Factory Minds - A Modern Classic

Here is San Jose's own Factory Minds. I can't complete my top 2011 list without one of the best slabs to come out that year! I'm surprised I haven't posted this yet, because this album is a modern classic. Factory Minds brings a mix of the Clash, the Real Kids and a little Oi! and Reggae influence. Of course adding a little Bay Area flare that you just can't fuck with. Factory Minds formed after the break up of Call to Arms and The Last Chordz and has become one of San Jose's strongest and well known bands. Recently they opened for the Cock Sparrer and Rancid tour. They are one of my favorite live bands to see and it's always so refreshing to go to their shows. At their live shows you rarely see anyone moshing or any of that, it's usually a more mature crowd and alot of couples dancing and having a great time singing along and getting drunk. So awesome. Usually a bunch of chicks go up to the front row to strut their stuff and dance around, haha. 

Really awesome artwork. The Vinyl was pressed on Arrest Records and the CD version was pressed on Downtown Academy out of Sacramento, home of bands like Pressure Point and Whiskey Rebels. You guys know how I feel about Arrest Records, awesome up and coming label!

On a sweet Camo Green out of /300. There are still a couple copies left so go scoop one! I can't wait for them to start playing shows again, they've been on hiatus for probably the last 6 months. Hopefully they'll get with it soon!

Comes with a little poster if that's your thing. Check out "Waiting in the Cold" below:

I'm waiting for the last bus... and I'll be waiting in the cold again!

Whiskey Rebels Last Shows

A few weeks back I attended the Whiskey Rebels' last shows. A very sad weekend for sure, seeing one of my favorite bands of all time call it quits. Whiskey Rebels were a group that I grew up on and meant the world to me. I was able to pick up a few items celebrating their grand finale weekend.

First was a limited edition cover, which was basically just a single piece of card board. Honestly I'm rather disappointed in the design and the fact that it wasn't hand numbered. I don't even know how many were made, and essentially had to pay $10 to get a black copy of an LP I already owned. Whatever though, it's not like I wasn't going to buy it. (See my previous review for this LP here.)

Plead the Fifth also played and made a limited cover in what I believe to be one of the best hardcore 7"s of the year. I like what they did with the "I can hear the reaper calling" cover, giving a shout out to Whiskey Rebels. It's just a plain piece of xeroxed paper, but I think they did a good job considering that they were added to the show last minute. Grave Maker cancelled two days before the show so they put these together pretty fast! It comes on red vinyl, but I'm not sure if all 20 were on red vinyl. (See my previous review of this 7" here.)

My favorite item that I got was this poster drawn by Big Chuck of Whiskey Rebels. Nice big poster on thick card board, hand numbered #14/100. I felt this was 10 dollars well spent, and I'll definitely be framing this to go with the rest of my Big Chuck paintings. I had so much fun watching Whiskey Rebels for the last time, it truly saddens me that they called it quits. I only hope they will have a reunion show or two one day. Check out "Reaper Calling" below:

THE BONUS ARMY, and how to run your label pt. 3

As I briefly discussed in my Plead the Fifth post, I put together a order with Arrest Records on 4th of July while they were having a sweet 25% off sale and was quite shocked at all the stuff that was included when I opened up the package. I felt lucky enough to get 25% off, but Arrest Records went above and beyond on this one!

I ordered Bonus Army's "Burn Your World" 7" which just came out. It comes on Black /100, Clear /100 and Orange /100. I decided to order just the two color versions and pass on the black, but to my surprise not only did they throw in a free copy on black, but also a free test press! I mean, how cool is that? Just for no damn reason at all, even when I already got 25% off my order!

Here's the front and back.

And the test press, hand numbered on the sleeve and record itself #8/30. 

And Bonus Army's "Negative Outlooks" 7" on yellow /150. I downloaded this recently and have been totally hooked on Bonus Army. I fucking love this release. I don't know why I avoided them for so long, I just really think they have a terrible band name and the corny cover art turned me off, but once I finally gave these guys a chance and really saw what they were about, I was blown away. It amazes me that these guys aren't as big or even bigger than a band like Rival Mob. I say this because Bonus Army sounds very similar to Rival Mob but with even harder vocals. This is without a doubt an excellent release, and I'm surprised it is even still in its first press!

Next up was the Rude Awakening 2011 Demo. I ordered the "Gray" /56 (not really sure which one that is...) and he threw in the "Mauve" /189 as well for free! He also threw in a free poster for their Awakening 7" which is out on Triple B for the vinyl version and Arrest Records for the CD version.

Also a free copy of "Late Nite Wars" 7" on red /289. I have yet to give this a spin so I can't speak to much on it.

Also a free copy of Hammer Bros 12" on Black Vinyl /370. I also haven't given this one a spin yet so I can't say a whole lot on it. Either way that is (4) free 7"s, one of which was a test press and (1) free LP!  Arrest Records has pretty much ensured a loyal life long customer after this order and with amazing bands like Factory Minds, Plead the Fifth and Bonus Army on their roster there is no reason that you shouldn't check them out too! 

PLEAD THE FIFTH - YOU NEED THIS RECORD!

So I recently put in a order with Arrest Records for this 7" from Sacramento's Plead the Fifth. Plead the Fifth is one of the most criminally slept on bands in California. They are super cool dudes and have been putting it down for years, I think they started playing in 2005 or so. This 7" is a true gem and is off the hook, brutal vocals and heavy as all hell. The lyrics are really good on this release too, offering much more than most hardcore has to offer. This band has definitely progressed since their first demo, even though "So Low" will always be my favorite song by them. Like I said these dudes are super cool too, they even drove down to San Jose to play at my girls birthday party in 2007 for free. That was one of the best birthday parties ever! But yeah, if you don't own this 7" yet then you're fucking trippin, straight up and down. They are still available at Arrest Records on Black /94, White /100 and Red /100 so go pick up all three copies and you won't be disappointed! Also it comes with a digital download with 2 extra tracks that are straight rippers. Go out like the Nike logo and Just Do It.