Tian an Mien 89

[frankie teardrop]

Would just like to express my undying appreciation for SSR importing these records into the states. Would also like SSR to get more copies of 1382, Ujbek Comp, and the Tajik Comp. I would preorder all of those form SSR Records right now. If nobody else is buying Tian An Mien 89 records, you're fucking nuts.

[SSR]

thanks, i am happy to be selling them. i like luk & fred - good guys - and the records are interesting at the very least.  I got the last of the 1382's that i could get. i think they are down to the last 20, if they have any copies at all. it was a 500 press and i am pretty sure i sold a hundred of them, which makes it a best seller. i've got a bunch of copies of the two new ones (Ujbek & Tajik comps) coming. They were mailed about a month ago and they are on a slow boat so I should be getting them in October.  i am afraid the cost will be higher than a normal domestic LP, that thanks to the shit value of the dollar (ask any importer if they support the bush foriegn policy and they will most likely say no. the whole notion that war is good for the economy falters when you look beyond the defense industry. i am now paying 25 - 40% more for record/shipping than i did prior to the war. you want to gauge how the wars are going, look at the exchange rate. if the wars were going good the dollar would be strong as europeans and asians would invest in it. they look at the wars and the way our economy is being managed and they bolt. they put their money into china or their own economies. if they didnt have so much invested in the US they would pull out most of their money and the economy would collapse, however they have too much to risk by doing so. anyway, that is why your imports are costing a bit more). 

[shauuuun]

Are those Tajik and Ujbek comps the ones that are mentioned in that recent MRR scene report on the region?  The guy who wrote it (unintentionally) made it sound like it was all bad grind and skate punk.

[SSR]

i have no idea what they sound like but with Luk's comps about 1/3 is really good/great, 1/3 okay, 1/3 awful. there is only one TAM record that i have that sucks and that is the Madigascar band SWP and that is a single band release not a comp (i dont carry that one BTW).  i assume that the Tajik & Ujbek comps are gonna line up in the 33/33/33%. Usually the 33% that is good-great makes it worth the ride. That Iranian comp was about 50/50 but the 50 that was good was really good and it could have been the Ooolanbator track and the rest ultra shitty and the record would have been worth the buy. 

[frankie teardrop]

the records are interesting at the very least.  

Exactly. I think it is completely amazing to have these records as cultural windows. Even if I don't think every Tian an Mien 89 record I have is 100% mind blowing, I think its a great learning tool. How do I know what an Iranian thinks is punk, or someone from Nepal, or someone from Tajikistan? I don't unless I hear the stuff. I pretty much know what Americans, and Western Europeans, think is punk. Obviously, there are big surprizes. But I have no idea what 90% of the world even sounds like. I love the concept and I wish that the records were much easier to get than they are now.

[SSR]

Funny thing is that it is easier now than it has ever been.

[SSR]

Got the Ujbek & Tajek comps in today. Wont be ready for sale til next week. Listening to one of them now and at least as far as side one goes I havent heard any "bad grind and skate punk" but rather good punk rock, odd punk rock, and odd indie rock.  Will post when they are ready though the Ss email list gets first grabs. The email list? Glad you asked. Go to the bottom of the page at http://207.228.243.82/ss/cat.html and sign up. It is the only way you are gonna get your hands on the Billy Bao CD.

[shauuuun]

Glad to hear that this is better than what was described in MRR.  How many copies do you have of these new ones and the other ones you were talking about left?

[SSR]

I've got 25 of each.....

[SSR]

FUCK FUCK FUCK I just threw on the Tajik comp and the first song reminds me of Hubble Bubble (note: reminds me, not sounds exactly like). I am in bliss.

[frankie teardrop]

We got prices on this shitz or what? $5 for both. take it or leave it.

[SSR]

Ha!