AudioAce
Well-Known Member
What ever happened with the Pitchfork releases? I remember them saying their would be one every quarter for the year.
I was hoping for some 7.9 rated albums
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R.I.P. VMP Forum
- Thread starter scotthilk
- Start date
I was hoping for some 7.9 rated albums
Dead C
Well-Known Member
The hip hop picks are all Prince Paul projects and Southern rap for the most part with the random Chicago and/or spoken word-ish lady emcee for optics. They don't know shit about rap. There is no range in that track
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Dead C
Well-Known Member
I think the Outkast thing is more a combo of it being the first version to feature the full tracklist on vinyl to give them that exclusivity, a setup to try another more prominent release from them as an Essential pick, and an attempt to front like they don't just listen to Miss Jackson and Hey Ya! on loop
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gaporter
Well-Known Member
It became pretty obvious to me only a month or so after joining VMP that the "Essentials" label was, mostly, pretty undeserved. I mean, sure, that's pretty subjective. Albums I might think everyone should own others would probably find laughable. But I just can't see how albums like Veedon Fleece or Free Yourself are "essential" to own - regardless of if you find them good or not.
Among other reasons, VMP's utter lack of anything I found compelling to own helped make my decision to cancel a lot easier. My last few months I basically was just swapping for previous ROTMs and exclusives that caught my eye and made me think "yeah, sure, I'll get that." I don't think I'd actually gotten a current record they were offering since Cosmogramma. And honestly, while that album isn't bad, I just didn't know what to swap it for. So even then, it was more of a "whatever, I'll take it and hope it grows on me" situation.
VMP's picks for their ROTMs was definitely questionable in the time I was a member, and I couldn't help but notice that the 2019 Essentials Guess Thread (before it was burned down along with the rest of the VMP forums) consisted of a lot of people hoping it wasn't Phoenix and saying "there's no way they'd make an album they sold in their store a few months ago a ROTM!" Everyone has different theories as to the reason they pulled down the forums, but honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if someone at VMP thought it "bad for business" for people to shit on a record they were about to try to sell to their subscriber-base.
Also, I hadn't even known about that bullshit with them faking a story about discovering that EU record. That's next level "am I cool yet?" posturing. I agree though, why even lie about that? I really hate to be so negative towards a company that's trying to turn people onto collecting records, but there just seems to be more and more shady stuff to uncover every time I dig just a little bit deeper.
Among other reasons, VMP's utter lack of anything I found compelling to own helped make my decision to cancel a lot easier. My last few months I basically was just swapping for previous ROTMs and exclusives that caught my eye and made me think "yeah, sure, I'll get that." I don't think I'd actually gotten a current record they were offering since Cosmogramma. And honestly, while that album isn't bad, I just didn't know what to swap it for. So even then, it was more of a "whatever, I'll take it and hope it grows on me" situation.
VMP's picks for their ROTMs was definitely questionable in the time I was a member, and I couldn't help but notice that the 2019 Essentials Guess Thread (before it was burned down along with the rest of the VMP forums) consisted of a lot of people hoping it wasn't Phoenix and saying "there's no way they'd make an album they sold in their store a few months ago a ROTM!" Everyone has different theories as to the reason they pulled down the forums, but honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if someone at VMP thought it "bad for business" for people to shit on a record they were about to try to sell to their subscriber-base.
Also, I hadn't even known about that bullshit with them faking a story about discovering that EU record. That's next level "am I cool yet?" posturing. I agree though, why even lie about that? I really hate to be so negative towards a company that's trying to turn people onto collecting records, but there just seems to be more and more shady stuff to uncover every time I dig just a little bit deeper.
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
Yeah i have both Moondance and Astral Weeks by them, they were cheap, they sound great, and I have no intention of getting a different version of either!
Count_Vader
Well-Known Member
I also think they're trying to appeal to a specific audience. Part of that audience being "Am I cool yet?" People. Also is anyone else super annoyed by their Phoenix ad where the record is being played on a turntable in someone's LAP
gaporter
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I remember reading people joking about how, early in the club's life, an employee (I think?) insisted that VMP wasn't an "audiophile club." This was a reference to something that had happened before I was a member, but it seemed like it was about how someone who was a mouthpiece for VMP getting fed up with people who wanted to know info about where the records were pressing and other general technical info. I think that is kind of telling right there; even if you're not someone who cares about pressing plants and other aspects like that, if you're running a club about vinyl records, you should be prepared to answer questions about how your records are being made. But with a response like that, it makes it seem like they don't care much about QC or all the intricacies of a vinyl record, and just want to make money off inexperienced hobbyist collectors who will be drawn in by colored exclusives, as many have begun to accuse them of. I know there's a stereotype about young privileged twentysomething hipsters playing vinyl on Crosley suitcase turntables for the "aesthetic", and a lot of people may think it's exaggerated, but as long as you have people who don't understand that a record is more than just a trendy decoration that needs to be properly taken care of, businesses are just going to keep taking advantage of that thriving market while they can.
Haha what
This can't be real, I need to see this
Dead C
Well-Known Member
It doesn't look like it's actually on their lap, but maybe I'm seeing the wrong thing.
In this shot, and some others (more clearly), it's actually resting on one of those tree stumps we all have in our bedrooms
gaporter
Well-Known Member
Take note of the choice of turntable too
Dead C
Well-Known Member
Oh yes. The notes have been taken. They know their demographic for this album. Nothing against Phoenix, but... they just sold it in the store
wmeugene
Well-Known Member
They’re intentionally not pressing enough to meet demand to drive FOMO on their lesser albums and I’m sure to tell some VC looking to invest or large company looking to acquire them the amount of sell-outs they have and how high demand is. Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s only a few thousand that were pressed, when they probably could have sold 10k or more, just would have taken more than 3 days.
Dead C
Well-Known Member
You don't have to be a genius to know that this was going to be the big seller this month. My first thought is that they are dumb as shit for not filling the demand and making money that way. Then I realized that, by having memberships locked in, those people are going to have to select something regardless, and those other 2 subs aren't going to move otherwise, but for different reasons. Nothing you want there? Dig through old swaps, a large portion of which they are unloading in places like Bespoke Post. It also encourages members to be signed up for multiple tracks, just in case. Still, everything being done is pretty much the opposite of what I'd like to see, as well as what I would like to believe I would do myself.
Selaws
Well-Known Member
Thought I would throw in my 2 cents on the curation/ROTM's.
I started out with the Gorillaz - Demon Days back in 2017 and for the next 9 months or so the picks were what I would call relatively 'safe'. By that I mean they were, for the most part, well known acts/albums which the majority of the population will of heard of (Miles Davis, Fiona Apple, Moby, The Notorious B.I.G., The National, etc).
I do think their picks and associated exclusives have become more adventurous since I first started and this, combined with the forum (the community aspect was key) was the thing that kept me as a member for so long. I personally would never have actively listened to Townes Van Zandt, Ayalew Mesfin, TV On The Radio, Experience Unlimited/Black Fire (although I do have an original copy of African Rythms I hadn't searched for any others). So all in all I think their curation has been good, especially when I consider the endless discussions and suggested artists/albums that have stemmed on the forum with you guys as a result (which is why its mental to have closed the forum in the first place).
With all that being said, I follow Now Again/Egon on Instagram and the albums I have picked up/listened to just from his posts alone is as much or more than that which I have ever got from VMP. With their VMPxNow Again collabs we are always guaranteed to get a Now Again release so its worth the wait for me now, I dont want to give VMP the extra business. The current ROTM is one that I never heard when it first came out but after telling my girlfriend about the pick she wants me to get it as it is an album which resonates with her, usually in this situation I would give VMP a sale but instead I just picked up an early copy for £10 online.
I guess what im trying to say is that I owe a lot to VMP for helping me steer my collection to a point which I am happy with. The forum has been by far the best resource for finding new artists, albums, and even genres, and at the end of the day it wouldn't have existed had it not been for VMP. Its a shame they have had to shoot themselves in the foot like this, and the way they handled it all is completely disrespectful to all of us. It seems like its going downhill rapidly (I still cant get over them accusing members of taking advantage after they provide video evidence of issues) so im staying clear of them as much as possible (although admittedly I might stick with classics for a while). Im just super super super thankful for the whole team that set up this forum, its enabling me to keep the best aspects of VMP without having to worry about all their negativity
I started out with the Gorillaz - Demon Days back in 2017 and for the next 9 months or so the picks were what I would call relatively 'safe'. By that I mean they were, for the most part, well known acts/albums which the majority of the population will of heard of (Miles Davis, Fiona Apple, Moby, The Notorious B.I.G., The National, etc).
I do think their picks and associated exclusives have become more adventurous since I first started and this, combined with the forum (the community aspect was key) was the thing that kept me as a member for so long. I personally would never have actively listened to Townes Van Zandt, Ayalew Mesfin, TV On The Radio, Experience Unlimited/Black Fire (although I do have an original copy of African Rythms I hadn't searched for any others). So all in all I think their curation has been good, especially when I consider the endless discussions and suggested artists/albums that have stemmed on the forum with you guys as a result (which is why its mental to have closed the forum in the first place).
With all that being said, I follow Now Again/Egon on Instagram and the albums I have picked up/listened to just from his posts alone is as much or more than that which I have ever got from VMP. With their VMPxNow Again collabs we are always guaranteed to get a Now Again release so its worth the wait for me now, I dont want to give VMP the extra business. The current ROTM is one that I never heard when it first came out but after telling my girlfriend about the pick she wants me to get it as it is an album which resonates with her, usually in this situation I would give VMP a sale but instead I just picked up an early copy for £10 online.
I guess what im trying to say is that I owe a lot to VMP for helping me steer my collection to a point which I am happy with. The forum has been by far the best resource for finding new artists, albums, and even genres, and at the end of the day it wouldn't have existed had it not been for VMP. Its a shame they have had to shoot themselves in the foot like this, and the way they handled it all is completely disrespectful to all of us. It seems like its going downhill rapidly (I still cant get over them accusing members of taking advantage after they provide video evidence of issues) so im staying clear of them as much as possible (although admittedly I might stick with classics for a while). Im just super super super thankful for the whole team that set up this forum, its enabling me to keep the best aspects of VMP without having to worry about all their negativity
wmeugene
Well-Known Member
Your two cents is spot on!
Selaws
Well-Known Member
Cheers buddy
Delta Don
Well-Known Member
I get it’s a business deal, but having a new release under the “essentials” naming is wildly cringe.
This is their target audience. Causal folks with cosmetic crosleys. Remember the guy bringing an entire setup to a roof for moby? Never the less he was just listing to it outside like nbd. And let’s not discuss the images / videos of all the inappropriate finger touching on the records !
Delta Don
Well-Known Member
Also these safe picks are another good reason to shed the forum. Their potential backlash and exodus of members will be filled by the likes of guys like Chase quickly ordering both OutKast and Phoenix while wearing his topsliders and pink whale t shirt.
Dead C
Well-Known Member
The Outkast pick is interesting, because it's kind of a smart move that I've seen them work before. They are straddling a couple of things, which is what makes it feel "safe" to me. Most people who say they love Outkast, aren't listening to Southerplayalistic. Folks from Atlanta and hip hop heads might be, but most Black Eyed Peas fans aren't listening to Behind The Front or Bridging The Gap, either. Outkast is a big name for their crossover hits. The radio jams. Southernplayalistic is the early shit. This is the hardcore, we hang out with our homies in Goodie Mobb and are being rappers, not pop stars output. Because of that, it appeals to someone like myself, who always wanted the full tracklist on an LP and, generally, gravitates toward the early Outkast. But, at the same time, it appeals to the exact opposite demographic that only cares that it's got the name of a rap group they've heard of on it, who made some hits they liked. The real fans never had this album in full, because it's never existed like that on vinyl. These new fans never had the album, because they never would have cared to purchase it, but now that it's part of their membership, they're stoked. It provides a little something new and some fake credibility. I do, however, expect that a lot of those in the latter group won't spin this thing that much and, in several cases, will eventually just sell it.
For some reason, I just got a flash in my head of all of those people that comment on Meatpuppets videos about how much better the Nirvana covers are.
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
I mean I agree with your sentiment entirely but I think Van Morrison is a big enough legacy artist that it’s hard to say that anything from his 60s and 70s output isn’t “essential” regardless of subjective taste. Also, for me it is my favourite of the essentials I got off them whilst i was subscribed.