The underark with two 'd'

I guess everybody has an example of a songtext he/she thought was something completely different before actually reading the lyrics. With me one of those is the text to Misfits' 'attitude' where I always hear "Inside your feeble brain there's probably a hole - If you don't shut your mouth you're gonna feel the flow" when it's actually "whore" and "floor". Of course the real lyrics rhyme better but come on... I like my version better and I'll always pretend that's what it actually is.

But the case with this Mayday 7" is a little different. First of all it's not about the lyrics. Somehow I always thought their 1st 7" from 1992 'The Underdark' on Vicious Cricle Records is called 'The Underark'. Maybe that's why it never popped up when searching ebay. Haha.

I haven't even heard any of the songs yet. Maybe that's why I was never inclined to spend the money I saw it changing shelves for when accidently finding it under 'other items for sale' on ebay or listed on discogs. But I doubt that. The split 7" with Integrity, 'Lost In Sabbath' and 'Staplegun' are great releases that made rounds on my turntable regularly in the '90s. Somehow though it's been a while since I listened to any of those. I love the 7" and 10" format. Yes, even the hated by so many 10" format. Still, once they are filed with the rest of the collection they usually stay there. It's a shame but I hardly ever have time to sit down and really enjoy a record. Usually I have LPs spinning while I take care of things that need to be done. And when I have the time to put on a few 7"es and enjoy everything about them there are new ones waiting that I'm eager to get lost in. So once I'm back home I'm sure this one will get some love before being admitted to the family vault.

That being said I am very happy having found this gem for even less than I would have paid for it. Until I can give it the love it deserves these pictures (altgough not too good... hotel... bad lighting... no camera... blah) will have to do

Now I'm down to 4 7"es until a complete collection unless there is more than one version of the 7" on Endless Fight Records (what a great label that was). Let me know if there is.

Last thing for this post:I saw a pink vinyl copy of 'The Underdark' being sold on ebay once which I cannot find any info on. Is it that rare? Anyone have any info?Here's a picture from the ebay auction:

 

Live Reed

With me buying records is something that has always been influenced by the cover. From the earliest purchases I can remember up to this one. Lou Reed's 'take no prisoners' live double LP.

While I was already pretty much satisfied owning 's/t' (gotta have the first solo album), 'Transformer' (his best album) and 'Coney Island Baby' (a nice record featuring the must have song 'A gift' (google the lyrics and you'll know why)) the cover to 'take no prisoners' always spoke to me. And everytime I saw it I heard it a little louder.... pick me up.... Pick me up..... Pick Me up.... until it was PICK ME UP and I just couldn't resist anymore.

This one is a very nice OG 1978 US pressing. How can you resist that?

Unfortunately I only saw the following while taking those pictures

Who the fuck does stupid shit like that????A heartfelt FUCK YOU to the one responsible.

Both records come with printed innersleeves but they both look the same. So the above pictures show the front and back of one of those. The other one looking different would have been nice though.

Following now are pictures of the labels and if you don't already know let's see if you can find the strange thing about this release

Why did they do that? Record 1 featuring Side 1 & 4. Record 2 featuring Side 2 & 3. Does anyone see or know any reason? Any suggestions?

If Side 3 would switch places with Side 4 it would be a very nice touch. At least for those who have a DJ set up with two turntables at home. Then you could play all of it without any pause. The more I think about it the better I like that idea for a Live album. They were on a good way but in the end missed by one. Too bad.

Another thing is that I don't like the song 'Viscious' not being included. To me that's his best song which I still need to have on a 7". And I guess I will have to pick up his 1st Live record from 1975 too because that one includes my favorite.

In conclusion it seems this record is pretty useless and I bought it only for the cover but hey, one more Lou Reed LP in your collection is never a bad thing plus the cover is really very good. Even with that darned scribble.

Now I only need the 1975 Live LP next to a 7" version of 'Viscious' to be satisfied with my Lou Reed collection.

 

Sealed traditionalists

On to the superior format with this post.

Maybe this is also a good time to let you know that my likes are all over the place. I am inclined to pick up vinyl ranging from Blues to Soul, Country to Psychobilly, Metal, Punk, Hardcore, Hip Hop, 90s Alternative plus some Indie and Pop stuff. My main focus being on Punk and associated Genres ranging from progenitors MC5 up to metal influenced Hardcore that's just not yet metalcore.

Devo being another one those progenitors, who despite their 1st 7" from 1977 already formed in 1972, are one of my favorites. I cannot begin to comprehend what an impact their sound must have had on the burgeoning punk scene.

I am totally in love with them yet I cannot find it in me to really collect their output. There is just way too much for my limited resources. I'd be very much satisfied owning just one nice copy of any of the many pressings of each of their regular studio albums. Which is a little strange because with other bands it has to be 1st pressings and I have no idea why Devo don't qualify for that. It's just one of those things. One LP though sticks out but let me add first that whenever I accidentally come across a nice 7" or live LP at a real life record store I do consider buying that. I just don't search the web for it.

The one album sticking out is 'New Traditionalists'. Why? Well, not because I think it's their best but because there is a limited amount of 1st pressings that do come with a huge poster and a bonus 7". Or at least these days the number of complete packages are pretty limited. When it was released in 1981 it was issued in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand so I guess it wasn't that hard to find one back then. I know it was also released in several other countries the same year but thise pressing didn't come with either poster or 7".At first I didn't know about the additional stuff because as I already mentioned I am usually happy with just any nice copy and therefore had picked one up at a fleamarket before I came across a copy at a store in Leipzig that came with the poster in mint condition. Naturally I had to buy it because I cannot stand missing something that should actually be included. Yes, I am at times happy with having just any pressing of a record but they always have to be complete. (Come on. I'm not that much of a slacker.)This sparked my curiosity and had me check discogs. Ever since I am on the look out for a complete copy. Or at least one that does have the 7" so I can upgrade and chuck the rest. Some days ago on the hunt through Zuerich there it was

As you might already have figured out from the title of this post and the pictures. The damn thing is still sealed. 32 years after it was released in the USA I find a sealed copy somewhere in europe. How the hell did that one survive 32 fucking years. It's amazing. And if I get to live that long it will stay sealed for the next 32 or more years. I don't exactly know why but somehow it feels like an accomplishment to survive that long. I can't find it in me to bring that to an end.

Win some lose some. Sometimes it feels like doing both at the same time.

And so the hunt continues for that elusive little bonus 7"

Here's a picture of the poster from my instagram account which I took after purchasing it.

 

Open mouth

To start off this round of latest purchases I'd like to address one of the biggest omissions in hardcore that I can think of. But first let me ask you this:

How many of you are into the Unity - blood days, Uniform Coice - staring into the sun and/ or DYS - fire and ice LPs?

Probably not too many.I however love these records and sometimes when in the right mood these three are not enough and not always the first ones to listen to. It very well happens that, if at home, I pull out Leeway's adult crash LP and give it a spin first. While on the road though I have to revert to what's on my iPod and although all of those are on there there's also another very beautiful nugget to be found that I never think of when I'm back home simply because it was never released on vinyl. How can that be?

How is it possible that Leeway's 'open mouth kiss' was never released on vinyl? So many albums get repressed. Why not this one? I would definitely buy and know a few others who would too. Please! Someone get on this. There IS a demand for that.

I don't care much for CDs. I think in the last 5 years I picked up maybe 3 of those and here I present to you the fourth:It's too good not to own at all.

Leeway - open mouth kiss

As mentioned already I am not into CDs so I took only one quick picture. Posting about it from work now I realize I should provide more. Hang in there. I'll do that...

...and here we are. Not the best pictures but what can you do? Late at night in a hotel room with no good lighting and no real camera. Sorry.

 

Back on the map

Now that's been a pretty long time with no updates. 10 months. Wow!
Well, what can I say but the usual? Too busy with other things. As always.
But there's a period with a little more time to put into this coming up so the next post after this won't take another 10 months.

So what's new?
This:
I figured that the latest news are better and more prominently covered by others. Especially considering how fast records/ tapes sell out lately. I can't and don't want to compete with that. Never could. I know that. Yet there will be the occassional news flash featured that I think makes sense in one way or another.
So what do I want this to be? For a while there I thought about neglecting the blog for good because it somewhat stopped being fun and it seemed that no one is paying attention to it anyway which is probably very much true. But then I realized that it would be a great way to finally keep track of the records I buy. I can never remember when It was that I bought a certain record and have lately felt the need to change that. Posting about it here will be a perfect way to tend to that feeling.
This is my blog. No one pays attention to it so I'll make this about my record collection, ha. Mainly of course the latest additions but as there's a change about to come that will probably leave me with less money to spend on records It will be very well possible that I'll have to revert to posting about records I already own for a while. We'll see.
I am at the moment on a work related trip to Zuerich and had some time to check out the local record stores. Meaning I'll start with those but from January on my main focus will shift towards getting my Unbroken discography project up to date. The urge to do that just gets too strong. A link to what's already there can be found at the top of this site.

Ok, enough about all of that. Let's dive into the latest wax...

 

SANDBLASTER RECORDS discography finally complete and up to date

I was finally able to put the finishing touches on the documentation of everything we released with SANDBLASTER RECORDS. Now that chapter is officially closed. History. Another dead reference page on the web.

SBR is dead.
Long live GIHC.

Most releases are still available though.

AYS suburban haze 7" release show w/ COLDBURN & DOGCHAINS

Yo,
STEPDOWN's at it again. Bringing you the AYS suburban haze 7" release show at the infamous AK47 in Düsseldorf.
COLDBURN & DOGCHAINS are also on the bill. March 30th Don't miss this!!

CRUCIAL RESPONSE close to releasing V/A - Starting From Zero + Voice Of A Generation no. 4 out soon

CRUCIAL RESPONSE RECORDS sure ain't the most prolific label out there but their dedication and the quality of everything they do is much more appreciated than some hype label releasing a shitload of average records. CRR put out its first release in 1989, has been going with no break ever since and is still run by the same guy. Gotta acknowledge that and pay respect where it's due.

Their current project, the 'Starting from zero' compilation LP, is in the works for quite a while now which isn't surprising at all. I released the VA-HCBBRD LP on my old label SBR and therefore know only too well how much work it is. The last update on the CRR website is from September last year but a few days ago they announced via their twitter channel that they are about to wrap it up soon! With all the awesome bands being featured I shouldn't be the only one who's highly anticipating this release.

Check out the madness:

Echoes (NL), Salad Days (GER), Seein' Red (NL), Sniffing Glue (GER), Evolve (NOR), Right Idea (USA), Commitment Crew (SWE), Injustice System (USA), Dogends (USA), Refrain (AUS), Night Prowler (USA), Times Together (UK), Burial (GER), Zero Progess (USA), Reproach (BE), The Gash (GER), Vitamin X (NL), Sex Drive (NL), Eye-Gouge (AUS), Crucial Section (JP), Violent Reaction (UK), Appraise (Spain), Isolation (GER), Sectarian Violence (INT)

Crucial Pete is also involved with the VOICE OF A GENERATION FANZINE which they started working on in September of last year. This project also seems to see the light of day rather sooner than later:

The wait is over: we are preparing for a new issue of VOICE OF A GENERATION. Number 4 will contain an interview with BLOOD RED from Netherlands who were around in 2004 plus the columns and reviews you'd expect. Blood Red's amazing old five song demo which was recorded at Midas Studios will be added on 7" for this issue. Furthermore we've got some great photos for the next issue: LÄRM, COMMITMENT CREW, DEAD KENNEDYS, HÜSKER DÜ, DAG NASTY, SCREAM, VOID, ARTIFICIAL PEACE, FAITH, SOA...

And it will feature a repress of an INSTED interview from when they were touring europe. No idea though what tour they're relating to.

ROUGH KIDS - the state I'm in LP available

Anyone else stoked on the 2 7"es and 1 split 7" the ROUGH KIDS released so far? I think they're great. Not the best or most original I've ever heard but definitely an enjoyable spin then and again. Yes, there's room for them to improve but that only makes every new release the more interesting. Of course Recordlabels tend to be a little over-enthusiastic when promoting their roster but the below description from SORRY STATE sure has me on the look out for that record to pop up in a local store or distro. Unfortunately international postage (especially with the announced raise) is killing this one for me but I'm sure I will be able to pick it up sooner or later

Building on the sound of their previous two singles, LA's Rough Kids polish things up for their debut full-length on Sorry State. Benefitting from a bigger, more ambitious sound (including a punchy mastering job by Dave Rahn from the Carbonas), Rough Kids trade in classic punk hooks delivered with an intensity that will snare even the toughest hardcore kids. Lovers of '77 punk will flip for the sick Johnny Thunders licks, fans of modern bands like No Hope for the Kids and the Observers will love the big, dark vocal hooks, and the hardcore kids will bang their fist the entire time. A truly outstanding collection of songs.

The mailorder-only version is limited to 100 copies and features orange vinyl and a hand-screened obi strip.

From what I heard the ltd. version is going fast if it ain't already all gone by now.

If you're not familiar with the band at all or wanna give it a listen first although you are.

Here you can stream the whole thing:

Flag or BLACK FLAG or WTF

After two Cro-Mags' there are now also two Black Flag's. And not a quarrel in sight ;)

Well one is actually just called Flag but still what the fuck??? Chuck Dukovski is playing in both but Greg Ginn, the only consistent member of the band who started the band and was there until the end, isn't?!?!? At least the version including Greg is the one with the full name. Everything else would have been even more ridiculous.

With all the re-union craze and apart from this being a one in two re-union I shouldn't be complaining about this one and I wouldn't if they would play some decent club shows but so far all I know of are two appearances at big ass festivals. Are the pioniers of hardcore-punk back to cash in? Well, nothing wrong with earning some money but PLEASE play some small clubs to show your heart's still in it. I've never been a fan of huge stages and especially with Black Flag it won't work for me. I hate the atmosphere and the crowd at those festivals. Fucking Party People. I see enough of those dimwits in the streets every day. No need to go see them gathering in large numbers in my spare time. I want to see Black Flag at a small club with sweat running down the walls, kids singing along, piled up on top of each other and slamming, moshing, strutting and what have you. Not with some idiots who clap their hands and bang their heads. Of course, the GB footage from last years Groezrock was a little different from that but I'm not one for All-inclusive holiday trips and those festivals sure have that same vibe going on and I can't stand that shit. It's not a place where like-minded people get together but a consumerist entertainment for the masses. It's not about supporting each other and doing things yourself but selling and watching. Call me crazy but I always thought that's one thing punk & hardcore was/ is opposed to.

I'm well aware that if a festival gets to a certain size it's unavoidable for it to become like that and I'm not saying you shouldn't go there. All I'm saying is that they don't appeal to me for the above stated reasons and that I want to see Black Flag (or Flag) the way I feel is most suitable for them. In a Punk Club!!!!!

Only playing big festivals is ridiculous!!!

Keith, you're playing Clubshows with OFF! Why not with Flag? Do it!!!

Greg, you have that new band going. So it seems your heart's still in the right place. Do a Clubtour with Black Flag!!!