Chicago Splits

So a couple weeks ago I posted about the American Football Early Bird reissue, and was really into the package that Polyvinyl put together. Turns out they're keeping the momentum going in keeping up the quality. A new split recently surfaced from the label and putting it simply, it's brilliant on all levels:

Owen // Into It. Over It. - Split - Polyvinyl Records - 1st Press - Clear/?

I was super tempted to grab the early bird version of this, but I'm happy with the clear. Everything just fits together really well here, even down to the black dust jackets. 

Back Cover // B-Side 

Close up of the back cover. 

This 7'' came with a gold foil stamped jacket, and to squeeze all this detail in couldn't been too easy right? Even the small Polyvinyl logo is on point. Under the gold foil, the sleeve art lays; it's a little hard to see as there's a lot going on but to me it looks great all the same. 

The insert is not a 7'' X 7'' deal, but a small rectangular affair. It carries on the theme started off in the artwork, and it just all works together. 

Long story short; two new songs and two covers. IIOI's cover of Poor Souls is pretty incredible, and incidentally is my favourite Owen song too. Both new offerings are great. Evan (Fucking) Weiss and Mike (Fucking) Kinsella are pretty well rooted in Chicago. From Into It. Over It. // The Progress // Stay Ahead Of The Weather to American Football // Schmap n Schmazz // Owls and Owen, and even a crossover in Their / They're / There means that this split was essentially meant to happen; like it had to come up at some point right? I'm super happy it finally happened. 

And finally, we get a stickered sleeve too! 

Necessity // Obligation // Friendship

I've been saying for a little while now that I'll do a post on something record related, but not a record. Maybe a zine or something? Well today we have a nice way of dipping into that territory; and yes we are still continuing the 'What I got for Christmas' theme.

Into It. Over It. - Life Is Suffering - Topshelf Records - 1st Press 

Book / 1018

A Live Seven Inch Accompaniment - Black /548 

Sorry for all the mess in the background. It looked weird to photograph them both on a flat surface from above, and there's limited space with half decent sunlight to fit them in like this. It is what it is I guess? 

First up, the record. 

Both these songs are full band re-workings of tracks that originally appeared on the '52 Weeks' project that Evan Weiss delved in to under the moniker IIOI. A-Side 'Wearing White' has been a long time favourite for me so this was cool to hear. There were 4 variants available for this 7'' and I didn't know which one I was getting until I unwrapped it. There is a Black // White split variant that looked cool, but I think this works just as well. 

Back Cover // B-Side 

The top paragraph on the back cover is a list of 'band' members for these live re-workings, along with recording and mastering credits. The bottom paragraph is a list of thanks that includes a couple of bands. 

Use Headphones 

From here we get on to the book. Hilary J. Corts went on a 2 Week tour with IIOI; as did Kevin from Topshelf Records. I think he handled merch and she handled a camera. This photo book is definitely the selling point of the package for me. The tracks are great, but this offers a real insight into life on the road in a van. Photo books always manage to look great too right? 

The book is set out into days, and this is part of the 'Day 1' section. Loading up and setting off. Although I can't photograph every page of the book, I thought this would provide a little insight. Corts did an amazing job of letting the photos speak for themselves, leaving little annotations only when necessary. 

It looks like someone got a '52 Weeks' tattoo! I love seeing band tattoos, they make such a great starting point to conversations. Every now and then I get someone asking me about my Hot Water Music logo behind my ear, or the Morrissey tattoo on my arm. 

Wanting to get the idea across, but not wanting to photograph every page, this is the last section of the book I'll talk about. The band ended up playing playing The Fest (I'm sure everyone reading will know what that is, if not have a zoom in) and were all armed with a disposable camera to wander around with. The end result is pretty funny and incredibly honest. 

That's what I like about this book so much, it's a pretty honest portrayal of what touring is. There's the hundreds of kids singing along, and there's the sitting in the van just waiting for time to pass and everything in-between. If this is your kind of thing, Banquet had copies in for a really good price not too long back. 

Thanks for reading!