I wasn’t aware it was any label’s policy (big or small) in 2009 to use CD and digital sales to subsidize vinyl as a loss leader — particularly with LP sales on the rise and CD totals plummeting, but as always, we appreciate the advice.

The “Geffen” version of “Rather Ripped” is a single LP that is a third of the cost, and released by the band’s own label. SY also self-released three 4-LP deluxe box sets that you can get for less than the double LP, and the band had to license it from a major label and don’t have the benefit of CD and digital sales to offset the costs.

“The new Conor Oberst 2XLP on Merge is $24.98 before shipping.”

Doesn’t Merge’s online store say that prices include shipping? Or have they removed that since last week?

The new Conor Oberst 2XLP on Merge is $24.98 before shipping. I’ve neither purchased or heard sald album but shall assume the discs and packaging are comparable to ‘The Eternal”s vinyl and sleeves. If I’m correct about that, well done to Merge.

“It’s one thing to give this kind of treatment to stuff like the Burma re-issues. I can certainly see a market for that sort of thing in archival releases of important albums.”

Point taken, though we thought this was an important album, too.

It’s one thing to give this kind of treatment to stuff like the Burma re-issues. I can certainly see a market for that sort of thing in archival releases of important albums. But to expect someone to drop that amount of money on a totally new release seems kind of disingenuous and out of touch to me.

I think having the support of Matador allowed them to do a more attractive package than they’ve done in the past, which is part of the reason for the expense, as Patrick said. I’m sure they have just shrunkwrapped two stock white sleeves together and slapped a sticker on it if they were most concerned with keeping costs lower rather than pursuing their artistic vision for the release.

Though I’d personally not claim SY-on-Matador represents anything other than the band actually being on a label that believes in what they’re doing, I would assume press coverage from Newsweek and PF is the sort of thing a non-indie would aspire to as much as we would. I’m also not aware of a “marketing tie-in” with Apple beyond our selling ‘The Eternal’ via iTunes and the band playing an instore at Apple’s Soho location. Sonic Youth are hardly the first independent band to have done such a thing, and again, I would presume if they were still making music for a Universal label, those folks would’ve gone after such an event, too (time permitting).

Fender’s release of the Lee and Thurston signature guitars — coming on the heels of said co.’s J Mascis guitar — was a concept that was kicked around w/ zero Matador input. That said, I am struggling to figure out what’s the downside to a moderately priced version of a Jazzmaster being made available. If branding in general or an association with a major guitar manufacturer is offensive to some, fair enough, but I’ll submit that’s a line that was crossed a very long time ago, both with this artist and many others.