Poll -Jay Reatard #4 Frenzy

[dS]

And now, your chances are better finding the record at a shop than buying it online.

Which is, I hate to say it, really funny to me.

hey can we add an answer to the poll? "i work in a record store and is always ensured my 10 personal copies". thanks!

I know that's a joke, but at the same time it's not.  

All of this makes my skin crawl (or maybe I'm just getting that prickly sensation when you're embarassed for somebody else).  By jumping through these hoops you're only contributing to the shit that everyone is bitching about.  Here's an option:  Don't buy the singles and don't buy anything from Matador ever again if you feel that strongly about it.  Spend your money on one of the thousands of records better than Jay Reatard singles #1-4.  From what I hear they're not that great.  Of course there's always Kevin's suggested route...

As long as you're playing the game, the game continues on.

[panama fist]

And now, your chances are better finding the record at a shop than buying it online.

Which is, I hate to say it, really funny to me.

hey can we add an answer to the poll? "i work in a record store and is always ensured my 10 personal copies". thanks!

I know that's a joke, but at the same time it's not. 

yes and yes. there are dudes i work with who have no intention of ever listening to these that bought 2 of each. and bought the vivian girls lp. and vampire weekend 45s. and limited animal collective shit. it goes on and on. such is the nature of this beast unfortunately.

add to the fact that this one has 3 different sleeves and things about to get blown straight into oblivion. can't wait to check back here when the last one comes out.

[Late Twenties Steve]

Lane is 100% dead on. If you think this shit is weak, it's just as much Jay's fault as it is Matador's. They have a right to do it, but you have a right not to support it if you don't want to. Vote with your wallet if it pisses you off.

I think this idea of decreasing pressing size as his popularity increases is the lamest thing in ages, and I didn't even want the damn things to begin with.  It's just stupid on the label's part, Jay's part, and the parts of everyone who is falling all over themselves to get these things. This reminds me over the hubub over variant cover Valiant comics in the early 90's. Valiant comics ain't worth shit anymore. Manufactured rarities SUCK.

[CollectorScum]

There will be records from EVERY YEAR going forward that one day will one day be pricey.

Sure, I agree with that, but I don't think a lot of them will be these records that are selling out now.  You ever hear the comment that there's no such thing as a rare American early hardcore record?  Those bands all toured, had a strong fan base, and sold out of their pressings, even if they only made 500.  As a result, those records exist in decent quantities, unlike a lot of slightly earlier punk records, some of which may have been a 1000 press, but the band sold or gave away 100 and then someone's mom threw away the other 900, and the people who bought the first 100 were not like rabid hardcore fans and most were lost anyway.

Now where my argument breaks down is that a lot of early hardcore records sell for $100+, even relatively large pressings like Minor Threat who made 5,000 of their first single over 4 pressings.  It's all supply and demand, so if the demand is big enough, even 5,000 records won't fill it.  I just don't see most of today's sold out pressings, too often marketed as collectables, being particularly rare or expensive 10+ years from now.  I'd like to think there's some amazing bands out there who sell poorly and are only discovered later, but the internet makes that kind of impossible.

[mikesniper]

There will be records from EVERY YEAR going forward that one day will one day be pricey.

Sure, I agree with that, but I don't think a lot of them will be these records that are selling out now.  You ever hear the comment that there's no such thing as a rare American early hardcore record?  Those bands all toured, had a strong fan base, and sold out of their pressings, even if they only made 500.  As a result, those records exist in decent quantities, unlike a lot of slightly earlier punk records, some of which may have been a 1000 press, but the band sold or gave away 100 and then someone's mom threw away the other 900, and the people who bought the first 100 were not like rabid hardcore fans and most were lost anyway.

Now where my argument breaks down is that a lot of early hardcore records sell for $100+, even relatively large pressings like Minor Threat who made 5,000 of their first single over 4 pressings.  It's all supply and demand, so if the demand is big enough, even 5,000 records won't fill it.  I just don't see most of today's sold out pressings, too often marketed as collectables, being particularly rare or expensive 10+ years from now.  I'd like to think there's some amazing bands out there who sell poorly and are only discovered later, but the internet makes that kind of impossible.

Depends on how long their career's last. You never know what the hell's going to happen.

Regardless of what any of you think of Jay's music, I'm willing to be he's not going to stop writing/recording/touring anytime soon. The more releases behind him, the more steam he'll pick up, as long as he keeps at it. 

Something like the Vivian Girls, they have to put out at least 2 more studio albums probably before they'd
have something guaranteeing longterm longevity. If that's the case, the first press of their 1st LP probably won't go down in value too much. Probably will go down a bit after the ITR record is out. If they break up in a year, then, yeah, it'll probably go way the fuck down.

You just never know.

Look up Yo La Tengo "Painful" originals. Slowdive "Slouvaki" etc. Things that aren't THAT old can maintain value. Of course, Jay's not at Yo La Tengo level yet and Slowdive's an exception in that they garnered more popularity posthumously (helped by Mojave 3's success, too.)

Just saying, there's no rule that modern stuff will decrease in value.

[Scrod Prickknee]

Sure, I agree with that, but I don't think a lot of them will be these records that are selling out now.  You ever hear the comment that there's no such thing as a rare American early hardcore record?  Those bands all toured, had a strong fan base, and sold out of their pressings, even if they only made 500.  As a result, those records exist in decent quantities, unlike a lot of slightly earlier punk records, some of which may have been a 1000 press, but the band sold or gave away 100 and then someone's mom threw away the other 900, and the people who bought the first 100 were not like rabid hardcore fans and most were lost anyway.

Well, we agree that manufactured rarities aren't the way to go. The best thing to do is have a good ear and pick up what you like! 20 years later, you'll have all kinds of cool stuff. There are plenty of US hardcore records worth a lotta money (isn't Koro worth hundreds, for example?), but your point's valid. On the other hand, others were buying up foreign hardcore that's worth a bundle. I was buying Clean and Halo of Flies records. Hardcore never did a lot for me, beyond a handful of killers. Speculating is pretty much impossible. But my point was just that there will be records we're all buying right now that for whatever reason will be pulling big bucks in 10-20 years. And there will be records none of us have heard of that will be doing the same.

[mikesniper]

Justin, also keep in mind more people are buying vinyl now. Especially young people who could potentially be lifelong vinyl fans.

This is why the Jay LP on ITR and Let it Bloom were out of print for 1 or 2 months a few times because Revolver didnt manufacture enough vinyl.

Also, you're operating under the "punk" collectability factor, when, let's face it, the kind of modern music we all like is quickly becoming what  used to be called "college rock."

Brace yourselves.

[Scrod Prickknee]

Agreed. There's no comparable direct line from KBD to hardcore to ?. Punk was pretty much buried in the mid-80s. The Crypt/Rip Off/ITR shit from the 90s, though, has similarities and will some day be very much collectable! I swear it's true!

[mikesniper]

Zeroed out from Midheaven/Revolver from our order (i.e., things we ordered and did not receive because they are out of them/out of print):

Jay Reatard "Blood Visions" LP (they manufacture this!)
Abe Vigoda: everything
No Age: everything
Blank Dogs "On Two Sides" LP (Midheaven was supposed to have the last copies, they're out.)
Sic Alps: everything
Oh Sees "Suck Blood" LP


Basically, everything I ordered save the Jay singles 2xLP.
So, the Academy Update will be pretty slim.

[Richie]

I need a copy of 'Sucks Blood' yo. Whos holding?

[andytai]

blood visions is between pressings. there was a problem with the latest pressing. we've been out of the blank dogs lps for about a week now.

[shit in can records]

I wasn't able to preorder, because I live in Europe and everything was sold by the time I log on that website. I'm upset, because I know they're gonna be sold for a huge amount of money on ebay by dirty scumbags who don't even care about the music. I got the first three Jay Reatard EPs and I really don't want to buy the LP. Fuck Matador. This is why people download music illegally and don't buy records anymore.

Fuck it, I'll take your bait.  What the fuck are you talking about?  Why is it you don't want the LP?  It seems like you are interested in the artifact and not the music.  Come October there will be an unlimited supply at a reasonable price.  Is that why you don't want to buy records anymore?

I think he just means he doesn't want to BUY the LP because he has half the music (on single format) already... 

Yeah that's what I meant. Sorry if people didn't understand this.

I was also mad that he was being told that since he wouldn't get a copy, he actually didn't like the music and wanted an "artifact".  Someone told him that.  I'm not going to feel bad for sticking up for him when he's told that kind of shit. 

Thank you. To all the people who didn't understand. I never said I didn't like the music! I love Jay Reatard. I just think that Matador isn't dealing with things properly, that's all.

[CollectorScum]

Justin, also keep in mind more people are buying vinyl now. Especially young people who could potentially be lifelong vinyl fans.

True, but this is balanced out by the precarious state of music on physical media in general.  It's nice to see younger kids buying turntables and vinyl, but will this little bump in popularity last?  Will someone raised on an iPod care at all?

[TTT]

I wasn't able to preorder, because I live in Europe and everything was sold by the time I log on that website. I'm upset, because I know they're gonna be sold for a huge amount of money on ebay by dirty scumbags who don't even care about the music. I got the first three Jay Reatard EPs and I really don't want to buy the LP. Fuck Matador. This is why people download music illegally and don't buy records anymore.

Fuck it, I'll take your bait.  What the fuck are you talking about?  Why is it you don't want the LP?  It seems like you are interested in the artifact and not the music.  Come October there will be an unlimited supply at a reasonable price.  Is that why you don't want to buy records anymore?

I think he just means he doesn't want to BUY the LP because he has half the music (on single format) already... 

Yeah that's what I meant. Sorry if people didn't understand this.

I was also mad that he was being told that since he wouldn't get a copy, he actually didn't like the music and wanted an "artifact".  Someone told him that.  I'm not going to feel bad for sticking up for him when he's told that kind of shit. 

Where did you read that I didn't like the music??? I love Jay Reatard. I just think that Matador isn't dealing with things properly, that's all.

No.  Thats what Matador was saying to you.  I was trying to come to your defense, but I guess you didn't know they were even giving you shit, so um, nevermind.

[doofus]

No one will give a shit about either pressing of the Vivian Girls LP in 2 Years.