Focused Minds - The Fact Remains

Here is Focused Minds' debut LP "The Fact Remains" on 6131 Records. This thing has been on some stupid heavy rotation for me for the last few weeks. I have always thought Focused Minds was criminally slept on, and this release absolutely proves that. The picture for the cover was taken in Santa Cruz, CA. I was at that show and it was the one and only time I've ever seen them. And no, I'm not in the picture. I'll let the youngsters do all that crazy stuff, I like to kick it in the back with the other old folks haha. Above is the rarest press on white out of /100.

The green pressing out of /300 is by far the better looking of the pressings. They also had a black pressing out of /600. The back cover reminds me of the Iron Boots "Easy Green" ep. If you're a straight edger and your not bumping this then you're all fucked up. This LP really does rule.

What's up with the dude with the sticker butt cheeks? 

So, this is my first post in over a month. That is by far my longest drought ever for posting. I apologize for the delay everyone, sometimes shit happens in life and records have to take a back seat. I'll try to keep this shit up more. I just took over a hundred pictures of back logged records so that should hold me over for a while. Stay tuned goons.

Focused Minds - Straight Edge Overload

A few months back Dogyears Records put out the new Focused Minds "Straight Edge Overload" EP. I don't know what the hell I was thinking not getting it right away. If I remember correctly you could score a test press, a special pre order cover and color on pink /50, and the band color on green out of /100. The most common version was on "mixed color" vinyl out of /250. For some reason, like a dumb ass, I slept on it and didn't order right away. I kind of forgot about it, and when I remembered to go check back all of the limited colors were gone. I was so disheartened that I didn't even want to order the common press out of /250.

When Record Store Day rolled around this year, I had a kind of long disappointing day. I was happy when I came home to see that Focused Minds had posted a special RSD Version of their Straight Edge Overload EP out of /25 with a sweet ass cover. I was all over it, and while I was at it I picked up one of the mixed vinyl pressings out of /250. 

Dog Years did a great job with the layout and this is another great released by Focused Minds. If you are not familiar with them, they are a force to be reckoned with. They'll be putting out their debut LP soon, and I won't make the same mistake twice. When those pre orders go up I'm going to get every color I can. Midwest Straight Edge Lives!

Looking at this picture upsets me because I know I could have had a test press, a pre order cover and a limited "band color" on green of this record. What a dummy. I'm stoked I atleast got the RSD cover, which is hands down the coolest of them all! 

Labels behaving badly! (Pt. 1)

Months ago I ordered a package from Hellfish that had all kinds of records, and one of them was a copy of Focused Minds' "Stay Focused" 7". When the package came to my house, the FM record was not included. I notified Hellfish and some guy named "Agi" told me that he would throw a copy in with my next order, and just to email him before I ordered again to remind him. Ok, no sweat. A few months go buy, a place another order and remind him that they owed me the FM 7". Order comes, again no 7". I sent atleast 10 emails with no response. Ok, fuck you then Hellfish! How does it make sense to screw someone for a $5 record when they have placed multiple orders that were almost $100 each? Good job.

Luckily, I was able to email Joey at 6131 Records and explain the situation to him. Wouldn't you know he not only sent me a white copy but also the clear "subscription" version out of /200. Hellfish lost a customer, and 6131 Records gained another loyal customer. Just a little bit of respect goes along way, Thanks Joey. This is a solid record from a Midwest youth crew band. However, I don't feel this record fully captures just how good Focused Minds is live. I hope they can capture some of that magic on their next release. Is this a good 7"? Yes, it is. However, after seeing this band live it left me expecting more. I'll be anxious for their next release and see this bands full potential!

So where I got the name for this post was from a local news station segment with Stanley Roberts called "People Behaving Badly", one of the most popular news segments in the Bay Area. Some of them are just so hilarious and unbelievable. So yeah, from now on I'll be going all Stanley Roberts on these record labels and distros that are fucking people over. Watch out shady labels, a post could be coming your way!

Focused Minds Sound and Fury 2012

I just took over a hundred pictures of new records (that I've been lagging on taking for almost a month), and I don't have much time so I'll do a quick post. I didn't make it to Sound and Fury fest this year. There just wasn't enough bands that I really wanted to see for me to justify the cost. I was happy when I saw that 6131 was putting up their remaining copies of their Focused Minds "Stay Focused" S&F2012 press. I quickly headed over and ordered two copies, since one side says "Focused" and one side says "Minds", I figured I would get one of each. Unfortunately I received two copies of the "Focused" cover instead. Focused Minds is another one of those bands that I never was that into until I saw them live and was blown the fuck away. So don't get it twisted, these guys are really good. Now I'll have to be on the look out for the "Minds" cover on ebay. Stay tuned for a bunch new stuff in next couple weeks!