-Sea and Brighton.

The book is thoughtful, blunt, bitter and humanist. The letters written to the Idler and put into the book are thoughtful, funny and informative. The black and white photographs are perfectly chosen and will leave you invigorated in your bleak mood. (Although you may find photos of shattered cars, strewn garbage, misappropriated human waste and the polluted (and unnaturally warm) ocean next to Leiston nuclear power plant

Because this is a British book with British readers in mind, it helps to have a good feel for British slang, culture and perhaps history. But no matter. I cannot recommend "Crap Towns 1" (or its equally strong sequel) highly enough.

Night After Night
$16.98
Stay away from Edduie Jobson's alleged "remasters" of the three UK albums, "UK," "Danger Money" and "Night After Night." All three sound horrible! They are muddy with all the high frequencies rolled off. Save your money and look for the Editions EG versions. They sound MUCH better.