So this is Christmas…
Honestly, I’d swear that every year December rolls around another few weeks earlier. Which is, of course, not actually possible. But it’s how it feels, dammit…
Fortunately we are very prepared this year, so that you only have to be a little bit prepared. We have so much stuff that it would be great to give or receive this Xmas, it’s almost frightening.
For those feeling expansive (expensive?) we have The Beatles complete stereo LPs box set – a must for those with everything (ie, these are better sounding copies of things you already own), or nothing (ie a perfect foundation for a life spent loving music). If someone were to gift me one of these, I would, no doubt, weep with joy…
Something else that will be making people weep this Xmas (for very different reasons) is the new album from rock snob doyen/deity Scott Walker. Entitled “Bish Bosch”, and coming hot on the heels (well, 5 years later) of his last album “The Drift”, it is, as a friend of ours suggests, truly “cold sweat music”. It’s wilful. It’s arty. It’s long. And – we have it on double LP, with a bonus CD of the album, and a booklet of lyrics for just $38.50 – are we mad?! Possibly. But, you know, it’s a rock snob vinyl “must have” for Xmas this year.
We have also just received very limited copies of Bob Scott’s (Bats, Clean) Dunedin Sound Band chart. Hand-drawn, then copied and blown up to A0 size, and just $39.50, this is the perfect prezzie for the Flying Nun obsessive on your Xmas list – get in quick. Seriously – fair flying out the door.
Other things we think may be worthy of your consideration - Slow Boat tee shirts (lots of sizes and colours, extremely stylish), The Rolling Stones DVD chronicling an early Irish tour, entitled “Charlie Is My Darling” (it’s brilliant!), Tame Impala‘s excellent, psychedelic “Lonerism”…
Oh, and did I mention we have just landed a shipment of some 500 LPs from the US – loads of stone cold classics from the likes of The Velvet Underground, Marvin Gaye, Nina Simone, Big Star etc etc, as well as lots of newer and less common titles from the likes of Tool, Mudcrutch, The Damned, Fugazi – I am tweeting the contents each time I open a new box, so maybe you should follow us on Twitter…?
Seriously - more great stuff instore than I can ever recall us having before, along with the usual dazzling array of rare and collectable second hand goodies – hell, you can even bring us your old, unwanted LPs or CDs (in excellent condition) to see if we want to take them for trade or cash – a buyer here any day bar Sundays.
So, Slow Boat - here to help this Xmas. Let us know, also if you need to order anything in – still every chance we can get it before the 25th…
In the meantime – have a wonderful and safe holiday period. We’ll be here for you every day barring Xmas and New Years, if quality time with the whanau becomes too much…
A blessing upon all of your heads – and thank you all for your support and patronage throughout the year – we really do appreciate it.
Love on y’all, The Slow Boat Crew XX
