Friday, October 8, 2010

Compilation of the Week: CMJ New Music July (Certain Damage No. 1)

Continuing to look at the Front 242 tracks on the CMJ (College Music Journal) releases. For the time, CMJ was a great outlet for discovering new music and epic/sony did a pretty decent job getting some Front 242 tracks on these promotional discs.

CMJ New Music July Certain Damage No. 1 features "Religion" and included a nice postage-paid card from which you could rate the various tracks on the disc. It has the catalogue number CMJ-NMM001
Overall, as other releases and reviews show, CMJ always looked favorable on Front 242.

Track Listing:

  1. Matthew Sweet:   "Ugly Truth Rock"
  2. Rocket From The Crypt:   "Hippy Dippy Do"
  3. Front 242:   "Religion"
  4. Idaho:   "Skyscrape"
  5. Paul Westerberg:   "World Class Fad"
  6. Verve:   "Slide Away"
  7. Ned's Atomic Dustbin:   "Saturday Night"
  8. Candlebox:   "You"
  9. Catherine Wheel:   "Crank"
  10. Eve's Plum:   "Blue"
  11. Quicksand:   "Dine Alone"
  12. Engines of Aggression:   "Illusion Is Real"
  13. Sheep On Drugs:   "15 Minutes of Fame"
  14. Pharcyde:   "Otha Fish"
  15. Blind Melon:   "No Rain"
  16. The Point:   "Hey Jane"
  17. Boss Hog:   "Ruby"
  18. Tsunami:   "460"
CMJ Certain Damage No. 1 Picture Sleeve


CMJ Certain Damage No. 1 Reply coupon

CMJ Certain Damage No. 1  Disc



Thursday, October 7, 2010

T-Shirt of the Week: Tyranny Tour Target Shirt

Here we have another shirt from the Tyranny Tour. It is almost identical to the Tyranny Tour Crew Shirt (See August 7, 2010 post)
The front features the "Target" Tyranny symbol. The reverse reads the dates for the 1991 Tour. (Recalling the Crew shirt reads "Crew >Under Tyranny<"

Tyranny Tour Target Shirt front

Tyranny Tour Target Shirt front detail

Tyranny Tour Target Shirt back

Tyranny Tour Target Shirt back detail




Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Bootleg of the Week: Technopolis Volume 1

For the next few weeks I will spotlight the Front 242 tracks that appear on the Technopolis series of bootlegs...

Technopolis Volume 1 features four Front 242 tracks recorded from Bochum, Logo on 10/10/1985. These tracks incidentally are the same as featured on the Kampfbereit bootlegs.
The track listing is misleading in that it lists 11 tracks. In actuality,  track 5 is one single almost 20 minute long track featuring all four Front 242 tracks listed!

These are some favorite early 242 songs. My favorite bit is always when they guys are told to "move" and Richard responds "Move yourself! We have no place to move..." perhaps space was an issue?

The disc itself is entitled "Back In Black" and lists the CD as "All Rights Reserved. The Public Office 1992." The cover art is lifted from the fantastical works of H.R. Giger, who is famously known for his art and his work on the Alien film, among others. http://www.hrgiger.com/

This series of bootlegs are very popular with collectors, as they often contain tracks by Kraftwerk, Nitzer Ebb, Depeche Mode, etc. so their fans are also eager to collect them as well. Usually they can be had in the $25-$50.00 range.

Track List:

  1. Kraftwerk:  "Sex Object" (Never Released Demo 1983)
  2. Kraftwerk:  "Computerwelt" (Razormaid Medley Z-3 1985)
  3. Nitzer Ebb:  "Control I'm Here" (Razormaid Mix 0-24)
  4. Nitzer Ebb:  "Murderous" (Razormaid Mix)
  5. Front 242:   "Lovely Day" (Bochum Logo 10/10/1985 SBD)
  6. Front 242:   "No Shuffle" (Bochum Logo 10/10/1985 SBD)
  7. Front 242:   "Body To Body" (Bochum Logo 10/10/1985 SBD)
  8. Front 242:   "Take One" (Bochum Logo 10/10/1985 SBD)
  9. Frontline Assembly:   "Digital Tension Dementia"  (Koln, Luxor 16/05/1989 SBD)
  10. Frontline Assembly:   "No Limit" (Koln, Luxor 16/05/1989 SBD)
  11. Frontline Assembly:   "Virus"  (Razormaid Mix)
Notes:  SBD = Soundboard; track 5 is composed of tracks 5-8

Technopolis Volume 1 Picture Sleeve


Technopolis Volume 1 Jewel Case Insert

Technopolis Volume 1 Disc



Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Memorabilia of the Week: 242 Pins

Here we have a few examples of Front 242 Pins/Buttons. These are of the "bootleg" variety and as such are not official releases by Transmission 242. However they are of good quality and style and so make excellent adornment for a bag or jacket. Many times I see this offered on ebay and other places, as well as numerous 242 stickers. My favorite is actually the one with the baseball catcher mask, as it is most reflective of the No Comment Front 242 era...

Various "bootleg" Front 242 Pins and buttons

Monday, October 4, 2010

Record of the Week: FRNT 10 A Promo For You

Here we have another innovative Front 242 Promo design, which is similar to that of the Mixed By Fear Promo (FRNT 13). FRNT 10 displays "A Promo >For You< and features 2 cuts from the Tragedy >For You< EP. It makes nice usage of the cutaway in the sleeve to spotlight the "Speed" Tyranny symbol. Interesting to note that the reverse side actually has the "Fight" symbol. The reverse side displays all 4 symbols with "FRNT 10" and "A Promo >For You<"

Side A features Tragedy >For You< Instrumental and side B features Tragedy >For You< Punish Your Machine Mix (Long Version). It is not too uncommon and can usually be had for between $15-20.00  Key to collecting this promo, like Mixed By Fear, is to make sure the cutaway picture sleeve is in excellent shape.

FRNT 10 A Promo >For You< Front

FRNT 10 Reverse

Detail

Detail

B Side






Sunday, October 3, 2010

Poster of the Week: Tyranny Tour, Valencia, Spain

Here we have a nice Front 242 poster from the Tyranny Tour, Valencia, Spain, from May 16, 1991. It measures 13.5 X 20 inches on white paper. It makes excellent usage of the "Tyranny" symbols. Another of those 242 posters most suitable for framing. Any comments from those in attendance most welcomed!

Tyranny Tour, Valencia, May 16, 1991

Detail

Detail



Wednesday, September 29, 2010

T-Shirt of the Week: Sputnet 2000

Here we have a shirt that can still be seen on the Transmission 242 shop at front242.com
http://www.front242.com/site/content/merchandise.asp?type=1&id=5 ) known as the "Sputnet" shirt. This particular shirt was obtained on the "Compact Tour" in 2000. It has the same design as the one sold on the site, but I think the shop shirt lacks the tour dates on the reverse.
I also have a long-sleeved version which is identical in all regards.

The "Compact Tour" was a short series of shows that followed on the heels of the "Re:Boot Tour", virtually identical as far as the material presented.

Does anyone understand what the characters on the shirt exactly are? I have tried looking at the negative space, etc. and am unable to make them out, if they are letters at all! Comments welcomed and appreciated!

Sputnet T-Shirt Front
Sputnet Front Detail

Sputnet T-Shirt Back

Sputnet Back Detail