jhulud Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 If there is/was one label whose entire output I supported, it was Initial Records. Not a single band on their roster disappointed. Every time a new record came out, I knew that it would be a winner as it was on Initial. My first Initial Records release was the Guilt 7"...I received it with the Endpoint - Aftertaste pre-order from Doghouse which was still a small label back then. I had also ordered an Endpoint long-sleeve t-shirt but they were out so they sent me the regular short-sleeve and the 7". It was the label's third release and Duncan Barlow's (Endpoint) other band. I was hooked and wrote the label which at the time were still out of Michigan. Ever since, I started following the label and getting my hands on their releases as they came out. Even more so after I had moved from Louisville, KY in 1991. I've missed a few here and there which I'm always on the lookout for. I was crushed when the label folded in 2004. Initial was one of the first few labels that went above and beyond for their customers and music fans. I remember calling them to place orders over the phone as soon as I got the newest catalog in the mail and simply just tell them to use my credit card on file. And speaking of catalogs...they were a zine unto themselves. The description for the Initial and distro releases were always hilarious. They had a symbol system that they attached to a release if it fell under the styles of Slayer, '88 Youth Crew HC, Morning Again vegan straight-edge HC, and others. Funny shit. And let's not forget about Krazy Fest...damn. So yeah...today I'm taking a trip down memory lane... I have a bunch more Initial releases but no pictures for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil007 Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 Great Label! Do you know why they folded? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamlikesmusic Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 There was not a single band on their roster that didn't disappoint. I assume that's a typo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhulud Posted July 11, 2009 Author Share Posted July 11, 2009 ^^ Damn...completely missed that...D'oh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casey Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 Ink & Dagger FTW. Juan, since we're buds and all, go ahead and send me that blue Original Sin. K? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickmango Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 Great label. Unfortunately they put out 2 of my most favorite albums only on cd. That's brutal. Silent Majority - You Would Love to Know, and Blood Red - Hostage. They were slated to put out another SM album but SM broke up. This is why they did the BR album. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
circlingvultures Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 Krazyfest 4 was fun. Have and like a lot of these records. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggiesized Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 Krazyfest 4 was fun. Have and like a lot of these records. Hell yeah. I got a really bad sunburn on my head. It was pretty epic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhulud Posted July 12, 2009 Author Share Posted July 12, 2009 Ink & Dagger FTW. Juan, since we're buds and all, go ahead and send me that blue Original Sin. K? I love Ink & Dagger...here's one better...white one limited to 26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casey Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 ^^ I'm really impressed, dude. I still have the purple S/T you need. If you ever come across another one (any color) I'll trade you straight up. Also, we both need the vampire killer 7" box set /5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtz Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 Initial was a good label. A+ thread! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottheisel Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 Krazyfest 4 was fun. Initial was a good label. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enjoyadrian Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 wish they pressed criteria's "en garde" on vinyl. That is one hell of an album. Saddle Creek has the rights to it now, and i doubt it will ever be pressed due to criteria not really selling well on saddle creek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottheisel Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 wish they pressed criteria's "en garde" on vinyl. That is one hell of an album. Saddle Creek has the rights to it now, and i doubt it will ever be pressed due to criteria not really selling well on saddle creek. Oh, how I would love for this to be pressed on vinyl. Such a flat-out incredible album. Probably my all-time favorite Initial release, actually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohiopride Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 this thread makes me want to tear up :'(. i can't tell you how many shows i went to in louisville when i was in high school. initial always had the best shows and the best bands. i was lucky to live so close, i got to attend every krazyfest and those were some of the best times of my life. they will be forever missed. juan, i think you and i love this label the most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apeman Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 Initial Records = best label ever! One album that really would be good to have released on vinyl is Helicopter Helicopter - "Wild Dogs with X-Ray Eyes". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wadeboggs Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 krazy fest was always the best time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casey Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 Initial Records = best label ever!One album that really would be good to have released on vinyl is Helicopter Helicopter - "Wild Dogs with X-Ray Eyes". Shit yeah. I'm so glad to hear somebody else was into them. I'm bummed I never went to a Krazy Fest. One of those times when I was like "Oh I'll do some insignificant thing instead, 'cause you know Krazy Fest will be around next year". Of course, it wasn't. MLIA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apeman Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 Never got to see them, but i still listen to the album all the time. It's hard to chose favourites from the Initial back catalogue, since most of the stuff would qualify as that with me, but besides Helicopter Helicopter I'd probably pick anything from Ink & Dagger, Enkindel/The Enkindels, Guilt and Despair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tankerdesk Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 no love for roosevelt's Inaugural parade? That first song still holds up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billylovehandles Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 Ink & Dagger FTW. Juan, since we're buds and all, go ahead and send me that blue Original Sin. K? If it makes you feel any better... I scored one of the blue on ebay for $15 a few months back. I've seen others go for about the same too... so, I'd keep an eye out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casey Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 Yeah, I don't expect they'd go for much. I've got an Ebay alert set up for them. Also, no mention of Jazz June? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amsteel Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 No doubt, En Garde is probably in my top 5 all time greatest albums. I got to see criteria live 3 times, dear god did they rock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtz Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 no love for roosevelt's Inaugural parade? That first song still holds up. Definitely a good 7". Their split with Mainspring rules too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riddle350 Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 anyone have a list of all their releases? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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