Nov 28, 2011

Pic of the Day

very subtle but probably one of the sexiest H!P photobook pics EVVVVVVVERRRRRRR

Nov 27, 2011

Diggin' In The Crates "Return of DITC/Wishing For This Band's Return" Edition

Yep, I'm back... After 16 months of marriage I've finally brought my beloved and much-missed turntable to Casa del CJ y Tara, as well as a whole bunch of wax. And I can't think of a better disc to use for my return post than an interesting little title from a band that I wish never went away...








Artist: The White Stripes
Title: Icky Thump (Mono Edition)
Label: Third Man
Vinyl: 180g Audiophile black vinyl


Back in 2009, Jack White decided to turn his Third Man Records logo from a holding company for his master tapes and an imprint that appeared on every White Stripes and Raconteurs record released by V2, XL and Warner Bros., into an actual record company. Having moved to Nashville from Detroit two years before, and having had the aforementioned American rights to his masters reverting back to him after V2 closed up shop, he decided to buy a building that happened to be a mile or so away from United Record Pressing, originally intended to store some things until he decided to make the space much more functional. The first release, catalog number TMR 001, was a 45 from his third band, The Dead Weather, issued on Record Store Day in 2009. TMR 002 he saved for this puppy.

This album is a double audiophile vinyl edition of what ended up being the White Stripes's last ever studio album, Icky Thump. The difference between this version and the version easily found online is twofold:

1. The cover of this edition is tinted red.
2. The version of the album on this edition is a MONO mix.

Yep, even though Jack and Meg went into a top-notch professional studio in Nashville, Jack figured he'd be clever and do something retro in the process. Past Stripes studio tunage had been recorded in places ranging from the living room of Jack and Meg's married abode (anything that claims Third Man Studios as a recording location prior to 2009 was actually wherever Jack lived and laid down his multi-track tape deck) to a studio in England that boasted nothing but antique equipment (the location for all but one track on their fourth album Elephant).

Mono mixes used to be the norm back in the days of the Beatles, Beach Boys, and Bob Dylan - in fact, the stereo mixes back then were normally afterthoughts, even for the likes of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Pet Sounds. (Hence, the necessity of Capitol having to put out a Beatles in Mono box set for the pickiest of Beatlemaniacs when the whole Fab Four back catalog got digitally remastered.) When mono started to be phased out in the late 60's, what few mono titles that were being released were usually foldovers of the stereo mix.

Rather than be a dick and just make a foldover of the stereo mix, Jack White and his engineer decided to make a separate mono mix during the mix sessions for Icky Thump in 2007, even though he probably didn't have an immediate use for it. Two years later, with Third Man becoming an actual physical record label and record store, Jack decided to open a subscription record club on top of that called The Third Man Vault. Premium subscribers (this writer included) get for their $60 every three months an album, a 45 and a third item (T-shirt, DVD, or something else entirely - in one case a second 45!), the quantity of which is limited only to how many people were on subscriber rolls at the time.

The mono Icky Thump was the 12" component of the first ever Vault package, along with a 45 of The Dead Weather doing two cover versions and a T-shirt with the Third Man Records logo. And since this was the first ever Vault release, I don't imagine there are too many copies - Third Man aren't disclosing how many they press of each package. Good luck finding one on eBay - at the time of this writing, one dude was reluctantly giving up his copy for close to $150... Me, I'll never give up mine.

(On a semi-related side note, does anyone besides think we should convince Brother Langdon to do a MFK installment with three alternate rock babes, one of whom would be Meg White?)

Nov 23, 2011

Pic of the Day

let's hope that all current and former H!P members eventually follow in Maki's footsteps and decide to be more open in their photoshoots

Nov 22, 2011

Pic of the Day

SCANDAL's Mami looking damn HOT sportin' her new look


but she's getting too skinny and I like my Mami with curves

Nov 20, 2011

MFK vol. X

quick results from the last MFK challenge..


Elly Marry




Minase Fuck



Yukie Kill..





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and finally onto the newest MFK challenge, one that I've actually been trying to avoid since it features 3 of my all time favorites










Risa Niigaki



Sayumi Michishige



Reina Tanaka



this one's a doozy for me..well, without a doubt Risa WILL BE the future Mrs. Langdon Alger but choosing between Sayumi and Reina for Fuck or Kill?! god I hate this game

Nov 18, 2011

Nov 11, 2011

Pics of the Day

Happy 22nd Birthday Reina!


and a Happy 28th Birthday to the VERY talented Sola Aoi




I think I'm gonna celebrate by listening to a Reina solo track while watching a Sola movie..yeah, that sounds like a good idea

Nov 9, 2011

Hump Day Eye Candy Extravaganza

only a couple more days until everyone's favorite wonky eyed beauty celebrates her 22nd Bday..I know my YODC brother CJ is excited, in fact, he has 11 days of Tanakachi posts going on over at his So Hot She Shits Fire blog to celebrate the occasion but, after seeing these pics Reina posted on her blog, I'm not sure if he'll be in a celebrating mood..heh heh heh