highfives

Beggars is finally reissuing Oceansize's second LP, Everyone Into Position. Outside of a MOV reissue, this has been out of print for a long time. Preorders are live and should be shipping in June (so they say). Not a bad price given the current pricing of 2xLPs. https://arkivestore.beggars.com/everyone-into-position Manchester rock band OCEANSIZE built a career and reputation of constructing sonic soundscapes from out of nowhere into the most monolithic, dynamic behemoths heard in aeons. The band formed in 1998 and released four albums before calling it a day in 2011. They gained favorable comparisons in the press to bands like Mogwai, Tool, Nirvana, Jane’s Addiction, My Bloody Valentine, Can, and Faith No More among others. Oceansize challenged themselves and thus by the same token ensured the listener doesn't become comfortable while listening. And let's face it, - comfortable is, after all, boring. Everyone Into Position was Oceansize’s second studio album and saw the band scale new heights of grandiose with ethereal and utterly captivating music that is brooding, dark, spacey, empowering, sprawling and at times angelic. Beggars Arkive will be reissuing it on June 3rd. The double album will be pressed on splattered yellow vinyl. Taking its title from the band's observations of how apathetic the world was becoming in 2005 and the pseudo-caring mentality that was sweeping the nation at that time, Everyone Into Position is an album that explores every emotion, sweeping the listener up in its beauty, its wholeness and musical greatness. The album was recorded and produced by Dan Austin at The Works Studio in Stockport, UK and mixed at Sarm Studios, London, by Coldplay producer Danton Supple. The Soundgarden-esque opener “The Charm Offensive” tells of an inner feeling of political corruptness. “Heaven Alive” - is packed with a new-found groove, and deals with drug taking and the verbal bullshit that transpires. But it's the final three songs on the album that are arguably some of Oceansize's most brilliant moments. Described by the singer Mike Vennart as the 'church suite' - listen to “Mine Host”, “You Can't Keep A Bad Man Down” and “Ornament / The Last Wrongs” collectively and you understand just what Mike means. From the simplicity of “Mine Host”, through to the crushing, middle finger to the world angst of “You Can't Keep..” through to the hymn-like closer, it's the ultimate climatic finale on any modern rock album. “…good music is often difficult because it forces the listener to make connections rather than just giving everything away on the first listen. Such is the case with this release, and repeated listens yield rewards. What, on first listen, sound like sprawling and unwieldy compositions coalesce into beautifully-orchestrated chaos.” - POPMATTERS Effloresce is still available too - for $20 no less. https://arkivestore.beggars.com/effloresce

VMP Bedlam is starting to ship.

I nabbed the last ticket at my local shop. They had been open for about 3 hours when I got there.

The Smile (Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Tom Skinner) have been teasing this for a few days. A limited, one-time press of The Smoke/You’ll Never Work in Television Again 7” will be available by lottery ticket starting 3/12 at various record stores around the world. Free tickets, you just have to grab one. https://www.thesmiletheband.com/smoke7lottery

Still waiting on the VMP to ship

Would love to get the first track list released.

It was a great chance to print liner notes and a cool write up about the decade of the band's history in UV gloss or something like that. Still black, still plays with the schtick, but is something other than blank pages.

The first comment on Discogs. I'm still having a hard time with all of this fluffy marketing copy. It's, at this point, pretty fucking deceptive. And that "10 page booklet" felt like a legit slap in the face. Recorded in the modern-legendary Rhode Island studio Machines with Magnets, Seth Manchester manages to capture the sound of a room, the sound of machines and the sound of existence in an invitation to meditation. The piece on side A borrows from Cage’s 4’33”, demanding attention to the sound around you. Manchester captures the sound of guitar amplifiers, body movement and room resonance masterfully, making the listener feel transported to the room. Side B, on its double groove, presents an interpretation of Nothing’s 2010 demo played back in the live room, melted into a beautiful resonated drone. While this record may not be what most Nothing fans expected from a celebration of Nothing’s ten year successful career, it is a daring project that questions the meaning of music and sound, while being appropriate to the bands name - this is what Nothing sounds.

I tried finding the second groove but honestly couldn’t. If the main groove is what I was listening to, I can’t imagine what the even more experimental stuff is in that second groove. The grooves on both sides are almost shockingly small and thin. If you are glancing at it, you could possibly mistake them for not having grooves. I’m not sure if that is what’s happening, but I wouldn’t be surprised. edit: here are some pics https://imgur.com/a/g8kyEtj

If anyone wants to buy my copy, hit me up. $50 shipped in the States (I paid $56). edit: Sold double edit: just to comment on what this is since it was so elusive… The music is literally the hum of instruments being turned on for the majority of the a-side. Towards the end of side A you hear some harmony notes from a non-descript instrument. Kinda sounds like strings but a little more electronic. Side B is basically the same but at lower volume. the 10 page booklet is literally 5 pieces of blank black paper, folded in half, and stapled to make a 10 page book. If there’s anything written on it, it’s in invisible ink or something.

Not sure if they’re offering media mail for the LPs because I dipped on a shirt bundle this go around. But, if they are, technically slipmats and pins can’t ship media mail and have to ship Priority.

It looks like the RSD In Utero 2013 mix is back in print. Copies are popping up at major and indie retailers. Discogs has a bunch as well. https://www.plaidroomrecords.com/products/b-nirvana-b-br-i-in-utero-2013-mix-i?_pos=4&_psq=Nirvana &_ss=e&_v=1.0 https://www.bestbuy.com/site/in-utero-20th-anniversary-lp-lp-vinyl/22157677.p?skuId=22157677&ref=NS&loc=101

Art and vinyl have finally been revealed in full for the Viper Room gold. https://www.instagram.com/smashingpumpkinsarchive/p/CYFO8cBp6xJ/?utm_medium=copy_link

Paul McCartney iii (late to the game, I know). I also nabbed those idealism EPs, even though they won’t release until spring.

Comes out to about $22 a piece shipped to the US. Individuals are available too. https://www.diggersfactory.com/vinyl/248253

Not sure what that means for the other reissues. I guess I’ll find out when Bedlam releases……..

Shipping 1/27, digital out 1/28 Single: https://cloakroom.bandcamp.com/track/a-force-at-play https://cloakroom.bandcamp.com/ Milky Clear w/ Rainbow Splatter /400? (sold out) Mustard Yellow /1992 https://store.relapse.com/b/cloakroom Mustard & Gold Merge w/ Splatter /195 Translucent Gold w/ Black & Silver Twister /297 Milky Clear w/ Rainbow Splatter /447 Mustard Yellow /1992

Four was great. I mean, there were some filler songs, but I think it’s their second best album, behind Silent Alarm. Even Weekend in the City is too inconsistent for me.

Looks like 7 of the orange are left. Edit: but they added 200 signed copies of both blue and orange... for the low low price of $100.

First time on vinyl, released through Qrates. https://qrates.com/projects/23085-the-organ-hearts

I was hoping for a Luke Cage repress. Maybe next time…

Spun Kid A tonight. My copy has some significant distortion on How to Disappear Completely. It’s crazy because it’s not IGD, but it’s very noticeable and lasts for a while. Otherwise it sounds pretty good. I’ll probably do A/B’s against the OG 10”s down the road.

Got my copy from Luna (great packaging by them). I listened to Amnesiac and Kid Amnesaieiaia and overall thought the sound was good. A couple of pops that should clear up from a wet clean but nothing like some of the reviews I’m reading. Amnesiac is slightly off center but doesn’t affect the sound or playback. The third LP did have a little cut on the side from poor trimming and both seem to have varying trims - part is thick and flat, part is thin and sharp. Again, seems to be some shitty trimming when they come off the press. I haven’t listened to Kid A yet, which seems to have the most sound quality issues from what I’ve read. The packaging is nice, similar to the 3xLP OKNOTOK. Kinda bummed there’s no download card.

I can only assume the CD/Blu-ray set is made and assembled in an entirely different factory. Trying to coordinate manufacturing, shipping, and packaging across factories and possibly parts of the world would jack the price up even more and be a giant pain in the ass. I am kind of surprised they aren’t offering the Blu-ray as a standalone.

Oh I am. I’ve been all over Farewell since it dropped. But I already have Gigantic, and these colors don’t make me want to double dip. What would make me double dip is if they’d drop some extras from the session - if there are any.