Shoplifters - Second Nature LP - Orange Vinyl (/250)

PopKid / Brassneck / Rad Girlfriend / Waterslide (2023) 

It’s been four years since PopKid records has had a release.  That’s a long time and I’m sure that it is obvious that the label isn’t something we’re able to make a huge focal point of our lives at this stage.  It’s expensive to do a record label and we don’t often sell too many records through a combination of many factors.  A key one is probably that we tend to want to work with bands from other lands.  Bands that often don’t have the ability to come to America to show the locals just how good they really are.  But this is where my heart is when it comes to music. 

It’s easy to look at the unsold records I have hanging around from past releases and not be enthusiastic about adding more to the pile.  But then a band like Shoplifters comes around. Shoplifters inspire me to get back in the game.  So here we are, PKE030 – Second Nature.  This is the third Shoplifters release on PopKid, following up on the Forgiver 7” and 2019’s Secret Free World LP.  Everything that made me love and get involved with those two prior records is still here.  This is a band that has somehow found the exact strain of melodic punk rock that I want to listen to. 

If you’ve read anything I’ve written about Shoplifters before, you’ll see I’m always mentioning Bob Mould, Snuff, Big Drill Car, Leatherface and the clearest comparison to me, China Drum.  It’s like they went into a lab to try to create the exact band that would appeal directly to me.  Second Nature is such a great album, and the band has really put together an incredible group of songs.  “Hungry Lions” has that perfect chugging guitar during the verse that makes the payoff in the chorus even more triumphant.  It’s probably my favorite song on the album, but there is some stiff competition. 

The vocal melody throughout the entirety of “The Ones” is so strong and catchy, it kind of makes the entire song feel like one big chorus.  The guitar work on “Braced for Fall” reminds me so much of The Last era Leatherface, with an ethereal vocal hook.  Then there’s the piano punctuated pop of “Do What You Want” with a singalong chorus that has been stuck in my head for months now.  Every song on the album is like this for me, they're just a perfect band.

Today is the album’s official release date and the entire thing is available to listen to on Bandcamp now. Please check it out and pick up a copy if you enjoy. 

Purchase the record from our webstore here: 

https://popkid.limitedrun.com/products/748603-shoplifters-second-nature-lp

Purchase a specially priced bundle Shoplifters bundle that includes the Second Nature LP, the Secret Free World LP and the Forgiver 7": 

https://popkid.limitedrun.com/products/748709-shoplifters-vinyl-extravaganza 

Buy the vinyl, bundle or digital version on our Bandcamp page here (and get instant mp3s): https://popkid.bandcamp.com/album/second-nature

Shoplifters - Second Nature LP - Test Pressing

PopKid / Brassneck / Rad Girlfirend / Waterslide (2023)

I have mentioned a few times this year that I hadn't bought as many new records as I have in the past and that I've had a hard time finding those albums that I really connect with.  So I decided to do something about it.  PopKid Records is back for 2023 and we teamed up with friends far and wide to release the new Shoplifter album.  

We're putting up the album for preorder today (don't worry, I have them in hand and the release date is in two reeks on October 20th) and to celebrate that I'm writing a little bit about the record, though just a bit to start.

The picture you see above isn't the actual artwork, this is the alternate cover for the test pressing that the labels and bands got.  It's very cool, but the actual artwork looks even better.  I've never been a huge test pressing guy, but of course the PopKid ones are very near and dear to my heart.

The record is really wonderful.  Tight, catchy, melodic punk rock that makes me smile every time I listen to it.  I'm going to take a picture of the actual record and write a bit more about it in two weeks, but I wanted to put up a little something special in honor of the preorder kicking off today.

Please check it out and I hope you love it as much as I do.  Or at least like it enough to buy a copy.  Also, it's Bandcamp Friday, so there really isn't a better day to buy it from me if Bandcamp is your scene.

Purchase the record from the PopKid webstore here:
https://popkid.limitedrun.com/products/748603-shoplifters-second-nature-lp

Purchase a specially priced bundle Shoplifters bundle that includes the Second Nature LP, the Secret Free World LP and the Forgiver 7":

https://popkid.limitedrun.com/products/748709-shoplifters-vinyl-extravaganza

Buy the digital version (and/or the vinyl) on the PopKid Bandcamp page here: 
https://popkid.bandcamp.com/album/second-nature

Shoplifters - Secret Free World LP - Clear Ochre Vinyl

PopKid / Brassneck / Waterslide / Bartolini / White Russian (2017)

Here we are. 2019 and another release for PopKid Records.  2019 is the 25th year that PopKid has been a thing and even though we haven't put out records every year, it's been a really important part of the past twenty five years for us.  Being able to put out this Shoplifters LP certainly feels like the sort of celebratory event that one would want to commemorate their silver anniversary.

Following up on their incredible Forgiver 7", Shoplifters have returned. The boys from Novi Sad, Serbia have turned in eleven songs of the sort of hook filled rock and roll that keeps me up at night singing the songs back in my head.  I think that Shoplifters have managed to string together the sort of melodic vocals that China Drum perfected and have mixed the with energy and pop mastery of Snuff and the bouncing bass lines of Big Drill Car.

It's nearly impossible for me to pick my favorites on this album as I love the entire thing so dearly.  For those looking for a straight forward blast of catchy hooks, I'll direct you to "Eraser," Secret Free World" or "Fortifier."  If you are looking for something a little bouncier and poppier "Overdoser" and "Fortifier" will likely scratch that itch.  If it's something a little more melodic, with perhaps a darker edge to it then look no further than "Between Us" or "Saved By The Bell."  And of course if you are looking for a perfect, anthemic singalong album closer, you'll be hard pressed to find a better one than "Do Better."

I do realize I am biased as I am helping to put this record out into the world, but let me assure you that my love of this record is so genuine.  Even if I had nothing to do with it, this would be my favorite record of the year.  It's hits that perfect sweet spot for me bringing together sounds from the 90s that I know and love and mixing them in with twenty additional years of influences.  I cannot say enough great things about this record.  Shoplifters have hit it out of the park and I can only hope others will like it as much as I do.

Now for the conflict of interest stuff.  This record is available to purchase on vinyl right now.  It would mean the world to me if you would check out the record and pick up a copy if you like it.

Purchase the record from our webstore here: 

https://popkid.limitedrun.com/products/647470-shoplifters-secret-free-world-vinyl-lp

Purchase the LP and the Shoplifters Forgiver 7" as a specially priced bundle:
https://popkid.limitedrun.com/products/647471-shoplifters-lp-7-bundle

Stream all 11 songs and buy the digital version on our Bandcamp page here: 

https://popkid.bandcamp.com/album/secret-free-world

PopKid is the lucky label releasing this record in North America.  If you are from another land, there may be a label close by that is co-releasing this great LP with us:

Available in North America from PopKid Records 

Available in the UK from Brassneck Records 
Available in Japan from Waterslide Records

Available in the Netherlands from White Russian Records 

Available in Spain from Bartolini Records 

Collection: PopKid Records - 7"s & CDs

Collection: PopKid Records - 7"s & CDs, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

I will be the first to admit that this particular entry is a bit self serving, though in fairness I adore every single record in this picture.

PopKid records has been around since 1994. It was started by @AlanRappa. By The time PKD002 came out, I was helping stuff 7" sleeves. As the years went by I was lucky enough to become more and more involved with the label to the point where I do consider it like a child of my own. Sadly, we left this child alone at an amusement park for a few years, but it's coming back!

Alan & I have dusted the cobwebs off of the boxes of records that have been living in basements for a few years and PopKid Records is back in business.

For starters, the website is back. if you go to www.popkid.com you will see a news section, with a bit of news, A complete discography with pressing information and links to where you can buy some records.

We have digitized all of the PopKid releases from their DAT masters and have now uploaded everything to Bandcamp. You can buy MP3s or Flacs or whatever you want direct from our Bandcamp page: popkid.bandcamp.com . You can also just go there and listen to everything to see if you like it enough to buy.

And as mentioned above, we are finally selling all of our records online that we still have copies of. We don't have everything, but we have at least a few of almost every release. We've even stumbled across some records that we thought were long out of print and are selling a couple of test pressings, including the test pressing for The Stereo / Ultimate Fakebook split 7". If you want to go right to the store, you can go to popkidrecords.bigcartel.com

Anything you buy goes right back into the label. There's a new Chester Copperpot EP that's already recorded and we're just trying to raise some money to help release it finally. If you have any of these records already, thank you, but hey, if you have friends that might want some, just let them know we're back.

Sorry if this comes off as a big sales pitch, but I figured you may care if you read this site, It'll be back to business as usual tomorrow with more records that I've been buying.

Thanks!

Playground - If you Were Me 7" - PopKid - Test Pressing
Playground - If you Were Me 7" - PopKid - Green Vinyl/Tan Cover (/500)
Playground - If you Were Me 7" - PopKid - BlackVinyl/Grey Cover (/500)
Gan - Blink 7" - PopKid - Test Pressing
Gan - Blink 7" - PopKid - Clear Vinyl (/100)
Gan - Blink 7" - PopKid - Transparent Yellow Vinyl (/400)
Gan - Blink 7" - PopKid - OpaqueYellow Vinyl (/300)
Porcelain Boys / Marble - Split 7" - PopKid - Test Pressing
Porcelain Boys / Marble - Split 7" - PopKid - White Vinyl (/300)
Porcelain Boys / Marble - Split 7" - PopKid - Purple Vinyl (/300)
The Mr. T Experience / Sicko - Split 7" - PopKid - Black Vinyl, PopKid Stamp on Back Cover (/50)
Horace Goes Skiing - Domestic Violence 7" - PopKid - Test Pressing
Horace Goes Skiing - Domestic Violence 7" - PopKid - Blue Swirl Vinyl (/555)
Chester Copperpot - Bitter Sweet Tunes 7" - PopKid - Test Pressing
Chester Copperpot - Bitter Sweet Tunes 7" - PopKid - Clear Vinyl (/300)
Chester Copperpot - Bitter Sweet Tunes 7" - PopKid - Black Vinyl (/300)
Starmarket - Staying Cool 7" - PopKid - Test Pressing of C/D 7" Only
Starmarket - Staying Cool 2x7" - PopKid - White Vinyl (/300)
Starmarket - Staying Cool 2x7" - PopKid - Black Vinyl (/500)
The Stereo / Ultimate Fakebook - Split 7" - PopKid - Test Pressing
The Stereo / Ultimate Fakebook - Split 7" - PopKid - White Vinyl (/300)
The Stereo / Ultimate Fakebook - Split 7" - PopKid - Black Vinyl (/700)

Porcelain Boys - Away Awhile CD - PopKid
Starmarket - Sunday's Worst Enemy CD - PopKid
Beezewax - South Of Boredom CD - PopKid
Jettison - Search For The Gun Girl CD - PopKid
Crushstory - A+ Electric - PopKid - Green CD Face (Misprint)
Crushstory - A+ Electric - PopKid - Pink CD Face
Horace Goes Skiing - Yeah Right Sure CD - PopKid
Kenneth Ishak - Northern Exposure CD - PopKid
Beat Crusaders - All You Can Eat CD - PopKid
Chester Copperpot - The Kings Of Kirby CD - PopKid

Missing: Side A/B of the Startmarket test pressing. Not sure why I don't have one, but it seems I do not.