Druid 45 and why I hate the term "private press"

I picked this up in a bookstore in NH on route 124. They had a box of 45s buried on a shelf. Clearly heavy metal so I grab it for a buck. You've got an "eddie" style mascot in the stockades on the cover. Very budget-no back cover or information. 4 songs on 33-trying to pack in as much music as possible. . First track "The Robber" is pretty straight ahead Metal Massacre V1 fair. Heavy NWOBHM vibe maybe a la early Anthrax. (Not to be confused with NWOIIHM "new wave of ironic indie hipster metal"-thanks Aqaurius!) Followed by "Forced Entry" makes you think these guys might have a criminal bent. B-Side opens up with a midpaced and melodic tune "Legion(The Exorcist)" that kind of drags. They bring it home in style with "Godsend ". Good one if you can find it.

This is the kind of record that some would call private press. Private press is a term that gets used as inaccurately as KBD(see previous post) and it makes me crazy. A private press is an odd bird, but people are constantly trying to call records on failed indies "private press" to increase it's perceived rarity or collect ability. If a label only puts out one record because it failed, it is still trying to be record label. If it has a label name and address on the back it's probably not a "private press". This bad boy is on "Crossbone" records which makes you hope maybe the drummer was a skater or something, but my extensive research could yield only vague memories of them being an opening act at some Hampton Beach metal fests. Those more in the know should set me straight.
But back to my "private press" issue. What is the difference between a "DIY", "indie", or "private press" record? I cannot tell. But if this was getting hyped on ebay or gemm as "rare private press metal" I would bet I wouldn't have scooped it up for 50 cents in a NH bookstore.

Slipstream's Wardrobe

I have a soft spot for this team, but they make it hard. Look at the leg warmers the dude is wearing behind Millar.... Ouch.
I am afraid of what Big Magnus could end up looking like in a muddy rainy Roubaix.

January Cycling bits.

When he offered a carbon fibre bike mixed with flaxseed, I thought it was an ironic twist of fate that Sheffield and Bond's favorite supplement would be in the "wasps" bikes, but now Museeuw has opened an indoor cycling center I know he is off his rocker. Looks like a spin class to me, but maybe with a special back room for any and all of your needs? I don't think that even the lion of flanders can make a spin class look tough You can pick up killer Museeuw bandanas as well. I can only wait in anticipation for the Peter Van Petegam Frites francises or the Plankeart reality show (wait that happened already)
Tour of Qatar is showcasing some new bikes. Giant have the most radically updated frame from the looks of this. Not a big fan of curved seat stays like that and the head tube looks a little too downhill hummer. Must be stiff enough for TDU revelation Andre Greipel though!
Rock Racing are putting on a real circus in Cali. Supposedly this is what their DeRosa's will look like?? Green Giant, Hulk, etc. Rashan Bahati's website keeps the comical pictures coming. Trucker hats,mistmatched gear, and a chunky looking Botero. Not a good look.
Boonen took stage one of the Tour of Qatar a fast one, but was he on Rovals? No photographic proof yet. The Rovals here look like Fulcrums to me. Especially compared to this. Where's the starfish hub thing? And finally did Kevin Hulsman's tire explode or was it the wheel?
Wim Van Huffel maybe on the way to being replaced in my favorite name in the peloton awared by none other than Slipstream's flying Dutchman Huub Duyn. Preben Van Hecke is still in the running.

So professional...............

There are very few things that Pros do that regular dorks on bike do as well (go fast uphill for example), but thanks to the Pezcyclingnews website, I discovered 2 things I have in common with the Pros of the Saunier Duval team.
1. I think it is critical to staying warm to keep your neck covered. I hate those hood/entire head masks, so I rock a "neck gaiter" or whatever you want to call it and so does the pint sized, pocket rocket, power house, Leanardo Piepoli!
2.Recovery is the key and you need to search out every legal advantage. As seen above I am not afraid of doing what needs to be done. I was ashamed of my compression socks until I saw this photo. Me and the boys in yellow are on the same page-but they don't have SE Racing socks and the dog to chill with-so sad for them.
Now if I could lose another 20 pounds and gain a couple 100 watts I might be getting somewhere.

Hara Krishna Festival Part 2 LP. Krsna Rock #25

More traditional kirtans on this German record that may mark Hansadutta's first grab at the spotlight. Front and center on the cover(which is one of the best Krsna LP covers!) and getting plenty of credit on the labels, Hansa is putting himself out there and telegraphing the desire for recorded fame that lead to infamy with his two solo albums. He is even rocking it shirtless heart throb fashion on the back cover.
The cover is a veritable who's who of celebrity dopplegangers(maybe I am crazy but I see Jake Phelps, Richie Underdog, Tyler Hamilton, and Ray Cappo look alikes in the background). The cover is by far the best and most action packed on a devotional record.
Music is all Kirtans. Well done and a good listen-carrying on what HK Festival Part One started.

Record Collecting Pet Peeve #.......

"Acid-Folk" has got to be a term even more misused than "private press". Shit that sounds like John Denver or Emmlyou Harris is hardly "acid fried commune folk damage". It is hard to sell boring new age hippie warbling, but one thing helps for sure-call it "acid folk". Just cause its old doesn't mean its good or crazy.
Wanna be Eagles Cali soft rock or West Texas honky tonk balladering does not have much in common with Charles Manson warbling over his acoustic to the girls around a campfire.

And it's not just old record store assholes that are doing it. Drag City, Devendra Barndoor, etc are all letting journalists run wild with "far out" taglines and generalizations.

White is the new whatever........

Seems like both CSC and Quickstep are adding more white to their kit this year. Not a big fan, but at least the shorts are black for the sake of modesty. Quickstep's move to more white was probably to help reduce the chances of clashing with whatever new accolades Bettini adds to his wardrobe this year.
Training camp photo shoots online have not revealed that much new tech to my eyes, but I will keep searching. Quickstep maintain their monopoly on national championship jerseys with Italy and Belgium.
On team bucking the white trend and proving good guys don't wear white, is Team High Road who are back in black based on this TDU photo. They get an early win.