Boing Boing: Nigerian Letter scammer convinced to carve replica Commodore 64

Via Boing Boing, comes this hysterical account of turning the tables on an e-mail scammer. Wonderful, if true.

The tale of John Boko

take a deep breath

Okay...I'm gonna challenge you a bit here...take everything you know about UB40 and throw it out the door. Empty your mind, if you will of all preconceived notions...forget "Red, Red Wine" and "I Got You, Babe." Pretend like they never did a reggae cover version of somebody else's hits.

When they first started out, UB40 were a politically influenced band...a band with a pretty strong opinion and an equally strong sound. One who's name comes from the U.K. unemployment form one filled out and was a slang term for the unemployed. They sang of racism and labor issues...and well, then they made an album of songs they were influenced by, a tribute album and it sold like nothing they had ever recorded before and something changed...but anyway...enjoy a couple of tracks from some of their earlier releases.

UB40 - My Way Of Thinking (12" version) REMOVED
UB40 - Burden of Shame REMOVED

Here's their Wikipedia entry as well as their own site and a link to encourage your purchasing of their albums.

TechTag: Music

Never Enough

Rhino Records does it again...this time with Depeche Mode. They've re-released some of their earlier albums, Speak & Spell, Music For The Masses and Violator and given them the royal treatment.



Thank you Rhino!

I got a promo copy of Speak & Spell, my favorite Depeche Mode album and I must say the sound quality is wonderful...the 5.1 mix on the DVD is wonderfully lush and full, giving the album a new sound without losing the original intent. And the new mix on the CD is not a let down either. My only complaint...the bonus tracks on the DVD aren't on the CD. Other than that, a highly recommended disc. As far as new material? Song wise, there isn't anything new here, but there is a short film that's a bit of a treat.

If you aren't familiar with this album, the sound is a bit different than their later stuff, a pop-ier version of Depeche Mode, if you will. Mainly the influence of Vince Clark, who left right after the band got signed and went on to form Yaz and later Erasure, who have recently reformed.

You can buy the album over at Rhino as well as listen to samples of the tracks, highly recommended.

TechTag: Music

water supply

I didn't realize that Kill Rock Stars had put together this compilation of Delta 5 material...

I'm bleeding cash...somebody help me!

Delta 5 - Now That You've Gone

These guys formed in the late 70's and didn't last long enough...check out this interview as well. Kill Rock Stars has a ton of mp3s for your listening pleasure, and they encourage you to use them in your podcasts.

dip into the past/future

Heh...Mona Soyoc of Kas Product fame has her own site up with one song there...not much else...but it's interesting to hear.

Mona Soyoc -Warrior Lord of the Wind

Also see Just For A Day's post on Kas Product.

mixed feelings

I'd go to the show, i admit...but there's something strange about them reforming...The Specials set to reform?