Your Choice Records

Your Choice Records
Your Choice Records
Founded	1988
Founder	Tobby Holzinger
Distributor(s)	Cargo Records (Germany)
Genre	Punk rock · Hardcore punk · Post-hardcore · Emo · Indie rock · Noise rock
Country of origin	Germany
Location	Aachen
Official website	yourchoicerecords.de

Your Choice Records^[1] was a German independent record label that was founded in 1988 by producer Tobby Holzinger. The label^[2] specialized in independent punk music, including live releases of German and other international acts.^[3] Holzinger provided a share of the record sale profit to various animal rights organisations.

Scream - recording a live album (May 1990)

The label maintained a strict DIY ethic, producing all of its albums by itself and selling them at discount prices without the help of major distributors.

Your Choice Records existed in the early days of hardcore, inspired by the spirit of labels like Dischord Records, Alternative Tentacles, SST Records and Touch and Go Records. Early releases by Your Choice were relatively well-produced compared to other punk live recordings of the time.

Roster

Bands such as So Much Hate, Ripcord, Life... But How To Live It?, Verbal Assault, Arm, Target of Demand, Raped Teenagers, Pullermann, Kina, Scream, NoNoYesNo, Melvins, Neurosis, Steel Pole Bath Tub, Party Diktator, Wasteland, Helios Creed, The Notwist, Shudder to Think, Articles of Faith, Leatherface, Jawbox, Poison Idea, Hard-Ons, Lars Holzapfel, Wool, Samiam, Plexus, Headroom, Overdose, Girls Against Boys, Texas Is the Reason and The (International) Noise Conspiracy have released records on Your Choice.

Band / Year / Line-up

Pete Stahl (Scream) - recording a live album in Germany (1990)

The (International) Noise Conspiracy in Vancouver (2005)

Dennis Lyxzén (The (International) Noise Conspiracy) - recording a live album in Germany (2002)

So Much Hate (1988) - Line up: PER ARNE-BASS, BØRRE-GUITAR, GUNNAR-VOCALS, FINN ERIK-DRUMS
Ripcord (1988) - Line up: JIM-BASS, BAZ-GUITAR, STEVE-VOCALS, JOHN-DRUMS
Life... But How To Live It? (1989) - Line up: ROGER-GUITAR, KATJA-VOCALS, TOM-BASS, DYRET-DRUMS
Verbal Assault (1989) - Line up: DOUGH-DRUMS, CHRIS-VOCALS, PETE-GUITAR, DARREN-BASS
Arm (1989) - Line up: DANIELLE-VOCALS, MARKUS-GUITARS, STEPHAN-DRUMS, UWE-BASS, TOM-SOUNDMASTER
Target of Demand (1989) - Line up: JOHNNY-BASS, MOPS-GUITAR, RAINER-VOCALS, HUCKEY-DRUMS, PETERL-SUPPORT
Raped Teenagers (1989) - Line up: PARTIK-GUITAR, PETER-DRUMS, OLA-BASS
Pullermann (1989) - Line up: JÖRG-GUITAR, CYBELLE-VOCALS, TOBIAS-BASS, STEPHAN-DRUMS, S.A.M.-VOCALS
Kina (1990) - Line up: SERGIO-DRUMS / VOCALS, ALBERTO-GUITARS / VOCALS, GIANPIERO-BASS / VOCALS
Scream (1990) - Line up: FRANZ-GUITARS, SKEETER-BASS, PETER-VOCALS, DAVID-DRUMS, ANNOUNCER-JOSEF KLUMB
NoNoYesNo (1991) - Line up: CLOAT-OINK, CONSTANTIN-BRAVOMAT, DALIBOR-SCHLÄGER, EMMO WEBER-MINISTER OF DRUNKENNESS, FRANK BLUME-MINISTER OF TRAFFIC, SASCHA-SCHOPPING, TOBBY-MELVIN, TOMASSO-KNÖDEL
Melvins (1991) - Line up: LORAX-BASS, KINGBUZZO-VOCALS / GUITAR, DALEDOE-DRUMS / VOCALS
Neurosis (1992) - Line up: JASON JAMES-DRUMS, DAVE EDWARDSON-VOICE/BASS, SCOTT KELLY-VOICE/GUITAR, STEVE VON TILL-GUITAR
Steel Pole Bath Tub (1991 / 1992) - Line up: DALE FLATTUM-BASS/VOC., DARREN MIR-X - DRUMS, MIKE MALESTEEN-G./VOC.
Party Diktator (1992) - Line up: MATTHIAS-BASS, OLE-GUITAR, POPEL-DRUMS, NIC-THROAT
Samiam (1992 / 1996) - Line up: SERGIE LOOBKOFF-GUITAR, JAMES BROGAN-GUITAR, JASON BEEBOUT-VOCALS, AARON RUBIN-BASS, MP-DRUMS
Articles of Faith (1992) - Line up: VIRUS X - DRUMS, DAVE SHIELD - BASS / VOC., JOE SCUDARI - GUIT., DORIAN TASKBASKSH - GUIT., VIC BONDI - VOC. / GUIT.
Leatherface (1993) - Line up: ANDREW LAING - DRUMS, ANDREW CRIGHTON - BASS, DICKIE HAMMOND - GUITAR, FRANKIE STUBBS - VOCALS / GUITAR
Poison Idea (1993) - Line up: JERRY A. - VOCALS, THEE SLAYER HIPPY - DRUMS, MONDO - GUITAR, MYRTLE TICKNER - BASS
Wasteland (1993) - Line up: BJØRN, KARL, KÖPPE
Helios Creed (1993) - Line up: HELIOS CREED-GUIT./VOC., CHRIS Mc KAY-BASS, PAUL DELLA PELLE-DRUMS, Z SILVER-SYNTHS/SAMPS
Girls Against Boys (1993) - Line up: ELI JANNEY-NO.2 VOC., BASS, KEYBOARD, JOHNNY TEMPLE-BASS, SCOTT McCLOUD-NO.1 VOC., GUITAR, ALEXIS FLEISIG-DRUMS
The Notwist (1994) - Line up: MICHA ACHER - BASS, MARKUS ACHER - GUITAR / VOCALS, MECKY MESSERSCHMIDT - DRUMS
Shudder to Think (1994) - Line up: STUART HILL-BASS, NATHAN LARSON-GUITAR, MIKE RUSSELL-DRUMS, CRAIG WEDREN-VOC./GUIT
Jawbox (1994) - Line up: GUITAR / "VOICE" - J.ROBBINS, GUITAR / OTHER VOICE - W.C.*DB BARBOT, BASS GUITAR - KIM COLETTA, DRUMS - LOVEY
Hard-Ons (1994) - Line up: RAY -BASS, BLACKIE - GUITARS / VOCALS, KEISH - VOCALS / DRUMS
Lars Holzapfel (1995) - Line up: LARS HOLZAPFEL
Wool (1995) - Line up: PETE STAHL - VOCALS / GUITAR, FRANZ STAHL - GUITAR / VOCALS, AL BLOCH - BASS / VOCALS, CHRIS BRATTON- DRUMS
Plexus (1995) - Line up: D.V/D ELSKEN - DRUMS, VOC., SLIDE GUITAR, B.WARNING - GUITAR, LEAD VOC., J.BIJLEVELD - BASSGUITAR
Headroom (1996) - Line up: PATRICK-GUITARS/VOCALS, THEISEN-DRUMS, WILLIAM-B, PETE-VOCALS
Overdose (1996) - Line up: ROBBY ALBRECHT-GUITARS, OLIVER SCHULZE-HERGEL-BASS, JÖRG MUDERS-DRUMS
Texas is the Reason (1996) - Line up: GERRET KLAHN-VOCALS/GUITAR, CHRIS DALY-DRUMS, SCOT WINEGARD-BASS, NORM ARENAS-GUITAR
The (International) Noise Conspiracy (2002) Line up: DENNIS LYXZÉN-VOCALS, SARA ALMGREN-GUITAR, KEYBOARD, LUDWIG DAHLBERG-DRUMS, INGE JOHANSSON-BASS, LARS STRÖMBERG-GUITAR, VOCALS

Opinions

The Melvins' installment in the Your Choice Live series is decidedly on the sludgy side. Fans of the band's earlier output will rejoice at the track listing, which comprises tracks from Gluey Porch Treatments, Ozma, and Bullhead. Furthermore, the recording quality is excellent; perhaps not Fillmore East excellent, but for a punk club setting, this is primo.
— Patrick Kennedy, on the Melvins and the Your Choice Live Series, allmusic^[4]

Shudder to Think's live show has always been built on excitement and musical friction, and Your Choice Live Series captures the band at its tightest. This would prove to be original drummer Mike Russell's last recording with the band before leaving to become a teacher, but it doesn't stop the record from taking flight. Craig Wedren's voice is as clear and operatic as it is on their studio records.
— Greg Prato, on Shudder to Think and the Your Choice Live Series, allmusic^[5]

Their shows were clinics in intensity and band chemistry. They had one of the finest rhythm sections of their time in bassist Kim Coletta and drummer Zach Barocas (affectionately credited as "Lovey" in the sleeve -- don't be fooled), and guitarists J. Robbins and Bill Barbot always created an unholy racket in the vein of Gang of Four, Big Black, and Naked Raygun. One might pity those who never saw this mighty band in action, but this series offers a fine substitute.
— Andy Kellman on Jawbox and the Your Choice Live Series, Zune.net^[6]

Gallery

Pete Chramiec (Verbal Assault) - recording a live album in Germany (1989)
Dave Grohl (Scream) recording a live album in Germany (1989)
Skeeter Thompson (Scream) recording a live album in Germany (1990)
Dale Crover (Melvins) - recording a live album in Germany (1991)
Steel Pole Bath Tub - recording a live album in Germany (1992)
Vic Bondi (Articles of Faith) recording a live album in Germany (1992)
Johnny Temple (Girls Against Boys) - recording a live album in Germany (1993)
Mecki Messerschmidt (The Notwist) recording a live album in Germany (1994)
Craig Wedren (Shudder to Think) - recording a live album in Germany (1994)
Franz Stahl, Al Bloch, Pete Stahl, Chris Bratton (Wool) - after recording a live album in Germany (1995)