NEW 7"

[HBSP-2X]

(collected) So Gerard, when can i purchase this treat?

[Dean]

well, I'm not Gerard, but I run the Matador store and the 7" will be available for preorder on Tuesday. Buy it early, because I think it'll sell quick.

-Nick

[HBSP-2X]

(Collected) That is fantastic news.

[tinobeat]

that is great great news!

[Dave]

well, I'm not Gerard, but I run the Matador store and the 7" will be available for preorder on Tuesday. Buy it early, because I think it'll sell quick.

-Nick
But if you live in Chicago there a ton of great stores that we deal direct with as well. The 7" is limited, but it's not Hozac styled or anything where almost no copies will be in stores. They'll all have copies.

Dave

[dola]

how about a release for people who think vinyl is 20th century b.s. that needlessly poisons the Earf? I'm assuming us mp3 fetishists will have to wait till it comes out on iTunes.

[Seamus]

Is it presumptuous of me to assume that the UK is one of the "select European countries" that Matador ships to??

[Patrick]

The UK is one of those countries. We need to start specifying those on the store.

For you non-vinylists, the two songs on the A-side are available in MP3 form right now. Check the Matablog or the TNV artist page.

[Fiona]

Will any copies be making their way to Ireland/UK through Vital or am I safer ordering directly now Ireland is officially a select European country?

[Patrick]

Definitely safer ordering directly.

[HBSP-2X]

My mouth is watering...

[johansen smith]

Word of advice: don't try listening to this song(s) on your iPod. I almost fell into traffic.

[Lukas]

The album is going to be...amazing, I would say.

[tinobeat]

so... today, huh?

[HBSP-2X]

so... today, huh?

I am with that same thought. Ahem.

[earl grey]

For you non-vinylists, the two songs on the A-side are available in MP3 form right now.

... and they fucking rule.

[Dean]

it's going up in just a minute

[tinobeat]

awesome, I just ordered, and am excited..

BUT! what's with the shipping costs? I tried ordering more things in order to offset the fact that shipping was more expensive than the product, and it still went up with each item, to the point where I just went with paying $4 for shipping a $3 7". Come on, guys, no media mail option? no first class mail option? Is it really $9 to ship an LP + a 7" via UPS? I know firsthand that postage prices are through the roof, but it seemed a little out of order. Correct me if I'm wrong, please, but I couldn't make heads nor tails of how much the shipping was.

that said, I'm really excited for the single, I was just a little bummed out during checkout...

[Elijah]

What Tino said.

I mean, for what it's worth, I'd buy a lot more stuff from Matador directly if I had the option of having it sent Media Mail. Merge offers this option, and because of this, I buy directly from them all the time.

I don't really care how long it takes to arrive, I'd just like to pay something close — not necessarily equal, just close — to what I'd pay if I were ordering the item from Amazon, Insound, or an eBay seller, which is what I usually end up doing. I have to imagine that it's a better deal for Matador if I get it from them.

[Dean]

BUT! what's with the shipping costs? I tried ordering more things in order to offset the fact that shipping was more expensive than the product, and it still went up with each item, to the point where I just went with paying $4 for shipping a $3 7". Come on, guys, no media mail option? no first class mail option? Is it really $9 to ship an LP + a 7" via UPS? I know firsthand that postage prices are through the roof, but it seemed a little out of order. Correct me if I'm wrong, please, but I couldn't make heads nor tails of how much the shipping was.

that said, I'm really excited for the single, I was just a little bummed out during checkout...

We're checking into what's going on here now, Tino. Should have a more complete report for you later today.

[Dean]

What Tino said.

I mean, for what it's worth, I'd buy a lot more stuff from Matador directly if I had the option of having it sent Media Mail. Merge offers this option, and because of this, I buy directly from them all the time.

I don't really care how long it takes to arrive, I'd just like to pay something close — not necessarily equal, just close — to what I'd pay if I were ordering the item from Amazon, Insound, or an eBay seller, which is what I usually end up doing. I have to imagine that it's a better deal for Matador if I get it from them.

Elijah--you're in Canada right? I wasn't sure there even was a media mail to canada. I've been in favor of adding media mail, but I think there's some concern about the reliability of it. We're reviewing our shipping stuff now, though.

[Elijah]

I'm in South Florida, actually. There are a few half-decent record stores down here, but they are out of the way, and unless I'm looking for hip-hop, they rarely have what I'm looking for. So for all practical purposes, mail order is really my only option if the thing's not available at Target.

I'm puzzled that you're concerned about Media Mail being reliable. I've been selling off my unwanted CDs and LPs on eBay for several years, and I've never had a problem with anything being lost in the mail.

As an eBay seller, I've always offered people the option of Media Mail, Priority Mail and UPS Ground. Nine times out of ten, they go with Media Mail. It doesn't take that much longer, and even when you add insurance and delivery confirmation, it costs just a little more than half what UPS Ground does. A one pound package, for instance, sent from NYC to Miami, will run you $7.09 sent UPS Ground, or $4.53 sent USPS Media Mail with delivery confirmation and insurance. The distance between those figures gets increasingly higher as you increase the weight of the package in question. And if you have delivery confirmation and insurance, reliability isn't really an issue at all.

Also, I am still interested in a Numero (http://www.numerogroup.com/)-style Matador Subscription (http://matadorbb.bway.net/showthread.php?t=6191).

Just sayin' is all. I'll shut up now.

[9000]

I'm puzzled that you're concerned about Media Mail being reliable. I've been selling off my unwanted CDs and LPs on eBay for several years, and I've never had a problem with anything being lost in the mail.

As an eBay seller, I've always offered people the option of Media Mail, Priority Mail and UPS Ground. Nine times out of ten, they go with Media Mail. It doesn't take that much longer, and even when you add insurance and delivery confirmation, it costs just a little more than half what UPS Ground does.


ditto. plus, media mail tends to be superfast out of new york. i have the suspicion that the p.o. just mixes media mail with regular first class, but they'd never say so...

-postal temp employee, summers of '88 & '89

[johansen smith]

I live in a flyover state and I find it still takes less than a week to get smaller (ie LPs as opposed to a box of books) packages sent media mail from anywhere else.

BTW This is why I love Matador-- one of us makes a suggestion and then you guys actually look into it!

[tinobeat]

BTW This is why I love Matador-- one of us makes a suggestion and then you guys actually look into it!

yeah, for real!

All I know is that the shipping prices are a deterrent from me ordering direct as it stands now, and that bums me out, I'd always much rather order direct from the label.

[johansen smith]

I remember I was going to buy a 7" from Suicide Squeeze last year and the seven inch was already a ridiculous $6 and then with shipping for the one single, it would have been near $11-- there should have been a picture of a pistol-packing felon on the checkout page as this was highway robbery. I passed.

[Patrick]

We'll figure this out, guys. When Nick brings up reliability, he means trackability as much as anything else. The bulk of the Matastore business comes from preorders and Buy Early Get Now, and when you send out thousands of orders at once to get there by or before street (which I think we now are getting 99% capable of doing within the US), there are ALWAYS customers who want to track their packages.

This led us to drop Media Mail in favor of UPS, which has trackability at the cheapest level. Unfortunately it's still more expensive, and a programming glitch has made it that it doesn't go down the way it should with volume - but we're on top of this with our programmer.

[tinobeat]

Thanks so much, Nick and Patrick!

[HBSP-2X]

BTW This is why I love Matador-- one of us makes a suggestion and then you guys actually look into it!

Matador for President.

[Elijah]

When Nick brings up reliability, he means trackability as much as anything else…This makes a lot more sense than what i had originally assumed, so thanks. All I can say to this is that personally, if I have the option of forgoing trackability and saving a few bucks, I'll take it. So I hope you can work out a way to offer that option.

Oh… and to echo what JS and Tino said earlier: it's awesome that you guys are engaging in this conversation at all, because I have to imagine that this is, relative to everything else you guys do, a really minor detail.

[dola]

i'm sorry to interrupt this love fest but if matador staff are so responsive then how come i don't have chan marshall's cellphone #?

[HBSP-2X]

Not to sound pushy, but when do we get to see these bad riders? Don't tempt me into staring at my computer with the "crazy eye" til I get it, cause I just might. ;)

[Dean]

So we're still looking into adding media mail, should have a definite answer for that next week. But in the meantime, our volume discount is working properly.

The way our shipping is set up is that there's an initial charge of a few dollars for the first item, and then additional items add much smaller incremental charges. We use UPS to ship, and to ship anything with them even something that weighs as little as one cd or 7" costs at least $3.00. But it doesn't add much in charges to add a lot of weight. So in theory, what should have happened with Tino's 7" order is that the first item is $4.00, and then additional items are $.25 each for cd/7" or $.50 per lp. The problem was that it was treating different formats as different orders--basically penalizing people for ordering multiple formats. So the first 7" cost $4, and while additional 7"s would have cost only $.25 extra, an additional LP had that $4 initial order amount attached to it. This was something we had been trying to iron out for awhile, but it required some pretty in depth calculations.

The good news is that we have it working properly, so check it out--I think you'll be happier with the prices.

[tinobeat]

So we're still looking into adding media mail, should have a definite answer for that next week. But in the meantime, our volume discount is working properly.

The way our shipping is set up is that there's an initial charge of a few dollars for the first item, and then additional items add much smaller incremental charges. We use UPS to ship, and to ship anything with them even something that weighs as little as one cd or 7" costs at least $3.00. But it doesn't add much in charges to add a lot of weight. So in theory, what should have happened with Tino's 7" order is that the first item is $4.00, and then additional items are $.25 each for cd/7" or $.50 per lp. The problem was that it was treating different formats as different orders--basically penalizing people for ordering multiple formats. So the first 7" cost $4, and while additional 7"s would have cost only $.25 extra, an additional LP had that $4 initial order amount attached to it. This was something we had been trying to iron out for awhile, but it required some pretty in depth calculations.

The good news is that we have it working properly, so check it out--I think you'll be happier with the prices.


ah, that's cool, that's what I was expecting to happen.. hmm, now I wish I could redo the order and actually get things I've been meaning to get to offset that $4 shipping over the 7" and a few LPs... but what's done is done.

[Dean]

ah, that's cool, that's what I was expecting to happen.. hmm, now I wish I could redo the order and actually get things I've been meaning to get to offset that $4 shipping over the 7" and a few LPs... but what's done is done.

Hey Tino, just send me an email at store@matadorrecords.com and I can cancel your order so you can replace it.

[tinobeat]

oh awesome, thanks nick!

[Patrick]

And here are some pics

http://www.matadorrecords.com/images/matablog/times_new_viking_7'_Asm.jpg

http://www.matadorrecords.com/images/matablog/times_new_viking_7'_Bsm.jpg

these are selling like hotcakes so get yours quick.

[HBSP-2X]

Just got mine in the post!!!!! WOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

[Lukas]

wow, that is some fine packaging.

[tinobeat]

Just got mine as well! daaamn.

I love when the runout groove is longer than the song(s), hahaha...

Also got a sick new James McNew designed T-shirt. And damn, y'all were right, these T-shirts have a great fit, lets see how the wash treats 'em..

but back to the matter at hand. NEW TNV! can't wait til my receiver gets fixed and stops being crappy so I can listen to it!

[A-Squared]

just pulled this off the turntable. fantastic, as expected. january 22nd seems so far away...

[Quartermass]

Is the new 7" sold out?

I bought two, but am giving one away on my 7" review blog (sevententwelve.wordpress.com).

Cool.

[Dave]

Is the new 7" sold out?

I bought two, but am giving one away on my 7" review blog (sevententwelve.wordpress.com).

Cool.
Yep. We've been out of them since release date (Dec. 4th).

[stevethehouse]

I overheard this 7" while I was browsing at a record store the other day.

Is this seriously what's next in the long chain of boring hipster crap?
I love lo-fi music, but this stuff just straight up sounds like shit. If you take away that recorded as poorly as possible aesthetic, the songs just aren't there and the live performances they put on prove it.

There was a time that Matador used to sign bands that were making ground breaking, forward-thinking music... but it seems that those times are long gone. When's the last time that Matador has signed a band that actually counts? The only artists on their roster who still matter are the ones who've stuck around like Yo La Tengo & Malkmus.

[Dave]

I overheard this 7" while I was browsing at a record store the other day.

Is this seriously what's next in the long chain of boring hipster crap?
I love lo-fi music, but this stuff just straight up sounds like shit. If you take away that recorded as poorly as possible aesthetic, the songs just aren't there and the live performances they put on prove it.

There was a time that Matador used to sign bands that were making ground breaking, forward-thinking music... but it seems that those times are long gone. When's the last time that Matador has signed a band that actually counts? The only artists on their roster who still matter are the ones who've stuck around like Yo La Tengo & Malkmus.

You sir, are wrong! TNV have songs galore and are fantastic live. In fact that statement has been verified by several independent laboratories. We wouldn't have signed them if it hadn't.
I am also a bit unclear on what you mean by "counts" and "still matter"? And what could you possibly mean by "boring hipster crap"? Who are you talking about and what qualities does something need to be affixed this label?

Dave

PS What store?

[tinobeat]

eh, no need to feed the trolls. I find it really easy to discount people who put stuff down on the basis of it being "hipster" this or that and not on any musical merits. They're usually just dealing with their own issues through dissing shit..

zzzz

[dola]

i don't want to encourage but something's been irking me: steve 'overheard' the 7" at a record store (presumably hipping him to them for the first time) and then managed to catch a live show? otherwise he must've made his determination from the performances from youtube (which are all hip and amazing, btw). it just doesn't add up and i'm gonna get to the bottom of this if it fuckin kills me.

[stevethehouse]

i don't want to encourage but something's been irking me: steve 'overheard' the 7" at a record store (presumably hipping him to them for the first time) and then managed to catch a live show? otherwise he must've made his determination from the performances from youtube (which are all hip and amazing, btw). it just doesn't add up and i'm gonna get to the bottom of this if it fuckin kills me.

I've owned "Dig Yourself" since 2004-5. I caught the band live in C-Bus about a year later and really disliked what I heard. Downloaded "Paisley Reich" and hated it. Same with the subsequent 7" releases and finally this new 7" (which I overheard at Paul's CDs in PGH). It's all the same, the band keeps rehashing the same idea over and over and over again. It's basically the same scenerio as Interpol, the first album was cool and once subsequent albums are released you find out the band has nothing else to say and it makes the first album seem worse than what it was.

[dola]

i kinda get what your saying but i think dave's right too, that at heart there are actual songs, some of which are very, very good. stylistically i think they do enough interesting things to keep it varied enough for me, but maybe that's a product of not having a steady lo-fi diet until recently. sometimes it's just best to give up if you're not into it. i'm not calling you crazy but the definition of insanity is repeating the same trial over and over and expecting a different outcome.

[Dave]

I've owned "Dig Yourself" since 2004-5. I caught the band live in C-Bus about a year later and really disliked what I heard. Downloaded "Paisley Reich" and hated it. Same with the subsequent 7" releases and finally this new 7" (which I overheard at Paul's CDs in PGH). It's all the same, the band keeps rehashing the same idea over and over and over again. It's basically the same scenerio as Interpol, the first album was cool and once subsequent albums are released you find out the band has nothing else to say and it makes the first album seem worse than what it was.
Well now we're getting somewhere. Although I disagree with you I have no problem with you not being into TNV and I am still wondering what your statements about the bands that matter and count. And just for kicks here's a quick list of bands that keep "rehashing the same idea over and over and over again.":
Bo Diddley
AC/DC
The Ramones
Billy Childish
Dead Moon
Rob Vasquez
Don Howland
Jeffrey Evans
The Clean
The Terminals
Bardo Pond
Amon Duul
Cheater Slicks
Creedence Clearwater Revival
ESG
The Faces
Gaunt
Hank Williams
Motorhead
Buzzcocks
The Cramps
Fastbacks
The Original Sins

I could still go on...

Dave

[stevethehouse]

I strongly disagree with that list. To me there is a difference between a band who pursues them same idea/concept and bands who just regurgitate the same formula. I think bands like TNV and Interpol fall very strongly into the second category. Sure, there might be different tempos, and different chord changes... but almost all of their songs fall under very similar feelings/patterns.

To address my "bands that count" comment. What I meant was that Matador used to sign genere defining bands. Bands like Pavement, Guided By Voices, Yo La Tengo, Silkworm... etc. Like these bands or not, you cannot deny the impact that they all have left on "indie" music.

The latest additions to the Matador roster leave me feeling very empty. The music isn't terrible, but I find it all to be very forgettable. Do you guys think that we'll look back on bands like TNV, Dead Meadow, The New Pornographers & Lavender Diamond in 10 years with the same reverence that we do with the bands I mentioned above? I certainly don't. That to me is brings Matador down a few rungs from THE indie label to just another indie label in the mix.

[Dave]

I strongly disagree with that list. To me there is a difference between a band who pursues them same idea/concept and bands who just regurgitate the same formula. I think bands like TNV and Interpol fall very strongly into the second category. Sure, there might be different tempos, and different chord changes... but almost all of their songs fall under very similar feelings/patterns.

To address my "bands that count" comment. What I meant was that Matador used to sign genere defining bands. Bands like Pavement, Guided By Voices, Yo La Tengo, Silkworm... etc. Like these bands or not, you cannot deny the impact that they all have left on "indie" music.

The latest additions to the Matador roster leave me feeling very empty. The music isn't terrible, but I find it all to be very forgettable. Do you guys think that we'll look back on bands like TNV, Dead Meadow, The New Pornographers & Lavender Diamond in 10 years with the same reverence that we do with the bands I mentioned above? I certainly don't. That to me is brings Matador down a few rungs from THE indie label to just another indie label in the mix.

Well now I think we're back to a matter of personal preference. You think that TNV "regurgitate the same formula" and I think they're one of the most exciting bands around.

As far as your other question goes, I may be biased, but yes I do.

Dave

[johansen smith]

Also it's not the mid-90s, so music is bound to be different. Maybe that's good and maybe that's bad, but you can't criticize a band in 2008 for not being Guided By Voices in 1995.

[9000]

To address my "bands that count" comment. What I meant was that Matador used to sign genere defining bands. Bands like Pavement, Guided By Voices, Yo La Tengo, Silkworm... etc. Like these bands or not, you cannot deny the impact that they all have left on "indie" music.

The latest additions to the Matador roster leave me feeling very empty. The music isn't terrible, but I find it all to be very forgettable. Do you guys think that we'll look back on bands like TNV, Dead Meadow, The New Pornographers & Lavender Diamond in 10 years with the same reverence that we do with the bands I mentioned above? I certainly don't. That to me is brings Matador down a few rungs from THE indie label to just another indie label in the mix.

out of curiousity, what "genre defining bands" do you think matador has missed out on signing? are interpol and cat power not genre defining?

also, have you given any consideration to the number of indie labels that existed during the mid-90s indie rock zeigtgeist compared to today?

further, perhaps you want to consider that a label such as matador may want to put out what music they actually like vs. what they think will be a "genre defining" sound. just a thought.