The 411 you didn't see coming

411 - The Side You Cannot See: Complete Discography 1990-1992 - 2014 Workshed WSR-11

There have been a few discography releases the last few years that I never thought would happen. Ressurection is the earliest that comes to mind, then Headfirst and now this one.
The original 411 records don't demand a lot of dough which is probably due to not many people caring about that band. So why do a discography release? Because there ARE people who DO care.
I have two copies of the 7" and a version of the LP which is already most of what they recorded. The 4 compilations they contributed to I don't have and will probably never pick up which is why this release was necessary. It's great to have everything in one place now.

As far as I know there was only this one version pressed. It is out of 500 and was distributed by Revelation who don't seem to have copies anymore. Maybe that means there will be another pressing at some point but I doubt that.

25 years glow in the dark, start today

Gorilla Biscuits - start today LP - 2014 Revelation Records REV012A

Yes. I'm fed up with all the pointless repressings Revelation churns out every other week. But this finally is one that makes sense. For its silver anniversary a special Re-Issue of this crucial classic is something I can most definitely get behind. Especially because it's executed perfectly.

I haven't seen any numbers yet but this limited edition glow in the dark vinyl is still and only available from REV directly. Except for discogs of course. Don't give your money to those jerks. Go straight to the source and pay less.
The black vinyl version of this pressing (which I'm still not sure if I should pick it up) looks almost exactly like the first press. Except for the printed GB logos inside the cover of the 25th anniversary edition and its black on white text as opposed to the white on black text of the original. Maybe the matrix is different too but I didn't check that.
A great addition to my collection. Most of all because my wife won't give me her purple vinyl copy. Now I finally have my own color vinyl pressing.

20 years! life. love. no regret.

And on with more unpopular opinions of mine. Or maybe not. What do you think?

With the previous posts I went from covering the top 2 new full length records to posting about the worst record out of all those I picked up last year and now I want to take you back to the top.

The best Re-Issue of 2'14

Unbroken - life. love. regret. LP - 2014 Indecision Records IND093

As you'll know I am not too fond of all those Re-Issues but an anniversary pressing is something I can get behind. Especially if it's of my all time favorite hardcore band. I got into hardcore in the 90s which is probably why it's not a band from the 80s. Or maybe it would still be Unbroken. They took everything I love about 80s hardcore and did away with all the bullshit I don't like about 80s hardcore.
So this is my favorite Re-Issue from last year. Most people would probably put either the Brotherhood or Gorilla Biscuits LP up there but I don't. Thus losing what's left of my record collector credibility

This new pressing came out very, very good. I love the new color scheme of the cover and how the vinyl color is made to match. Also the new insert looks great and Todd Beattie's text hits home just like the lyrics still do. 20 years later and his opinions still reflect what made me fall in love with the band in the first place.
Pictured is the regular pressing out of either /800 or /1000. Where ever I see numbers pop up it says there were 1000 pressed but there is an extra ltd. pressing on a different color vinyl with a silkscreened cover out of 200 that was made for the Japan tour and I'm not sure if those are on top or out of the 1000 press run. If anyone knows please leave a comment.

Also please do get in touch if you have this promo poster:

I need it bad.

for real? + a little recap of 2'14

I guess I'll lose a lot of credit with this post.
... if I ever had any that is.

Yesterday I posted about my two favorite new full lengths of 2'14 and today I'll take you all the way to the other end of the list because I already posted about the rest of the top 5 new LPs.
For those who are curious:
#1 Give - electric flower circus LP
#2 Praise - lights went out LP
#3 Cold World - how the gods chill LP,
#4 Sheer Terror - standing up for falling down
#5 Battle Ruins - s/t LP
That being said I'm still waiting to get my copies of the latest Boston Strangler and Hank Wood & The Hammerheads LPs but I don't think they'll make it into the top 5.
These will bring up the total count of newly released hardcore/punk full length records that I bought last year to 14. Once I have those I can finally make a top 10 although it will be hard to decide and therefore probably not done
Other contenders would be:
Fucked Up - glass boys 2LP which is quite a bit better than I had expected,
Said And Done - better days LP which is pretty good,
Bloodsuckers - crush to dust LP which is pretty good too,
Punch - they don't have to believe LP which is a lot better than anything they did before,
White Lung - deep fantasy LP which is a good one albeit a little weaker than their previous effort,
The Down & Outs - lifeline LP which is good but also not as good as their previous material and
Madball - hardcore still lives LP which I think is kinda weak.

Some might also throw Chain & The Gang's latest output "minimal rock'n'roll" into the mix but somehow I think they have transcended any genre and cannot be put on this list.

Last year's new albums that can definitely not be included on a list with hc bands:
Bohren & Der Club Of Gore - piano nights 2LP - awesome as always.
Leonard Cohen - popular problems LP - a tad better than the last one.
Morrissey - worldpeace is none of your business 2LP - one good song. bored by the rest.
Warpaint - s/t 2LP - one if not the best band I discovered for myself the last few years.

But now, finally, without anymore ado I present to you the worst record I bought last year.

NYC Mayhem - for real LP - 2014 Radio Raheem Records RADIO-005

So many people hold this band in such a high regard that I've given them more than a fair share of trials but I just cannot get into this. Both their demos suck and there are maybe 2 ok to good songs among those previously unreleased 7" recordings. Sorry folks but y'all are wrong. This was not a good band.

Next!