The Vool

This "definable peak" is exactly what I hate about all this generic PR-shit!
After your RC comments you're dead to me!

So many things wrong with this sentence.

Eye roll of the year award goes to this band We Shine Every Night who randomly followed me on IG (I get like half a dozen random band follows a day lately).  But I gave them a chance.  As soon as I read the album title ‘All Shall Rise, All Shall Prosper’, I started feeling a little queasy.
 
Most generic shit ever.  Ugh.  It’s pretty much how I felt about The Sun Burns Bright’s first album, but this might even be worse.  
 
*rant over*

Can we just lock this thread?
 
It has become a huge waste of time. 

One of the trolly persuasion, perhaps.

Haha, this is so true...

Holy ever living shit.  Stop what you are doing and listen to this song. 

Album of the year contender if the rest of it holds up to this. 
 
https://seeress.bandcamp.com/track/death-will-come-and-it-will-have-your-eyes

EDIT:

@mrewest and Derek (why can't I @ you?)  just check it and see for yourself haha.  Those were the only bands that i could think of that shared the same vibe as I Hear Sirens.  IHS has more of an edge, but they're all about the feel-good post-rock.  Glories would have been a good FFO in there, but I just didn't think of it. 

WOW! I didn't expect that! Thought they were done...
 
Still looking for their disco set, 0110 and 0120...in case anybody wants to sell/trade theirs!

that's the problem of my life !
Wait to combine purchases and then.... sold out !

Chad Kroeger??? WTF?

The overall quality of ITC (customer service, pressing quality, covers/sleeves) has decreased immensely over the past three to five years...a pity

daegor - reshiram
youinreverse - sasan
reshiram - dunc
ozfacter - youinreverse
swb - ozfacter
dunc - daegor
sasan - swb
 
That just about does it for this year. Thanks everyone!

Sooo, after getting the letter from customs and explaining them the whole idea of VC Secret Santa (they wanted to see a link ), they forwarded everything without me paying any single penny and I received my package today!
 
First things first: I was SHOCKED by the size of the package and the (to that effect) super-high shipping costs my Secret Santa had!
$67 for shipping this beast to Germany! I'm speechless and also sorry that my SS had to pay such a high amount to make me happy...! :-*
Here's the package:

 
So, as you can see my Secret Santa is Jared aka @Youinreverse
I'm somewhat happy that I didn't have to really find out who my SS was/is, since I'm really bad at guessing and it would only create embarrasing situations
After opening the package, I found this letter:

 
Although it's already 2019, I have to say that it wasn't Jared's fault that I've received the package "this late"...rather German customs bureaucracy! They wrote the customs letter on December, 24. Which means the package has been there for around a week...they are so slow! But I'm really happy to have received it at all...also happened that they just returned it to the sender after reading one of my mails
 
NOW we come to the interesting part!!!
First record: Efrim Menuck's High Gospel!

As a HUGE Godspeed You! Black Emperor I was already going nuts seeing this! I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HE RELEASED SOMETHING UNDER HIS OWN NAME!?!?!?! WTF?! Really great start!
 
Second record: 65daysofstatic - The Fall of Math

It's crazy to say, but I don't own a single 65daysofstatic record at all! Jared was probably wondering what the hell is wrong with me since I have quite a few post-rock records in my collection   I do listen to their stuff quite a lot but never thought about buying their records...and can't explain why! I think this is a great start for another great band to enter my record collection and it definitely will not be the last 65dos record!
 
Basically, these two records made me so happy! I didn't expect anything else or more to come...but this was just the start to a sick secret santa package!
 
Third record: The Black Angels - Indigo Meadows

I have never heard of them before and just googled them to find out they make Psych Rock! FANTASTIC! I'm really into PsychRock for a few years now and always welcome new bands in that genre! Can't wait to give it a listen!!!
 
Fourth Record (didn't I say this was a huge package?):  Holy Sons  - Fall of Man

Again a band I've never heard of before! Just googled them/him and listened to "The Fact Facer" (first video to show up)! SOUNDS GREAT! Oh man, can't wait to listen to this...has this fantastic mix of singer/songwriter, experimental, indie...so much new music to discover...love it!
 
Fifth record (ridiculous, isn't it?): Subrosa - For this we fought the battle of ages

Just look at this beauty! This looks fantastic...so basic! I love these kind of artworks!
Again a band that I've never heard of! Regarding discogs it's something in the region of Sludge, Doom & Post-Rock! Sounds exactly like something I'll immediately enjoy!!!.......ahhh that artwork....
 
Sixth Record (holy hell, so many records...): Efterklang - Piramida

I've heard of Efterklang before but never listened to their music at all! But their mix of Post-Rock, Folk & Experimental music will probably be candy in my ears! Can't wait!!
 
SEVENTH RECORD (I really can't believe I'm writing this!!!): The Kills - Ash & Ice

Again something I'm not familiar with! The artwork looks promising! Didn't google them and want to surprise myself...
 
WOW, JUST WOW, JARED ( @Youinreverse)!!!!
This package has to be the biggest, most generous and thoughtful Secret Santa package that I've ever received!!! I'm still speechless!
Not in my wildest dreams would I've ever imagined that someone sends me SEVEN LPs across the ocean! Not only seven random records, but thoughtful selected music from bands that surely fit in my collection and taste!!! Many bands that I've never heard anything of and I cannot wait to give ALL those records a spin, find out about these new bands and maybe put them into my list of favorites! Jared, thank you so so much for this fantastic package and all you effort (time & money) in putting this thing together for me and send it around the globe! Your gifts truly exceeded all my expectations & dreams!
I hope you and your family had a fantastic Christmas time with your beloved ones and hope the package you received was only half as nice as the one I got!!!
Thanks!

Nice! 

Sooo, after getting the letter from customs and explaining them the whole idea of VC Secret Santa (they wanted to see a link ), they forwarded everything without me paying any single penny and I received my package today!
 
First things first: I was SHOCKED by the size of the package and the (to that effect) super-high shipping costs my Secret Santa had!
$67 for shipping this beast to Germany! I'm speechless and also sorry that my SS had to pay such a high amount to make me happy...! :-*
Here's the package:

 
So, as you can see my Secret Santa is Jared aka @Youinreverse
I'm somewhat happy that I didn't have to really find out who my SS was/is, since I'm really bad at guessing and it would only create embarrasing situations
After opening the package, I found this letter:

 
Although it's already 2019, I have to say that it wasn't Jared's fault that I've received the package "this late"...rather German customs bureaucracy! They wrote the customs letter on December, 24. Which means the package has been there for around a week...they are so slow! But I'm really happy to have received it at all...also happened that they just returned it to the sender after reading one of my mails
 
NOW we come to the interesting part!!!
First record: Efrim Menuck's High Gospel!

As a HUGE Godspeed You! Black Emperor I was already going nuts seeing this! I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HE RELEASED SOMETHING UNDER HIS OWN NAME!?!?!?! WTF?! Really great start!
 
Second record: 65daysofstatic - The Fall of Math

It's crazy to say, but I don't own a single 65daysofstatic record at all! Jared was probably wondering what the hell is wrong with me since I have quite a few post-rock records in my collection   I do listen to their stuff quite a lot but never thought about buying their records...and can't explain why! I think this is a great start for another great band to enter my record collection and it definitely will not be the last 65dos record!
 
Basically, these two records made me so happy! I didn't expect anything else or more to come...but this was just the start to a sick secret santa package!
 
Third record: The Black Angels - Indigo Meadows

I have never heard of them before and just googled them to find out they make Psych Rock! FANTASTIC! I'm really into PsychRock for a few years now and always welcome new bands in that genre! Can't wait to give it a listen!!!
 
Fourth Record (didn't I say this was a huge package?):  Holy Sons  - Fall of Man

Again a band I've never heard of before! Just googled them/him and listened to "The Fact Facer" (first video to show up)! SOUNDS GREAT! Oh man, can't wait to listen to this...has this fantastic mix of singer/songwriter, experimental, indie...so much new music to discover...love it!
 
Fifth record (ridiculous, isn't it?): Subrosa - For this we fought the battle of ages

Just look at this beauty! This looks fantastic...so basic! I love these kind of artworks!
Again a band that I've never heard of! Regarding discogs it's something in the region of Sludge, Doom & Post-Rock! Sounds exactly like something I'll immediately enjoy!!!.......ahhh that artwork....
 
Sixth Record (holy hell, so many records...): Efterklang - Piramida

I've heard of Efterklang before but never listened to their music at all! But their mix of Post-Rock, Folk & Experimental music will probably be candy in my ears! Can't wait!!
 
SEVENTH RECORD (I really can't believe I'm writing this!!!): The Kills - Ash & Ice

Again something I'm not familiar with! The artwork looks promising! Didn't google them and want to surprise myself...
 
WOW, JUST WOW, JARED ( @Youinreverse)!!!!
This package has to be the biggest, most generous and thoughtful Secret Santa package that I've ever received!!! I'm still speechless!
Not in my wildest dreams would I've ever imagined that someone sends me SEVEN LPs across the ocean! Not only seven random records, but thoughtful selected music from bands that surely fit in my collection and taste!!! Many bands that I've never heard anything of and I cannot wait to give ALL those records a spin, find out about these new bands and maybe put them into my list of favorites! Jared, thank you so so much for this fantastic package and all you effort (time & money) in putting this thing together for me and send it around the globe! Your gifts truly exceeded all my expectations & dreams!
I hope you and your family had a fantastic Christmas time with your beloved ones and hope the package you received was only half as nice as the one I got!!!
Thanks!

Sooo, after getting the letter from customs and explaining them the whole idea of VC Secret Santa (they wanted to see a link ), they forwarded everything without me paying any single penny and I received my package today!
 
First things first: I was SHOCKED by the size of the package and the (to that effect) super-high shipping costs my Secret Santa had!
$67 for shipping this beast to Germany! I'm speechless and also sorry that my SS had to pay such a high amount to make me happy...! :-*
Here's the package:

 
So, as you can see my Secret Santa is Jared aka @Youinreverse
I'm somewhat happy that I didn't have to really find out who my SS was/is, since I'm really bad at guessing and it would only create embarrasing situations
After opening the package, I found this letter:

 
Although it's already 2019, I have to say that it wasn't Jared's fault that I've received the package "this late"...rather German customs bureaucracy! They wrote the customs letter on December, 24. Which means the package has been there for around a week...they are so slow! But I'm really happy to have received it at all...also happened that they just returned it to the sender after reading one of my mails
 
NOW we come to the interesting part!!!
First record: Efrim Menuck's High Gospel!

As a HUGE Godspeed You! Black Emperor I was already going nuts seeing this! I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HE RELEASED SOMETHING UNDER HIS OWN NAME!?!?!?! WTF?! Really great start!
 
Second record: 65daysofstatic - The Fall of Math

It's crazy to say, but I don't own a single 65daysofstatic record at all! Jared was probably wondering what the hell is wrong with me since I have quite a few post-rock records in my collection   I do listen to their stuff quite a lot but never thought about buying their records...and can't explain why! I think this is a great start for another great band to enter my record collection and it definitely will not be the last 65dos record!
 
Basically, these two records made me so happy! I didn't expect anything else or more to come...but this was just the start to a sick secret santa package!
 
Third record: The Black Angels - Indigo Meadows

I have never heard of them before and just googled them to find out they make Psych Rock! FANTASTIC! I'm really into PsychRock for a few years now and always welcome new bands in that genre! Can't wait to give it a listen!!!
 
Fourth Record (didn't I say this was a huge package?):  Holy Sons  - Fall of Man

Again a band I've never heard of before! Just googled them/him and listened to "The Fact Facer" (first video to show up)! SOUNDS GREAT! Oh man, can't wait to listen to this...has this fantastic mix of singer/songwriter, experimental, indie...so much new music to discover...love it!
 
Fifth record (ridiculous, isn't it?): Subrosa - For this we fought the battle of ages

Just look at this beauty! This looks fantastic...so basic! I love these kind of artworks!
Again a band that I've never heard of! Regarding discogs it's something in the region of Sludge, Doom & Post-Rock! Sounds exactly like something I'll immediately enjoy!!!.......ahhh that artwork....
 
Sixth Record (holy hell, so many records...): Efterklang - Piramida

I've heard of Efterklang before but never listened to their music at all! But their mix of Post-Rock, Folk & Experimental music will probably be candy in my ears! Can't wait!!
 
SEVENTH RECORD (I really can't believe I'm writing this!!!): The Kills - Ash & Ice

Again something I'm not familiar with! The artwork looks promising! Didn't google them and want to surprise myself...
 
WOW, JUST WOW, JARED ( @Youinreverse)!!!!
This package has to be the biggest, most generous and thoughtful Secret Santa package that I've ever received!!! I'm still speechless!
Not in my wildest dreams would I've ever imagined that someone sends me SEVEN LPs across the ocean! Not only seven random records, but thoughtful selected music from bands that surely fit in my collection and taste!!! Many bands that I've never heard anything of and I cannot wait to give ALL those records a spin, find out about these new bands and maybe put them into my list of favorites! Jared, thank you so so much for this fantastic package and all you effort (time & money) in putting this thing together for me and send it around the globe! Your gifts truly exceeded all my expectations & dreams!
I hope you and your family had a fantastic Christmas time with your beloved ones and hope the package you received was only half as nice as the one I got!!!
Thanks!

It was me! I’m glad you dug the records. And hope the stuff you haven’t heard yet scratches some kind of unexpected itch. I also hope your holiday and new year went well!
Every time I participate in a vinyl Secret Santa, I like to take time to include a dossier/memo (you can see it at the top of ozfacter’s image) and present the package as if it’s evidence for an ongoing case being handled by the Federal Department of Music Investigation.

Here is the letterhead I use. This was for a previous Secret Santa on a different forum. Like a dummy, I forgot to save the one I made this year! Otherwise, I could attach a copy here.
This year, I addressed the dossier to Forensics Director ozfacter and signed it from Special Ageny Steven Wilsom Botticello (S.W.B.) and the story was that my task force had recovered these stolen records in a raid of a notorious record thief’s warehouse and I was sending this evidence to oz for forensics analysis so we could capture the theif. But my character (lol) was starting to get suspicious that oz specifically requested only the pop punk, emo, and punk rock titles that were recovered in the raid and asked me to send them to his house directly instead of the lab. I hinted that I believed he may be attempting to keep the evidence for himself. Haha. I made it look like some post it notes had accidentally attached to the back of the file with my suspicions scribbled down in them.
In past years, I wrote the dossier so that the Santee was the record thief and the recovered evidence records were meant to be sent to another FDMI department but somehow ended up back in the theif’s hands. I printed out and cut out ‘poloroids’ of screenshots of posts I used to determine their tastes and other research. 
I think this is the last Secret Santa I’ll do, at least with this high concept idea, so I wanted to share it here. I’ve always loved high concept stuff, as well as physical stories that you could hold (like fold folders or keys or other totems) and it’s been fun putting these together for other vinyl collectors. Thanks to @backpackoat for having me in this exchange and to @ozfacter for being my Santee. Thank you again to @sasan for being an awesome Santa too. I’m excited to see more posts and hear what the rest of you received and what bonus/random stuff your Santas threw in. I’ll relinquish the mic and switch to lurking! 

Hey man, yeah, your guess is right (I‘m probably the only one from Germany participating this year)!
and yes, backpackoat ordered the amazon.com records since I didn’t want you to see my name/address on the package in order to retain the „secret“ flavor of the game  
Really happy you enjoy your package, wasn‘t that easy since we dont listen to the same genre. But your wantlist was a huge help! A friend of mine recommended Slowdive and after scrolling through your collection on Discogs I thought you might like them! Happy I wasn’t wrong! 
I hope you had a fantastic christmas and a wonderful start into 2019! Let me know if you liked anything on the mixtapes...really only put bands there that I listen to  
 
Two days ago I received a letter from German customs that my package is there and I need to show up with an invoice...wrote them a mail and explained everything. Hopefully I’ll have my package by the end of next week the latest. 

Hey man, yeah, your guess is right (I‘m probably the only one from Germany participating this year)!
and yes, backpackoat ordered the amazon.com records since I didn’t want you to see my name/address on the package in order to retain the „secret“ flavor of the game  
Really happy you enjoy your package, wasn‘t that easy since we dont listen to the same genre. But your wantlist was a huge help! A friend of mine recommended Slowdive and after scrolling through your collection on Discogs I thought you might like them! Happy I wasn’t wrong! 
I hope you had a fantastic christmas and a wonderful start into 2019! Let me know if you liked anything on the mixtapes...really only put bands there that I listen to  
 
Two days ago I received a letter from German customs that my package is there and I need to show up with an invoice...wrote them a mail and explained everything. Hopefully I’ll have my package by the end of next week the latest. 

Alright here we go!

Craft Beer from Canadaland! Customs examined the Pumpkin ale and miraculously didn't throw it away, thank God cause it looks delicious. I'll probably try these at Christmas with my uncle. Love the aesthetic of this brewery though!

A gang of CDs. 
O'Brother - Dissolution 
Argyle Park - Misguided 
Showbread - Anorexia
Most Non-Heinous - Weird Science 
Of the 4, the only band I'm familiar with is O'Brother, and I've yet to check them out. I'm most interested in the Argyle Park as that's right up my alley according to your description. I'm definitely gonna check all of these out though, and thank you for the signed swag! Always a nice touch, and a speaking of signed.

Big Black Delta - RCVR
Of all the records you've sent, this is the only one I've had time to spin and I loved it! I'm actually not familiar with Debbie Gibson (I guess I'm too young) but the song was great! B-side was nice too.

Toothgrinder - Nocturnal Masquerade
I'm familiar with the band but I've never given them a listen. Excited to spin this once my schedule frees up from the Holiday madness.

Birds In Row - Collected
I've never heard of this band but I trust France when it comes to music. Again, I'll spin when the holidays end.
 
Seriously @daegor, you went above and beyond! I'm flabbergasted by the generosity of your gifts, and I appreciate them all, thank you! Happy Holidays y'all!!!

*squints* have I not had enough coffee yet?
 
 
Awesome gift there man! Though I have a feeling that it was NOT SWB who put it together, haha.

I ran out of matches so I just gave him himself and told himself not to tell himself

Everyone should be receiving their gifts shortly, if not already. Everything is in the mail as of a couple days ago! HUGE THANKS to everyone for getting everything out responsibly this year. You all have made things very easy for me. But your job is of course not done yet, please remember you must post pictures of your haul in your thank you posts. Can't wait to see them popping up in this thread soon. Merry Christmas everyone!

Yeah man SCOIT is amazing, and definitely better than the ones after. But train of thought and octavarium still have (to me at least) still some of the old DT spirit in them, they completely lost that from systematic chaos on...