Back again...

A virus killed my computer, luckily a friend I work with is a computer genius and got it back to normal. Will post some tommorow....

97a.....

Got two different versions of the same record in the mail a little while back, I have a lot of stuff to go through, but this one I wanted to put up first. A picture disk of 97a's "Abandoned Future"

12" e.p., and a clear blue vinyl version of the same record. Both for pretty cheap too. The picture disk was bought at Dr Stranges' website for maybe $12. The blue vinyl was off ebay, cost me a bit more, but not too much.

97a were one of my favorites of the 90's youth crew revival sound, fast thrashy, bordering on out of control, they definitely played shows with all the "spirit of 88" type bands, but had a little bit more going on lyrically than just the "scene". They sang a lot about skating too, but definitely didn't sound like JFA!

This record isn't quite as blazing and spastic as their "Better Off Dead" e.p., or as manic and furious as the "Societies' Running On Empty" LP, more straightforward and YOT sounding, but it's still great, and completely classic. My only complaint with this band is their shirts, L and XL only?!?!?!? I'm a little guy, I can't rock a Large!
Apparently, the blue vinyl of this is limited to 97 copies, and I have #27. Awesome. I never knew that. The picture disk, I have absolutely no idea how many copies were made, but they seem to be pretty easy to score, shouldn't be too hard.

Both of these were put out by the much lamented Teamwork records; great label, great bands,
and I always loved how much TLC went into every release. I'm still
on the lookout for their "Terror At WFMU" e.p., that one never seems to pop up any more.....

Can’t just sit back, its time to React!

I'm back from my vacation, and it was exciting seeing a package from REACT! waiting for me! I ordered the ON "Double Vision" LP and the Gone But Not Forgotten "Seattle Crew" e.p. First up is the ON LP, which is comprised of their two 7"s together. A great idea if you ask me, as I totally slept the first one and don't want to pay a lot on ebay for it later. I have their 2nd, but it's only on black. This way, I get the white vinyl (250 of those), and a free
download of all the songs. The music is quite amazing, REACT! says it's a mix of Youth Crew and Post HC, but I don't really hear the "post HC" sound. It's recorded really well, and the lyrics are top notch. "Vital Times" is especially great. Reminds me a lot of the "Disengage" record by Youth OF Today (that's a great thing).
I still haven't seen these guys yet, but I am making it a priority.


The GBNF 7" is an entirely different affair, vinyl treatment of a excellent demo is always welcome, lo-fi blasts of "88" sounding HC. The singer really sounds like he's studied the Turning Point demo, and the music is inspired a lot by the No For Answer "You Laugh" e.p. (which I prefer to the LP). Throw in a little Unit Pride and maybe a smidgen of Wide Awake, and viola!
A great record, also on white vinyl, but there were some blue copies as well,
and also included is a free digital download again.
I am loving this HC label, Aram really puts a lot of heart and soul into each record and it really shows; lots of inserts, thought provoking material inside, it actually reminds me of Ebullition records before Kent Mcclard started putting bad poetry in every record, hopefully he can avoid that pitfall!

Two excellent releases after what I considered to be a pretty subpar record (The Mindset 7", just cannot get into it), this label is back in fine form, and both these releases show good promise of being in my top 10 records of '09!

Back tommorow....

Been away from computers, phones, etc. Back near civilization, will post some more tommorow!

My record collection, it's rad! it's rad! it's rad! it's rad!

I had to do a double post today because of what I got in the mail! Just got the Pillsbury Hardcore "In A Straight Edge Limbo" e.p.! This is seriously one of my favorite records ever. I love this record so much. I had a tape of it forever, but I finally set my mind to owning this crucial 7". If you aren't aware, Pillsbury HC is pretty much the beginnings of powerviolence,with some of the members of this band going on to bands like PHC, and Man Is The Bastard. This record is
a lot more straightforward though, although the rhythym section is clearly starting to do more than just keep rhythym. The lyrics are awesome. Topics include how much the band loves Pomona (eek. I've been there twice. What a shithole) and 7-11, to how lame "phuckin" metal is. My two favorites are "Pot Is Lame" (pretty self explanatory) and the classic "My record collection" which should appeal to any collector out there. There is another 7" out there "Horror Snores", but it ain't so great. The tracks on the "End The Warzone" comp are pretty forgettable too, but this 7" is nothing short of amazing. This is on green vinyl, I think 3rd press. There were only two colored versions, one on orange and this one. My copy has a sticker on it too, definitely not the price I paid for it!

P.S.- Bob Durkee, the guitarist, is the guy in the Angry Samoans shirt on the insert to Nirvana's BLEACH album.

Slipknot....

Finally reacquired the Slipknot 7". Nothing special about it, just the black vinyl. For all the crap that rev has put out during the late 90's and early 00's, they will always get a free pass for putting this record out. This record was totally overlooked when it came out, but is slowly becoming a classic in it's own right. I remember the early revelation catalogs describing the record as "early COC meets early COC", nothing could be truer. I honestly wasn't totally sold on this when it came out, I think the cover definitely held me back, and I remember thinking it was another "crossover" record. I had been burned by that genre too much to really give it a chance. This could be called crossover, except it avoids the worst pitfalls of the style; overproduction, too many Joe Satriani guitar solos, etc. It actually reminds me a lot of Septic Death, or maybe more predictably Cryptic Slaughter. I guess they played one legendary show at CBGB's where the lights went out. I wish they had stuck it out, I would have liked to have seen where they went with this sound. There is a red vinyl version of this record too, it goes for a bit more than your standard black vinyl, but I scored this for about $20. You can always score one cheap, but I think they will be getting more and more expensive as people clue into this 7" and what a classic it is.

Slapshot!

Today, I thought I'd post more Dave Byrd purchases
I bought at the beginning of summer. I picked up two SLAPSHOT 7"s, "Same Mistake", and "Firewalker". I absolutely love Slapshot. In your face, pissed off, unapolagetically sXe boston HC. "Same Mistake" is one of my favorite Slapshot songs, it starts off with a simple drum beat and squealing feedback, and Chokes' brutal voice.
I can't help but feel that Mike Judge got at least a little inspiration from Choke. The B side features an old Negative FX song "Might Makes Right" and the extremely unnescesary "Gilligan". Such a lame song. This one comes on green vinyl. The FLEX! website says 500 on red, green, and blue. I've seen way more green than any other color. Never seen a blue though.
The "Firewalker" is a single off of the "Sudden Death Overtime" LP (underrated in my opinion). I love the title cut. It's a great song blasting away at any peddlers of "universal truth" who have all the answers. I wish they had directed some of their bile at the burgeoning Krishna movement emerging. The B side on this one sounds live, but I have heard it isn't, just the Slapshot guys doing all the "live" stuff. It don't matter though "Chip On My Shoulder" sometimes reflects my frustrations as a straightedger who gets tired of dudes blowing smoke around me or getting in my face when they are all methed out. Another band I never got to see. I had many chances, but this was the mid 90's, when Slapshot had tarnished their reputation and I was just heartbroken.
I never touched anything of theirs after "Sudden Death Overtime". No one I know has either and that's usually a pretty good barometer for me. This copy is on a piss colored vinyl. A weird color. FLEX! also says there is white (want one!). Dave Bryd sold these to me pretty cheap, I think maybe $10 each. They always pop up on ebay so it shouldn't be too hard to find. Again, Dave is such a great solid dude. Who has sold me some great records that I really need to finish posting up here.....