Why I started this blog, in one handy link.
August 7th, 2007This thread on the PopJustice forums, wherein “fans” sound off on the release of Disco 4 has me bemused, saddened, and a bit ticked off. I’m pretty familiar with this pattern from my other major hobby’s online contingent, but the presumptuous nature of the response is galling. Here are my talking points in this matter, posted on the internet as all good talking points should be:
- If you have all of the remixes, then you don’t have to buy the record.
- If you don’t want the remixes, you don’t have to buy the record.
- It’s not the job of Pet Shop Boys to do exactly what you want. If you want different mixes of existing tracks, then you’ll have to commission them yourself.
- You’re going to buy it anyway, so shut up.
The way people were complaining about Disco 4, you’d think it cost $50 and was a required purchase in order to maintain their “fan” status. Myself, I think it’s a neat idea that probably won’t sell shedloads, but it’ll be worth a look for casual fans for both the duo and the artists they’ve remixed. I certainly don’t think it indicates “contractual problems” (as one fan in that thread pulled out of their rear) or a lack of interest in what they’re doing.
August 7th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
But…but…I was led to believe that fan entitlement and geekery outrage was only limited to comic book fandom!
August 7th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Agreed - for someone like me who doesn’t have the cash flow to rush out and buy every obscure mix (or approve of swiping them) this is an awesome opportunity to have some new-to-me stuff, even though it’s technically “old.” Sure if you DO have all the tracks, then GOOD FOR YOU! What’s your beef again? You just saved yourself the price of the next PSB album, duh.
Do you know what the price *is* going to be? Amazon is saying $35, but they’re listing it as an import, so I’m guessing (hoping) there will be a much cheaper US version? That is a bit steep for 8 tracks, even longish ones.
August 7th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
I remember the good old days, when fans got so upset because Disco 2 had more than one word in its title. (It was around that time that I started paying no attention to most fans.)
I just assumed that this was a way to collect some of their mixes for higher profile artists in one easy package. How dare they!
August 8th, 2007 at 8:58 am
I agree with you Kevin, Disco 4 I will buy, I wish they would stop whining all these fans! They know they will buy it, and its not like its advertised at $50.