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I belong to the generation where I continually receive notifications from AARP, but first, I have teenagers living in my house on a regular basis, and secondly, I do like to keep somewhat current with what's happening on the music scene.I have thought that Ed Sheeran has something to say since I first heard "The A Team", and a few months ago I acquired a copy of his latest album "x" from Elusive Disc.
Now, this is clearly meant to be a first class production - two LP 45 rpm set. His first LP was "+" and was a single 33 (albeit orange vinyl). Beautiful gatefold, and download code included.
So my first set shows up - and the label on the second LP is pasted on top of the grooves. And the download code is expired. Back it goes to Elusive Disc.
Second set shows up - still with an expired download code. Note sent to Warner - no response. Vinyl is visually OK, but frankly crappy - lots of pops and ticks, and finally I decide to send it back. No argument from Elusive Disc, so back it went.
Third set shows up - this one plays perfectly but disc one is slightly warped. Gave it the overnight treatment in the Vinyl Flat, visually more appealing now. Download code is still expired, but this time Warner replies and supplies a new one, which my 12 year old stepdaughter is going to try to use.
Anyway - the music is worthwhile, IMO, even though this is the hardest I have had to work to get a playable copy of something. Most of the new vinyl I see these days is stunning - way better than in the old days.
Other 21st century artists I have liked and are on vinyl - Bruno Mars, Fun, Adele, Imagine Dragons, maybe Fitz and the Tantrums. I literally can't stand to listen to "Shake It Off", although there are a couple of songs on Taylor Swift's 1989 that I think are better.
This biggest issue for me is that it is clear that most of these are produced using digital technology - there is a flatness to the sound that you don't get with older recordings. But better on vinyl than on CD. Fun's "Some Nights" came with a CD - and the vinyl sounds better than the CD.
Edits: 07/02/15Follow Ups:
I've recently got back into vinyl and picked up a couple of pop LP's Ellie Goulding and Madonna's Rebel Heart and was surprised how good they have sounded.
Jackson Browne's latest "Standing in the Breach" is a double LP with 2-3 songs per side and the quality of the vinyl is high and sounds quite good indeed. 10 tracks over 4 sides on 180g
Loreena McKennitt's album also sounds superb but only listened to 1 side so far.
The pop discs have to be pretty good if there is any hope to entice a younger generation. They can't be coming out rubbish so it is a bit disappointing to read about Ed Shearan's LP because that stuff IMO puts people off buying vinyl.
And at least you can return it - HMV here in Hong Kong has a no exchange and no refund policy and the LPs go for 1/3 to 100% more than what you guys in the west are paying. They're $35-$60 US here. HMV will open the thing and you can look at the disc before you buy it - but as we know - plenty of discs look perfect but have serious issues.
"...but first, I have teenagers living in my house on a regular basis..."
lol, i first (hurriedly) read this as "i have LIVING teenagers in my house....", to which i thought, "well, i hope so!"
Sometimes it feels like the Night of the Living Dead!
BTW - as you probably know - I had to pay return shipping not once but twice. A few bucks, but annoying. Typical and the way it has to work.
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