Consolation Champs – Page 44 – Top of the B-List

CSS Mastery Review

My review of Andy Budd’s new book, CSS Mastery, has been posted over at Digital Web. Enjoy!

The Institute of Multicultural Development, a Dutch multicultural group is arranging a soccer match between Muslims and homosexuals. In an effort to combat fears and misconceptions, the two sides will meet on the pitch, and hopefully in the process, come to see each other as human beings.

While I applaud this effort, it does seem a bit strange to bring people together over a competitive sporting activity. For years, I’ve had the idea of bringing some of my fundamentalist Christian friends together with some gay friends (my smart-ass title for the events: Fags and Fundies), but at least over a meal, people have time to talk and there are no winners or losers.

Still, I suppose anything that can bring two groups of misunderstood and misunderstanding people together is a good thing.

P.S. The funniest thing in the Beliefnet story was the organizer’s assurance that gay Muslims can choose either team!

Compilation Champs 2006

I’m back from Texas and dog tired. I’ll post a wrapup of SXSW in a few days after I’ve caught up with my life, but I just wanted to direct anybody upon whom I foisted a “Compilation Champs” CD to the liner notes. Post your comments here if you can.

Cassette Tape Gallery

Now that we no longer make mixtapes, the humble cassette is rarely seen. Check out this beautiful gallery of these lost objects of yesterday. (via powazek)

Rip It Up and Start Again

I’m very excited about the release of Simon Reynolds’ book Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984. This is exactly the period I’ve considered writing about before, though only about the local Toronto scene. This was not only an incredibly fertile period for music in general, but it corresponded with the exact years I was most receptive to it (13-19). There’s a good review in the NYT today (free registration required). Check it out. And if you’re coming to SXSW, make sure you get one of my annual Compilation Champs CDs. I guarantee several tracks of postpunk goodness!

Bonus points to anyone who can tell me where the title of the book comes from.

UPDATE: I just found Simon Reynolds’ blog! Via the excellent Silence Is A Rhythm Too, which has been featuring MP3 downloads of various postpunk classics. Reynolds also has an author site with more info on the book, and recently hosted a panel discussion which included Steven Daly of Orange Juice and No Wave pioneer James Chance (of James Chance and the Contortions). It’s a big download but looks to be worthwhile.