by SCOTT C

Contrary to what a lot of people might think, I don't spend a lot of money on records every week. Who in the hell can afford to? Every once in a while, an unpredictable deluge of must-have releases happens to coincide with the money in my pocket, money more suited to paying my growing hydro bill or something like it. It's been a long time since I was blowing my paycheque every week at the record store, and I sincerely miss those days, but the fact remains that those days are over. Now, my record buying has been stunted to controlled bursts here and there. Record shopping in Montreal seems to have changed a bit too, depending on the spots you like to frequent. Diehard crate-diggers will remember the passing of the Coliseum on Berri, a "search and ye shall find" goldmine of gems just waiting to be discovered, and now new home to some government building. Disquivel finally made the move from its St-Laurent and de Maisonneuve mainstay to some smaller digs about a block up the street, downsizing from all their vinyl glory. Other stores have disappeared altogether, making it much easier for me to hold on to the few dollars I have to spare, but making it that much more difficult to track down some of those must-have releases.

Most people I know complain about not being able to procure a good selection of new hip hop in this city. There are a handful of shops that stock the minimum of quality titles, or most of the commercial club stuff along with all kinds of second-hand shit, but the one-stop hip hop spot has all but disappeared from MTL, or so it seems. Remember that some stores will special order just about anything you can think of. Inbeat on St-Laurent might specialize in all forms of house and techno, but most people don't know that they regularly stock hard-to-find hip hop releases and are fairly prompt with the special orders. Zulu is a new store at Bleury and de Maisonneuve trying to fill some of the hip hop void, stocking underground and commercial as well as some funk and dancefloor-friendly fare. The great thing about records in this city is that if you shop around, you'll be very surprised at what's been sitting right beneath your nose. You just have to look.

Seven reasons everybody needs a credit card:
1. The Pointer Sisters "Pinball Number Count" 12" (Ninja Tune/Sesame Street)
2. John Beltran "Dia Brioso" 12" (Ubiquity)
3. Pharrell "Frontin'" Yam Who? remix (Boot)
4. Steppah Huntah "Walk This Step" Seiji Rootdown Dub 12" (Compost)
5. Specifics "Lifes Work" remix (LP)
6. T-Love "When You're Older" (Virgin/Pickininny)
7. Mark de Clive-Lowe "Relax… Unwind" 12" (MAW)

Next week: the return of Quantic! fathead@videotron.ca

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