Friday, October 29, 2010

American Nightmare – The Sun Isn’t Getting Any Brighter 7”

The American Nightmare love fest continues with their second 7” record, “The Sun Isn’t Getting Any Brighter”. On this release, the music, the vocals, the overall sound gets very frantic. The songs are more hectic, way faster – just crazier. This record is far less of a “traditional” hardcore record than the first record, but just as good.

As crazy as the collectability of the first record was, the second was just as collectible - but different.

The layout is of course, top notch. A young whippersnapper named Jake Bannon did the artwork and layout. I think he has a future in this art thing...

This was yet another home run for Bridge Nine who at the time were riding high as the best hardcore label in the game. Wait a second, I think they still are. I am on pins and needles for the new Have Heart live lp/cd/dvd. I digress.

One of the distinguishing features of the first press was that all of the vinyl was black. The collectability is on the color of the text and angel on the label. Who would have ever believed that the color of text would end up being as important as color of vinyl?

First press. Black vinyl red labels out of 150.

Black vinyl. White labels out of 350

Black vinyl. Blue labels out of 500

Black vinyl silver labels out of 900.

Silver labels would end up being the standard for all subsequent pressings.

Also part of the first press but not available for order, was the infamous Bridge Nine “friends” press. As always, a number were randomly inserted into pre-orders, but for the most part were for the band to sell or give away.

Orange vinyl/100

The 2nd press was all black vinyl with silver labels out of 1000. I could never tell the difference between the silver labels from the first press, so maybe I have the first, maybe the second. Whatever.

3rd press. Purple vinyl out 600 This was pressed for their 2001 Fall European Tour.

Labels were printed for the tour describing the record. Awesome touch.

4th press. Black vinyl. Silver labels/150.

The inclusion of a small “IV” on the label was added to indicate the fourth press. This was a landmark in record collecting as Bridge Nine hit on a new innovation that would become a standard with not only their label, but others to follow for subsequent pressings of records that didn't change colors.

Label with the "IV"

Silver label without

The fourth press version I have also had a sticker on the outer protective sleeve. Nothing like waiting until the last press to let someone know what the record is!

Ah hell, I guess if you didn't know by then, you probably had no business knowing at all. Wow, that sounded elitist.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Youth of Today - Break Down the Walls : Posi Numbers Fest version

There was a Canadian documentary released about a decade ago called "Vinyl". For the most part it was about lonely, sad, pretty much insane, single men who collected huge quantities of crap records to fill a void in their lives where interactions with people failed. It is the scariest damn movie I have ever seen. I highly recommend it.
There was one particular scene that struck me. Collectors were justifying the size of their collections by stating that they had accumulated so many records only because it was a simple matter of fact that every collector would have the same records.
"Doesn't everyone have 60 Miles Davis albums?"

That is how I feel about Youth of Today record collecting. I have eight different versions of "Break Down the Walls". Now to my wife and non-collecting friends, that is insane. I am one step away from the crazy dudes in "Vinyl".
To hardcore record collectors, they would ask where the other four are.

The latest version I picked up is a rare one. The Posi Fest 2002 edition.

This record was only available at the fest and sold out in roughly 35 seconds. There were only 60 of these silk screen covers made up for it. I think we can safely say it was a big hit. The price of these are pretty nuts these days, as it is considered outside of the red and blue vinyl Wishingwell versions, the rarest Youth of Today record.

The vinyl used is the remixed 1997 version on white vinyl which is the "final" press. According to the Revelation pressing website, there were 440 total of the white press. More likely 500 and 60 were used for this.
See that? I used math.

The record came with the standard 1997 repress insert. Kind of a mess and very hard on the eyes.

As satisfying as it is to finally have this, I am only more compelled to search out the remaining ones I don't have.
Damn, maybe I am just like the guys in "Vinyl".

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

The Rival Mob vinyl collection

Every once in a while I miss the boat completely on a band. What can I say, it happens.
You just can't follow every band on myspace music, you can't read every review, and you can't collect every record that is out there. Money, time, and attention are in short supply sometimes.

All that said, it bugs the hell out of me that I missed out on The Rival Mob from the beginning. They have evolved over the last couple years to become THE hardcore band. Big buzz, lots of hype and print - and all of it completely warranted.

This band is simply awesome. The Bitter Rivals demo 7", Raw Life 12" and HC4HC 7" are all fantastic records. Plenty of attitude, great groove, mosh parts, breakdowns, speed and great riffs. You know - hardcore!

I realized just how late my late pass was when I pre-ordered their latest record from Six Feet Under a few of weeks after it went up. I went for the 3 pack, hoping to get all three colors. Well, this is what I got:

Three of the most common color. Fuck.
Well, that did it. What is any self respecting collector to do about this obvious problem? Why, hit up the B9 board and buy an insta-collection of course! One big package in the mail later, and I am pretty much caught up. I couldn't be happier or more ashamed.

First up, the Bitter Rivals Demo 7" put out on Triple B Records.

First Press. Green vinyl out of 110.


Black vinyl out of 440.


Second press. Orange vinyl out of 200. Pretty easy to spot with the different cover and blank labels.

Next up, the Raw Life 12" that was released on Lockin' Out Records. This album is so good and my favorite of the three. Eight perfect songs.

The limited press is Clear Gold out of 300.

The standard press is black out of 700.


Lastly, the previously mentioned Hardcore For Hardcore 7" that was released on Six Feet Under.
Black vinyl out of 150.

Yellow vinyl out of 350.

Purple vinyl out of 900.

Of course with any hot band, all of these are long sold out. There are of course a few showcase and fest covers out there that I will need to track down, but at least I have the core vinyl now. I just hope I don't miss out on the next big band as badly as I did with this one.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

American Nightmare - s/t 7"

As a record collector,I think this is the record that pretty much spells perfection in music, packaging and aesthetic.
The first American Nightmare 7 inch was completely ground breaking at the time of its release and has stood the test of time not only musically but as the perfect template on how to release a collector record. Oh, and the value of the record has also escalated over the years as well.

Friends press, tour press, special show press, pre-order limited numbered press, multiple colors that maintain a theme and later pressings on black vinyl. This record has it all.

AN was a huge band; perhaps the biggest of the 2000's. They changed the sound of hardcore for some time and influenced dozens of bands that came after them. This release was also a big turning point for Bridge Nine, as it was their biggest and most popular release at the time and arguably helped the label become the best hardcore label of the 2000's as well.

Enough of my jawing, we are here for the vinyl.

First press red vinyl out of 152.

Stamped number on dust sleeve.


First press white vinyl out of 355.


First press blue vinyl out of 500.


These were the standard first press colors that nicely make up the whole USA red, white and blue flag motif.

There was also a 2000 tour press on clear blue vinyl out of 300. These had special labels made for the press and are hand numbered.


Here is the very rare friends press on clear out of 100. Obviously, it comes with a special cover and message to those who originally received the record.

The second press was a special press on grey vinyl for the Back to School Jam. These are hand numbered on the labels out of 250. Special covers were made as well that were also numbered.


The third press is good old black vinyl out of 900.


The fourth and final press was also on black vinyl out of 600, but with a different cover designed by artist Linas Garsys.


There are a couple versions I don't have, namely the two different Mosh Camp presses. Those use the red vinyl from the first press and total out of 30. You have to draw the line somewhere, and those suckers are just way out of my price range for photocopied yellow and blue paper! Unless of course someone wants to off load them...

Monday, October 11, 2010

Corrosion of Conformity - Your Tomorrow 7"

You know, I really wanted to like this. A lot.
When news broke that C.O.C. was getting back together with the "Animosity" lineup after what felt like decades of southern fried rock thanks to "new" guitarist and singer Pepper Keenan, I was excited. This truly turned into two different bands thanks to one lineup change that just moved them into a direction that I wasn't going along for the ride with.

C.O.C. were a big favorite of mine back in the late 80's. I still pull out Eye for an Eye, Animosity, and Technocracy on a regular basis.
So when the buzz started on the message boards that this was going to be the old C.O.C. three piece with Mike Dean singing and Reed Mullin back on drums, I thought it was going to sound, well - like this.


No such luck. There is just not the snarl or fire I was hoping for. It is heavy, but in a grooving jam kind of way. This is 25 years later. I should have known, but you always hope. You know?

As far as the vinyl goes, it looks pretty darn awesome. Southern Lord went all out on this and it is pressed on 180 gram vinyl. Very heavy for a 7"!


If you ordered from Southern Lord, you get their exclusive webstore color, red. I saved $10 and went through RevHq and got blue. Good enough.

Oh yeah, if you ever get a chance, pick up "Six Songs With Mike Singing: 1985" album. It is absolutely amazing.