So a few weeks ago I was in San Francisco for about the third or fourth time in my life, and of course, I knew of one place I had to immediately hit:  Amoeba Music!  Oh man, if you haven't been to this place and are a music fiend I warn you now, do not go in unprepared to witness its vast musical deliciousness.  I saw a few unshaven, tight-shirted tourist hipsters walk in while I was browsing the stacks and they had some sort of fit that involved urine and mangled Smiths lyrics.  You must understand, this place is awesome!

Needless to say, I bought 12 cds.  I felt okay about it since the total was $27 something and the priciest stuff was $5 used albums, but still, I was gluttonous.  But did I score well?  Sometimes you see $1 or $2 price tags and think, well, I may have heard a song off this disc a few years back that I may or may not of liked at a moderate level, so heck, I'll buy it.  Here's a few purchases where I hit and missed like a ballplayer with twelve consecutive at-bats against Curt Schilling, '97-style.

Hit!:  The Evaporators - Ripple Rock

I had heard their "I Gotta Rash" disc some years back and thought they were bonzai crazy out of Canada.  For two bucks I picked up their 2004 disc which is more of the same free wheeling spazz out that I enjoyed back in the day.  If you're looking for some goof off rock, with songs like "I Feel Like a Fat Frustrated F*ck" and "I Say That on Purpose to Bug You," this isn't a bad cheap buy to grab.

Miss!:   Bumblebeez 81 - The Printz

Ah, so this was a case of identifying the cover, seeing the $1 price tag, and scooping it up on a whim.  Man, aside from a song I vaguely remember as pretty good, the first couple spins through this provided some bad listening.  It's sort of a mess, with some vocals here and there over scattered drum beats and rambling on.  I think it's going to be at a Salvation Army really soon...

Check Swing!:  Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start - Perris, CA

This turned out to be a giddy recognition of the band name, (Q: How many lives, people?) and for a buck for five songs it was worth it to this old skool gamer.  Turns out the group is pretty standard rock, with a few songs that have some umph but others mostly turn out to be like getting the lame-o spiraling 'F'ireball gun. 

It all ended up being a pretty good haul, with Stereolab, Blink-182, and Right Said Fred all being part of the gift to me.  I suppose this post is mainly about convincing you, reader, about taking the next flight out to San Francisco.  Amoeba awaits!