Philippe’s Rat Records Blog

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For once there was some activity at Rat records on Sunday as a crew of cameras and spotlights invaded our locals to proceed filming a promotional spot for the new CD by no one but the Rap magnate that is Jay Z.

Yes You Read Well : MUTHAFOO***G JAYYYYYYYY ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!

This is how it started : http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/photo.php?pid=4877664&o=all&op=1&view=all&subj=113028440116&aid=-1&id=634118828

Now you going to ask me : where is he ? And the answer is that, just like me, he had much more interesting activities to indulge in on a Sunday morning, and so he decided to stay home, presumably with his bootydelicious wife.

So instead, my distinguished colleague and “friend” Dominic had to do with some Russian giraffe I will randonly name Ivanova, lavishingly posing on our disgrunted counter…

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/photo.php?pid=4877670&o=all&op=1&view=all&subj=113028440116&aid=-1&id=634118828&fbid=378721453828

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/photo.php?pid=4877728&o=all&op=1&view=all&subj=113028440116&aid=-1&id=634118828&fbid=378726063828

Apparently, Dominic and her made good friend during the day and he seems to have taken that opportunity to offer her a full time position at Rat Records,which for all I know, is MY position.

Now I have nothing against good looking, voluptuous girls, and I really do not want to be known as descriminating, but I really strongly believe that she might possibly underqualified for the job.

I mean, think about it : what does it take to sell records in Camberhell ? Surely more than an seemingly endless pair of legs and ridiculous pouting…. I mean, it’s a skilled job right ? And I can’t possibly imagine how all those serious record collectors could concentrate to the task that is theirs when there is constant distraction on the other side of the counter.

No, surely, that would not work

(and believe me, I only want what is good for this shop, and if I was convinced that Ivanova taking on my position would be a benefit, I would indeed step down graciously-BUT I DON’T).

Now if any of you would rather deal with her than with me,then you can post your comments in complete daylight (no anonimous messages will be taken into account) on the shop’s wall_but it’s only optional and the offer will end on Friday 12^th March at 12.00am.)

Anyway, I think what you allwant to know is what we will be filling the new in rack this Saturday, and pardon my French but c’est de la bombe!! Last Saturday, we had half the rack empty within 2 hours of opening and by Monday, more than 2/3 were gone.

So we’re going back at it this week : 1990’s indie in pristine condition : Ride, My Bloody valentine, Pavement, Pixies, Husker Due, Dinosaur Jr, Galaxie 500, Smityhs, Pj Harvey… also eletronic stuff with likes of LFO and Orb, some Cramps (my thoughts go to Poison Ivy, I hope she’s coping well since Lux Interior has gone to rock n roll heaven), Cure, Fall and other 80’s luminaries, as well as a fabulous collection of Bob Dylan bootlegs, all individually handpackaged.

Theer’s also loads of near mint slices of pop rock from the hairy 70’s…. Buffalo springfield and Neil young, Floyd and Zeppeling of course, Creedence and many more.

As always theer’s raw funk and soulful stuff such as LPs by The Modulations, Benny Johnson and Gloria Scott, to name the ones I had never heard of…

One last word to salute the memory of two of the grestest and yet most depressing songwriters of the past 20years : rest in peace Mark Linkous (aka Sparklehorse) and Vic Chesnutt. The rumour is that they are forming a disco band with Kurt cobain over there and they are looking to recruit a frontwoman….

Now I bet Ivanova is dying for that job!

Philippe-Rat Records