Sinister: Tigermilk Reissues
My thoughts on reissuing Tigermilk: I don't have an LP copy of Tigermilk. I first started listening to B&S last September, and thought that the LP would eventually get imported to the US, and thus didn't bother buying it when I still might have had a chance. Although it would be nice to have the songs, I don't feel too much worse off since I have seen the artwork and story on the internet, and have a reasonably good copy of the songs (thanks Andy). If anybody read the first issue of the fanzine I do, I wrote a section on bands who don't want to reissue their prior works. (The Field Mice are probably the classic example.) There are three reasons an artist or band might not want to choose re-release: 1) They (along with a label) feel that they could make the money back. 2) They are not 100% happy with the songs. 3) They enjoy the fact the record is rare and unattainable. Probably #1 doesn't hold (although I don't think Tigermilk would sell nearly as well as the new LP). #3 is ridiculous I'm sure. #2 is probably the more obvious answer. You might feel perplexed that they weren't 100% with the album, but keep in mind that most of the songs were written when the band was beginning to get a feel for each other. They perhaps reflect a bit of immaturity (not so much in the songwriting but more in their execution). Besides, of course they'd rather concentrate on new material. Now I feel that they should feel compelled to keep available a product in demand, and they probably will eventually. That being said, if for whatever reason they decide not to keep it in print, they have nothing to complain about when the Tigermilk bootlegs start rushing in. As far as Jeepster is concerned with Tigermilk bootlegs, I can understand their desire to protect the band, but don't really feel it's any of their business considering that they don't have any rights to it (according to my impression please correct me if I'm wrong Katrina). Of course they could pay for legal fees on behalf of B&S blah blah blah although I couldn't see why it would be in anyone's interest (other than guarding an artificial "myth" factor which is an immoral interest as far as I'm concerned). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister@majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister@majordomo.net -----------------------------------------------------------------------
i like the mythical quality of tigermilk remaining unavailable (and NO i don't have a copy on vinyl either...) , because actually i disagree with tim about collectablity not being part of Pop. I think it is... so pub arguments ahoy this weekend! However... i also think that Tigermilk is a great record and deserves to be heard. Given that there's a lot of growing interest in the band, i think it should be given a 'real' airing to the public, and i suspect that despite all the comments from the band, it WILL come out, but only when they think it's in their best interests for it to happen. It's a juggling act.... keep it back long enough to keep people talking and hoping, then unleashing it when they feel at a peak of publicity, or whatever. I don;t think it will see the light of day until they get a 'charting' LP and mass interest in the press. Then i can see full page ads pushing it as the 'great lost debut by belle & sebastian' or somesuch. And that's fair enough, because that's Pop too. Of course if they leave it too long they re-issue it and no one really cares that much anymore and they only sell a couple thousand anyway. Ho hum. And if it does come out, it wont have the same artwork... at least i'm pretty sure it won't. Don't expect Tigger would want his face plastered all over the high street, do you? the duke -- Tangents On-Line http://www.virtual-pc.com/tangent/ Tangents On-Paper: PO Box 102, Exeter, EX2 4YL, UK tangent@mail.zynet.co.uk ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister@majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister@majordomo.net -----------------------------------------------------------------------
There are three reasons an artist or band might not want to choose re-release: 1) They (along with a label) feel that they could make the money back. 2) They are not 100% happy with the songs. 3) They enjoy the fact the record is rare and unattainable.
How about 4) The publicity surrounding a rare record is good for the band? I know B&S are renowned for avoiding publicity in the form of photos, interviews etc., but that actually increases interest in the band; the fact that they are doing things differently by not publicising themselves as much as bands like Embrace has, ironically, given them great publicity. Similarly, it seems to me that by saying nothing about Tigermilk, and not making a fuss about re-releasing it, they have created priceless interest in the band. Whether these tactics are accidental or extremely canny I wouldn't know, but I suspect the latter. If they did ever put it out again though, I think it would be best if; a) it had a different sleeve, and b) it wasn't released on vinyl. That way the old copies would still have that exclusivity about them which some people seem to crave, and they would still be worth a packet (which I suspect may be the reason why some people don't want it reissued ;-) ). Stuart G ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister@majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister@majordomo.net -----------------------------------------------------------------------
participants (3)
-
duke of harringay -
Matthew A. Neimark -
Stuart Gardiner