New Foreign Tongues 7-inch announced

Photo credit: Mitchell Wojcik

We are excited to announce that Youth Conspiracy Records and Veggie Co. Records have partnered up to release a new 7-inch from Foreign Tongues. Sweet Empathy Leaving Me features two new songs from the Massachusetts-based indie-rock band produced byDefeater's Jay Maas and mastered for vinyl by Moving Mountains' Gregory Dunn. The release will be available on April 8, 2014, on extremely limited-edition vinyl as well as digitally. The cover art is below; more details and a pre-order will come soon.

Follow YCR and VCR on social media to get updates as they happen:

https://www.facebook.com/youthconspiracyrecords

https://www.facebook.com/veggiecorecords

https://twitter.com/youthconrecs

https://twitter.com/veggiecorecs

Sign up for the YCR mailing list!

Enter your e-mail address to receive the Youth Conspiracy Records newsletter!
E-mail address:

YCR-008 announcement: Meridian - Aging Truths LP

ORDER NOW!

We're incredibly honored to be releasing Meridian's debut album, Aging Truths, in an extremely limited pressing of only 300 copies on random colored vinyl. The earlier you pre-order, the rarer the color you will get. If you order multiple copies, you will receive the rarest colors available at the time of your order.

Meridian is the brainchild of Max Stern, best known as the vocalist/guitarist for rising Cleveland punk band Signals Midwest. Many of the songs comprising Meridian's full-length debut, Aging Truths, date back as early as 2007, when Max began playing acoustic house shows around Cleveland. These songs aren't Signals Midwest rejects, though; they draw from an entirely different set of influences, such as the Avett Brothers, Sundowner, the Mountain Goats and Frank Turner. Making the project more special is the involvement of Max's younger brother Jake, who he taught how to play guitar at a young age and contributed to the arrangements of the songs on Aging Truths.

One listen to these 10 songs and you'll understand why Max Stern is one of the brightest songwriters to grace the independent punk and folk scenes in quite some time.

PRESSING INFO
300 copies on random colored vinyl

TRACKLISTING 
SIDE A
1. When I See You 
2. Love & A Sense Of Belonging 
3. The Catalyst 
4. I Will Learn 
5. What We've Built

SIDE B
6. Prosthetic Hand 
7. Wait, Move 
8. Commuters 
9. When You See Me 
10. Six Blocks

This is YCR-008.

YCR-009: Ghost Thrower/Foreign Tongues - split EP

ORDER NOW!

This split 7-inch featuring four brand new songs is the next chapter in the evolution of both of these bright, young bands from the Northeast. Ghost Thrower leave behind the angry punk of their previous EPs for a janglier style of indie rock both classic (the Smiths) and current (Tigers Jaw), whereas Foreign Tongues aren't afraid to use their distortion pedals for a '90s post-grunge explosion akin to Balance And Composure or Sainthood Reps.
PRESSING INFO
Coming soon...

TRACKLISTING
A1: Ghost Thrower - All Work
A2: Ghost Thrower - Nothing Is Wrong
B1: Foreign Tongues - Smother
B2: Foreign Tongues - New Drugs

This is YCR-009.

Test press contest!

The YCR office will be closed from 10/4-10/14 as I'll be getting married and taking the new Mrs. Youth Conspiracy on a well-deserved honeymoon to someplace a shitload warmer than Ohio. Any orders placed between 10/4 and 10/14 will ship the week of 10/15, assuming we don't get kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel. (No promises.)

BUT! To make things fun, every order placed between right this very second and 10/14 will be entered to win a test pressing of ANY YCR release. Weatherbox, Sainthood Reps, Person L, The Forecast, Heks Orkest, the Felix Culpa—it's your choice! Every record you buy will get you an entry into the drawing (i.e. buy one record, get one entry; buy three records, get three entries; buy 100 records and I will kiss you on the lips). Winner will be drawn the week of 10/15 and will be emailed to ask what test press they want. Hop to it, everyone!

http://youthconspiracy.bigcartel.com 

Weatherbox "American Art" 2xLP pressing/pre-order info

It's been in the works for a long time, but it's finally ready—we are extremely thrilled to be bringing you American Art, the debut album from San Diego's Weatherbox, on vinyl for the first time ever. On August 28, we will release American Art on the way it was meant to be heard, as a double LP with a gatefold sleeve, brand new artwork and complete lyrics, as well as a digital download of an alternate mix of the album that has never been heard before. When I reviewed this album five years ago, I wrote that "it will change your life if you let it." This is something I still hold true—the lyrics on this album have affected me more than almost any other record I own, and the music is still a beautiful marriage of math-rock complexity and pop smarts. It is truly an honor to be a part of this.

PRESSING INFO
100 black (YCR webstore exclusive—limit one per customer)
300 tan
300 dark blue marble
300 white (Hot Topic exclusive)


PRE-ORDER INFO
Pre-orders for American Art will launch at noon EST on Monday, July 16 in the YCR webstore. Mark your calendar.

3rd annual YCR Independence Day sale—20% off EVERYTHING!

We're big fans of freedom over at Youth Conspiracy Records, and we think you should be, too. So what better way to celebrate our independence than knock back a few beers, grill up some delicious meat (or tofu, if you're weird) and spin some killer vinyl? That's why from now until midnight on July 5, we're offering 20% off EVERYTHING in the YCR store. All you have to do is enter the coupon code "STEVEWEISER" at the checkout to get your discount!


http://youthconspiracy.bigcartel.com

Person L/Weatherbox split 7-inch re-press

Hi there.

You can now pre-order the second pressing of the Person L/Weatherbox split 7-inch. It's on green vinyl. It is limited to 150 copies. It will begin shipping this weekend.

Here's the link: http://youthconspiracy.bigcartel.com/product/person-l-weatherbox-split-ep

XOXOYCR

Sainthood Reps "Monoculture" LP pre-orders up

ORDER HERE: http://youthconspiracy.bigcartel.com/product/sainthood-reps-monoculture-lp

Formed in 2009, Sainthood Reps began as an instrumental post-rock act but quickly evolved into a different beast entirely—one that snarls, howls and kicks the shit out of your ears without remorse. Guitarist Derrick Sherman is a Long Island scene staple and is currently a touring member of enigmatic rock troupe Brand New, and if you're a fan of that band's darker, more aggressive output, you'll love Sainthood Reps.

The band's debut album, Monoculture, was released last fall via Tooth & Nail Records, and we are thrilled to be able to offer you the vinyl version for the first time ever. This will be a one-time only pressing of 500 copies; this title will never be re-pressed by Youth Conspiracy Records.

TRACKLISTING

1. Monoculture
2. DINGUS
3. Telemarketeer
4. Animal Glue
5. Hunter
6. No/Survival
7. Hotfoot
8. Holiday Makers
9. reactor, reactor, reactor, REACTOR!
10. Widow

PRESSING INFORMATION
Black /300
White /100
Pink /100 (Hot Topic exclusive, available on hottopic.com in mid-March)

This is YCR-006.

Person L/Weatherbox split EP available today!

The 7-inch itself sold out in the pre-orders, but if you missed the boat, you can still get the Person L/Weatherbox split digitally—it's on iTunes and Amazon MP3 right now.

Person L/Weatherbox split 7-inch pre-orders launched

HEAR A NEW PERSON L SONG HERE: http://www.facebook.com/youthconspiracyrecords

ORDER HERE: http://youthconspiracy.bigcartel.com/product/person-l-weatherbox-split-ep

It's been rumored since 2008, and now, it finally exists: Philadelphia's Person L and San Diego's Weatherbox each contribute two brand new tracks to this split EP. This release showcases Kenneth Vasoli and Brian Warren as true masters of their craft, in a constant game of post-punk one-upmanship. Essential listening that is worth the wait.

TRACKLISTING
A1: Person L - OK
A2: Person L - Winter Clothes
B1: Weatherbox - Kickflips For Weeks
B2: Weatherbox - Two Seductresses

PRESSING INFORMATION
Blue /200
Orange /200
Black /100

This is YCR-005.

The Dangerous Summer/Weatherbox tour dates

Weatherbox have announced their first tour of 2012, and it's a doozy—they're headed out for the month of February as main support to the Dangerous Summer! Also on the tour are Divided By Friday and Ten Second Epic. Dates:

Feb 01 The Barbary Philadelphia, PA
Feb 02 Webster Hall New York, NY
Feb 03 Firehouse 13 Providence, RI
Feb 04 Tammany Hall Worcester, MA
Feb 05 The Space Hamden, CT
Feb 07 Planet Trog Whitehall, PA
Feb 09 Mojoes Joliet, IL
Feb 10 The Loft Madison, WI
Feb 11 Station 4 St Paul, MN
Feb 12 Vaudeville Mews Des Moines, IA
Feb 15 The Marquis Theater Denver, CO
Feb 16 Kilby Court Salt Lake City, UT
Feb 17 The Venue Boise, ID
Feb 18 El Corazon Seattle, WA
Feb 19 Branx Portland, OR
Feb 23 Jerrys Pizza Bakersfield, CA

And in super-exciting news, we're hoping to have the brand new Person L/Weatherbox split 7-inch out in time for this tour! The art has been approved; we're just waiting on the test presses from the plant. It's two brand new songs from each band, and they are seriously killer. More details coming soon!

Bookface, ahoy.

Are you on Facebook? Of course you are. And so are we! We'd love it if you found it inside yourself to "like" good ol' Youth Conspiracy Records by clicking here. We promise we'll repay you with delicious vinyl for years to come.

Speaking of which: YCR-005, YCR-006 and YCR-007 are all in the works. One is a classic album by a current Youth Conspiracy artist finally brought to life on vinyl; one is a 7-inch from a member of a Youth Conspiracy band's new project; and one is by a band new to the YCR family (but one who have hit the road with more than one of our bands in the past). Interest piqued yet? Details coming soon...

"Follow The Rattle Of The Afghan Guitar" out now

Weatherbox's new EP, Follow The Rattle Of The Afghan Guitar, is officially out today! You can pick it up at the following places:

DIGITAL
iTunes
Amazon MP3
Bandcamp

VINYL
YCR webstore
Shopradiocast

The band are hitting the road for a month starting this Friday, with the majority of shows alongside Sainthood Reps. They have copies of the new EP on vinyl, too, so make sure to hit up their merch booth! Dates:

10/7 - Tempe, AZ @ Venue 104  http://tktwb.tw/pdcILA
10/8 - Albuquerque, NM @ The Gasworks
10/9 - Denver, CO @ The Walnut Room http://bit.ly/pJ1Tsy
10/10 - Liberty, MO @ Detto's Barn
10/11 - St Louis, MO @ Cicero's *
10/12 - Madison, WI @ UW-Madison *
10/13 - Chicago, IL @ Casa Donde *
10/14 - Cleveland, OH @ Now That's Class *
10/15 - Lansing, MI @ The Loft * http://bit.ly/o2srCl
10/16 - Wilkes-Barre, PA @ Redwood Art Space *
10/17 - Allston, MA @ O'Briens Pub * http://tktwb.tw/pS6Epf
10/18 - Hamden, CT @ The Space * http://bit.ly/qkdAzn
10/19 - Montclair, NJ @ The Meatlocker *
10/20 - Baltimore, MD @ Talking Head Club at Sonar * http://bit.ly/rbYsI9
10/21 - Amityville, NY @ Broadway Bar *
10/22 - Washington, DC @ Subterranean A *
10/23 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Barbary *
10/25 - Morgantown, WV @ 123 Pleasant Street *
10/26 - Harrisonburg, VA @ The Blue Nile *
10/27 - Greenville, NC @ The Tipsy Teapot *
10/28 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade * http://bit.ly/nyCrxo
10/29 - Gainesville, FL ???
10/30 - Tallahassee, FL @ The Farside
10/31 - Orlando, FL @ TBA
11/2 - Austin, TX @ Emo's
11/3 - Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory http://bit.ly/rfotfo
11/4 - Dallas, TX @ The Prophet Bar http://bit.ly/9ffU7R
11/5 - San Antonio, TX @ The Ten Eleven

* w/Sainthood Reps

Stream the new Weatherbox EP now!

Because we love you, we're letting you stream Weatherbox's new EP, Follow The Rattle Of The Afghan Guitar, right this very second:

You can order your very own copy of Follow The Rattle Of The Afghan Guitar in the YCR webstore right now!

Weatherbox LPs are here!

Once again, the folks at Gotta Groove Records did an amazing job with this pressing. These records look just as awesome as they sound. I completely didn't expect there to be this many variants; please don't kill yourself trying to collect all of them! I promise they all sound the same.

Here's the official pressing info, broken down by color. Once all pre-orders ship, I will update the YCR webstore with what specific colors are left.

Red /84

Purple /83

Turquoise/dark blue /60

Translucent blue /55

Swamp water /55

Opaque green /50

Red clay /34

Black/grey mix /27

Ice blue /19

Doublemint /12

Pink /11

Mustard /9

Melted crayons /9

Cotton candy /2

Grapefruit /1

Iceberg /1

Inferno /1

(These aren't going into circulation, hence no photos)

Order your copy now in the YCR webstore!

Are you a secret Muslim?

Hear the new Weatherbox song, "Secret Muslim," right now by clicking here!

Pre-order Follow The Rattle Of The Afghan Guitar in the YCR webstore or at ShopRadioCast.

Weatherbox EP pre-order details!

On Oct. 4, Weatherbox's new EP, Follow The Rattle Of The Afghan Guitar, will be available on 12-inch vinyl and digitally. This six-song, 25-minute release was mastered specifically for vinyl by the incredibly talented Paul Gold at Salt Mastering, and is currently being pressed by the fine folks at Cleveland's own Gotta Groove Records. Starting tomorrow at 9 a.m. EST, you can pre-order Follow The Rattle Of The Afghan Guitar directly from the YCR webstore as well as from ShopRadioCast, who will not only have an exclusive mystery color of the vinyl but will also have a free Weatherbox patch for all pre-orders.

...but at least we'll be together in the end.

To describe today's news of the Felix Culpa breaking up as "sad" doesn't really do the feelings I have any sort of justice. I don't properly know how to explain how much this band, and Sever Your Roots specifically, meant to me. It was a little under two years ago that I found myself with the desire to do something more in music besides just write about it; I had kicked around the name "Youth Conspiracy Records" in my head for a while but really had no idea how or where to start. Then, in December 2009, Marky sent me their new record. I honestly, legitimately was flabbergasted. I always knew the Culpa were good; I had no idea they could be that good. And then it hit me: "I have to put this out on vinyl."

Flash forward barely a month, and we somehow managed to have Sever Your Roots in all its vinyl glory ready for the band's album-release show on Jan. 23, 2010, at the Metro in Chicago. (Sidenote: An enormous debt of gratitude goes out to Vince, Matt and the whole Gotta Groove Records crew who busted their humps to turn around 500 double LPs in under a month and over a major holiday, and even hand-delivered them to me on Jan. 22, the day before the show.) I spent the afternoon of the 23rd with the band, their friends and my girlfriend, watching Bio Dome on VHS and stuffing LP sleeve after LP sleeve. I'll never forget the excitement from the guys when they opened the first box we brought in (which conveniently happened to be the clear/black swirl vinyl). I felt so proud, like I had achieved something.

Every time I saw the Culpa, I was always left in awe. They truly were one of the best live bands I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing, from Joel's incredibly complex and melodic drumming to Tristan's unique bass tone and style, to Dustin's adept multi-instrumentalist chops to Marky's unbelievably intense, cathartic vocal performances. In all the times I've seen this band, never once did I see them phone it in. Amazingly, this energy and passion was just as present on Sever Your Roots, something many lesser bands lose in translation to the recorded medium. It is truly an honor to know that I had an extremely small hand in helping spread the gospel of the Felix Culpa, and I wish each member the best in their future endeavors (and openly invite you to come to me with whatever any of you do next, as I'll most likely put it out, no questions asked).

It's funny; today, the same day that the Felix Culpa announced their breakup, I picked up the test pressings for the new Weatherbox 12-inch we're putting out in October. As I sit here currently listening to these Follow The Rattle Of The Afghan Guitar tests, I can't help but realize that there is no chance I would be doing this had it not been for the Felix Culpa believing in me as much as I believed in them.

Thanks, guys.

PS: Not to turn this whole thing into some shilling pitch, but Sever Your Roots is still available in the YCR webstore; however, we have very few copies left and it's sort of a forgone conclusion that this record will not be repressed. So if you want it, now's the time to get it.

"so come on, come on baby
jump in, jump in with me
we'll swim or maybe we'll go down
but at least we'll be together in the end" --The Felix Culpa, "Apologies"

The Forecast book August shows

The Forecast are coming out of hibernation to play three shows in Illinois later this month, two of which will be opening for the Graduate's final shows. Dates:

8/19 @ The Hilton, Springfield, IL w/the Graduate (details)
8/20 @ The State Room, Quincy, IL w/the Graduate, Fielder (details)
8/27 @ Imago Dei, Peoria, IL w/Ghosts Of Old Giants, Eltoro (details)

The Forecast's self-titled LP is available now in the YCR store!