Replay Records Delivers 2012 Boxset

Replay Records Delivers 2012 Boxset

This is a boxset Replay Lounge put out in 2013 possibly that collects all four 7"s released in 2012.  I don't think the newly found label had planned this from the beginning of 2012 or anything, but rather, it was a creative way to move some product.  You get 7"s, a koozie, a sticker, a download of the Cheap Beer comp. and it's all packaged in a hand printed personal pizza box that's designed around Lawrence's best, crappy, pizza place, Pizza Shuttle.

As awesome as I think this whole package is, I'm saddened because it's leading me to believe the following: 1.) It's 2014 and these are still available for purchase, they limited the boxsets to 100.  That means, Replay Records was sitting on at least 100 records of each release.  2.) Since they got a good amount of stock on hand, the label might be in danger of disappearing.  They haven't released anything in a while.  3.)  This is a great deal.  All this cool stuff for $20 and it's still available.  Fucking, go buy this at Replay Records.

As for the music, it's all worth the investment, you really can't go wrong.  Great artwork and cool labels to boot.  Only issue I have with Replay Records is they press their stuff on some shitty vinyl, things are off center, the center holes are too narrow, and you can just look at the grooves and see cheapness.  However, they sell cheap beer at an awesome bar and release punk rock records, I'm not sure I should expect them to sell audiophile grade vinyl releases.  As for the tunes and bands, here's a quick breakdown:

Up The Academy - Gimme Gimme B/W Pretty Bird - Loud, thunderous garage punk.  Gets the award for best artwork as the sleeve is hand pressed on a cut out from a 12 pack of cheap beer.

The Hips/Hospital Ships Split - Yoo Hoo's Binoculars B/W Come Back to Life - The Hips play some drunken stoner-groove.  It's well done, but at times I feel it drives too far down a well-worn path filled with hippies and bands from Austin, TX.  The Hospital Ships are primarily Lawrence, Kansan, Jordan Grieger, doing bedroom pop odes to the Flaming Lips (he took the name from a Lips' lyric).  At least, that's what you always hear.  I think his tune here is the best of the bunch.  Definitely a homespun, bedroom feel, in which you do hear a Wayne Coyne vocal strain, but it's so twee and great.  I really need to invest in the releases available on Graveface Records where Hospital Ships have found a home.

Rooftop Vigilantes/Mannequin Men Split -  Automatic Trash and Trouble Making Words B/W What's Yer Favorite Colour and Dark Cemetery - I already talked about this, it's still awesome.

Mouthbreathers - Die Alone B/W Validation - First, great band name.  The first tune is drawn out and dark.  It's a little too stuck in idle for metal and it's certainly too focused to be punk.  I suppose they may be going for a post-rock sound, that is until "Die Alone" turns into an all out garage-rock raver.  "Validation" on the flip side is more fuzzed out garage punk, reveling that this band was just playing around on all the previous build up.

Cheap Beer Compilation Replay Records 2011

Cheap Beer Compilation Replay Records 2011 CAT# RR001

Sweet compilation filled with short, noisy, punk rock from Lawrence and Kansas City bands.  It came out back in late-2011 and was limited to 500 copies.  It's still around, but don't snooze if you see one and don't have a copy already.

The packaging for this thing is incredible.  Front side you get the corner of 10th & Massachusetts and a zombiefied version of the Replay Lounge.  Backside shows you the Jackpot Saloon.  Favorite part about the release is that they used a Pabst Blue Ribbon box cut out and printed the track listing on the back.  I know, you're thinking PBR is crap and hipsters just need to stop.  Seriously, though, the Replay Lounge has been serving PBR from a tap since their existence.  Long before a hipster fashion sense, there were kids at the Replay drinking PBR from a plastic cup for a dollar.  #trendsetters

This release started up the Replay Lounge as a label, since it's release the bar has put out a handful of 7"s and a Red Kate full length (which I need to pick up, it's also limited to 500).  Their approach was to just take the best tunes the bands had to offer.  Most of these tracks are available on a full length or EP or website downloads.

However, most tracks aren't available in the vinyl format.  So, in 2011, you got the best the bands had to offer on vinyl.  Solid approach, obscure compilation tracks were great fit in the late 90's, but these locals aren't sporting huge followings, better to just get the tunes out there.  Everything is worth a listen if you're into noisy, punk rock and garage sounds.

Radkey Spirals B/W N.I.G.G.A. (Not Okay) 7" Replay 2013

Radkey Spirals B/W N.I.G.G.A. (Not Okay) 7" Replay Records 2013 CAT # 007

I'm desperately trying to find things to dislike about this group.  I can't.  It's really fucking good.  Further, this 7" is put out by a bar, so can't hate on that either.

The song "Spirals" is fast, loud, it's even snotty and has a pubescent attitude.  The flip side has been discussed already.  Plus, the artwork is rad.

I don't get it, but I don't really have to, they're good.  They have a new 12" out that I haven't picked up yet.  Maybe, the kids trip up there, but I doubt it.  I still don't get all these indie releases from a band that books tours overseas.  Granted, it's fairly easy to self release now-a-days and major labels are clearly a thing of the past.  Just makes you think someone is behind this band doing the big moves and priming this band to explode nationally.

SPIRALS

Rooftop Vigilantes & Mannequin Men Split 7" Replay Records 2012

Rooftop Vigilantes & Mannequin Men Split 7" Replay Records 2012 CAT# RR004

Man, the Replay Lounge in Lawrence, KS puts out records now.  That's freaking rad.  My favorite year in college was spent living at 1001 Rhode Island, a block down the street from the Replay.  Walking to a place to get drunk is the best way to get drunk.  And, I was still cool.  I remember when I was 24 and done with school; all the sudden I found myself saying, "When did all these fucking kids turn 21," at the Replay.  It's a hip place.  So hip, that the KU Greek community thinks it's a gay bar.  That's insanely stylish.  Now, they put out records to boot, again, that's freaking rad.

Before I go into this 7" though, just a few more notes on the Replay. I sneaked into see the last Regrets show (under age).  And, I saw Elliott Smith perform there with like 5 other people in attendance.  I love that place.

This 7" came to me by chance, but it's still readily available at the Love Garden and I assume the Replay.  I wouldn't know about the Replay, I'm too old and square.  The 7" features Lawrence band, Rooftop Vigilantes, along with Chicago punks, Mannequin Men.  The Mannequin Men I know, they're kind of a Chicago garage-punk fixture now-a-days.  Not local, but shows the Replay means business with their record label.  They probably couldn't have paired them with a better band.  I don't know anything about the Rooftop Vigilantes other than these songs are great.

The tunes 'Automatic Trash' and 'Trouble Making Words' are relentless.  The band is literally everything I've wanted pop punk band to sound like.  I've never wanted to hear suburbanite kids play crisp, clean chords and sing with a fake British accent about boogers and farts.  Pop punk should sound like this.  Literally, punks attempting pop tunes while screaming and leaving all the mistakes in.  The garage sounds you get from these tracks--the winding organs, the broken scream along harmonies, the loud guitars--it's perfect.  Highly recommended garage rock.

Bandcamp Site
Live at the Replay
Replay Record