Undecided Records

{{short description|American record label}}

{{Infobox record label

| name = Undecided Records

| image = File:Undecided Records Logo.png

| image_size =

| image_alt =

| caption =

| parent =

| founded = {{start date|1998}}

| founder = {{flatlist|

• Clifford Weiner
• Alexander Kenny

}}

| defunct = {{End date|2006}}

| status = Inactive

| distributor = {{flatlist|

• Revelation
• Victory
• RED

}}

| genre = {{flatlist|

• Hardcore punk
• metalcore
• post-hardcore
• emo
• indie rock

}}

| country = United States

| location = Lake Worth, Florida

| website =

}}

Undecided Records was an American independent record label established in 1998 by Clifford Wiener and Alexander Kenny.{{Cite web|last=Preira|first=Matt|date=May 3, 2011|title=Bringing It Back for the Kids Fest With Shai Hulud and Terror May 13 and 14|url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/bringing-it-back-for-the-kids-fest-with-shai-hulud-and-terror-may-13-and-14-6441658|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705070910/https://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/bringing-it-back-for-the-kids-fest-with-shai-hulud-and-terror-may-13-and-14-6441658|archive-date=July 5, 2015|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=Miami New Times}} The record company was founded in Loxahatchee, Florida but its headquarters moved around in various parts of Palm Beach County, Florida; first to Boca Raton,{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2001 |title=High Times, rare finds all |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/134579102/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=The Palm Beach Post |language=en-US |via=Newspapers.com}} then to Parkland, and finally to Lake Worth. The record label released hardcore, metalcore, noisecore, post-hardcore, and emo music, with a principally North American roster of artists spanning from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s.{{Cite book |last=Morris |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Morris (music writer) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mxAEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22undecided+records%22+++%22victory+records%22&pg=PA44 |title=Deciding on Victory |date=April 24, 2004 |publisher=Billboard |publication-date=April 24, 2004 |language=en}} Undecided Records released music on vinyl records, compact discs, and digital audio formats, with distribution in the United States originally through Revelation Records, then through Victory Records, and finally through Sony/RED Music.{{Cite magazine|date=April 8, 2004|title=Victory To Distribute Undecided|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/1440241/victory-to-distribute-undecided|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001185553/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/1440241/victory-to-distribute-undecided|archive-date=October 1, 2019|access-date=March 29, 2021|magazine=Billboard|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=April 13, 2004|title=Undecided Records Signs A New Distribution Deal|url=http://www.undecidedrecords.com/news.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040804235620/http://www.undecidedrecords.com/news.php|archive-date=August 4, 2004|access-date=March 9, 2021|website=Undecided Records}} Wiener and Kenny were both closely associated with Eulogy Recordings, where they worked in their free time.{{Cite web|date=January 2, 2001|title=Undecided and Eulogy Recordings collaborate on new magazine and CD sampler|url=http://www.undecidedrecords.com/news.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010305193035/http://www.undecidedrecords.com/news.html|archive-date=March 5, 2001|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=Undecided Records}}

Undecided Records put out such notable releases as Poison the Well's Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder,{{Cite web|last=Gramlich|first=Chris|date=July 1, 2001|title=Poison The Well Distance Makes The Heart Grow Fonder|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/poison_well-distance_makes_heart_grow|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329043801/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/poison_well-distance_makes_heart_grow|archive-date=2021-03-29|access-date=2021-03-29|website=Exclaim!|language=en-ca}} Every Time I Die's The Burial Plot Bidding War,{{Cite web|last=Theakston|first=Rob|title=The Burial Plot Bidding War|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/burial-plot-bidding-war-mw0000208480|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329043514/https://www.allmusic.com/album/burial-plot-bidding-war-mw0000208480|archive-date=March 29, 2021|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=AllMusic}} Supermachiner's Rise of the Great Machine,{{Cite web|last=Gramlich|first=Chris|date=April 1, 2001|title=Supermachiner Rise Of The Great Machine|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/supermachiner-rise_of_great_machine|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329044918/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/supermachiner-rise_of_great_machine|archive-date=2021-03-29|access-date=2021-03-29|website=Exclaim!|language=en-ca}} Breaking Pangaea's Take Apart the Words and Cannon to a Whisper,{{Cite web|title=Breaking Pangaea reviews, music, news - sputnikmusic|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/bands/Breaking-Pangaea/16429/|access-date=2021-03-29|website=Sputnikmusic}}{{Cite web|last=Taylor|first=Jason D.|title=Cannon to a Whisper|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/cannon-to-a-whisper-mw0000657676|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329045502/https://www.allmusic.com/album/cannon-to-a-whisper-mw0000657676|archive-date=March 29, 2021|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=AllMusic}} and Eiffel's Audiblenarcotic (also re-issued after the band's name was changed to Vaux).{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/CMJ/2000/CMJ-2000-10-16.pdf |title=EIFFEL Audiblenarcotic (Undecided) |date=October 16, 2000 |publisher=CMJ}} The record label was also responsible for producing a series of Metallica tribute splits titled Crush 'Em All, which included covers by BoySetsFire,{{Cite web|last=Deller|first=Alex|date=June 13, 2007|title=Boy Sets Fire Shai Hulud - Crush 'Em All Vol. 1 Review|url=https://www.collective-zine.co.uk/reviews/?id=3283|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329044210/https://www.collective-zine.co.uk/reviews/?id=3283|archive-date=2021-03-29|access-date=2021-03-29|website=Collective Zine|language=en}} Converge,{{Cite web|date=May 13, 2002|title=A brief interview with Steve Austin from Today Is the Day|url=https://www.angelfire.com/rant/revpermin/interviewtitd.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231054107/http://www.angelfire.com/rant/revpermin/interviewtitd.html|archive-date=December 31, 2014|access-date=2021-03-29|website=Revpermint}} Countervail,{{Cite web|date=July 24, 2001|title=Countervail writing material for split {{!}} Comments {{!}} Lambgoat|url=https://lambgoat.com/news/comments.aspx?id=835|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329045843/https://lambgoat.com/news/comments.aspx?id=835|archive-date=2021-03-29|access-date=2021-03-29|website=Lambgoat}} Disembodied,{{Cite web|date=2002|title=Crush Em All Tribute update|url=http://www.undecidedrecords.com/new/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021209095020/http://www.undecidedrecords.com/new/|archive-date=December 9, 2002|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=Undecided Records}} Indecision,{{Cite web|date=February 2, 2001|title=News|url=http://www.undecidedrecords.com/news.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010305193035/http://www.undecidedrecords.com/news.html|archive-date=March 5, 2001|access-date=February 21, 2021|website=Undecided Records}} Eighteen Visions,{{Cite web|date=November 12, 2000|title=Poison The Well & their splits|url=https://lambgoat.com/news/306/Poison-The-Well-and-their-splits|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329050053/https://lambgoat.com/news/306/Poison-The-Well-and-their-splits|archive-date=2021-03-29|access-date=2021-02-21|website=Lambgoat}} Poison the Well, Shai Hulud, Supermachiner,{{Cite web|date=April 25, 2001|title=News|url=http://undecidedrecords.com/news.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010501232405/http://undecidedrecords.com/news.html|archive-date=May 1, 2001|access-date=2021-02-21|website=Undecided Records}} Today Is the Day, and Walls of Jericho. Many of the splits fell apart during varying production stages but Undecided Records compiled the bulk of the recorded cover songs on the Various Artists compilation The Old, The New, The Unreleased, released in January 2005.{{Cite web|title=The Old, The New, The Unreleased: Undecided Records Sampler|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-OldNewUnreleased-Undecided-Records-Sampler/release/9168548|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329052139/https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-OldNewUnreleased-Undecided-Records-Sampler/release/9168548|archive-date=March 29, 2021|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=Discogs|date=26 January 2005 }}{{Cite web|date=January 26, 2005|title=News|url=http://undecidedrecords.com/?id=news#32|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206191912/http://undecidedrecords.com/?id=news#32|archive-date=February 6, 2005|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=Undecided Records}} In September–October 2005, the record label organized The Undecided Records Tour, a two-month American tour featuring its signed bands Cru Jones, The Big Screen, Shindig, Hank Jones, Iscariot, and xRepresentx.{{Cite web |date=September 8, 2005 |title=Spots |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/330577872/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en-US |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2005 |title=Music Menu |url=https://www.cltampa.com/music/music-menu-12165047 |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=Creative Loafing Tampa Bay |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Arnold |first=Alex |date=August 13, 2005 |title=Cru Jones, The Big Screen, Shindig tour |url=https://lambgoat.com/news/5306/cru-jones-the-big-screen-shindig-tour/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=Lambgoat |language=en}}

In 2003, Wiener, Kenny, and Michael Broder formed the imprint company Undecided Films, with plans to release theatrical films and digital video discs.{{Cite web|date=March 7, 2005|title=About|url=http://www.undecidedrecords.com/films/index.php?id=about|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050307122003/http://www.undecidedrecords.com/films/index.php?id=about|archive-date=March 7, 2005|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=Undecided Films}} The company's inaugural project was to be a theatrical reissue of F. W. Murnau's 1922 film Nosferatu, featuring a new score composed by Converge vocalist Jacob Bannon.{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/CMJ/2003/CMJ-814-2003-05-19.pdf |title=Loud Rock Industry News |publisher=CMJ |publication-date=May 19, 2003 |pages=27}}{{Cite web|date=2003|title=Undecided Films Plans First Release|url=http://www.undecidedrecords.com/new/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030622030233/http://www.undecidedrecords.com/new/|archive-date=June 22, 2003|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=Undecided Films}} Undecided Films' first DVD release later turned out to be the documentary Rockets Redglare!, dedicated to the memory of stand-up comedian Rockets Redglare, featuring interviews with Steve Buscemi, Jim Jarmusch, Matt Dillon, and Willem Dafoe.{{Cite web|date=October 18, 2004|title=Rockets RedGlare! DVD to be released On NOV 16TH|url=http://www.undecidedrecords.com:80/news.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041204164915/http://www.undecidedrecords.com:80/news.php|archive-date=December 4, 2004|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=Undecided Films}} In June 2003, Undecided Records formed a partnership with Further Seems Forever bassist Chad Neptune, financing his own imprint record label Pompano Basic.{{Cite web|date=June 29, 2003|title=Undecided Records hooks up w/ Pompano Basic|url=https://lambgoat.com/news/2548/Undecided-Records-hooks-up-w--Pompano-Basic|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007224404/https://lambgoat.com/news/2548/Undecided-Records-hooks-up-w--Pompano-Basic|archive-date=October 7, 2012|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=Lambgoat}}

Undecided Records was dissolved in 2006 when Wiener and Kenny founded a series of new imprints. In May 2006, all of the straight-edge bands previously signed to Undecided Records were transferred to the new record label x1981x Records, which had already been founded as an apparel company, x1981x Clothing, in 2004.{{Cite web|date=December 13, 2004|title=x1981x Clothing|url=http://x1981x.com/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041213010331/http://x1981x.com/|archive-date=December 13, 2004|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=x1981x Clothing}}{{Cite web|date=May 23, 2006|title=News|url=http://www.1981records.com/news.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704114942/http://www.1981records.com/news.php?page=3&limit=10&sort=date+DESC&band=&month=&year=&PHPSESSID=31d91cce03469f23cf73f71a89cf2c2d|archive-date=July 4, 2007|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=x1981x Records}} The remaining bands were transferred to a second new record label, 567 Records, including Further Seems Forever, which released the compilation The Final Curtain, and Jeremy Enigk, who released The Missing Link, both originally scheduled for Undecided Records.{{Cite web|last=|title=Further Seems Forever retrospective due out soon|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/6468/further-seems-forever-retrospective-due-out-soon|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329054501/https://www.punknews.org/article/6468/further-seems-forever-retrospective-due-out-soon|archive-date=2021-03-29|access-date=2021-03-29|website=Punk News|date=4 July 2003 |language=en}} Undecided Records began re-releasing its entire back-catalog digitally in early 2007. Wiener, Kenny, and John Wylie of Eulogy Recordings later formed the artist management firm Big Hit Management in 2010.{{Cite web|date=April 15, 2015|title=Big Hit Management launched|url=https://lambgoat.com/news/14342/Big-Hit-Management-launched|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527102313/https://lambgoat.com/news/14342/Big-Hit-Management-launched|archive-date=May 27, 2013|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=Lambgoat}} Wiener and Kenny also organized the music festival Bringin' it Back for the Kids Fest, which took place in 2011 and 2012.{{Cite web|last=Kamiński|first=Karol|date=October 15, 2012|title=Bringin' It Back For The Kids Fest 2 videos (feat. REMEMBERING NEVER, MORNING AGAIN and more!)|url=https://idioteq.com/bringin-it-back-for-the-kids-fest-2-videos-feat-remembering-never-morning-again-and-more/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127224702/https://idioteq.com/bringin-it-back-for-the-kids-fest-2-videos-feat-remembering-never-morning-again-and-more/|archive-date=November 27, 2020|access-date=March 29, 2021|website=Idioteq|language=en-US}}