Acme

Another long time want: Acme's demo 7". Little is known about the band and about the releases. A clear variant is listed as 5th pressing on Discogs, but apart from that there's only mention of this black variant. Weird, but then again, I understand it was kind of the band's policy to remain mysterious. Anyway, good 7". Need the compilation LP at some point.

Time In Malta

This one is the last one I took home from Marcus. While talking about the trade, he showed me this record and played it for me. I'd only been familiar with the band by name but never listened to it as far as I could recall. Well, I liked what I heard and I knew that my wife would like it as well, so I gladly took this copy of Marcus' hands. Thanks again for everything, mate. See you next year hopefully.

One Up

Another record I got from Marcus. Not the most prestigious one maybe, by collectors' standards anyway, but that's not always important. One good song by One Up plus a pretty sweet Texas Is The Reason cover.

Circle Storm

Another record I got from Marcus. And another record I'd had my eye for quite some time. The thing with those records you can get for fairly cheap is that you always push back getting a copy because another record pops up and your brain goes 'Oh, well. I can get a copy of this anytime.' And then anytime never comes. At least that's what happens to me quite often. Anyway, I finally have a copy and I quite enjoy it.

Patience Is A Virute

Marcus and I have probably earned a spot in the Guiness Book of World Records because we just completed the slowest trade in history. About one and a half years ago I decided to get rid of some records. Marcus wanted one of them and to save on shipping (which is in a record collector's mind another 7"), we agreed that I should bring it with me when I was going to London in September last year. Marcus was kind enough to invite me to his home and I brought the record with me. However, we hadn't really come to an agreement as to what my end of the trade would be. No problem, I'd traded with Marcus before and we'd also met in person before. Plus, now I also knew where his home was... We got to talking about records, of course, and other things, and before we knew it, I had to head to the train station to catch my train. And we still hadn't really come close to talking about the trade. Fast forward a year, and my next trip to London was due. Marcus was  kind enough to invite me to his home again and since we'd learned from past mistakes, we'd talked about a few possible items before my visit and we did the trade part at the beginning of my stay at his house. Since he's one of the few people who reads my blog regularly, he noticed that I'd picked up a few Bad Trip 7"s and had my eye on their LPs, so he was nice enough to pick up a copy for me. Thanks for that, mate. I'll post the other records in the next few days.

What's Left Of Me

2nd LP by More Than Life. Again, my wife's into the band so I was glad to be able to pick this up for her. Found both LPs in a regular record store at regular prices, which made it even better. Standard (re)press on black vinyl.

Love Let Me Go

More Than Life seem to be a pretty big deal right now. Band is hyped and so are their records. I've never listened to the band, but my wife recently said that she likes the band and would like to have their records. It's really nice to be able to bring records home with you from a trip as souvenirs instead of some tacky crap nobody really needs. Now that More Than Life records are in the household, I finally listened to them. But I have to say I'm not impressed. It's very melodic hardcore alright, but to me it's too melodic and too repetitive. I see how this might accumulate to a hype, but it's really not for me. Repress on gold/mustard vinyl out of 400 copies. At least that's my best guess.

Wig Out At Denkos

2nd LP by Dag Nasty. Incidentally this is a 2nd press, which I also picked up in London. Some good songs on this LP as well but it's nowhere near as good as Can I Say.

The Score

There was a time when I was a teenager when pretty much all I was listening to was hip hop. However, I only have about two dozen actual records from that genre in my collection and I recently decided that needs to change. So be prepared to see some more hip hop vinyl on this blog in the future. This is another record I picked up in London. Classic record by The Fugees. Lauryn Hill has such an incredible voice. So many good songs on this LP. I also really like the cover and its nod to The Godfather. This is a recent repress on Music On Vinyl. I only learned afterwards that there's a gold vinyl variant out there, so maybe I'll have to upgrade at one point.

Insomniac

Another year. Another trip to London. Another record haul. Insomniac was definitely. on heavy rotation on my stereo in the mid 90s along with Dookie. I'd wanted to pick up a copy for a long time, so while digging my way through record stores in London I came across this copy and finally bought this LP on vinyl. I'm guessing this is the most current repress, and I don't really care. I'm just happy I can finally spin this on my record player.

Posi Tour 2002

Count Me Out is such a good, yet somehow underrated band. I don't see that many people talk about this band or post pictures of their records, if you want to count that as an indicator. Then again, not many records, especially the rarer ones, show up for sale, so maybe it's a sort of quiet appreciation.  This record had been sitting in my Discogs cart forever, but I could never force myself to hit the "buy" button because the price was pretty high. I thought about contacting the seller, but for whatever reason I never did. Then one day the price was reduced by two-thirds, resulting in a very reasonable price, and I couldn't resist any longer. This particular variant was made for Posi Numbers and the ensuing tour in 2002. Cool Marilyn stamp and numbering. Of course there are 110 copies.

Unrest

Those who follow my blog will know by know that Spirits is by far my favourite current band. Great music, great lyrics, all around great people. As a collector I hate and love them. I hate (well, not really of course) them because they've put out so much music in such a short time and there are always a million variants. But of course I'm the only one to blame because no one forces me to buy all of those variants. However, it's always easier to project your shortcomings onto others, right?
Love prevails though. I love them because they put so much effort into their releases. Layered covers, origami style covers, hand stamped covers, you name it, they do it. This is another prime example of them going all out with the packaging. The sleeve is basically a picture frame and get four different options as to what the frame shows, depending on how you fold the lyric sheet.

This is by far my favourite hardcore release this year, which probably isn't that much of a surprise, but I just wanted to state it for the record. Osu is such an incredible song. I especially love what Charles did on guitars here. The lyrics are spot on, too, and are much needed - at least for me - in these dark political times.

I have a tour press coming my way, but I still need a test press. I'd contacted the label but I didn't manage to score one. Which is all the more sad (for me) because two friends I had told about the label being open to taking offers on tests got one while I struck out. As glad as I am for them, I'm still bummed. I even had one at my house and then had to mail it to a buddy who I'd teamed up with for the order. Oh well. The hunt is the fun part anyway.


Pre-order edition, which not only looks like a picture frame, but you can actually stand it up like a real picture frame. Check out the close up below. The dust sleeve is stamped, but not numbered.

Close up. #47/65. Additional stamp, too.

Clear and gold splatter out of 100 copies via State Of Mind. Love the look of this record.

200 copies come on silver vinyl. It's not just gray vinyl, it has an actual silver sparkle to it. Also on State Of Mind Records.

The European release of this LP was handled by Useless Pride. 200 copies on purple vinyl.

Last but not least, the standard press on black vinyl out of 400 copies. Also released by Useless Pride.

 

Le Grand Tour de Passe-Passe

One of my favourite German hardcore/punk bands ever is Amen 81. Now, musically the band doesn't do anything new, but what they do, they do pretty well. However, lyrically the songs are so incredibly good. They take jabs at society in general and at the hardcore/punk scene in particular. Always in a humorous way, that is until the deadly punch comes. So good. This is their latest LP, which already came out some time ago, but I only managed to pick up a copy at one of their (rare) shows. Standard press on black vinyl.

Fun anecdote: When I saw them play the first time, they played for about 45 minutes pretty much full stop, then announced to take a break because (quote) "we're old men and could we please get some fresh air in here?". Then they played for another 45 minutes, again pretty much full stop. One of the best sets I've ever seen.

Safe And Sound II

I also picked up Safe And Sound's 2nd 7", Embers Still Remain. Equally as good as the first one. Really good Turning Point cover as well. 150 copies on green/black swirl.