Avalanche for £20

by **Mr. Brian** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 3:53 pm

This was recorded after they were dropped by London Records so it was likely recorded in the same manner as Flowers which was a DIY production too.

As I recall the first Avalanche was in a jewel case and the second version with the bonus tracks was in a cardboard sleeve.
I kind of doubt it was re-mastered or anything for the re-release. I thought the purpose of the re-release was because of the shoddy way it was released in the first place and very few fans were able to buy it, then for the re-issue they tacked on the 2 Baseball Bill songs
I have both versions but I'm not at home ...I am hard at work at my place of employment. When I get home I'll check over the liner notes and give them a listen.

by **JackT** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 3:57 pm

The should just say it's "lo-fi". I think that's a thing.

by **Mr. Brian** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:06 pm

JackT wrote:The should just say it's "lo-fi". I think that's a thing.

heh, no kidding. I also remember them being re-invented as an Indie band about that time when they were on Cooking Vinyl. That was a laugh. Yes they were on an independent label but it wasn't by choice and that particular label was a graveyard of older bands down on their luck as opposed to up and coming acts. Ian even admitted he told people then that they were still on Warner because he knew no one heard of Cooking Vinyl.

by **Malbert** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:11 pm

Mr. Brian wrote:Ian even admitted he told people then that they were still on Warner because he knew no one heard of Cooking Vinyl.

That's awesome: a band no one's heard of on a label no one's heard of. I rather enjoy when a band gets dropped from one label only to kick ass on another label with their next effort, like Collective Soul did (ignore this last part, withahip).

by **Mr. Brian** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:12 pm

Malbert wrote:That's awesome: a band no one's heard of on a label no one's heard of.

I'm sure the folks at Cooking Vinyl really appreciated reading that about Ian.

by **Malbert** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:16 pm

Yeah, really....sounds like a good way to get yourself dropped from a label :biggrin:

by **In The Margins** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:20 pm

black francis wrote:I have the version with the extra tracks and a really muddy version of Avalanche (Porcupine Records). Was the original a better recording of Avalanche? It's one of my favorite songs but it just sounds so bad.

Heh. This caught my eye too.

Used to be a avid Bunnymen collector but clearing out my collection.

Peter probably got all of these copies for free. By selling these, he can finally be paid for his services.

I remember when Avalanche first came out and folks asked, What's it about??? Cocaine???? NO! Peter said adamantly. He certainly toed the company line back then. HAHAHAHAHAH!

by **Mr. Brian** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:33 pm

In The Margins wrote:Peter probably got all of these copies for free. By selling these, he can finally be paid for his services.

I remember when Avalanche first came out and folks asked, What's it about??? Cocaine???? NO! Peter said adamantly. He certainly toed the company line back then. HAHAHAHAHAH!

I am pretty sure Ivan was doing the website then. He did the website from about 2000-2004 or so when Slideling came out

by **In The Margins** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 6:32 pm

Mr. Brian wrote:I am pretty sure Ivan was doing the website then. He did the website from about 2000-2004 or so when Slideling came out

I believe you're right, Mr. Brian. So maybe it was Ivan telling us the song wasn't about cocaine? But that doesn't sound right.

by **Mr.Sparkle** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 7:57 pm

Dave Smith wrote:Have the original but Avalanche is quite muddy.SOunds like a cheap recording.

It's one of my favorite new Bunnymen songs. Although the packaging and design for the CD is super generic and cheap looking. I think they might've printed that one up on the laserjet printer.

I'm sort of amazed they go for so much money, I guess because they only produced about 20 copies.

by **Mr. Brian** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:08 pm

I'll listen to them in the car tomorrow but a visual compare is as follows...

The 2000 Gimmemusic version is in the jewel case has cleaner looking artwork than the 2003 Porcupine reissue in the cardboard sleeve. Overall the 2003 version looks cheaper in every way. The colors are off in that the sky has a purple tint. The label is very plain for the reissue. Just white with gray lettering. The original 2000 artwork is much bluer. Both list Nick Allen for the sleeve design.

The 2000 and 2003 liner notes seem to be re-worded a bit but are essentially the same except that the 2003 reissue thanks Ivan and lists bunnymen.com. I am fairly certain that Ivan did encourage this re-release. Maybe he can confirm that.

The original 6 tracks are listed as produced by Ian and Will and engineerd by Tim Speed at "Elavator" studios in Liverpool in the 2000 release and "Elevator" studios in the 2003 release. I don't see anything about it being remastered or re-mixed for the 2003 release. The 2003 reissue that has the addional Baseball Bill tracks are listed as produced by Ian and Will "in the basement" and includes a thumbnail of the Electrafixion single and mentions that only 500 of the rare USA promos on yellow vinyl were releaesd.

Like I said the packaging seems cheaper in the 2003 version so it's possible the reproduction of the audio is of lesser quality because the artwork certainly is. I'll check that out tomorrow.

A couple of other observations... the 2000 Gimme version advertises other artists on that shortlived label and the 2003 version includes some pix of Ian and Will. Also the 2000 original lists the Dylan song as "It's All Over Now" and the re-release lists it correctly as "It's All Over Now (Baby Blue)"

by **Mr. Brian** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:32 pm

In The Margins wrote:I believe you're right, Mr. Brian. So maybe it was Ivan telling us the song wasn't about cocaine? But that doesn't sound right.

No that sounds right. Ivan was working for the band at the time.

by **Malbert** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 8:23 am

Mr. Brian wrote:I'll listen to them in the car tomorrow but a visual compare is as follows...

Very nice work, Mr. Brian. Cuddly wuddly xoxoxox's for that. You're a super star!

by **Mr. Brian** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 8:24 am

I left the CD's at home so I failed in my goal for the day.

by **Malbert** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 8:43 am

Well, the description of the cases was well done. I expect an equally fantastic audio comparison.

Avalanche for £20

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