Winds Of Change

I've had this for what seems like months now, so it feels a bit odd that I'm only just getting round to post it up here.

Winds Of Change - A Hardcore Compilation

Compilations are a tradition in hardcore music and once upon a time served a brilliant purpose of exposing us to new bands pre-internet. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't as a listening experience. Whilst that purpose is not so important now a quality compilation with exclusive tracks is still a wonderful thing, especially when it's put together as well as this one from React! Records.

Sometimes on these compilations you get the odd clunker track, but not so here, all six bands on show bring their A game to the table and there isn't a duff track to be had. I'd really only heard Enough and Wrong Idea previously but Violence To Fade especially really impress me with their effort here.

Worth a big mention here also is how this thing looks. The inlay consists of interchangeable sleeves so you can put your favourite of the bands as the cover should you wish. Set against the red obi style strip keeping it all together it looks great and feels like you are holding something substantial. I picked up the 'Smoke' version of the record limited to 150.

Leave Some Doubt

When I saw that React had done a second press of Mindsets awesome Leave No Doubt record I jumped at the chance to own another copy on a different colour. I promptly got myself over to the React store and ordered a Yellow copy of the record.

Mindset - Leave No Doubt

I'd ordered the Yellow copy which was out of 750 copies the order drop down was telling me, because the White and Blue mix copy of of 250 sounded a little too close to the copy of the 1st press my good friend Mario had managed to get me. I was pretty bummed when it was that exact White and Blue mix copy that turned up. And yeah as you can see, it's essentially just White.

 

It actually get's a bit more confusing too because the front page of the React site actually says it's the Yellow which is out of 250 and this colour which is out of 750. Which ones right? was this out of 250 in which case where React just trying to hook me up with the more limited colour? Or was Yellow the more limited and I was simply too late so they sent the more common colour?? Strange

 



Squint hard and you can see some faint bits of colour in there! Ah well, at least I can get rid of my Black copy now.

Caught In A Crowd

I've been sat on this for a while now, in fact I have a pile of 7" records that is getting bigger and bigger. I need to make a serious blogging dent in it ASAP. Anyway React Records smash it again!

Caught In A Crowd - The Fight

I wanted a piece of this record as soon as it came out after hearing it but I just couldn't be bothered to order it from the states at the time. I think it's because I'd missed out on the first 7" from the band despite being told by at least 3 people to jump on it. So I just waited till one turned up in a UK distro and finally it did right at the beginning of the new year. Obviously it means I only got a black version out of 400 but that's OK. Mike's got a nice little collection of the record here if your interested in the other colours. Great Straight-Edge record! The sleeve and record look nice and sleek and classic too.

A Less Common Cause

A quick post as I never seem to be able to find a decent window of time at the moment and I've got loads of records to post up here. How the guys who blog nearly every day manage it I have no idea. Anyway...

A while ago I wrote very briefly (here) about the Common Cause 7" on React! I'd picked up whilst trying to bolster my order when I bought the Gypsy Giants Despair record. At the time I said I'd only had a brief listen and hadn't yet formed an opinion. Well, since then I've gone on to really like this band and release.

Common Cause - S/T

At the time of course, I wasn't even remotely bothered that I'd only scored a black vinyl version of the record but on the listens since I've made a note to self to correct this if the opportunity arises and recently it did.

I managed to pick this red vinyl version up on eBay. This version is out of 200 and it's another record of the invisible mental list. Great record, check it out if you haven't already.

 

 

No Doubt About Mindset

It's Mindset vinyl so of course I was late to the party, it's just the way it is. I was going to pre-order this, in fact I think I got as far as adding it to my cart and nearly checking out at one point and then promptly didn't purchase it. I think the issue is that although I like Mindset and have liked their previous releases I've never completely been gripped by them. I don't know why but its the truth. That all changes now though because I love this record, it's fucking great in fact.

I'm actually pretty bummed out that I didn't pre-order this record now as I have only got the Black vinyl version out of 1000. I'm sure I'll pick up a colour version at some point though.

I know this record technically came out in 2012 but this is my favourite record of 2013 thus far, and it's up against a couple of heavy hitters already. I just like everything about it. It's a great collection of short sharp songs played with urgency and by a band who I feel have really found their sound and 'place' in the genre with this record. In fact I'd go as far as saying that once upon a time I think this record might have taken on classic status. Can records ever be classic anymore? Are enough people buying records? I don't think so, I don't know if the majority of people will hold records dear enough to their hearts anymore...but hey that's a debate for another day.

The presentation of this is great too. The colour scheme and layout just work and look really striking. Another great release from React! and me finally completely sold on Mindset. Can't ask for more really.

Slow Mindset

I'm not saying I'm slow on the uptake or anything but you've gotta laugh that in the same week Mario posts up his copies of the new Mindset LP I'm only just getting round to putting this up:

I was a bit late to the Mindset party and ever since then I seem to be constantly behind with picking up their stuff on vinyl. They are a fine band who I like a lot and have all their stuff downloaded on my Ipod and I listen to it a fair amount so I don't know why I keep stalling with them. I still haven't got round to even picking up a copy of the new record.

Anyway, I was looking on eBay a few weeks ago and saw this so realised I had no more excused to pick it up. This joins the only other piece of Mindset vinyl I have, the Real Power 7". This is the red vinyl first press version of 400.