Topics for discussion:

1. Does it make sense for bands to release these any more (never mind the spike in sales the format has seen in the UK in the past few years)?

2. Was the underground rock world a better place when fewer bands released LPs? Does the (seemingly) inevitable rise of the MP3-download market mean a return to bands recording more singles and fewer albums?

I love them. Some of my favorite songs are on 7"s and no where else. If a band is on tour and they have them, I'll almost always buy one.

MrFood wrote:

BadComrade wrote:Wrong. Touch & Go put out albums by Coco Rosie. Coco Rosie.

You're not gonna believe me now... but... wait for it....

I've never heard Coco Rosie. Never.

I hear people who I trust saying how much they suck, and I avoid them. It works!

I only found out they were on T&G a little while ago too....

Tell me, if ignorance is bliss - what state am I in? What would y'all give to be able to say you've never heard Coco Rosie? Indulge me.

I think I heard a few minutes worth of their stuff. Somebody here linked to it.

Like a traumatic accident, I have blocked out any memory of it. So it kinda is like never having heard them before.

MrFood wrote:What are they, designers or musicians?

I dunno about anyone else, but I'm not interested in musicians who don't engage in design. I'm using a broader definition than visual design here. If a rock band (or recording artist) isn't designing as a raison d'etre, then that band is very likely not worth hearing. I mean the term to apply to all the media and dimensions it touches. Design of sound and music first, fine. But to stop there in terms of expectations is setting the bar so low as to be laughable. Either/or? Nah.

Are they an art-school band?

Would you prefer a currency-trader band? Imagine all the decisions that go into visual design. Now imagine punting on all or most of them. D-u-l-l. If you ask me, visual design can't be overdone. One of the coolest parts of making rock records is executing those decsions.

Are they well-aware that the music sucks and the packaging is just a cover-up?

I do love the 7-inches. Haven't done one in a few years. Hope to have a new one out before April. The package involves four-color printing and firearms and is tightly integrated with the A side song subject. If I thought the songs sucked, believe me, I wouldn't bother with all the work and expense from the recording to the mixing to the mastering to the printing to the photography to the special physical handling to the keylining to the purchasing to the assembly to the slow process of getting rid of them.

Do they think these will be 'worth something one day'?

Seems to me they think these are worth something today, which is exactly why they look like they do.

-r

BadComrade wrote:Wrong. Touch & Go put out albums by !!!. !!!.

FYP

7-inch records are NOT CRAP. It's great to get just that little slice of a band's work. I prefer 45's with the big holes in the middle.

These days, pretty much anything that comes out on a 7-inch is done in a very limited pressing and become hard to get a few months after release. It's hard to keep up!

I must say that I'm excited that my band will have a 7-inch out in a few months. I mean we've got LP, CD, compilations, etc., but this will be our first little bugger! It's coming out on a record label from Spain, but they ran into some problems because the pressing plant they used raised their rates BY 40%!!! Yikes. But they have found a cheaper pressing plant and it's back on track. Silkscreened cover will be done by the Meeloo Bongout concern (see http://frre.fr.freee.frfr.e.free.fr/ )

If that sounds like an advert for my shitty band's record, fine. I was just nerding-out about the 7-inch. Sorry.

MrFood wrote:

warmowski wrote:If you ask me, visual design can't be overdone.

Jesus. You have no idea.

I believe he does.

FUCKING vinyl...
Whether it's a 7", 10" or that 12", MUST come with covers as to inherint the music on those black plastic.

There used to be a time when music lovers used to collect posters, adorning them on their bedroom walls or toilet walls.

Those times, it was fucking VITAL for the 7" format to flourish.
Sure, bands didn't make much money but they would be fucking pround if anybody flashing those covers hence fucking listening to their music.

Hey ! Bands still releasing vinyls today, big bands, small bands...they feel fucking proud of vinyl as if they still follow certain 'ethic' of how music should be enjoyed.

BUT 7"....
FUCKING FUCK !
Do you still want to buy them ?
You collect them right ?
How long you want to keep them ?
Make sure you ask your MUM or your M'AM (and ALL your trusted friends & relatives) not to throw them way because you want them to accompany you to the grave ???

Depends on the soil where you're being dumped, your body will definitely rot away but those black plastic will last just a bit longer if you wrap them nicely.

FOR US WHO ARE STILL BREATHING, 7"s are JUST FUCKING CRAP.

I still buy 7-inch vinyl. I still listen to 7-inch vinyl.

I guess I'm a just a bloated corpse, then, huh?

every band or musical artist should be required to put out a 4 song 7" at 45 rpm before they are allowed to put out anything else.

every single band.

we would weed out a whole lot of fucking bullshit with this requirement.