| ORDERING
INFO: For International Orders, send Money Order in US dollars only. Mail your orders to: Substandard
Records
Make sure you include CLEARLY your name and complete address. For questions about your order, please e-mail john@substandard.com | ||||||||||||||||||||
Here's the latest listing of in stock / in print releases (unless otherwise noted):
New
Releases Available Now:
The Rum Diary "Poisons That Save Lives" CD/LP
The WPP "Baam! Jaam!" CDEP
Coming
Soon:
Kilowatthours/The Rum Diary split CD (split with Springman Records)
Replicator "You Are Under Surveillance" CD
|
Substandard
Sound Recordings
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
Artist / Title / Description |
Cat.
No.
|
Price
|
|
|
|||
 |
Various
Artists - Here We Are Nowhere 29 tracks from Anti-Flag, Three Summers Gone, the Unseen, Libertine, Douglas, Link 80, Accustomed to Nothing, Snap-Her, Reagan Squad, Subincision, Swingin' Utters, UK Subs, Burning Kitchen, The Receivers, BadTown Boys, Dead Lazlo's Place, Skeletor, Jack Killed Jill, Rister, Dandare, Turbo A.C.s. |
SUB1000CD
|
$6.00
US
|
 |
Three
Summers Gone - Time Well Spent San Francisco's Three Summers Gone play a blend of emotional hardcore and old school skate rock. Influenced by current and deceased acts Hot Water Music, Lifefime, Samiam, and Jawbreaker, as well as older punk acts like the Descendents, Three Summers Gone strives to create a new sound, while maintaining their roots in punk and emo. Whether live or on recording, performances by Kyle Weitzel (drums), Dan xAfricax (guitar), Chris Summers (vocals, bass), and Lamar Thompson (guitar), stun listeners with complex instrumental arrangements and emotional energy. Three Summers Gone bind collective personal experiences of moving to San Francisco from their roots in South Carolina on "Time Well Spent," an emotionally-charged debut title, featuring mixed-tempo melodic and textured arrangements. For those who like melodic hardcore from the East and the West Coast, this is a must have. |
SUB1001CD
|
$11.00
US
|
 |
Libertine
- See You In The Next Life Stylized NY rock 'n' roll that's at once old school and cutting edge, LIBERTINE's modern take on 70's punk meets glam/brit-pop has made them one of the top up-and-coming bands in the underground scene. "See You in the Next Life" is a lethal combination of power and angst, filled with catchy anthemic songs, big choruses, and enough attitude and style to sweat James Dean. "Next Life" is sure to be one of the years most talked about releases. Picture The Clash and Johnny Thunders getting together with Psychedelic Furs and Billy Idol and you start to get close. |
SUB1002CD
|
$11.00
US
|
 |
Diabolical
Exploits - Diabolical
Exploits An eclectic range of East Bay punk rock tunes by Andy Ernst of the Art of Ears and friends. For fans of Bad Religion, AFI, Screeching Weasel, Subincision... The debut self-titled release from Diabolical Exploits is a collection of recordings written by Andy Ernst. This 16 track release consists of an diverse range of dynamic mixed-tempo punk anthems, but is distinctly East Bay in sound. Diabolical Exploits was produced, recorded, and mixed by Andy Ernst at the Art of Ears in Hayward, California. |
SUB1003CD
|
$11.00
US
|
 |
Box
The Compass - Run The Easting Down
Box the Compass are Lamar, Jeremy, and Taka. Formed in June of 2000 in San Francisco, CA, Box The Compass played their first show on September 15 at the Drop In Center in Santa Cruz. On October 24, Aaron Prellwitz (Under A Dying Sun, Three Summers Gone) mixed and recorded their first demo. Box The Compass set off for their first tour to Southern California in the Spring of 2001, and continued up to the Northwest in the Fall. All members in Box The Compass contribute to the writing and creation of the songs with the intention of capturing the aggression and intensity of hardcore, while offering the groove and melodic elements of other forms of music. The debut release from Box The Compass is a collection of songs of early material. This release can be described as a mix of hardcore and melodical punk, with a range of mid-tempo to slower-paced beats. |
SUB1004CD
SUB1004 10" |
$10.00 US $10.00
US |
 |
This
Computer Kills - This
Computer Kills At the time of their debut full-length recording, Jeff (Drums), Josh (Guitar/Vocals), and Nick (Bass/Vocals), were still doing their homework to finish high-school in the slot-machine city known as Reno, Nevada. Among the glitter and spectacle of the nearby casinos, This Computer Kills was born in the garage as after school get-togethers to create noise. The first This Computer Kills show was January, 2000 at Joe's Garage. Since then This Computer Kills has played a slew of intense live shows locally with many great bands and began touring in April of 2001 during Spring Break of their senior year. In August 2000, with the aid of a highly trained professional (an unemployed slot machine technician), This Computer Kills took to the studio to record 13 songs for a full-length they hoped to have released sometime in the future. They took it upon themselves do a DIY release themselves and sold every copy they made. Now to be released on Substandard Records, this will be their first full-length label release. This Computer Kills graduated from high-school in the late Spring of 2001, and is currently playing shows and touring. This debut self-titled release is a combination of dueling vocals, breathless screaming, complex basslines, and high-strung guitar melodies, set to a driving punk rock beat. Think indie rock meets punk rock. You'll find influences by Moss Icon, Drive Like Jehu, 400 years, The Convocation of..., Gang Of Four, At The Drive-In, Anti-Flag, Refused, Kill Sadie, and early Unwound. |
SUB1005CD
|
$11.00
US
|
 |
The
Flashing Astonishers - On Involuntary Bliss
"On Involuntary Bliss" reveals The Flashing Astonishers in their position as the missing link between indie rock, post-punk, and shoegazer dream pop. The Flashing Astonishers own up to such various influences as Mogwai, Superchunk, Sonic Youth, Teenage Fanclub, & My Bloody Valentine, eschewing more modern conventional trends and indie-pop flavors. The Flashing Astonishers never quite fall into the clone trap so many bands fall into, and this album was born to show the emo kids the art of constructive noise, and that interesting guitar tones override any mundane whining any day. While so many melodic bands try to sound like the taste of the day to "be cool", the Flashing Astonishers create minty freshness by mixing old mentalities with new music. To describe the sound of "On Involuntary Bliss", think Superchunk/Galaxie 500 meets early Promise Ring/Pavement. |
SUB1006CD
|
$11.00
US
|
 |
The
Rum Diary - Noise Prints Mellow, yet intense and driving indie rock with an unusual sound carried by 2 drum sets, 2 bass guitars, and a Moog. For fans of Three Mile Pilot, Mogwai, The Black Heart Procession, and Godspeed You Black Emporer! "Noise Prints" is a full-length combination of studio and home recordings from 2000 to 2001. The Rum Diary is based out of Cotati CA, a small town in Sonoma County (40 miles north of San Francisco). While Cotati offers the best in "that good old cow town feeling," the Rum Diary occupies a small practice space and toil away creating a "visual sound". The mood often shifts as the music swirls away in cathartic dynamics, images beam on a nearby wall, strange landscapes are created, the sound travels the celluloid imagery... For a little while a small room in an innocuous town becomes the epicenter of a vivid journey. Formed in the spring of 2000, the Rum Diary has been writing and performing original songs combining two drum-kits, double bass guitars and a delayed Farfisa organ. “Their songs range from simple and impressionistic to churning and frantic--like the soundtrack to a crazy dream you can't quite remember. It is not the type of music you can dance to, but they can raise a mighty cacophony.” Best known for contriving the “indie-rock-drum-circle,” the Rum Diary continues to record and tour the West Coast. |
SUB1007CD
|
$11.00
US
|
 |
Under
A Dying Sun - Under
A Dying Sun With over two years of constant touring and playing shows (with the likes of ENGINE DOWN, YAPHET KOTTO, BOTCH, PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS, BOX THE COMPASS, ASSISTANT, BENTON FALLS, etc.), two 7-inches, and one CDEP, the Bay Area’s UNDER A DYING SUN has been long due for a full-length release for some time now. Shaye, Konane, Dan, Jerry, and Macklan (ex-members of Nexus Six, Living War Room, and Three Summers Gone) deliver a highly anticipated set of high-intensity mid-90s-esque melodic songs. Recorded at Toast Studios by Aaron Prellwitz (TIME IN MALTA, BOX THE COMPASS), this self-titled debut full-length documents the current progression of one of the Bay Area’s hardest working and passionate bands. 12" LP on City Boot. |
SUB1008CD
|
$11.00
US
|
 |
End
On End - Why Evolve When We Can Go Sideways? Politically-charged hardcore and post-hardcore from Los Angeles, CA. end on end combines a sense of urgency, passion and activism with a heartfelt love of music and a desire for honesty and integrity in all their actions. "Why Evolve When We Can Go Sideways?" marks the second full-length from this LA quintet, and highlights the changes that the band has gone through since their debut full-length and split full-length releases on This Guy Records. Moving into heavier, screamier and altogether more complex terrain, yet retaining their base in the melodic sound of '80s and early '90s hardcore, the band has taken their sound to a whole new level. Compared in the past to bands like Still Life, Rites of Spring, Endpoint and early Grade. |
SUB1010CD SUB1010LP |
$11.00 US $10.00
US |
 |
Subincision
- Subincision With their debut in 1994, Subincision quickly became a favorite at 924 Gilman where they were known to be one of the smarter and catchier punk combos around. Their live shows are dramatic, funny, disgusting and usually end with fans clawing at the microphone to sing along --a true punk tradition in the East Bay. Influenced by bands like the Dead Kennedys, Fear, and Rancid, this self-titled debut (originally released on the now defunct Beach Recordings), blends an early 80s style punk rock sound with a uniquely definable “East Bay” touch. Recorded at the Art of Ears with Andy Ernst (Rancid, Green Day, Nerve Agents, AFI), this must-have punk rock record contains 16 tracks of fast guitars, walking bass lines, and vocal harmonies spewing out social commentary with often humorous lyrical content about the miseries of having children, marriage, poverty, stupidity, drug abuse and alcoholism. |
SUB1011CD |
$11.00
US
|
 |
Subincision
- Subincision "IT TAKES CAJONES to call yourself Berkeley's newest hitmakers, but that's just what punk quartet Subincision does on its new platter, Berkeley's Newest Hitmakers. But after a few spins of this sophmore CD, you can see what the boys mean... The bouncy strut 'This Time' is kinda kicky, but the rousing 'Punk Chick' really gets the ears in an uproar, sounding like a one-song recap of early 80s hits from 'London Calling' down to 'Be Good Johnny.'" - Sam Hurwitt (Billboard June 2, 2000) With a new line-up of vocalist John Mendiola, guitarist Pat McMains, bassist Mike Montoya, and drummer Corey Moore; Subincision returned to the studio and recorded their 2nd full-length with the Art of Ears' Andy Ernst (AFI, Nerve Agents, Green Day, Rancid) and declared themselves "Berkeley's Newest Hitmakers." Moving into a more varied terrain, this latest set of hits sucessfully takes their signature lyrical content and style and throws in a twists it with hints of new wave, country, and 50s and 60s rock and roll. |
SUB1012CD |
$11.00
US
|
 |
Inventing
Edward - We've Met An Impasse (By Midnight We'll Be
Naked) Inventing Edward, from the San Francisco Bay Area, consists of a unique and eclectic set of talents and instruments (features members of UNDER A DYING SUN, RUHAEDA, spoken word artists). Shaye (Rhodes/vocals), Courtney (bass), Sky (guitar), Jerry (drums), and Justin (Rhodes/accordian), deliver a modern take on big bass lines, spacy guitar reverb, spontaneity, and experimentation. Inventing Edward draws from a diverse range of musical styles and sounds, as well as visual and experiential elements, in the vein of BLACK HEART PROCESSION, PORTISHEAD, PINK FLOYD, and NEUROSIS. Inventing Edward's debut can be described as a mostly live and spontaneous (on the spot recording) studio album about capturing thematic elements such as the progress and declination of human development, nature vs. human evolution, and the free-running soul of everyday life. |
SUB1013CD |
$11.00
US
|
 |
Subincision
- Subincision Jingo marks the third full-length from the Berkeley pogo-punk favs, Subincision. Expanding upon the last two albums, Jingo comprises of more variation in styles from straight-up punk/hardcore, to new wave, to country/folk-punk. Recorded at the Art of Ears by Andy Ernst (AFI, Nerve Agents, Green Day, Rancid), Jingo is the strongest album to date for fans of catchy sing-alongs, 80s new-wave, satirical lyrics, and East Bay punk rock. |
SUB1014CD |
$11.00
US
|
 |
Various
Artists - Kitestringing: The Prison Literature Project
Benefit Substandard Records and Versus Press have collaborated to produce a compilation album to benefit the Prison Literature Project, a Bay Area non-profit group that sends thousands of books every month to prisoners nationwide. KITESTRINGING - a term adopted from prison jargon that means passing notes between cells via string - features 22 tracks from bands and activists who understand that access to knowledge is a basic human right, prisoners included. The music on the album is an assorted layer of post-punk rock, some of it political, set next to melodic indie harmonies. Among the bands are musicians' rights activist JENNY TOOMEY, Aaron Cometbus' project THE BLANK FIGHT, Belle & Sebastian tour mates THE AISLERS SET, The Bay Guardian's "Best of the Bay" band ING, Canadian politicos PROPAGANDHI, Soft Skull Press publisher Sander Hicks' WHITE COLLAR CRIME and Florida singer-songwriter JEREMY GLOFF. The album also includes unreleased tracks by the UK's CHUMBAWAMBA, LOW WATER, THE WEAKERTHANS (live), THE SPECS and ING, with spoken word pieces by two well-known author-activists, WARD CHURCHILL and NOAM CHOMSKY. Features: |
SUB1015CD |
$8.00 US
|
 |
Truxton
- Truxton In 1997, Johnannes Armentrout, whose nickname is Hansi, began making a name for himself in the open mic circuit of the Bay Area as a solo acoustic/folk act called "Hansi." Hansi soon recruited friends Lucas White (also in the LIBRARIANS/Pandacide Records) and Francis Choung (also in FROM MONUMENTS TO MASSES/Dimmak Records) to complete and fill out a full working band, which in 2003 adorned the name TRUXTON. What has come of the union is a powerful brand of indie rock with traditional pop/rock sensibilities. This self-titled full-length debut on Substandard comprises of older and newer tracks, documenting the bands inception, and current direction. This is a must-have for fans of indie rock in the vein of SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE, ELLIOT SMITH, NEIL YOUNG, HAYDEN, DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE, with a San Diego influence. |
SUB1016CD |
$11.00
US
|
 |
The
Spotlight Syndicate - Erotic New Science
THE SPOTLIGHT SYNDICATE is a three-piece band from Reno, Nevada consisting of Nick (Bass/Vocals), Carolyn (Keyboard) and Jeff (Drums). The band was started in the Fall of 2002 about six months after the rash breakup of THIS COMPUTER KILLS, Nick and Jeff's previous band. Deriving influences from such bands as THE CURE, MOSS ICON, THE FAINT, THE SMITHS, GANG OF FOUR, FUGAZI, CURSIVE, THE INTERNATIONAL NOISE CONSPIRACY, and many others, THE SPOTLIGHT SYNDICATE create an interesting blend of new wave indie rock music with a dancy edge. |
SUB1017CD |
$11.00
US
|
 |
DESA
- Demonstrates Birth DESA is an "almost" brand new five-piece band from Oakland, CA. With only 30 live shows under their belt and the release of the four-song CDEP/demo, "DESA Demonstrates Birth," the members of DESA celebrate a newfound ambition and excitement after over seven years of playing together. DESA formed from the East Bay's LINK 80, a ska/punk band whose members began playing together in early 1994. At the beginning of 2002, five out of six remaining members of Link 80, reluctant to ever give up the band permanently and overdue for a break, decide to embark on a side-project of sorts. The musical constraints of the established band were abandoned and along with the relief accompanied by LINK 80's hiatus, DESA began work on new songs and a new beginning. "DESA Demonstrates Birth," is a manifestation of that new beginning, and a taste of what's to come as DESA is currently writing material and will enter the studio to record a debut full-length for Substandard Records later this year. |
SUB1018CD |
$6.00
|
 |
30
Years War- Under The Gun Formed in the late 90s from the annals of Santa Cruz's dying hardcore scene, 30 YEARS WAR emerged as a band with a new take on the current state of music. A blend of technically driven rhythms combined with the raw intensity of early hardcore, give way to 30 YEARS WAR's style of politically and emotionally charged music. Focused on the world around us, they set out to bring light to and confront traditional mindsets. 30 YEARS WAR create the compelling and dynamic EP entitled "Under the Gun" to mark their presence in the current state of hardcore. Heavy and technically motivated compositions, combined with the bitter conviction of screamy vocals, evoke a sense of passion and maturity in the group's music. "Under the Gun" lays forth an intricate path of dark struggles and provoking challenges, aimed to defy the world around us. For fans of BORN AGAINST, HEROIN, FILTH, and UNIVERSAL ORDER OF ARAMAGEDDON. |
SUB1019CD |
$6.00
|
 |
DESA
- Year In A Red Room Year In A Red Room, the debut full-length, marks the culmination of a year's growth as a band, which was spent primarily writing and practicing in their studio space in Oakland (which is painted red). Year In A Red Room takes DESA beyond baby steps and delivers a mix of indie and punk with intensity and youthful energy. |
SUB1020CD |
$11.00
US
|
 |
Under
A Dying Sun - Supernova After releasing their self-titled debut in 2002, and returning from a national US tour and one in Japan, UNDER A DYING SUN took to writing and performing a set of new songs in early 2003. This second full-length by the Bay Area's UNDER A DYING SUN, which includes eight new tracks of melodic indie/hardcore combines the intensity and honesty of hardcore, with the diversity and complexity of indie/emo. Engineered and recorded at John Vanderslice's Tiny Telephone by Aaron Prellwitz (BOX THE COMPASS, TIME IN MALTA, HELLA, CAESURA, NEIL YOUNG, INVENTING EDWARD), this is the best UADS album to date. |
SUB1021CD SUB1021LP |
$11.00 US $10.00
US |
 |
Various
Artists - Translation Music 3 Following two sold out volumes of Translation Music, previously released by Don Lee Records, Substandard is releasing the third installation of the budget CD compiliation series, featuring touring indie bands from the West Coast. 18 exclusive tracks from established and up-and-coming bands, including GRAILS (Neurot), EE (Asian Man), THE RUM DIARY (Substandard), FIVER (Devil In The Woods), DESERT CITY SOUNDTRACK (Deep Elm), THE DROPSCIENCE (Happy Couples Never Last), THE INTIMA (Slowdance), XIU XIU (5rc), THE ROOTS OF ORCHIS (Slowdance), and more. All tracks are exclusive and unreleased, and fans these artists will undoubtedly pick up Translation Music 3 for their collection, while finding new treasures to dig into. |
SUB1022CD |
$5.00
|
 |
The
Rum Diary - Poisons That Save Lives
NEW RELEASE The Rum Diary has spent the last three years releasing two critically acclaimed CDs: "Noise Prints" and "A Key To Slow Time," touring, fine-tuning their sound, and exploring the depths of indie-rock. Their new full-length "Poisons That Save Lives" draws from their past efforts and takes you on an expansive atmospheric journey, combining spacy and lofty sonic elements with propelling drums and meandering melody-driven basslines. Utilizing an array of instruments, song structures, and recordings techniques, The Rum Diary has crafted an album which showcases their musical versatility and heavenly harmonies. This eight-song, 60-minute masterpiece was recorded at Grizzly Studio in Petaluma and back home in Cotati. While American indie rock seems to have split off into many sub-camps, The Rum Diary harken back to an age of noisy rock bands that kept grips on songwriting and melodies. Combining two drum kits, two bass guitars, Farfisa, Moog, a medley of layered guitars, percussion, melodica, and soft vocals, The Rum Diary has created a sound that is thought provoking, experimental and beautiful. A definite must for fans of Three Mile Pilot, Dianogah, Pinback, The Appleseed Cast, and Mogwai. |
SUB1023CD SUB1023LP |
$11.00 US $10.00
US |
 |
The
WPP - Baam! Jaam! NEW
RELEASE The WPP is one of the hardest working bands to grind their faces in Canadian Soil. They have worked tirelessly to take control of the means of production. From booking their own tours, to putting out their own records. Since 1999, The WPP have done four international tours (Canada & USA) three west coast tours (USA), and countless local shows, playing with bands like, Fugazi, The Locust, Les Savy Fav, Hot Hot Heat, The Blood Brothers, Rye Coalition and Grade. They have released one full-length (the revolution that never was, and never will be: 2001) and a previous CDEP (boom! jam!: 2002). Baam! Jaam! was recorded in 2003 and will be The WPP's first release for Substandard. |
SUB1024CD |
$6.00
|
 |
Kilowatt
Hours/The Rum Diary -
Split COMING SOON Truly an east meets west in the world of indie rock. Kilowatthours hail from Brooklyn and The Rum Diary hail from Cotati, a small town just north of San Francisco. Both bands have developed signature sounds that emphasize melody, layering, soft vocals, and variance in styles between each song.They met in true indie rock fashion. Kilowatthours were touring the west coast and having trouble trying to secure a show in the bay area. This release show-cases two up and coming hard working bands poised for national success. A must have for fans of: Three Mile Pilot, Sonic Youth, Dianogah, Pinback, & My Bloody Valentine. |
SUB1025CD |
COMING
SOON
|
| Replicator
- You Are Under Surveillance COMING
SOON |
SUB1026CD |
COMING
SOON
|
|
| Additional
Sound Recordings Available | |||
| | |||
| | Artist / Title / Description | Cat.
No. | Price |
| | |||
 | This
Computer Kills - This Life Is Lived The newest songs from TCK just released on Sedition Records. Include 4 new songs. |
SED02
7" | $3.50
US |
 | Various
Artists - Translation. Music. 2. LIMITED One new song from The Rum Diary, plus tons of other indie songs from Time Spent Driving, The Dropscience, Namesake, Rubymar, Funnel Mouth, The Desert City Soundtrack, and more! Translation. Music. 1. is completely SOLD OUT. |
DLR02CD |
SOLD OUT |
 | Various
Artists - Color While You Listen LIMITED "The Crayon Comp" is here! This 7" comes with 3 crayons so you can color in the color while you rock out, cool, eh?. Check out The Flashing Astonishers "Four Chords" from On Involuntary Bliss. Also, songs from Visionstain, Drunken Orgy Of Destruction, Pale Green Stars, and Negativ Seaven. |
KR008 |
$3.50
US |