Local DC Indie Label Releases Reissue of Reissue

Washington, DC-based independent label Angry Face Records has released a reissue of the 2003 reissue of legendary DC hardcore band Meattosser’s 1983 album Bean Bag for the Soul.

Over a cup of Cozy Chamomile at the House of Angry Face, as it is colloquially known around DC’s old guard, Dex Pallor, primary owner/operator of Angry Face since its inception in 1980 explains that, “To commemorate the twenty year anniversary of the reissue of Meattosser’s Bean Bag for the Soul, we are going to release a reissue of the reissue. Real simple.”

But why the reissue?

“Angry Face put out Bean Bag a long, long time ago. 1983,” Pallor says. “It was only on 7-inch vinyl. Nothing else. Not even cassette. We sold it for six nickels and a trinket. With the reissue, we sold it on compact disc for five American dollars, and for the reissue of the reissue, we’re gonna put it out on both vinyl and compact disc.”

No, no, I mean why the reissue of the reissue?  

“Oh. Because we wanted to do something special. We have reissues coming out monthly. Twice a month. Literally every Friday. Every single day of the week before noon. But a reissue of a reissue? Terra incognita. The dark side of the moon’s hairy underbelly. And if there’s one thing on the planet that the Angry Face family is really proud of, it’s Bean Bag for the Soul.”

Why so proud of this particular record?

Pallor, who in addition to running Angry Face Records, was also singer and primary songwriter for Meattosser says, “The most notable track off the album, both then and now, was the opening track, a song called Facts are for Mugs. Right? Back in ’83, to say, you know, facts are for mugs, it was considered irony. Facts aren’t for mugs, what are you talking about? Who are you kidding? Mugs being, you know, the hoi polloi. The common people. You, me, that lady in the moo moo on the other side of the street walking her little bichon frise. But to say facts are for mugs in 2023? Totally different connotation. Right? Facts are for mugs in 2023. Facts are as common as field mice in 2023. Any ol’ mug has their own facts. I have my facts. You have your facts. That’s a fact. Right?”

Why no new music?

“Excuse me? We have a lot of new music. New music is something we have a lot of,” Pallor says, now fidgeting in his chair like a hamster. “Just last year. 2016, whenever that was. We put out Easy Math.”

Easy Math was the lone album by DC post-rock group Places Named After Dogs, which featured Pallor on vocals and bass, Chuck Pallor (brother) on guitar and Lori Pallor (wife) on drums.

“And the year before that, 2008, Angry Face released the Tattoos Look Like Rashes comp.”

But wasn’t Tattoos Look Like Rashes just Meattosser with a new name?

Pallor scoffs and walks over to his pantry and pulls something out and comes and sits back down. “What is this?” he says, holding up an unopened can of cat food.

What do you mean, what is this?

“Tell me what this is,” Pallor states, sharply.

It’s a can of cat food.

“To you, yes. It’s a can of cat food. Specifically a can of Fancy Feast. And if we want to get even more specific than that, it’s a can of grilled tender beef and flaked mackerel with a touch of real milk. But what are words? Why bother with words? If you throw out all the words, you’re left with just the thing itself. And the thing itself, removed from the infestation of language—the grotesquerie of language!—is simply lunch.”

Ew. Please tell me you’re not going to eat cat food.

“The tuna kind is the exact same ingredients as Chicken of the Sea but twice as cheap,” Pallor says, peeling open the can of Fancy Feast with the zeal of an eight-year-old on Christmas morning. “My Fancy Feast is your Chicken of the Sea. Right? You beginning to see how this works? And your Meattosser is my Tattoos Look Like Rashes.”

Okay, I think I get it.

“Want some? There’s some paper plates over there in that cabinet next to the electric synthesizer.”

No, thank you. I think I’ve got everything I need. Thank you again for your time. Looking forward to the reissue of the reissue of the reissue.

“See you in 2043.”