what we learned from "In Rainbows"

The new massive attack album is available for pre-sale. The vinly edition costs £ 30.00!! that's over fifty dollars for us americans. You can pre-order 'Heligoland' at thevinylfactory.com where you can also buy ridiculously expensive records by air, monkey, xx and hot chip to name a few.

taking a page from Radiohead, Massive Attack as decided to only offer this one vinyl edition. No $12.99 100gram disc in traditional jacket, and why? because vinyl enthusiasts are much more into the hobby of collecting than mp3 hoarders. It's not only important for us to have a physical copy, but we specifically want that limited edition collectible - 180gram - foil printed - gate fold, with an additional 12" and free download... (whether we can afford it or not.)

and that's the problem, sometimes we cant. $50 bones is whole lotta paper to be dropping on a brand new record. And it's a little frustrating they don't have a more afordable vinyl option. After all a good record player only costs $100. To put things in pespective, letting go of fifty bones for a record is sort of like spending $5,000 to fill up your car, but it comes with a free car wash.

At least at the end of the day Radiohead did release a simple and affordable copy of 'In Rainbows,' though i had already emptied the coffers for the limited edition version which is stored (entombed in plastic) and rarely, if ever, sees the light of day. I like special editions, but i also like dj'ing and podcasting. Do you think i'm going to bring a fifty dollar record to the club? Hell no! And yet, i hardley ever spin cds, and i never spin mp3's, so basically, while Massive Attack has offered a beautiful and collectible presentation of their latest sonic offerings, they have done so at a price point which will cause it's exclusion from my set, which (podcast and dj sets combined) prevents a couple thousand people a month from hearing the music.

here's my suggestion, if you are going to sell me a fifty dollar record for my collection, can you include a cheappy disc i can play out, with out fear of capitol losses?

Massive Attack "Splitting The Atom" EP

I was listening to the morning music program of a prominent Los Angeles college radio station. Being a fan of Tv on The Radio I was very surprised to hear Tunde Adebimpe's vocals on a very Bristol sounding trip hop track. When the DJ came on air and announced the music was the latest from Massive Attack, I ran to my dell laptop and searched deep with great hope for a vinyl release. There was internet buzz that a physical copy was being manufactured, but no one could find the actual product page. Utilizing highly developed Google skills I uncovered the illusive link, not even accesible from the vinyl factories homepage. It was on this page I first read the track listing: a dream line up the likes of which 'Them Crooked Vultures' could only hope to aspire, a who's who of contemporary musicians, and several of my personal favorites.

Track one with Damon Albarn (blur, gorrillas) Track two with the a-for-mentioned 'Tunde Adebimpe' of Tv On The Radio fame. Track three remixed by non-other-than 'The Subliminal Kid', no longer a kid, but very much a stalwart of the downtempo scene, and Track five, unbelievably, with the marvelous 'Martina Topley-Bird' (the female voice from most of Trickys notable work, with an awesome solo album of her own.)

I had my credit card out so fast you'd think it was the last record in the world, and if I had only one album to listen to on judgment day, this might be it…

For those of us who consider the acts' 1998 mercury prize nominated, #1, platinum selling album the height of Massive Attacks artistry, this four Track EP is their most satisfying release to date. It is the slow and simple effectiveness that hypnotized us in 1998, the laid back, low mixed vocals that balance music and prose is such tandem that every note, every word, hangs on the ear, dripping slowly into the brain, with bass and polyrhythms so delicately layered it would take a microscope to discern their individuality.

In my educated opinion: Splitting the Atom sits proudly next to Mezzanine as Massive attacks finest releases. It is the second most expensive record I have ever bought, a sort of pathetic $11(US) per track, but buyers remorse was hardly an issue. already copies of this record are being auctioned off in the hundreds, that, and knowing Only 999 fans share with me the fine distinction of owning this rare and wonderful record, Vinyl well bought.

been so long since i bought records. these are the three i want the mostest.

flying lotus 3x3 the fourth record in the series, i have the other three. limited edition, this record comes out august 17th, so i will get two checks before its released. link...

metric, remember when we got angry and i went for a bike ride and missed thier tv performance. this is thier second record, i have the first i love it dearly link,,,

prefuse 73, the king of the instrumental hip hop world. i have almost every relase by this guy, and this is his latest. recorded to tape, so it should have that nice warm fuzzy feel. link...

that's 50 bucks for just three pieces of music. three great peices of music all of which already have a spot in my collection.