L.S. Dunes – Past Lives

One of the most hyped releases of 2022 was L.S. Dunes’ debut album Past Lives. The post hardcore super group featuring Anthony Green, Frank Iero, Tucker Rule, Tim Payne and Travis Stever. Generally, going into anything featuring Anthony Green on vocals I know I’ll like it. But for once I went into it with little to no expectations. Because a project like this can go one of two ways; either it’s close to perfect because it’s a bunch of great musicians that haven’t worked together previously but have been friends for years, or it’s awful because it’s too many cooks in the kitchen. Fortunately this album is a banger; the perfect outlet for Anthony Green. Think if Circa Survive and Saosin had a baby.Because I have not been as keenly paying attention to things going on in the music world of late, I missed the boat on pre-ordering the rarest variant. Which happened to have an alternate “cover;” something I’m a sucker for. Thankfully that turned out to not be an actual cover in the literal sense. There are quite a few variants for Past Lives, and amongst them are three different covers that may or may not be included. So let’s delve into those covers.There is the main cover, which has the original cover art printed on the jacket in the traditional single pocket style. All the variants will come with this cover and jacket. Most of the variants will come with an additional, alternate cover, which comes in the form of a plastic slip case style sleeve. The third cover, which I touched on above, is not actually a cover for the very pertinent fact that it does actually fit over any of the jackets and/or covers meant to go beneath it. It’s a problem that should have been easily foreseen, yet it was not adequately dealt with in the design process. It’s very obvious a traditional, single pocket sized slip case would never fit. Figures the one time one of these alternate artwork screen printed covers actually is a full fledged cover and not a half or quarter fold sleeve, it doesn’t actually work as a cover by the dictionary definition.If you look at the photo gallery below, you will get an actual visual of how the packaging is laid out for this release. As I already stated, most of the variants come with an additional alternate cover that is made of plastic. This is the APET o-card outer slip case that mentioned in the item description. It’s the black cover, and it’s made out of a thin, semi-rigid plastic material similar in nature to plastic folders that are used for paperwork. This alternate outer slip case, or cover, is exactly that; a slip case. I’m not sure if it’s a widespread issue, but my copy, which I ordered from Target (with the order fulfilled by a distro, not Target themselves), come with cracks/splits along the bottom edges on both corners. This could easily be shipping damage, especially considering my package bounced around unnecessarily to different regional sorting centers thanks to the ineptitude of the USPS.Pressing info has been partially released. First up is the 180g black vinyl, limited to 500 copies, but it’s technically split into two separate variants. The first comes with the additional alternate artwork screened, autographed and hand numbered cover, which is limited to 250. Which leaves 250 copies without said additional alternate cover. All copies on black vinyl come with the APET o-card slip case. There are several more variants that come with the APET o-card slip case; custard limited to 1,000 copies, purple & black swirl/magenta marble limited to 500 copies, “ghost” marble limited to 3,000 copies. “Ghost” marble is clear w/ black and yellow smoke, matching the mocking pretty well. There is also an unknown amount on orange “crush” vinyl that come with the APET o-card slip case. Orange “crush” is simply opaque orange.On top of all those, some variants don’t come with any additional and/or alternate covers. There are only three of them (based on vinyl color), but even still, one of them, once again, has variants amongst itself. Let’s touch on that one first. First off, there is an unknown amount on bubblegum pink vinyl, and amongst them is a limited to 100 variant that features an exclusive hand numbered Japanese Obi. This obi-strip variant is an Assai Records exclusive, which is a Scotland indie record store. On top of that, there is another variant that comes with the bubblegum pink record, which has an exclusive metallic ink print. This print is not a cover; it appears to be an insert included with the item; either inside the jacket or thrown in with orders separately. This metallic ink print variant appears to only be sold via The Sound Of Vinyl for $44 befrore shipping (should it apply); a Euro distro for various releases spread across the major labels umbrellas. But with all of that said, the bubblegum pink variant is a Euro exclusive. Though not much, if anything, is stopping anyone from around the world from buying a copy aside from higher shipping costs and any/all import duties/taxes associated with such an order.The two remaining variants without any additional covers are “bloodshot” translucent limited to 1,000 copies and blue marble/“serenity” limited to 1500 copies. “Bloodshot” translucent is clear with red smoke, and blue marble/“serenity” is a true marble variant that has some white elements mixed in.Almost all of these variants were exclusive to a certain place/retailer, or region, which I’ve touched on a bit. But here is the full breakdown. The 180 gram black (both variants), custard and “bloodshot” translucent were exclusive to the band’s web store. Purple & black swirl/magenta marble is a Brooklyn Vegan/Revolver/The Hard Times exclusive. I want to point out that Discogs lists this as a Project M exclusive, while only listing those three specific retailers. I know very little about Project M, and never heard of it prior to seeing it mentioned on Discogs. So I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s a Project M exclusive, because I don’t much about them other than they are a digital media and e-commerce company. I don’t know what/who/whom, let alone how many companies they own under their umbrella. I do know they bought Brooklyn Vegan in 2021, Revolver Magazine in 2017 and The Hard Times in 2020. After doing a little digging it’s now easy to see how and why these three relatively unknown entities, especially in the vinyl game, suddenly started getting exclusive variants out of nowhere.The bubblegum pink is a Euro exclusive, with the obi-strip variant being an Assai Records exclusive. Orange “crush” appears to be a mass retail exclusive. So even if you buy this from an indie record store in the U.S. (possibly even Europe) you’ll most likely get a copy on orange “crush.”Some more in depth info about the descriptions/names of the variants. In what is happening more and more with records, the description given on pre-order/item pages for variants says one thing, yet when the records start shipping there are hype or barcode stickers that say something different. Sometimes these discrepancies are slightly off, while other times they make zero sense. With Past Lives you get a bit of both. “Serenity” being used on the barcode sticker for the blue marble variant is an example of something that makes zero sense. Purple & black swirl is/was the description on the band’s web store, but the barcode sticker on those copies reads magenta marble. Or you know, you can always go by what Discogs says, and have it called something completely different, like magenta/black marble, because you know, we allow practically anything these days to be presented as factual information.Design/packaging issues plague this release. I’ve touched on the fact that the one of the additional alternate covers is not actually a cover enough. But there was yet another glaring error with one of the variants. The UO exclusive has the same hype and barcode stickers as the orange crush variants. If not for the additional (I don’t think I’ve ever used the word additional as much as in this entry) stickers UO placed on their variant, you’d be led to believe that specific copy you’re holding in your hands was on orange crush. UO placed an obnoxious hype sticker on the cover saying it’s on “ghost” marble, and on the back they placed their typical gigantic barcode/UPC sticker over the top of the small rectangle barcode sticker the label placed on all copies.Retail price on Past Lives is around $25. You can find it a lot cheaper, or you could find it a bit higher. It all depends on which variant you wanted/bought. Personally, I bought this for $14 shipped thanks to Target’s most recent buy two get one free on media items, which essentially equates to 33% off if you play your cards right. Some of the variants sold out fairly quickly. The alternate artwork, screen printed, autographed and hand numbered cover variant was the first to sell it. It was either available in a bundle that included t-shirt and patch that cost $80 before shipping, or as a standalone item for $70. Why such a miniscule difference between the two considering what you’re getting is anyone’s guess. With their logic, it means you’re getting a t-shirt and patch for $10. Mind you a patch they are selling for $3 in their web store. So you’re definitely getting ripped off if you’re buying the stand alone record with the alternate artwork, screen printed, autographed and hand numbered cover. Other sold out variants as of posting this are the remaining 250 copies on 180 gram black, “bloodshot” translucent, custard and the purple & black swirl/magenta marble.  

No Devotion – No Oblivion

No Devotion, side project of Geoff Rickly of Thursday fame, released their second album in 2022; the groups first new album in seven years. No Oblivion follows on the heels, in a tortoise and hare kind of way, of Permanence, their debut album. For what I remember that album did not sell well, with the vinyl version taking forever to sell out. To the point where they couldn’t give them away it seemed.

Well, fast forward these seven years, and even with vinyl prices being what they are currently, this record sold very well. Musically it’s in the same vein as Permanence. So no big departure there. Which speaks volumes as to the popularity of vinyl currently. It’s trended upwards for years on end, but it’s sadly reached new heights in many ways, most of which are negative from a consumer (at least sensible ones) point of view. Considering the reason nobody paid much attention to Permanence was due to the group being about as far from Thursday’s sound as possible. But obviously Geoff’s involvement has helped the group.

Granted, it was seven years ago, but Permanence was far cheaper. That was a double LP in a gatefold jacket with an ob-strip, and I paid $16 shipped for it. There were no gimmicks or overt marketing/sales tactics for it either. However there was some with the two 12” singles released prior to the full length. No Oblivion, a single LP in a single pocket jacket, cost $27 (most variants) before shipping. In all my total was a little over $35 after shipping and taxes. I tried to hold off on buying this record due to the price, but had to bite the bullet before it sold out. When I bought a copy of the only variant left, there were only 30 copies remaining.

I mentioned above gimmicks. No Oblivion has them. One of the variants, which also happened to be the rarest, has shredded handwritten lyrics pressed inside the record itself. Yes, you read that correctly. Tiny pieces of paper were pressed inside the record. The paper shreds were pressed right into the playing surface somehow. Third Man Records pressed this variant (not sure if they did the entire run), and they should be ashamed of themselves. The label put a disclaimer on the item page for this variant in their web store, saying sound quality will be negatively affected. Going as far as saying it’s considered a piece of art more than an audio recording. But not like any of the idiots who bought a copy will play it anyway. This variant was limited to 50 copies. It cost $75 before shipping. Yes, once again you read that correctly.

The other variants are thankfully traditional records, because this is a great album. It may not be every Thursday’s cup of tea, but it’s solid if you remove “Cross Out The Eyes,” “War All The Time,” “Understanding In A Car Crash” and “For The Workforce, Drowning” from your mind. There are 100 copies on opaque pink, 100 copies on “eclipse, 500 copies on coke bottle clear w/ black marble and 250 copies on tri-color black/white/grey 180 gram.

As far as I can tell, this record is not distributed aside from Banquet Records getting an exclusive variant. So most variants, and therefore copies, were sold via the label’s (Velocity Records) web store. And despite the re-started label being a partnership with Equal Vision Records (EVR), this record was not available via EVR’s web store. It seems to be hit and miss with what records/titles are available via both label’s web stores. With that said, the Banquet Records exclusive is the tri-color. They are charging a lot for it, even with the exchange rate. It’s 30 GBP before shipping. As of posting this the only variant left for purchase is the coke bottle clear with black marble.

All copies come in the aforementioned single pocket jacket, and include a full size double sided insert. There is not a download card/code included with physical copies, but you are supplied one digitally (either via e-mail or through your order receipt) after ordering. However, with that said, the download only nets you horrible 192 kbps MP3s. But I guess it’s better than nothing, as more and more labels ditch digital downloads altogether.

I mentioned full size insert above. And it’s something I never thought I’d have to clarify with LPs. But here we are. Lately I’ve bought a handful of LPs that do not come with a full size insert; they’re more acquainted in size with a 10”. Ironically, most of them are from this label; Velocity Records.

Despite what many think, I try not to be negative with my summations of records. I don’t like to say review, because while I am judging a finished product, I’m not grading it on any sort of scale nor am I passing evaluation of an artistic medium. While I do have an ideal in my mind, a standard if you want to call it that; the situation is fluid. While I want every record I buy to be the best quality and jawdroppingly nice, I know that is not realisitic. But at the same time, if I’m paying $30 for a single LP I have certain expectations. Just like if I pay $10 for a single LP (flashing back 15 years ago) I have different, but certain expectations.

When I notice a trend, especially with a certain label, I’ll call it out. And Velocity Records seems to be more flash than substance. Yes, I bought all these. Many of which on sale I will add; and thankfully so. But this label seems to prioritize profit over quality. This is the same label that omits a track from an album on the vinyl version of it and doesn’t disclose it. The same label that charges $40 for a newly recorded live album on double LP, and then decides to charge $50 a few weeks later for a different newly recorded live album by the same band on double LP. That band is ironically associated with No Devotion.

For Sale: Set Prices – Circa Survive, The Killers, Alkaline Trio, New Found Glory, Senses Fail, Thursday, Gogol Bordello, Fake Problems, Look Mexico, Lifetime, Third Eye Blind, 311, Sonic Youth, Springsteen, Tom Petty & More

While I normally don’t sell stuff on this blog, or in general, I need to get rid of some things. This is the start of a thinning out process of doubles I’ve accumulated over the years along with getting rid of things I no longer listen to. Prices are set on all this for the most part, but feel free to make offers. So here are the ground rules:

Only the things on this list are for sale. Do not ask about anything else featured on this blog or anything that is not on the below list. Deals will be made for anyone who buys more than 1 thing. I will only ship to the USA. Paypal as payment only. So no bitcoin, Stripe, Venmo, Apple Pay or any of that other nonsense. If a color is not mentioned then it’s on black vinyl. Most of this stuff is either factory sealed or in NM condition. If it’s bad shape I’ll make note of it. If you’re concerned about condition ask for pics and I will provide them.

If you’re interested in anything please leave a comment with what you’re interested in and your email address, and we can work out a deal. I will not make the comments public (I have to approve every comment before it goes appears on the blog), so people will not get your email address or any other info, but I will be able to see it in order to reply to you via email. The subject line of such email responses will be “Stitches and Grooves Record Sale.” Any questions or concerns about anything up for sale feel free to ask. I’m pretty firm on prices but if you don’t like a price comment with an offer and we can try to work out a deal.

Everything will be mailed in either an LP or 7″ mailer. I should have plenty to go around, but if I run out I will let you know before making payment. Opened records will be shipped outside the jacket to avoid seam splits. Factory sealed records will not be opened under any circumstances. I know how to package records for shipping, plenty of bubble wrap and/or cardboard inserts will be used to try to minimize damage as best as possible. Not responsible for any damage that occurs during shipment; once it leaves my hands in the stated condition below I can not guarantee or foresee how the USPS will handles the package.

 

– 311 – Hydroponic 10″ (still sealed, jacket has seam split along top edge) = $20 ppd

– Alkaline Trio – Help Me 7” (still sealed) = $7 ppd or $4 if bought with something else

– At The Drive-In/Burning Airlines – Split 7″ (no insert) = $10 ppd

– Back To The Future Trilogy Score Mondo box set exclusive jackets (only the 3 jackets, which all have seam splits. no records are include with this) = offer, would prefer to sell all 3 jackets together

– Bandaid Brigade – I’m Separate ( still factory sealed, not sure on color. is NOT Hot Pink w/ Splatter. will NOT open to check color) = $10 ppd

Bear vs Shark/Bars Of Gold Collection – Would Prefer To Sell As Complete Lot = $110 (shipping to be determined later)

– Right Now (Purple & White swirl /250, U.S. 2nd press) = $20

– Right Now (UK red w/ black haze /250 hand numbered w/ exclusive alternate cover) = $30

– Terrorhawk (yellow /250, 2nd press) = $25

– Bars Of Gold – Of Gold (clear green, 1st press) = $20

– Bars Of Gold – Wheels (comes packaged w/ CD) = $15

– The Catholic Comb – Vampire Life 7” (w/ poster) = $7 ppd or $4 if bought with something else

– Circa Survive – The Amulet (Merch Limited Alternate Screen Printed Covers, Set of 4,  Designs #1, #2, #3 and #4. ALTERNATE COVERS ONLY, NO RECORD(S). INCORRECTLY FOLDED JACKETS W/ CREASE THROUGH COVER ART. Ask for pics if interested.) =$40 ppd OBO

Circa Survive – A Dream About Love (clear w/ splatter) = $40 OBO

-Dead American – The Shape Of Punk Is Dumb (orange) = $25 ppd

– Dead American – The Shape Of Punk Is Dumb (blue) = $50 ppd  OBO

– Dead American – The Shape Of Punk Is Dumb (purple) = $50 ppd  OBO

*** All Dead American Records for $100 ppd. ***

– Bob Dylan – Must Be Santa b/w ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas 7” (red, still sealed) – $12 ppd

– Faction Of The Fox – Mannequin Hand 7” = $7 ppd or $3 if bought with something else

– Fake Problems – How Far Our Bodies Go (clear, Euro pressing) = $12 ppd

– Fake Problems – How Do You Spell Here E-V-E-L 12” (picture disc) = $9 ppd

** $14 ppd for both Fake Problems records **

– Gene Defcon – Baby, Hallelujah 7″ (red) = $5 ppd or $2 if bought with something else

– Gogol Bordello – Crack The Case 7″ = $10 ppd

– Gogol Bordello – Pura Vida Conspiracy (white, only record & insert, NO jacket or valid download card) = offer, not looking for much, not sure what someone is willing to pay for just the record without a jacket

– Hailey, It Happens – Aurora = $8 ppd or $3 if bought with something else

–  Head North – Bloodlines = $10 ppd (still factory sealed)

– Hellogoodbye – S’Only Natural (not sure on color. won’t open to check color) = $15 ppd or $10 if bought w/ something else

– The Killers – Hot Fuss (2018 box set pressing on black vinyl) = $15 ppd

– The Killers – Sam’s Town (2018 box set pressing on black vinyl) = $15 ppd

– The Killers – Sawdust (2018 box set pressing on black vinyl) = $15 ppd

– The Killers – Day And Age (2018 box set pressing on black vinyl) = $15 ppd

– The Killers – Battle Born (2018 box set pressing on black vinyl) = $15 ppd

– The Killers – Wonderful Wonderful (2018 box set pressing on black vinyl) = $15 ppd

*** Buy all 6 Killers Records as a lot = $80 ppd ***

Lifetime Collection – Would Prefer To Sell As Complete Lot = $145 (shipping to be determined later)

– Background = $25

– Hello Bastards (mint, 2nd press, 2010 No Idea pressing, 1st pressing on No Idea) = $15

– Jersey’s Best Dancers (white, 2nd press, 2010 No Idea pressing, 1st pressing on No Idea) = $15

– s/t (pink, 2nd press, 2008 No Idea pressing, 1st pressing on No Idea) = $20

– Dwell 7″ (1st press) = $10

– Dwell 7″ (2nd press) = $7

– Tinnitus 7″ = $20

– 2 Songs 7″ (blue) = $7

– Boys No Good 7″ = $10

– It’s For Life comp LP (red /552, 2nd press on Victory w/ different cover, 1st pressing on Victory) = $15

Look Mexico Collection – Would Prefer To Sell As Complete Lot = $100 (shipping determined later)

– This Is Animal Music = $30

– To Bed To Battle (salmon) = $20

– You Stay. I Go. No Following 7″ (blue, hand numbered screened cover) = $10

– Real Americans Spear It 10″ (blue) = $13

– So Crucialtine (green marble) = $15

– Gasp Asp 7″ (green) = $7

– Gasp Asp 7″ (white w/ red foil stamp cover) = $10

– Moneen/Alexisonfire – Switcheroo Split 12″ (picture disc) = $30 ppd

– Mixtapes – Somewhere In Trinsic 7″ (white, No Sleep Sub exclusive) = $15 ppd

– The Music – Take The Long Road And Walk It 7″ (blue) = $6 ppd or $2 if bought with something else

– Muskets – Violent Paradise = $10 ppd (still fatory sealed)

– New Found Glory – Tip Of The Iceberg 7” (picture disc) = $7 ppd or $3 if bought with something else.

– New Found Glory/Dashboard Confessional = Swiss Army Bro-Mance (pink or purple, your choice) = $50 ppd

– No Devotion – Stay b/w Eyeshadow 12″ (white, factory sealed) = $10 ppd

– No Devotion – 10,000 Summers 12″ (factory sealed, start of small seam split along top edge) = $9 ppd

** $14 ppd for both No Devotion records **

– Onelinedrawing – Departure 7″ (eco color, did not come sealed but never played) = $10 ppd

– Peace’d Out – Peace’d Out 10” (blue, still sealed) = $10 ppd or $6 if bought with something else

Phony – Songs You’ll Never Sing (still factory sealed, not sure on color, will NOT open to check color) = $10 ppd

– The Police – Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic 7″ (U.S. pressing, A & M Records w/ picture sleeve) =  $6 ppd or $3 if bought with something else

– The Police – Message In A Bottle 7″ (w/ poster sleeve) = $7 ppd or $4 if bought with something else

– The Police – Message In A Bottle 7″ (no picture or poster sleeve, generic paper dust sleeve) = $6 ppd or $3 if bought with something else

– The Police – Synchronicity II 7″ (w/ picture sleeve) = $6 ppd or $3 if bought with something else

-The Police – Every Breath You Take 7″ (w/ picture sleeve) = $6 ppd or $3 if bought with something else

– The Police – Don’t Stand So Close To Me 7″ (w/ picture sleeve) = $6 ppd or $3 if bought with something else

– The Police – De Do Do Do, De Da Da da 7″ (w/ incorect die cut picture sleeve) = $6 ppd or $3 if bought with something else

** All 7 Police 7″ singles for $25 ppd **

– The Police – Outlandos D’Amour (2014 Euro Back-To-Black re-press w/ grey cover) = $20 ppd

– Portugal. The Man – Woodstock (standard vinyl version, 180g in gatefold jacket, still factory sealed) = $15 ppd

– Razorlight – Golden Touch 7″ (gatefold jacket) = $7 ppd or $2 if bought with something else

– Senses Fail – If There Is Light, It Will Find You (yellow, still sealed. has seam split along top of jacket) = $15 ppd

– Sonic Youth – Murray Street (2016 re-press) = $75 ppd

– Sonic Youth – Rather Ripped (2016 re-press) = $50 ppd

*** $20 ppd for both Sonic Youth records ***

– Bruce Springsteen – Dancing In The Dark 7″ (U.S. Pressing, Columbia Records) =$ 6 ppd or $3 if bought with something else

– Bruce Springsteen – One Step Up 7″ (U.S. Pressing, Columbia Records) =$6 ppd or $3 if bought with something else

** Both Springsteen 7″ single for $10 ppd **

Bruce Springsteen – The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle (2015 USA pressing) = $15 ppd

Bruce Springsteen – The Ghost Of Tom Joad (2018 USA pressing) = $15 ppd

Bruce Springsteen – In Concernt MTV Unplugged = $20 ppd

*** All 3 Springsteen albums for $40 ppd ***

The Suicide Machines – Awake 7″ flexi = $10 ppd (never played, does not come with a cover/jacket. flexi is not 100% flat. Playing surface is not warped, flexi itself is not perfectly flat like a piece of paper)

– Third Eye Blind – Ursa Major – (clear w/ black & white splatter – 1st Press) = offer

– Third Eye Blind – s/t 20th Anniversary Edition 3xLP (still sealed, bad seam splits across top) = $125 ppd

– Thursday – Kill The House Lights (still factory sealed, has crease in jacket) = $15 ppd

– Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers – A Woman In Love (It’s Not Me) 7″ (w/ picture sleeve) = $6 ppd

– What’s Eating Gilbert – Cheap Shots (half tan/half black) = $10 ppd

What’s Eating Gilbert/Octaves – SXSW Split 7″ (red) = $10 ppd

*** Both What’s Eating Gilbert 7″s for $12 ppd ****

– The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? = $18 ppd

– V/A – Yes L.A. comp (2nd press – picture disc w/ green and red ink) = $20 ppd

– V/A – While No One Was Looking: Toasting 20 Years Of Bloodshot Records 3xLP (still factory sealed, pretty bad seam splits along top edge) = $15 ppd

– The 4 Squares/Toucan Slam – Doin’ Snuff With Roy Scherer split 12″ (still sealed) = $8 ppd or $3 if bought with something else

– V/A – Brushfire Records 12″ Sampler Volume 1 (still sealed. feat. Jack Johnson, Mason Jennings, G. Love & Special Sauce, Matt Costa) = $8 ppd or $3 if bought with something else

– Curtain Call – s/t 7″ = offer

– Hamilton/Malakhai/With Arms Still Empty/Just For Kicks – Forever Compilation 4-way Split 7″ = $6 ppd or $2 if bought with something else

– Old & In The Way – Old & In The Way LP = offer

– Grateful Dead – For The Faithful (Pair Records) = $10 ppd

– Grateful Dead – Wake Of The Flood (cut corner, Grateful Dead Records) = $10 ppd

Other Random Stuff  Slipmats, Pins, Books, Tote Bags, Posters, DVDs & CDs)

– Ryan Russell – Continental Obscura: Birmingham To Bellingham photo book =$13 ppd [shipping is high because book weighs 4 pounds. Book is still in shrink wrap (shrink is cut along bottom) and does NOT come with bonus 7″]

– The Simpsons Complete Season 9 DVD w/ Lisa plastic head case (still factory sealed/taped)

– MxPx – B-Movie DVD w/ The A/C EP CD = offer

– The Early November slipmat (from Twenty bundle) = $15 ppd

– Fake Problems – Live At Park Ave CD (still sealed) = $5 ppd or $2 if bought with something else

– Anthony Green Would You Still Be In Love pin set (3 pins – all metal/enamel) = $10 ppd

– Circa Survive – A Dream About Love slipmat (brown/orange) = $15 ppd

– Circa Survive – A Dream About Death slipmat = $15 ppd

** Both Circa Survive slipmats = $20 ppd

– Circa Survive – A Dream About Love pin set (3 pins) = $10

– Circa Survive – A Dream About Death pin set (3 pins) = $10

*** Both Circa Survive pin sets for $15 ppd

– Gogol Bordello canvas tote bag = $15 ppd

– Arctic Rodeo Recordings cloth tote bag = $10 ppd

– Ghost Ramp enamel pin = offer

– Spirit Club – s/t CD (still factory sealed) = $10 ppd

– July – What We Signed Up For CD (still sealed) = $6 ppd or $2 if bought with something else

– The Promise Hero – Deja Vu CD (still sealed) = $6 ppd or $2 if bought with something else

– Brett Detar – Bird In The Tangle CD (still sealed) = $5 ppd or $2 if bought with something else

– Rock Against Floyd comp CD = $5 ppd or $2 if bought with something else

– Hail The Villain – Maintain Radio Silence EP CD (still sealed) = $5 ppd or $2 if bought with something else

– We Are Augustines – Rock The Vote EP CD (still sealed) = $6 ppd or $2 if bought with something else

– Drive Thru Records Winter 2003 Sampler CD = $5 ppd or $2 if bought with something else

– Drive Thru Records Summer 2004 Sampler CD = $5 ppd or $2 if bought with something else

– Drive Thru Records/Rushmore Records Sampler CD = $5 ppd or $2 if bought with something else

– Fueled By Ramen Spring 2005 Sampler CD = $5 ppd or $2 if bought with something else

– Keuning – Mild Case Of Everything CD (still factory sealed) = $10 ppd

– Senses Fail – Skull Logo slipmat (still sealed in original, re-sealable flap poly bag) = $15 ppd

– Senses Fail – Hell Is In Your Head bundle slipmat = $15 ppd

** Both Senses Fail slipmats for $20 ppd **

– Senses Fail – Hell Is In Your Head tote bag = $15 ppd

– Tooth & Nail Records Spring 2004 Sampler CD = $5 ppd or $2 if bought with something else

-Wildhoney – Your Face Sideways CD (barcode punched) = $6 ppd or $3 if bought with something else

– REM Unplugged 1991-2001 lithograph poster (12″ high x 36″ wide) = offer

– Teagan and Sara tour poster from Starland Ballroom show on September 27, 2013 (silk screened)

– Mystery CD Grab Bag: 10 CDs chosen at random. could be anything listed here OR could be literally any random CD I have in my house not listed here. All CDs will be playable, with minimal to zero scratches, and come in their original packaging, which may be a digipak, cardboard sleeve or plastic jewel case. CDs may or may NOT be factory sealed and will be in brand new OR used condition; may include promo items that have the barcode scratched or punched out. There will not be any duplicate CDs given, no guarantee on genre of music. = $10 ppd

Thursday – Kill The House Lights

Victory Records continues to milk their back catalog and former artists, as they released Thursday’s compilation album Kill The House Lights on vinyl in the summer of 2016. The album features demos, live takes and alternate versions of previously released material, along with three brand new songs.

Kill The House Lights was pressed as a double LP, and comes in a gatefold jacket. Also included is the booklet from the original CD/DVD release from 2007. Which further illustrates how Victory milks things for all their worth. Rather than making a new insert that is scaled up according to the format size, they opted to reuse the CD/DVD booklet. Not an unheard of move, but still cheap. The DVD from the original 2007 release is included as well, along with a download card, which surprisingly yields high quality 320 kbps MP3s. Typically the download cards Victory includes are for awful 192 kbps MP3s.

There are four variants for this record, with the typical odd, random numbers Victory puts out. There are 231 copies on pink/white, 488 copies on clear red and an unknown amount of copies on black. However, black is being advertised as “limited” for whatever that’s worth. There is also a white variant, which is a $hit Topic exclusive. The white variant was never mentioned anywhere I monitor, and became available well after the three other variants shipped. I just happened to come across it while browsing $hit Topic’s website. And like with 99% of all $hit Topic exclusives, pressing info was never released for it, and don’t ever expect it to be. One thing I will say though, I was shocked to see $hit Topic actually charge less than another retailer. The white variant is $20.90 from $hit Topic, while Victory is charging $22.98 for all 3 variants. The color vinyl (other than white, obviously) is exclusively available from Victory Records, with black being available everywhere else (except $hit Topic, obviously). But black is also available from Victory’s web store.

The records and download card contain, as advertised, five bonus tracks which appear at the end of the compilation; “Cross Out The Eyes (Live At The Grove),” “Steps Ascending (Live At The Grove),” “How Long Is The Night (Live At The Grove)”, “Concealer (Demo)” and “Telegraph Avenue Kiss (Demo).” These bonus tracks are all on the second record of the double LP set, spread across the C and D sides. The bonus tracks are the only tracks on the second disc. But it’s important to note that Victory advertises these songs as “bonus” tracks but majority were included on the initial release of Kill The House Lights from 2007. So it’s a bit misleading and blatant false advertising on their part. The only true bonus tracks. Aside for those bonus tracks the track listing for the vinyl version is the same as the CD version.

Some more shady business ethics, shocking I know seeing as Victory is one of the most upstanding labels around (I hope you can appreciate the sarcasm), as when the vinyl version of Kill The House Lights was first put up for pre-order it cost $20. But sometime between then and writing this (wrote this on September 1, 2016, just never got around to posting it till November 2016) Victory raised the price to $23. I know this because I took a screen shot of the item page in Victory’s web store for the clear red variant to note the price when I finally got around to buying the record and doing the write up for it. It’s something I do for every record I buy, mainly to know how much I paid for a record and for the purposes of this blog as well. Nobody other than me seemed to have noticed, which is surprising because certain message boards out there love to stir up controversy and complain about everything.

Victory charges $7 for shipping as the cheapest method, so unless you really want this record on color vinyl or one of the rarer variants there is absolutely no reason to buy this directly from them. There is no reason to spend $30 on this when you can buy it for under $15 if you shop smartly. There are a handful of online distros out there who offer free shipping and frequent sales/coupon codes you can utilize to maximize the amount of money you save on records. I don’t think this release is worth anywhere close to $30. $20 is a fair price. But like I said, you can buy this for less than that is you shop around.

No Devotion – Permanence

After releasing two 12″ singles in 2014 as a lead up to their debut full length, No Devotion finally released said full length, Permanence, in late September 2015. Most of the songs from the aforementioned 12″ singles appear on the full length. However, if you were holding out on buying the 12″ singles because you were waiting for the album you may still need to buy at least one of them because the “10,000 Summers” 12″ has an exclusive song on it that does not appear on the full length.

Permanence was pressed on three different colors, and full pressing info has not been released. There is only 1 color, silver, which has numbers released. There are 500 copies on silver, with copies being split between Collect Records’ U.S. web store and Banquet Records in the UK. It’s not an even split between the two retailers, the UK did not get as many copies as the U.S., but supply would be re-stocked to meet demand until the variant goes OOP. The other colors are coke bottle green and black, with an unknown amount on each. Coke bottle green is an indie record store exclusive, and does not appear to be exclusive to the U.S. as Banquet is selling copies of it as well as the Silver (black copies too for those wondering).

The album was pressed as a double LP housed in a gatefold jacket. It comes with an obi-strip, something I feel is one of the most pointless things to include with a non-import release. An insert is also included, which has the lyrics printed on it. Al copies come with a download card too. The cover art expands into a larger image after you open the gatefold jacket. Price for this release is around $20, and no one variant is more expensive than the other. Odds are you can wait a while and buy this on sale as I can’t see this going OOP any time soon. I wouldn’t buy this for anything higher than $15, which is the price point I jumped on it. But I’m sure that will come back to bite me as it will be even cheaper in the future. I just got impatient waiting for it to essentially go on clearance.

I’ll close with this. In the past I was able to get in touch with my contact at Collect Records to find out the pressing info, but they have not responded to any inquiries in about two months. At this point I’ve given up trying to contact them. He was very good with responding to me and helping me out when I ordered a 12″ single box set that only had one of the two singles in it. I’m not sure what happened. I hope it’s not related to that AIDs drug pharma CEO, as he was an investor with Collect Records and Geoff Rickly cut all ties with him after the controversy surrounding the price hike broke and the resulting outrage (not at Collect or Geoff, but the pharma CEO). I hope my contact didn’t lose his job.

No Devotion – Singles 2014 Box Set

Not too long after Collect Records released the two No Devotion 12″ singles, they announced they would be releasing both records in a limited edition box set. This box set features a slip lip with gold embossing. The box is cloth bound and because there is only two single pocket 12″ records in the box, there is a cardboard stand inside to prevent the records from jostling around. The box itself is much bigger (depth wise) than necessary, but it’s a standard size box based on other similar box sets in my collection. I’m assuming it was cheaper for Collect Records to go with the standard size box even though it’s too big, rather than order custom made boxes

The box itself is limited to 400 copies. The records inside, the “Stay b/w Eyeshadow” 12″ and the “10,000 Summers” 12″, are each pressed on black vinyl, with the “Stay b/w Eyeshadow” 12″ limited to 900 copies and the “10,000 Summers” 12″ limited to 1500 copies. Obviously 400 copies of each of the singles on black vinyl were set aside for this box set. You can find full pressing info for the Stay b/w Eyeshadow 12″ here and for the 10,000 Summers 12″ here.

There is a glaring issue with the box set however, as they shipped from the plant with only one records inside, the “10,000 Summers” single. The “Stay b/w Eyeshadow” 12″ is inexplicably missing. To make matters worse the box set was done ahead of schedule and shipped out to stores and other retailers early. Collect Records wasn’t aware of the error before people started buying the box sets. As soon as they found out they started to correct the problem. They recalled all the box sets, but some stores/retailers didn’t comply, as I bought a copy of the box set online from Hastings in June 2015 only to discover it was missing the “Stay b/w Eyeshadow” 12″. The box set was released in early January 2015.

If anyone wants to buy either or both of the 12″ singles let me know. As I already bought both singles outside of this box set I don’t need two copies of either one. They’re both still sealed, however the Stay b/w Eyeshadow 12″ is on white vinyl and not black vinyl. There is a sticker on the front denoting it’s on white vinyl, and you can see the record through the die-cut portion of the jacket so it’s verified to be white. The 10,000 Summers 12″ is o black vinyl, again verified through seeing the record through the die-cut portion. The 10,000 Summers 12″ has the start of a small seam split along the top edge of the jacket. $14 ppd for both singles or $10 ppd each – USA shipping only.

No Devotion – 10,000 Summers

No Devotion released their second single/EP, 10,000 Summers, three months after releasing their first material, the Stay b/w Eye Shadow single. 10,000 Summers was also released by Geoff Rickley’s label, Collect Records.

The 12″ single was pressed on three different colors, with the total pressing coming out to 3,000 copies. First there is black & white which was limited to 500 copies and was initially listed as a ” Collect Records pre-order exclusive,” but they are still available after the single/EP’s release, likely due to the fact that it didn’t sell out. It has since obviously changed to simply a Collect Records exclusive. Next up is Lilac, which is limited to 1,000 copies and is also mostly exclusive to Collect Records, but it’s explicitly listed as such in their webstore. Last is black vinyl, which is limited to 1500 copies; a variant nobody knew existed until they were surprised to get it after buying it (myself included). Black copies went out to retail stores and Amazon (I know from first hand experience that Amazon is not the only online retailer to receive black copies, so black is not exclusive to anywhere) , with 400 of the 1,500 copies being held back for the No Devotion Singles Box Set that has yet to be officially released (Jan. 5) although many indie record stores put these out already and some distros are even sending out mail orders for them.

No Devotion – Stay b/w Eyeshadow 12″

Geoff Rickley is keeping busy post Thursday, as he created his own label, reignited the flames of United Nations with a new album and created another new band; No Devotion. The band also features ex Lost Prophets members.No Devotion is a huge departure from Rickley’s MO, it’s the poppiest thing he has ever done. But even so, it still has a heavier and darker side. Think The Cure meets Depeche Mode.

The Stay b/w Eyeshadow 12” single is the band’s first release, and first release of Rickley’s label, Collect Records. There are several variants for it, which is over doing it in my opinion. There is no reason why a single should have variants, with the exception of overseas pressings/variants. There are 3000 total copies for Stay b/w Eyeshadow, which are split amongst four variants. First there are 400 copies pressed on black and white vinyl, which is exclusive to Collect Records. There are 700 copies on “blush” vinyl, which is a UK exclusive color. There are 900 copies on white, which is a U.S. exclusive and lastly there are 1,000 copies on black vinyl, with no word on where you can buy them. I haven’t even seen anyone claiming to have a copy on black vinyl or pictures of it. Maybe it will become available after the colored variants sell out.

I bought my copy from Amazon with no idea what color I would get. I received it on white, which was a bit of a surprise as I expected it to be on black vinyl, the least limited variant. Since some of the variants are a vague description rather than a straight up color, here is what each one actually looks like. The “blush” UK exclusive is light pink vinyl and the black and white Collect records exclusive is half black/half white.

The record comes in a die cut sleeve, like many singles from the early 90’s on back. But rather than the die cut circle being on the front of the jacket, or front and back, on the Stay b/w Eyeshadow single thediecut is solely on the back. Rather than a paper dust sleeve, a printed dust sleeve on thick card stock is included. The dust sleeve is a stock Collect Records sleeve.

United Nations – The Next Four Years (Box Set & Standard LP Pressings)

Despite legal issues, the band known as United Nations soldiers on. The band released their second album of sorts. It’s a mixture of some older material and some newer stuff, with the older songs not seeing a widespread, legit release until now. The Next Four Years was released by Temporary Residence Recordings, who have some past times with Geoff Rickley. Rather than go the traditional route, which both Temporary Residence and United Nations are known for; taking the road less traveled, The Next Four Years was released as a box set limited to 1000 copies featuring three different formats inside for the same album.

The album is split amongst three four separate items; a 10” record, two 7” records and one cassette. It starts off on the first 7”, moves its way to the second 7”, then to the cassette and wraps up on the 10”. The first 7” features two songs, one on each side; “Serious Business” and “Meanwhile On Main Street.” The second 7” features four song, two on each side; with “Revolutions at Varying Speeds” and “False Flags” on the a-side (which in the grand scheme of things is the c-side) and “United Nations Finds God” and “Between Two Mirrors” on the b-side (which in the grand scheme of things is the d-side). The cassette features three songs, which repeat on both sides, which is a great touch because you don’t ever have to rewind the tape. I’m sure quite a few people who read this blog have no idea how tapes work, but those of us growing up prior to the late 90s should know. My first car had a tape player and every car I rode in growing up had a tape player too. You kids these days make play lists, we used to make mix tapes. Anyway, the cassette has “F*ck The Future,” ‘Stole The Past” and United Nations vs. United Nations.” Lastly, the 10” features two songs, one on each side; “F#A#$” and “Music For Changing Parties.” One interesting fact about some of the records in the box set; the second 7” was recorded to be played at either 33 rpm or 45 rpm and the b-side of the 10” has concentric grooves, which play different versions of the song depending on where the needle starts on the record. So every time you play the record you get a different listening experience.

The Next Four Years is the best release so far this year (That I have. I have yet to buy the deluxe Led Zeppelin re-presses yet, but I suspect those will top this United Nations album). The aforementioned legal issues are one of the highlights of this box set. The cassette comes wrapped in a copy of the actual cease-and-desist letter THE United Nations, you know, the political organization that basically oversees the entire world, sent the band trying to get them to spot using everything associated with their image (name, logo, etc.) On the reverse side of the C&D letter is the band’s apparent “response” to the UN, which one can only assume is not real and was never actually sent in response or published formally anywhere.

The art layout of the box is meant to replicate old New York Times newspapers. It’s a die-cut box that closes like an envelope, similar in style to the Circa Survive b-sides 7” and The Horrible Crowes – Elsie 7”. The faux newspaper features loads of full-length articles that are obviously fictitious and meant to raise eyebrows. Each box is also hand numbered (again, /1000), which is done inside the box itself; once you open it to slide out the audio formats you will see the numbering. And as if the three different formats and four different items weren’t enough oddity for you, the album comes in an LP sized box despite an LP not being utilized for this album.

The 7″s and 10″ features exclusive artwork by an acclaimed group of fine artists and designers, including STEAK MTN (second 7”), Victoria Burge (10”), MrThe (first 7”), and Jeremy deVine (first 7”). The 10” comes with an insert and the two 7” records are half fold sleeves, which have the lyrics printed on the inside. The packaging is great but unfortunately there is a glaring error with this box set, as there is a pressing error with the first 7”. The first 7” has the a-side of the second 7”, so the song “Serious Business” does not appear on any of the physical formats found in the box set. It’s a pressing error that should have been caught somewhere. Temporary Residence should have played some of the final copies that came into their office before sending all of them out. It would have been a minor hassle to wait longer in order to have the proper release, it would have been much better than sending out a botched record that results in people not getting to listen to the full album. The plant or Temporary Residence will be sending out corrected Serious Business 7”s to everyone who ordered. There is no timetable on when the correct 7”s will start being sent out. ***EDIT –  On August 21 I received my corrected 7″. I did not receive any notification that the replacement was sent out, and neither did anyone else. I did not contact Temporary Residence about a corrected 7″, it just showed up on my doorstep. Other people report the same situation.***

In mid August 2014 it became known that a standard LP version of The Next Four Years will be pressed, which is slated to be released in late October 2014. There are three variants for the standard single LP pressing, 418 copies on half white/half black, either 481, 491 or 500 copies on blood red with black oil splatter and an unknown amount on black. Temporary Residence will like keep this record in print on black vinyl for a while if not do a re-pressing on new colors at some point down the road. They do a good job of keeping their albums in print.

The blood red with black is an indie record store exclusive, and some stores also included a free bonus 7″ while their supply of said free 7″ lasted. I said above this variant was limited to either 481, 491 or 500 because I have seen both of those numbers used but have not heard official numbers from Temporary Residence. I saw some record stores advertise the variant as being /500, and saw some internet chatter that the number is actually lower than 500, hence the /448. The bonus 7″ included with some record store purchases is practically the same in every way as the one replacement”Serious Business” 7″ that was given to everyone who bought the box set. Except for needing a 45 adaptor to play it, so a large center hole record, it has the same track listing, same center labels and comes in just a plain white paper dust sleeve. No jacket/sleeve is included with the free bonus 7″, and every indie record store in the country did not give them away. I know the ones that did either had it taped to the LP’s that were in the racks at the store, or had it behind the counter and you would get it when you checked out. As far as my knowledge goes, this free bonus 7″ was a U.S. exclusive and wasn’t done overseas.

The half white/half black copies were exclusive to Temporary Residence mail-order, and took  a surprising amount of time to sell out. I know there were quite a number of people holding out for a standard LP pressing of this album, but since it took a while for it to actually be announced, some of those people could have caved and bought the box set version out of fear of not being able to buy this record on vinyl at all. Odds are out of the 1,000 or so people who bought the box set, a majority of them did not buy the standard LP pressing, otherwise it would have sold out almost immediately, or at least a lot faster than the month or so it did actually take for it to sell out.

The standard LP comes with a download code just like the box set pressing, but that is where the similarities end, obviously. An insert is include with the standard LP, which is different from anything included with the box set. This insert is small in size for an LP, and in reality it’s a 7″ insert, as in one that would be used for 7″ records. It’s a double-sided insert, with a bit of liner notes on one side and an image on the reverse side. The album art for the single LP is inspired by the Black Flag album The First Four Years.

For the photo gallery below, everything before the LP is included with the box set pressing, and everything from the LP and after is part of the standard LP pressing.

V/A – In Utero: In Tribute comp

Keeping with the In Utero barrage, Robotic Empire Records released a tribute comp where punk bands performed the album front to back. The comp, entitled In Utero: In Tribute features (in order, and you can figure out what song each band covers from there) Pygmy Lush, Circa Survive, These Arms Are Snakes, Thursday, Jay Reatard, Young Widows, The Mean Jeans, Thou, Whirr, Daughters, Ceremony and Black Math Horsemen. The comp was first released in conjunction with Record Store Day 2014, with an exclusive variant that included an exclusive poster. The RSD variant was on maroon vinyl which was limited to 1000 copies. The poster is just an enlarged version of the cover art, nothing too special.

The label made it known that the comp would see a regular version, which would be released after RSD. Plus the label released a list of all the stores they sent the comp to, because this release was not on the official RSD list and did not see distribution. Knowing this made my RSD shopping a ton easier, as I did not have to go out super early, and I even contemplated not going out at all this year to avoid the hassle that has become RSD. I used to look forward to RSD every year, but it has gotten so out of hand for a number of reasons that I no longer get anxious or excited over it. Anyway, there are two other variants of this comp on top of the RSD version. There are copies pressed on black and translucent yellow vinyl, both of which do not have pressing info released as of writing this.

The translucent yellow variant was a surprise, as the label only said the comp would see a regular black pressing after RSD. The label put the non-RSD version of the album earlier than scheduled, but announced it thoroughly so everyone got a chance to buy it worry free. Even so, black copies sold out pretty quickly, with the yellow copies taking a tad longer to sell out.

This comp is pretty simple but is still on the pricey side. It’s just a record in a jacket. I’m assuming the high price tag is due to the fact it has something to do with Nirvana, and all the headaches Courtney Love attaches to anything Nirvana related. I know there were some issues getting this comp out there, what exactly they are is none of my business, but I’m glad Robotic Empire stuck with it and finally got this comp out there. It’s one of the best comps in my collection.