Reissue Wishlist Vol. 2: Chris Tzompanakis, One Day Savior Recordings Feature by Jordan A. Baker
Pastepunk and One Day Savior Recordings have a long history together. Label owner Chris Tzompanakis has been both an inspiration to me via his role as the singer of the defunct hardcore band SKYCAMEFALLING, and as the operator of the extremely high quality One Day Savior Recordings. At the moment, the label is currently on hiatus while the music industry goes through its digital transformation. Chris is one of the most expert music nerds I know, particularly in matters of hardcore from the Northeast in the mid-90s, which not-so-coincidentally is the scope of coverage in his blog lifeofaspectator.net. With these credentials out of the way, here's five releases that Chris would like to see given the reissue treatment.
BELTAINE - Crowning The Caged Kid (originally released on Atomic Action)
Originally released on the now defunct Atomic Action label, Beltaine were perhaps one of New England's best kept secrets. Though they never ventured far from their home state of Rhode Island, the band were certainly one of the most underrated bands to this very day. Few records from the late 1990's manage to stand the test of time whether it be the recording quality or the song writing itself however Crowing The Caged Kid has been in regular rotation since its official release in 1997. Beltaine's music was dark, melodic & moody not unlike SPLIT LIP or SEVEN STOREY MOUNTAIN and with a vocalist who was a dead ringer for Jeremy Egnik on SDRE's early material, the CD is not only captivating but an album you wont find yourself skipping from track to track. Just knowing that there is a slew of recording material for this band out there gives me hope that someday someone will care enough to give this record the official release it actually deserves. A 7" on the Watermark label, 5 song cassette, 2 song 7" and an entire album that was recorded as a demo for Columbia and (and subsequently scrapped) along with Crowning The Caged Kid album should be enough to fill two CDs with material.
FALLING FORWARD - Hand Me Down (originally released on Initial)
With Initial Records closing its doors a few years ago, it left many of the label's past releases hanging in the balance. BOY SETS FIRE, PAULSON and CRITERIA were quick to find new homes for their catalog, however many of the former Initial roster will soon find their releases not only of press but forever out of print. Hopefully Louisville's Falling Forward wont suffer that very fate. In the mid 1990s Hand Me Down was unlike anything I had ever heard before. They were heavy, angry and brooding on one hand but on the other they were quite the opposite as their vocals were rather pretty and evoking. I would often get lost in these songs, the angst and intensity that they could produce was like no other band. Hand Me Down still today sounds every bit as passionate as it did when I was 15. Clearly this record could teach today's "emo" bands a thing or two about emotion. Though sonically it leaves a lot to be desired by today's standards, I couldn't imagine a remix or remaster would do this record justice. While the recording quality can certainly be a turn off to some degree, its exactly that which makes this record so captivating.
CABLE - Variable Speed Drive (Doghouse)
Hard to believe that this is the same Doghouse Records who have since released bands like THE GET UP KIDS, THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS and MEG & DIA. Connecticut's Cable were one of the pioneers in what was called the noise core genre (along with such artists as DEADGUY and TURMOIL) in the mid-90s. Though Cable have changed their style often over the years, their debut CD released in 1997 entitled Variable Speed Drive was easily the album that put the band on the map. It was chaotic yet controlled, discordant yet driving, but most of all it was intense. From songs like "Paperplanecrash" to "Steel Caged Match" there is a real sense of beauty somewhere beneath it all. Unfortunately Cable suffered several line up changes, countless last shows, and eventually a shift in genres which eventually dated a release like Variable Speed Drive. Still though a remastering job could certainly give this album the justice it deserves.
PENFOLD - Our First Taste Of Escape (originally released on Milligram)
In 2002 Our First Taste Of Escape was released to mixed reviews. Sure, they wore their influences of bands like MINERAL, THE PROMISE RING and (early) SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE on their sleeves, but that was just how it appeared on the surface. Beneath what sounded like cliché emo on first listen were lush melodies, interwoven guitars which painted very ambient atmospheric landscapes. Each song flowed seamlessly together as it took the listener on an emotional rollercoaster filled with heartache and memories of youth. Our First Taste Of Escape was the perfect soundtrack to your teenage late night drives. It was so textured and rich, and most of all it was cohesive, which certainly showed that Penfold was years ahead of their contemporaries. Its a rather flawless album to say the least, which I couldn't really see improved on much on the overall sound aspect however the Amateurs and Professionals ep and their Self Titled debut 7" would be a welcomed addition.
Few bands could come close to the intensity that MN's Threadbare were able to produce. They were one of the founders of what modern metalcore is today, tying in melodic guitars and slow, heavy riffs. Comparable to bands like 108, UNBROKEN and BLOODLET, Threadbare never really garnered the attention they rightfully deserved. The band were a major influence on such acts as DISEMBODIED and HARVEST, whose styles weren't far off from that of Threadbare's. Their recordings were pure power plain and simple as vocalist Brian Lovoro alternated between screaming and talking. Their guitars would ring out, occasionally melodic, but never letting up that chugga sound mid 1990s groove. The thing is Threadbare were far ahead of their time and it was not until their demise in 1999 that people realized just how big this band could have been. However as hardcore evolves, Threadbare have clearly become lost in the shuffle among the countless other hardcore bands of their time. Perhaps a reissue of their albums (along with the Watermark 7") could help inspire a whole new group of young hardcore bands.
Honorable Mentions: INSIDE - My Funeral, HANDSOME - Self Titled" & MIDVALE - Five and Six (Tie)
Pastepunk and One Day Savior Recordings have a long history together. Label owner Chris Tzompanakis has been both an inspiration to me via his role as the singer of the defunct hardcore band SKYCAMEFALLING, and as the operator of the extremely high quality One Day Savior Recordings. At the moment, the label is currently on hiatus while the music industry goes through its digital transformation. Chris is one of the most expert music nerds I know, particularly in matters of hardcore from the Northeast in the mid-90s, which not-so-coincidentally is the scope of coverage in his blog 
FALLING FORWARD - Hand Me Down (originally released on Initial)
THREADBARE - Feeling Older Faster & Escapist (Doghouse)
