Boxed Set of the Month: Jane's Addiction

I'm not the world's biggest fan of Jane's Addiction (far from it), but the Limited Edition of A Cabinet of Curiosities (Rhino) is so compelling visually that it draws me in, like C.S. Lewis's wardrobe. As such, it's a lock for our Boxed Set of the Month for April.

For starters, there's a lock  — er, metal latch — on the outside of the wooden box. Open the doors, and you'll find another set of doors that seem to have glass windows (they're plastic, actually, but never mind). Open again, and you'll find the contents: 3 CDs, 1 DVD, a booklet, and an envelope of curios.

At roughly 6 x 6 inches, it's a far cry from March's Boxed Set of the Month, the massive reissue of Pearl Jam's Ten (see entry). But this is a handsome cabinet indeed. And whereas the Ten set is listed at $200, this one is only $75, with Amazon.com selling it for just over $50.

Details . . .

April 18 is Record Store Day!

Worried about the demise of independent record stores nationwide? Then make a date to visit your local "mom and pop" shop this Saturday, April 18 — the second annual Record Store Day.

Bands will play. Special releases will be available. And despite the logo above, this isn't only about vinyl; it's about everything that your local record store offers. Including little things like music knowledge and customer service.

For a complete list of participating stores, product exclusives, in-store performances, and related events, go to recordstoreday.com.

Last year, my photographer son Tony and I went to 4 Record Stores in 1 Record Store Day. Visit that link to get a taste of what the second RSD will be like.

Alas, I will be unavoidably otherwise engaged this Saturday, so I won't be able to do another multistore mecca. But I hope to visit at least one shop before the sun goes down.

Don't let the sun go down on your local record store. Spread the word about Saturday, go to the store, buy some stuff, and buy some more stuff. You'll be glad you did.

— Ken Richardson

Beatles remasters: "Listen"

Verlyn Klinkenborg has done it again. Bitstream browsers will recall that, one week ago, I linked to his New York Times editorial on Maurice Jarre. Now, in today's paper, he has submitted a similarly rhapsodic piece on the coming CD remasters of the Beatles' catalog, under the simple title: "Listen."

Reminiscing, he writes: "Growing up . . . I owned a cheap portable record player with a volume knob, a single tone control, and a primitive needle. But when you hear 'Ticket to Ride' for the first time, all the fidelity you need is between your ears."

I can (and will, eventually) take issue with his assertion that the original Beatles CDs were a sonic "disaster," but never mind that now. Simply read his new editorial to help you once again take a trip down your own personal Penny Lane.

And stay tuned here for my follow-up piece on the Beatles remasters re: What They Got Right and What They Got Wrong, coming soon.

— Ken Richardson

Beatles CDs remastered. Finally.

That's right, the press release just arrived this morning at 9 o'clock on the dot. Here it is, in full. And stay tuned to our Bitstream blog in the coming days because, after I've had some time to mull over the press release myself, I'll be firing off a post or two on What They Got Right and What They Got Wrong.

— Ken Richardson

THE BEATLES’ ENTIRE ORIGINAL RECORDED CATALOG REMASTERED BY APPLE CORPS LTD. AND EMI MUSIC FOR WORLDWIDE RELEASE ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2009 (09-09-09)

London, England – April 7, 2009 – Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music are delighted to announce the release of the original Beatles catalog, which has been digitally remastered for the first time, for worldwide CD release on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 (09-09-09), the same date as the release of the widely anticipated videogame The Beatles: Rock Band.

Each of the CDs is packaged with replicated original U.K. album art, including expanded booklets containing original and newly written liner notes and rare photos. For a limited period, each CD will also be embedded with a brief documentary film about the album. On the same date, two new Beatles boxed CD collections will also be released.

The albums have been remastered by a dedicated team of engineers at EMI’s Abbey Road Studios in London over a 4-year period, utilizing state-of-the-art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analog recordings. The result of this painstaking process is the highest fidelity the catalog has seen since its original release.

The collection comprises all 12 Beatles albums in stereo, with track listings and artwork as originally released in the U.K., and Magical Mystery Tour, which became part of the Beatles’ core catalog when the CDs were first released in 1987. In addition, the collections Past Masters Vol. I and II are now combined as one title, for a total of 14 titles over 16 discs. This will mark the first time that the first four Beatles albums will be available in stereo in their entirety on CD. These 14 albums, along with a DVD collection of the documentaries, will also be available for purchase together in a stereo boxed set.

Boxed Set of the Month: Pearl Jam's "Ten"

Let's see now . . . two CDs, one DVD, four LPs, a buncha other stuff, and a cassette! What, no 8-track? Despite that, the Collector's Edition of Pearl Jam's 1991 debut, Ten (Epic/Legacy), truly goes to Eleven — and as such, it's without question our Boxed Set of the Month for March.

In an increasingly non-physical-product Entertainment Age, this box, subtitled Pearl Jam 1990-1992, is the epitome of how record companies — when they do get physical — are pulling out all the stops for certain projects. I mean, just look at that thing above.

List price for the Collector's Edition: $199.98. Amazon.com is selling it here at $134.99.

Another thing that the box doesn't have, however, is — hello? HELLO?! — a surround mix of the album itself. Sigh.

Some details:

The Beatles. Rock Band. 09-09-09.

Just received the official press release this morning. Here it is, in its entirety: Apple Corps Ltd., MTV, and Harmonix announce The Beatles: Rock Band, worldwide release set for 9/9/09

New York, NY - March 5, 2009 - Apple Corps Ltd., Harmonix, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom's MTV Networks, today announced the 9/9/09 worldwide release of The Beatles: Rock Band (thebeatlesrockband.com). The music-based videogame — an unprecedented, experiential progression through and celebration of the music and artistry of the Beatles — will be available simultaneously worldwide in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and other territories for the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation3 computer entertainment system from Sony, and the Wii home videogame console from Nintendo.

The Beatles: Rock Band will allow fans to pick up the guitar, bass, mike, or drums and experience the Beatles' extraordinary catalog of music through gameplay that takes players on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the band's legendary career. In addition, The Beatles: Rock Band will offer a limited number of new hardware offerings modeled after instruments used by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr throughout their career. 

The Beatles: Rock Band will be offered as standalone software and hardware as well as a limited-edition bundle. The game will be compatible with all Rock Band instrument controllers and other current music-based videogame peripherals.

Pylon's Randy Bewley: R.I.P.

"Randy who?" I can't blame you for asking. Randy Bewley was the guitarist for the legendary Georgia band Pylon. In the photo above, that's Randy to the left, playing at Hurrah's in 1979.

Pylon? "Legendary"? Yes, to wit:

"To me, Pylon was the best band to ever come out of Athens. It still is.” That's a comment yesterday from Fred Schneider of the B-52's.

"Pylon have always been an inspired catalyst to R.E.M. and the Athens music-and-art scene, and beyond. Randy’s guitar playing and attitude were intensely unique, and his influence integral and profound. We are so very saddened to hear the news of Randy’s passing. He will be greatly missed.” That's a statement yesterday from Michael Stipe.

And as Schneider added: "I'm in complete shock."

As are all of us Pylon fans, after hearing the news that Randy died on Wednesday at the age of 53. Two days earlier, he had suffered a heart attack while driving in Athens; his van went off the road and tipped over. It's unclear at this time whether the sole cause of death was heart-related, or whether the van accident contributed to it. But according to a Wikipedia entry, he was taken to Athens Regional Medical Center on Monday, where he lapsed into a coma. Then, yesterday, he was taken off life support at the hospital's cardiac intensive-care unit. One of his bandmates, singer Vanessa Hay, is a nurse at the hospital.

Why should we care?

Atlantic Records: For First time, Digital Outsold CD

We knew this day would happen, and oddly enough, the world is still spinning. Legendary music label, Atlantic Records just reported that digital music revenue has surpassed compact disc sales. Yikes!

Atlantic has said that digital sales, which include downloads from places like iTunes and Amazon.com, plus cellphone ringtones generated more revenue than CD. Atlantic's parent company, Warner Music Group, reported that digital sources only accounted for 27 percent of their American revenue last quarter.

While those numbers might be startling, these from a New York Times story are more sobering . . .

Sony Blu-spec CD: Kind Of Blu

While the retail industry scales back on CD shelf space, Sony has announced a new type of CD. Dubbed "Blu-spec CD," this is still a Red Book CD, but the difference is in the manufacturing process.

In an attempt to reduce CD jitter, these new discs are burned with Blu-ray's laser diodes to create a more accurate disc that will provide better quality playback from standard CD players.

This is not the Profile 3.0 Blu-ray disc that's an audio-only format — this is still 44.1kHz CD.

Here are a few titles of the projected 60 classical and jazz releases that will be launched on December 24th:

Wal-Mart: CD Out, Blu-ray In

The folks who shop at Wal-Mart aren't what people typically think of as audio- or videophiles, nor necessarily trendsetters. But, they do represent Main Street, America. So, when Wal-Mart speaks, we all listen.

After CD sales dropped by almost 25% last quarter, Wal-Mart has pulled back their stocks of CD, filling the shelves with electronics and Blu-ray movies.

"We believe Wal-Mart is increasing its exposure to consumer electronics, video games, and Blu-ray, and reducing floor space devoted to CDs and standard DVDs,” said Richard Greenfield, analyst with Pali Capital, from a report on Home Media Magazine.

There were more interesting quotes from Wal-Mart insiders.