Collector's Choice 2017

So many good records made it into my collection this year again. I'm more than happy with what I managed to pick up in 2017. I didn't make a whole lot of progress with my want list, but I was able to cross off some items at least. Plus I picked up a few records that weren't on that list and some that I didn't even know of one year ago. That's what makes collecting fun though. The other element that makes collecting really fun is the people you get in touch with. Quite a few people have helped me in my efforts by pointing me to records, selling, trading or straight up giving me records for free. All of which I'm very grateful for. My favorite pick up is the test press for Bane's It All Comes Down To This LP, because it embodies everything I like about collecting: great music, incredibly rare, release by one of my favorite bands, and I was tipped of by fellow collector.

Here's to 2018, which will hopefully add more new good music and some old records to my collection and get me in touch with more people. Let's keep collecting fun.

XXX

Ralf

Patience Is A Virtue

If record collecting has taught me anything, it's that being patient often pays off. Sure, it's kind of unnerving when you keep looking for a certain record, and once you've found it, you're too late or someone else snatches it away from you in the last second. But eventually you'll get a shot at the record you've had your eye on for so long. It's only a matter of time.
Having said that, these two records took a lot longer than they should have. Supposedly there are 1,000 copies in total of the second press of Bane's LA 7", but they almost never pop up. Which has led some other Bane nerds and myself to the conclusion that the pressing info is either not correct or the label is still sitting on a ton of these 7"s. Something's definitely off here. Anyway, I'm really glad I was finally able to complete the set. Two more tests and I'm done with this whole city series.


Blue /300 (?).


Clear /700 (?).

One Piece At A Time

Two weeks ago or so a buddy of mine messaged me to tell me that 6131 had put up test presses in their online shop, and more precisely, they had put up test presses for Bane's Los Angeles 3:58pm 7". I didn't hesitate because when opportunity knocks, you have to answer. And quickly, when it comes to rare records. I messaged a few people who also might be interested and I made at least one other person happy that day.
There's not that much to see actually other than what you can see on the dust sleeve. I know of five test presses, two of which look exactly like my copy. The two other ones come with a cover saying "test press", written with a golden pen, and they're numbered. What is weird is that the numbers I know of are #19 and #20. And supposedly there are only 20 copies in total. So, why would you have numbers #19 and #20 and then other copies that are not numbered but should be technically a lower number? Anyway, I'm glad I managed to track down another piece to the puzzle.

Complete 1st press including test press. I'm still looking, desperately by now I should add, for the 2nd press copies on clear and blue vinyl. Officially there are 300 and 700 copies respectively. So there should be plenty of copies popping up, but for some reason they never do. So probably there aren't 1000 copies out there. Who knows. If you have one of these, get in touch and I'll make it worth your while.

Catching Up with today

Enough with the represses already! Time to check out some current bands. First off we have Everybody Row's first 7" The Sea Inside on Vitriol Records. Everybody Row shares members with the late Comadre and you can hear that very clearly. If Comadre had made another record after their self-titled LP, it would have probably sounded something like that. A lot more pop, but still very powerful. I really dig this release. Hopefully there'll be more material from this band soon.

 

Gas Rag from Chicago play hardcore-punk with the emphasis on punk. Throw in some D-Beat, throw in some rock, throw in some classic mid-western hardcore and you get Gas Rag. This is their first 7" Human Rights released on Way Back When. Definitely the most 'punk' record I've bought in a while. Good one.

I saw SVFFER live last year once or twice if my memory serves correctly and I really liked what I heard. I'd meant to pick up one of their records for quite some time but only got around to do so recently. Sadly this record doesn't do anything for me. I'll probably have to listen to it a few more times but so far I'm a little disappointed. Will try to catch them live again though to see if I was completely off somehow.

A couple of months back I got the Violent Reaction LP, which was really really good. The band also put out a 7" last year and I finally got around to picking one up. Just as good as the LP. Looking forward to hearing more from the band and hopefully seeing the band at some point.