True Head

Something that is increasingly rare these days is me picking up on a new band before most other people. It used to happen all the time in the 90s when I bought every new release that came out. But now I pretty much never buy anything new unless there's a lot of hype. So it's nice when, for once, I am at the front of the queue to check out a new band. It almost makes me feel young and hip.

So here's a new band for you. True Head. One of the strangest band names I've heard in a long time. At first I thought the name was stupid, but now I'm used to it I find it kinda cool. Anyway, the reason I've heard them is that they are on Youngblood Records, which is pretty much the only label that I buy religiously. However, I have to say, this is not your typical Youngblood band. They sound nothing like any other band on the label, and if I had to guess based on their sound, I would have probably said that this was in fact an early 90s Dischord band. Coincidentally, they do hail from DC, and contain a dude from Lion Of Judah and a dude from The First Step, but if anything those names are going to prove misleading as this band sounds nothing like either. True Head does remind me of some band or other, but I can't quite put my finger on who. I want to say Jawbox, but it isn't. But perhaps that's not a bad guide to the ballpark that this band plays in.

The record hasn't been 'officially' released yet, but I managed to score a couple of 'advance' copies. The first is the 'pre-release' version that was sold at the Youngblood Showcase in late November 2012. Just like the band's name, the cover of this is quite interesting.

Numbered out of 54 copies, I scored number 3. Not bad considering I didn't even go.

I do like how the blank purple labels match (or nearly match) the sleeve.

I also got a test press for this one which, as yet, has no cover, and which is therefore not much to look at.

This now marks 20 tests for the year so far.

I wasn't sure about this record at first, but I have to say that after a few listens it has me hooked. I look forward to seeing the proper version of this, and also I'll be interested to see how this band progresses. Wouldn't surprise me if they ended up on Dischord.