Modern Vinyl Releases

Today I purchased the new Pelican album (City of Echoes) ... on vinyl! Have a look:



I'll post more pictures of modern albums released on vinyl ... although I don't think they sound better than the CDs, they usually have better artwork and often unusual vinyl effects.

So ... feel free to post your favorite modern vinyl releases!

As a polymer technologist by profession, I have to say it looks pretty but a lack of homogeneity in a polymer formulation often leads to poorer properties. I vigorous believe vinylchloride/acetate copolymer should been replaced by polyurethane 20 years, for better reproduction from the matrix in pressing and significantly better abrasion resistance of the disc.

Originally posted by MikeEnRegalia ^ I wonder ... assuming that both formulations (the transparent one and the black one) have good properties there shouldn't be any problems, should there? I'm not hearing any pops or distortions from the transitions between transparent and black either ...

Carbon black (really high quality soot) is commonly used in polymer formulations to enhance properties, e.g. high performance car tyres, UV stabiliser black plastic car bumpers. However, it also masks crud in a polymer - take a look at the black polythene trash bags. However, to get the best of this black it has to be very well dispersed in the polymer. Poor dispersion (e.g agglomerates, other forms of local high concentration of particles in the polymer, non-wetting of particles by the polymer) most certainly introduce discontinuities and very poor mechanical properties. Clear vinyl will have the minimum of additives so expect less of a problem. Black vinyl is usually well made, although at the height of vinyl LP manufacture (late 70's) there was a significant proportion of recycled vinyl included (labels too) which lead to pops etc. Clearly the decorative disc shown at the start of this thread is not a homogeneous, uniform mix - although I would expect if the compounds are properly fused together there should be not problems. (NOTE: I spent the whole of Wednesday examining a PhD candidate on PVC compounds, so this is fresh in my mind)

Tool's Lateralus vinyl is pretty special.

also got this recently:



The one i got is colored like the one on the top right.

^ a nice second hand player should only cost around $100 ... 

Originally posted by Black Velvet The pelican vinyl reminds me of the this Dark Throne release:

I think I know how they do it: They have a big cylinder with the transparent vinyl ... and in the middle they insert a large pipe which has many tiny holes. Then all they have to do is to rotate the pipe and to press the black vinyl through it.

Originally posted by MikeEnRegalia Purchased today ... unfortunately it has a few "bumps", but then again picture vinyls are more collectors items than for listening.

Originally posted by GoldenSpiral Originally posted by MikeEnRegalia Purchased today ... unfortunately it has a few "bumps", but then again picture vinyls are more collectors items than for listening.   I find a lot of those picture discs they sell in record stores are over-priced and badly made.  I considered buying that very opeth vinyl until I saw that it was price at over $30.  I bought a picture-disc single of Frances the Mute at some CD store, and it sounded awful, as if they forgot to remix the song for phono filters   Many independent labels (Temporary Residence, for instance) often sell brand new quality vinyl from new bands for less than the cost of the same album on CD (usually about $10-12).   I love buying from small labels like TR, HydraHead, Robotic Empire, etc) because their product is good, and they usually send you some freebie like a poster if you order a couple of records.

The Opeth double picture vinyl cost me 23 EUR ... it's ok. Usually I pay between 15 EUR and 25 EUR for new double vinyl releases, and between 10 EUR and 15 EUR for single vinyl releases. But the new Porcupine Tree limited edition will be pricey ...

http://www.crazy-diamond.nl/tonefloat/html/tf40.htm

The limited edition seems to be already out of stock ... but there's also the regular vinyl release.

I have 2 modern vinyls. One is Her Majesty the Decemberists and the other is LIFTED or The Story's in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground by Bright Eyes. Neither are very fancy, but still cool nonetheless.