Rowland S. Howard, Pop Crimes (2009)
An unforgettable record, this. For many reasons. Firstly, the music is great – and it was a comeback/reminder but mostly for me this album triggers memories of the time I interviewed Rowland S. Howard. And he told me – flat out – on the phone that he was dying. He said he needed a blood transfusion and without it he would die; he said that without it he certainly couldn’t tour. He in fact used the word transfer even though he meant transfusion. It was an incredible interview to be part of – somewhat strange and frightening. Not what I signed up for, in a way. And yet I felt somewhat privileged to hear, first hand, his frankness. I love this album. Loved it from when I first heard it. Love it more now I think. But a very good record. And Rowland S. Howard really was something. It seemed strange to speak to him. Stranger still that just a few weeks later he was dead.

Sample Track: Life’s What You Make It

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