Record Store Day Haul #6: Masked Intruder - Incriminating Evidence 2011 Demo 7"

Red Scare (2015)

We're in murky territory again as far as this being a Record Store Day release.  It came with a Record Store Day sticker on it, but it wasn't on the official list.  I also didn't pick it up at a record store, it was available via Interpunk or through the label's website.  I can't say for sure that it wasn't available at any actual record stores, but it seems to me that the bulk were sold online.

Not that my enjoyment of the record is affected by any of that, I just question whether or not to count it as a Record Store Day release.  I decided to.  The four songs on this 7" comprise Masked Intruder's 2011 demo.  It's an interesting peak into the band before they started riding a gigantic wave of momentum that took them all the way to Fat Wreck.  

Two of the songs on this demo ("How Do I Get To You" and "Unrequited Love") wound up on the band's first full length while one of them ("I Fought The Law") was held off until the second Masked Intruder album.  I can't say any of these three songs sound that much different than the versions that ended up on their records.  They certainly not recorded as well, but the basic song structure remained intact.

One song ("I Plead The 5th") is exclusive to this 7" as far as I can tell.  Maybe it ended up on a compilation or something, but I don't have it on any Masked Intruder records in my collection.  It's a very short song that doesn't consist of much other than the repeating of the phrase "I Plead The 5th" over and over.  It's not bad, but there's nothing all that special about it and I can see why it was never really used on any of the band's proper records.

This isn't an essential 7" by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a neat listen.  More than anything, it just feels like a collection completer to me.  I have the rest of their releases, so I guess I need this one in the collection as well.

Masked Intruder - Incriminating Evidence 2011 Demo 7":

https://maskedintruder.bandcamp.com/album/demo

Masked Intruder - M.I. LP - Purple Vinyl

Fat Wreck (2014)

Sometimes there's a really fine line between being average and being great.  On the surface, Masked Intruder doesn't appear to be doing anything all that special or inventive.  It's reasonably basic 3-chord, Ramones-esque pop punk.  But they have managed to craft their songs to really stand out from the pack.

Sure, they have their mask gimmick and though I've not seen them play live, I've heard it's a really fun show.  What really sets Masked Intruder apart from their peers is their attention to detail when recording these songs.  M.I. is perfectly produced.  The guitars sound huge, the drums are powerful, the lead vocals are perfectly balanced in the mix; but the key to Masked Intruder are the backing vocals.  This band utilizes backing harmonies better than probably any other current rock band.  They're on practically every song and elevate each one to be something special.

There's quite a few hits here.  From the fighting against the man (but losing) anthem "I Fought The Law" to blazing lead guitar driven "Crime Spree" to the somewhat lower key album closer "Locked Up And Lonely" Masked Intruder are firing on all cylinders.  In some ways it's a better album than their debut.  There's no annoying shouty songs like "Stick Em Up," but I was more blown away by the first album when I originally heard it.  I wouldn't say M.I. is disappointing in the least, I guess now I just expect great things from this band.  Thankfully, they usually deliver.

Masked Intruder - "I Fought The Law":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtBRGK-OXvc

Masked Intruder - "Crime Spree":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtBRGK-OXvc

Masked Intruder - Under The Mistletoe 7" - White Vinyl

Masked Intruder - Under The Mistletoe 7" - White Vinyl, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Fat Wreck (2013)

I'm a real stickler when it comes to Christmas music. I just absolutely love listening to it this time of the year, but I am a bit of a traditionalist and don't really like many modern takes on the genre. I especially don't usually like punk rock Christmas songs. They just always seem so goofy.

Masked Intruder's foray into this field is pretty much what I expected. Now, they obviously are just having a laugh and not trying to create any modern day Christmas classics. I can appreciate this 7" on that level. The songs are kind of funny and Masked Intruder has a knack for this kind of thing, but I can't imagine ever putting this on in December as legit Christmas music. it's fun, but it's no Bing Crosby.

Masked Intruder - Under The Mistletoe:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgn2F6jhbu8

V/A - Red Scare Across America Tour 7"

V/A - Red Scare Across America Tour 7", a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Red Scare (2013)

I was a little nervous when this 7" was announced. It was said to be a tour only record and has an exclusive Masked Intruder song on it. I knew I wouldn't be able to get to one of the shows and I was fearful considering how much other Masked Intruder records have been selling for on eBay and what not. Luckily, some went on sale through Interpunk, so I was able to grab a copy there. Perhaps Interpunk sold more than I guessed as this is the one Masked Intruder record that I have't really seen anyone going crazy for yet.

The song that Masked Intruder contributes is more of their typically great pop punk. They (along with The Capitalist Kids) are just about the best straight up pop punk band going these days. Hooks and choruses like you wouldn't believe, definitely the highlight of the 7". Elway is a bit more generic, they play towards the gruffer end of the pop punk spectrum, but nothing really stands out about this song. Lastly Sam Russo contributes a pretty boring acoustic song. Probably trying to sound like early Against Me, but doesn't really pull it off.

The art is nothing special. Just a stamped paper sleeve, but the Masked intruder song is so good, it is absolutely worth the price of admission on its own. Unfortunately, I'm not able to find these songs streaming anywhere.

Masked Intruder / Dan Vapid & The Cheats - The Wedding 7" - PurpleVinyl (/100)

Masked Intruder / Dan Vapid & The Cheats - The Wedding 7" - Purple Vinyl (/100), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Solidarity (2013)

This 7" was put out by Solidarity Recordings, it also doubled as the invitation to the guy that runs it, (Randy) and his fiance Valerie's wedding (There's another variant used for the actual invitation). I think this is such a cool idea and certainly something that popped in my head when I was planning my wedding Though it would have been difficult to get new songs from Rocket From The Crypt and Shiner in 2010 I think.

Anyway, in addition to the records used for the invitation, there was a batch released to the general public for sale. The version above was sold only through the Solidarity website and was limited to 100 copies on purple vinyl. It does look black in the picture, but you can see the color easier when you hole the record up to the light.

The songs are both straight up, mid tempo pop songs with Masked Intruder singing about Valerie and Dan Vapid doing the honors for Randy. I actually really like both songs, despite never really being into Dan Vapid's other work. Masked Intruder, on the other hand, are becoming one of the more reliable pop punk bands out there these days. Great songs and a great idea. I don't know Randy or Valerie, but I wish them the very best for their wedding. Have a great time!

Masked Intruder / Dan Vapis & The Cheats - The Wedding 7":
solidarityrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/the-wedding-7

Masked Intruder - First Offense 7" - Pink Vinyl (/250)

Masked Intruder - First Offense 7" - Pink Vinyl (/250), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Hang Up (2013)

This is the repress of the long out of print and obscenely in demand 1st 7" by the band Masked Intruder. I had the box set version of the first pressing (www.ibuywaytoomanyrecords.com/2012/04/masked-intruder-fir...) but was so innundated with offers to buy it, I eventually sold it this past January for $100. At the time I felt that was a pretty crazy amount to pay for the 4x7" set. that I paid $12 for Little did I know a month later people would start selling individual colors of the 1st press for $150 EACH on eBay. I don't regret the sale and again, made way more money on it than I think is warranted, but part of me really wonders how much the box set could have sold for.

Anyway, the reason I sold the set was because I knew a repress was coming out. I love collecting records and as you all know I'm a pretty big variant nerd, but don't and can't collect every variant for every single band I like. You've got to pick your battles and as much as I like Masked Intruder, they didn't quite make the nerd cut off. As per my last review, this 7" is still fun, but I still don't like the song "Stick Em Up." The pink vinyl version is sold out (and has already sold for truly stupid amounts of money on eBay), but last check the label still had the black vinyl version if you're looking.

Masked Intruder - First Offense:
hanguprecs.bandcamp.com/album/first-offense

Masked Intruder - S/T LP - Green Vinyl

Masked Intruder - S/T LP - Green Vinyl, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Fat Wreck / Red Scare (2013)

This album actually came out as a CD only in 2012, which is why I counted it on my year end list for 2012 and won't be counting it this year. Masked Intruder play straight up pop punk, perhaps a bit too saccharine for the tastes of some, but right now, along with the Capitalist Kids, Masked Intruder are one of the best pure pop punk bands around.

They are tackling a similar subject matter as a slew of other bands have, love, heartbreak, etc.; but they are adding a petty thief gimmick to the proceedings. At times, it colors up the songs nicely; at times it doesn't really add or take away from the music. All in it's a very good record. It takes a lot for plain old pop punk to impress me these days and Masked Intruder are one of the few bands that can actually do it.

As far as the record itself goes, what I have on display is the Green Vinyl version. It's come to light that Fat Wreck also pressed this on Blue, Red & Yellow vinyl as well. Quantities haven't been released yet, but it's created a real scramble with people trying to get all 4 variants. As I sold my 4x7" Masked Intruder box set, I'm out of the variant game for this band, as long as I have 1 of the colored versions I'm happy. But if you want to have your mind blown, go check out what this LP is doing on eBay right now. Crazy times.

Masked Intruder - S/T (3 Tracks):
maskedintruder.bandcamp.com/album/masked-intruder

The Turkletons / Masked Intruder - Split 7" - Purple Vinyl (/250)

The Turkletons / Masked Intruder - Split 7" - Purple Vinyl (/250), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Hang Up (2012)

I picked this up as I enjoyed the last Masked Intruder 7", First Offense. I will admit that I was immediately concerned when I saw that Masked Intruder had 4 songs on 1 side of this 7", and sure enough, it's a disappointment. They're just quick little blasts. The songs kind of seem like parts to longer songs that were just recorded as throwaways. I have heard that their new full length is good (which is out on CD, but not vinyl yet, so I'm waiting on picking it up), but these songs just come off as leftovers.

I never heard of the Turkletons before, but after listening to their song about kidney stones on their side of this 7", I think it's safe to say they're not for me. Maybe if I was 20 years younger I'd think it was funny. Oh well.

The Turkletons / Masked Intruder - Split 7":
hanguprecs.bandcamp.com/album/masked-intruder-the-turklet...

Masked Intruder - First Offense 7" - 4 colors of vinyl & box

Masked Intruder - First Offense 7" - 4 colors of vinyl & screened box, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Hang Up (2012)

I will admit, I'm a sucker for wacky packaging like this. 4 different colors of vinyl (limited to 75 copies for each color) plus a logo box to hold them all (which was limited to 30 copies) PLUS it was only 12 dollars shipped for the whole shebang. That's variant collecting done right, my friends. Masked Intruder seem to be doing a luchadore/burglar gimmick with masks (4 colors - the 4 vinyl colors), but they're playing some pretty catchy & hooky pop punk. I do not like the 2nd track on here, "Stick Em Up," but the other 4 songs are pretty fun. Lyrically the songs are mostly about petty crime, but in a tongue in cheek sort of way. This may get old as the band moves forward, but it makes for a good 7".

Masked Intruder - First Offense 7" (Via Bandcamp):