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TCCDM Dig & Flip: Needful Things - Stephen King (1991)

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Needful Things by Stephen King (1991) Hardcover, 690 pages NO SPOILERS:      In this tale, a new but rather inconspicuous knick-knack shop called Needful Things opens on the main street of small-town Castle Rock.  Of course, the familiar small-town buzz from small-town mouths quickly work the news around the neighborhood, and slowly but surely, a trickle of customers begin to drop by.  To just have a look-see.      The story features a wonderfully wicked, off-putting character: Leland Gaunt, the proprietor of this new establishment.  A place where it's all about striking a fair deal for all involved.  But oh, the tangled webs that are woven.  The construction of this story is a delicious fustercluck, and when all the i's are dotted, and the t's are crossed...Holy Schniekes!   We all know the damage is coming, but it's the special way Stephen King  bakes the biscuits that keeps us at the breakfast table.  Without...
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TCCDM Pulls One Out: "Kings of Oblivion" - Pink Fairies (1973)

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"Kings of Oblivion" - Pink Fairies (1973 )        I found  Pink Fairies'  " Kings of Oblivion,"  their   third and last album, at  The Record Ship  shortly before their move to a more easily found spot at 2210 E. Douglas.   Hailing from the UK, this was the band's only album ever released in the United States, and still not an easy square to find.  At this point, the band was a fiery power trio, sounding a bit like early Hawkwind, but with some Detroit punk-chip attitude.  And it's a banger.  No ballads or slow burns.  And though the band's earlier stuff was heavily psych-dusted, here the Pink Fairies leave the psych business behind for a more hard-rock proto-metal soundscape.         The band was made up of  storm-bringer guitarist and songwriter  Larry Wallis , bassist  Duncan Sanderson , and drummer  Russell Hunter,  and in 1973 you can hear the ban...
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TCCDM In The Mailbox..."Garage Country" - Uncle Ben's Remedy (2026)

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"Garage Country" - Uncle Ben's Remedy (2026 )       From various small towns of Western New York, Uncle Ben's Remedy delivers a satisfying square of edgy, poignant, rockin' alt-country, double-dipped in outdoor Americana sauce.  It's fun, and it's real.  The band sounds totally locked and loaded and make it sound easy, like a spatula working flapjacks.  Their latest album  "Garage Country"  dropped October 16, 2026, and it's a player.        "Garage Country" is filled with real fire and passion, casting out one winner after another, with some songs having an almost country-rock Drive-By Trucker vibe and a little Todd Snider wink.   But just a little.  UBR bring their own ball to the court, and the listener quickly knows they’re in good hands.  Tongue-in-cheek one minute, heart-on-sleeve the next, and a whole lot of raucous joy.   And as good as the musicianship is and it's solid, it's  Ben...
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TCCDM Pulls One Out: "Flash And The Pan" - Flash And The Pan (1979)

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"Flash And The Pan" - Flash And The Pan (1979)      Here is a good cheapie I found at the Maize Record Show a few weeks ago.  I went with a psych album intent, and if I didn't find anything that popped my cork, I would at least leave with a couple of low-dollar fun finds.  And that's exactly what I did.  I found Flash And The Pan's self-titled debut album at "Garageman G's" table for a measly $3 and snagged it.  I'd heard "Hey, St. Peter" from this very album the night before on KSHE's playlist, a song I had always liked but completely forgotten about. And the kismet stars just lined up for me to find it the very next day.  Things like that happen to me from time to time.  And what a surprising treat.  Just excellent.         Only after taking it home, spinning the square, and reading about the band did I learn they had more than just a bit of music cred.   Harry Vanda  and  George Young, wh...
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TCCDM Pulls One Out: "Vagabonds Of The Western World" - Thin Lizzy (1973)

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"Vagabonds Of The Western World" - Thin Lizzy (1973 )    My gateway album for Thin Lizzy was "Vagabonds of the Western World."   It's the one I heard first.  And listened to a lot.  I loved it then and still love it.  It doesn't have the familiar twin-guitar Lizzy sound that later studio albums would possess, and where the band did their real banking.  But "Vagabonds..." , their last album as a trio, is an incredible album in its own right.       Phil Lynott's songwriting is wonderful, as are his warm vocals and his bass playing, which is always a good time.  Phil Lynott,  with co-writers Eric Bell and Brian Downey, delivers the definitive macho jammer, "The Rocker," then turns around and kills us with his kindest of ballads, "Little Girl in Bloom," a song that offers so much hope.  It's a beautiful ballad…and his best.  Longtime drummer Brian Downey is on time as ever.   And the often underapprec...
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TCCDM Pulls One Out: "The Forest Of My Mind" - Paul Parrish (1968)

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"The Forest Of My Mind" - Paul Parrish (1968 )      This is all flowers, patches, peace, love, and maybe something to pass around while everyone is in...the forest.  Looking a bit like Freddie Mercury trying to decide what to bag up at the Nifty Nut House, Paul Parrish brings us a cool, groovy spin for the mind-palette.  Included in The Acid Archives , the album "The Forest Of My Mind" is filled with well-written songs, with good melodies and nice arrangements, each lightly dusted in various shades of psychedelic folk-pop bliss.  A cash-in of the lysergic variety, perhaps, but the album sounds much better than that.  Nothing on this square is a mind-blow.  Nothing here is deepy-deep by any means.  However, "The Forest Of My Mind" is presented in such good faith that the spin makes it nigh on impossible to stay in a bad mood.        Bonus still, it's a square that somehow gets better with each new listen....
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TCCDM Dig & Flip: The Complete Sherlock Holmes: Vol. One & Two - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1930)

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The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Vol. One & Two Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1930)  Hardcover, 1122 pages NO SPOILERS:      The two volumes include 56 short stories and four novellas.  I began  The Complete Sherlock Holmes Volume One flipping imaginary pages on my Paperwhite.  With Volume Two , I grabbed the hardback version. (see pic above.)  Either way, it was a blast getting to know these famous fictional characters - Sherlock Holmes and his bestest friend, Dr. Watson.   Sir Arthur Conan Doyle sure had himself a winner when he began writing his Sherlock mysteries in 1886.  The stories are clever and don’t waste much time dancing around.  Each mystery is quickly set in motion.  No dawdling.  Just kick back and read how Detective Holmes uses his powers of deduction to the nines.  Plenty of details and suspense, and sometimes a laugh or two.           Sherlock is a one-of-a-kind ...
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