Wax Estatic

Punknews.org has an interesting Vinyl File up today entitled 'A Look at all that is Yemin'. Featuring pressing information on all release from Lifetime, Kid Dynamite, Paint it Black and Armalite, the article was exciting to see (as someone who set an alarm to win a copy of Lifetime's first 7" released on Jade Tree on ebay last night), but at the same time raised a bit of debate.

The ever opinionated punknews readers of course came back with comments like "I can't help but think all this vinyl coveting kinda goes against the spirit of punk rock. I'm starting to hate vinyl cuz all the Ebay gouging that goes on now between the punks." This immediately reminded me of a thread over at deadformat.net that highlighted Tom Gabel of Against Me!'s feelings towards the punk scenes reaction to mainstream culture as expressed in Spin Magazine recently...

"'Up the Cuts' is trying to say that the argument the punk scene is making about mainstream culture is totally irrelevant now -- technology is changing everything, and they're still talking about $5 shows and seven-inch records. What I'd love is for those people to come with us."

For those not aware, Against Me! releases most of their full lengths and singles on a rainbow of coloured vinyl, in limited presses. Their first 7", limited to 50 copies, sells for $350 on ebay. So maybe this isn't entirely their choice, but this is where I'm confused. Against Me! is at least partly guilty of fueling the new punk consumerism where collecting, hording, and trading records replaced the tranditional anti-consumerist attitude once held. I wonder, then, what direction Mr. Gabel would like the punk scene to follow. Limited edition ring tones? iTunes only releases? There are independent labels staying better afloat thanks to multi-colour releases, and while I support and appreciate that aspect of the vinyl collecting phenomena, there are also kids buying "investment" records for the sole purpose of turning them over for profit on ebay to line their pockets. I guess then, this is where the dilemma lies.

When a punk band signs to a larger/major label, there is often a backlash of sorts, which may explain the tinge of bitterness in Gabels statement. The reactions in this situation (Is the band selling out? Or just getting more help with exposing their music to fans and staying afloat?) very much mimic the good vs. evils of the vinyl debate. People make decisions and embrace trends/activities/lifestyles for right and wrong reasons. Somewhere a happy median exists where kids can still buy records 'cause they like the music and pay $5 for a show and have the band still able to eat/buy gas. If Against Me! wants fans to still embrace them in their decisions to move forward as a band, it might be wise for them to find a similiar median.