The Lookouts 'Spy Rock Road' LP

Been listening to some of the early Lookout! Records catalog recently, and listening to a couple of their old compilations. One song I really like on there is by a band called THE LOOKOUTS. This band featured the owner of the label, Lawrence Livermore, as well as some fartknocker called Tré Cool (who went on to drum in Green Day). I never really listened to this band back in the day, but after really liking the comp tracks I hit up eBay and bought one of their records - an album called 'Spy Rock Road':

I was really impressed with the condition of this record. A lot of records of this era & age are pretty battered, but this is mint. Also comes with a mint condition fold out poster style lyric sheet:

Condition aside, I'm not that into this record. It seems pretty disappointing compared to the comp tracks. If I could find the mp3s somewhere then no doubt I'd find the time to give it a proper listen.

Iron Age LP - UK Version

I'm not entirely sure why the UK warrants it own pressing of the latest Iron Age LP, but regardless, it has one. I managed to get one of the limited clear vinyl pressing:

The clear vinyl is limited to, and numbered out of, 100 copies. However, my 'number' kinda suggests that there are more than 100 copies out there:

This version also features an artsy print on thick card, similar to the US 2xLP version. And again, like that version, it has a big fold down the middle, which kinda ruins it:

I did order three copies of this, thinking that I could send couple to friends in the US. Yet somehow the label fucked up and only send one copy despite me paying for three, and now they don't seem to be replying to my emails. So if anyone is reading this and thinking about trying to order a copy then my advice would be, quite simply, don't bother.

Crucial Response Order

A few months ago I found out that there was a version of the Brotherhood LP with a limited cover. I just assumed it was some limited version from like 1989 or something when the record came out. And because I had never seen one over the years, I figured it was super rare and would thus be super expensive to acquire. However, recently, Mike bought one direct from the label... so I cruised over to the Crucial Response store and sure enough, it's still available. This version is part of the third press. There were 101 copies with this limited sleeve as a part of the Crucial Response 'Raw Data' series... which seems to be where Crucial Response have made limited, screen-printed covers for some of their releases. Being a cynic, I'm guessing that this idea was probably conceived in order to sell left over records that had been sitting around for a few years. I mean, come on, what kind of idiot would fall for that?

Given that I had taken the time to venture all the way to the Crucial Response store, I figured I might as well stop and have a look around for a while. And by chance I found a few bits to pick up to keep the Brotherhood LP company in transit. First up, the new 12" from Insurance Risk:

This isn't actually a new release, just a 12" compiling both their 7"s on to one handy 12". The first 259 copies are on red vinyl.

Also picked up a green vinyl copy of the first Insurance Risk 7":

Also picked up the same Insurance Risk 7" with a screen-printed cover (part of the same 'Raw Data' series, out of 107 copies):

Then grabbed a couple of Get The Most 7" repressings. One on blue vinyl:

And one on red vinyl:

The Crucial Response website is really impressive. Not only does it have a good discography detailing the pressing info of all their releases, but the whole site is written in both German and English, and you select the language you want by clicking on a little flag. Really clever stuff.

27 / Bug Split 12" Test

So a few weeks ago I was really lucky and found a 27 test press on eBay. Which somehow kicked me into trying to track down more of their tests. One interesting record that they released was a split 12" with an Austrian band called Bug, which was released as a joint effort by two Austrian labels. So I just emailed one of the labels and asked if they wanted to trade - one of their test presses for one of mine. And fortunately for me, they went for it. I was pretty stoked. They only had two left and weren't overly keen to let one go, insisting that I promise to never sell it. Now, of course there's no danger of that. My collection is like a one way street. Stuff comes in but doesn't go out. They even gave me a regular sleeve to keep the thing in. Stoked.

The sleeve on this record is really nice. Not a standard sleeve by any means:

Here's a pic of the test next to the regular version (which is 525 copies on clear pink vinyl):

Great score. Sometimes I even impress myself.

My Luck 'Cleaver' 7"

So there's me thinking I collect Youngblood Records, and I didn't even know this one existed until a couple of weeks ago. My Luck 'Cleaver' 7" on red vinyl.

I looked it up on the Youngblood website and this is the second press of 500. I got this one from the label when it came out. I ordered two copies and got sent two orange copies, each with different colour labels:

To this day I still have no idea how many have red labels and how many yellow labels. Here's an arty picture of the three together for no reason other than I like to take pictures of records:

Yellow Seaweed

I was helping John Pette with a couple of pics for his Sub Pop discography recently. He was putting together a comprehensive Seaweed discography. When he had finished I had a look & it jogged my memory. He had their 2nd 7" listed as being on green vinyl. I emailed him to tell him that I was sure it also existed on yellow vinyl. Pretty much as soon as I emailed him I decided to look around the internet to see if I could find any evidence of its existence. I then managed to stumble across one for sale, sent an email, and then a couple of hours later paid. Simple.

There were only 1500 of these 7"s in total. Previous thinking was that the first 500 were on green and the remaining 1000 were black. But the numbering on this one casts doubt on that theory. This is 1263/1500. So even if this happens to be the first yellow one (which is unlikely) then there are at least 237 yellow copies. I'm guessing there are at least 300. The yellow is definitely rarer than the green. Strange though that the later numbers would be rarer than the early ones. Will we ever know the pressing info of this? Probably not.

A couple of pics showing the difference between the two colours:

If anyone reading this knows anything about this 7", please get in touch.

When I bought this I also picked up the first Velocity Girl LP at the same time. The only Velocity Girl LP I didn't previously have on vinyl.

According to John's site there are four colours of this thing. I'm happy enough to have one. Not my favourite band, but I used to listen to them quite a bit in about '94. I just never got around to picking this one up. Good to finally cross it off the list.

The Thing That Ate Floyd

Nearly two weeks since I last updated this thing. I've got slack. Partly due to other more important things going on right now, and partly because updating this thing is starting to feel like a chore lately. I guess that's my own fault though - my posts have been getting longer, including mp3s and video and long written pieces. So making a post feels like a big effort right now, which puts me off posting and creates a backlog. So I'm going to try to catch up with my posts in the next few days by writing less guff.

I got these records a few weeks ago. A couple of versions of the classic Lookout! Records compilation "The Thing That Ate Floyd" 2 x LP. I put in a couple of pretty low bids on eBay before I went to bed, and then somehow won both. I think they were like $20 each or so.

First, clear vinyl with red & yellow bits around the edge:

Second, a nice solid green vinyl:

Both come with a little booklet giving info about each band and lyrics etc:

Also contains minimum pressing info:

I already have the orange vinyl. Got it a few years ago when I had no idea about the pressing info. So I guess I got lucky.

This is a classic Bay Area punk compilation. It came out in 1988 and contains some early songs by some now quite well known bands, such as Operation Ivy, Neurosis, Crimpshrine, No Use For A Name, as well as a few bands who later put out their own records on Lookout! like Corrupted Morals, Cringer, Isocracy, Mr T Experience, Stikky, etc. I used to listen to quite a lot of this kinda stuff a long time ago, and I'm quite enjoying listening to it all again. Cool.

No Justice 7"

Today's focus is the band NO JUSTICE. An awesome band that I know next to nothing about. They had one record, which was released by Underestimated Records back in about 2000. It's a really great record as hardcore 7"s go.

As with a lot of records before about 2005, I only had one version, but about a year or so ago I picked up a second version pretty cheap. Then, a couple of weeks ago found some other versions for sale on eBay. I've watched these things go for reasonable amounts before, but this time I got lucky and picked them up for a pretty decent price. Stoked.

The red vinyl is, I think, the rarest version, being out of 100 copies:

I also bagged the clear vinyl, which is numbered out of 200 and has something to do with Consequence Fanzine. It has a Consequence stamp inside. Not sure why though. Did it come with a zine does anyone know?

I also grabbed this other version with a different sleeve. I think this is the mail order version. It's on black vinyl with blank labels and the sleeve is photocopied and has an Underestimated Records logo stamped/embossed on the back.

This also has a Chicago Fest 2000 three day pass inside. Could come in handy when they invent time machines!

Apart from the test press and stupidly limited versions out of 5, this collection is pretty much there now:

If you've never heard this band, you should check this video. Total insanity. Within 30 seconds the singer has dived into the crowd twice, thrown a mic stand and knocked over the drum kit. Amazing.

Also, I ripped this 7" to mp3 if anyone wants it. Here's the link:

No Justice 7"

And finally... just thought I would mention that I have a spare of the gold vinyl version. Get in touch if you are interested.

Dag Nasty LP Pink

Revelation has always been one of my favourite labels, and still remains the label I am most bothered about, and the label I have most records from (I have 121 12"s, 68 7"s and 2 10"s - a total of 191 pieces of Revelation vinyl). And even though the output over the past ten years has been patchy, I've still continued buying up everything they put out. So, you know, I have a couple of dodgy ones.

Anyway, back in 2002, the last Dag Nasty LP came out, and after ordering two copies, I later got annoyed when I found out that there was a third colour - pink - of which there were only 36 copies.

Well, I finally just picked one up in a nice, easy trade with Nick, although the crap UK postal service is on strike at the moment, so it took about a month to get here.

Here's an updated shot of the collection:

Shown here: Pink vinyl (36), Screen printed sleeve (70), Red vinyl (264), Orange vinyl (300)

As an album, this is ok. I've heard some people describe this as a Down By Law record and I can see what they mean. This is far closer to "Four On The Floor" than "Can I Say". I guess a lot of people just wouldn't bother with it because it's a Dag Nasty LP that came out in 2002. To be honest, I wouldn't have bothered myself if it weren't on Revelation. But it's alright. There are a some alright songs on here.

What's funny is that, when I picked up the parcel, I thought to myself "there's more than one LP in here". And there was. Nick had "thrown in" a sealed Motley Crue LP as packaging. Made me laugh.

I'm not remotely interested in Motley Crue... although, having said that, I kinda have this strange desire to open this record so I can spin "Girls, Girls, Girls" and dance around like an idiot.

ON But Not Forgotten

Sometimes when you're a record collector you do stupid things. Like, for example, buying records you're not even bothered about. Here's a classic example. When React! Records launched the pre-order for the ON 12", I wasn't really fussed. I hadn't heard ON and I didn't really want to listen to them either to be honest. Just not interested. But then part of me wanted to order it just because React! was putting it out, and I have everything they've put out so far. I think that most collectors have something in their brain that lets out a constant message "must collect the full set". Whether it's star wars figures, coins, pieces of art or baseball cards, collectors always seem to be trying to "complete" a collection, which essentially boils down to owning everything. I know I do it, and frustratingly I can't help it. But this part of my brain starting sending me a message... "order the ON 12" or you won't have a complete React! collection". So obviously I caved in. Even worse, I ordered two copies of the thing. I got sent one blue and one black. No idea what the pressing info is on this, but I've also seen it on white.

As with every other React! release, this came with loads of little extras, like stickers, download cards and a specially printed piece of card in the mailer. I gotta say though, as much as I like these card things, this one looks particularly crap:

So after this arrived I decided to actually listen to it. Might as well seeing as I paid for it. First couple of plays it just didn't do anything for me. It kinda sounded bland. But then third time I got into a song called "More Than A Sound". To me, this sounds exactly like the final Battery LP, which I really like. So I played that a couple of times, then as a result got into the song two tracks later called "Knocked Down", which is super catchy. Then I got into the song "Vital Times" because it sounds like Lion Of Judah. So, basically, even though I wanted nothing to do with this band originally, I'm now really into them. So now I'm even thinking about picking up the white vinyl version to "complete the set". Christ.

At the same time as the ON 12" went up for order, so did a 7" by a Seattle straight edge band called Gone But Not Forgotten (there's a link to download their entire 8 song demo on their myspace page if you are interested). I felt compelled to order 3 copies of this one. I'm assuming there aren't any other colours out there other than these:

I'm into the art & layouts on this thing. Musically, I'm not sure yet. After three plays it's still sounding like generic sxe hardcore to me. Also, there's a song called "Your Words" which starts with the exact same guitar part that opens the Floorpunch LP, only played a bit slower. Not sure if I like this or not. I really want to like this, but it's not happening fast. I'd rather listen to ON at this point.

Overall though, two more solid releases from React!, which is fast establishing itself as THE straight edge hardcore label of the moment. Around this time of the year it's my edge anniversary. This year marks 15 years for me, and it's nice to see there are fellow old farts out there who still care and who still feel motivated enough to put out records and attempt to send a positive message to young kids. Keep it up, Aram!

PS The best thing about this post is that it looks like I'm gonna post up about the latest React! Records order before Mike for a change. Ha!

Also, I have just realised that this is my 201st blog entry since I started this nonsense 19 months ago. That's an average of 10.576 posts per month. Can't believe I've kept it going this long. Clearly I have no life.

Iron Age LP on "Clear"

Picked up the Tee Pee Records pressing of the new Iron Age LP. Unlike the version that the band put out (see HERE), this version comes as a single LP. When I ordered it said it was clear vinyl. Yeah right. About as clear as a glass of milk.

Comes with a little sticker on the front, which makes some pretty bold claims, but which I would say is also a pretty accurate description of this album:

Not sure how many of these things there are on "clear", but you can still order one if you want from the Tee Pee store. This is the best new release of the year in my opinion. Stop wasting time & get on this.