Review: Crate Digger: An Obsession With Punk Records

Crate Digger: An Obsession With Punk Records
Bob Suren

Microcosm Publishing
Street: 06.09

Crate Digger is an excellent, fun and engaging read. It is the story of Burrito Records’ Bob Suren’s life of collecting punk records, playing music, running a record store/label, and succeeding and failing. This book narrates his life, highlighting notable titles like The Dictators’ Go Girl Crazy!, Gay Cowboys in Bondage’s Owen Marshmallow Strikes Again, Raw Power’s Screams from the Gutter and The Stalin’s Go Go Stalin, and then using them as a way to relate the records’ significance to parts of his life. While this certainly is an amusing way of relating a memoir, it is no less honest or sincere. Rather, Suren’s life is a wonderful reflection of someone who collects records, since each artifact he lists has its own special place and meaning. As a record collector myself, I can empathize with much of Suren’s accounts through experiencing similar adventures and exploring the unique connection to the worldwide community that exists for those who appreciate music in this particular fashion. With all of that said, I would highly recommend this book to any punk enthusiasts or record nerds due to the obvious themes that Crate Digger explores. I guarantee that you’ll dig it. –Nick Kuzmack