The Ratchets release Odds & Ends: Volume Two

New Jersey punk rockers The Ratchets have once again reached into the vaults to reward longtime fans with digital releases of rare & unreleased songs under the banner of Odds & Ends.

Odds & Ends, the band’s collection of B-sides, outtakes, and demos, was a vinyl-only release issued in 2018. No-one remembers the reason for not releasing it digitally at the time, but after the vinyl sold out and was unlikely to be repressed, the band decided to release these tracks digitally as a series of volumes, adding additional tracks not originally included along the way.

Second in this series, Odds & Ends: Volume Two compiles four outtakes from the 2006 Glory Bound recording sessions; "Hoist A New Flag” (originally released as a posthumous 7” in 2013), the previously unreleased tracks "True Deceiver" and "Bridge To Somewhere," and a cover version of the "The Way Things Are," originally recorded by peace-punk supergroup Schwartzeneggar (previously released as the b-side to the "Hoist A New Flag" single).

Glory Bound, the band's first LP - and the first LP released on Pirates Press Records! - was the album that introduced many to The Ratchets, so the opportunity to hear more from these iconic sessions is a treat for longtime fans.

Of great interest is the Schwartzeneggar cover. Known for putting great care into their cover selection, whether playing well-known songs or obscure gems, The Ratchets put their one-of-a-kind spin on this anthemic tune by the lesser known 90s band that brought together members of iconic UK punk bands Crass, Conflict, and Thatcher On Acid!