Lightning Bolt Sevens Boxed Set

[stip]

How the hell is this sold out already when I just got the newsletter this morning?!

WTF?

see, if people would stop pissing and whining about the stupid stuff and non-events (HOW DARE THE 10C SELL FANS BAND THINGS THAT THEY ENJOY PURCHASING!!! DONT THEY KNOW THAT ANYTHING BEYOND T-SHIRTS, STICKERS, AND POSTERS COMPROMISES THE MUSIC!!!), we could rally our indignation for the things that really are terrible, like this, or the issues with the L-bolt vinyl.

You're advocating for single-issue politics here. Surely all of the above is stupid.

I think many of the products the 10c sells are stupid. I think people complaining about the crap that pearl jam's fan club sells is even stupider, and I think the arguments that this is a sign of the band's decline is even stupidest.

So it's a continuum of stupid, really, but totally separate from the failure of the 10c to actually perform many of its basic job functions (enable members to be aware of the goods it is selling, successfully delivering those goods, etc). That stuff is pretty hard to excuse.

But they're related. The selling of this pointless boxset (the same album people already have in ridiculously expensive packaging on six(!) discs), approximately one week after the fuck-up with the original LB vinyl, just draws attention to the fact that they'll do anything to flog products. I don't think anyone was literally angry about it, and I'm pretty sure the 'signs of the band's decline' jokes were just that... jokes. But it's cumulative, and every time something like this happens, someone argues what you have: "This little single thing isn't a problem." And no, it isn't, but like them all, it's symptomatic of a bigger problem. I do think that all these mistakes could end up in the 10C's decline (at least in the public image), if they're not careful. I'm at the point where I don't think the band has any idea what goes on with them.

The boxset is a collectible. It needs to have no point other than to exist. It is a limited printing run designed to appeal to a subclass of fans who like to buy that stuff. Look at how many RMers we've seen who really wanted it and are disappointed they can't get it. There is no massive marketing campaign attached to this. It is not even a record store release. I am happy for the collectors who like to have this stuff. Shit, if I had the disposable income I'd buy this crap and just have it sitting on my shelf. And I'd be glad they sold it

I don't think anyone is literally angry about it. But I think a few people are feeling pretty indignant and/or self-righteous about it.

I'm not even sure what is cumulative about this. It is 10c's job to come up with things the fans want to buy. Apparently they're pretty good at it. Should they stop selling stuff to the people who want to buy them because Harmless doesn't think it is appropriate?

a bunch of things that largely signify nothing, added together, still add up to nothing. This isn't to say some of the products themselves are not stupid, but that's all they are. A stupid product. You link them to a sense of artistic decline.

What things can pearl jam sell to its fans that will not be indicative of some larger problem with the band? Did this boxset stop them from touring? Going into the studio to record another album? That's what I think is really so dumb about this?


The organizational problem here is the inability to deliver the things you're selling, to publicize them to everyone before you run out, etc. That is ridiculous because it is 10c failing at one of what it's primary function should be

I agree there is probably little band oversight with the club beyond maybe signing off on new products. I bet they thought this vinyl thing as cool, and I bet they thought the dog collars were funny. Because they probably have a better sense of humor about this than their fans.

[harmless]

OK, yep, you're right. This is just the normal act of milking money from people; nothing to see here.

[Jaeti]

OK, yep, you're right. This is just the normal act of milking money from people; nothing to see here.

But, like, free will.

[stip]

What should the 10c be selling or not selling to their members?


The whole collectibles market is 'milking' but people know what they are getting themselves into. This is pretty mutual. That's not pearl jam. it's anything. See, for instance


Milking would be re-releasing a new greatest hits with just one new track on it that would now compel people to buy a product they didn't want. Anyone who buys this box set of lps WANTS to buy it.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

i thought yesterday people were upset that something like this was being sold, which i thought was kind of a silly thing to get mad about, but now are people upset about it selling out so fast? i can see that, especially since some got no notification of it going on sale in the first place.

[stip]

two different groups, doc. I think the first complaint is dumb. I think the second one is totally legit.

Not even that it sold out so fast, but that people didn't even get the e-mail indicating it was on sale until after it sold out.

[E.H. Ruddock]

I still haven't received the e-mail. Is that because I downgraded from Analog to Digital this past year? IS PEARL JAM MAD AT ME?!

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

two different groups, doc. I think the first complaint is dumb. I think the second one is totally legit.

Not even that it sold out so fast, but that people didn't even get the e-mail indicating it was on sale until after it sold out.

yeah, its pretty fucked up to sell somehting in a limited quantity with no announcement that it would be available or that it would be limited.

by the way, anyone who missed out on the ten club sale, is this thing still available through amazon?

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

I still haven't received the e-mail. Is that because I downgraded from Analog to Digital this past year? IS PEARL JAM MAD AT ME?!

they probably are mad at you, what the hell did you do?

[harmless]

What should the 10c be selling or not selling to their members?


The whole collectibles market is 'milking' but people know what they are getting themselves into. This is pretty mutual. That's not pearl jam. it's anything. See, for instance


Milking would be re-releasing a new greatest hits with just one new track on it that would now compel people to buy a product they didn't want. Anyone who buys this box set of lps WANTS to buy it.

You seem to think my "complaint" (I don't have one, it doesn't even affect me) is that "10C are selling stuff to their fans." It's not that simple, or rather, it can be if you want it to be. But I was quite specific about the ways in which I think this particular product, sold at this particular time, is a bit silly and kind of a cynical move by the 10C in order to make a fast buck. It might've made sense if they released this special edition a year later, or something, but this is just like "Hey, let's produce the album again." It has never happened for an album before. If this was anything to do with me (which, again, it isn't), I would rather have bought those re-issues of past albums that they were once planning on selling. Things like this are an ultimately pointless replacement of items like that, which they just gave up on, and which might have had lasting value for people outside of a very small PJ-record-collecting clique. My only thing is that there was no reason for this release. No reason at all. It wasn't something that anyone was asking for, or that anyone "needed" (even in a consumerist way). So yes, we have the choice over whether or not to buy it; we also have the choice over whether to believe that it's a pretty transparent and hollow marketing ploy, and yet another that I can't imagine them doing a few years ago. I mean, I will even concede that it would've made sense to make this an option available to buyers on release date.

[HardTI]

I still haven't received the e-mail. Is that because I downgraded from Analog to Digital this past year? IS PEARL JAM MAD AT ME?!

As of now I'm blaming that on Google. Any chance you are a gmail user? I had massive delays with email deliveries yesterday/today.

[Strat]

If they repackaged and sld previous albums right now the complaint would be "oooo, they dont even care about LB anymore, they are living on glory days, yadda yadda"

Maybe. Shot from the hip theory.

[E.H. Ruddock]

I still haven't received the e-mail. Is that because I downgraded from Analog to Digital this past year? IS PEARL JAM MAD AT ME?!

As of now I'm blaming that on Google. Any chance you are a gmail user? I had massive delays with email deliveries yesterday/today.

Yes. But even if I had got the email, it was sent out then put on sale that same day or the next day. Give some people a couple of days to decide whether they want it and give them a heads up if it is limited quantity. I've gotten emails from them before with their new shirts and all that stuff that isn't limited quantities, which is fine. Hell I wouldn't doubt they have an "insiders" list of fans who do nothing but kiss up at the Pit and at the shows and they probably get the heads up before the rest of us.

[harmless]

If they repackaged and sld previous albums right now the complaint would be "oooo, they dont even care about LB anymore, they are living on glory days, yadda yadda"

Maybe. Shot from the hip theory.

Possible. Some people would say that. I'd be like "Woop, I've been waiting for that." Fact is, other Lightning Bolt products make sense; there are some nice T-shirts. I'm waiting for one myself. But a re-issue of the album, right after the release of the same album, eh...

Am I right in thinking the VS/ Vitalogy reissue happened? Why didn't I ever buy it? Was it worth it?

[stip]

What should the 10c be selling or not selling to their members?


The whole collectibles market is 'milking' but people know what they are getting themselves into. This is pretty mutual. That's not pearl jam. it's anything. See, for instance


Milking would be re-releasing a new greatest hits with just one new track on it that would now compel people to buy a product they didn't want. Anyone who buys this box set of lps WANTS to buy it.

You seem to think my "complaint" (I don't have one, it doesn't even affect me) is that "10C are selling stuff to their fans." It's not that simple, or rather, it can be if you want it to be. But I was quite specific about the ways in which I think this particular product, sold at this particular time, is a bit silly and kind of a cynical move by the 10C in order to make a fast buck. It might've made sense if they released this special edition a year later, or something, but this is just like "Hey, let's produce the album again." It has never happened for an album before. If this was anything to do with me (which, again, it isn't), I would rather have bought those re-issues of past albums that they were once planning on selling. Things like this are an ultimately pointless replacement of items like that, which they just gave up on, and which might have had lasting value for people outside of a very small PJ-record-collecting clique. My only thing is that there was no reason for this release. No reason at all. It wasn't something that anyone was asking for, or that anyone "needed" (even in a consumerist way). So yes, we have the choice over whether or not to buy it; we also have the choice over whether to believe that it's a pretty transparent and hollow marketing ploy, and yet another that I can't imagine them doing a few years ago. I mean, I will even concede that it would've made sense to make this an option available to buyers on release date.

Do you think this took away energies from developing a massive box set? Or some other project?

And releasing this is not a transparent and hollow cash grab the day of release (because clearly everyone will prefer to listen to the album this way) as opposed to 4 weeks later? Really?



Also, as an aside, I just made this comment "I don’t think anyone argues that it is harmeless" in a paper, and thought of you.

[stip]

If they repackaged and sld previous albums right now the complaint would be "oooo, they dont even care about LB anymore, they are living on glory days, yadda yadda"

Maybe. Shot from the hip theory.

Possible. Some people would say that. I'd be like "Woop, I've been waiting for that." Fact is, other Lightning Bolt products make sense; there are some nice T-shirts. I'm waiting for one myself. But a re-issue of the album, right after the release of the same album, eh...

Am I right in thinking the VS/ Vitalogy reissue happened? Why didn't I ever buy it? Was it worth it?

it did. I'm not sure it is worth it although I like it. The art and the packaging is really cool, but I only look at that crap once. They chose a great show to release, but there were some issues attached to it. The b-sides were okay, but not nearly as numerous or interesting as the Ten Box (the acoustic Hold On, an alternate take of corduroy, and demos for betterman and nothingman, I think).

The remastered cds sound good, but Vs and Vitalogy were not records screaming for a remaster.

Ten had far more b-sides and vault material, plus the entire remixed album. Definitely the better box.

[HardTI]

I still haven't received the e-mail. Is that because I downgraded from Analog to Digital this past year? IS PEARL JAM MAD AT ME?!

As of now I'm blaming that on Google. Any chance you are a gmail user? I had massive delays with email deliveries yesterday/today.

Yes. But even if I had got the email, it was sent out then put on sale that same day or the next day. Give some people a couple of days to decide whether they want it and give them a heads up if it is limited quantity. I've gotten emails from them before with their new shirts and all that stuff that isn't limited quantities, which is fine. Hell I wouldn't doubt they have an "insiders" list of fans who do nothing but kiss up at the Pit and at the shows and they probably get the heads up before the rest of us.

I can't argue with that one bit. Some notice would be nice instead of ON SALE RIGHT THIS SECOND AND EXTREMELY LIMITED!

[harmless]

What should the 10c be selling or not selling to their members?


The whole collectibles market is 'milking' but people know what they are getting themselves into. This is pretty mutual. That's not pearl jam. it's anything. See, for instance


Milking would be re-releasing a new greatest hits with just one new track on it that would now compel people to buy a product they didn't want. Anyone who buys this box set of lps WANTS to buy it.

You seem to think my "complaint" (I don't have one, it doesn't even affect me) is that "10C are selling stuff to their fans." It's not that simple, or rather, it can be if you want it to be. But I was quite specific about the ways in which I think this particular product, sold at this particular time, is a bit silly and kind of a cynical move by the 10C in order to make a fast buck. It might've made sense if they released this special edition a year later, or something, but this is just like "Hey, let's produce the album again." It has never happened for an album before. If this was anything to do with me (which, again, it isn't), I would rather have bought those re-issues of past albums that they were once planning on selling. Things like this are an ultimately pointless replacement of items like that, which they just gave up on, and which might have had lasting value for people outside of a very small PJ-record-collecting clique. My only thing is that there was no reason for this release. No reason at all. It wasn't something that anyone was asking for, or that anyone "needed" (even in a consumerist way). So yes, we have the choice over whether or not to buy it; we also have the choice over whether to believe that it's a pretty transparent and hollow marketing ploy, and yet another that I can't imagine them doing a few years ago. I mean, I will even concede that it would've made sense to make this an option available to buyers on release date.

Do you think this took away energies from developing a massive box set? Or some other project?

"Took away energies?" No, not necessarily. But this happened (pointless product, sold in hours, and *before* most people knew, via late email, that it was available) and the other didn't happen. So that's a bit crazy.

And releasing this is not a transparent and hollow cash grab the day of release (because clearly everyone will prefer to listen to the album this way) as opposed to 4 weeks later? Really?

Yes, really. Because now, it's been released already. People have already bought the album at this point; they've forked out for the cash. Now, some people are buying it again, for around three times the price, or more in some cases, just for the "pleasure" of six discs and some luxury packaging. Again, yes, we have the choice whether or not to partake, but that isn't my point. I find it hard to believe that you wouldn't think this was a superfluous product on a scale not met by alternative album formats on release day.

Also, as an aside, I just made this comment "I don’t think anyone argues that it is harmeless" in a paper, and thought of you.

[Mine]

I still haven't received the e-mail. Is that because I downgraded from Analog to Digital this past year? IS PEARL JAM MAD AT ME?!

As of now I'm blaming that on Google. Any chance you are a gmail user? I had massive delays with email deliveries yesterday/today.

I am and got the email in time.

[hopethatuchoke]

I went to the 2nd Philly show a few weeks ago. As we were enjoying a pre-show beverage I was explaining to my wife that the days of going to 4-5 shows a tour are officially done for me.

Partially because after the Spectrum shows, there wasn't much else they could do to blow my mind for $90 a ticket.

Partially because of the 10 club just treating fans like hemorrhoids and the 10C is an extension of what the bands think about us fans. They couldn't care less about the fans and the 10c is nothing more than a service charge for tickets and a store front. This overpriced box set is an example of this but the great news is, no one was forced to buy it.

And partially because a large percentage of the fans are pretentious, nerdy, whiny dicks. The reaction of fans to this box set furthered this opinion. It's the same exact album that was released last month yet it's the end of the world that some of them didn't score one. There is already a "petition" to re-stock them. And it's worth mentioning that some people still didn't even receive that album from the 10C and they are selling a different version already. Pretty tasteless.

/rant