I would like to thank all of you witty, sophisticated folks who contributed to the discussion of great two-siders and cool Australian picture sleeves in recent days. I'd like to thank Stephen L. for reminding us of this record, which neatly merges the two concepts. The lone Eastern Dark 45 is nearly sacred in the Little Hits hut, an object the boys and I like to gaze upon with awe before spinning it at a volume that will sterilize roaches.

The Eastern Dark were formed when James Darroch left the Celibate Rifles to more fully pursue his glorious vision of the Beach Boys fronting the Ramones. Tragically, he was killed on tour in 1986, and as a result the band was sadly under-recorded. Two things worth mentioning though: 1) If you find the "Long Live The New Flesh" EP on What Goes On, you need to put that Modest Mouse remix EP right the hell back in the racks and stick with the real rock. 2) A good deal of the band's material, including both sides of this 45 and the "New Flesh" EP are on a CD released by Australia's Half A Cow Records.

I got my copy from Brian Kirk for buying him lunch at the Steak and Shake in Champaign-Urbana. Patrick Hawley (Twiggy/Pansy Division/Prisonshake/Erik Voeks/The What Gives) was there too. Ahhh...glory days will indeed pass you by.