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It was the best of times…it was the blurst of times. It was 2002, or actually it was 2001, which soon became 2002 when I first heard this weird dude Greg from Cape Cod had a new band with Justin from Down But Not Out, and 2 other guys I didn’t know. I could have never guessed the number of times I would end up seeing this band over the next 3 years, but I thought their name, Mental, was really cool.

I got the first tape they didfrom Greg at a show and when I took it home I was pretty sure it was recorded on a boombox. “I think they’d be good if they recorded in a studio, but I can’t hear any of the songs on this“. The titles were stuff like “Fuck Responsibility” and “High School Sucks” which seemed cool considering how over-serious most hardcore bands were at the time. So in the spring of 2003 when I heard they were going to the local Dead Air Studios, I was eager to see how things would turn out.

I rode out with some friends on night in May ‘02 to do the crew backup vocals on Mental’s first studio recorded demo (affectionately known as demo 2).  When we got there, they were finishing up guitar tracks. I recall thinking it would be a late night because they hadn’t even started the vocals yet, one of the many times in my life I’ve been so very wrong. Greg laid the vocals down for 9 songs in probably 40 minutes. Mostly first takes as I remember it, and he sounded great. Brash, angry, youthful and confident. The tunes sounded great too. I was shocked actually, at how awesome it sounded for such a young band. I knew this would be a new favorite. It sounded a lot like old New York hardcore bands, maybe with some other stuff thrown in, or perhaps just the hindsight the 90’s provided. I’ve never quite put my finger on it, but it sort of always reminded me of the first Sick Of It All 7″. Maybe with some Straight Ahead and Token Entry too. It didn’t really sound like one thing or a particular band to me, I just thought it was good, and at the time it pretty much stood alone. Logos for straight edge hardcore bands had got really scratchy and lyrics quite serious and wordy. When Mental came along they had big cartoon letters and seemed like they were having fun on their recordings (even moreso live). It kind of just took an unnecessary chip off the shoulder of Hardcore for a little while, without ever being too jokey or goofy. It’s not really easy to walk that line, and it was sort of how I knew they were something special. A breath of fresh (”fresh”) air.

I went to the recording for their 7″ later that year, again at Dead Air and I remember being at least a little surprised how much more they had their shit together already. They did 11 songs in a day I think. There might have been an extra half day to finish up vocals and do the mix, but I still remember being in awe at how fast the band had moved, even though they were releasing a 7″ they had enough material laid down to make a 12″. All of my bands up to that point had struggled just to get demos together. After demanding that someone yell “bust!” prior to a breakdown in one song, it was put on me to be the one to do it, although I think someone from the band could have done it better.

Once their 7″ came out it seemed like things never stopped for Mental. The record came out in the winter of 2003, but by summer 2003 they’d recorded a demo of the absurd side project Dumptruck, and another E.P. to be out by the year’s end. Tours and endlessly colorful t-shirts followed, as well as a couple more records. The first time I saw the whole USA from the window of a van was with Mental, lifting guitar cabinets and drums on a nightly basis. I guess it’s weird to write about stuff that is so recent, but it was good times, even when it wasn’t good times, and I still play these tapes (and 7″) pretty often.

Alright here’s a wacky Wednesday entry for you. I’m pretty amped on seeing the new Indiana Jones tonight, and I’ll be sure to post a complete list of spoilers here tomorrow. When I saw Star Wars: Episode I on opening night in 1999, I deemed it “pretty good”, so you can definitely trust my opinion. Also I applauded, as did the majority of the audience.

 Anyway, there’s a guy from Prema (ha!)selling his late 80’s/early 90’s recs on good ‘ol ebay. If you don’t know Prema is one of the funniest bands of all time associated with hardcore. When they were 13 they had some band that was like fast dumb hardcore… I forget the name but they obviously get compared to Crippled Youth all the time. I’m sure they didn’t sound like them. Then they became Hare Krishna (ah the early 90’s), and got more serious, playing melodic-Hardcore. When they produced their follow up lp it was something like 60 minutes long, 2xlp, and “grungy”. First of all: Fucked Up eat your heart out. Second of all, I think they were barely out of high school. I’ve been waiting for the day I can score a copy of this thing outta the dollar bin or someone’s trash pile.

So one thing you might want is a test pressing of the No Escape/Turning Point split. I’ve mentioned before how godawful the Turning Point stuff is on here, but let me just say it again - WORST! I think I’d rather listen to an hour of Jay Leno stand-up. The No Escape side is pretty tight, heavy early 90’s HC. Not too tough guy, not too introspective, just lays in the cut. Tim Singer is the vocalist… I like Boiling Point Fanzine better than No Escape but it’s still alright.

There’s a Chain Of Strength Confusion sleevealready pushing $300. One of about 10 variations of the less good Chain 7″. I think this is some of the rejected vinyl from the Foundation press with a different sleeve. It looks crappy that’s the main thing. Early 90’s color Xerox, but if you are a Chain completest you’ve gotta have this. Hope you didn’t spend that stimulus check.

 Another test press up: Ink and Dagger’s “Love Is Dead”. The number of times I heard this band compared to Swiz is obscene. It’s more just early 90’s “chaotic hc”, like Swing Kids lite, on a vampire gimmick. Can’t believe anyone would still want this, but from time to time I still hear this crap discussed. This is definitely the least bad entry in their catalog, I dug it for sure when I was 16/17 (”SOUNDS LIKE A CRAZY FUGAZI!”). WHOOPS! Later on these guys read an issue of, probably some British magazine they found at Tower Records, and started name-checking Square-Pusher and Aphex Twin, like electronic music had just landed from outer space and they were the first to discover it. How embarrassing.

Oh, a Child Abuse 7″ on Muthathat somehow slipped in here. That just seems weird to me because there’s no other records from a similar time period, although I guess it’s regionally from the same part of the USA.  To me it’s just funny to think this guy was, by all odds, hanging out at Flagman shows, probably in a sweater vest or some Stussy shirt, with a Child Abuse 7″ sitting in the same box of 7″s that probably had multiple Falling Forward and Metroshifter records in it. This would be the point where some overly sensitive type, whose “salad days” were in this time period, and went to 164 different Lifetime/Resurrection gigs at the Middlesex where everyone played drums poorly and there were no fast songs, or pants that fit anyone, is going to pipe up and complain that I don’t understand, AND I’m a dick, AND Outspoken is still good, AND if you weren’t there you can’t make a qualitative assessment of the music, AND they’re much older than me and that means I don’t know anything………. Same old complaints I’ve heard every time I bring these things up, but face it — all of those bands are no good. I blame grunge, alt-metal, and shoegaze. You will never convince me otherwise. With maybe 5 exceptions, there are no hardcore bands from the USA in ‘92-’94 I wanna listen to. Hey it’s fine… I sang in a band that had a 3″ CDR demo. That alone is goddamn laughable.

Ok full disclosure: I just can’t take anything seriously that has stuff like these stupid flame graphics that are in each auction. Why does ebay even still have this stuff? Am I making my homepage at geocities infocommons?

Whoa sorry for the hate fest yesterday. See what happens when I don’t get enough sleep folks? In the end, it probably did more good than bad for yesterday’s seller. But that was yesterday. What have I got today? More like, what haven’t I got? The answer to that question, is most of the records this dude is selling. SHAMEFUL on my part.

These listings are not ace, and it makes you wonder about the validity of a few items like the NA 7″, Urban Waste 7″, 7 Seconds “Skins” 7″, especially because the labels are not visible in the photos. On the other hand the seller obviously knows the value of these items, and they seem to be in the company of many obviously legitimate pressings (you can’t fake a Floorpunch on gold people).

How about a top 5 ?

1) I gotta take the Urban Waste 7″here. Presuming that everything is legit about it, this is a hell of a clean copy. Contains an instert, the cover looks nice, unfortunately you have to speculate on the vinyl due to the photo which at the least may keep the price down. It’s kinda strange you know, Urban Waste is at this point just shy of a $500 record. If this one actually had a classy listing I think it could break it, but it’s not hard finding an Urban Waste E.P. It hits ebay seemingly weekly. With only 1000-ish pressed it seems like a large number have survived so it’s kind of surprising the price has been able to climb steadily over the past few years.

2) Even if it’s 2nd press, a clean copy of the Negative Approach 7″is a good investment and I really doubt the price is ever coming down (barring global economic disaster). You’d have a tough time arguing this isn’t the best hardcore E.P. ever, even people outside hardcore can appreciate this one. Best vocals in a punk/hardcore band ever maybe? Contender for greatest lead off track - without a doubt. NA is a band that I would argue outshines their influences (S.O.A., Blitz, 4Skins) on this record. Been listening to it for 9 years of my life now and it hasn’t worn out its welcome in the least. Too bad I’ve been listening on a dumb CD. Gotta change that this year…

3) Either Minor Threat7″ here could, in my book give the NA 7″ a run for its money. They’re both later pressings, but I guess could fetch maybe 2 bills each. There’s been a LOT of Fillers popping up lately, although it shouldn’t surprise anyone. Even blue covers are going for 150-200 now, and there’s plenty to go around. I think pretty much only the red sleeved ones go for more than 250-300 though. Btw, anyone that wants to trade a Red Sleeved copy, I hereby offer my Dogs - Slash Your Face (stock copy) in exchange for one. Maybe we could workout the difference after that, but the thing has been played twice ever so consider that. I love some Detroit Rock n Roll, but I grew up w/ the White House in my backyard, and I’m straight edge, so Ian and the boys will always be my first love.

 4) Antidote without an insert is still an Antidote 7″, so eff it. I give this my number 4. Probably will still go for more than the Minor Threat recs, and the sleeve looks better than some I’ve seen. Why are these things always trashed? At least there’s no handwriting or water stains on this.  Please lord someone put together a better Antidote release than the junk currently available.

 5) Last Rights 7″w/ a mic-stand-throwing cover. A riff like Chunks really only comes once a career, and a record this legendary probably not much more than that. No matter how much embarrassing shit Choke has pulled over the years with Slapshot, it can never diminish this single. HARD HARD HARD skinhead HARDcore. If there were oi bands that actually sounded like this I’d get a pair of boots and a razor shave on my dome.

See you folks on Marathon Metal Monday…

Holy F’n Schnikes. I don’t know where to start with this. Obviously the “buy-it-now or best offer” links are set high so that people will just make their best offer, but $2200 for some Uniform Choice lps. Good lord. Nevermind that this dude claims he owns 3 complete sets. I know I’ll sound like a hater saying this, but I feel like this is one of those people who isn’t even into music and just fetishizes the same 2 or 3 dozen bands. Proof’s in the pudding that they’re looking to buy a copy of Nirvana - Love Buzz, I mean Aneurysm is a jam, but anyone willing to shell out a few grand for one of their records, probably has kinda bad taste. Yeah I said it. Total hater over here. I dunno, Big Cheese is 3th tier Nirvana, and 4th tier Melvins worship. I love Screaming For Change though. Realistically that lot is probably worth $1,000-$1500 maybe as low as $800 actually, although money is certainly no object to this person (which makes them better than the rest of us btw). What a great album though. I wouldn’t mind owning 4 copies. Tell you what, I’d probably trade in half the Nirvana song catalog for another EP of Uniform Choice songs in the vein of Screaming For Change.

Let’s see… then there’s this Fear Of God 7″ on clear, on Temple Of Love records, an In My Eyes test press of their best lp, Demise - Furnace of Tension test… you know this is stupid, all of these are good items and I could talk at length in a normal post about them, but I’m just dumbstruck by the spectacle and absurdity of this listing. I might as well mention the Youth Of Today “Can’t Close My Eyes” 7″ on orange vinyl with the Batman stamp… priced at $700.

It truly never ends with this stuff. Every time you think you’ve seen it all on ebay something pops up that just fries all the logic-circuits in your brain, and you’re sort of left wondering, “What am I doing with myself? Is this what I’m into? Where is this going to end? Who owns at least a dozen copies of Screaming For Change? How can I steal them?”

Do you think the seller even feels fulfillment with any of their vinyl acquisitions? “Yea I have these 2 complete sets of Uniform Choice lps… but it’s just not enough, something’s keeping me up at night. I need to do it again. It’s the only way I can truly live.”  Hey don’t forget about his multiple Chung Kings, he’ll be listing one soon.

I hereby promise to be more coherent tomorrow.

Typically when I find myself in New York City, I’m concerned with one thing: getting out of it. Yes, for all my love of NYHC, all the long praises I’ve written about the bands, the city itself makes me sick. Sick with anxiety, and disgusted by the piss stench everywhere I turn. Excuse my misanthropy please. It’s all good though because there will always be a song that perfectly sums up how I feel. I’d even say it’s one of the best punk songs, no… one of the best rock songs ever written. I’m not talking about the well liked Fear classic “I Love Livin’ In The City” (”NY’s alright if you like saxophones”), I’m talking about The Randoms - “Let’s Get Rid Of NY”. I can play this song over and over and over again. I can listen to the two minutes and thirty seconds of pogoing perfection for hours with the only pause being the time it takes to push the needle back to the beginning. I’m like a teenage girl in 1964 with a copy of “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”, absolutely mesmerized. When this perfect tune plays, it’s the only song in the world. When the chorus kicks up with that scrappy Chuck Berry on 78rpm’s riff and I hear the declaration of “Let’s Get Rid Of New York”, I think it’s the way a devout church goer feels each time the congregation shouts “hallelujah!”

I want everyone to know, as I’m aware many readers of this blog are from the NY area, I have nothing really against the people of your city, I certainly love many of the associated musical traditions, but there is something about the city itself that I hate. It’s not because I live in Boston, it’s just the way I feel. Like the way you might feel about mayonnaise on your food. Please don’t take it personal New Yorkers (although I know you will).

So you see, when you combine the perfect punk music, with the perfect lyrical sentiment, it makes sense that you can only declare such a composition, one of the greatest rock songs ever written (beyond all criticism etc.). Why in the name of everything holy and unholy then, is this song on the B-Side? I can only imagine it’s a joke, because even though “ABCD” is a fine song in its own right, it’s the “Let’s Go Away For A While” of this package. Now let me just shock you and say, after all that praise… this is only my SECOND favorite single on Dangerhouse.

Number ONE: the untouchable “We’ve Got The Neutron Bomb” by The Weirdos. As a package it nudges out the Randoms just barely for having what I think is the stronger A-Side (the title track), the real treat though is inexplicably on Side-B again: “Solitary Confinement”. Maybe it’s the angry boy in me, but all the bouncy pop fun of “Let’s Get Rid Of NY” is easy to forget when you hear this proto-HC slash ‘n burn job. I know I’m drowning in my own hyperbole right now, but try to listen to Solitary Confinement without playing air-guitar — I guarantee you will fail without the aid of a handful of sleeping pills (and I don’t do that shit so I’m screwed). I’m sorry to 2-Time the Randoms like this, I really am, but this is also one of the greatest rock songs of all time. It’s one for the books folks. Take “Search and Destroy”, strip off the silver pants and make-up, and proceed to rip it up at full volume with a chorus roughly the size of one of Jupiter (the planet).

I don’t have all day, so I can’t even talk about the raging screams of Alice Bag, or 2 of the 4 good Dils songs. Likewise I’m gonna have to skip explaining why the Deadbeats suck, and I’d rather listen to Howard Werth. Another day, although since everyone in New York and surrounding areas has abandoned me, that day may never come.

It might be forgivable if you’re not familiar with New Jersey’s Chronic Sick. They were unpopular in their day, panned by most reviewers as reactionary, and their records were pressed in minuscule quantities on the hard-to-come-by Mutha Records. That said they’re one of the most consistently beloved “Killed By Death” type hardcore bands, or as it’s now okay to term bands like this, “Killed By Hardcore”. A perfect example of a band no one cared about when they were around, but now considered to outclass many of the more popular bands of the day from anywhere in the world.

Chronic Sick eschew the typical expectations for a cult/unknown hardcore band as they’re as tuneful, well rehearsed, and professionally recorded, as most of the big acts of the early 80’s in the United States. The sound of the music owes a heavy debt to DC bands like Scream, Marginal Man, Double O, and at least in some ways predicts some of the chorus drenched guitar work Dag Nasty delivered a couple years later. Before anyone protests (and I know you will), this is hardly the self-conscious emotive, good-time core that all of those bands are, at least in part known for, (no disrespect to the godly Scream). Rather the lyrics and vocals come at you with plenty of snot and bile, hardly sticking to safe topics (as the middle finger on the picture sleeve should let you know), and keeping things firmly hardcore even in during fairly poppy guitar lines. On this record, which there’s probably 500 or less of, (probably way less when you account for 20-some years of record collections thrown in the trash by New Jersey moms), they take the time to attack “Reagan Bands”, lament the transmission of venereal diseases (Crotch Rot), and I’m not sure what the third song (Blood Type-X) is about, but as the MRR review of the time noted, it might be better that way.

Like yesterday’s Death Wish entry, Chronic Sick aren’t just good for a “rare record band”, they’re just good. They may have been reactionary townie losers, but they were a good hardcore band first. It’s really kind of a shock no one has been able to negotiate a legitimate reissue of their output, and maybe even more shocking that it hasn’t been bootlegged (although let’s face it, it’s only a matter of time til some eastern European schmuck takes care of that, unfortunately it will probably made off shit MP3’s and pixelated JPG’s).

Worth noting, there’s a Send Help 7″, also on Mutha Records, for sale by the same person. One of the better and more hardcore releases on the label after Chronic Sick & The Worst.

Just a quick one today, found someone selling a very respectable Japanese HC collection with all the big names past and present. What caught my eye was 3 big time genre compilations:

• Eye Of The Thrash Guerrilla
• Game Of Death
• Farewell To Arms

Lots of cool sampler 12″s came out of Japan in the 80’s and 90’s, and I really think all three of these are cool looking on top of that. Have a look –

I’ve broken my streak. Due to some internet difficulties, yesterday this post didn’t go up, and so it’s going up today instead. Roky Erikson and Motorhead in one day (yesterday). Also J Masics came to the Fucked Up, Sex/Vid, Iron Age show, and was accosted by every Deep Wound and Dinosaur fan in the room.

I’ve hit Cooch up for an entry, we do Painkiller Records together of course, but he does the most, and we’ve played in rock bands too, so without further delay…

CC asked me to do a scab entry or two for him while he’s on vacation, suggesting for this one that I talk about some of the pre-hardcore era Modern Method Records releases. Before making their mark in the hardcore world with the monumental “This Is Boston, Not LA” comp LP, Modern Method put out just under a dozen releases as the in-house
label for Boston’s famous Newbury Comics music retail chain. Just about all of the early releases are “punk” in some sense, ranging from the pop punk stylings of the Gremies and the Future Dads (both featuring legendary Unnatural Axe frontman Rich Parsons) to the power poppy Outlets to the Mission Of Burma-esque Native Tongue. One interesting release is their second compilation LP, “A Wicked Good Time Vol 2″, which features a track by Leper, who many consider to be the first hardcore band in Boston. Most of these early releases can be found cheap, though both Outlets singles, which are excellent, command good money on eBay.

On to the auctions… eBay’s top purveyor of punk vinyl and ephemera, Ryan Richardson, aka ryebread, currently has the Bound & Gagged 12″ for sale (Modern Method #5, from 1980). It’s a four song ep featuring a six piece all-female lineup, doing some quirky post punk weirdness. It’s produced by Cleveland expatriate Robin Amos of The Girls, a pretty cool Boston area post punk band that had the distinction of releasing the only non-Cleveland area record on Hearthan Records (run by Dave Thomas of Pere Ubu). Robin still works at a local record shop in Boston and is a pretty friendly guy based on my interactions with him. Anyways, back to Bound & Gagged - I had a couple copies stashed away thinking it would have taken off in price over the past few years with the recent explosion of crappy hipster noise and synth punk, but it still sells for relatively cheap (typically $20 and under). This record would really appeal to fans of bands like the Raincoats or Kleenex, I suppose a good reissue of the 12″ and their two tracks from “A Wicked Good Time Vol. 1″ might generate some interest in the original product.

For those of you with more refined hardcore tastes, Mr. Ryebread has some other tasty platters up for bid - classic releases by Black Flag, Crucifix, FEAR, Minor Threat, DOA, test pressings of the first Freeze and Meatmen LPs, and more. One interesting record of note on his current auction list is the Human Sufferage self titled lp - a rare and under the radar release from Ohio, ca. 1983 - great midwest HC style.

Today’s guest blogger is Jon Westbrook from sunny (Southern) California. You may remember him from Knife Fight, or some bands he doesn’t want you to interview him about. In his words, “I don’t speak Spanish, so I don’t have anything interesting to tell you”. He’s also a purveyor of very fine vinyl platters.

I’m sure a lot of you saw this posted over at the livewire records message board, but cc’s on vacation this week and I’m working crazy hours these days (tax season….ok, I’m too lazy to scour ebay every hour in the hopes that some badass platters turn up, but honestly…tax season). Looks like we have the start of a whole collection being sold right now. Hopefully the seller didn’t blow his ebay load on this first batch though, because there’s some pretty good ones up there. Always better to build the hype if you want serious money for your goods. The most likely winner of the bunch will be the Antidote “Thou Shalt Not Kill” EP. I can’t imagine anyone not knowing this EP by now, but in case you’re a n00b, it’s a definite top 5 USHC ep, and in most cases top 2 (Negative Approach is better). Only 500 made, backups by JJ, feat members of M.O.I., yadda yadda yadda. Other gems include an original SSDecontrol “The Kids Will Have Their Say,” FU’s “Kill For Christ,” Rest In Pieces “My Rage,” and the ever popular XChorusX LP. The majority of this collection is in the straight edge vein (80’s and 90’s). And seeing that the seller is from Italy, maybe we’ll get lucky and get some Wretched, Underage, and Bloody Riot records next go around (here’s to hoping). But if there’s one thing to learn when it comes to record collecting for the person who’s serious about owning the best of the best, consider this anecdote: For many of my teenage years and into the early 20’s, I used to curse my parent’s names for waiting 8 years to have children. I thought paying $50 for a record was absurd, and thought “if only I was 5 years older, I could have paid “absurd” prices by 1989’s standards.” But a wise man once told me “if you have the money, just buy it because it’ll be worth more than that in a few years.” Just think about how dumb I’d feel now if I had passed on paying $75 for that Antidote EP in ‘97…

Got everything under the sun one the auction block here, but since this is bidhardcore, it’s kind of easy to filter out a lot of it. First of all let me apologize to Scot Oxholm (if he’s reading this), I am not going to talk about the Green Rage 7″ for sale. Moving on, here’s some items you might want to know about:

1) Naked Raygun “Throb Throb” test pressing. In truth I’d like to own this but I am probably not dropping the loot. From what I can tell this would be from the original pressing because it has a promo sheet attached from ‘84. Naked Raygun to this point had released a 12″ E.P. a three song single, and a few compilation tracks, and this was to be their first proper lp released through some Dutch East sub label (Homestead). I think it’s really their first great release, although I’ve heard it disparaged by some. Raygun were truly a one of a kind band, much greater than the sum of their parts. At times they would drop the most straight forward rockin punk tunes with numerous “oh’s” and “whoas”, so tuneful and melodic you never forget them, like the CLASSIC opener Rat Patrol. Just as quick though they’d turn out something with a rolling bassline and guitars that were more akin to Big Black while pounding a 50’s style rockabilly drum beat. By the way vocalist Jeff Pezatti played bass on the first couple Big Black 12″ E.P.s, and while, by the time Throb Throb was released he’d already been replaced by genius John Haggerty, original guitarist Santiago Durango (who co-wrote much of Throb Throb), was a member of Big Black as well.

2) …Speaking of Big Black, we’ve got a Pig Pile Boxset here. While they’re probably most famous because they were Steve Albini’s first well known band, Big Black is also quite remembered for being able to work up quite a miserable racket of guitars that were self described as going “schhiinkkkkt” and “vrooooooooom” against a pulsing atonal backbeat of a Roland 808 and an interminably drunk bass player. In all honesty this band was by my calculations, one of the heaviest, and most exciting of all time. The most interesting thing about this boxset is actually that it comes with a 5″ flexi record with a cover of In My House, which hasn’t ever been reissued. The record itself, which is live is actually a little disappointing in how clean it sounds compared to their studio recordings where they managed to make an ungodly racket. In addition you get a pretty cool video of the band playing live, and a pretty stupid shirt and poster, in a nice looking 12×12 box.

3) Finally, here’s something that’s not by a Chicago band revered by the aging indie elite: Chain Of Strength - Chain Crew record. Personally I’m not really impressed by this record at all, and I know it’s not as rare as it purports to be (100 copies), as I’ve known of more than a couple individuals who’ve obtained a separate cover, and then matched it to the corresponding vinyl. Just saying. Second, I don’t really like the 2nd Chain Of Strength 7″ a whole lot. The first one is totally bare bones straight edge HC just raging it up start to finish, but this one injects a significant chunk of Turning Point (lp) style melody, much more “emo” type lyrics, and a significant increase in hair-gel. Lastly I always found this particular edition to be kind of a bogus rarity because it wasn’t even made by the band, but by a friend of theirs, I believe posthumously. It does look REALLY cool, much better than the normal edition of the record, and the inserts w/ green toner are cool as hell (it sucks they don’t make colored toner for xerox machines anymore), but I’d rather own a silver sleeve edition of the first record and a studio recording of Til The End.