To celebrate A Breath Of Stale Air’s tenth anniversary we’ve repackaged the original LP artwork by Aussie artist Ben Brown, which now features a descriptive blurb from Smitty about the album’s history and making, plus a song by song write-up by Dal. Mixed and mastered by Jason Livermore at the Blasting Room the record features the bonus LP only track* “Trash The World” A must for fans of melodic skate punk. facebook.com/localresidentfailure

Pressing:
1000 x CDs
250 x Opaque Blue Vinyl w/ Splatter – SOLD OUT
175 x Frosted Clear w/ Blue/Pink Splatter
175 x Opaque Side A/B Black/Hot Pink

REVIEWS:
PunkRockTheory.com [Belgium]
LOCAL RESIDENT FAILURE – A Breath Of Stale Air
From the band name and album title to the cartoonish artwork and funny song titles (“Defamation By Defecation”, “Everyday’s A Holiday On Christmas Island”) and the fact that they are from Australia, a link with Frenzal Rhomb was made in my head before I had even heard a single tune…. Alcohol-loving punks with a sense of humour and songs about loving alcohol with some social commentary mixed in. Turns out I was right on the money but as Local Resident Failure prove, that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. After relentless touring and numerous EP, they churned out this full-length which comes with no less than 15 songs and if you like fast 90s punkrock like NOFX and Lagwagon, there’s no going wrong with “A Breath Of Stale Air”. Score: 7 out of 10

WeLiveInHell.com [Brazil]
LOCAL RESIDENT FAILURE – This Here’s The Hard Part
When we talk about the main region of melodic punk we always think about California. But when we bring this question to the southern hemisphere of the planet, the answer is Australia. From there it came great bands from punk / hardcore scene like Bodyjar, The Living End, Parkway Drive, among others. But it is the melodic punk that they keep, perhaps, as their biggest secret, especially with The Decline and Local Resident Failure. And the main responsible for this huge quality and quantity of good bands is called Pee Records. The label has been doing an incredible work for a long time, and year after year presents excellent bands for the fans of punk rock and hardcore. This Here’s The Hard Part is the new and highly anticipated album from Local Resident Failure. After an overnight internet success of its drummer (making excellent medley videos from most known punk rock artists), the band proves that has unquestionable quality regardless of external factors that may garner more fans for them. On this record we have fourteen tracks from the best worldwide melodic punk. Faster songs, more rhythmic songs, here we find a bit of everything, but always converging to a captivating and unique matrix. “Long Night” is one of the great songs on the album that proves all that has been written in this review. “Newcastle Nights” is the faster one in the album and certainly one of the best ones, along with the stunning “Time Machine”. And to finish in style, the wonderful “The Re-Opener”. Local Resident Failure is already a strong name for fans of the genre that are not restricted to the American scene. But with This Here’s The Hard Part the band can go further and conquer the world. Talent, quality and competence they have to spare, and be in a country where English is a native language makes their way even easier. Either way this album becomes an instant classic for the genre and is shaping as the first big favorite album of the year! Recommended for fans of: NOFX, No Use For a Name, Diesel Boy
Rating: 9.5/10 – Review by: Eduardo Landlord

ThePunkSite.com [Canada]
LOCAL RESIDENT FAILURE – A Breath Of Stale Air
Pee Records may just be one of the most interesting punk record labels to make its mark over the past five years. Exclusively highlighting those punk acts based down under that struggle to breakout outside of their geography, the label has earned somewhat of a reputation for being “The Fat Wreck Chords of Australia.” The label has introduced me to bands like Part Time Killer, Burning Fiction, and now Newcastle’s Local Resident Failure. Clearly inspired by the jewels of the Fat Wreck dynasty, including NOFX, No Use For A Name, and of course countrymen Frenzal Rhomb, Local Resident Failure offers a familiar sounding debut that skirts plagiarism with their undeniably authentic execution. As implied in its namesake, A Breath Of Stale Air might sound like it belongs back in 1997, but only because it sounds so damn true to its roots in spirit and style. Even those they emulate would be hard pressed to produce anything this pure on the skatepunk spectrum. “The Opener” kicks off the album with a particularly melodic dose of punk rock that builds up from a harmonious vocal heavy intro and explodes into a fast, loud, sonic battering brimming with youthful attitude and confrontational themes. “They knew it couldn’t happen from the start, their family would always say that this would never last” sings frontman Michael Dallinger as he exposes racist views on inter-racial couples that those of former generations continue to impose. It’s a strong, purposeful opening sure to catch the ear of anyone with a social conscious. They revisit the topic with optimism for change in “Sad Beginning, Happy Ending.” The theme is a strong one, which they turn on its head a few tracks later with “Playing The Race Card,” evidencing the band’s very complete understanding of contemporary racial dialogues. It’s not all frowns and finger wagging though, and it becomes obvious early on that Local Resident Failure’s snarky attitude and tongue-in-cheek sarcasm fuels their drive. For instance, the band has a good bit to say about their aging punk rock heroes. “(Still) Kickin’ On” calls out those classic punk acts that seem to have been playing crappy dives their whole their careers. “Geriatric punk rock is their game” accuses Dallinger, pointing out with their quick wit that in spite of their saturation they must be doing something right: “sitting in their wheelchair staring into blank air, losing all their hair but does anybody care… I’ll still be watching them when I turn 54.” With Pennywise, Bad Religion, and more accurately lesser acts like SNUFU and D.O.A. still going strong from the 80’s I think most of us fans can relate. But they’re not done yet. “Nowhere To Be Scene” takes another cheeky jab at aging punk rockers and how “they’re all moving on, writing slower songs” – the two obvious solo greats coming mind being Joey Cape and the late Tony Sly (rest his soul). Still, the band is so playful in delivery (changing tempo and pulling out the upstroke) that you can tell they love celebrating rather than criticizing their idols, and it makes for a good chuckle. As should be made obvious from my volume of content descriptions, I really enjoy Local Resident Failure’s offerings. It’s nothing new – at all – but it’s incredibly fresh and sincere. I find myself forging a stronger connection with the album after each listen – so it’s safe to say that it’s not just a case of stylistic nostalgia (although that’s definitely a huge draw). When all is said and done, A Breath Of Stale Air is one of the best 90’s albums written twenty years too late. So if NOFX is your thing, definitely get to know Local Resident Failure.
Best Song:(Still) Kickin’ On
Rating: 3.5/5 – Review by: Cole Faulkner

BLUNT Issue #111
LOCAL RESIDENT FAILURE – A Breath Of Stale Air
Local Resident Failure is one of the best-kept (see criminally underrated) secrets of Australian punk rock. Not too dissimilar to those national icons in Frenzal Rhomb, these Novocastrian lads deliver the same breakneck, melodic punk rukus (one that sounds superb courtesy of a mixing and mastering job at The Blasting Room) made famous by Whalley and Co., with the band’s vocalist Michael Dallinger even recalling like a (slightly) less ‘strayan version of the Frenzal frontman, with a dash of nasal Fat Mike-esque phrasing thrown in for good measure. There’s little here to endear the quartet to a wider audience, but for those still in love with genre they most likely embraced 15-20 years ago, A Breath Of Stale Air is on par with many of the recent Fat Wreck and Epitaph releases.
Rating: 3.5/5 – Review by: Cameron Chambers

Kill Your Stereo
LOCAL RESIDENT FAILURE – A Breath Of Stale Air
The humorous song titles, the cartoon artwork, the fact that I unfortunately read the lyrics to Where The Bloody Hell Are Ya? before listening to the record, Newcastle’s Local Resident Failure seemed fairly predictable to me. Some slightly bogan-esque Frenzal Rhomb loving punks who drink a lot of beer and let people know that they drink a lot of beer. Whilst my initial guess wasn’t very far off at all, what I wasn’t expecting was some of the finest vocal and drum work to be heard on an Aussie punk record in recent times. Local Resident Failure can get away with the whole “we don’t take ourselves too seriously” thing because they are a seriously talented bunch of dudes. Couple this with the fact that in between the humour there is some very well written, serious social commentary, then you should probably listen to this record, at least once. On the surface, the music seems like fairly straight-forward punk rock, but there is a tinge of something that I can’t quite put my finger on which gives this band a modern twist. The fast pace of The Opener gives small breaks every now and then, like the groove heavy breakdown, starting the record off with a lyrical focus on interracial relationships. Kye Smith’s bullet drumming kicks off the next song (Still) Kicking On, during which the band demonstrate how tight they can be while the lyrical matter eases off on the hefty topics and talks about an aged punk rock band. As mentioned earlier, the lyrics to Where The Bloody Hell Are Ya? made me roll my eyes upon the first read, even though I agree with the point the song is bringing across, the fact that the Aussie accent is amped up for this number as we discuss what Australia is seen as and what it is now seems a little too Aussie punk cliché. A stand out is Playing The Race Card mainly due to the fact it is so damn catchy, taking its cues from early Sum 41 at points, the short number is bright and fun with all elements complimenting themselves perfectly. The record’s two shortest numbers come in at under a minute and are the highlights of the album’s mid-section, demonstrating that LRF only need a small amount of time to impress and show both the serious and fun sides of punk rock. The variety of emotions on display during this record are a veritable ping-pong game as the songs move from light to dark without warning, a good example being the heart sting tugger Sad Beginning, Happy Ending and the soaring Sleeping Beauty which contains the great little line, “I thought her name was Mary but she told me it was Jane.” The record ends with the longest track, The Funeral, which changes things up completely with a reggae vibe in which the band claim the best song in the world is Punch In The Face…AHA! I KNEW IT! Seriously though, it’s damn obvious throughout the whole record these guys love Frenzal. Conclusion: Local Resident Failure surprised me with some serious talents and their debut is constantly engaging thanks to its hefty dynamics, not only musically but lyrically as well. As much fun as it is insightful, this is one that Aussie punk rock lovers will want to hear. Summary: Fun punk that’s deep, man. Rating: 75

Chucking A Mosh
LOCAL RESIDENT FAILURE – A Breath Of Stale Air
Pretty much everyone has had that one point in their life when they were faced with that awkward situation of “the drunk friend”. So you’re out and about enjoying yourself and then all of a sudden out of nowhere you’re grabbed from behind. Embraced in some kind of headlock that resembles something similar to what you would see Hulk Hogan giving to some steroid pumped monster in spandex jocks., they then proceed to speak all those magical words of wisdom and untapped knowledge about life directly into your face from literally 2 inches away. Now at this point you think to yourself, I don’t care if this is the most profound thing ever to be spoken by anyone in the history of mankind, the truth of the matter is that all you can think about is how much their breath smells like shit! You might even say that it smells like a breath of stale air. Which just happens to be the name of the new album released by Local Resident Failure. Since getting started in 2007, these talented Newcastle boys have finally released their debut album. After releasing a handful of EPs and touring extensively around the country with some highly respected acts in the music industry. Local Resident Failure decided to hit up various studios across Australia to produce this epic 15 track face punch. An intensely driven bunch of songs with a humorous and witty outlook on life. Providing the listening audience with a little social awareness and a few cheeky lyrics to make you crack a smile. From the second the first riff hits in “The Opener” you can tell these guys know exactly what they are doing. There is definitely a sense of energy that shows through in the recordings which gives you a great feel for each song. Overall it is a very well-rounded album that builds from start to finish and is packed full of catchy chorus melodies and driving riffs that just keeps you coming back for more. For me this is one of those albums that draws you in the more you listen to it. Pretty soon you will find yourself turning the volume up, shaving yourself a mo-hawk and getting your punk on! Already with previous success on Triple J as a featured artist, and a bit of airplay, it would be pretty safe to say that only bigger and better things are to come with this album, and for this band in the future. So if you are into bands that play fast, loud, and that get your blood pumping then this is the album for you. Rating: 23/28 Days

PEE #48
LOCAL RESIDENT FAILURE – A Breath Of Stale Air
They may have taken their sweet time, but Local Resident Failure have finally released their long awaited debut album. Fittingly titled A Breath Of Stale Air, it is a record which sees the group add an extra layer of spit and polish to their well established Frenzal Rhomb-meets-Blink 182 brand of skatepunk. Instrumentally, the album finds the group in absolute peak form, with Smitty in particular laying down drum tracks that would make even Jord of Propagandhi weep out of jealousy. As usual however, it is Local Resident Failure’s ability to weave compelling tales through their colourful lyrics that continues to put them head and shoulders above most of their peers. While the group still have plenty of humour left to offer the listener (like on “Nowhere To Be Scene” and the provocatively titled “Defamation By Defecation”), it seems that Dal and the boys have been a bit more preoccupied with issues of human rights, racism and the state of Australian society than soccer players or being Greenday lately. This is most apparent on tracks such as “The Opener” and “Sad Beginning, Happy Ending”, where the band’s usual sneer is completely abandoned in favour of solemn earnestness. Topping the whole affair off however is “The Funeral”, a reggae tinged epic that finds the group pondering the nature of the punk rock lifestyle with little to no regret whatsoever. It may have taken forever, but the wait was definitely worth it.
Rating: 85 – Review by: Woody

Bombshellzine.com
LOCAL RESIDENT FAILURE – A Breath Of Stale Air
Going by the artwork and tracklisting you’d be expecting a straight up Frenzal Rhomb type album, and while that isn’t too far off the mark, these Newcastle guys lean a bit more towards the NOFX sound with an Aussie touch. It’s taken a number of years, loads of touring and a some smaller releases, but now they come to the full length. In typical punk rock fashion they cram 15 tracks in 32 minutes, the lyrics blend a little silly with a pinch of serious, and a few rounds of fun. It’s an album where you know what you are going to get, they aren’t going to throw in any curveball tracks, it’s fast punk rock from whoa to go. Pretty consistant quality wise throughout too. Highlights come from ‘What’s The Good News?’, ‘(Still) Kickin’ On’, ‘Recall’ and ‘Where The Bloody Hell Are Ya?’ If you still enjoy blasting a bit of fast ‘n snotty punk rock, then get on this one. It won’t let you down.

CoolTry.com
LOCAL RESIDENT FAILURE – A Breath Of Stale Air
When I first gave this album a spin I assumed I knew what I was in for. A bit of the same old. Some classic punk rock riffs, some classic punk rock lyrics all bundled up in some classic punk rock artwork. Even the album title suggests this is what’s in store. Good fun but all in all pretty stock. And to be honest I was totally okay with that. Given the current climate in punk rock I was really keen for something just like that. What I found was something much more. A Breath Of Stale Air is the product of years worth of writing and recording and it shows. Though it would be forward to call this anything more than a punk album there is a depth to it that is often missed by bands of the same ilk. Taking leaves from the hefty books of all the so-cal and punk rock mainstays like NOFX, Lagwagon, Propaghandi, etc but with enough variation in style and structure to keep anyone interested through 15 tracks, a veritable marathon by today’s standard. Along with punchy fun bull at a gate punk rock, you’ve got the odd ska/reggae influenced jam popping its dreadlocked head up every now and then as well as a harder edge to some of the seemingly more serious tracks. As far as the serious themes go, it’s a bit of a punk rock staple to be somewhat political, which can often lead to seemingly uneducated recycled opinions and just general hamfisted political rhetoric. Though some could argue that Local Resident Failure are maybe the slightest bit guilty of this at times, one issue that is extremely well dealt with on A Breath Of Stale Air is racism. Racism and its existence in bogan Australian culture is obviously an issue that hits very close to home with vocalist, bass slapper and self-proclaimed “half cast”, Michael Dallinger, so he does incredibly well to attack the issue at every opportunity. With all out assault on racism and racists in songs like Sad Beginning, Happy Ending and FWP (which stands for Fuck White Pride as the liner notes and lyrics reveal). All in all the message is clear, concise and extremely welcome. But it’s not all doom and gloom, A Breath Of Stale Air has more than its fair share of lighter moments, many of which are at the expense of Newcastle, the Newcastle music scene and in particular Newcastle punk-rock legends Wiseheimer, all of which had this born-again Novacastrian tittering to himself. All content and frivolity aside, for a punk rock record to be truly memorable there’s a few requirements that need to be met, and for this section I will be throwing away my red pen and breaking out the green pen because Local Resident Failure have absolutely no trouble ticking all the boxes. Infectious melodies laden with perfect harmonies plus a solid and energetic musical engine gilded with a number of memorable and original riffs. Plus extra special mention to drummer Kye Smith. It is incredibly important for a punk drummer to be tight, but it is not so common for one to be so creative as Smith. It’s the added touches and fills that really give this record the lasting energy it needs, so credit where credit is due. Four out of five acoustic guitars with no gain.
Anthony “Two tickets to Dal’s new country please” Webster

RELEASE DATE:
15 June 2012

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CREDITS:
CAT #: PCD052 / PV012
Drums Tracked by: Phil Sawyers @ The White Room
Instruments and Vocals Recorded by: Michael “Feffy” Ferfoglia @ Brandon St Studios
Main Vocals Recorded by: Geoff Mullard & Kye Smith @ RTN Studios
Mixed & Mastered by: Jason Livermore @ The Blasting Room
Artwork by: Ben Brown

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