- Tue Sep 23, 2014 12:49 am
#32190
[quote=32173]OK, Mr. Devil’s Advocate here. Vinyl is a premium, physical format. Vinyl isn’t just “for the sake of the actual music” – you can get a digital file for that and fit your entire library on a micro SD card the size of a couple grains of rice.
Vinyl is about the overall experience of holding something in your hand– it’s about the artwork, the package design, the liner notes, the physicality of dropping a needle, flipping the record between sides, and generally having to listen through the entire thing as opposed to just your favorite tracks.
The Looper package is quite nice in that regard. It’s a really special release, everything done by hand, and it took them a year to put together. I think it’s a really phenomenal physical release. Yeah, it was pretty expensive, but this isn’t a very low-budget hobby either, is it?
As far as Mondo being “in it for the money,” well, yeah, to a point. It’s a business, not a charity for record enthusiasts. Being able to make a profit enables them to support a variety of great artwork and vinyl. If they don’t stay in the black, much of this ceases to exist in its current form. Would you rather this stuff be run by Warner or Sony? Come on.
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Vinyl is actually for the sake of music. You honestly believe that listening to an MP3 or even a WAV/FLAC is the same as putting on a vinyl record? I do NOT buy vinyl for the packaging, that is a fun bonus sure...but I buy vinyl for the LISTENING EXPERIENCE.
I didn't ever say that Mondo can't make money. Make all the cash they want on crazy premium toys, records, posters - I couldn't care less. My point was that they should not hoard the actual music and release it only to those that are willing to pay an extreme price.
I think the point was perfectly made with the comparison to the Godzilla premium release. $40 versus $76...no way Looper is nicer than the more recent textured jackets from DW. Speaking of records in handmade bags - I actually own a few that are stoner metal or psych rock...even more limited pressing quantities, handmade packaging...and they cost less than $40. There is no way anyone could convince me that a silly handmade bag would make a $40 record worth $76.
Again, my point is - make the crazy expensive shit and let whomever wants to waste their money on cheap additions/accessories, but also make a $20-30 basic edition without all the bullshit added in.
ryanharrismusic.bandcamp.com