Nothing Special

I've got so many things either on their way or pre-ordered that I'm starting to lose track of things I paid for. Now I see why people include a section of "In the mail" on their collection lists. I might have to start doing this. I got a pre-order sooner than I thought. I got a package from Panic Records with four copies of the new Effort 7". I had previously posted about this release, as a tape that they had on tour. This is the official release i guess you could say of the demos for the new LP.

I ordered these as soon as they went up about a month ago so this has to be one of the quicker pre-orders I've placed. I have to say that these 7"s look boring. The artwork is cool and I actually like it by itself but paired with the vinyl cover, it's not interesting at all. Maybe if the cover had colors it would work out but it doesn't. As far as the music goes, I'm also a little disappointed. Compared to the first 7", the LP and From Our Mistakes, this is just not as good. The tracks have some cool parts but there is a definite difference in the material. Maybe it has to do with the like three new members? Either way its not as good. I picked up a few things from someone on eBay. First up is the Braindead LP.

This was a pretty good Philly band that never really got too recognized. This version is from their Spring tour last year, with a numbered cover. The LP is pretty good, well recorded and the layout is also very cool. I got this for pretty cheap, so nice score.

The main thing I wanted to pick up was this copy of Adult Crash, because DTN is on it. It's also a pretty cool zine, though apparently this person didn't want me to have it.

The last thing I picked up was another copy of the Trapped Under Ice LP, this being the Reaper Pre-Order color. I got all three of these for pretty cheap, which makes me happy about this package.

Keep the Collections Going

I finally got something I was really looking forward to. Rich from Speedowax Records posted on the React! board that he was going to sell the Splitting Headache double 7" directly from himself, so that people like myself no longer needed to spend ridiculous prices for copies of the release. So I jumped on the opportunity to pick up two more copies that I didn't have that Rich was offering. When I sent him a private message on the board about getting them from him once I had some more money in the bank account, rich immediately wanted to help me continue my DTN collection and offered to give me every version that he could get that I didn't have. Of course I agreed and sent him the payment as soon as I could. After a little delay and getting all of the versions together to be sent, I finally got the package. What's better than getting 6 Down to Nothing records that you don't have in one package? Not much.

There are several versions of this release pretty much all identified by the stamps on the sleeves and labels. Pictured is the DTN rules stamp, Speedowax.com stamp, KruptKids stamp, Pre-order stamp, Mail Order stamp and the 2008 UK tour sleeve. The first four mentioned are all numbered and limited to 125 copies. The mail order is out of 25 and the tour press is out of 100. I've seen an earlier UK tour version, anyone know if this is the same thing? Or if there is anything people think I might be missing other than the obvious test then please let me know.

Next up I got another version of the Perspective 7". This is the Powered Pre-Order version. Seems that I'm getting a lot of Powered vinyl these days, especially with the Pre-Order stamp. Nothing too special about this, just happy to cross it off the list.

I got another Carrier 7" to add to the collection, this is the No Love Can Save me on Purple/Green split color, 300 copies. Pretty straight-forward, just haven't been able to get a copy of this til now.

Bringing in Spring

It's such a nice day out that I decided to stay in and get around to updating my blog. The first is an eBay win, On Double Vision on Blue. I was happy to pick up the rarest color finally, with only 150 copies it's not something I can just pick up at my local record store.

So I was up in Pennsylvania visiting the lady and she had mentioned there was a store that would interest me in her town, Pass & Stow. So we finally got the chance to go there last weekend and I saw this and knew it was about time i picked it up.

Even if it's the like 5th pressing or something, still something I needed a copy of. Not much needs to be said about this, just something important to have in the collection. Paolo from the React board was selling a copy of the Get the Most tour 7" combo, so I gladly took it off his hands.

This has both Moment in Time and Common Goals together with a cover made for their 2009 Fall Tour, which i don't think even came to the east coast, so I couldn't pick it up in person. The back of the cover is numbered to make nerds just nerd out more.

I picked a few things up from another gentlemen on the react board that seems to be a big verse fan, Matthew Jordan, good dude. All of them are records from overseas, so it was nice to be able to get them finally. First is True Colors Perspective record release cover.

Once again numbered for the nerds, also has this really cool comic on the back but I have no idea what it says. Anyone out there know?

Another True Colors record, Rush of Hope with the Powered Pre-Order Stamp. Happy to have a copy of this.

Also from Powered and also already mentioned in this post, I got Double Vision with the Powered stamp.

Nice to have some pre-orders that I didn't participate in and a copy from a release show that I couldn't attend. The internet is a wonderful thing. Maybe when I have $150 to waste I place an order with Powered finally.

Richmond, This City

So it's just by chance that all three things from this post are of bands from Richmond, not to mention the last post had Swamp Thing, also from Richmond. You'd be a fool if you didn't recognize the bands that have been coming out of Richmond. First up I decided to pick up a few more copies of the Bracewar s/t, our the demo as it's also known. First up is the 7" with the Sound and Fury Stamp, hand numbered.

Nothing too special, the normal pressing on black just with the Sound and Fury Stamp on the inside of the sleeve.

I also got a copy of the original demo, which had two songs that made it's way on to the 7". I think I was happier to get this than the 7", as I feel that this is a bit more special and just cooler overall. It is better simply because it has the intro. Not sure how limited this, but I'm sure it can't be more than a couple hundred.

Last is the first Down to Nothing LP, Save it for the Birds on a color that is not incredibly easy to find, green. I've seen this go for a decent amount several times and it just seems that I always get outbid or miss out on my chance to get a copy. This thing is limited to 100 copies, the same as the record release.

So there are a few older Richmond releases that still are just as awesome as they were years ago.

Great Offers are Hard to Pass Up

So I haven't been actively pursing the Swamp Thing 7", but when presented with an offer I haven't turned it down. A guy was trying to get rid of his copy on grey and said he wouldn't expect much for it, so I made a simple offer and just like that I have the rarest color, limited to 93. It's these situations that make me feel happy about finding things when you least expect it, easier than you thought you could.

The dude was also looking to get rid of some more stuff, so he sent me a list and I picked out two more things. Next was a 7" I was very happy to finally have a copy of, War Pigs - No Hope, No Faith, No Point. I've been meaning to get a copy of this ever since I first heard about this band, but I never got around to it. Bummer this band has called it quits, I thought they played a great combination of southern rock and hardcore.

Lastly I picked up the Steel Nation/Crucified Split that Double or Nothing had previously put out as a 7", but they decided to put out on tape along with some of their other releases for This Is Hardcore and Great American Hardcore fest I believe. These were pretty limited, mine's numbered 18/25.

Snowed In Again

So there's over a foot of snow outside and with that, it means I have tons of time around the house to get stuff done. So an update only made sense.

I picked up another copy of the Perspective 7" on eBay. Pretty straight-forward, white vinyl limited to 300. It looks much more like a light grey, but white works too.

So I got a chance to see these guys at A Time We'll Remember and they grabbed my attention, but it took an actual listen of their 7" to purchase it. This 7" is fantastic, one of the best releases of 09. I still need to pick up the red version, soon hopefully. They sent me a note that they'd be releasing a new 7" in 2010. Should be good. Check these guys out.

2010, Really?

Ok so I haven't updated this in a while and stuff has been just piling up, so I finally got around to doing this, bare with me.

I won the Reaper Records version of the On Double Vision LP, on grey marble from Aram at React! a while back on eBay. The bidding was going on at the same time that Aram started the sale on the merch in the React! online store, so after winning I asked him to through in the ON logo crew neck with it. It goes very well with the cover. Aram also included another sweet mailer that I can add to the React! mailer collection. I can't tell you how much this label is the best label around right now. Limited to 250.



In another eBay score I picked up the rarest color of the True Colors Focus on the Light LP, on orange, limited to 150 copies. I can't wait to see these guys this spring with Mindset, bummer they're calling it quits though. I've been listening to this band a lot lately.



This is just something that I found that was a decent price and I just knew I'd want to add it to the collection, nothing super special or rare. This is the Pulling Teeth Martyr Immortal LP on gold, 3rd press I believe, limited to 666 copies. I feel like Dom needs to update the a389 site to have more info on the pressing. I'm sure he knows that though.



I heard Reaper was going to put out a fourth press of Stay Cold by T.U.I. so it was one of those things were I said I need to get on this because I know I'll regret it if I don't. So I quickly went over to the webstore and picked up the two versions. I'm disappointed with the special cover limited to 350, it just looks like a xerox copy on black vinyl. The regular color vinyl looks great though, transparent blue with lighter blue splatter, limited to 200 copies.



Ok probably the biggest score came with these DTN pick-ups. This awesome guy Graham e-mailed me back in October that he was looking to get rid of some of his collection and that he'd think I'd be a good recipient. I agreed, but with Graham being in the U.K. I needed to make better offers due to exchange rate and not to mention more for shipping. So I was motivated, but my bank account wasn't. Since we both decided I should pick up a couple to make the shipping worth while, I was spending good money on this and I just simply didn't have it working only part-time. So almost 4 months, a full-time job, and over 20 e-mails later, I finally have three in my posession.



Top left is the test press of the split with Kids Like Us. I'm not sure how limited it is, but I remember seeing somewhere that it's not as limited as you'd think for a test press. This, as far as I know means I have all 4 versions. Anybody out there know if there is another version or the pressing info on the test? To the right of that is Higher Learning on purple, finally I now have all of the versions, just missing the test. It's the most limited, with 104 copies. The bottom is my first copy of the Splitting Headache double 7" released on Speedowax in Europe. It's actually a pretty cool copy, it's the Thorp Stamp Version, #125/125. It has stuff written all over it and the Thorp stamp is all over the place too. Pretty cool touch.

Next up my buddy Bobby knew I collected The Effort records, so he hit me up to see if I was interested in his copy. If I don't have it, I'm interested, especially if I can just do it in person, big plus. So after a few times of hanging out we finally got around to the exchange. It's from the 1st press. Not totally sure if it's the solid green or the minty green. I'm guessing it's the solid green limited to 143 copies. If anyone knows for sure, please let me know.



Ok so when I found out that Deathwish was going to release The Carrier's full length on vinyl, to say I was stoked would be an understatement. I had been waiting for it for like a year. I love this band, and especially this LP. It was originally released on Rock Vegas like 2 years ago maybe? Funny little side story, was that Deathwish actually shipped me 3 copies of a Cursed 7" instead of the LP. I saw the package and I was like how did Deathwish fit it on a 7". Once I opened the package I got it. So I shot them an e-mail and the sent out my correct order the next day. Sweet label man, shipping for both things were fast and the whole correction was handled very well. I fully support this label.



This ended up fulfilling my hopes completely. The vinyl colors are good and the artwork/layout is impressive. I think the gatefold is actually probably the simplest and best suited one I've seen in a while.



The last thing is a tape, it's the demo tape from The Effort's East Coast tour that they just had. It has three demo songs from an upcoming full length. They sound pretty good, I wish I had the mp3s of this so I could listen to it on a normal basis. Tapes rule, but more so with download cards. I think this is limited to 100.