Spaced Out

I've been terrible at keeping up with new music this year. It is September and I think that I've only heard three new hardcore records (Planet on a Chain, One Step Closer and the Wreckage 7 inch that I can't find the colored vinyl for). I really need someone to help put shit on my radar because I'm dropping the ball big time this year. Thankfully, Marcus came through and dropped me a note, asking if I'd checked the Spaced record that Rev released.

I'd seen some fellow bloggers post about Spaced... Marcus had a great post with all of the versions of the new record, and Ralf mentioned comparisons to Turnstile with the first Spaced record, so while I was definitely interested, I still wasn't paying attention. I needed that extra push of a direct recommendation. Once I finally sat down and checked the record, I was immediately hooked.

Spaced sound really cool, and they actually remind me a lot of Buggin. Fast hardcore that makes me want to move. So good, and will be getting a lot of spins from me through the end of the year. Seriously, what else am I missing?

Never Mind The Spiritual Cramps

A couple of months ago, my friend Sarah had messaged me, asking if I could find her a limited record that she was interesting in buying. Easy enough task for someone like me that is always on the hunt for records, and within minutes I was sending her a discogs link for where she could buy it. I thought the price was reasonable, but for someone that doesn't collect records, the $50 price tag may have seemed a bit high. She ended up buying the record and then I got to talking about some expensive records that I had sitting in my Discogs cart that I've been hesitant to pull the trigger on... and after talking her into buying a record, I felt like it was time to treat myself as well.

I've been obsessed with Spiritual Cramp since discovering them early this year. I really like this band, but I was a bit on the fence on how much I really wanted to collect their records. I'd been keeping my eye on the record release version for the first 7 inch for a while, and wringing my hands over if I should spend the money or not. It was released by REACT Records, and since I have a decent REACT collection, that made me want it a bit more... plus that Sex Pistols cover design and the fact that only 35 of them existed, really helped to force my hand. Fuck. If I didn't buy it, who knows if I would ever get the chance again... so while I was riding that Spiritual Cramp high, I clicked the button on Discogs to order it.

The copy that I received had a note inside to the original buyer, and I assume from the singer, Mike. Thanks for the five bucks bro.

Number 27 of 35.

Eddie Rips Up London

Seems that whenever I post a live bootleg record here, it makes me want to rush out and buy another one of them. After posting about the Megadeth boot earlier this year, it didn't take me long to head over to the Hells Headbangers store and see what I could pick up next.

Iron Maiden live boots are an instant buy for me. I own 10 or 11 Maiden bootlegs, and will not hesitate to buy a new one if the cover catches my eye. I just can't say no to a good looking Eddie cover... especially since the bootleg fan art tends to look better than what Maiden puts on their studio covers.

Back in 2005, I was really getting back in to heavy metal after distancing myself from that style of music through the 90's. Iron Maiden was touring and playing only the early shit, from the self titled album through Piece Of Mind, and made a stop in Massachusetts. At that time, while I was starting to listen to more and more metal, I was not going to see the bands play live... and after the band came and went, I deeply regreted not going to that show. Fun fact, after that Eddie Rips Up The World tour in 2005, I've seen Iron Maiden play every tour since then (with the exception of them touring for The Final Frontier album when they didn't play Massachusetts that time around) for a total of six times... with my seventh time coming up in a couple of months when Maiden hit Massachusetts for The Future Past tour.

All of this is to say that I'm happy to finally have a live boot from that 2005 tour. I love all eras of Iron Maiden, but man, this setlist of early songs is just so good. Makes me wish that they would do another tour playing this older stuff.