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'.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 ).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ... ).
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 ( 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'.
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 ....
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.
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
 |
| 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 |
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 |
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
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 |
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
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
man this is cool. I used to love Lagwagon back in the day...
ReplyDelete