Friday, March 30, 2012
Jack White Produces WORLDS FIRST 3PRM LP
I'm a bit of a sucker for coloured vinyl, gatefold packaging and deluxe editions. Despite having reduced sound quality, I've been tricked into buying the odd picture disc here and there (as long as I have a traditional copy kicking around). Third Man has been putting out novelty records for a few year now - Implanting a record inside a record, embedding flowers in a 7" - but is this too far? I'm fearful that more albums produced out of novelty will reinforce that records are 'hip, trendy' pieces of trade. Though vinyl sales are up across the board, It worries me to see more albums created for this current re-submergence of LP buying. Yes, we are catering to this generation of buyers - but does this help reinforce the hobby in the long term?
Full story found here: HERE
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Record Fairs
USA
http://
CANADA
http://
UK
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Every Record Store In The World!
Recordshops.org is compiling a list of every record store in the world on one handy site. And it's simple.
Step One: Type in the Site http://www.recordshops.org/ (Or just click the link- I tried to make it easy for all of you)
Step Two: Click The country you want.
Step Three: Click The city - Voila! A Map of where to find LP's in town.
MY SUGGESTION: Rate your favourite shops. I just went through all of the shops I've been to and gave them a rating out of 5. Since this site is in its infancy, it takes people to make it functional. Think Wikipedia without posters- it doesn't really work. I also added a few shops that weren't there. The next day they were up!
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
A Few Heavy Months
One can't argue the attention to detail that many metal labels pride themselves on. Many of these have slick gatefold covers, coloured disks, and laminated inserts. Though these elements don't add much in terms of listening, I would be lying if I didn't admit being swayed by a well done graphic. Please post (here or on FACEBOOK ) some of your recent finds.
Here are two classic Megadeth originals. Being a thrash kid, Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth, Sepultura and Metallica are the bands I was raised on. Megadeth has always been a hole in my collection so I'm glad to add these two classic albums.
Evolution Through Rvolution and End Time are available of Relapse Records.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
2012 Toronto Mid-Town Record Show
May 27th marks the second annual Toronto Mid-Town Record Show- FULLY BOOKED
Last year's show saw just under 250 customers buying from over 40 tables of prime quality dealers from the surrounding area. This year I have CONFIRMED close to 50 tables of music.
40,000 LP's, CD's, Posters, and Memorabilia from ALL genre's of music:
Rock, Psych, Funk, Soul, R&B, Metal, Rap, Country, Classical, Indie, Electo, Avant Garde, JAZZ
LOCATION: Greenwood College School - 443 Mount Pleasant Ave (One block East of Davisville station).
When: May 27th
9:00 Early Bird - $15
10:00-3:30 $4
This record show really culminates a year of collecting for me. Record shows winding up, a new house full of records, and my annual record purge (Oh yeah... look for a 'free records' sections with HUNDREDS of FREE RECORDS.)
FACEBOOK PAGE -Click 'ATTEND' for exclusive updates.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Give Me Ten $10 LP's, Please!
I’ve always wondered how a band can sell so many boxed sets. Often including a group of previous recordings and B-sides, it seems to be geared towards the collector. Doesn’t the collector often want the original? Doesn’t the collector already have all of the albums?
Let’s say the fan doesn’t have any of the albums – is this really the type of person who is willing to drop hundreds on a boxed set? After all, if they were willing to spend that much, wouldn’t they already have them albums? I’m already sounding like a broken record- pun intended.
Motorhead agrees with me. Their latest boxed set checks in at almost $600(!), giving the fan very little in terms of new material. 'I would advise against it even for the most rabid completest’ Lemmy, Motorhead’s frontman urges. In the fall Elvis Costello saw the near $400 price tag on his latest boxed set and said it must be a ‘misprint or a satire.' I wish you were right, Elvis!
Many artists have been following suit, with sometimes up for 7 different ‘package’ options for a new album. Metallica’s Death Magnetic was released as a double LP, a 5 LP set or a coffin packed with goodies. Hard rock band Disturbed are doing a pre-order for a 5 LP boxed set pressed on ‘140 gram vinyl, for audiophile quality’ – Last time I checked 140 grams is the average weight of most LP’s. (And PS – very little has be connected to quality and weight – just avoid flimsy Russian pressings!)
Warner’s Because Sound Matters recently added a section on their site titled ‘collectibles’. Collectors new to the hobby are always asking me how to know if something is collectible. Well that is a long answer, a rule of thumb is ‘If it says ‘collectors item’ on it, it usually isn’t’.
Clearly cynical, I urge new collectors to think twice before dropping hundreds of dollars on a boxed set of items they already have in other formats. I remember going to a record show in Toronto and picking up a $100 LP and thinking long and hard – only to put it down. The dealer responded ‘I agree. I would rather have ten $10 records any day.’