The Hepplewhite Chronicles: Reissue Wishlist Column by James Hepplewhite
This column is the first in a series of pieces from Pastepunk writers about important music releases that we would like to see reissued, usually with some sort of bonus content, or along with other material from the band. Each column will cover one release from five different labels. - Jordan
Victory Records
GREY AREA - Fanbelt Algebra
Yes, I’m well aware that SNAPCASE’S Progression through Unlearning is on this label, and yes, I’m well aware that GRADE’S Under the Radar is on this label, but for me, there’s nothing quite like a shot in the arm of melodic, angry, uptempo punk rock, and that’s exactly what’s delivered here. Victory’s been known for pushing their fair share of clone-ish-sounding-occasionally-vegan-heavy-handed-beatdown-hardcore-acts, and GREY AREA didn’t fit that image at all. However, GREY AREA had that pummeling NYHC pedigree in spades. Their drummer and guitarist came straight out of WARZONE, their bassist served time in CROWN OF THORNZ, and the kicker was this: Singer Ernie was from TOKEN ENTRY. The point is, this disc doesn’t drive you into the ground, but it makes you sing along, get up and get you on your way.
How does one find out about GREY AREA if you didn’t know them of already? Well, the CBGB’s stream of their performance opening for KID DYNAMITE did it for me and surely for many others as well. GREY AREA was from New York City, so there’s gotta be someone holding out on an amazing, sweat soaked set at CBGBs that could very, very easily be tacked onto a Fanbelt Algebra reissue. Surely, Don Fury could find a weekend or two to master it right? Paging Tony Brummel.... paging Tony Brummel!
Deep Elm
PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS - Knife in the Marathon EP
You know, if Deep Elm was to package this EP with the S/T EP the label released and add the exclusive tracks on one disc, it’d be quite handy. As it stands, this is an example of emo done right, down to the hidden UNBROKEN cover ("Fall On Proverb"). If calling the PLANES group emo is what drove them to become the behemoths making the brutal and destructive music they currently do, then let us hope that PLANES never lives it down. Ever.
Knife is the predecessor to both Up In Them Guts and Fuck With Fire. Back in the day the group occasionally sang a few lines and there was a tad more melody to the group’s six songs. When the song “Pillbox” comes down, there’s nowhere you can hide. And when the end of “Fall On Proverb” hits? The ceiling falls, the roofs falls and then the sky falls on top of you. It’s passionate, it’s masculine without being misogynistic, it refines the term intensity to a purity only theorized. And the crazy part? This band only got better.
Polyvinyl
AMERICAN FOOTBALL - American Football
One usually thinks of ALKALINE TRIO or PARK as the definitive article when it comes to contemporary Midwestern emo, but AMERICAN FOOTBALL raises their hand in the air with a sheepish grin on their face saying, “uhhh guys, forgetting someone?” Assertiveness was never one of the band's better traits however. AF seemed more in line with wracked nerves and delicate intonation.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL's sound redefines the phrase "sad bastard music," particularly that of the "love lost" variety. It’s about love and the quiet spaces between sleep and that night out you had where you look up at the stars and wonder, what if? There’s a 3 song EP from AMERICAN FOOTBALL that would round out the band's S/T work quite nicely, which would in theory, condense all of all AMERICAN FOOTBALL's recorded work into one 12 song CD.
Jade Tree
TRIAL BY FIRE - Ringing In the Dawn
Before I even heard of the Loved Ones, I heard about TRIAL BY FIRE from reviews very kind to the group in a live setting and their record Ringing In the Dawn on punknews.org, as well as the certifiable classic “Point an Inward Finger” being featured on Pastepunk's Broken Lamps and Hardcore Memories Vol. 2 compilation. So what do you call the CD? Pissed as fuck, for starters. How about a release that gives PAINT IT BLACK's Paradise a run for it’s money? That’ll do. STRIKE ANYWHERE but faster and with more oomph? Now we're getting somewhere. There’s nothing wrong with the CD as it stands, but apparently, there’s an absolutely ripping demo out there that presumably Jade Tree has their hands on, and placing it on an official release would be a worthy cause. It’s been long enough, it’s the right season, it’s the right political atmosphere that the lightning rod needs to be struck again, and TRIAL BY FIRE is the bolt from the blue sent from Olympus to do it.
No Idea Records
HOT WATER MUSIC - Fuel For the Hate Game
Yes, I’m ending on a gimme. HOT WATER MUSIC’s breakout CD contains some of their best material and is in desperate need of a new lease on life. The disc was recorded about 10 years ago, according to No Idea and there’s no doubt that with a remastering job, it would stand head and shoulders above the record collections of today. Sonically, I despise Fuel, but musically, it’s an indispensible classic. Below the crud and the “is the band singing 10 feet away from the microphone” feeling, Fuel stirs notably as one of the most influential releases to grace our community.
