Hi Everyone,

Hope you’re all good.

Quite a bit for me to ramble on about,

We will start with Universals releases for Friday the 10th October.

So the much talked about( not exactly for musical reasons) U2 album got its physical release Friday the 10th of October….” where the trees are stripped bare, of all they wear, what do I care”

Does Bono want to change the trees lyric to retailers??

The ERA (entertainment retailers association) seem to think so, saying the U2 stunt “devalues music and is as bad as piracy”

What’s my take on it as an indie music retailer….well as I said a few weeks back I think it was a brilliant marketing and economic ploy by U2….they need the cash, I believe they bought land in Leitrim with Jack and Neil in the boom.

I think it was a ploy to get people talking about them/the album, and I think people will see it for that….so not so sure about the devaluing of music….now if it sets a trend then that’s a different sceal.

As for the piracy issue, it’s a time old problem in this game, I remember when I was a young fella, (actually change that, a younger fella) I used listen to Fanning with two fingers on the play and record buttons… “ah dave man, stop talking through the intro” ….i believe this grows your love and appetite for music and as you get older you realize people have sweated tears to get everything as good as possible, from cover to track listing to the music itself and they should be paid.

Unfortunately though, the musicians don’t get much Johnny cash for album sales.

In an ideal world, there would be no middlemen like me, and the record label, and the 20 quid for the record will just go straight to the musicians.

But, I believe, without record labels, some exceptional bands would never see the light of day in the future, new great bands of the future could get lost in the internet and twitter fog, so we need the good record labels to keep sifting through the fog and to choose wisely.

As for record shop owners, we are a physical presence for all these bands/ artists….. let people hear stuff, even by accident, “what’s that you have on?” ….we need to be good listeners…., source awkward stuff,….. share information….., tell ye guys about really good local bands like John Blek and the Rats, the Shaker Hymn, Elastic Sleep, the Vincents…help them get through the fog to be heard……I think we serve a worthwhile purpose…..i would be interested in anyone’s thoughts on this.

As Forrest Gump might say…

And as for the U2 ploy, no doubt it will affect our sales of the album, but sure what can you do….

Going back to the piracy….some people do and some people don’t….but if you are going to buy the U2 album (here is the unashamed sales plug!!!) we are 17 euro for the deluxe CD and 27 euro for the double LP….the beast in the sky is 25 sterling for the LP and 13 sterling for deluxe CD.

U2 album cover above….Larry with his 16 year old son I believe….not a great cover really in my opinion….people will talk about it though, no doubt.

 

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Universal also have the DELORENTOS new album (good band) LP not out till the 24th.

Warner for the 10th Oct have a blast of IRON MAIDEN 7” and the first 3 LPs and LP box set….limited….just one pressing only…..so im told anyway….

Also, EAGLE VISION through WARNER are doing a RORY GALLAGHER DVD box set for 17 yo yos….live in cork, Irish tour and ghost blues documentary….for those who like and don’t have, this is a great price for the 3 DVDs.

SONY has an OZZY OSBOURNE collection out, MR L. COHEN latest LP  now also, and Sony also have a new album by PINK and CITY AND COLOUR together, getting rave reviews in America.

Pink in my opinion is one of the most credible pop stars?? this century ??…..One of the top female artists of recent years.

PIAS releases for the 17th October….there are a few of note in my opinion.

MARK LANEGAN BAND new one, SCOTT WALKER & SUNNO))) new one, THESE NEW PURITIANS expanded live version with orchestra, of “field of reeds”….excellent, ANTHRAX CD/DVD job, NIGHTMARES ON WAX Vinyl reissues including “smokers delight” and new album from THURSTON MOORE…..i suppose ye were all in HENRYS that summers night in 91 when NIRVANA supported SONIC YOUTH….met Kurt smoking on the stairs on the way to the jacks……read a book some years back by Charles Cross I think his name was, about Mr. Cobain , where there was a page or two about Kurt’s visit to the rebel city….he made a repeated point about how Kurt really liked the place and felt at home here….dowtcha Kurt boy!!

BERTUS live LP offer attached including Fleetwood Mac, Stevie ray Vaughan, miles Davis, frank black and mike Bloomfield amongst others.

Music on Vinyl releases for the 20th and 27th of October including THE FRAMES, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT and the LEONARD COHEN tribute “im your fan”.

A bit on the local scene to finish,

Wasted Space’s debut, self-titled 5-track EP is now in stock in the store on CD. The lads are a Pop-Punk band from Carrigaline, who have created a fair bit of hype for themselves around the Cork area through hard gigging. Very strong EP, with some great, catchy tracks! Well worth a check out, and keep an eye peeled for the lads playing around the city, well worth going to see, they put on a great performance. The EP is on the shelves for 5 quid!

Also in store today is the fantastic double AA sided 7’ Vinyl single by STEVIE G and CHRISTINA UNDERWOOD of “ Deep Down South” and “Not About That”…..limited numbered copies, beautifully packaged….treat yourself to this soul bliss for just 6 bucks……Stevie and Christina done a PA in the shop for Culture Night and have being great supporters of the shop in recent months.

Sin e anyway for this week,

Thanks for reading….if you did.

Ray.

p.s i hope Zach and Lily sleep for a few more hours or there may a cranky man in the shop tomorrow….anyway….slan.