not the wrong choice

Somehow this was not published but only saved as a draft when I initially wrote it. Hence it's now published in-between 4 and 5.
So here we go with No. 2 of the birthday haul:


Confront - payday 7" - 1991 Dark Empire Records

This just might be the hardest straight edge record ever. Cleveland really had something going in the early 90s. Die Hard, Integrity, Confront. The holy trinity of Cleveland Hardcore.
While post-hardcore was the new big thing in other places these dudes focused on the real deal. Not many bands at the time did. Especially not that good.

I've been looking for a copy of this record for many years and was never able to track one down until recently and as I'm writing this I have another version coming my way. 2014 really turned out a great year for my collection.

inside job

No. 4 and also not just recently having been added to my wantlist


Turning Point - s/t 7" - 1989 Hi-Impact Records 1

Turning Point ranks among the top 5 classic youth crew bands for me and just like with the Judge 7" I've had countless 'almost mine' experiences with it. It feels so good to finally have a first press. 3rd and 4th press black vinyl I've had for a while already. Still quite some road left ahead of me before I can close the book on this collection.

While the above pictures show what everybody is very well familiar with the next picture shows why I'm particular happy about getting exactly this copy

It has a fucked up version of the cover printed on the inside. I guess they made a few test prints for the cover and then used the backside of those to print a good version of the cover on it. The nice low number 4 kinda speaks in favor of that. So far I have never seen a picture of another copy like this. Everything I saw was all white on the inside. Except for the address and numbering stamps that is of course.

SKIZ-2

Birthday treat no. 3


Judge - new york crew 7" - 1988 Schism Records Skiz-2

I cannot count how many times i was outbid by just one person on ebay for this record. So when I saw a friend of mine was selling his collection this was the first one I wanted to get. Luckily it was around my birthday so it wasn't the only one I got.

I'm sure you know all about this record. Especially with the recently rekindled interest due to their re-union which I went to New York for with a friend. It was a great trip and so worth it even considering the fact that I could have just waited a little while longer and then see them on their short euro trip. Which I did too, of course. But having seen them on stage for the very first time after all those years was something very special. Especially because it was the first time I ever saw them. The electricity in the venue that night is something I will never forget. People still doubted them actually playing while Sammy was already setting up drums. And then Mike Judge came on stage and all hell broke loose. I'd do it all over again. The Berlin show was great too and Essen was also pretty good but they were miles from that first night at the Black'n'Blue Bowl.

brotherhood against racism

I got money for my birthday and blew it on 5 Singles. Here's the first one in alphabetical order:


Brotherhood - no tolerance for ignorance 7" - 1989 Skate Edge Records #2

So glad I finally have at least one copy of the 7".
And it's an original first press in immaculate condition.

I won't go as far out as xREGANx did with his awesome Brotherhood collection but I would like to at least have a copy of each cover variation so there are 3 more copies left to hunt down.

although a little too late maybe

On to the last record of the trade which at the same time was the last missing piece of SOM vinyl I needed.


State Of Mind - bitter times, better times 7" - 2006 Light The Fuse Records

Originally after not having been too much into their previous releases I didn't pay any attention to this record at all. Which is where I went wrong because it's another step in the right direction and therefore not to be missed from the collection. There's a great line of progression to be heard throughout their recorded history up to the latest releases where they had found their sound and were a really great and unique band. Too bad I only noticed that when they were already in the process of breaking up.

Now I do own a copy of each of their vinyl releases plus the demo tape which concludes this collection for me. I only wish they would still be playing shows. If any of the band members read this: I'm sorry for having disregarded you when I shouldn't have. It's my loss.

better late than never

The last two record of this trade are by the same band which was overlooked by many:


State Of Mind - s/t 7" - 2005 Bust Records

And I cannot even blame people for not paying enough attention to this band because at first I also didn't. Earlier in 2005 they put out their demo tape which I picked up at a show. When listening to it at home I kinda liked it because they had their own pretty unique approach. No other band at the time sounded like them. But somehow it sounded like they were not where they wanted to be although you could clearly hear what they were aiming at. I thought ok it's the demo. Maybe their next release is more consistent.

Which brings us to this release. Their first 7". Before I had the chance to pick it up in 2005 I heard it at a friend's place and unfortunately, although having improved from the demo, it wasn't yet really good so I didn't pick it up back then.
A few years later though I saw them live again and that was the point when my respect for what they were trying to do turned into an admiration for what they were actually doing. It took them quite a while to get there but boy was it worth the time it took.
All of their 3 12" releases are great which is why I had to fill the holes in my collection.

mentally vexed

No. 2 of the trade. A record I liked ever since I got the download for it but somehow have never actively pursued until it presented itself to me. Of course I gladly jumped at the opportunity


Crown Of Thornz - mentally vexed LP - 1996 Another Planet Records AP-6018-1

What's there to see about this record? Even though it's not from the 80s this is classic NYHC. SOS, SKD, MDB you know the deal. I was lucky to catch them live at the B'n'B Bowl last year which was the first time for me. I had seen Lord Ezec with Skarhead before and again he delivered. No matter what you think about the music this guy is hilarious. It's worth to go see any band he is in just for his stage banter.

To me COT is his best band. I guess it was some kind of a one off thing when I saw them live last year but if it wasn't you should go see them if you can and search out this record as well as their "juggernaut" 12". Both are awesome. Most likely that one song on the split 7" with that band Aggressive Dog, who I don't know shit about, is great too but it's not something I'm looking out for. If I'll happen to come across it I'll pick it up though. Can't hurt to have a complete Crown Of Thornz collection. Yes that's right two 12"es on black vinyl only plus a split 7" also only on black. That's it. Not a big task so if you wanna go for it I would understand

eclectic blood

This record initiated a trade that got me 3 more records and some money on top of it.


Bloodlet - eclectic LP - 1997 Victory Records ‎– VR31

Yes. It's another Bloodlet LP but this time it's a good one which is not hard as the live record which I don't like is the only one of their releases I don't like.
This record compiles all  the songs from the bands 7"es. Of course I already have at least one copy of each of those but it's always nice to have all those songs in one place for your listening pleasure. I mean I love 7"es and I'm definitely going to add the still missing variants to my collection one day but it's a drag to flip over and change the record all the time. I know that's the argument people try to make for CDs or even mp3s but in this case it's still on vinyl. The superior format and only true audio source. Besides tapes of course.

Next to this beautiful black vinyl version there's also one on grey out there. No clue about numbers though. I only know that both versions were pressed at the same time. And yet there are still copies available in the Victory online store. How's that possible? Did they repress the record without saying anything about it? Looks a little like they did. At least I think it's a tad odd that exactly at the time A389 puts out the re-issue of the "Entheogen" LP, of which Victory records did get copies too, maybe as part of a licensing deal, this record seems to be popping up more frequently. But perhaps it's just me paying more attention again after a while of neglect. If you can shine any kind of light on the situation it would sure be appreciated.

live blood

Oh! Here we still have another RSD pick up from this year. Well, at least an RSD release even though I picked it up quite a bit later as it wasn't available here on that day.


Bloodlet - Live On WFMU-FM (03.23.95) - RSD 2014 A389 Recordings A389-144

Usually I'm not one for live records but I'm pretty much a sucker for all (vinyl)things Bloodlet. When I heard about this release I immediately wanted it. I just didn't know about pressings and such which is why I didn't pre-order the limited to 100 copies grey vinyl which was only available from the label. So much for Record STORE Day, or do they actually have a real life store? Anyway. Maybe I wouldn't have ordered it at all as it is a live record and postage from the US has become a real killer. Whatever.

Unfortunately there were no copies to be found in any store on the actual Record Store Day. Luckily one of my favorite stores, that is also operating online and where I order from now and then because the actual shop is too far from where I live, got copies. Too bad it's no good. Perhaps that's why I forgot posting about it for a while there. Yet I somehow want that extra limited grey version. Yeah, the mind of the collector works in mysterious ways. But I won't go looking for one anytime soon. Still a lot more good records to be bought before getting that variation.

the word is go!

GO! - the word is Go! 7" - 2014 Refuse Records

I've never been a big fan of GO!. I don't even have any of their other releases but this one I couldn't resist. It's a rerelease of their demo from 1989 including a text about the history of this release/ the band by singer Mike Bullshit who was also in SFA.
It's classic late 80s NY material and was kinda important for the evolution of HC next to bands like Born Against and the whole ABC No Rio scene so I figured at least a re-issue of their demo should be in my collection.

Good thing I got a copy of the limited translucent green vinyl. No idea how many were made but we only have black copies available in our store. Go pick one up. No good NYHC collection should be missing this.