Editor's Picks: Cool Records

101ers - Elgin Avenue Breakdown (Revisited) 2xLP - Joe’s pre-Clash material has been widely available for sometime in CD form. But, it’s nice to e able to pair all the Clash records up against their older brother. Plus, the material here undulates from pretty good to absolutely great. In fact, if you listen closely, you’ll even hear some proto-Clash tunes…-Punknews Staff Brand New - Deja Entendu 12-inch - It's Brand New season. First off they shipped out some lyric booklets nine years late, then they played a new song, then they released it, then they played another new song, then they announced some UK tour dates in crazy small venues, then those sold out, then they announced some more, and on and on… Brand New are everywhere. Fitting in with this is their release of Deja Entendu on vinyl. It's a long-awaited repressing of one of the classics in the genre, but they're first putting out a RSD-exclusive version on Saturday. It's apparently "housed in a paper bag" -- whatever that means -- and comes with some stickers, amongst other things. Might be pretentious or whatever, but that record is wall-to-wall hits. Hoping to pick up a paper bag at RSD 2015! -Max Qayyum Against Me - Osama Bin Laden as the Crucified Christ 7-inch - There are three records on my RSD list this year, which are the OFF! 10-inch, The Dwarves 7-inch, but especially the Against Me! 7-inch. Call me crazy, or OCD, but I own at least one copy of everything Against Me! has released on vinyl. They are my favorite band, so getting the Osama Bin Laden As The Crucified Christ 7-inch is essential. From what I have read this release has two versions of the song. The A-side apparently has a live recording and the B-side has the "Extra Dysphoric Version," which was recorded just for this 7-inch. I’m extremely interested to hear what these alternative versions of the song sound like. This single is also being pressed on colored vinyl, which makes it even more exciting and more motivating to buy. Hopefully, I can get my hands on one of the 700 that were made for Saturday. -Ricky Frankel Dwarves - Fun to Try 7-inch - The Dwarves cutting one of their poppiest songs ever. This channels the Big Bopper all while saluting the Dwarves mandate: Punk has no boundaries. To reinforce that, the flip side has a unique mix of “Sluts of the USA.” According to the band, pretty much anyone can be a slut and that’s not a bad thing. This is cerebral music as channeled through the wang. -John Gentile Front Bottoms / GDP - Split 7-inch - The Front Bottoms are ‘org favorites and for a reason. The band puts their hearts on their sleeves on every track, resulting in records that pay homage to the '90s without being nostalgic. This will make you feel things. -Amanda Dellaporte Dave Hause - Home Alone 7-inch - Two brand new Dave Hause songs. Two demos. Hause never disappoints and this is sure to be another one of his poetic classics. -Punknews Staff Dead Milkmen - Beelzebubba 12-inch - The DM are a household name, but they’re not the biggest household name. In a way, it’s a real shame that the band doesn’t get more props because they are one of the few bands that convincingly switch between wacky-hilarity and caustic seriousness. Beelzebubba represents the pinnacle of that relationship. Also… “Punk Rock Girl.” The greatest punk rock love song ever? -Punknews Staff GWAR - America Must Be Destroyed 2xLP - Colored vinyl.Two LPS, each which play at 45rpm. A pop-up gatefold image of Gor-Gor, the band’s pet T-Rex. Is this decadent? Absolutely. What better way to celebrate GWAR with an absolutely ridiculous, gilded version of what might be their greatest album. HAIL ODERUS! -John Gentile Metallica - No Life Til Leather Cassette - Ah, the hallowed Metallica gem. Their ark of the covenant, if you will. Finally, a legitimate copy of their earliest recordings… with Dave Mustaine! This isn’t for everyone, but for Metallica fanatics, this is without question their greatest archival release to date. -Gene the Van Guy Mike Watt and the Secondmen - Shit on Me 7-inch - Mike Watt and his band covering the Dicks. MIKE WATT AND HIS BAND COVERING THE DICKS. -Punknews Staff OFF! - Live from the BBC 10-inch - OFF! is about as good as it gets on record: hard, energetic music, super-short songs, Keith Morris sounding better than ever. But live? They’re even better. Rawer, faster, and harder. Plus, live cuts from their amazingly great Wasted Years LP. With every stroke, the band just gets more vitriolic, more intense and more mind-blowing. -John Gentile Pizza Underground - PU Demos 7-inch - Macauly Culkin playing pizza-themed versions of Velvet Underground tunes. I mean, why not? -Punknews Staff Tegan & Sara - Live at Zia Records 12-inch - Although there are numerous live Tegan and Sara releases, there are no physical releases that do justice to their rocking, energetic live show. (The digital only Live in Phoenix was great). Will their new live record finally showcase them doing what they do best? -Punknews Staff Various Artistes - The Wrestling Album 2xLP - Putting my personal feelings on Record Store Day and the bloated cash grab it's become aside, there's one record that's worth shoving the unwashed masses in 311 t-shirts out of the way for this Saturday. On Record Store Day, The Wrestling Album and it's sequel, Piledriver are being reissued, making them readily available for the first time in nearly three decades. I scored an original copy of the first one in a $1 bin not so long ago, and ideally I'd like to do the same with the second. While I see grabbing a reissued Piledriver as the lazy way out, there are times when I'm not above being lazy, and this, folks, is one of those times. -Adam Eisenberg

Editor's Picks: Cool Record Stores

Amoeba Records - Hollywood, CA - This is my fourth Record Store Day. For the past three years I have gone to Amoeba Berkeley in Northern California, but since I’m back in Southern California I’m going to Amoeba Hollywood, the best of the three locations in my opinion. It is one of my favorite places to visit in Los Angeles. It has a MASSIVE rock vinyl selection and big punk vinyl section. There are a ton of awesome punk 7-inches that are always worth looking through, not to mention that there are some amazingly rare records and 7-inches for sale that are hung all over the walls of the warehouse. You really get that “record store vibe/feeling” when you walk in. -Ricky Frankel Burger Records - Fullerton, CA - Do you want whacked out garage rock? Good time pop music? Experimental stuff that no one can explain? A shop run by two of the most chill dudes you will ever meet? (They are, like really chill). Also, their in-house cassette label is an absolute treasure trove of gems. AMAZING. -Punknews Staff Electric Avenue - West Chester, PA - Frankly, they had us at the Eddie Grant reference. But, Electric Avenue is just a great classic record store. Assembled from the stock of the Chester County Book company, Electric Avenue has an extensive selection of CD classics and a curated selection of obscure stuff. Plus, the vinyl bins have a ton of cool stuff down in there. And the owners are both hella sweet people. -Punknews Staff Jupiter Records - Wilmington, DE - Jupiter Records takes a different approach to RSD and it is awesome. Instead of buying the usually RSD exclusive stock, they drop hella bank and acquire two entire collections from hardcore collectors. This year there are super, super, super rare punk, rock and jazz records a-plenty for sale. You will not believe some of the white whales they will have for sale. Also, the store’s three main guys, Steve, Jaime, and Brian? Solid dudes. -John Gentile Shady Dog Records - Paoli, PA - Shady Dog is a “dad record store” and I mean that in the best possible way. Run by Dave and Mike, the store is a place where you can really learn a lot about music -- everything from rock to punk to new wave to jazz -- these guys are experts. Plus, the dollar bin is Insane. There is no better way to brush up on your music education than a one to two dollar Bowie or Beatles record. -Punknews Staff Streetlight Records - San Jose, CA - Streetlight is so great. First, their selection is insane. So, so, so many great vinyl records in stock all the time. Also, their CD shelves are packed with rarities. Also, the staff is awesome and mega friendly. There’s Paige, who always seems to be in a jolly mood. Then, there’s Matt, the punk rocker that knows his way around a Melvins or Alice Cooper conversation. There’s the dude with long hair that looks a little bit like Al Jourgensen who knows everything about obscure metal. And you can’t forget the guy in the baseball cap that comes across as a record obsessed Ron Howard. Not only are these people totally into music, but they are down with all genres. No snobbery here. Also, RSD is always a party at Streetlight. Every year the same crowd shows up and it’s a mini-reunion. Be sure to say hi to Dan V, the world’s biggest Fucked Up fan. Or talk about Salsa with the guy who is a Latin music expert. There’s also another guy that knows everything about the Smiths. Heck, there’s even usually a few people looking for dates. -John Gentile