Not Sorry From Salad Days - Good Dudes, Part 2

David does Salad Days Records and is currently in a band, Clean Break, that released one of my favorite demos this year. He is a great guy, and if it weren't for the fact that he's in Portugal, and I'm in the States, we'd be hanging out. I consider him a friend, and because of this, I placed an order for the latest release on his label...the new 7 inch from A Thousand Words.

Honestly, I really didn't like this 7 inch when I first heard it, and I expected that I'd be filing it away to never listen to it again. Still, I wanted to at least give it a couple more tries before writing up this blog post, and it kind of grew on me a little bit. While I'm still not loving it, I've come to like it much more than that initial listen. There is a bit of a Verse vibe going on with the band's sound, and I can dig it.

What really drew my attention for this was the layout. The cover photo looks great...so does the layout...and how about that pink vinyl? Sweet. Stamped labels, numbered and limited to 200.

When David mailed out the package, he dropped me a note saying that I should expect a nice surprise when it arrives. I was looking forward to what it may be, and I was completely surprised when I opened it up and found it was a test press for the Not Sorry record that Salad Days did a couple years ago. Such a great record.

Limited to only 14, and on a great blue/yellow swirl colored vinyl. Thanks, David!

Worldwide Hardcore

I've never experienced the headaches of running a record label. Therefore, I can't even begin to imagine the effort that it took to pull off the latest pre-orders from REACT!. Three records from bands spanning three different continents...all released at one time. Sure there were some delays, but when you think about what it probably took to pull this off, you've got to be impressed.

You really can't miss with anyone of these records. Each one already has me thinking ahead to my 2011 Top 10 list.

I really liked the Remission LP, but this 7 inch certainly tops their last effort. Three songs of 90's influenced hardcore...I can't get over how much this band sounds like One Step Ahead...Remission play this style to perfection. 200 on baby blue, 300 on clear blue, and 400 on black vinyl.

Not Sorry follow up their demo 7 inch, and keep going strong, with Our Choices. I love the cover artwork on this one. The crashing waves...the ominous dark storm clouds...power just waiting to be released. The art fits the music perfectly. 200 on white, 300 on yellow, and 400 on black vinyl.

It is good to have some new music from Common Cause. It has been about three years since their last recorded material, The Power To Change, and the band keeps things moving with this new 7 inch. Hey, it is straight forward, Youth Crew inspired hardcore, so you know that I'm going to love it. 200 on red, 300 on white, 400 on black vinyl.

Nice job REACT! crew. I'm impressed with the effort that is put forward to keep releasing quality hardcore.

Moving On Blues

I'm slowly adding on to my Not Sorry collection. Picking up the original pressing from Lifeline Records was easy enough, but after passing on the pre-order package deal from Salad Days, I've been trying to pick up pieces here and there. The label pressed pretty small quantities of colored vinyl for the Euro press, so it wasn't much of a surprise when they sold out pretty quick. A couple months ago, David from Salad Days found a few more copies of blue vinyl, and I jumped to finally pick one of these up. Only 96 pressed on blue vinyl. I'm hoping that he finds some of the yellow vinyl next. New 7 inch from REACT! should be out soon!

Apologies and Regret

I knew it would happen. I knew that if I didn't pick up the Not Sorry five 7 inch package deal from Salad Days Records, then I would regret it. The label is out of Portugal, and in the end, I couldn't bring myself to lay down the money for the package deal plus overseas shipping. My loss, and now I wish that I had picked it up when I had the chance. When John from Not Sorry posted on the REACT! board that he had some black vinyl copies available, and one copy on yellow vinyl going to one person at random, I figured that I'd cough up some cash to get one of the Salad Days pressings. When Salad Days put up pre-orders for the Police & Thieves 12 inch in the next week or so, I will not hesitate to order.

Black vinyl with the Salad Days stamp on the dust sleeve. 300 pressed.

No Apologies

Not Sorry recently joined the REACT! crew, so if you've never heard them, that should give you a pretty good indication that we are talking about a quality edge band here.

Lifeline Records, who also have a history of solid hardcore releases, recently put up the band's first 7 inch, Moving On, for pre-order. 100 copies on white vinyl with a yellow insert.

500 copies on clear red with a white insert. Yeah, I think the singer looks like Dan O'Mahoney on the insert.