MILKCRATE cuz some old music is good music Pulpet Red “Lurk” - Syncretist Records. What happens when you learn how to play your instrument pretty damned well but can’t seem to break free of the bar scene? You release a CD like “Lurk.” Capable, competent, and obviously home-grown. By the time I realized these guys must be RAMONES fans, uh I dunno - something in the beat that kicks off track three, they were singing “Freak Show,” which surely could be a tune by the punk innovators. While Pulpit Red sings “The alligator lady was such a joy,” Joey would more likely sing about his last alligator lady date at White Castle. Pulpit Red keeps just this side of cheesy - most of the time, but slips across the line often enough to ensure I can’t, in good conscience, say it’ll make my top 10,000 Art of Noise “The Seduction of Claude Debussy” - ZTT Records. The year was 19987 and I was underage and carded at the old Lone Star Cafe on University. While I don’t remember who I was planning to see - the Raunch Hands maybe? I remember where I wound up ... the Palladium, then a massive 80s dance club and the scene of an Art of Noise performance featuring Duane Eddy. I guess the Peter Gunn theme was their big hit that year. Odd to reflect back on that night and read now that Art of Noise’s Paul Mosley hopes that all the world’s guitars will “just spontaneously melt” in the year 2000. This disc is in the genre of those records tied up with the everpresent narrator who accents the dance-music electronic fare inspired by 19th to 20th century composer Debussy. Now about 14 months old, it makes a nice soundtrack for any rainy day - but don’t throw your Gibson on the bonfire.