IDM Mailing Archive

In a message dated 5/6/98 4:45:36 PM, you wrote:

quoted 8 lines Well, it could be worse. If you like the Flaming Lips you might be

>Well, it could be worse. If you like the Flaming Lips you might be >bullied into buying another 3, seeing as their new LP comes on 4 CDs >which are intended to all be played at the same time (or not, if you're >feeling rebellious). What the point of it? Don't ask me. It could be >that they were just too lazy to mix it, or that they want to sell 1 CDs >for the price of four, or it could be just a load of gimmicky nonsense. >but as Irene points out, who but the luxuriously rich would have 4 CD >players to do this on.

I think this could be interesting if each of the cds had a different mix of the record, i.e. the vocals on one track panned differently on each disc. Then when you played all four together it would seem like the vocals were bouncing around the room. However, I don't think that the Flaming Lips went to so much trouble. And I completely agree that most people would be unable to use this. On a related note, I wonder why Gescom have chosen to release their new recording in minidisc only form. Forget about the whole compression problem, what about the fact that minidisc players are prohibitively expensive? I'm not going to go out and buy a minidisc player to listen to what will certainly be the only minidisc-exclusive release. It just seems rather mean to release something in a format that almost no one can listen to. It's like saying: "I bet you'd like to listen to this wouldn't you? Oh, well, too bad you don't have a minidisc player, isn't it?"

On Wed, 6 May 1998, Upaka wrote:

quoted 8 lines On a related note, I wonder why Gescom have chosen to release their new

> On a related note, I wonder why Gescom have chosen to release their new > recording in minidisc only form. Forget about the whole compression problem, > what about the fact that minidisc players are prohibitively expensive? I'm not > going to go out and buy a minidisc player to listen to what will certainly be > the only minidisc-exclusive release. It just seems rather mean to release > something in a format that almost no one can listen to. It's like saying: "I > bet you'd like to listen to this wouldn't you? Oh, well, too bad you don't > have a minidisc player, isn't it?"

FWIW, PJ at Modern Music has hinted that he may find a way

Oops. Hit the send button too quick there. What I meant to say was that PJ at Modern Music has hinted that he may find a way to make the Gescom material available to people who don't have a minidisc player. Dunno what this means, and I'm sure he won't tell until there a done deal of some sort. But I just thought I'd mention it. Greg

huh? can someone explain what a 4 x cd player is? Gescom: on james'(steady j) discog, there is a number 3 near the top of the minidisc listing.. i (misinterpreted)/took this to mean there were only 3 pressed. which made no sense to me. they really released alot of them in minidisc format? im so confused. i should sleep. andy ajsolomon@wesleyan.edu On Wed, 6 May 1998, Upaka wrote:

quoted 27 lines In a message dated 5/6/98 4:45:36 PM, you wrote:

> > In a message dated 5/6/98 4:45:36 PM, you wrote: > > >Well, it could be worse. If you like the Flaming Lips you might be > >bullied into buying another 3, seeing as their new LP comes on 4 CDs > >which are intended to all be played at the same time (or not, if you're > >feeling rebellious). What the point of it? Don't ask me. It could be > >that they were just too lazy to mix it, or that they want to sell 1 CDs > >for the price of four, or it could be just a load of gimmicky nonsense. > >but as Irene points out, who but the luxuriously rich would have 4 CD > >players to do this on. > > I think this could be interesting if each of the cds had a different mix of > the record, i.e. the vocals on one track panned differently on each disc. Then > when you played all four together it would seem like the vocals were bouncing > around the room. However, I don't think that the Flaming Lips went to so much > trouble. And I completely agree that most people would be unable to use this. > > On a related note, I wonder why Gescom have chosen to release their new > recording in minidisc only form. Forget about the whole compression problem, > what about the fact that minidisc players are prohibitively expensive? I'm not > going to go out and buy a minidisc player to listen to what will certainly be > the only minidisc-exclusive release. It just seems rather mean to release > something in a format that almost no one can listen to. It's like saying: "I > bet you'd like to listen to this wouldn't you? Oh, well, too bad you don't > have a minidisc player, isn't it?" >

On Wed, 6 May 1998, Upaka wrote:

quoted 14 lines Well, it could be worse. If you like the Flaming Lips you might be

> >Well, it could be worse. If you like the Flaming Lips you might be > >bullied into buying another 3, seeing as their new LP comes on 4 CDs > >which are intended to all be played at the same time (or not, if you're > >feeling rebellious). What the point of it? Don't ask me. It could be > >that they were just too lazy to mix it, or that they want to sell 1 CDs > >for the price of four, or it could be just a load of gimmicky nonsense. > >but as Irene points out, who but the luxuriously rich would have 4 CD > >players to do this on. > > I think this could be interesting if each of the cds had a different mix of > the record, i.e. the vocals on one track panned differently on each disc. Then > when you played all four together it would seem like the vocals were bouncing > around the room. However, I don't think that the Flaming Lips went to so much > trouble. And I completely agree that most people would be unable to use this.

Um, for the uninformed out there, this is *precisely* the amount of trouble the Lips went to. *Every* disc has a completely different part of the song on it (not just different mixes, but on some tracks the bass is on a different disc than the vocals and on a different disc than the found sounds, etc.) and is meant to be played with 3 other stereos borrowed from other people. Fosters a nice sense of sharing and community, I'd imagine. :-)

quoted 4 lines On a related note, I wonder why Gescom have chosen to release their new

> On a related note, I wonder why Gescom have chosen to release their new > recording in minidisc only form. Forget about the whole compression > problem, what about the fact that minidisc players are prohibitively > expensive? ....

As far as I know, MD players are *not* prohibitively expensive - there are some out there for $175 (or less if you go used or discount store). And I've had a MD unit for a couple of months now and I can't really tell the difference due to compression (of course, mine has a very new ATRAC version, so older ones may sound crappy). Sorry this isn't idm related at all, but I *had* to clear up the *glaring* misconceptions that were being propagated..... cya brian -------------------------------------------------------- "The most dementing of all modern sins: the inability to distinguish excellence from success." - David Hare

quoted 7 lines On a related note, I wonder why Gescom have chosen to release their new

>> On a related note, I wonder why Gescom have chosen to release their new >> recording in minidisc only form. Forget about the whole compression >> problem, what about the fact that minidisc players are prohibitively >> expensive? .... > >As far as I know, MD players are *not* prohibitively expensive - there >are some out there for $175 (or less if you go used or discount store).

get them from japan. insane quality, because they have the newest versions, and really cheap. cheaper than a less-quality version here in the states. a supplier, really quality, is http://www.minidiscnow.com shane