The National Acrobat - It’s Nothing Personal (2000)
Side A: Of Jeffersonian Thought / I’m A Gine
Side B: Mexican Movie Stars / The National Hymn Of Acropocalypse
Label: Hex Records
Matrix: HEX3
Encoding: 48 kHz / 24 bit, V0 MP3
This was a random pick from an order I placed with In Vinyl We Trust several weeks ago. Upon first listen this band really reminded me of Chicago’s Slow Horse. This record slays, the rhythm section is simply pummeling.
The National Acrobat were a Louisville band that expressed with great honesty the urgency of hardcore. Taking cues from influences like The Nation of Ulysses, Born Against, Deadguy, Drive Like Jehu and The Jesus Lizard, they were often compared to then-contemporary bands like Refused, Ink & Dagger and Botch.
Butterglory - Our Heads (1993)
Side A: Better Gardens, Better Homes / Yeoman / Sad Moustache Men
Side B: Back Of My Hand / You Are The Drum
Label: Merge Records
Matrix: MRG046
Encoding: 48 kHz / 24 bit, V0 MP3
This morning I logged in and realized that the last handful of rips I’ve done have all been pretty abrasive. So for a change of pace I pulled out this old 90s lo-fi gem.
Butterglory was a male/female duo signed to Merge Records. I can’t really say much about this record, found it for $1 at a record fair a few years back. What to expect? Think Go Sailor meets Neutral Milk Hotel, and yes I will be reverting back to some ear-splitting crust jamz soon enough.
Chavez - Repeat The Ending (1994)
Side A: Repeat The Ending
Side B: Hack The Sides Away
Label: Matador Records
Matrix: OLE 104-7
Encoding: 48 kHz / 24 bit, V0 MP3
Just got this in the mail 2 days ago and couldn’t wait to rip it. This band is absolutely insane. The guitar parts sound similar to something coming from Ash Bowie (of Polvo), however, Matt Sweeney somehow finds a way to get the most melodic vocal lines to shine through.
I’ve shown Chavez to a handful of friends and most reactions reveal that the jagged/dissonant guitars prevent any semblance of a hook. I hope some (if not most) of you feel differently. Chavez is overwhelmingly underrated and should be taken in large doses at ear-splitting volumes.
Rye Coalition / Maximillian Colby (1995)
Side A: Dover
Side B: One Gallon Alda
Label: Irony Records / Rent-A-Records
Matrix: IRONY-002 / 552.002
Encoding: 48 kHz / 24 bit, V0 MP3
I’m on a roll! Got this awhile ago out of a bargain bin while visiting ISU. I’ve been meaning to get this done for quite some time, mainly to complete my Rye Coalition collection.
However, similar to my last post the B-side is what really shines. The Maximillian Colby track on this is killer, the only reason I didn’t post that one is because of it’s length coming in just over 6 minutes.
Phoenix Bodies / Tyranny Of Shaw (2004)
Side A: Goddamn Pyramid Building Aliens / Fix Me
Side B: Routing Her Convulsions / Spinetheft
Label: Init Records
Matrix: INIT-19
Encoding: 48 kHz / 24 bit, V0 MP3
This is the second of four posts I intend to do featuring records from a recent Init purchase. I can’t really say much about this record, I hadn’t heard anything by either of these bands and just bought this on a hunch. I figured if Raein did a split with Phoenix Bodies, there had to be something to like.
In my opinion, Tyranny Of Shaw pulsates more on this split. This was their final release before members went on to form: Capsule, Torche, Maruta, Shitstorm, Monarcs, etc.
Ten Grand / Meth and Goats (2004)
Side A: X-Tacy Of Desire
Side B: Dope Tantrum / She Murdered Everything In Sight
Label: Init Records
Matrix: INIT-08
Encoding: 48 kHz / 24 bit, V0 MP3
After months of putting off an inevitable order from Init Records I was finally able to gather enough couch change to snag a handful of 7” records and two LPs. I’ve had a rip of this 7” for quite some time, but just like The Aasee Lake record I transferred awhile back I wasn’t satisfied with the quality.
I’m happy to extend my collection of Meth and Goats material, especially after being introduced to their full length “Attack From Meth and Goats Mountain” a few months back. But Ten Grand’s, posthumous, final recording is what really shines here. Matt Davis’ unexpected death in 2003 has remained one of the most tragic loses for the midwest hardcore scene.
Brainiac - Internationale (1995)
Side A: Go Freaks Go
Side B: Silver Iodine
Label: Touch and Go Records
Matrix: TG148
Encoding: 48 kHz / 24 bit, V0 MP3
Brainiac, from Dayton, Ohio, are by far one of my favorite bands and “Go Freaks Go” was the first song introduced to me. I picked this record up from the Touch and Go table at the CHIRP record fair about 4 years ago. This EP was recorded by Kim Deal (of The Breeders) and is quite a stepping stone between their two near perfect full lengths, “Bonsai Superstar” (1994) and “Hissing Prigs In Static Couture” (1996).
You should definitely snag this and play the A-side like a hundred times for all your friends on this most special of evenings. Happy New Year!
Archers Of Loaf - Vocal Shrapnel (1996)
Side A: Vocal Shrapnel
Side B: Density
Label: Alias Records
Matrix: A-103
Encoding: 48 kHz / 24 bit, V0 MP3
This 7” features my favorite track from Archers full length “All The Nations Airports”, while the B-side boasts the anthem “Density”. I surprisingly stumbled across this record in the clusterfuck that Kiss The Sky claims to be their “45 section”.
Archers Of Loaf is yet another 90s North Carolina band that I can’t help but adore. If you’re not familiar with them, their aesthetic is similar to their contemporaries: Polvo, Superchunk and The Raymond Brake. Eric Bachmann’s lyrical content in “Density” further defines the slacker-esque vibe the musicians project.
“a drone, a strum, a drunken slur
produced the urge, a sonic dirge
and left a sonic hum that was purely an entity of sound”
The Polyphonic Spree / Grandaddy (2003)
Side A: The March
Side B: The Rugged and Splintered Entertainment Center
Label: Birdman Records
Matrix: BMR 53
Encoding: 48 kHz / 24 bit, V0 MP3
It’s been far too long since I’ve had an opportunity to sit down with my 7” collection. After nearly an hour of contemplating what to work on next, I decided something cheerful, festive even, would be the most fitting with the holidays approaching.
Even if you’re not much of a fan of The Polyphonic Spree, or Tim DeLaughter’s previous effort in Tripping Daisy, I find it near impossible not to have a childish grin on your face during “The March”. Grandaddy’s contribution is also very fun/loose and lyrically could leave some nerds with some audio/video nostalgia.
Mogwai - Batcat (2008)
Side A: Batcat
Side B: Stupid Prick Gets Chased By The Police and Loses His Slut Girlfriend / Devil Rides
Label: Matador Records
Matrix: OLE 827-1
Encoding: 48 kHz / 24 bit, V0 MP3
Yipee! Another rip from our favorite inebriated scottish “post-rock” band. This is round 2 of old transfers found on an external hard-drive that just needed a little more polishing.
If you’re aren’t really into Mogwai you should at least snag this for the humorous scenario in which; someone rummages through your iTunes (or winamp, foobar or whatever the hell kids use these days) and finds the song title “Stupid Prick Gets Chased By The Police and Loses His Slut Girlfriend”. I guarantee their facial expression(s) will be glorious.
Four Tet / Hella (DIV/ORCE Series #1 | 2004)
Side A: Both When I Am Alone and We Are
Side B: Stephen Hawking Has A Posse
Label: Ache Records
Matrix: ACHE013
Encoding: 48 kHz / 24 bit, V0 MP3
While looking through my external hard-drive I found a rip of this that I did when living at The Zappa Zappa Zappa House. I borrowed this from one of my roommates at the time and looking at these files I noticed a little work needed to be done to polish them up (editing out a few clicks/pops as well as amplifying and splitting the wave).
Besides the technical stuff, unless you’ve been living under a rock you’re aware of Four Tet and Hella. I don’t need to say much more. This split was part of the DIV/ORCE Series… even though 7 more splits came about after this release, this split is definitely (imo) the most notable.
Sharks Keep Moving / Kentucky Pistol (1998)
Side A: Intimations Of A Moment
Side B: French Version
Label: Henry’s Finest Recordings
Matrix: HFR-006
Encoding: 48 kHz / 24 bit, V0 MP3
It’s been a little bit since I’ve had the opportunity to work on a rip. So instead of throwing up some warped old 45 from some instrumental band nobody cares about, I thought I’d take some time and make this a special one.
Sharks Keep Moving vinyl is very hard to come by and you’ll also find yourself shelling out a pretty penny to obtain some. I was very fortunate to find this for only $3 but it has been played quite a bit. Part of the reason why it has taken me so long to get this rip online had to do with removing a lot of the more obnoxious pops in the record (However, there is still one little pop towards the end of the SKM song.. my apologies I couldn’t for the life of me remove it).
As huge am I am into the SKM catalogue, their contribution to this split is quite possibly my favorite of their tracks. As for Kentucky Pistol, this is their only released song. It features Rocky Votolato.. I hear a lot of people adore his solo work, but I can’t seem to figure out why. Their song really slays though.
Windsor For The Derby / Desafinado (1995)
Side A: Earnest Powers
Side B: Envy The Big Noises
Label: Trance Syndicate Records
Matrix: TR-45
Encoding: 48 kHz / 24 bit, V0 MP3
This record is awfully different from most of my uploads. I got this awhile ago in a batch of old records I picked up from eBay. I was vaguely familiar with Windsor For The Derby, but in all honesty I just ripped this to fill a request on What.cd.
This record is interesting in the fact that the band Desafinado never put out any other recorded work, but after some serious digging I found a site which has a few bonus recordings if you’re into their stuff. It can be found here.
Xerxes - Twins (2010)
Side A: Gold / Siren Song / Commonplace / US 60
Side B: Glendower Drive / Twins / Tuesday
Label: Mayfly Records
Matrix: MFR005
Encoding: 48 kHz / 24 bit, V0 MP3
Picked up this record Saturday night during the 2nd annual Middlewest Festival. Xerxes performed right before Former Thieves during the late show at The House Cafe. This 7” is limited to 500 copies, 400 of which are on recycled gray (the variant I picked up) and the remaining 100 on purple.
These guys are ridiculously awesome. After searching the interwebs I found a plethora of reviews and write-ups regarding this release, so I don’t feel much of a need to reiterate the great things other (better) blogs have already said.
This record is still available both through Mayfly and the Xerxes webstore. I recommend you support these guys, they also have a split 7” with Midnight Souls that is also available.
The Raymond Brake / Rebar (1995)
Side A: Davliks
Side B: Transparent
Label: Crunchy Record Stuff
Matrix: 002
Encoding: 48 kHz / 24 bit, V0 MP3
As you may have noticed already, I’m really into The Raymond Brake (see previous post). I had been aware of them for awhile previous to playing in Greensboro, North Carolina (where TRB, Rebar and Crunchy Record Stuff were based out of). After a night of hearing some incredibly awesome stories about TRB (as well as: Superchunk, Polvo, Archers of Loaf and Geezer Lake). I really had my heart set on tracking down physical copies of their stuff.
Thanks to the internet and some social network stalking, I found a gentleman (the actual post I saw) who had mint copies of these laying around. The record itself is a nice transparent red, the TRB side runs at 45rpm and the Rebar side runs at 33rpm. I mention this because the Rebar song is just under 7 minutes.. and the surface noise is much more present on this side, I did spend a good 30-40 minutes fixing the major glitches and ensuring the volume would be similar throughout this recording.
Note: The Rebar song does end abruptly on the record, I didn’t prematurely end the transfer.
