Poetry Of Worms

I picked up this Rot In Hell / Psywarfare split 12" on white vinyl a while ago, but I was waiting until I also picked up a clear vinyl copy before I posted it up on here. Unfortunately, that still hasn't happened, so I decided to quit stalling.

There are three Rot In Hell songs on here. These are the acoustic folk style RIH songs, and I to say I have played them quite a lot is an understatement. If you haven't heard this side of the band then please fix this and seek them out. As for Psywarfare, I first heard this outfit back in the late 90s when Integrity released a split 7" with it. I didn't get it and didn't like it back then, and not much has changed. Psywarfare is noise. Not music that sounds like noise. Just noise. I played this for about 30 seconds then turned it off.

Drive Like Jehu

I've said it before many times, but the passing of time constantly amazes me. I just picked up this clear vinyl copy of the first (self titled) Drive Like Jehu LP, and I was trying to work out how long it is that I have been after one. The answer is... one longass time.

I think that this has been a want of mine for either 18, 19 or perhaps even 20 years. I remember getting a list of stuff in the post off someone years ago when I was at uni and this was on the list. I phoned the dude up but it had already sold. A few years later, circa 2002, a sealed colour copy appeared on eBay, which I bought, and which puzzled me by being on white. Looking back, I'm guessing it was a repress. Then in recent years it was repressed on grey. But I always knew that the original colour press was clear. And finally, eventually, I got around to picking one up.

Zen Arcade

One of my semi-recent obsessions is Hüsker Dü. I had tried to get into them something like 20 years ago and failed, but a couple of years back I had another crack, and I definitely dig them. And now and again eBay continues to throw up colour vinyl copies of their older records. Here's my latest - a pale green vinyl copy (which was hard to photograph without looking white or grey) of the 'Zen Arcade' double LP on SST:

I'm still trying to figure out the timeline with Hüsker Dü. They have a lot of records, with some of them pressed on different labels, so I'm not sure which order things came in. I had to use google to find out that this is their third studio LP. I also found this interesting information which I wouldn't have known if it weren't for wikipedia:

Zen Arcade tells the story of a young man who runs away to escape a miserable and abusive home life. The character briefly joins the military, turns to religion, and seems to find a tenuous peace through love before losing his girlfriend to drugs. He reaches a point of despair, ultimately concluding that he won't be able to change his circumstances before waking up to find that the whole odyssey had occurred in his subconscious during a night of troubled sleep; the challenges of his life—for better or for worse—remain in front of him. "Reoccurring Dreams", a disorienting 14-minute instrumental that reprises a shorter instrumental interlude ("Dreams Reoccurring"), closes the album.

There's a lot of variety of sounds on this LP across its 23 songs. I think it's gonna take me a little more time to get into it, but after only a couple of plays it feels like a good record for the summer time.

Don't Wait Up

I thought I'd try to go back to the glory days of this blog and post a new release before anyone else. It makes a change these days.

It's been 8 or 9 years since Bane released their last album 'The Note'. Firstly, I can't believe how much time has passed since then, but secondly, I can't believe that it's taken this long to release the follow up. Anyhow, the band have decided to call it quits but wanted to put out one final record before doing so. And here we are. 'Don't Wait Up' is the latest, fourth and final Bane LP. And for some reason, the European version has been released before the US version.

Both of my European pre-orders arrived this week. Placing these orders in the first place was a bit of a pain in the ass, as both were available from different German record stores whose websites were (obviously) in German. I lost count of the number of times I cliked 'translate this page' in my browser! Anyway, there were 300 purple copies available from Green Hell and 500 on 'orange' from Core Tex.

There's also a blue vinyl copy of the European pressing available. I'm annoyed that I didn't know this when I ordered these, so I 'm gonna have to place yet another order and pay more extortionate postage. Ugh.

Over the years I have played Bane songs to death and I really struggle to listen to them these days. However, this LP reminds me of when the first LP came out 15 years ago, or when 'Give Blood' came out in 2002. It's a damn good record that gets better with every play, and I can't stop playing it. I think I have averaged 4 plays of this each day over this the last week. Not sure how long this will last, but right now I'm not interested in listening to anything else. I'm happy that they're going out on a high note, although at the same time it disappoints me that they didn't release more records over the years they have been together. I really hope that somehow this won't be the last.

Until Your Hypothermia Stops

A couple of months ago, Geoff emailed me to tell me that someone had put a bunch of Cave In test presses up on eBay. I had a quick look, and what I found was bittersweet. On the one hand, there were a couple of tests that I didn't have. On the downside, the ones I didn't have were by far the most expensive on offer. I thought about it for an hour or so, and then realised that in the time I was thinking about them, I was getting worried that someone else might buy them... which made me realise that I did want them, and that if I didn't buy them then I would probably regret it. So almost inevitably, I pushed the button.

The first test is for probably the rarest Cave In record made - the 'Beyond Hypothermia' 12".

This 12" was pressed only once, circa 1998, in a pressing run which totalled only 320 copies. Getting one of these at all is quite an achievement as there were 300 copies on grey vinyl and 20 copies on purple vinyl. No idea how many test presses there were, but probably less than ten I would guess. I decided to get my other copies out for a collection photo.

Getting these out, I thought I would also take a photo of the insert that came with my purple copy, which explains the story of this record. I love the final sentence of this - 'Thank you for helping avoid the death of the beloved 12" record format for a few more days'. Back when this came out it did feel like vinyl was on the way out, yet here we are sixteen years later. I can only assume we're all here because I bought this Cave In record and single handedly kept the music industry afloat... right?

The second test is for Cave In's first proper LP, 'Until Your Heart Stops'. This one also came out in 1998 and was a huge release back then. This one fused metallic hardcore with 70s rock and launched the band to the forefront of what was going on in the late 90s. It's a modern day classic, and I feel pretty lucky to own this test pressing, which is from the first pressing from 1998 (as opposed to the reissue from a year or so ago).

Again, I got my other copies out for a photo, but I only have the clear vinyl and the orange/blue vinyl pressing. I don't have the tour press, or any of the reissues from last year. But I'm still happy enough with this mini-collection.

At the start of 2013, I owned one Cave In test press. With these two that I have just picked up, I now own 11. A year ago I would have been happy with three, but now I can only think about the ones that I DON'T have, and I feel stressed because I feel a NEED to pick them up to 'finish' my collection.

Manifest Decimation

Sometimes I intentionally sleep on new records because the limited version has sold out. Such was the case with the Power Trip 'manifest Decimation' LP. I found out about the pre-order a few days too late, and just figured that the limited version would have sold out. I couldn't be sure, but I didn't want to risk it, so I decided to wait. Well, about eight months later, I finally got one on 'oxblood' vinyl.

I really enjoyed the 7" that was released on Lockin' Out Records, which I was surprised at back then as it's not my usual style, but I do struggle to get through this LP in one sitting. I've not really got a thrash/crossover/whatever background and this stuff feels relentless after a few songs, like I need a break. Three to four songs is good, but more just feels like too much. But maybe I'll change my mind when I start to get used to the songs after a few more listens. Only time will tell.

Forever Becoming

There was a time, probably back in around 2005/6, when Pelican were in my top 10 bands. Back then it seemed like Isis had spawned a whole new genre of music and I couldn't get enough of it. I remember that I went through this period when I felt that vocals RUINED music, and I would rather listen to some ten minute instrumental opus over a 2 minute hardcore blast. I don't think it was just me either. It seemed that lots of new bands of this style were springing up, and the 'press as many different colours of vinyl as possible' approach started getting out of hand as people could not get enough of this stuff.

These days I would say that I'm pretty much bored of this genre. I still listen to Isis from time to time, but I sold a lot of this kinda stuff already as I honestly don't care about much of it anymore. Still, Pelican were always my favourite, so I was keen to check out their latest album 'Forever Becoming'. I'm not sure exactly when it came out, but I only became aware of its existence when I started to see it for sale on eBay a couple of months ago. Obviously I had to have a colour copy.

My thoughts on this thing are mixed. I enjoyed it initially, but the problem was that after only two listens it felt familiar. I mean, it's good that they haven't strayed anywhere new or been too experimental... but at the same time, it feels a little stale and predictable. So overall, whilst I like it, it doesn't exactly fill me with excitement. Still, at least it looks nice eh?

Life On The Ropes

So Sick Of It All had a couple of their more recent albums repressed for Record Store Day a couple of days ago, and I wasn't interested. I'm not sure why, but as I've said before, there are some bands that I want to own multipe versions of records for, and some I don't. And whilst I'm pretty much a lifelong Sick Of It All fan, I've never been interested in seeking out multiple pressings of any of their records (except the first 7"... because it's on Rev). I think part of this is that I view a lot of the LPs are crappy reissues. I mean, I have an original 'Blood, Sweat And No Tears' with lyric sheet, and I don't feel any need to own a coloured vinyl repress on some weird Euro label.

Well, I'm interested in owning one copy of each LP, and I want the first pressings. But there was one LP that I had (until a couple of days ago) never owned, and that was the 'Life On The Ropes' LP from 2003. It came out around the time that Bridge Nine released the 'Relentless' 7" (which I did buy, and which is the opening song on this LP). I'm not sure why I didn't buy this when it came out, but it came out on Fat Wreck and the colour vinyl is pretty damn hard to find and pretty damn expensive even if you can find it.

I grabbed this from eBay. The seller was based in Japan, which I assumed would scare off most potential bidders. I was right. I was the only bidder and got this for a lot less than it usually goes for. It's not exactly one of their best albums, but I'm happy as it is very hard to come across.

Now I only really need the green vinyl copy of the 'Live In A Dive' LP and I'm done. Anyone wanna sell or trade me one?

RSD 2014

After last year's bad experience, I decided I wasn't going to do Record Store Day again. So yesterday I stayed at home. I spent the day doing other things... although the longer the day went on, the more I wanted to go to the record store, as I saw lots and lots of RSD related photos on instagram which all conspired to make me feel left out.

Well anyway, there was one record I wanted more than any other, and that was the Cave In 'Jupiter' LP reissue. I had a friend in the States looking for me, but he didn't find one. I saw a lot of photos of black vinyl copies, but when I saw some dude post a color one up on instagram that was bought in London, I realised that not only did colour copies exist, but that some had made it to the UK. So this morning I called up Banquet Records in Kingston, which is about as local a shop as there is for me, and the dude on the phone told me that they had one copy left. Even better, it was a coloured copy. So I jumped in the car and drove straight there. Luckily it was still sat on the shelf, and wasn't even that bad a price. Sold!

The main reason I was so interested in this repress was that it was packaged with an extra 12" of previously unreleased songs, entitled 'Anomalies Vol. 3', which is on orange vinyl and comes packaged in a plain white DJ style sleeve.

So of course whilst I was there I had a quick look around to see what else was available. To be honest, most of it was crap and overpriced. But I did decide to pick up the Husker Du 'Candy Apple Grey' LP on colour vinyl. This has never been pressed on colour before, and whilst I knew it was being put on to grey vinyl, but had no idea it was also being pressed on 'lilac blue' (which most people know as 'purple').

The funny thing was that I also spent time deliberating whether or not to buy the One Direction 7" picture disc. Not because I like One Direction, but because I wondered if I could flip it and make some decent money. The store had three copies left, but it was £9 a go, which seemed a lot... but it looked as if they were selling on eBay for anywhere between £25-50. In the end I decided against it. Partly because it would seem wrong to use RSD to flip crap and make money, but more because of the feeling of shame of buying a One Direction record.

Bug Live

If I could go back in time I'd probably shoot whoever invented the live album. I mean, seriously, what is the point? The cynic in me thinks that the whole point of these things was to fulfill contracts. You know, like a band signs a 5 album deal and then wants to leave the label after 3, so to see them out of their contract the label releases a live album and then probably some kind of greatest hits compilation. But other than that, live albums have no point.

That said, if you like a band a lot and they release a live album, it's hard to say no. So I found myself happily paying money for a copy of Dinosaur Jr's 'Bug Live' LP, which is a recording of a show at which they played the classic 'Bug' LP live in its entirety.

What I like best about this is that the cover art is some kind of tribute to the original cover art, rather than some kind of stupid live photo, which is what most live albums seem to use. Here's a photo with the live LP cover next to the original cover:

So despite not really liking live records, there are at least two other versions of this one out there that I would like to own. It comes on purple out of 200, and a green vinyl in a sleeve numbered out of 50. I probably have a chance at getting the purple, but not the limited sleeve version. Still, whether I ever obtain them or not, it's kinda funny to think that I actually want three different versions of a live album at all when usually one is too many.

This Month's Integrity Post

Barely a month goes by on here without an Integrity post, so here's this month's, which is made up of some random 7"s which have nothing in common other than that they are 7"s by Integrity.

First up is this second press reissue copy of the 'In Contrast Of Sin' 7". I think when this came out I was pretty much fed up of reissues, so I consciously decided not to buy it. But then as time went on it felt like I had made a mistake by leaving it. There were two second press colours and I still need the other. I'm sure I'll pick it up eventually.

Next is a first press copy of the split 7" with Creepout, on the Japanese label Juke Boxxx records. There were three versions of this one made. Previous to this, I had the rarest version with a tour sleeve. This one here is the most common version, although I think this is by far the best looking sleeve.

And finally, the A389 records pressing of the 'Black Heksen Rise' 7". This contains the songs from the split double 7" with Rot In Hell. It was originally pressed as a single 7" by a small label called Indie Recordings, and now A389 have pressed it on four different colours of vinyl.

Of course, I had to pick up all colours to score maximum idiot points...

I think I need to make an Integrity wants list. There are so many variants of so many records that I missed that I feel that I need to make a list to keep track. But with more Integrity releases planned for Record Store Day, it seems that things are likely to get worse before they get better. Maybe I should just throw in the towel...

Shit Rolls Downhill

I picked up my first copy of The A-Team's 'A Is For Asshole' LP in March 2009 (i.e. five years ago!) and I wrote in that entry 'It also comes on camo vinyl, which I guess I would also like to pick up at some point'. Well, it would seem that 'some point' has finally come around...

Ok, so it's not really camo vinyl, but that's how a lot of people referred to it a few years back. I'm not sure how else you would describe this colour other than perhaps dirty green. Not that it matters of course.

I always liked this band and this LP. I had an email from the brother of one of the band members a year or so ago. He had found this blog and asked me if I could email him a high res photo of the LP cover. Apparently he was going to use it to get a shirt made up for his brother's newborn baby. Well, at least this blog came in useful for once.

Bullshit

You may or may not be aware, but at some point in the next month or so Bane will release their final LP. After almost twenty years as a band, the time has finally come for them to hang up their boots, throw in the towel and whatever other clichés you can think of. So no doubt there will be some Bane posts on here in the near future. But for now there are still old releases that I am chasing.

Here are two records that were a lot harder to find than they should have been. These are second pressings of the 'Los Angeles 3:58 PM' 7". I can't find any pressing info on the shitty label's website, but according to discogs the second pressing consisted of 700 on clear vinyl and 300 on blue vinyl.

There is definitely something wrong with the pressing info. In theory, there are 1000 copies of these colours out there. I'm not sure exactly when they were pressed, but it was at least two years ago. Now, the reason that I don't believe that there can possibly be 1000 of these records is that I check eBay for Bane records EVERY DAY and these things never ever appear. They are also not on discogs. Well of course, eventually they did both pop up on eBay a couple of months ago, and both from the same seller, so I grabbed them. But it seems impossible to me that so many can exist yet so few could become available over such a long period. So I'm calling the pressing info bullshit. There's no way that there are 1000 of these things out there.

This 7" annoys me for another reason too. It's the only 7" in the series that for which I still need a test press. I did win one from the flakey label guy on ebay a couple of years ago, but it never came, and I stupidly left it too long to raise an eBay dispute. It's probably going to haunt me forever and be the only record I can't find a test for. Utter bullshit.

A Positive Hardcore Compilation

I'm not sure which is my favourite 1997 straight edge compilation 7". The choice is either 'The Time Is Now' or 'Growing Stronger'. Both have great bands and great songs, but tough to choose a favourite. I guess I'd have to cop out if you pushed me to pick one. I'd say that 'The Time Is Now' has the better songs, but 'Growing Stronger' 7" has better quality aesthetics and packaging. It has a great photo on the cover, a nice glossy cover, and giant insert(s) and a few different vinyl colours to keep things interesting. My latest is this red vinyl copy:

Red is the most limited version made, with only 57 hand numbered copies out there:

As I mentioned earlier, this thing came with a couple of large, folded inserts. I unfolded them and took this photo of the inserts next to the record and cover. As you can see, you get a lot of paper for your money.

And of course, picking up this fifth copy of this record, what else was I going to do but get my other four out for a group photo?

The red lettered sleeves are the first press, and the blue are the second. There was also a third press with yellow lettering on the sleeve, but I don't have one of those. Kinda feel like I need one now for some reason...

Good Things

Here's one that has been a long time coming for me. Insted 'Bonds Of Friendship' LP on white vinyl. I can't say that this is my favourite record, or even in the top ten, but it's a record that I have owned for many, many years and throughout all of that time a white vinyl copy has eluded me. Not that it is the rarest record ever, as I know a lot of people who own one, and everyone has seen it before, but this is just one of those records that I was always too late for. I have traded with and bought from lots of people in the past, several of whom were selling their collections, and every time I found someone who had one of these it seemed that they had already got rid of it before I got there. I've also bid on several copies on eBay over the years and always came second. Ideally I wanted one in the shrinkwrap with the 'color vinyl' sticker still intact, but as they say, beggars can't be choosers.

In the end I won this one on eBay. There was one I bid on with the 'color vinyl' sticker that I didn't win, but a week or so later this one appeared and sold for about $100 less. I can certainly live without that sticker for that price.

And just because I can, I decided to take out my red copy for a final photo. I've seen lots of peoples' photos of the white and red together, so this is nothing new, but I was just stoked to be able to take this one myself.

I remember back in the 90s when Kent McClard wrote some piece in 'HeartattaCk' zine about turning 30 and he printed the lyrics to 'Good Things'. It was a pretty depressing read, based around the notion that 30 was old in punk years and the best years were definitely in the past. At the time I thought that 30 seemed a long way away, but I also remember wondering if, like old Kent, I'd still be listening to Insted when I got there. I'd love to be able to travel back and tell my 20 year old self that I'd be picking this thing up on white vinyl for the first time in my late 30s. Ha!