mOck LP - now taking pre-orders!

Along with Coraille (who will be taking orders in Europe), we are happy to be releasing the self-titled, debut LP from Berlin's mOck. If you’re unfamiliar with mOck, they play an innovative, clever, and pleasant brand of post-hardcore, math rock, indie rock, whatever you prefer to call it. They’ve toured with bands such as Future Islands, Joan of Arc, and Algernon Cadwallader, and released a few singles on 7" records and compilations to date.

The record has been pressed on 500 slabs of black vinyl and is dressed in glossy full color jackets boasting beautiful photographic cover art, all of which have arrived from the plant and are ready to get in mailers to be sent your way. Some professional cooks have been in the kitchen on this one, including John McEntire, who is known for his studio work on records for artists such as Broken Social Scene, Bright Eyes, and The Fiery Furnaces, and for his musicianship in bands such as Tortoise and The Sea and Cake.

You can now stream the record in its entirety and/or pre-order the LP from our Bandcamp. All pre-orders include a free digital download of the LP and a free copy of mOck’s 2010 split 7” with Rapid Cities, also released on this label. Pre-orders will ship before the official release date: Tuesday, April 17. Recommended for fans of bands like Q And Not U, Braid, or Pinback.

Starting this weekend, mOck will be touring Europe with Victor Villareal (Cap’n Jazz, Owls, Joan of Arc). They also have released a split 7” together, now available to order from Joyful Noise Recordings or directly from mOck.

For those who are a bit more local on the stateside, and want to pick up a copy in person, I will be throwing a listening party with DJs at the Lamp Post in Jersey City on May 17 [tentative date]. Will post details on that soon.

Okay folks, many apologies for making this confusing, but in the time since our tiny record label has established its presence on Facebook, Zuckerberg and the gang have rolled out some developments that we are just now adapting to. To keep up with the times, we have now created a I Love To Hate Records "Musician/Band" page which will allow us to do some more neat things with technology that we weren't able to do before. Please do yourselves (and us) a favor and click here and "Like" us! We have some sweet news about things we'll be rolling out for 2012 that we will be posting on that thing. Thanks again for all your support so far and have a great holiday weekend.

mOck debut LP to be released in 2012

Well, now it's official. I Love To Hate Records will be releasing the debut full-length LP by our friends, mOck, from Berlin, Germany. We are planning on releasing the vinyl early in 2012 and bringing the mOck boys over to our continent for a tour as well. Head to mOck's website to become acquainted with these super talented and creative gents, or to our Bandcamp to revisit prior tracks that we have released for them!

Return of the Rat

Being well aware that not the entire planet subscribes to the social network known as "Facebook," we want to be able to make news regarding our label known to other members of the internet community who might need another means of access. That beings said, we will be sure to communicate much of the news related to I Love To Hate Records on our blog again, here, as well.

That being said, it has been about one year since we released the "Friends With Benefits" compilation CD and still have a few copies lingering around. Featuring tracks by 18 artists from NJ to NYC, from Seattle to Berlin, this CD and other items in our back catalog (such as records by Rapid Cities and mOck) are now available at super cheap prices! Head to the I Love To Hate Records Big Cartel store to order online.

In other news, it looks like there may be some other new releases in the works for early 2012. There is some great stuff our friends are making that needs to be documented for future civilizations before the Mayan Armageddon claims us!

Online Store Moved to BigCartel

For anyone who might happen to stumble upon this page, we will now be making Love/Hate Records releases available for order online through our BigCartel store instead. The first item we are happy to bring your way is the Rapid Cities / mOck split 7", now up for pre-order! All advance orders receive a free copy of the Rapid Cities / mOck "Making Friends Overseas" tour poster and shipping on us.

We may be posting other bits of news and info here from time to time, but you might also want to check out the following destinations to keep up with what we're doing...

Love/Hate Records on Facebook.
Love/Hate Records on Myspace.
Love/Hate Records Online Store.

LH02 - RAPID CITIES machinery saints CD

Release Date: May 30, 2009
Track list: Manhattan's Hymn, In My Mind, Dreams of Fahey, There Is a Black Hole, J.aunt O.n D.ying Y.oung, The NRA & NWA, Asexual Predator, Space Is Infinite, Down at the Fleshpot, Most of the Time, My Arms Are the Anchors My Legs Are the Sea

$8 + shipping
Digital purchases available from Look Again Media.



REVIEWS:

"Machinery Saints is an undeniably dense listen... I can’t help but advise fans of post-punk, and those with an open mind, to welcome Rapid Cities as a refreshing challenge to the status quo." - ThePunkSite


"Machinery Saints flows with the wild abandon of creativity that can't be restrained. They travel the roads of post-hardcore without regard for safety, attacking the sharp angles and starts and stops and stutters with more rage than plan. Oddly enough though, they remained focused, probably by sheer inertia, and their creativity delivers even as it evolves. While there is more than a hint of math rock throughout the album, the band does their math in their heart, not just their head. Feeling their way rather than planning it doesn't dispel their confidence, but rather bolsters it by simple force of will. Amazing." - Rock and Roll and Meandering Nonsense


"RAPID CITIES are part of the pensive class... the super-serious thinkers, and emotional outputters. The ones weaned on a FUGAZI discography, a liberal arts degree, and a van that’s been through hell and back... and they’ve got the hefty, droning bass lines, arching guitars, scatter-shot drumming and thoughtful lyrics to prove it." - Pastepunk


"Rapid Cities deconstruct the conventions of arrangements and reassemble them into a clean, angular post-core blueprint... they're full of piss and vinegar and they're hoping to be heard." - Exclaim! Magazine


"Whatever turns you on, you can’t deny Rapid Cities’ talent and the quality of this debut album. Open your ears and your mind..." - Altsounds


"It’s a superb debut" - Die, Shellsuit Die!


"This sounds to me like it wouldn't be out of place on modern day Dischord Records... it's ruddy good stuff, I'm thoroughly enjoying it." - Suspect Device Zine


"With all the flailing guitar riffs and distressed singing style... still, this stuff stands out on its own... Machinery Saints is a refreshing debut since so few bands are doing this..." - Punknews.Org (click to read full review)


"It’s dissonant, anguished, and melodic all at the same time... I really didn’t think bands like this existed anymore beyond the fantasies of art-school weirdos who THINK they sound like this and instead just give me migraines... Machinery Saints... It’s terrifyingly damn close to a perfect post-hardcore/punk album, with an edge that’ll cut you like a prison shiv in the kidneys while you’re in the dinner line over that one cigarette you traded for a blo…nevermind, just get your hands on it. It’s just really, really, really, good." - Fistfight at the Arthouse (click to read full review)


"These New Brunswick kids debut LP is a fantastic collection of post-hardcore rockers, drawing inspiration from the early 90's DC scene and adding some nice mathy dynamics to their strong melodies. Articulate and intelligent, Rapid Cities inject powerful musicanship over dissonant guitar work and driving rhythms... Ultimately, Rapid Cities are paving a path all their own and this is an excellent starting point." - Tom Haugen's Action Sports Blog on GO211 (click to read full review)


"It’s definitely impressive." - Built On a Weak Spot (click to read full review)

LH01 - IN RIBBONS s/t 7"

Track list: Mr. A & Mrs. B, To Feel (Again)
MP3 Coupon Included
Released in 2008

Proceeds go to benefit Home Alive, a Seattle based anti-violence, non-profit organization.

REVIEWS:

"...In Ribbons pairs rich, chorused acoustic sounds with a shrill and wavering voice... John Cole, the man behind In Ribbons, manages to squeeze little spots of brilliance out of cliches." - The Aquarian (click to read full review)

"Side A features the track ‘Mr. A and Mrs. B’, which starts off with a buzzing acoustic strum... [and] packs the same quirkiness that makes wavering singers like Conor Oberst so popular... extremely catchy... we found ourselves humming it in the days after first listening to the record." - Reviewsic (click to read full review and interview with In Ribbons)