Derek™

False. I purchased my test straight from Graveface -- I believe it was around $35. All four copies went very quickly, and a year+ passed before one of them popped up on eBay. And that one went for $40... which is still a steal, in my opinion. Good luck on the Waiting hunt, OP.

Confession: I love the phrase troll poll.

I dig that HT variant. Haven't spun the album yet, but plan to do so. Can you set one aside for me? If I'm feeling it, I'll grab it off your hands.

QOTSA / Underoath side project.

But since we're pointlessly bumping, I thought this was pretty promising.

Goddammit.

Pretty much the short story of it, yes. Zero clarification or answers upon inquiry as well.

I was under the impression that multiple test presses were printed and played to gauge possible fluctuations and variances. Either way, best of luck with your sales.

Doesn't a mint, unplayed copy of a test press kind of defeat the purpose?

That feel when you own as many copies of a single 7" as 50% of your 12" collection.

Yeah, it's not a terrible thread idea. But for the sake of accuracy, the title should be more akin to "Cheap Record Links" or something similar. But I'm not picky enough to care, really.

Nope. Just imagining that sleeve pressed 100 times, individually numbered, and sitting in front of our grossly pixelated covers. And consequently feeling giddy about it.

I mean I guess. It's not like the labels are taking bags of money to the bank, though. In the case of Deathwish, it's those successful represses and variants that allow them to thrive and continually release quality product. Really a win-win for everyone.

There's no way this whole project can end with being anything less than sheer awesomeness.

Having great albums readily available for new fans > first-world problems for variant collectors.

Graveface, Topshelf, and Deathwish are unfuckwithable.

Didn't someone say this to you a while back?

Oh yeah, also this. I personally have a bookmark folder that I frequent and update regularly. If there's a break in shipping, I always try to wait to bundle up my purchases. And going back to Amazon -- I don't have a Prime account, so I often add my wants to a Wishlist. I keep an eye on the quantities, and if one item dips dangerously low in stock, I'll pull the trigger on $25+ worth of records to get free shipping. I don't think I've paid shipping on Amazon in over two years - outside of secondary sellers, which is still often cheaper than list price + free shipping. Just makes sense.

Mostly this. However, I've passed up on countless albums from my youth that have [more or less recently] been repressed. I'll consider how the album has aged, and how likely I am to legitimately revisit the record if I were to buy it. And more often than not, I'm honest enough with myself to acknowledge that a lot of the purchases would be wastes of money. Yeah, they're nostalgic. And yes, I loved them as a kid. But much like my clothes, sense of humor, voice, intellect, and interests have shifted since I was in junior high, so have my tastes in music. And at the end of the day, that's what you really have to look at. I think the "nostalgia" card is exploited and played far too often in the vinyl world. And while I'm now old enough to realize that What It Is To Burn may not be the most sophisticated and well-written album, it sure is just as fun to blast as it was when I was 15. And that's worth $22 to me.

That's tough to say, truly, because what I may deem as an album that you can pick up [...] and listen [to] from start to finish (which is literally every record I own) may be different than what you'd prefer. That being said; did you create this thread in hopes of people posting their favorite records that are readily available for cheap prices? Because that could take a while to sift through, and the resulting hits will no doubt be hit and miss for everyone. But glancing at the thread title and truly considering how I build my collection, I must humbly recommend... • Googling the record, or the record's label. This is often the cheapest route, though there are exceptions. If you're willing to dig, you'll find some gems. I can't tell you how many times I've taken a gamble on an oddball distro on the third page of my results when the record was sold out everywhere else, only to be quite pleased a week later. • Amazon.com. More importantly, secondary sellers through Amazon.com. Just a few minutes ago, I picked up a mint x2 LP for $18 shipped. It's $22 - $30 everywhere else, including the actual listing price on Amazon. • GoHastings.com. A bit of a gamble on the condition of the record you'll receive, but lately I've had good luck. Some unbeatable prices at times, and the coupons they run only sweeten the deal. • Discogs, obviously. I've been having less and less luck compared to my first exposure and use of the site, though. It's become an alternative eBay, but you can still find and haggle some good deals from time to time. • eBay auctions. Scoring a record for $4.00 because the seller has the end time set for 04:35 AM is pretty rad. Also, don't be afraid to message sellers with absurd BINs. I've scored some great items at prices significantly lower than their asking price, solely because they were willing to work out something via Paypal, and eliminate eBay fees in the process. Always worth a shot. Pretty much all you need. Hot Topic's Hot Cash was a pretty good deal until they cut off vinyl from the sale, and the occasional Amazon / Best Buy sale is always worth skimming through. Otherwise, the above suggestions will lead you to an expansive collection while saving you money left and right. Just do a bit of digging and research on the going rate of a record before you buy it, and you'll be fine.

From every single one of my personal experiences, I've found both this band and their fanbase to be pretty lol.

Finally getting around to listening to this. Halfway through, and it definitely sounds more fun and accessible than the S/T. Take that for whatever you may. I have friends who are head over heels for Meir, and others who were completely disappointed. I guess it really depends on what you listen to the band for. Right from the start of the debut, I think it was made pretty clear what Kvelertak's game is: massive energy, cheesy-but-still-charming rock solos, viking lyrics, and sprinkles of metal and punk. I don't overly analyze their music; I jam it on the road. I crank it up when I'm looking for something fun and not overly heavy. And for those reasons, Meir is treating my ears pretty well at the moment. It's unfair for me to say how I feel about the album as a whole, so early on. But I'm certainly not disappointed.