Tag Archives: Record Store Day

The Cure – Disintegration (Re-Imagined)

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This weekend was Record Store Day.  The greatest single event created for music fans everywhere.  And for all the haters, they’re just bitter because they didn’t think of it first.  Seriously.  Without Record Store Day, independent record stores would be out of business, not increasing in numbers.  So for any flaws it might have, the positives outweigh the negatives in extremes, as stores are great places to shop from and sometimes they have great lighting thanks to resources from https://commerciallightingcompany.co.uk/. 

This year, for Record Store Day, there were a few “alternate” versions of popular albums.  The Flaming Lips’ alternate version of “Clouds Taste Metallic” and Fleetwood Mac’s alternate “Tuck” are a couple that come to mind.  This got me thinking.  How can we re-imagine famous albums in a new way? Not necessarily a better way…but a new way.  Like visiting a best friend in a new house or a director’s cut of a great movie.  Are there other ways to enjoy something we already love?

My favorite album of all time is the Cure’s “Disintegration.”  It might be the perfect album.  To me.  It got me thinking…is there a new way to enjoy this album?  Even by merely re-ordering the songs…  Is there a new way to experience it?  I took the 12 songs from the original release.  I included the 4 B-sides and used the extended remixes of the singles in lieu of the current album versions.  With these 16 songs, I ventured out to create a new album.

Immediately, I noticed one very important thing…the order of the songs is as important as the songs themselves.  Here’s something to consider.  If I try to make a 12 song album, using these 16 songs, the possibilities of different albums number in the…get ready for this…billions.  Yes, billions.  There are over 800 billion different ways to order these 16 songs. Eight hundred billion.  This is true. It’s called math.  Permutations, precisely.  Google it.

So, of the 800 billion possible combinations, are there other combinations that work?  The answer is…yes.  Over the course of re-evaluating this album, I discovered two very different paths, creating two polarizing different albums: a dark album…and a light album.  So I have included them for you here.  Disintegration:  The Light and Disintegration: The Dark.  Listen to them both below…and enjoy a new journey into The Cure.  Even songs used in both alternate versions, come across with totally different feels in their new homes. A unique experience that can surely open the door into the listening of other favorite albums.

Trying to stay on par with the original, I have capped the running length under 70 minutes.  Let me know your thoughts…and your own versions.

The Cure Disintegration: The Dark

 

 

The Cure Disintegration:  The Light

 

 

The 11 Most Popular Record Store Day Ebay Flips 2015

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You can’t read anything about Record Store Day anymore without reading some article whose author spends pages of digital content, complaining about the vinyl holiday. “It’s killing independent stores,” “it excludes indie labels,” and it’s only for unnecessary major label titles.”  You know what would be worse than Record Store Day?  NO RECORD STORE DAY.  A world where there is nothing promoting independent records stores, causing them to fade and dissolve into music history alongside the 8-track, mini-disc, and reel-to-reel.  But today, music stores are alive and well…in part, thanks to record store day.  Record stores having to deal with throngs of audiophiles twice a year (Black Friday) is a way better scenario than dealing with foreclosure.  .

Another complaint comes from independent labels themselves who have found their material excluded by the event coordinators.  Read here about Father/Daughter’s comp, which seemed like a rather cool release.  Sure there are some releases that get excluded…and there are some titles that seem unnecessary.  But even if we’re talking about 10% of the titles or even 25% of the released titles being unnecessary…that still leaves 300 great vital releases!  Isn’t it worth some crap to get some gold?  That said, I’m not even sure how we determine which titles are unnecessary.  I read bloggers claiming the Citizen Dick release was the most unnecessary title this year…it’s an unreleased Pearl Jam song from the 1991/Ten era version of the band!  I bought it and it’s the title I’ve listened to more than any other release.  If someone wants to buy them…then doesn’t that make them necessary?  (and the Citizen Dick record just missed this list…so the 12th most popular record flip is somehow unnecessary?  Okay…)

That said…it’s hard to determine prior to the holiday which albums will sell out in seconds and which ones will linger until August.  Some of the most talked about releases including Courtney Barnett, Brian Eno, and Run The Jewels were still available at stores late on Sunday afternoon.  While others (like Brand New) had people lining up the night before.  I mean seriously, how is Brand New’s reissue of a 12-year old album that is readily available on Spotify and itunes AND coming out in wide release next month the number one Ebay flip merely because it comes in a paper bag?  Every store I visiting had people waiting 12-24 hours for this record.

For this list, I determined the ranking based on list price versus Ebay sale…and what was the greatest increase in comparison to the price.  Stereogum lists Jurassic 5’s $100 Ebay sale as a big flip…but the list price was $90 to begin with.  That’s only a $10 increase.  Same with Phish’s Live 1995 6-disc set that listed at $160 but sold for $200.  The biggest flips versus price, I believe, truly shows what were the must-have vinyls of RSD 2015.

Here are the biggest Ebay Flips of Record Store Day 2015:

  1. Elvis Presley – My Happiness (List price $12 – Ebay price $245) 20.5x increase
  2. Brand New – Deja Entendu (List price $28 – Ebay price $384) 13.7x increase
  3. Interpol – Everything Is Wrong (List price $9 – Ebay price $99) 11x increase
  4. John Prine – September 78 (List price $25 – Ebay price $227) 10.1x increase
  5. David Bowie – Changes (List price $11 – Ebay price $99) 9x increase
  6. Bob Dylan – Basement Tapes (List price $30 – Ebay price $250) 8.3x increase
  7. Citizen Dick – Touch Me I’m Dick (List price $11 – Ebay price $69) 6.3x increase
  8. Ryan Adams – Come Pick Me Up (List price $9 – Ebay price $59) 5.9x increase
  9. U2 – Songs of Innocence (List price $36 – Ebay price $199) 5.5x increase
  10. Twenty One Pilots – The LC LP (List price $20 – Ebay price $99) 4.9x increase
  11. Foo Fighters – Songs From The Laundry Room (List price $20 – Ebay price $99) 4.9x increase

Honorable Mention:

Paul McCartney’s Sweet Trash sold for a ridiculous $895 but I didn’t include it since it’s signed by Sir Mac (which obviously alters the true value of the vinyl).

Here are some other fun lists:

 

 

The 11 Most Talked About Record Store Day Releases:

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Tomorrow is the annual fun-loving shopping spree for audiophiles everywhere.  Pretty much every music mag/zine/blog/critic/expert has their own top essential purchases they recommend for RSD.  I could do the same.  But it would just be my recommends for what I really want.  Instead, I’ve dug through the net and tallied up everyone else’s list.  I’ve created a combo list of the most talked about releases.  I was surprised to see only two of my “must buys” on the list.  And craziest of all, the number one most talked about release on Record Store Day is…a CASSETTE.  Metallica’s reprint of their very first release on cassette is the most talked about release this year.  Overall, it’s a pretty solid list with current rockers, classic rockers, rap lords, and some fresh indie faces.

Happy hunting!!!

Here are The 11 Most Talked About Record Store Day Releases:

  1. Metallica – No Life ‘Till Leather

2.  The White Stripes – Get Behind Me Satan

3.  Foo Fighters – Songs From The Laundry Room

4.  Father John Misty – I Loved You Honeybee

5. J. Dilla – Fuck the Police

6. Run the Jewels -Bust No Moves

7. Courtney Barnett – Kim’s Caravan

8. Sly and the Family Stone – Live at the Fillmore East

9. David Bowie – Changes

10.  Brian Eno – My Squelchy Life

11.  Willie Nelson – Teatro

Honorable Mentions:  Mclusky, Elvis Presley, Sim Dunlap, Phish, Mumford and Sons, and Hanni El Khalib

What are your favorite releases?

 

The 11 Best Record Store Day Successes

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At 4:00 AM Saturday morning, I pulled up outside a record store in Sherman Oaks, armed with a few graphic novels, a half-read Malcolm Gladwell tome and 2-liter bottle of Pepsi Max.  I was not alone.  In fact, I was 9th.  In a line that would later that day stretch to over 150-people long, I was part of the core group of dedicated music purists.  The starting line-up.  The Breakfast Club of vinyl.  A tenth member showed up at 4:30, in hopes he was the first one to arrive looking for the Cake box set.  When he found out he was the third one to walk up desiring its glory (knowing the store only obtained one copy), he tossed his hand in the air, disgusted by the whole event and marched off cursing with a wicked lisp.  We were a united front and no one was going to break our tribe.

For the next 7 hours, we discussed our purchases.  Who was getting what?  We strategized with each other, plotting which albums we were sure to get, while at the same time conscious of the others’ picks.  Like the crossing of the streams in Ghostbusters, there could be no overlap.  With three people in line only there to get the Paramore release (that’s dedication…but it is a cool-looking record), our competition was minimal.  Once we had announced our choices, once we had determined our lists, we no longer allowed to make changes or additions that affected anyone else’s lists.  That would be seen as treasonous…and there’s no telling the severity of the scowl that would be emitted from a pissed off music nerd.

Finally, the rest of the line showed up as the crack of six came around.  But we were the tribal council.  We had the power in the front of the line to determine who was getting what.  If the twelfth person in line came only for the Joy Division EP, and I was thinking about getting it, it meant I held all the power over their music-buying fate.  But even vinyl aficionados have morals. There were no cuts.  There was no buying for a friend.  There were also no assholes.  We respected each other’s right to be there. At the end of the day, we’re a community and we protect our own.

As massively successful that Record Store Day is for the fans and styluses everywhere, it is always amazing to watch what limited edition, colored-vinyl, filled with live demos of covers has the most sustainability outside of the store.  I’m not talking about which album you enjoy listening to the most, that’s personal, and there’s no list for that.  I’m talking about which albums garner the most online demand.  Some of the albums that were predicted to be draws like Outkast, the side by side series, and even the new Conor Oberst had very little online life.  Even the highly hyped Green Day Demos red vinyl was being outbid by the CD version of the same title.  But some titles…some titles exceeded expectations and will now live on in legend of the RSD history.

Here are the 11 Best Record Store Day Successes:

  1. R.E.M. – Unplugged (307) – I’ve been waiting for this release for 23 years.  It does not disappoint.  Online it’s selling for 350% over its list price and there seems to be no dip in the demand.  Despite its popularity it sounds fucking incredible. Only 1000 of these were made, which means it will be in demand for a long time.
  2. Cake – Box Set ($330) – All of Cake’s seven albums, plus an 8th never-released album, all printed on different colored vinyl.  Even though it sells for more than REM, it cost twice as much originally.  This thing was so popular it literally caused  a guy to cry in line because he didn’t get it.
  3. Ghostbusters ($100) – The surprise of the day.  Whoever thought a 30 year old movie theme song on glow in the dark vinyl would be wanted by everyone in line.
  4. Garcia ($148) – Jerry’s first solo album on white vinyl.  Dead fans who are not dead are fighting tooth and nail for this one.
  5. The Liars – Mess On a Mission ($75) – This might edge out Paramore for the coolest looking record.  Clear vinyl with yarn inside.  A truly unique release.
  6. Devo – Live at Max’s Kansas City ($107) – From 1977, this is a great uncovered gem by a legendary band.
  7. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World ($96) – A cult classic soundtrack draws a cult classic crowd.
  8. Death Cab For Cutie ($95) – DCFC with an orchestra…this is the kind of release RSD is made for.
  9. Childish Gambino ($80) – Donald Glover may be a funny guy, but he had the best packaging of the day.
  10. Life Without Buildings ($102) – An obscure release by an obscure 80s band for the first time in America.  If you don’t get this now, you’ll never get it.
  11. Jack White – Lazaretto ($475) – Even though this is selling for the most amount of money online, it’s not really fair to compare it to the others since you could only purchase it at one location.  It’s still cool as shit.  Looks like Jack just raised the bar for coolest RSD release.  Your turn Wayne Coyne.

 

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The 11 Most Exciting Releases for Record Store Day 2010

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This Saturday, the world (yes, the world) celebrates one of the greatest institutions:  The Record Store.  Record Stores across the country are taking part in the annual celebration by featuring over 100 exclusive releases that will only be available at independent record stores.  And these are minor garage bands, some of the releases are from the biggest names in music.  Here’s a shortlist of some of the bands releasing material on Saturday:  Beastie Boys, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Elvis Costello, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, Sonic Youth, Weezer and dozens of others.  This is event is a big deal.  Find the nearest store to you and let’s keep the Record Store alive!
 
Here’s a track from the Iron & Wine live concert I picked up last year.
 
 
Here Are the 11 Most Exciting Releases for Record Store Day 2010:
 
1.  Rolling Stones 7″ (featuring 2 unreleased tracks from the Exile Sessions)
2.  Jimi Hendrix 12″ (Live at Clark University)
3.  Elvis Costello 7″ (Live at Hollywood High)
4.  Beastie Boys 12″ (Super Surprise – most likely tracks from the new album)
5.  Elvis Presley 7″ (re-issue of That’s Alright Mama/Blue Moon)
6.  R.E.M. 12″ (Re-issue of Chronic Town)
7.  Drive By Truckers 7′ (featuring 2 unreleased songs)
8.  LCD Soundsystem 12″ (featuring new music)
9.  Great Lake Swimmers CD (Acoustic versions of Lost Channels)
10.  Of Montreal 7″ (featuring 2 new tracks)
11.  Weezer – Happy Record Store Day CD (featuring new tracks with Kenny G)