''Here Lies Are''(Split with Serena Maneesh)

Once you saw the ripe fruit / Now all you see are the flies... 

Sleeve - FU Side:
Photograph taken by Sandy Miranda

Sleeve - Serena Maneesh Side

Vinyl - FU Side

Vinyl - Serena Maneesh Side

Stats:
General:
Tracks: Here Lies Are / Opium Priest (Performed by Serena Maneesh)
Released: 2010
Label: Best of Both Records: BOBR1003
Pressing Info: 1000 *See insert note

'Norwegian / Euro Version':
Matrix A: 108922 A1 KM
Matrix B: 108922 KM B1

'Canadian / North America Version'
Matrix A: AR-16928-A
Matrix B: AR-16928-B

Inserts:
Norwegian version: 2 inserts - a hand-numbered picture-card and an A4 photocopied lyric sheet
Canadian version:  1 large insert on glossy paper, combining the info / text of the above.

*The insert in the Norwegian version is numbered out of 1000; it's unclear if there were 1000 of each version or if there were 500 of each and the Norwegian inserts were intended to be numbered only as far 500/1000.



Variants:
Norwegian Version
Canadian Version

Sleeve Variants:
Left: Norwegian sleeve is slightly smaller and the print is less sharp
Right: Canadian sleeve

Inserts  - Norwegian Version:
Top: Photocopied A4 sheet with lyrics and credits (single sided)
Bottom: Small card with toddler image

Inserts  - Norwegian Version:
Top: As above (reverse of sheet is blank)
Bottom: The picture cards are numbered on the reverse out of 1000

Insert - Canadian Version (front):
Glossy paper with same image as Norwegian card

Insert - Canadian Version (back):
Lyrics / credits - the original version is not much easier to read...

Notes:

Best of Both Records:
This label appears to be no longer operational; the following is taken from their FB Page:

About:
Best Of Both Records releases limited runs of split singles on quality vinyl 

Mission: To create a crossover between Toronto and Oslo music scenes, establishing a trans-continental link between the two communities providing larger exposure, creating a larger market, and developing diversity of alternative music in both cities. Essentially, to create links between artists and fans in both cities through any effective means available (booking, distributing records, podcasting, sharing of resources, guest bedrooms etc.). 

Company Overview: We are an independent record company based in Toronto (Canada)/ Oslo (Norway) that releases split 7" records showcasing some of the best artists from both cities. We print small to medium run limited edition vinyl with regional distribution to independent records stores offering artists locally based promotion and a more focused and personal type of international promotion.

Mixtape 4 Inlay Notes:
1) “Here Lies Are” From the split 12” with Sareena Maneesh
Here's another tasty little nugget. This was recorded forever-ago, but it still feels like a new song. Looking back at liner notes is a real time warp. This was done in November 2009, about a year after ChemCom came out, during the sessions that produced “Year of the Ox” and the Davids Plan 7”, amongst other things. A real check-off session, where after leaving songs and ideas simmer for a bit too long, you rush in and record everything at once before you have to leave again. In this case, we were cramming to get the 7” out before Christmas, since it was a holiday benefit record, and this 12” released in time to meet us for a tour in Europe. We're perpetually late on the Zodiac 12”s, so there was no real time-crime happening there, because we dust-binned the cycle a long time ago. This song was written in about 5 minutes. Every once in a while the practising and writing is at such a fever pitch that it overtakes you completely, and the only relief from writing is to also write, but of something of lesser value. Our respite from the gruelling work of doing Year of the Ox was to just bust out a really fast song and throw it on a single with a band we'd never met (but who are cool). I actually did end up meeting one of the dudes in this band, at a Carl Craig show in NY for some reason, at 4am. He was wearing a sailor hat.


Lyrics:
From the first moment I met you / I feared this day would come / When I went from your only / To the person that you shunned / Familiarity breeds contempt, and over time / No one is heaven sent / I was never heaven sent / We sit across the table / Exchanging silent stares / Now that the affair is over / There's no need to put on airs / Familiarity breeds contempt, and over time / No one is heaven sent / I never claimed to be heaven sent  / You're the one that was heaven sent / I'm not heaven sent / Once you saw the ripe fruit / Now all you see are the flies / Where once you heard the truth / Now all you hear are lies / The pendulum has swung / And we watched it as we went / As we brace for the backlash / I'm not the one who changed.





Sleeve Notes:
'Inside of fig': In ancient times the fig was a euphemism for female genitalia. Does the fig have any bearing on the lyrical themes, other than simply being 'ripe fruit'? At this stage in the discography, it's fair to wonder if the lyrics are a straight-forward 'end of relationship' type song, or is it some biblical / Jesus / original sin / loss of faith metaphor? Probably the former...

But what has the toddler on a lead / bomb-fin bollard thing got to do with anything?

Commodity Fetishism

Test Pressing - Canadian Version
Originally bought in the now defunct 'Hits & Misses' Store RIP

PMP Shortlist Surprise (Split with Yamantaka // Sonic Titan)

Sleeve-Front:
The same generic sleeve was used for four different records, hence the surprise.

Sleeve-Reverse:
Similar to front, but with French text

Vinyl - FU Side:
Orange(y) with slight marbling.

Vinyl - Yamantaka // Sonic Titan Side

Stats:

General:
Tracks: What Would You Do? (For Veronica) B/W Queens (Performed by Yamantaka // Sonic Titan)
Released: 2012
Label: Polaris Music Prize PMP1008
Matrix A: PMP1008-A R-26421
Matrix B: PMP1008-B R-26422
Pressing Info: 350 (From correspondence with promoter)
Inserts: No regular insert
Variants: No variants



Notes:

General:

This was one of four different split 7"s, featuring some of the bands nominated for the 2012 Polaris Music Prize. The records all came in a generic PMP jacket, so you don't know which split you are getting. Given away in Canadian record shops as part of the PMP promotion.

From Promotional Post on Polaris Blog (Aug 02 2012):

Get Free Vinyl And A Chance To Go To The Polaris Gala

TORONTO, ON – Thursday, August 2, 2012

The Polaris Music Prize is pleased to announce the return of the surprise split 7” series, sponsored by Scion. Purchase any one of the ten 2012 Polaris Music Prize Short List artists' albums (cd or vinyl) at any of the participating retailers (listed below) and you will be given a surprise split 7”. The instantly collectible unmarked limited edition 7” will feature one Short List artist on each side.

The releases will come in the following splits:

Grimes / Handsome Furs
Kathleen Edwards / Cold Specks
Japandroids / Cadence Weapon
Fucked Up / YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN.

Dirtbombs / Split (Bruise Cruise Volume 8)

Sleeve - FU Side

Sleeve - Dirtbombs side

Vinyl - FU side

Vinyl - Dirtbombs side

Sleeve - Folded Out:
Sleeve printed on shiny card, blank on reverse.

Stats:

General:
Tracks: I Hate Summer B/W If Can Can Can't We (Performed by The Dirtbombs)
Released: March 1, 2012
Label: Bruise Cruise Records BCR008
Matrix A: U-66229M-A BCK-008-453-0/4
Matrix B: U-66229M-B BCK/008-453-0/4
Pressing Info: 800, or maybe 500
Inserts: No regular insert
Variants: No (known) variants




Notes:

''I Hate Summer'' recorded live at KEXP Seattle 2009. Given away as part of Bruise Cruise holiday.

From Insound:
This year's new 4-record series promoting the Bruise Cruise. Each release will feature 2 artists performing on the 7-inch and is limited to 800 copies (300 to Cruise attendees - 500 available to retail stores).

Promotional info, HERE includes rejected? sleeve art:

From FPH Bruise Cruise Review:
There were roughly 2000 passengers on board; only 500 were “Bruisers” who paid double that of the regular cruisers. The 500 consisted of: bands, press, and fans who have a reckless attitude toward their net worth. We were a strange upper-class, pressing every luxury forward. So, why did we do it?

I had hoped for sociological theatre, but that didn't happen. From all reports, last year’s inaugural cruise had a much more mischievous stripe running through it. I suppose that most thought it was an enchanted one-off and treated it as such. If last year was about reckless conquest, this year was about nesting and making sure that we could all do it all again.

The apathy of the other cruisers was welcome company to a crowd hailing mostly from the twitching hyper-informed city of Brooklyn, which was recently described to me as the “Hollywood of music”. I've also never seen bands look more content or relaxed. The weekend was , after all, a vacation from their tours.

The most important thing to note is that there was virtually no phone service or Internet available for the entire trip, and I never heard anyone complain. This became what really made this festival truly special. The crowd was not watching the shows through a sea of raised iPhones, and then scrambling to post their “footage”; they were actually present, together, sharing an experience. This festival didn't need to be validated by the Internet; it was valid on its own.

Relearning Web-less human interaction is pretty easy in a formalized setting that is built only for drinking, eating, fucking, swimming, and going broke. These are all themes that have a significant place in rock-and-roll culture. This irresponsible electricity in an exclusive environment, away from the bad noise of the world came to feel, for lack of a better term…punk.

There is a heavy irony in the idea that independent music culture has become so over-saturated, dangerously accessible, and embedded in the marketplace, that one of the last places it can still get enough room to breathe is in the staged-and-staffed, faux opulence of a “luxury” cruise liner.

The Bruise Cruise was a savage vacation that reminded me how great it is to see a show, and the human connection that makes me come back.

''Coke Sucks''

...Drink Pepsi

Sleeve - Front

Sleeve - Back

Vinyl

Stats:

Tracks:  
A: Son The Father / Magic Word / Fate of Fates /Crooked Head
B: Invisible Leader / BlackAlbino Bones / Crusades / I Hate Summer / Son Of Sam (Chain Gang)

Released: 2011

Label: Chunklet CHKLP005

Matrix A: LET'S REPEAT THE NON-CONFORMISTS OATH.. I PROMISE TO BE DIFFERENT  Ⓤ   L-19719m-A CHK LP-005    

Matrix B: I PROMISE TO BE UNIQUE! I PROMISE NOT TO REPEAT THINGS OTHER PEOPLE SAY. Ⓤ L-19719m-B-RE-I CHK LP-005  

Inserts: No regular insert

Variants:
White sleeve - 6 different coloured vinyl variants
Black Sleeve - April Fools edition


Pressing Info:

Kickstarter copies:

Red translucent - 200

'Sellable' copies (900 total):

Salmon - 300

Gold translucent - 200

Black - 200

Black / White split - 100

Blue translucent - 100

April Fools Edition - 30 (of above?) black vinyl with black sleeve.

Pedantic Nerd Note:

Some sources state 100 copies on black. Presumably this arose from confusion over the statement  on the Chunklet site (page no longer available, but text copied below in Notes), which refers to 900 'sellable' copies, then goes on to give the breakdown below:

*200 Red (exclusively for Kickstarter contributors)
100 b/w split
300 Salmon
200 Gold
100 blue
the rest on black
*The Kickstarter copies were not 'sellable', hence ''the rest on black'' = 200

Variants:

Red Translucent :Given to Kickstarter Contributors (200 copies)

'Salmon' - marbled opaque vinyl:
300  copies - supposedly, but this one seems to be less commonly available in the second hand market than most of the other variants

Gold translucent:
200 copies

Black:
200 copies

Black / White split:
100 copies

Blue translucent:
100 copies

Sleeve Notes:
May be a homage to the Ergs...

Notes:

Text copied from post on Chunklet site:
A 12" special live set recorded by these Canadians in Atlanta at the EARL last year. They barrel through a ton of originals and a cover of "Son of Sam" by Chain Gang. Also on the bill were Carbonas, Bukkake Boys and American Cheeseburger. Damian espouses his love of Pepsi versus Coke and dedicates way too many songs to record collectors. Running time: 37 min.

Recorded to multi-track by Curt Wells.

Mastered by Jeff Capurso.

Lovingly messed with by Henry Owings.

Note: Any crackling or hissing you hear is completely intended. Limited to 900 sellable copies.

COLLECTOR SCUM ALERT: Buy more than one copy of each color and your order will be voided and you won't be notified.


BREAKDOWN:
200 Red (exclusively for Kickstarter contributors)
100 b/w split
300 Salmon
200 Gold
100 blue
the rest on black

Commodity Fetishism:

From Chunklet Site - page no longer exists, so via Vinyl Collective:

The Fucked Up 12" that we released this month has a special version that is going to be sold on April Fool's Day and on April Fool's Day only (starting at midnight EST). It's the "Coke Sucks Drink Pepsi" LP, but it's with a special silkscreened sleeve (by our homies at Bearded Lady in Austin) with a black vinyl record. ONLY 30 COPIES EXIST! So weird, the black is the rarest of all the editions we've got for sale. Can't believe more people don't want it.

Note:

(The comment black vinyl is the rarest of all the editions contradicts the maths used to come up with 200 copies above, however if it's the rarest, that would mean less than 100 and that doesn't really make sense either; there are certainly more than the 30 used for the April Fool. If you're a collector, consider yourself messed with).

'April Fools' Sleeve
Black sleeve with white lettering

From Chunklet Site -  via Vinyl Collective:

Got a special version of the Fucked Up 12" that is gonna be available for a grand total of 24 hours via the Chunklet site starting tonight at midnight. 30 copies. Similar sleeve to the test pressing, but it's white ink on a black jacket instead of silver.....Just to mess with record collectors. Any excess copies will be sold on eBay to benefit Doctors Without Borders.

Chunklet 'tweet' March 31 2011
To those that love Fucked Up and April Fool's Day, a special edn of 30 of the new "Coke Sucks" 12" is for sale TOMORROW ONLY!

Test Pressing Sleeve:
Silver lettering; otherwise same as April  Fools sleeve

Test Pressing:
Purple 'belly-button-fluff' colour splatter

Year Of The Pig(US, UK & Japan 7" versions)

Punish the products but not the machine...

Sleeve - Front (US Version)

Sleeve - Back (US Version)

Vinyl:
All versions have WYR? labels on 'A' Side & Matador labels on 'B' Side

Insert - Front:
L-R: US, Japan & UK versions.
UK & US versions on white paper; Japan version (centre) on off-white paper.

Insert - Back:
L-R: US, Japan & UK versions have respective lyrics on back.
(See below for Ring image)

Stats - US Version:

Tracks: Year of The Pig B/W Mustaa Lunta
Released: 2008
Label: Matador Records & What's Your Rupture OLE 831-7
Matrix A: OLE 831-7-A
Matrix B: OLE 831-7-B Salt
Pressing Info: (TBC)
Inserts: Image of farmer and pigs, with lyrics on reverse
Variants: No (known) variants


Stats - UK Version:

Tracks: Year of The Pig B/W Anorak City
Released: 2008
Label: Matador Records & What's Your Rupture OLE 830-7
Matrix A: OLE 830-7-A
Matrix B: OLE 830-7-B Salt
Pressing Info: (TBC)
Inserts: Image of farmer and pigs, with lyrics on reverse
Variants: No (known) variants


Stats - Japan Version:

Tracks: Year of The Pig B/W For My Friends
Released: 2008
Label: Matador Records & What's Your Rupture OLE 828-7
Matrix A: OLE 828-7-A
Matrix B: OLE 828-7-B Salt
Pressing Info: (TBC)
Inserts: Image of farmer and pigs, with lyrics on reverse
Variants: No (known) variants


UK & Japan Sleeves:

Sleeve - Front (UK Version)

Sleeve - Back (UK Version)

Sleeve - Front (Japan Version)

Sleeve - Back (Japan Version)

Notes:

Mixtape 4 Side B - (Damian discussing lyrical themes - starts at 09.20):
We wrote it about soda pop and chips

General:
Whilst these are grouped together, they are actually three different records, each has a regionally specific edit of the title track and each has a unique 'B' side

(Cropped From) Announcement on LFG (July 22 2008):

Years of the Pig
In case you are confused:

US version: The aside is "Year of the Pig" edited by Eric Boucek, and a bside called "Mustaa Lunta" that G Beat wrote and recorded, and is very punk.

UK version: The Aside features an edit of YOTP by the prodigious Carlos Hernandez, and the bside features our cover of "Anorak City" by the great Another Sunny Day.

JAPANESE version: Features an edit of YOTP by Corona, anda bside called "For My Friends", which is a cover of the band Castlemusic, whose singer, you may recall, is the same Jennifer Castle, that does lead vocal on Year of the Pig.

COMPACT DISK version: Compiles not only all these 7" singles, but also the original 12" release, and its own bside ("The Black Hats"):

It is our belief that the bulk of each release will stay within its territory; it however, is also our belief that the effort must match the reward, in so much as the spoils are for the enterprising. It is unclear at the moment how many copies there are of each release. What is known is that 250 copies of the Japanese 7" currently reside in Barcelona, Spain.

Sleeve Notes:

The Three Little Pigs (From Wikipedia):

The Three Little Pigs is a fable featuring anthropomorphic pigs who build three houses of different materials. A big bad wolf is able to blow down the first two pigs' houses, made of straw and wood respectively, but is unable to destroy the third pig's house, made of bricks. Printed versions date back to the 1840s, but the story itself is thought to be much older. The phrases used in the story, and the various morals that can be drawn from it, have become embedded in Western culture.

The three little pigs leave their mother and go off to build three little houses...

They defeat the big bad wolf (a generic archetype of a menacing predatory antagonist) and live happily ever after...

In real life, things don't always work out the same as the fairy tales. This photo shows men taking a rest from hauling  the weight of  three pig carcasses.

The Rhinemaidens & Alberich

Illustration for Richard Wagner's ''The Ring'' by Arthur Rackham
The illustration shows the three Rhinemaidens, the ring and the two dwarves, Mime and Alberich

From Walkürepedia
In the opening of the Ring Cycle, Alberich is mocked by the Rhinemaidens for his futile attempts to catch them. He steals the Rhine gold from the Rhinemaidens, and renounces love so he can craft from it a ring to rule a world. With the ring Alberich takes control of the Nibelungs and forces them to mine gold for him. He plans to eventually enslave the world with his army and force women to sate his lust

Commodity Fetishism

YOTP Test Pressings:
Something odd about the one on the left - ''The Black Hats'' was the 'B' side to the 12"...