The Music Specialist

Our London trip began and ended at Harrods, where else? After our tour of the antiquities in the lower east portion of the British Museum on Friday and, after our walk on Sloan Street in search of Jo Malone's original storefront and, after returning to Harrrods and accidently finding ourselves facing racks of CDs when we took the back elevator near the candy department up to the 3rd floor, only then did I realize I forgot to get a new CD for the boys; something local is what they asked for. With no time to waste I asked directly for what I was in search of, something local, best if not yet heard in America, something known but unknown worldwide.

On my first try I was directed to the Arctic Monkeys but, alas, they've crossed the Atlantic. That brought a recommendation for the Holloways, a well-known British band with a great following. SOLD!

Later we returned to the CD department when my sister realized she needed to bring home a CD for her teens, also. Same question to the help but this time, our shopgirl said, "Let me get you the Music Specialist," and off she went. Out came a young twentysomething blond woman, nothing punk or rocker about her. But when it came to recommending some new and fresh sounds from the local rock scene, she took me on a blazing fast tour, past the Artic Monkeys (though she tried) and onto a few CDs that helped me cover the range and look like a heroine to my kids. Her recommendations were all hits at home with the boys so if you're into some good rock here you go, courtesy of the Harrods Rock Music Specialist.

1. Just hitting London and not too well known yet, but on their way: The Wombats, A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation


2. Just making the countrywide scene but not generally known elsewhere: Good Shoes, a self-titled CD (the Specialist is ex-girlfriend to one of the band mates)


3. Established British Rockers: The Holloways, So This is Great Britian


4. Just crossing the ocean and winner of a recent American Music Award: The Klaxons, Myths of the Near Future (revealing this CD got me high fives from my sons, they'd heard them but didn't know anyone yet with the CD)

I'm off to let Harrods know how happy I am. Listen and enjoy!