Technical Misery or Rhino Just Being Rhino

If you talk to kids born after 1990, they think vinyl is cool.  Old-timers will refer to something called "The Vinyl Experience" that kids also think is cool.  "The Vinyl Experience" is the "ritual" (I've seen that word used) for physically holding the record, looking at the cover, taking the record out of the sleeve, putting it on the turn table and then some kind of aural nirvana is reached.  That takes about 5 - 7 seconds but apparently it's an experience.

Let me tell you about my latest vinyl experience:

Last week, I ordered Black Sabbath's Technical Ecstasy with white coloured vinyl from Amazon.  I cringed when I saw it was made by Rhino Records but it was the “cheapest” of all the coloured Black Sabbath records so I thought, "why not?".

The record came in damaged, so thanks to Amazon for their piss-poor shipping practices on that one.  How poor?  Have a look at the picture.  Some genius at Amazon thought that shipping a record in an oversized box with mini air bags thrown in there should be sufficient.  And here's how the record turned out.  Surprise.  They may as well slapped an address label and a stamp on the album and thrown it in the mail.

Getting back to the experience, I take the cellophane off and pull out the album from the damaged sleeve.  The white vinyl sure does look cool.  I put the album on the platter, close the dustcover and hit Start.  Surprise, the song skips.  Hmmm... it also sounds kind of wonky, not unlike being on a boat.  Stop.  Open the lid.  Ah, the record's warped; about an inch high on one quadrant.  Have a look at the picture.

I didn't listen to the rest.  I put the warped album back in the damaged cover and put on the CD since I was in the mood for listening to the songs.

That was my latest vinyl experience.  

Why the experience was so poor was because I purchased a record made by Rhino Records.  I have more botched "new" vinyl from Rhino than any other company in my record collection.  And I'm blaming Rhino because their name is on the label.  Frankly, I don't care who they contract it out to.  Rhino should give up making vinyl because they honestly don't know how to do it properly. Vinyl is a record companies' last kick at the can to stay around a little bit longer.  If I saw the end coming, I’d be making an effort not to keep producing garbage.  I have other things to spend $25 on than a piece of garbage from Rhino when I can go to the dumpster for free.

Don't get me wrong, I've purchased enough "new" vinyl from other companies and I'm completely convinced that anyone that currently manufactures vinyl LPs is completely incompetent and useless at their job.  It's just that Rhino vinyl is consistently poor.  I take that back, Rhino is exceptionally good at making poor quality LPs.  And to charge double the price for an album compared to a flawless CD is criminal.

What's also adds to the frustration is that a stack of records I found in my parents' basement (I forgot to take them when I moved out).  Even though they smell a little musty, the old records still play all the way through and are excellent compared current reissues made from 180 Scam Vinyl.  And I didn't get that distracting little voice in my head that says "don't enjoy it too much because it'll skip somewhere" like I do when I'm listening to a Rhino record.

After this latest "vinyl experience", I even cancelled my (at the time) pre-ordered Rolling Stones in Mono vinyl box set and I ordered the CDs instead (excellent, by the way).  I don’t know if my nerves could take 16 albums that may or may not play.  Now that I think of it, I don't think I'll be buying a "new" record again.  Just because I have a little bit of disposable income lately doesn't mean I have to throw it away.

So you kids that think vinyl is cool, you should have been around when you could listen to a record all the way through.  Man, those were the days.

Into The Void: How Not To Get A Black Sabbath Vinyl Box Set

So earlier this month, I thought I'd splurge and pick up the Black Sabbath Vinyl Box Set - y'know, because I really need it. Anyways, here's the link:

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B009S2U74K/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Reason I'm posting the link is that if you go to Amazon, you'd swear that it's an actual item. And going through Amazon.ca, I thought I could save myself $100 compared to .com. You'd think.

So here's the whole story (pull up a chair):

On February 13, I placed the order. Later that night, I got the "your order has been shipped" e-mail. Wonderful. Wonderful because anytime I see that e-mail, the next day I get my item. Always. Never fails. But only when Amazon says they have it in stock at their warehouse, as this item is listed.

No Valentine's Day present for me. Or the next day. Or the next day. Now there was a lot of snowstorms on the planet so I gave a little grace period. Also what went through my mind is when I bought the Beatles box set that UPS left on the doorstep. Boy, that burns my ass when I think about that so I actually came to the conclusion that UPS drop it off on the porch again and some asshole stole it. But there was nothing to steal this time.

In the meantime, I'd hop on UPS' site, check the tracking number and all that would show up was "In transit".

Anyways, on the 21st, I e-mailed Amazon to tell them that I think my package is lost. In all honesty, they were the best.

Here's what I got as a reply (it's good to keep e-mails):
"I am sorry to hear that you have not received this order. The package appears to be lost.

Tracing a package is time-consuming and only occasionally successful. Because we want you to receive your order as soon as possible, we have found it more efficient to simply send a replacement order whenever a package is lost in shipping.

Therefore, I've placed a new order for the item and there will be no charge for this replacement."

Beautiful. Sure enough that night, I got my "your order has been shipped" e-mail. Oh boy.

Guess what never came.

I wrote them yesterday (27th) explaining the whole thing in case I got another person getting the e-mail. Here's what I got back:
"Thank you for writing to us at Amazon.ca.

I'm so sorry to hear you haven't received your replacement order either. Because we've tried sending you the The Vinyl Collection 1970-1978 twice without success, it's unlikely another replacement order will be delivered.

Instead, I have requested a refund of $338.89 to cover the cost of the original shipment. This refund should go through within 2-3 business days and will appear as a credit on your next credit card billing statement."

I'm still kinda bummed but I got my refund and it is balanced out by not having any problems with Amazon. They were, in short, the best.

Conclusion

So I'm wondering, does this box set even exist? Are there actually 2 box sets that are "in transit" somewhere? The Twilight Zone? Did Zeus come down from the clouds and steal it from the UPS truck? We'll never know.

What made me feel a whole lot better was reading the reviews from Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Album-Box-Set-Black-Sabbath/dp/B009S2U74K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362000129&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Vinyl+Collection+1970-1978

"Just recieved the Black Sabbath Vinyl box set and it's damaged as I feared and expected. Amazon won't replace it , only refund because of lack of availablity."

"Mine also experienced the same issue. I can't get a replacement, and the price has gone up over $100 since I ordered it. They were damaged before they were shrink wrapped then shrink wrapped and shipped. I guess I am returning them and will be on the look out for another copy around $300. :( Going to check if the records are good tonight. "

"Same exact issue here. Packaging was fine, box containing the records as fine, album sleeves were all damaged. Scuffed and torn along the top edge. I also cannot get a replacement anywhere :( They are advertised on Amazon.co.uk, but only for £100 more than the RRP I originally paid. :(

A "used-acceptable" one is advertised for £180, but small print says may be re-packaged, or packaging may be damaged. I wonder what will be wrong with that one, eh!

Terrible quality control and abysmal customer service has been my experience. To be clear, IT IS NOT shipping damage. IT IS NOT the fault of the retailer. Outer packaging "

Maybe something really is looking out for me.

I, a-Hi Hi, a-Hi Hi, Dig a Box Set

Since I moved again (yes, if you've been following the Blog, this will make it the 4th place I lived at in one year - a personal record) and hopefully will be staying here for at least a year, I gifted my new home (and myself) with the Beatles Vinyl Box Set.

Happy House Warming to me.

I was going to pass on it but when I read there were only 50,000 being made, I promptly headed to Amazon (cheapest place I've seen it) and placed an order.  After I placed it, I thought, "Wait - I'll probably have the out-of-stock problems I had when the Mono box came out."  But no, it came the next day after being ordered.  I will say first that I'm so fucking angry with UPS for just leaving this $350 box on the front porch in broad daylight.  Thanks to the asshole who delivered it (LaSalle Ontario UPS location).  Too lazy to leave a sticker on the door or was it too heavy to bring back to the truck?  Do your job next time, asshole.

Anyways, anger dissipated to happiness when I got a look at what was in the box.  The foam on the top and front side was a nice touch.  Each LP and hard cover book was shrink wrapped.  The book was quite nice - nice paper too.  I only flipped though it though.  The last few pages of the book were about the mastering and cutting process which you can find online in any review.

Sound-wise, it's great.  Apparently they used the 24 bit resolution for the LPs instead of the 16 bit versions used for the CDs.  Not sure if I'm a huge fan of the 180 gram vinyl.  They're heavy and I did let them warm up a bit before putting them on (remember, they were out on a cold porch).  I've seen 78s break to pieces from not being so flexible.

I started with Please Please Me (Side 1); Help (Side 2); Revolver (Side 2 - had a two skips on Tomorrow Never Knows); Side 4 of the White Album (up until Revolution No 9) and Side 1 of Abbey Road.  I found myself being mesmerised my McCartney's bass lines in every song.

At the end of my Listening Session, I put on the 2009 Abbey Road CD.  There was a noticeable difference in overall tone.  I think you'd have to be deaf to not hear it.  Where as the LPs were bass heavy, or some people would call "warm", the CD, I found was to be even and focused.  For me, the first album (Please Please Me) was neat because I've only ever heard the mono version.  Even though I still prefer the mono versions in terms of a mix, I get a better idea of how the instruments sound being panned to one side.

Of course, now I can't wait for BluRay versions of these.  Imagine 24 bit resolution and no static.  Hoo Lordy.  Maybe those will come out in 2022 for some kind of Beatle anniversary.

Next for me is to rip them to the PC for my own enjoyment.  My sound card has RCA inputs and the best part is, since I recently purchased Samplitude, I can make 24 bit wavs.  Just for me.  I say that because when I got the Mono box set, someone asked me to burn me a copy for them.  In my head I thought, "Why don't you get off your ass and buy your own?"  Anyways, never did (say that out loud or burn the CDs).

So while being pricey, and me not being married and/or having kids, I could afford the box set and enjoy it.  If you're in that same boat as me, buy it.  Why not waste time in front of the stereo?  There are only a few things on the planet that could be better.