FRANK TURNER & JON SNODGRASS Buddies

Another acoustic record for you all to devour, just the way i did when first laying ears to it.
This is a joint venture between two of today's greatest singer songwriters with backgrounds in hardcore/punk. A trend that has been going on for a while now and brought us many great acoustic releases by well known punkveterans going solo.
English boy FRANK TURNER has been paving the folky acoustic road for a while now and so has his American buddie JON SNODGRASS. Both have a background in our beloved punk scene, FRANK was once a member of MILLION DEAD and JON was a major part of ARMCHAIR MARTIAN, both firmly rooted in the punk and hardcorescene of their representive countries. JON also teams up with CHAD PRICE ( ALL)  in DRAG THE RIVER where they bring their very own blend of acoustic punkfolk.
And last but not least in the all star band SCORPIOS where JON is part of a group made up of TONY SLY, JOEY CAPE and BRIAN WAHLSTROM

After travelling the world with their own projects these kindred souls met each other in 2009 during the REVIVAL TOUR, an acoustic collaborative event, brainchild of CHUCK RAGAN ( HOT WATER MUSIC ) and his wife JILL. A traveling tour of artists with different backgrounds and audiences but most hailing from the punk, rock, folk scene.
Past participants include JOEY CAPE, DAVE HAUSE, CORY BRANNAN, BRIAN FALLON, TOM GABEL and many more, for exact info Click Here.

The dynamic duo couldn't resist making music together so during the tour the first collab song was penned down in no time and brought to the stage. Since this felt natural they felt the need to write some more tunes together. Due to the geographic differencies and a full schedule it lasted up untill the summer of 2010 when FRANK went to visit his sister living in Colorado. Homestate of JON, so a visit was planned to get JON over there and drink away the night, playing guitar in the yard of FRANK's sister. After a fruitfull night they decided to travel back to JON's hometown of Fort Collins to record them in his homestudio.
The result of this little get together was mastered @ the legendary The Blasting Room and pressed for eternity onto vinyl. FRANK's usual record label XTRA MILE RECORDINGS decided to release this precious collection of songs on limited green vinyl and i've grasped the opportunity to buy me one of these during a recent visit by JON in Belgium during the recent SCORPIOS eurotour. I even got the chance to thank the man himself after the show.

Green, clean and mean

The album has been pressed on green transparent vinyl and in a edition of 1000 pieces never be repressed.
(or at least that what i'm hoping for since i don't like to share my treasures with others, they can listen digitally if they want or other ways but i just love it knowing that i'm one the lucky few to have this on vinyl )
Due to the demand there has been a digital release that's still available on the world wide webs.

The songs are all, as expected, of the hand of FRANK and JON and handle just about anything they came up with during their orgy of booze and guitarplaying. Songs about buddies mostly, depicting their friendship and the weird ways of their friends. Even songs about putting the chickens to bed. Low cost recording on two mikes and some TASCAM 388 tape led to this album. You can hear the DIY mentality and the booze all through the recordings since the dynamic duo even taped all their little chit chat in between the songs.
If you want serious content with a message then don't search here, this record is what you get when two singer songwriters get aquinted and start letting the liquor talk. Although it's a very nice record full of good tunes to bump your head too. Even without a message or concept these guys are natural talents at writing tunes that stick around in your head. Words must just stumble out their mouth when they open it, and melodies surround them all day long in their head. If you give them ten different words and five minutes of your time they'll make you a song on the spot. And you're gonna be stunned with the fact that's is even a good song.

The story of two friends and lots of alcohol

Now i need to confess that all the crap i've been writing about is just simple info written down by the
artists themselves on the included lyricsheet. The whole story of the idea, gettogether and outcome of the album are being laid out by them on one simple sheet of paper. Each track has his own explanation to it and shows us an insight in the 'making of' and where they came up with inspiration.

In the end another great addition to the ever growing collection of vinyl in my shelf.
A nice limited 10" by two of my all time favorites, can't wait to see them live again playing their
sweet toned melodies for us all. If you ever get the chance to see them than do so, tell them i told you too,
cause it's worth it.


Here's a little video to create your own opinion about this release. 

Ezekiel02:24:81

Update

UPDATE :

First i want to apologise for the lack of content on this blog. It's been quit hectic lately
but i'm resurrecting from the dead again. Very soon i will be posting more about some of my favorite personal records ranging from the heaviest metal, hardcore, punk to the most intimate acoustic releases
and even sidesteps into other genres if approved by my ears.



I have been posting lately @ RECORDS WITH HISTORY AND FUTURE,
a great blog about Hardcore releases by a fellow Belgian harcore afficianado named Flanders Fury.
Since a couple of weeks i've been writing blogs together with him on his magnificent blog
RWHAF. Together we hope to bring you our personal selection of the best what Hardcore
has to offer, in the past, present and future. Give us a visit and feel free to comment or discuss these great releases with us.  Flanders Fury Blog Click Here

Also a Facebook page has been created to make the connection between peers even more dynamic.
Feel free to add yourself and join the coven. My blog Click Here or Flandersfury RECORDS WITH HISTORY AND FUTURE.

Ezekiel 'The Valley Of Dry Bones'

'Son of man, can these bones live?

Keep looking for a new post in less than a week. I'm thinking something ... different.
Also i've got a few good releases in the mail to discuss in the future, as said before
this blog will post all the other stuff i listen too next to my posts @ RWHAF that are 100% hardcore
related.


Ezekiel02:24:81

JOHN K. SAMSON City Route 85

JOHN K SAMSON, my favorite Canadian ever. And that's a hard task given the fact that most great ice hockey players were/are Canadian. And i happen to love and admire those crazy fighting toothless jocks.
After exploring other territories with projects as PROPAGANDHI and of course the magnificent THE WEAKERTHANS, he decided to bring his poetic music solo. Just JOHN K. SAMSON and his Wray Chapman Gibson 145.

.I Fear For You Winnipeg by Alicia Smith

I've had the luck to witness the man himself on stage last year during a THE WEAKERTHANS show in the Amsterdam venue BITTERZOET. A beautiful, intimate show in a very nice setting. A fellow punk lover from The Netherlands was present too and documented this amazing show on tape. For footage of this incredible set go see his Youtube channel that offers many perfectly shot shows of great punkrock band he witnessed.
Click here for Ihearttheweakerthans Youtube channel.
At that very same show i purchased the 7" called CITY ROUTE 85 by JOHN K. SAMSON.

Three delightful songs by JOHN K SAMSON

A 2009 released 7" on the German HOTEL VAN CLEEF RECORDS and WINNIPEG ARTS COUNCIL ( JOHN's home city). An artistic cover image by Alicia Smith, titled 'I Fear For You Winnipeg', is the main artwork to this release. A lyric sheet and a black vinyl 7" are the content inside, always handy with JOHN K. SAMSON since his lyrics flow in a poetic way that not many posses.
The music itself is, as usual, to me atleast, poetry of the finest kind accompanied by gentle strumming on the acoustic giutar.

CITY ROUTE 85

The songs are detailed descriptions of the kind of tales only JOHN K SAMSON can tell. Explaining his lyrics isn't what this music was intended for. It is best enjoyed when you just surrender to it.
His voice beckons you to listen to every word he speaks, taking you an a ride through his poetic world.
Opener HEART OF THE CONTINENT kicks off the EP, followed by GRACE GENERAL and CRUISE NIGHT. All three are intimate tales by the man that once wrote ANCHORLESS when in the band PROPAGANDHI and has given us many masterpieces with THE WEAKERTHANS.
You can listen to one of the tracks here, Click Here

A very beautiful record that i cherish and that's why i'd like to share it with you all.
I'm hoping that, either solo or with THE WEAKERTHANS, i will get the chance to witness this great
artist once again on stage performing live. Being swept away by his music and taken by his stories. Soon that day may come or at least the hope of it happening keeps me alive.

To leave you all here's another video by Ihearttheweakerthans of JOHN K SAMSON performing HEART OF THE CONTINENTS in Germany.
                                       


Ezekiel02:24:81

Roses Never Fade ' Fade To Black'

                            ROSES NEVER FADE  'FADE TO BLACK' 

Roses Never Fade is a collective of artist/musicians with international backgrounds ( Belgian/ American / German  / Australian,...).

One of the main creative minds behind this collective is Dwid Hellion, known of Integrity and Psywarfare, and one of the originators of the 'Holy Terror' label and advocate of the nearby apocalypse. 

Alongside the collaboration are Stephanie VH (Vocals, Mbira Huru piano), Nick Fiction ( Pale Creation ,  Artistic guitar ), Matt Shack ( Art Attack, Southern guitar) and T ( VVegas, Heeding vocals and Grand guitar) and of course Dwid Hellion ( Vocal, Piano, Percussion & Short Stories).

Roses Never Fade 'Fade To Black' frontcover
with Dwid Hellion's distinctive artwork

The first release was in 2006  distributed by Rock Vegas Records but sold out pretty soon.

Belgian label Neuropa Records has reissued their debut in 2009 and added the limited 7" ep as a CD only release last year, this was released as a selftitled album and can still be purchased here. 

http://www.neuroparecords.com/products.php?NRP22&cPath=21_1 

But since i'm mainly into vinyl nowadays i'm gonna discuss the vinyl release of Roses Never Fade 'Fade To Black'. 

This precious piece of wax came through the 'Holy Terror' webstore where they sold the yellow 12" band colour ( out of 100 ) and at that moment the actual test press of the album with original artwork by Dwid Hellion himself. Since i hesistated too long i ended up only ordering the band colour since the test press

had already found an eager collector/musiclover awaiting it's arrival.

This record in the band colour yellow according to the Holy Terror store out of 100 pressed fits perfect with the albumcover. Also there are clear and black vinyl versions still available at A389 Recordings.

http://www.a389records.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=56&products_id=1928

A-side of the band colour 12"

B-side of the band colour 12"

The album itself is released through A389 Recordings in 2010. 

Roses Never Fade 'Fade To Black' back cover

Insert to RNF album, with Dwid Hellion artwork

Insert other side of RNF 

The album itself is not your typical 'Holy Terror' sound but actually mostly acoustic folk-noir

as it can be best described. Some songs are more folk/guitar driven while others are more like....

Just imagine a dark desolate place clouded in mysterie, suddendly strange creepy noises

swell on and a soft whispering voice guides you through. All of these sounds just creep into your ear

to nest themselves in the deepest corners of your brain. Picking at it note by note untill all is left is a remainder of what you once believed was true and pure. 

This record is best played late at night ( @ a sabbath perhaps?) , alone in the dark and loud. Just listen and be swept away to another dimension inhibited by Dwid's illustrated army of Hellion. Embark on the journey and be blown away by the simplicity of it all. 

The lyrics are what we can expect from a 'Holy Terror' production, they preach 'The Process' to all who want to hear and understand. Not many will grasp this idea and fully understand it, but once you do it will
liberate you.

Warning : this record is not for the weak harted or easily upset, be prepared to indulge yourself into
'dark' corners of your mind and be prepared to be reborn.
If you're looking for another Integrity HC/Metal copycat then stay away from this one, it will dissapoint
you and show that you are not suited to fully grasp the meaning of it. 

As to leave you all, here is a video directed by Dwid of one of the songs on the album.
To have you all and idea and to warn those who can not handle this.

In the meantime there has been another Roses Never Fade release on Neuropa records.
This time it's a three song 7" with songs performed and written by collective members
Nick Fiction, Matt Shack and newcomer Nathan Opposition.
As soon as this one arrives in my mailbox i will be discussing it on this blog.



As it is, So it be

Ezekiel02:24:81

Lagwagon 'Putting Music in its Place' boxset

Lagwagon has been around for over 20 years now and to celebrate this they released a 5 albums

2 X LP boxset for the occasion. As a huge Fat Wreck fan and Lagwagon of course as first band

ever signed on the label run by 'Fat Mike' i really needed this one.

As soon as it went up for pre-order on the Fat Wreck website i ordered my copy along with many

others since this baby was gone in two weeks tops. The release date was November 2011, the 

pre-order went up in August, so a couple nervous months passed before receiving this beautiful

bundle of joy.

Front of the boxset

This release was meant to be a celebration of the band and it's huge influence in the 'golden years'
of punkrock during the '90's. All wrapped in one nice box are 5 times 2 x LP gatefolds of  the
first five Lagwagon releases, a giant overview poster, live shows DVD and as a bonus the first
7" ( only reissue ever)  ever released by Lagwagon 'Angry Days'. 

Back of the boxset

The albums included in this special edition are Duh, Trashed, Hoss, Double Plaidinum and Let's Talk About Feelings. All fully remastered from the original tapes and pressed on high quality vinyl. Including over 25 previously unreleased tracks ranging from demo's to acoustic versions. 

I've chosen the colored vinyl boxset, also available was the CD box set ( ??? ) and black vinyl boxset.

According to the pressing info they released 519 colored box sets and 517 black box sets.

The individual albums have also been rereleased on black vinyl in the remastered version, so this brings up the nrs. of the black box sets to .... infinity. Black is not an option here, you need this in the Techni-color deluxe eye-blinding version, all colors assorted to the albums covercolors. When you open this box the first time and you're jaw is tight again after witnessing the amount of Lagwagon you get, then you start browsing through the different albums and your jaw drops open again but this time with teary eyes. The different choice of colors and thought that went into this boxset makes you wonder why every release was like this.

'Lagwagon' Big ass poster

So let's have a look at the vinyl itself and the colorways that come with this masterpiece.

DUH

Duh ( °1992 ) was the first Lagwagon album and with this rerelease they included the Section 8 Demo's. 

Section 8 ( °1989 ) was the name of the band before they changed their name to Lagwagon and signed to Fat Wreck Chords. Rumour goes that Fat Mike didn't find the name Section 8 appealing enough plus in  that era another 'more-known' punk band named Section 8 excisted. The Section 8 demo's are a great plus to this reissue and let you witness the more metallic based songs that Lagwagon played once. The Capester pulled out his tightest jeans and howls away with falsetto that would make Bruce 'Iron Maiden' Dickinson crawl back in his plane and leave for another money generating world tour. These demo's show how bands can progress along the years and evolve. You can still hear a 'Lagwagon' vibe through these tracks, only not so melodic and more riff and heavy metal guitarsolo loaden. Even then you can recognize Joey Cape's distinctive vocal style. A great extra to an already flawless album. 

Duh front cover

Duh back cover

There is also a download card provided to get another Section 8 demo from back in the days. In the dreaded digital format but perfect for ripping on a disc and some heavy rotation playing in the car on your way to work/school/..., it doesn't even matter that these are compressed digital sounds cause you know it's a demo that propably was recorded on some 'MacGyver' built home taping device. It just rips right away. 

The C and D side ( Section 8 tracks ) of the album come in a matching color to the cover namely some sort of pale limegreen.

Beautiful and perfect fitting with the original album recordings of Duh, side A and B come in a radiant purple

such as the lettering of the cover. Expect all the known songs from Duh in a slightly improved remastered record. 

'Section 8' C and D side

'Lagwagon' A and B side

TRASHED

Trashed ( 1993 ) is the succes follow up to Duh and provides Lagwagon a chance to visit the old continent on their breaktrough European tour. A running gag in the band was to act as an American 'Soccer' ( read Football ) on tour. It even led to the front cover picture of Lagwagon posing as a soccer team.

Thrashed front cover

Trashed back cover

The album has been given the 'Upgrade' by the good folks at Fat Wreck, so except not only the entire 'Trashed' album defining the typical style of debauchery as we all know Lagwagon's reputation. With instant
classics like 'Island of Shame', 'Coffee and Cigarettes' and even the occasional cover 'Brown Eyed Girl' by Van Morrison. All of this nicely served on a shiny 2-colored 12" in black/yellow as if it was some sort of safety tape/chain... Another perfect fit with the design of the album cover. Another A and B side that are made for and won't leave your turntable platter

Trashed A and B side

On the extra record we find a C and D side with early/demo versions of the latter discussed album, an acoustic version of 'Whipping Boy' and one 'Chemikil' track named 'The Path of Least Resistance.
Chemikil was one of Joey Cape's old bands in 1988 ( yes, way back then ) with Scott Shiflett among others.
The track has a very 'Thrashmetal' feel with hard, repetitive drumming and fingerlicking soloing.
Could Metallica and others Bay area dewellers succeses have had an influence on Mr. Cape in that era?
This all brought to you on a very nice black/yellow splattered vinyl. A real treat to the eye to see this one spin.

Trashed C and D side

HOSS

Hoss ( 1995 ) was my first Lagwagon album ever and one of the first bands i discovered back in the days.
This was, is and always will be my personal favorite 'Lagwagon' album, so spinning this on my player
took me back quite some years to those wonderfull ninenties and amazingly i still remembered most of the songs and lyrics.
Another remastered version of this epic album including the 'Lagwagon' songs par excellence, 'Violins', 'Sleep', 'Razor Burn'. Not one track on this album that fails. All killers, no fillers.

Hoss front cover

Hoss back cover

The A and B side are brought to us in some leathery brown to match 'Dan "Hoss" Blocker's' leather jacket on the front cover picture ( my first introduction to 'Bonanza' when my mom saw the record and recognised that guy ).

Hoss A and B side 

The bonus tracks on the C and D side are a mix of demo versions and an acoustic version of 'Black Eyes'
closing of with some killer drumsolo by original 'Lagwagon' member 'Derrick Plourde' ( RIP 2005).
I don't know how they pulled it off, but they actually made a perfect record even better.

Hoss C and D side

DOUBLE PLAIDINUM

Double Plaidinum ( 1997 ) is a tribute to plaid all over the world. The best way to enjoy this is by serving on the side some fresh steaming Haggis and a pint of Guinness to swallow it down. From the beginning notes of first track 'Alien8' you're catapulted into a another punk dimension. Perfect melodic and raging punkclassics as 'To All My Friends' and 'Making Friends' sonically embrace you.

Double Plaidinum front cover

Double Plaidinum back cover

The A and B side are a special one and come as a picture disc with guess what, even more plaid.
The 'Lagwagon' thinktank has spent many hours on this one but i can not quit this feeling this picture disc takes away the flow from all the goodness of the colors in this box. In the end it doesn't have that 'real' vinyl touch, you kinda feel ripped for having a paper caught in between two sheets of transparent vinyl film.
But one small flaw on a almost perfect boxset can't ruin our fun.

Double Plaidinum A and B side

On the C side we find the continuation of the original album with the D side being an acoustic
version of all the best songs from the album. Many of these well known as part of Joey Cape's solo
albums and shows.  All these goodies brought to you on the brightest red colored vinyl you can imagine.
Great idea to add these extra's a a soothing moment while listening to this boxset in one term. Joey's voice and guitar bring some relaxing moments after hours of Punk mayhem, a moment to catch breath to progress to the last album in this boxset.

Double Plaidinum C and D side

LET'S TALK ABOUT FEELINGS

Let's Talk About Feelings ( 1998 ) is the last nineties album included in this set and perfect for closing
your 'Lagwagon' addiction. Mostly known for the album cover with the ginger 'nerdy' looking girl ( some even make their own parody of this appearance at live shows ... ).

Let's Talk About Feelings front cover

Let's Talk About Feelings back cover

The pink colored A and B side contains 'Punk chartbuster' songs like 'May 16' and the 'Agent Orange' cover 'Everything Turns Grey'. The 'Lagwagon' as we all know from their energetic live shows and albums.
As a contrast, and fitting with the album cover again, we are treated with fluorescent green C and D side,
on which we find some previously unreleased tracks ( acoustic and demo versions ) of 'May 16', 'Off The Wagon' and ' Burn That Bridge When We Get To It'.

This ends our 5 X LP rollercoaster ride through 'Lagwagon' history.

But it's not over just yet. The guys knew we could just an extra shot of adrenaline so they provided this in the form of their first 7" ever released and a live DVD.

ANGRY DAYS 7"

Angry Days ( 1992 ) was the first 7" single released through Fat Wreck Chords and contains 2 tracks that ended up on Duh. These being 'Tragic Vision' and 'Angry Days', songs that already show the 'raw' talent of 'Lagwagon'.

Angry Days front cover

Angry Days back cover

To top it all of they went all the way on this magnificent 7" in orange/black splatter, like a homing beacon you're drawn to it spinning round and round and ....

Angry Days A and B side

LAGWAGON LIVE DVD

As an added bonus they also slapped some live footage together on a DVD.
It contains 5 live show ranging from Duh to Blaze ( 1992 - 2003 ), shot in different
venues all over the world and also in different types of quality.
The first years are neat to see but audio and video seem a bit 'homemade'. The older the
footage, the better the quality and viewing pleasure. It was a nice bonus but not necessary to
make this boxset the feast that it already is. Just the vinyl and thought that went into making this
box set will make any 'Lagwagon' fan go mental for it.

Lagwagon Live DVD front cover

Lagwagon Live DVD back cover

Lagwagon Live DVD 

Overall this boxset is a great way to 'honour' or '(re)discover' Lagwagon's legacy, it shows us how the
band has grown and evolved over the years, this partially by the 'aging' as a band as by the many changes
in bandmembers, each change leaving his mark on the sound and dynamic in the band.

So to end this journey of  the history of 'The Lagwagon' all i can say is :
I am surely glad that i've purchased this box right away and some may say it's pricey but you get
hard value for your buck. With only 519 pieces of this box set i'm not even thinking of losing this one.
If some 'flipper' on e-bay or whatever modern day trading post even thinks of breaking up this set for profit
then he deserves to have his knees capped by outraged 'Yakuza' mobsters.
It's a well considered 'Tribute' box set and not just some slapped together 'Best of' thing. Someone really laid awake for months over this one and i must congratulate him.
A job well done Sir, ..... so please do something like this with other great Fat bands.
( hint, hint, ... NUFAN,... ).


Ezekiel02:24:81

Inside Out and Youth of Today Benefit 7"

I found this 7" at some record convention in holland recently @ 'Reflection Records' booth.
A real bargain in the bin. The name Inside Out made me drool instantly.
It's a benefit 7". of Inside Out, all live tracks from 1990 and 1 studio song by Youth of Today.
It looked appealing to me since Inside Out was the former band of Rage Against The Machine frontman Zach De la Rocha.
Since one of my earliest encounters at young age with 'political based ' heavy  music was RATM i couldn't refuse buying this. Later on i discovered more of HC/ Punk and also Inside Out's classic album 'No Spirtual Surrender'

 Front Cover of Inside Out benefit 7"

Back Cover of 7" Inside Out benefit with explatonary text 

It's a 7" that was made for some womans shelters charity and the back of the cover has a long text explaining the shelter and the reason for the record. It is signed with the initials R.Y.
The only credits on the whole thing are 'front photo : Dave Sine / Tidbit fanzine.
It's a black heavy vinyl 7" with purple label on A side and green label on B side without any print.

 The purple side is the A side and contains Inside Out live songs ( Nowhere to turn / A fight for life / Unbroken / Song with Sterling Wilson on Bass )

The green side is the B side with Inside Out live ( Blind Opressor / No Spiritual Surrender ) and Youth of Today ( Goodbye/Hello ) studio version

The weird thing is that the matrix text/nrs are scratched out. As if this was bootlegged or something odd like that?  There are no inserts and nowhere any info on label, band or other credits.
Overall the sound quality sucks, especially the Inside Out live songs. Is this due to 'bad' recording or just fucked up mastering/cutting? The only decent recorded song is the Youth of Today 'Goodbye Hello' studio version.
It sounds like this video, pretty much live quality of 1990 recording gear i guess.

Quite the odd 7" but mostly in my collection due to sentimental value. I always liked Inside Out and RATM and  never seen this release before.
I've browsed the web to learn more about this one but all usual channels indicate that this is a release of the radar.
If anyone know more about this one, please help me out?

Ezekiel02:24:81

My starting collection @ oldLP

Hey, as a newbie in record collecting i started a record list @ oldlp.com
this way i don't need to manage a hundred different lists.
I'll keep them updated with latest purchases and trades so anyone can follow
the growing collection.

Hope you all enjoy my personal selection of favorite records to discuss and
feel free to comment on it. Good or bad, i'm up for it.

here's the link to the collection :   http://www.theoldlp.com/users/24262/collection

Enjoy,

Ezekiel02:24:81