Carry On - A Life Less Plagued (2nd Press)

When Bridge 9 posted a while back that they were going to do a second press of Carry On's "A Life Less Plagued" I thought... It's about time!  Why there was only one pressing of this record until now is beyond me.  Sure Carry On broke up soon after this record was released, but this record and band were huge!  And you can't tell me that there wasn't a demand for this record.  So here it is 10 years later.

This record will forever be one of my all time favorite hardcore records, I would go so far as to say it is one of my favorite records of any genre.  Not only do I love the music, but it has very sentimental meaning to me as well.  This record will always, always remind me of my wife.  She listened to this record almost nonstop when we first met.  I can't think of Carry On and not thing about my wife.  So for that reason, "A Life Less Plagued" is quite special to me. 

The original pressing of "A Life Less Plagued" was supposed to have a gate fold, but B9 didn't have enough funds so they scrapped it.  This is was the record was intended to look like 10 years earlier. 

Gold out of 500

White out of 1,500

The pre-order package deal came with a new Carry On T-Shirt, and a huge poster that was to big for me to take of picture of on my iPhone. 

Post Edit: 10/20/11

I managed to pick up the other color since writing the original post.  I found a copy on white at Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo, CA. 

Common Cause - Self Titled EP

When I was in High School I was an exchange student through Rotary International.  The country that was chosen for me to live in was Norway. I lived in Norway with an amazing host family for over a year while I was going to school.  During this time in my life I was just discovering hardcore music for the first time.  I would love to say that I got to see Sportswear, Tiebreak, or Subject To Change play.. but I didn't.  I had no idea that there was a hardcore scene going on not far from where I was living.  So, because of that, any Norwegian hardcore band will always be cool with me.  Enter Common Cause..

Common Cause have members of Damage Control and Shipwrecked, but play more of a late 80's youth crew sound than the melodic style of their other bands.  I have to say that I enjoyed this record more so than their demo and first 7".  To me this sounds like it could almost be a missing Chain Of Strength record.  Did I ever mention that I love Chain?  Cause I do. 

400 on Black

200 on Clear Red

I'm missing Blue/100, White/300, Transition Colors/28, and Test Press/24.  





Remission - Winds Of Promise EP

I picked up this record earlier this year from REACT! in the Not Sorry, Common Cause package deal.  Remission is yet another band that I would have probably never listened to or bought their records if not for them being on REACT!  And in all honesty I really haven't listened to this record that much, maybe 3 or 4 times tops.  Sad really, I mean, this thing is only 3 songs long for shits sake. 

Remission are from Santiago Chile, and have drawn comparisons to 411 and Verbal Assault.  Don't know how accurate that is since I've never listened to 411 and it's been forever since I listened to Verbal Assault.  Remission play mid-tempo melodic style hardcore, which normally isn't my thing at all.  But, I like this record.  I think it's the vocals that do it for me.  It's refreshing to hear something different from time to time, especially when it comes to punk and hardcore.  

200 on Light Blue vinyl

400 on Black vinyl (B side shot)

Remission also have an LP on Amendment Records that I have not listened to yet.  Oh, if anyone can tell me what the hell is on the cover of this 7" I'd appreciate it.  To me it looks like two weird big headed dudes running. 

As well as the Black and Light Blue vinyl, there is 100 on Clear, 300 on Clear Blue, 11 Transition colors, and 24 Test Presses.  All of which I do not have.  

REACT! 7" Mailers

In celebration of the REACT! Showcase starting today, which I won't be attending this year (the whole 5 week old baby thing) I thought I would post all of the 7" screened mailers I have that came with some of my orders from REACT!  Cool little touches like this are what make that label a cut above the rest. 

Came with my Praise 2 Songs EP pre-order

Came with the Common Cause, Remission, Not Sorry pre-order

Came with the Give "Heaven Is Waiting" EP

Came with the Mindset "Time & Pressure" pre-order

I know that all of the screened mailers are limited to a certain number, but I'm not that much of a nerd to go tracking that down (yes I am, but I'm to lazy tonight).  I've seen a post on the REACT! board regarding this issue, so check that out if you really want to know.  Any ideas on what to do with these other than sticking them in with my 7"?  I've framed a number of the 12" mailers, but I've never seen a 7" individual frame.  And when you put 4 of them together they form a weird size.  hmm....

Secret People - Self Titled 7"

I first heard Secret People when I was in San Fransisco for the REACT! Showcase last year.  I went up to the show with my main man Dennis McDonald, and we happened to be staying with one of the dudes in the band for the weekend.  And that's where I heard some of the tracks that were to be on the up coming 7".  They had a demo out at that time, but I hadn't heard it yet.  My loss.  Secret People went on to play one of my favorite sets at the showcase.  They also played an amazing Side By Side cover (Backfire) during which I lost my mind. 

Secret People play a brand of hardcore that leans more towards the punk side of things (thumbs up by me).  Their singer Matt sang for Right On, and I believe Some Still Believe?  Secret People would have to be my personal choice if I were to have to choose between the three. 

Black Vinyl out of 350

I'm pretty sure that I've seen this record on clear as well, but I don't know the pressing info on it.  I'm sure it's probably the more limited of the two colors.  Check out Secret People's blog if you wanna know more about the band.  I think their demo is available for download there as well.  Get into it. 

Stick Together - No More Games

So this is the last of the records that I picked up at this years Sound And Fury.  I bought this record at the Six Feet Under Records table.  Have I ever mentioned that I love SFU Records? Because I do.

This is the European pressing of this record done by Control Records.  The US pressing was done by  Back To Back Records.  Originally there was some confusion over which was supposed to be the limited color when the preorders arrived.  I guess the limited color was supposed to be orange, but ended up being being white.  1000 records were pressed, 100 on White, 300 on Orange, and 600 on Black vinyl.  According to Back To Back's web store they are all sold out. 

I originally down loaded this record after reading/seeing the hype on the internerd.  All that I knew about the band at that time is that the singer was in War Hungry.  So naturally, I was surprised when I listened to the mp3s for the first time.  I defiantly wasn't expecting to hear some late 80's inspired youth crew.  This record reminds me a lot of the first Justice 7", the vocals more so than the music.  My favorite track from this would have to be "The Real You (No More Games)".  That bass line is catchy as all get out and gets stuck in my head really easy.  Alas, I have never had the chance to see these guys play, and with all the shows I get a chance to see now days (hardly any) I doubt that I ever will.  Such is life. 

Fold out insert

300 on Black Vinyl

Stickers! BONUS! 



Right Idea - Our World

So this record was originally released as a 12" from REACT! Records in 2008 (which I don't have) then repressed by Bottled Up Records in 2009 as a 7".  Don't know why Bottled Up did the second pressing of this record.  I'm not sure, but I think Right Idea had some kind of falling out with the REACT! Records crew. Anyway, I don't know much about this band other than they are from Cleavland and sound a lot like Straight Ahead without being a total rip off. 

Not much is different from this record and the REACT! version other than the fact that it's a 7".  The art work is the same, but done to look photocopied to make it look like a bootleg.  Maybe that's why REACT! was upset? 

250 on Green

Devotion - Bastard Son Of Affluence Blues

I got this record at last years REACT! Showcase from the Get The Most merch table.  Devotion is made up of Mark Palm (Go It Alone, Get The Most, etc) on vocals and guitar, and Aaron from Lights Out on drums. 

When I looked to see who put out this record, I was surprised to see that Rivalry did.  I thought that label was dead.  But it makes sense since Rivalry put out both Go It Alone LP's.  It would be nice to see Rivalry start putting out some more new records.  (Just realised this record was put out in 2009... not so new, but it still would be nice to see Rivalry active again) 

Not sure how many were pressed, but all are on Black vinyl

Musically Devotion sounds like later Go It Alone, but darker, heavier, and a lot slower.  I can imagine if Go It Alone had put out a 4th LP it would have sounded a lot like this record.  I haven't seen or heard much talk about this band, so I'm not sure how well this record was received.  I know that they played some shows in California, but I don't know if they did a full tour.  Hope to hear more from them.    

  

All Pigs Must Die - God Is War

I really wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this record from Boo Boo Records last weekend.  All I knew was that they have members from Converge and The Hope Conspiracy.  Converge I'm a fan of, Hope Conspiracy...no thanks.  But, Frank recommended it, and I like most things that Southern Lord puts out so I took a chance on it. 

I was expecting this record to have a very "stoner metal" feel to it (which is cool with me), but was pleasantly surprised at the heavy D-beat influences to this record.  Reminds me of Discharge (obviously), Celtic Frost, Toxic Holocaust, that type of stuff.  I haven't been listening to much metal lately, so this record is a nice change of pace.  The packaging of this record is top notch as well. In fact, every record I've bought from Southern Lord has had a great look to it. 

1000 on Clear 180gram Vinyl

Praise - 2 Songs EP

I don't even remember how long ago I ordered these records from REACT! Long enough for me to almost forget that I even ordered them.  I'm not sure what caused the delays on this record.  I've come to expect waiting awhile when ordering from REACT!, but I don't sweat it because I know it will be worth the wait.  They put a lot of time and effort into doing that label on top of having a "normal life", plus it's only a few dudes doing the label on their own dime.  The label only makes enough to keep putting out records, not to make a profit. 

I've only had the chance to listen to this record once so far, and while I did like it, I got the impression that it's going to be one of those records that will take a few more spins before I really get into it.  However one noted improvement from the first record is the art work (I hate Dream Catchers).   

400 on Black

300 on Grey

200 on White

REACT! normally presses 4 different colors and uses they most limited (out of 100 most of the time) for the band to sell.  I'm not sure what the 4th color is, or if there even was a 4th color pressed.  I'm guessing it might be available at the REACT! Showcase. 

Iron Boots - Demo 7"

This is going to be the last of the favorites from 2002-2005 time period.  From now on I'm going to try to get back to posting newer records or records that I've recently picked up.  So for the last of my favorites posts, I'm going with what I think is an underrated band from mid 2000's.  Yeah Iron Boots pretty much ripped off Warzone from the DFTSDFTS RayBeeze era, but so what.  I love Warzone, and I love Iron Boots. 

I don't remember where I got this record from.  Probably at Posi Numbers or from RevHQ.  This demo saw 3 different pressings.  The first was a tape release by the band (proper demo treatment), the second was on Brain Grenade Records, and the third was released by Grave Mistake.  All of these records are now out of print. 



Black Vinyl out of ???  (If you know, let me know)