Lacuna Coil jump on the "rip off the fans" bandwagon...
Lacuna Coil, one of my favourite bands, has recently had their current album Shallow Life re-issued with a bonus disc of extra tracks and live performances. The same thing happened with their album Comalies but at least at that time you could buy the bonus disc from the Century Media shop if you had already bought the original album (Century Media being the bands record label). This time however there is no such option.
When I bought Shallow Life, when it was originally released last April, there were two versions available. A digipak version with a bonus track, Oblivion, and a standard 12 track jewel case version. I opted for the digipak version to get the bonus track (who wouldn’t want more music from their favourite bands?). When I found out that a new “Deluxe Version” had been released I wasn’t very happy. I bought the album as soon as it came out because I love Lacuna Coil’s music and couldn’t wait to own it. Now I feel cheated because if I had waited nearly a year I could have had bought the “Deluxe Version” instead of one of the standard versions. Many of the extra tracks in the “Deluxe Edition” are cuts from the Shallow Life recording sessions so would have been available at the time of the albums original release. Why didn’t they put them out on a “Deluxe Version” back then?
Stonesour, P!nk, Disturbed, In This Moment, Lady Gaga, Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Destiny’s Child, Foo Fighters, Atreyu, Deathstars, Miley Cyrus… So many artists and bands have done this over the years and it is an insult to us, the fans. The fans should be able to have the choice from day one as to whether they should buy the “Deluxe Version” or the ”standard version”. Chances are it isn’t entirely the bands’ decision, it’s more likely than not down to the record label and management. Either way it still doesn’t bode well for the fans, who have to shell out more money for an album they already have just for a few extra tracks. YES I want the extra tracks but NO I don’t want to have to buy the album again to get them. Why would I want 2 copies of the same album?
It seems that this is what happens when a band gains more popularity. The record labels decide it’s a good idea to screw their fans for as much money as they can. After all of this they still wonder why people download illegally. Any true fan of a band will buy the album when it’s first released. They won’t wait on the off chance that a “Deluxe Version” becomes available.
Many albums are available from the original release in “Deluxe Edition” and “standard edition” so why can’t they all be the same? Why do some bands feel the need to rip fans off by releasing additional content for a premium at a later date?
I quite happily got the latest Depeche Mode, Rammstein, Children of Bodom, and Creed albums in the “Deluxe Edition” and was able to do so on the original release dates and not nearly a year later. No wonder the world of music is a mess. It’s no longer about the music and creativity instead, as with everything else in the world, it’s about money, money money!
In 40 years time what modern day music is going to be as influential and popular as the music of the 1960-70s? Which of today’s artists and bands will have a legacy as great as that of The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Elvis Presley? Not many, if any.
Lacuna Coil, one of my favourite bands, has recently had their current album Shallow Life re-issued with a bonus disc of extra tracks and live performances. The same thing happened with their album Comalies but at least at that time you could buy the bonus disc from the Century Media shop if you had already bought the original album (Century Media being the bands record label). This time however there is no such option.
When I bought Shallow Life, when it was originally released last April, there were two versions available. A digipak version with a bonus track, Oblivion, and a standard 12 track jewel case version. I opted for the digipak version to get the bonus track (who wouldn’t want more music from their favourite bands?). When I found out that a new “Deluxe Version” had been released I wasn’t very happy. I bought the album as soon as it came out because I love Lacuna Coil’s music and couldn’t wait to own it. Now I feel cheated because if I had waited nearly a year I could have had bought the “Deluxe Version” instead of one of the standard versions. Many of the extra tracks in the “Deluxe Edition” are cuts from the Shallow Life recording sessions so would have been available at the time of the albums original release. Why didn’t they put them out on a “Deluxe Version” back then?
Stonesour, P!nk, Disturbed, In This Moment, Lady Gaga, Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Destiny’s Child, Foo Fighters, Atreyu, Deathstars, Miley Cyrus… So many artists and bands have done this over the years and it is an insult to us, the fans. The fans should be able to have the choice from day one as to whether they should buy the “Deluxe Version” or the ”standard version”. Chances are it isn’t entirely the bands’ decision, it’s more likely than not down to the record label and management. Either way it still doesn’t bode well for the fans, who have to shell out more money for an album they already have just for a few extra tracks. YES I want the extra tracks but NO I don’t want to have to buy the album again to get them. Why would I want 2 copies of the same album?
It seems that this is what happens when a band gains more popularity. The record labels decide it’s a good idea to screw their fans for as much money as they can. After all of this they still wonder why people download illegally. Any true fan of a band will buy the album when it’s first released. They won’t wait on the off chance that a “Deluxe Version” becomes available.
Many albums are available from the original release in “Deluxe Edition” and “standard edition” so why can’t they all be the same? Why do some bands feel the need to rip fans off by releasing additional content for a premium at a later date?
I quite happily got the latest Depeche Mode, Rammstein, Children of Bodom, and Creed albums in the “Deluxe Edition” and was able to do so on the original release dates and not nearly a year later. No wonder the world of music is a mess. It’s no longer about the music and creativity instead, as with everything else in the world, it’s about money, money money!
In 40 years time what modern day music is going to be as influential and popular as the music of the 1960-70s? Which of today’s artists and bands will have a legacy as great as that of The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Elvis Presley? Not many, if any.
Bleeding Through
To live, to die,
To smile, to cry,
Needing a friend,
To help me by.
Suffering in silence,
Feeding my fear,
Bleeding my heart,
Not thinking clear.
Hollow and empty,
Lifeless remains,
Shyness binds,
The fear to my veins.
The knife in my arm,
The ache in my chest,
It's a matter of time,
Til It's laid to rest.
Bleeding profusely,
The wounds so deep,
Soon it is time,
To eternally sleep.
Stresses and anguish,
Making me fall,
Exposing my weakness,
Consuming my all.
Scars ever present,
Fresh from the blade,
Tears on my pillow,
The mess I have made.
Bludgened and slashed,
Through to the vein,
"What have I done?"
Echoes in my brain.
Becoming a slave,
To the stress in my life,
I try to find solace,
At the hands of my knife.
Cutting the flesh,
The pain slows away,
Yet instantly guilt,
Fills the array.
"Why did I do it?"
I think to myself,
Not giving first thought,
To life or health.
That split second feeling,
Of total relief,
Now filled me with anger,
Sorrow and grief.
The stress still remained,
And now there was more,
Blood flowing freely
Onto the floor.
It wasn't helpful,
What I had done,
But for the short moment,
The stresses had gone.
I'll do it again,
I know that for sure,
But I'll never understand it,
As the blood spiils once more.
(c)2008 David McGarry
To live, to die,
To smile, to cry,
Needing a friend,
To help me by.
Suffering in silence,
Feeding my fear,
Bleeding my heart,
Not thinking clear.
Hollow and empty,
Lifeless remains,
Shyness binds,
The fear to my veins.
The knife in my arm,
The ache in my chest,
It's a matter of time,
Til It's laid to rest.
Bleeding profusely,
The wounds so deep,
Soon it is time,
To eternally sleep.
Stresses and anguish,
Making me fall,
Exposing my weakness,
Consuming my all.
Scars ever present,
Fresh from the blade,
Tears on my pillow,
The mess I have made.
Bludgened and slashed,
Through to the vein,
"What have I done?"
Echoes in my brain.
Becoming a slave,
To the stress in my life,
I try to find solace,
At the hands of my knife.
Cutting the flesh,
The pain slows away,
Yet instantly guilt,
Fills the array.
"Why did I do it?"
I think to myself,
Not giving first thought,
To life or health.
That split second feeling,
Of total relief,
Now filled me with anger,
Sorrow and grief.
The stress still remained,
And now there was more,
Blood flowing freely
Onto the floor.
It wasn't helpful,
What I had done,
But for the short moment,
The stresses had gone.
I'll do it again,
I know that for sure,
But I'll never understand it,
As the blood spiils once more.
(c)2008 David McGarry
I'm totally bored outta my brains. Not that they get used much these days.
The creative part of me is in total relapse. I can't even write a simple tune or poem or anything at the minute. I have a certain inspiration at the minute but I can't seem to produce anything worthy of this amazing inspiration that has recently took hold.
I need to get out of here for a while but have no idea where to go or what to do.
I need to do something interesting or creative or both. Help me! Lol.
"...from the desperation that consumes me I reach out my hand for someone to take hold..."
Sorry for my ramblings. Thank you to anyone that read it and even greater thanks to anyone who can offer a solution or escape.
The creative part of me is in total relapse. I can't even write a simple tune or poem or anything at the minute. I have a certain inspiration at the minute but I can't seem to produce anything worthy of this amazing inspiration that has recently took hold.
I need to get out of here for a while but have no idea where to go or what to do.
I need to do something interesting or creative or both. Help me! Lol.
"...from the desperation that consumes me I reach out my hand for someone to take hold..."
Sorry for my ramblings. Thank you to anyone that read it and even greater thanks to anyone who can offer a solution or escape.
I'm kinda down at the minute so wrote this.
Fear And Love
As the night draws near,
My heart fills with fear,
What have I done?
Why can't I hear your voice?
Is it through your choice?
That you don't want me near.
Never understanding,
Feels like I'm left hanging,
Anticipating the worst.
I don't wanna lose you,
But now I feel I might do,
If I do my heart will burst.
Never have I loved,
Never have I missed,
One the way I do you.
Longing to kiss you,
Hold you in my arms and hug you,
My love, my life, my angel.
(c)2006 David McGarry
Fear And Love
As the night draws near,
My heart fills with fear,
What have I done?
Why can't I hear your voice?
Is it through your choice?
That you don't want me near.
Never understanding,
Feels like I'm left hanging,
Anticipating the worst.
I don't wanna lose you,
But now I feel I might do,
If I do my heart will burst.
Never have I loved,
Never have I missed,
One the way I do you.
Longing to kiss you,
Hold you in my arms and hug you,
My love, my life, my angel.
(c)2006 David McGarry
ooh I found some more dodgy poetry I wrote when I was really fucked up...
Confused Art
The edge of inflammatory reason,
Falling away into the night,
Darkness surrounding us,
Consuming our plight.
Feeding on the weakness,
Evident, in plain sight.
Nothing could prepare us,
For the effervescent fight.
Contradictory or without meaning,
Ambiguous and tight,
Lost in a fountain of insignificance
Nothing to do but recompense our fears that night.
Confused Art
The edge of inflammatory reason,
Falling away into the night,
Darkness surrounding us,
Consuming our plight.
Feeding on the weakness,
Evident, in plain sight.
Nothing could prepare us,
For the effervescent fight.
Contradictory or without meaning,
Ambiguous and tight,
Lost in a fountain of insignificance
Nothing to do but recompense our fears that night.
How 'bout a dodgy poem...
Deluded Dreams
Breaking out of oblivion,
Feeding the hand of fate,
Falling into the arms,
Of someone who's great.
Feeling kinda empty,
Yet nothing can compare,
To the strange love,
Of the moment that you share.
Confused and dejected,
Failing in the plight.
Toiling with emotion,
Never doing right.
Yet hope just seems to wander,
Never coming near.
Maybe there'll be one day,
With nothing to fear.
Jaded by devotion,
Weakened by your strength,
Succumbing to erosion,
Everything at length.
Running from the feeling,
That shudders through your veins,
One day become fruitful,
Let love take the reins.
Now life has become bearable,
Or so now it seems,
But is it your reality,
Or just deluded dreams?
(p) & (c)2005 David McGarry.
Deluded Dreams
Breaking out of oblivion,
Feeding the hand of fate,
Falling into the arms,
Of someone who's great.
Feeling kinda empty,
Yet nothing can compare,
To the strange love,
Of the moment that you share.
Confused and dejected,
Failing in the plight.
Toiling with emotion,
Never doing right.
Yet hope just seems to wander,
Never coming near.
Maybe there'll be one day,
With nothing to fear.
Jaded by devotion,
Weakened by your strength,
Succumbing to erosion,
Everything at length.
Running from the feeling,
That shudders through your veins,
One day become fruitful,
Let love take the reins.
Now life has become bearable,
Or so now it seems,
But is it your reality,
Or just deluded dreams?
(p) & (c)2005 David McGarry.
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