Older Sounds

Snapcase - Progression Through Unlearning. amazon.com. Used.

Tahiti 80 - Puzzle. amazon.com. Used.

Ian McCulloch - Faith& Healing. amazon.com. Used.

Gene - Drawn to the Deep End. amazon.com. Used.

Elastica - Waking Up. amazon.com. Used.

Older Sounds

bis - Music For a Stranger World. AKA Music. Used.

Massive Attack - Blue Lines. AKA Music. Used.

Black Eyes. AKA Music. Used.

Ladytron - 604. AKA Music. Used.

Blood for Blood - Enemy. AKA Music. Used.

Strange Bedfellows

I always felt like this was a strange release for early era Victory. That being said, solid record, solid band.

I know a lot of people don't like Worlds Collide, or at the very best, are indifferent towards them. But it would be a shame if they became a hardcore afterthought (although they probably already are).

Worlds Collide. Crooked Beat. Used.

Collect

In 2012 my Integrity collection is at the lowest it's ever been.

This is embarrassing. And needs to be rectified. The Dark Empire releases. The Victory releases. The newer releases. Even Integrity 2000. I need to get it all.

Integrity/Lockweld. Mike. Used.

Favs

This is easily my favorite Snapcase release. And one of my favorite Victory releases. I'm glad I got to see them again a few years ago.

Snapcase - Steps. Mike. Used.

Well I...

I know I posted some BTGOG releases. I thought this was one of them. It wasn't.

It's my favorite though.

By the Grace of God - For the Love of Indie Rock. Mike. Used.

Speaking of Punchlines

Baby Gopal might have prompted more laughs than Project Kate. I wish I could find my copy of the demo. Or at the very least a digital version.

I saw them once. It was magic.

Baby Gopal. Amazon.com. Used.

Better Late Than Never

I remember a time when people didn't really care about Warzone.

Maybe it wasn't "people." Maybe it was just me.

Although I don't remember it that way.

Whatever the case may be, I'm glad I listen to them now.

Warzone - Fight For Justice. Used.

Apparel

Late senior year of high school/early freshman year of college I had a great Strife hood.

They weren't my favorite band of the era, but I liked them enough. I loved that hood. I sold that hood.

I keep hoping it will pop up on Tee Till Death.

Strife - One Truth. Used.

Comedy? Or Euro?

I'm fairly certain Final Exit is a joke band.

At the very least, tongue in cheek.

I don't know much about them. Beyond being Refused.

A free acquisition, it was the first I had ever heard of them.

Final Exit - Umea. Used.

Missed Opportunity

A few years ago there was talk of a Deadguy reunion.

I don't believe it ever happened.

That's a shame.

Deadguy - Fixation On A Coworker. Used.

Strange Bedfellows

I always found it odd that By the Grace of God released albums on Victory Records.

Their message didn't seem to match the commonly held opinions of the label.

A number of great bands worked with Victory Records. It makes me wonder. The truth is likely somewhere in the middle.

By the Grace of God - Perspective. Used.

Umea

I never listened to Abhinanda while they were an active band. The Doughnuts did their part to sour me on Umea.

A post on TeeTillDeath.com reminded me of them again.

So far, I like what I've heard.

I wonder if they "went weird" a la Refused.

Abhinanda. Amazon.com. Used.

XCHORUSX

Any mention of A18 should immediately turn into a discussion about how Chorus of Disapproval is the greatest of the West Coast Straight Edge bands.

Yes, the greatest.

A18 - Dear Furious. Long in the Tooth. Bargain bin.

Curio

I don't know what you would call it.

It certainly isn't a Digipak.

It is the first and only time I've seen this type of jewel case. I'm not sure if Victory Records used them for any other releases. As far as I know, this is the only one. Although by the time VR64 rolled around I wasn't particularly knowledgeable on the label or their output.

At first I didn't like it. The book was crushed by the tray.

Now I find myself enjoying the novelty of it. I'm always partial to packaging that deviates from the status quo.

Bad Brains - Omega Sessions. Long in the Tooth. Used.

Prog

The reunion show in Brooklyn was the first time I had heard anything from End Transmission.

It sounded like progcore. And I was into it.

I wanted to buy the album, but it took a few years before I got around to it.

I'm glad I finally remembered.

Most people dismiss it. I find it interesting.

Snapcase - End Transmission. Amazon.com. Used.

Happy Fourth of July

All states have their pros and cons.

But when it comes to crazy, I think Florida takes the cake.

When I see a crazy story on the news my first thought is always "this must be Florida."

More often than not, I am correct.

Something about the state attracts the crazy. Something about the state breeds the crazy.

I'm sure many will disagree. My own anecdotal evidence isn't an exact science. Unless something or someone shows me otherwise, my mind is set. It hasn't happened yet.

This isn't to say I don't like Florida. I do. Regardless of my views, I never met a state I didn't like.

The differences are what make this country great.

Bloodlet - Eclectic. Amazon.com. Used.

College

I had already accepted at UMass by the time I decided I wanted to go to Syracuse.

I made the change because of my acceptance to the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

At least that's what I told people.

I really went because of hardcore.

Earth Crisis - Destroy the Machines. Amazon.com. Used.

Snapcase Isn't Cool Anymore

Lookinglasself is an incredible album. It sounds as good to me today as it did back then.

But for me, these four songs are them at their very best.

It was never the same after this.

Snapcase - Steps. Amazon.com. Used.

Revive Repeat

Once again it is acceptable to like Earth Crisis.

I was never in denial. Although many were. And many still are.

So hold onto those American Nightmare records.

The revival is inevitable.

Earth Crisis - The Oath That Keeps Me Free. Amazon.com. Used.