I was in Lexington the other day and picked up a CD of the Pogues "BBC Sessions". I know that i could have streamed it or something, but I was sentimental for the 80's when every trip to the record store was discovery of a new land. I highly recommended this disc. Many of the takes are superior to album versions: energetic but somehow tighter.
Like adopting Mott as my favorite band in high school to individuate myself from my brothers influence, The release of the Pogues "Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash" was a similar defining moment. Young Archer Prewitt had a similar influence on me. He always breezed into town and introduced me to great stuff musically.
I remember Archer and I discussing Elvis Costello's involvement with the band. In those days, that's why you might take a chance on something new without actually hearing it. Any artist that you already loved being involved was a stamp of approval. Archer wasn't too impressed, he is a Dane after all. I remember him sniffing, "If Elvis likes that shit so much how come he isn't doing it on his albums." Bands like the Pogues, Waterboys, and the The Mekon's were more my cup of tea. It is sad and also thrilling when you head down that fork in the road on your own.