The Avalanches - Since I Left You, US Release! (1 Viewer)

[Adnan Sheikh]

I'm sure someone here has heard this amazing album. Easily one of the coolest cds to come out in a long time. These guys make 900+ samples a lot of fun. It was finally released in the states this past Tuesday, but there appear to be a few differences between the US version and the others.
The first, and possibly the most obvious, is the inclusion of track breaks. Wasn't this album originally one long 60 minute track? I'm not too upset over this; I've been listening to it as one track for months now, so I doubt I'll be skipping around too much. Kinda weird that they felt they had to change this for the US release, though.
The second is a little more irritating. The music itself appears to have been changed, albeit slightly. The only instances of this I have noticed so far occur in Frontier Psychiatrist. Some of the samples seem to have been modified, or perhaps replaced. For example, the "I'm going to kill you" line in the original is spoken with a Southern drawl, making it sound like "I'm gonna keel you." The new one has no accent, which is quite disappointing (that was one of my favorite lines!).
I'm not incredibly upset over the changes, I'm just puzzled. It's a great album either way, though.

 

[BrianB]

Wasn't this album originally one long 60 minute track?

Nope. I've got the Australian release - imported it via the UK ages ago, and it's definitely split into tracks.
Superb band, superb album.
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Nothing In Particular

 

[Adnan Sheikh]

Thanks for clearing that up, Brian. Now I'm wondering what this 80 meg, 60 minute mp3 that I have is. It's got the slightly modified samples and all. Weird!

 

[JasonK]

I just read a review of this in the Onion's "AV Club." They gave it a really positive review. Methinks I'll be ordering this from work tomorrow.
Jason

 

[Iain Lambert]

The album is pretty blimmin' cool I'll agree. I got the UK release when it came out, and Frontier Psychiatrist is definitely a fave track. There are a few meandering tracks that don't really do it for me, but overall the cool moments more than make up for it.

 

[Brian Bunn]

Funny you should mention The Avalanches-Since I Left You. I just got the new AMPLIFIER magazine and they always offer a free CD with every new subscription...and The Avalanches is one they are offering now. If you want to pick up this CD free AND get six issues of a great music magazine with over 100 CD reviews in every issue for the low low price of $15, check it out. You can send a check or money order (U.S. funds only, payable to Amplifier) to:
Amplifier
5 Calista Terrace
Westford, MA 01886
...and request one of the following CD's they are offering with each subscription:
--Abvandoned Pools-Humanistic
--Avalanches-Since I Left You
--Convocation Of...Pyramid Technology
--Jay Farrar-Sebastopol (great album)
--Tom McRae--Tom McRae
--Mercury Rev-All Is Dream (great album)
--Matthew Ryan-Concussion
--Sugarbomb-Bully
--Superchunk--Here's To Shutting Up
--Trembling Blue Stars-Alive To Every Smile
They suggest you choose your top 3 choices in case they run out of some of the selections.
Great mag primarily concerned with catchy, melodic, pop/rock music with tons of reviews, informative articles, and tons of Indie record label ads that are also interesting. But be warned: Once you subscribe be prepared for your CD buying to go way up!
Check it out.