Crate Digger Lib/E: An Obsession with Punk Records

by Bob Suren (Reader)

A small-town Florida teenager discovers punk rock through a loaned mix tape, and punk music and culture slowly takes over all aspects of his life. His new passion causes him to form a band, track down out-of-print records he loves and reissue them, open a record store, start a record distribution operation as a public service, mentor a host of young musicians, and befriend all manner of punk luminaries along the way. Slowly his life's pursuit pushes him to the point of personal ruination and, ultimately, redemption.

Genres: Music, Punk, Nonfiction

Audio CD

First published May 15, 2015

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book!
This is a memoir about punk rock that hits so close to home it's awesome. Though I used to do so on a daily basis, it's been awhile since I've read many personal zines. When I started this, it took me back to my zine reading days and it also told me a whole lot about Bob that I never knew. He gives a colorful description of being a young punk in the early to mid 80s and what it was like to find a new band and hear a new record. He shares his absolute passion for records and recounts the way music was shared on dubbed tapes and shows were spread by word of mouth. Reading this transformed me back in time and reminded me of some of the best personal zines I've read and even some of the novels and memoirs that have developed out of those zines.
This is broken up into antidotes about all of the most important, noteworthy and landmark records, bands and people from Bob's life. When I read a book - I want to be sucked in and short stories usually don't do that for me. I like continuity. So I was pretty stoked when just a couple stories in that is exactly what happened - I fell deep into the story - the history of Florida punk and the life of Bob Suren.
While the format follows an obsession with record collecting and telling a story based on a record, this book is so much more than that. This tells the story of Florida hardcore, it tells the story about, Burrito Records and Sounds Idea the store, distro and showspace, and it tells a personal story about Bob - about his passion for music, for punk, for record collecting and the ebb and flow of life. We meet the most important people in Bob's life -- bands mates, store workers, and members of noteworthy and important bands by close and far. We also meet the girl who becomes Bob's wife and she takes one a big role in this story as well. The chronology jumps around a bit and each story is told in it's own right, so there are some overlapping parts and some jumps. But when it all comes together it paints a full picture and it's inspiring and a bit heartbreaking as well.
I had a working relationship with Bob Suren and Sound Idea for many many years. My zine, Slug & Lettuce had a regular full page ad from Sound Idea and Bob was dependable and consistent when many were not and it was that consistency that helped fund S&L. I have a fondness for Bob and all that he has done, though in reading this memoir I came to realize how much about Bob I didn't know. We traded zines, ads and records, but rarely talked about life. I saw his band play once and talked to him at least one other time while he was touring, but that is about it. Our regular correspondence was brief and functional. And that strikes me as odd now. I'm glad that I am able to get to know Bob more though this book, cause in my mind, it's better late than not at all.
So it is with all my heart and passion that I recommend this book. If you know Bob Suren, Burrito Records, Failure Face or Sound Idea - then you will enjoy this. If you have a particular interest in Florida hardcore, or American hardcore in general, or specifically in the 80s and 90s, then you will enjoy this. If you've got a nostalgic side to you that likes a sappy story like Rob Sheffield's "Love Is A Mix Tape", then this is like a hardcore 90s version of that. This is also a document of our history - of DIY punk and hardcore. It's a book written by someone I know, about something near and dear to me, about something that I lived, even though in a parallel path. It's important, it's heartfelt and it's sincere.
I love this book!

[Cnadeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sluffed off many obligations to plow through this book right after I bought it. A great read, love the mix of personal history crashed into taste and the substance of music obsession. highly recommended heartfelt tale - I think even folks not in the know about the music chronicled will still enjoy the story and very cool narrative style.

[Russ · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Serious spoilers in last paragraph)

I feel a bit bad only giving Bob's book 3 stars, as he comes off as a genuinely good guy in this book and isn't a bad writer either. I don't think I ever ordered from Bob's record store/mailorder business (Sound Idea), but definitely remember seeing ads for the store in zines. He ran a record label as well (Burrito Records) which I am also not real familiar with, outside of them releasing the excellent H100s second EP which was a big release for people in the Cleveland hardcore scene at the time.

This book covers some of Bob's favorite records, though not in the way that a typical music guide would. Rather he uses the records to tell stories about his discovery of punk rock, and his further obsession into serious record collecting, running a record store/label and booking shows. By far the best element of this book are the recollections of first discovering the scene with his high school friends - the first records he got, going to shows for the first time, discovering record stores, etc. Any fan of punk or underground music will probably relate to a lot of Bob's stories. Later on, he shares stories of guiding younger kids through advice at his record store, recommending them music and even giving them jobs at his shop. These stories are great, top-notch stuff.

There's some problems with the book though. One is the selection of records. I don't know Bob's taste aside from what he chooses to cover in here - but at least in this book, it seems as though all he listens to is punk and hardcore. He covers some truly great, but very well-known punk bands - Bad Brains, Dead Kennedys, Meatmen, Minor Threat, Dead Boys, Misfits, etc. Probably stuff that people interested in this book already know very well. One record that stands out among the rest is the debut Flipper LP...unfortunately, he just mentions how it was a bummer and he's happy to never hear it again. Being slightly younger than Bob, I grew up on a lot of the same music, but my tastes expanded over the years, so personally I'm not real interested in exploring the more obscure punk/HC records mentioned (Many of them local favorites, which do provide good stories.) That's just my taste though, I'm sure the book could come in handy as a punk primer or for those wanting to hear more obscure hardcore records.

The bigger problem here is that Bob sort of attempts to craft a narrative while telling stories about his favorite records and bands. It doesn't really work very well. The jumps in time period are pretty jarring, and the stories probably could've been arranged better than simply having them in alphabetic order by band name. It still would've been OK if it has simply focused on Bob's tales of the music scene. Unfortunately, Bob also discusses his personal life outside of the music scene, though this stuff doesn't pop up until towards the very end. Without spoilers, I will just say that the ending is pretty depressing, and kind of ruined the more upbeat tales of being involved in the music scene. Overall recommended if you dig stories about the punk scene.

MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD

I think a better ending for this book would've been the closing of his record shop due to economic issues, despite that somewhat sad event, it would've been a logical ending. Unfortunately, Bob continues and discusses his divorce which followed not long after the closing of the store. His wife of 17 years tells him she doesn't love him anymore, files for divorce, and he moves out of their house into a tiny apartment he can hardly afford. He reacts...strangely IMO. He begins to sell off his entire music collection, mentioning how much his ex-wife deserves the money to start a new life. With no sarcasm. I was hoping maybe this was a prelude to a reconciliation of some sort, but nope. He sells every record he had (Don't get why he didn't at least save the more common/not insanely high-priced stuff in his collection.) He repeatedly begs his wife to try again, but it doesn't work. He meets a new woman who upon 2nd meeting, he writes a poem for - including lines like "I want to dance with you in the most intimate way." Jesus! That approach didn't work for him. Experienced serious second-hand embarrassment and cringing reading this stuff. I think he should've just stuck with music, but if he did want to include the relationship stuff, he should've included more stories about his wife before all this happened.

The book ends with some traveling and Bob moving to a new city, I hope things went well for him there in the 5 years since this was written.

[Mac · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sometimes, I give a book a bad review and it's just like ok, fine, didn't like it. Sometimes I give a book a middling-to-bad review and feel bad about it. This is the latter. This just didn't click with me whatsoever. The tone/style, the pacing, the timeline, none of it. Found out about a couple bands I'll be checking out, which is good I suppose. Bob seems like a nice guy (but still manages to casually drop in a one-sentence anecdote about pulling a gun on a shoplifter), and his interest in genuine but man...just didn't like it. I can see that I'm in the minority, but it is what it is.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Primo Levi's Periodic Table, Cratedigger is a compelling "life in objects" kind of narrative, using punk music as its connective tissue. Indeed, Suren's life seems to start with his teenage discovery of punk and hard core: it's what provides his life's and hence, this book's shape and center, its overarching trajectory, its detours and crucial relationships. Each chapter here--as short and abrupt as the music that inspired it--is devoted to or kickstarted by a song, album, or fellow crusader in the cause. (The chapter on the Ramones' It's Alive is especially stunning.) One thing that becomes clear, Suren's contributions to a relatively fledgling Floridian punk scene--a suburban one at that--are massive. He started a record store that became a cultural hub in a place sorely needing one. He starts a record label, puts together a couple of bands and resurrects forgotten ones in far flung countries. (You'll need to read this with a notebook to write down names of bands you've never of--at least I did.) With all Suren gains from a life as culturally rich as one in punk rock--and this book is indispensable for sketching out what was unique about the pre-internet punk/hard core scene--Suren is honest about what he loses. His honesty and directness is the strength of the book ultimately--it's what gives Cratedigger and the music that fueled it its power. (Message to the publisher: Hey, Microcosm, what's up with all the typos? Do I have to come out there?)

[Alohatiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure, I have met Bob a few times and have visited his store in Florida. I actually read this book more for the personal side since I knew he had been going through a lot of change. I liked the many layers of this book, it isn't just about records. He will be doing a local event at Thrillhouse Records on 10/20 with his book so I am looking forward to going to that and hearing more. For anyone who is passionate about music, it is an interesting read.

[Zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Evan Harrelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

crudely written, with a few typos here and there but really beautifully expressed. loved it.

[Shouty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had this book on my shelf for a while -- I grew up in the Brandon area and hung around the author's shop as a lonely teenager. I have nothing but nostalgic love for the place, and am reminded of it often, since it's where I met the man I ended up marrying when he was a guitarist in a punk band who wore too-short pants and offered to buy me a soda.

But I kept putting off actually reading the book because I was intimidated. Although I listened to some of the music and was around the scene as much as one can be when still getting rides from their mother, I didn't feel punk enough for this book. All the references would be too obscure, I thought, too over my head.

But this book is a charming, delightful read -- the short chapters about various iconic (and yes, often obscure) punk records come fast and furious and often funny, making me laugh out loud several times. The openness and honesty Suren shows in writing about his own life come through and give a counterbalance to those wackier chapters about brushes with punk royalty and touring hijinx and a surprisingly bizarre encounter at an all-night go-kart place. There is something truly inspiring about reading the account of someone who had such focus and all-consuming love for one thing: punk music. The music intimidated me, but that love/obsession is what drew me in once I finally cracked the spine.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating or reviewing this book is difficult. The book landed in my reading pile accidentally, and I had no idea what it was or who is Bob Suren — I was just struck by the title. Reading it, I learned a lot about a scene but not in a complete way; I learned a lot about a collector's mentality, but not in a coherent portrait; I have a ton of leads on records to listen to.

I enjoyed the book, either because or despite its eccentric qualities, including the fractured nature of its memoir, the bluntness of the writing, and the head-butting emotional honesty.

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books about passion, and this book has lots of passion in it. Bob Guren doesn't stop, he is consumed by his love for music and Punk culture. The writing is coherent and smart and deserves five stars. I gave this volume four stars instead of five because there is no appendix in the back, and there are bands with which I am not familiar and I want to use this book as a reference tool and the design makes that a difficult task. I look forward to seeing what else Bob creates for us.

[David Macpherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good memoir broken down into the records that brings up memories and tales. IT tells of a running a record shop, a record label and going to shows, lots of shows. The ending was not as strong as the rest because Suren tried to get the rest of his story included in a sort of linear way while the rest of the book is not linear. It also ends on a depressing, sobering conclusion, so that changes some of the joy that he was talking about for 200 pages. It is a very good book and I liked it a lot.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a punk record collector, as soon as I saw this title existed, I knew I was going to need to read it. Unfortunately, I never listened to much hardcore so I didn't know a lot of the bands. I did this as an audiobook which was awesome because it included a lot of songs from the bands and records discussed, though I'm sure the print version would have had photos and visual aids - I'm not sure what is better.

[Tiny Red Dragons Radio · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting memoir of a life spent deeply into punk rock. Lots of classics mentioned and lots of stuff that was new to me as well. Worth your time if you're obsessed with punk records. (This review originally appeared on my personal Good Reads page: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9...)

-Jeff

[John Marr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the writing is a little rough in spots, this is a fascinating, refreshingly non-self aggrandizing look at life in the punk and record collecting scenes and trying to reconcile them with the demands of actual existence. Ever wonder why people sell their record collections?

[Dkolacinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

An obsession with . . . Records of any sort, any flavor. I know since I'm one too. An incredible journey with an incredibly sad ending, or is there hope after the crash a n d burn. Read the book, but be sure to listen to the audiobook as well with all its hardcore splendor.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a hard book to rate since I don't have a personal connection to the author or the Florida punk more generally. In the end I struggle with the form and timeline, with the small snippets never giving me a clear picture. The writing itself is raw and unapologetic, which is perfect for a personal zine.

[Don Books Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge punk rock and hip hop fan. I've collected and sold/lost records since I was a teen. So this memoir piqued the ice cream sundae that is my interests. I understand the ups and downs of a true fan, but he's much more involved than I could ever be.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook read by the author with bits of music used between chapters. I thought it was fun, written pretty much like you’d expect a book by a punk to be written: cool stories, no chronological order. :) very interesting look into the scene and the music/record industry.

[Craig Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was so raw and full of emotion. A great read for anyone into diy subcultures, or hardcore punk in general

[Jeffrey Bumiller · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting memoir of a life spent deeply into punk rock. Lots of classics mentioned and lots of stuff that was new to me as well. Worth your time if you're obsessed with punk records.

[Winston_smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

More an autobiographical book than a book on record collecting, but it’s still great if you’re into 80´s and 90’s hardcore. Those into more obscure bands will rejoice with all these anecdotes.

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as great as I was hoping. I’m more of a grunge fan myself, although I have a deep love for many punk-inspired bands. I learned a lot though, and was really creatively inspired by all the weird band, record label, and song names. I also liked the focus on obscure Florida punk, given that that’s my home state.

This turned into a quasi memoir partway through, which was fine because the author has a lot of relevant stories that lend a lot to the credibility and interest of the book. However, there is a section toward the end that deals a lot with his divorce that was a little uncomfortable for me. It just felt out of place with the narrative. But perhaps I nitpick too much.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this after hearing a short clip of one of the stories, but I ended up really liking it. It's an honest, blunt, and often funny story about passion turning to obsession and all that entails through the lens of punk and hardcore. Definitely recommended for those into DIY punk and hardcore. May be a little inside baseball if you're not.

[Scot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: i won this in a goodreads giveaway.

I didn't know what to expect from this book but man was I pleasantly surprised. This book is fantastic and really a must read for anyone looking to get into punk or hardcore or anyone looking for a similar story to their own timeline through punk music.

The stories are short and to the point and are easy reads. Even if you haven't heard of the bands it doesn't really matter. The stories are what matter as well as the lessons learned.

There were so many parallels between my journey through punk rock and the author's which is what made it so enjoyable. He seems like exactly the kind of guy you want to meet in punk rock circles. The kind of guy who just gets it.

All in all the love of this music is what brings us all together and these stories illustrate that perfectly. Some of the later stories involving the break up and divorce get a little too up close and personal but if getting it off his chest is what he needed then more power to him. Highly recommended reading.

[Kme_17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as a first read. I really like this book. It was an interesting look at a world that I have not been apart of. It was a great read! I loved all the stories here. Recommended to music lovers in general but if you love punk you will enjoy this one a lot .

[Josef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this little book and my review can be found on my music blog: https://hitsfromthepast.blogspot.com/...

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

FTC Disclosure: I received this book free from Goodreads hoping I would review it.