My Dischord collection boarders on embarrassing. Maybe it is even beyond the border of embarrassing, but I caught up with Dischord's catalogue at least a little bit.
Artifical Peace were around for only a short time in 1981/82 and apart from the three songs on the Flex Your Head sampler and one split 7", they had never really officially released anything as far as I know. It was definitely a good thing that Dischord finally decided a few years back to release the material recorded in November 1981. I got a copy on black. don't know if there's any colour vinyl available. Don't really care either. Very good early 80s hardcore. If you liked the songs on Flex Your Head, you should definitely pick this up. If you don't know the band, pick it up anyway.
The second record I picked up from the Dischord catalogue is Red Hare's debut Nites Of Midnite. The sticker on the shrinkwrap advertised this as a band featuring members of Swiz and Dag Nasty among others and you can definitely hear the influences. This is really, really good. I've been hearing many people say a lot of good things about this record but unfortunately I managed to get this one only a few days ago. This is the second pressing on blue vinyl with matching blue cover art. Sounds good, looks good. I hope there's going to be more material by this band in the nearby future.
'Don't Wait Up' is an aptly chosen name for the final Bane record and even more so for the pre-order for this record on Equal Vision. Due to the fuck up at the pressing plant this took forever to come out, like two months late, then after finally getting the confirmation the record was actually in the mail, the parcel got held up at the customs office, which also meant paying more money. And to top all of that whoever packed that parcel at MerchNow forgot to put in the copy on blue vinyl that I had ordered. At least the yellow, which is slightly marbled, looks really awesome. So that kind of makes up for the rest I guess. Need to find me a blue copy soon somehow since blue vinyl is officially sold out on the MerchNow website and I haven't heard back from them about their mistake either. Oh well, where'd be the fun in collecting if everything was easy, right?
Could there have gone wrong any more with this pressing? Not likely, you might say. Wrong. Just look at the gatefold sleeve and you know what I'm talking about. Whoever folded that sleeve or operated the machine doing the folding did one hell of a poor job. This is what the sleeve looks like when being put flat on a table. I feel really sorry for the band because their final release got so messed up.
I first heard Ghostlimb on one of those (digital) mix tapes that Comadre used to put out when they were still around. I really liked the song, but I only managed to pick a couple of their records now. These won't be the last ones though. I like Bearing And Distance a little better than the s.t. LP, mainly because it's a little more melodic. Doesn't mean that the s.t. LP is bad, not by any means.
This is the second press of the s.t. Ghostlimb LP. You can tell by the cover, the nicely etched B-Side and the red ink on the cover. There are 300 copies on black vinyl. You can win me over easily with these kinds of covers, too.
I like the cover and overall packaging of this LP even better than the other one. I should probably get some historical maps to put on the walls here at some point. First press of Bearing & Distance, Ghostlimb's 4th LP, on red vinyl out of 800 copies.
Ever since I've heard Punch for the first time a few years back I've been hooked on the band. Great on vinyl, even greater live. As far as collecting goes, it's pretty hard to keep up with all the represses. I think this may be the 6th (?) press on Discos Huelga, but I'm not altogether sure. There are also pressings on Assault Records based in Germany, so it's all a little confusing. Anyway, I know that this is the latest repress on Discos Huelga on clear vinyl. Still need to fill some gaps here.
I already mentioned before that I don't like ordering only one record from a seller, so I also picked up this 2nd press of Ruined Families' s.t. 7". Comes in a beautifully designed fold out cover. I believe there are 300 copies of this pressing. I really love the fact that Adagio830 alway put in so much effort to create a nice package for their releases.
No, I haven't gone Christian hardcore lately. Far from it actually, if you know the people behind this record, haha. I've had the new Pessimistic Lines record for some time now and the plan was to write about it as soon as I had the other versions, but since that won't be the case for a few more weeks, I thought I might do it now just as well. Pessimistic Lines are a band from Stuttgart, Germany, for those who don't know the band. Check them out if you're into modern hardcore with an old school twist. I really liked their demo and their first 7", so of course I was looking forward to their latest release. And I didn't get disappointed, although I would have preferred if the production had been a little rawer. It sounds too clean for my taste. But that's just me. Good record by good people. Pre-order sleeve with orange vinyl out of 50.
I also picked up a black copy of their first 7" No Future to complete the set.
Pessimistic Lines - No Future - Cobra / Drastic Actions - record release edition on yellow /33
Pessimistic Lines - No Future - Cobra / Drastic Actions - pre-order on yellow
Pessimistic Lines - No Future - Cobra / Drastic Actions - first press on black
It's so awesome that Bane's latest and last release has been received so well. I love this LP and I'm really happy for the band. 'Don't Wait Up' has already gone through its second pressing. At least the European version has. Still no pressing on Equal Vision in sight. I've heard that the pressing plant screwed up big time. Consequently the band didn't have any records to sell on tour, not to speak of the delayed pre-orders. Anyway, End Hits Records has been keeping busy with the aforementioned second pressing. 500 copies on clear vinyl, which I really like.
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the Bane test pressing my girlfriend got for my birthday, but as I've been told lately, this was only plan B. Originally she'd wanted to get me a test pressing of 'Don't Wait Up', but she didn't hear back in time from the guy running the label. He eventually got back to her and that's how I got my hands on this gem. Thanks again to my girlfriend and Oise of End Hits Records for hooking me up. A few days ago End Hits posted on their Facebook page that they were selling the remaining test pressings so if you want one, you'd better hurry and shoot Oise an e-mail.
Crucial crew shot
Bane - Don't Wait Up - End Hits - test pressing #16/20
Bane - Don't Wait Up - End Hits - purple - 1st pressing /300
Bane - Don't Wait Up - End Hits - turquoise - 1st pressing /400
Bane - Don't Wait Up - End Hits - orange - 1st pressing /500
Bane - Don't Wait Up - End Hits - clear - 2nd pressing /500
Another record to cross off of my want list. This record is now 20 years old and it still floors me every time I listen to it. Last one I still need is a copy on clear red.
Another record I'd been looking forward to a lot: the latest release by Trainwreck. Hopefully not the last one, although the title of the record might indicate otherwise. Who knows.
When I heard that pre-orders were up, I put in an order immediately and messaged a couple of people I knew shoe are into this band. However, instead of paying right away as I usually do, I forgot to do so for whatever reason and didn't really think about the whole matter for a couple of weeks. Until I got a reminder by the label that - much to my shock - I hadn't paid yet. That's why I didn't get the pre-order edition with the alternate cover, but this version. Actually it's not a real version since it's the pre-order pressing vinyl with the regular pressing sleeve. Guess the label ran out of pre-order sleeves and decided to use the regular ones. I'd love to have the pre-order cover, too, since it looks really sick. Stupid record collecting thoughts aside, Trainwreck have managed to put out yet another good release. A little more melodic than their previous records maybe, but I don't mind that development. The record still has to grow on me a little I guess, but that's what it's been like with all Trainwreck releases for me. Can't wait to see this band live again, hopefully soon.
Punch is one of favourite current bands. Powerful music, great lyrics and the band consists of very nice people, too. All the good markings of a good band. I missed out on the latest repress of their debut 7" Eyeless (on Discos Huelga), so I had to pick it up via discogs. This is the 5th press on olive green vinyl. If you are into fastcore and generally dig bands on 625 Thrashcore, you should check out Punch.
I've heard a lot of people talk very euphorically about The Ropes formerly known as The Repos. I had the chance to pick up one of their 7"s from the same seller I got the Punch 7" from for cheap, so I thought this might be a good opportunity to give a listen to the band. Quite honestly, I don't get what all the hype (is there really one?) is about. The music and the singer's voice are not really my cup of tea. As with most Youth Attack releases, artwork and the overall design of the whole package are superb (custom foldout double-sided envelope sleeve that comes with a sixteen-page booklet!). But since it's still the music that a record should be all about, this is most likely the first and last The Ropes release for me.
Just Went Black is my favourite hardcore band from Germany ever. I fell in love with the band in 2006 when they played a show with Good Clean Fun at one of my favourite venues. They were so good live that I just needed to pick up their records. That's when I fell in love with the band for the second time, because they also rule on vinyl. I'm still bummed that they broke up a few years ago and that I wasn't able to make it to their last show.
My favourite release by them and one of my all-time favourite records in general is their only full-length LP Tides. This one falls into the category 'perfect record'. Not only are the music and the lyrics nothing short of great, but the artwork for the cover and the inside is so well done in my opinion, too, and fits the overall tone of the record perfectly. I also really like the colours chosen for this release. I've had the versions on clear and black vinyl for the longest time, but the marbled off-white/sperm coloured one had eluded me in what felt like forever. I contacted a few people who had one, but none of them wanted to let go off it. Quite understandably.
A few weeks back I posted a picture of my copies of the LP and the 10" they released on Instagram. In my comment I added that I was still looking for a copy of the rarest version, hoping that someone might sell or trade me the record. A few days later someone commented the picture, saying he was the former singer of Just Went Black and that he still had a spare copy of this version. So I wrote him a message and he offered to send it to me. That alone was a really nice surprise, but what was more, he told me that he didn't want anything in return, not even for shipping. Basically he told me that the record was only collecting dust standing around on his shelf and if he could help me out with my collection, he'd be more than happy to do so. Way to make me speechless and enormously grateful at the same time. Thanks again, Sven. Life can be pretty good sometimes.
Just Went Black - Tides - Assault Records - marbled off-white/sperm - /90
Just Went Black - Tides - Assault Records - black - /700
Just Went Black - Tides - Assault Records - clear - /200
Got a couple of current records and another repress. This Routine Is Hell already released their Howl LP last year, but I only got around to picking up the album recently. This is a 2nd press copy on blue vinyl out of 100. I saw This Routine Is Hell when they opened for Bane in March. Didn't hear the complete set since I was chatting with a couple of people I hadn't seen in a long time, but what I heard with half an ear didn't sound bad at all, so I thought I'd check them out. And I didn't get disappointed. Howl is a really good album. Sounds very ceremony-esque, which is something good in my book.
As mentioned before I don't like ordering only one record when I order records, so I picked up another record from the same label I ordered the This Routines Is Hell LP from. I chose A Journey In 11 Dives by Storm And Stress. Why, I couldn't tell you. I guess I liked the packaging from what I could see in the web shop. Sadly, the packaging is the best part about this record. The booklet that comes with it is awesome. 24 pages filled with the lyrics and accompanying pictures, which reflect the lyrics. I'm really digging the pictures. The music can be best described as modern hardcore and is good enough, but the singer's voice ruins this for me. Bummer.
Lastly I picked up a golden oldie. Well, at least a repress of it. Cause For Alarm were a band in the early 1980s from NYC and that's just the way they sound. Can't go wrong with that. I have no idea about the pressing info for this one. Recent repress on Victory is the best I can manage. I vaguely recall reading about or seeing a picture of another version on blue vinyl for RSD 2014.
Oh man, this post is not an easy one to write. Bands come and bands go. That's what bands do. Some touch your life more than others, some leave a mark on you that changes you forever. The band that has touched my life the most and on more levels than any other is: Bane. Best friend, road trips, meeting cool people, sweat, singalongs, stagedives, girlfriend, anger, frustration, escapism, hope: Bane.
There have been rumors about Bane breaking up as long as I've known the band. But they just kept going and going and somehow I came to the conclusion, that they'd be around forever. At least I was hoping that. But of course that was not true. Bands are supposed to break up eventually. And sadly this point has come for Bane now.
Some time ago last year, Aaron said at a show that Bane were recording a new album. However it would be their last one. I was really bummed. I always knew that day was coming but finally hearing it was something completely different. At least I had something to look forward to: new Bane songs. However, after their last 7"s I was very cautious of getting my hopes up since the last songs didn't really click with em. Still, new songs by Bane…
Fast forward to spring 2014. Bane came over to Germany and played two shows to promote their new songs. I went to both shows in Berlin and Leipzig and at each show they played some of the new songs. I was hooked right from the start and from that day I couldn't wait to hold the new LP, aptly called 'Don't Wait Up', in my hands.
As much as I'd been looking forward to this record, I have a couple of qualms with it regarding its release. I'm not opposed to pre-orders, quite on the contrary, but two different pre-order versions, available exclusively at two different online shops? Come on… Paying shipping twice where it's not necessary. Just to make matters worse, a couple of days after the pre-order had started, one of the shops put another version online. Really?
Anyway, once the records started to arrive, I couldn't wait to spin the new Bane album. I hadn't listened to the stream online because I wanted to really celebrate that moment of listening to the final Bane album for the first time (yeah, nerd talking here). And I was more than rewarded for my patience. Don't Wait Up is so much better than I'd ever hoped for. The words 'flawless' and 'awesome' come to mind. I love (pretty much) everything about this album. The cover art is so good and fitting, the lyrics are outstanding as always and the music combines everything that makes Bane Bane. 'Wrong Planet' may have the most touching line I've ever read and it may be the most touching song I've ever heard. 'Pretty much everything' because the collector in me is not really happy with the choice of colours here. I don't think the orange really fits all that well and marbled purple (something in the vein of Start Today) would have looked so much better in my opinion than the solid purple. I really like the turquoise though. Anyway, I just tell my inner collector to shut up and be happy with the fact that Bane managed to go out on a really high note. Can't wait for the other versions to arrive.
I've never been much good at saying goodbye either. Goodbye.
Bane - Don't Wait Up - End Hits - purple -/300
Bane - Don't Wait Up - End Hits - turquoise -/400
Bane - Don't Wait Up - End Hits - orange -/500
Time flies. You especially realize that when anniversaries or birthdays come up. Again. And then again. Just a blink of the eye really. Anyway, at least you get presents to help you feel better about time running faster and faster…
My girlfriend, awesome as she is, dug deep and got me something I didn't expect at all. Now it would seem that it is pretty obvious for me to get records as presents, but since it is so obvious, I didn't really think that I'd get any. If that makes any sense. As I said, my girlfriend dug deep and came up with a test pressing of Bane's Rome, 12.58am 7" released on Hurry Up records. Obviously I'm a big Bane fan, but that city 7" series never got me really excited. I think the concept is great, but the music doesn't do much for me. There are some ok songs on the records, but overall these songs are probably my least favourite Bane material. Doesn't mean I don't collect the records though. I know, great logic here, but logic and record collecting seldom go together. But I'm digressing here.
I love Bane, I love records and I love surprises, so this was pretty much the perfect gift for me. But I love my girlfriend even more for being the awesome person she is.
As with every order with Hurry Up records, they threw something in for free, which is always great and I'm always thankful if a label does that. However, this is probably the third copy of the Locked In 7" I got. This time I got a red copy at least. Makes me wonder how many of these were pressed. It also makes me feel bad for the band a little bit since apparently no one buys the record and they're just thrown in as bonus.
The weather has been on the sunny side these last couple of days, so it's time to spin some feel good summer jams. Rollergirls from Germany have put out one of these summer albums for me this year. Call it emo, call it indie rock, call it good music that'll make you feel good. Will be listening to a lot to this year. 1st press on clear vinyl /300.
Sport from France play music in the same vein as Rollergirls, so it should be perfect for the summer. Is there some sort of 90's emo/indie revival going on that I've been sleeping on? 1st press (?) on white vinyl /500.
Ok, this one is a lot different from the first two records and the term emo/indie couldn't be further from the music Dogchains make. Anyway, I'm really digging this SXE band from XSchweinfurtX. The demo was already pretty good, but the band has really cranked it up a notch on this 7" here. If you're into early 2000s Boston hardcore with a hint of NYHC, you should check out Dogchains. Good stuff. 1st press on black vinyl /500.
I totally forgot that I picked up a few other records when I went to Rekomando Records in Prague some time ago. I did some cleaning up today and found these again in a pile of records. I now recall that I wanted to make two different posts about my trip there, because the two other records I bought had nothing to do with RSD 2014. Plus I got some other exciting records in the meantime, so these two records somehow slipped my mind.
The first one does have something to do with Record Store Day, but a previous one. Back in 2011 Rev re-released one of the most classic records in their back catalogue: Burn's - Shall Be Judged 7", making this the 4th press. There were two different shades of yellow totaling up to 1090 copies, and there were also 300 copies on black. I managed to pick up a Burn 7" on light yellow back then, which was actually the very first copy of Shall Be Judged I ever got and which got me hooked as a listener and collector. As a result of my trip to Rekomando Records a few weeks ago I now also have a 4th press black copy. Apparently it's been sitting there for the last three years, which is kind of sad considering that this is such a good record, but since it worked out well for me, who am I to complain? I still haven't got a dark yellow copy, so if anyone has one and wants to sell or trade it, feel free to hit me up.
I also picked up the 2012 repress of the Texas Is The Reason 7" while I was there. This comes on opaque orange vinyl and is out of 500. Can't go wrong with this one.
