Red Mosquito

Okay. I’ve had some time to mellow. But I’m still left pretty sour and disgusted at what I took part in and witnessed last night.

So, I read about the midnight sale, and figured, Why not go down? It’ll get me excited for the record and shouldn’t take too long, in and out, home in an hour or two tops. I drive down, find good parking and walk to the store. There’s a line around the block, I figure it must a be a nightclub or something, no way are people lined up like this for a pearl jam record. Boy was I wrong.

I get in line, surrounded by nice, friendly fans and we wait. And wait. And wait. The store is only allowing ten or so people in at a time to have a crack at tour shirts, the Brooklyn posters, and the album itself. About three hours later we gain entry to this bourgeois Hot Topic, only to find another line snaking around the perimeter of the store. It’s packed in here. Two registers going, a handful of useless employees standing around gazing at the hoard of doughy geeks fishing for the last 2XL Volcom exclusive shirt.

I grab the LP and get in line. By this time, its 230 and I’m pretty ticked. I start slagging the record as boring and predictable. People are starting to look and chuckle. Not For You is playing over the stereo and it kind of hit me, this isn’t the same band that tried to avoid ticketmaster and mtv. This isn’t the same band tried to be self-contained and subversive while walking the major label tightrope. What they are now is a red cunt hair away from Rolling Stones territory. Milking a devoted fanbase dry for more shirts in exclusive colors. I was disgusted not only at this feeding frenzy of blind consumerism but that I was part of it. Figuring I’ve waited this long, I might as well stick it out and get the bloody record. But I was comforted that it re affirmed by believes as a music fan and consumer. Keep it small, do it yourself, and stay in control of your art. Oh, just use mail order. Keep it simple.

Anyway, the record is okay. I was surprised they threw in a download code with the vinyl, I was sure they were going to make some other poor sap of a fan plunk down another twelve bucks for a limited edition of 5000 book bound copy of the CD.

Oh and Pendulm is a snoozefest.

super nintendo chalmers wrote:I got the LP tuesday morning at midnight presale. Heres my rant about it, might of gotten buried in the LB thread.

Okay. I’ve had some time to mellow. But I’m still left pretty sour and disgusted at what I took part in and witnessed last night.

So, I read about the midnight sale, and figured, Why not go down? It’ll get me excited for the record and shouldn’t take too long, in and out, home in an hour or two tops. I drive down, find good parking and walk to the store. There’s a line around the block, I figure it must a be a nightclub or something, no way are people lined up like this for a pearl jam record. Boy was I wrong.

I get in line, surrounded by nice, friendly fans and we wait. And wait. And wait. The store is only allowing ten or so people in at a time to have a crack at tour shirts, the Brooklyn posters, and the album itself. About three hours later we gain entry to this bourgeois Hot Topic, only to find another line snaking around the perimeter of the store. It’s packed in here. Two registers going, a handful of useless employees standing around gazing at the hoard of doughy geeks fishing for the last 2XL Volcom exclusive shirt.

I grab the LP and get in line. By this time, its 230 and I’m pretty ticked. I start slagging the record as boring and predictable. People are starting to look and chuckle. Not For You is playing over the stereo and it kind of hit me, this isn’t the same band that tried to avoid ticketmaster and mtv. This isn’t the same band tried to be self-contained and subversive while walking the major label tightrope. What they are now is a red cunt hair away from Rolling Stones territory. Milking a devoted fanbase dry for more shirts in exclusive colors. I was disgusted not only at this feeding frenzy of blind consumerism but that I was part of it. Figuring I’ve waited this long, I might as well stick it out and get the bloody record. But I was comforted that it re affirmed by believes as a music fan and consumer. Keep it small, do it yourself, and stay in control of your art. Oh, just use mail order. Keep it simple.

Anyway, the record is okay. I was surprised they threw in a download code with the vinyl, I was sure they were going to make some other poor sap of a fan plunk down another twelve bucks for a limited edition of 5000 book bound copy of the CD.

Oh and Pendulm is a snoozefest.

Actually think the vinyl sounds good, better than BS.

Merc wrote:So I was lucky/unlucky enough to actually track down a copy of the album today. Paid $35, for single LP mind you. Wasn't mind at first, die cut cover, nice artwork and book. Put it on the turntable, first track Getaway has CONSTANT pops and skips throughout. Gets a little better after that but def continues on the rest of the side. Pendulum skips to the point that you have to move the needle forward manually to get through it. I thought maybe a good cleaning would help remedy this, you can actually feel the surface defects on this thing. Most disheartening experience with a record I can think of. Fucking bullshit.

Merc wrote:So I was lucky/unlucky enough to actually track down a copy of the album today. Paid $35, for single LP mind you. Wasn't mind at first, die cut cover, nice artwork and book. Put it on the turntable, first track Getaway has CONSTANT pops and skips throughout. Gets a little better after that but def continues on the rest of the side. Pendulum skips to the point that you have to move the needle forward manually to get through it. I thought maybe a good cleaning would help remedy this, you can actually feel the surface defects on this thing. Most disheartening experience with a record I can think of. Fucking bullshit.

Merc wrote:So I was lucky/unlucky enough to actually track down a copy of the album today. Paid $35, for single LP mind you. Wasn't mind at first, die cut cover, nice artwork and book. Put it on the turntable, first track Getaway has CONSTANT pops and skips throughout. Gets a little better after that but def continues on the rest of the side. Pendulum skips to the point that you have to move the needle forward manually to get through it. I thought maybe a good cleaning would help remedy this, you can actually feel the surface defects on this thing. Most disheartening experience with a record I can think of. Fucking bullshit.

AndySlash wrote:here's the pit thread on lightning bolt vinyl

if you dare

http://community.pearljam.com/viewtopic ... 9&start=90


looks like it's been pulled from the 10c shop and amazon, though i haven't read anything confirming it is due to the pressing issues

super nintendo chalmers wrote:Except for Sirens that's still a steaming pile of shit.

super nintendo chalmers wrote:

AndySlash wrote:here's the pit thread on lightning bolt vinyl

if you dare

http://community.pearljam.com/viewtopic ... 9&start=90


looks like it's been pulled from the 10c shop and amazon, though i haven't read anything confirming it is due to the pressing issues

Jesus. What a colony of dorks.

Anyway I just fished out my Volcom receipt from the trash, interested to see if anything comes of this. I have the record on now, it sounds fine to me. Except for Sirens that still a steaming pile of shit.

Wish they did double 45 rpm.