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Time to Buy a Futon

 Of the 3 brands that put out spicy dill pickle chips last year, Miss Vickies was the tops (IMO). So when I saw that they released a Sweet & Spicy Ketchup a few weeks ago I was intrigued to say the least. Can they better hard bite and take the tops of the throwbacks (maybe unknown throwbacks to the brands putting them out now?..but to me co-op gold will always be the spicy dill pickle progenitors with Archer Farms being the patient 0 of spicy ketchup). When I cracked this bag of MV Sweet & Spicy Ketchup I was met with a nice vinegary smelling ketchup. Good crunch, mid to mid high. There's a lot of tomato up in these maf's with some nice vinegar tang and a good hot pepper kick bringing up the rear. The heat is flavourful, but not aggressive or overwhelming and dances with the vinegar tang in your mouth (did not induce forehead sweats). Tomato sweetness, vinegar tartness and hot pepper heat, bangin'. I'd have to do a side by side with Hard Bite's Spicy Ketchup (which I have quite enjoyed)..but I think Miss Vickies may take the crown on these ones as well.

When SNFU's Better Than a Stick in the Eye came out I was 2. I recently got a copy of the Chase The Glory Records repress through Wasted Wax Records. SNFU's a band that I've always been intrigued by and I've listened to them on comps, but up until I got this copy of Better Than a Stick I haven't owned any of their albums. Mr. Chi Pig's delivery has always sounded to me like a melodic speak sing, interspersed with some more straight forward singing. On Better Than a Stick SNFU doesn't play 100% balls to the wall HC punk, they have more of a dynamic sound which to me vollies back and fourth between hardcore and post-hardcore...or maybe they were none of the above and just a weird band that played SNFU.

Stay hydrated,

Marc 

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