Wanna Haul It: Part 7 - Face Reality

One last record for my haul from Wanna Hear It, and it is a pretty limited one. I've found a few limited tour covers at this store over the years and it surprises me each time. Such a cool feeling to find these in the wild like this.

Face Reality were a straight edge band out of Detroit around 2010. They released three 7 inches, but for me, their first one was always the best. They got a bit more of a rougher sound with each release, but the Positive Change 7 inch just has that straight forward youth crew hardcore style that I love. Hoods up and X's on fists. Fuck yeah.

As I was flipping through the 7 inches at Wanna Hear it, and I saw the Face Reality spray painted cover, I was immediately like "what the fuck is this", and then when I checked the vinyl and saw it was the Positive Change record I didn't hesitate to add it to the growing pile of records that I was buying.

Number 7 of 15 made for Significant Fest with the special cover. Adding this one to the collection really makes me want to get the last few versions that I need for this record... but of course Discogs isn't helping me with that right now. Maybe my next visit to Wanna Hear It will prove to be more helpful.

Overall, it was another fun day meeting up with Sandwell while he was in town, and I was happy for the excuse to spend the day in Boston and pick up some great records.

Positive Change Tour 2009

I was a collector nut back in 2009, and I was buying multiple copies of any new record that I was even the slightest bit interested in. My motto was "The more the better" and I was excited to buy three or four copies of a record. I really got away from this collector mindset the last five years or so, and have been content with buying just a single copy of a new record, but lately I've felt that old itch coming back. Recently I've been listening to a lot of hardcore records that are 10 to 15 years old, and it has put me back in that old collector mindset. I don't imagine that many people care about collecting this shit in 2022, so it gives me a charge to dig in and pick up more copies of those old forgotten records.

Face Reality was a straight edge band out of Michigan, and after their Positive Change 7 inch, the band went on to release records with Youngblood and Back To Back Records. For me though, the band was never as good as that first record. Positive Change just has that youthful energy and charm, that their other records couldn't match.

When I found a Discogs seller with the Positive Change tour press for sale, I didn't hesitate to snatch it up. Numbered and limited to 27, with a cheap photo copied paper cover, it put a smile on my face to get this. This one was a great reminder of how much fun record collecting can be.

I know that there was a red vinyl pressing, and there was also a blue vinyl option for the first Face Reality 7 inch. This tour press appears to be the perfect blend of the two. Damn. Remember when colored vinyl looked great?

This Is Reality

Earlier this year, I picked up the Face Reality 7 inch on Youngblood Records. To be honest, I was a bit let down by it. Sure the band showed some growth since their Face Reality 7 inch, and it was still pretty good, but it just didn't grab me as I'd hoped.

The band's new 7 inch, Strong Survive, is very much in the vein of that Youngblood record, but for some reason I'm enjoying it more. Before, where the vocals sounded too gruff and out of place, now for some reason they tend to remind me of Infest...although not nearly as intense...and they seem to fit the songs better.

The Back To Back store lists that there are 150 on orange...but I think it came out more red.

I'm glad that I didn't write them off, because the Strong Survive record is a nice step up for the band.

350 on black.

Youngblood: Part 1 - Straight Edge Hardcore

I recently received a huge order of vinyl from Youngblood. A total of 16 pieces of vinyl. The thought of trying to bang it all out in one post is overwhelming, so I'm going to break it down into manageable parts.

I'll start things off with two solid releases of Straight Edge Hardcore.

Face Reality represent the Michigan Straight Edge. They released a great record back in 2009 with Positive Change. This new record shows a lot of growth for the band. The songs are harder and are more mature lyrically. That said, I'll say I like the Positive Change record more. The Youngblood record is really good, but I prefer that young, fun vibe of the first one. Word is that a new record is in the works, so I'll be looking forward to see what the band does next.

Hey Sean Youngblood, what's the pressing info for these?

Just like Face Reality, it has been three years since the last No Tolerance release, but when you are in as many bands as Justin DeTorre, what can you do? Once this record starts, it does not fuck around. Just like the Boston Straight Edge EP, this thing just continues with its harsh, fast attack...throttling you from start to finish.

I love the b-side labels on this. Youngblood Straight Edge.