Rarebird's Rock and Roll Nest

This past weekend I received the first pair of exclusive vinyl items offered to platinum members of Third Man Records’ Vault service. For those who are unaware, Third Man Records is the label owned by Jack White, the leader of the White Stripes, the Raconteurs, and the Dead Weather. The Vault service promises to deliver exclusive vinyl-only records (one full-length album and one 7” single) to its platinum members every three months. According to the postmark, the records were sent on August 28th. I received mine the next day. The first set of items consists of a mono version of the White Stripes’ 2007 album Icky Thump on 180g vinyl, and a Dead Weather single with two non-album tracks. The package also included a black t-shirt with a label logo on the front. The mono version of Icky Thump certainly sounds different with its sound layers flattened into one. The non-stereo sound often makes this modern album sound like a blues-rock recording from another time. More than ever, it sounds...

The website for Jack White's new record label Third Man Records has piqued my interest with a service called the Vault. The Vault offers the expected online goodies (i.e. streaming video and chat rooms) for all of its members. But for its "Platinum Members" who pay $20 per month, the label is offering exclusive vinyl items, in the form of LP's and 7-inch singles. More information is at the site: https://thirdmanstore.com/tmr-vault-platinum-subscription-new#faq While explaining why prospective members should spend 20 of their hard-earned bucks per month on this service, the site mentions this: In 2001 the White Stripes were featured in the Sub Pop singles club. It was a subscription-only service where the lucky subscriber received a 7" every month for a very reasonable price. A six-month subscription in 2001 would have cost you $35. The White Stripes' Sub Pop single on Sub Pop now consistently sells for $250 on reputable online auction sites. What "Sub Po...

I've added reviews of three more albums to the Lou Reed page: The Blue Mask (1982), Set The Twilight Reeling (1996), and Perfect Night: Live In London (1998). Here is the page: http://rarebird9.net/reed.html The Blue Mask was reissued shortly after I added the review, and that's good news, because that album marked a major creative turning point for Reed. The other two albums are perhaps not among Reed's essential recordings, but most of his fans will want them in their collections.

Wow! It has now been a full decade since I first created my website Rarebird's Rock and Roll Rarity Reviews . How many personal websites stay online that long? However many or few there are, I am proud to count my site among them. In previous years in which I posted anniversary messages like this one, I found myself explaining why I hadn't added any new artist pages recently. But this year is different. For the first time since 2004, I have recently created such a page. It felt like old times while I put together my new Kiss rarity review page , and it quickly turned into one of the largest web pages I've ever created. I don't know for sure if I will create more such pages related to more artists in the future, but I'm never saying never. Inspiration might sneak up on me again. And, of course, I will periodically add more spotlight album review pages to the site. In the meantime, I've noticed that some of the site's existing pages are due for updates. I...

It came to my attention recently that the Mott The Hoople page on my website was due for an update. So I've added reviews of four more Mott albums which have gone out of print. Those albums are Brain Capers (1972), Live (1974), Two Miles From Heaven (1980), and World Cruise (1993). Here is the page: http://rarebird9.net/mott.html By the way, five Mott the Hoople 40th anniversary shows will be taking place in October at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. The original lineup -- Ian Hunter, Mick Ralphs, Overend Watts, Verden Allen, and Dale "Buffin" Griffin -- will be performing together for the first time in 35 years. And on June 3rd, Hunter is turning 70!

Finally! For the first time in over four years, I've created a new page on the website containing multiple album reviews pertaining to a certain artist, instead of just a spotlight album page containing a single review. The subject is a band who are loved by some and hated by others: Kiss! What brought this on? It recently came to my attention that the band's 1998 album Psycho-Circus is out of print. I originally planned to make that album the subject of a spotlight review. But I soon found that, although all of the other proper Kiss albums are currently in print, many related albums have been discontinued. One review led to another, and my Kiss page turned into the second-largest page on my website! I hope you enjoy it: http://rarebird9.net/kiss.html

A spokesperson for INXS has denied JD Fortune's recent claim that he was fired from the band and left stranded at a Hong Kong airport. INXS' creative director and global business strategist, C.M. Murphy, said the band was "shocked" and "horrified" by JD's allegations. Murphy told the BBC : The band have always stated to me that Fortune's services could potentially be contracted again when INXS next tour. In fact, he was next on my list to call regarding a very big recording project I am putting together for INXS at present. I guess I have no reason to call him now. So, who do you believe? Personally, I've never trusted JD since I first saw him on Rock Star: INXS in 2005. I have to wonder if his "homeless and living in a car" story was possibly a reality show ploy then and possibly a publicity stunt now. As for INXS...what's their next move? Another season of Rock Star: INXS ? I still miss that show. Think about it, guys!

Rarebird's Spotlight Album Review #18 is complete. The subject is an independent 1999 CD by modern jazz-pop artist (Leslie) Feist. Monarch Lay Your Jewelled Head Down was an album which Feist recorded with the help of a grant from the Canadian government, and was sold mainly at her shows. Of course, it is now quite rare. Here is the review: http://rarebird9.net/feistmonarch.html