June 2022 new release update!
Artificial Peace and Blatant Dissent
Two new LPs (and a book!) from two totally classic punk bands.
ARTIFICIAL PEACE
Live at The Wilson Center | June 25, 1982
LP / CD
Released on the 40th Anniversary of Artificial Peace’s best live show ever, this album features 15 tracks. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Tom Lyle of Government Issue. For anyone who was there that night, they can close their eyes and practically re-live the experience. For those who weren’t, they can sonically experience the intensity of Artificial Peace live!
The release of this live recording documents this important, influential band of the early DC hardcore punk scene, and in a more authentic way than their well-known studio recordings.
Limited edition 160 gram white vinyl LP in a 20pt board jacket with printed inner sleeve featuring Artificial Peace show flyers.
CD is housed in a board jacket style case.
PRE-ORDER ONLY – in addition to the live album, “Artificial Peace in Words and Images” is a hardcover book companion piece. The book contains more 50 pages and features 17 essays from key members of the DC scene, 18 photos taken by Malcolm Riviera (many never seen before), plus 36 video stills of the June 25 1982 show, flyers and other ephemera.
Contributors include Alec Bourgeois, Barry Henssler, Brendan Canty, Brian Gay, Brian Kiviat, Chris Stover, Danny Ingram, Donald Kessing, Ian MacKaye, Ivor Hanson, Jason Carmer, Marc Alberstadt, Mark Haggerty, Tom Berard and Tom Lyle.
**Preorder LP / CD copies include bonus pre-order only fan club extras. Stickers, posters, screen printed wrap. **
BLATANT DISSENT
1985 – 1986
LP
Blatant Dissent’s story is the story of evolution. They started in Dekalb, Illinois, in 1983 as a cover band. Over the next few years, Blatant Dissent developed and recorded their own distinct brand of midwestern indie-skate punk. By 1988, the evolution was complete and they had become Midwest noise-rock stalwarts Tar.
Their music had the backbone and energy of hardcore punk but Blatant Dissent were too smart and well informed to play run-of-the-mill uniform hardcore. Their style was also illuminated by the innovations of contemporary bands including Naked Raygun, whose Jeff Pezzatii produced their first session. Also influential were Chicago punk pioneers Trial By Fire as well as innovative national acts like Husker Du, The Minutemen and The Replacements.
After an initial demo, Blatant Dissent eventually recorded a total of 22 songs over two sessions between 1985 and 1986. Recorded by Iain Burgess and Steve Albini respectively, these sessions offer insight into the development of the group as they tightened their song writing and laid the groundwork for later becoming Tar.
During 2021 the original multitracks were remixed by the band with Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in Chicago. The music was subsequently mastered by Carl Saff and pressed into 160 gram color vinyl in Chicago at Smashed Plastic Record Pressing.
22 song limited edition blue / white swirl color vinyl LP. Comes in 20pt board jacket with full color, four page booklet. Beautiful.