Calexico - vinyl record comes with code for digital download

Pancho Urbano · « **on:** 15 Apr 2006, 03:54 pm »

Just picked up Calexico's excellent Garden Ruin on vinyl at my local indie shop in San Diego. Low and behold, inside the LP sleeve I found a little coupon with a code for one legal digital download (MP3) of the entire record.

This is such a great idea - have any of you seen this before? Will it become more common? I seem to have this dilemma pretty often - I want the vinyl for the fun and for the sound quality, but I miss out having a digital copy for my car or my iPod. This is great news for folks with turntables and love indie music.

What do you all think? By the way, Calexico is a remarkable band. Feast of Wire, their previous release, is also excellent, in my opinion. They are from Tuscon.

pu

Gordy · « **Reply #1 on:** 15 Apr 2006, 04:45 pm »

I've seen free extra tracks by download with cd sale special codes, but not an entire album before!

Calexico's Convict Pool is definitely worth checking out as well, as is their collaboration with Iron and Wine, In The Ruins, though they're more back up band to I&W's writing there...

TNT · « **Reply #2 on:** 15 Apr 2006, 04:47 pm »

It's a brilliant marketing technique: for the 99-cent value of the coupon which costs the media manufacturer nothing, the mfg gets an eager music buyer to look at its other products and a lot of good will.

OfficeMax and Office Depot send $10-50 coupons to many virtually every month. And that's real money, not cyber virtual money.

SWG255 · « **Reply #3 on:** 15 Apr 2006, 04:46 pm »

A friend bought the Calexico / Iron and Wine collaboration on vinyl, we transferred it to DAT with my Sony PCM-2600 and I "mastered" CDs from the result. The CD copies sound very slightly "softer" on transient reproduction than the vinyl, otherwise the transfer is excellent. A great way to enjoy this very entertaining disc.

I too have been a Calexico fan for sometime, they are an outstanding example to show there is still great music being made today, despite what is too often heard on the FM band these days.

JoshK · « **Reply #4 on:** 15 Apr 2006, 06:10 pm »

I think it is a very savvy move on their part, creating real value, whether or not it costs them much in the way of manufacturing. It, in my mind, agknowledges their fan base and those that wish to continue their love for vinyl but want to enjoy their music in various formats. This is kind of the anti-thesis to the limited use and double charging strategies by the big guys.

jon_010101 · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 May 2006, 01:57 am »

Great album. I bought the regular CD and found a coupon for a digital download of some bonus tracks... was pretty stoked but haven't checked it out yet.

I really like the production on their albums; even the earlier stuff had the sound quality to match the music. Really natural and dynamic sound.

Christof · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 May 2006, 02:50 am »

Not having anything to do with download codes but having much to do with Calexico and Iron & Wine, here is a link where you can find a few streaming concerts via NPR All Songs Considered site:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5029368

jon_010101 · « **Reply #7 on:** 22 May 2006, 03:09 am »

Ohhh on a similar note, you can get a whole concert in FLAC from archive.org...

http://www.archive.org/details/calexico2003-04-25.flac16

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #8 on:** 25 May 2006, 05:06 am »

I bought From a Compound Eye by Scott Pollard and it offered a couple of songs I could download for free. I didn't use it yet, but it's a good idea.

Michael

jon_010101 · « **Reply #9 on:** 25 May 2006, 05:08 am »

Quote from: mcrespo71

I bought From a Compound Eye by Scott Pollard and it offered a couple of songs I could download for free. I didn't use it yet, but it's a good idea.

Michael

I think you mean "Robert Pollard"

I didn't download them yet either. I have so much Guided by Voices that I don't know what to do with it all... 3 box sets is overwhelming!

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 May 2006, 05:10 am »

Quote from: jon_010101

Quote from: mcrespo71
I bought From a Compound Eye by Scott Pollard and it offered a couple of songs I could download for free. I didn't use it yet, but it's a good idea.

Michael

I think you mean "Robert Pollard"

Doh!!!! I don't know why I typed Scott. I meant Robert- thanks for the correction

jon_010101 · « **Reply #11 on:** 25 May 2006, 05:13 am »

Quote from: mcrespo71

Doh!!!! I don't know why I typed Scott. I meant Robert- thanks for the correction

Ya know, on the topic of famous music guys named Scott, I hear Scott Walker has a new album coming out early-June... and it is supposed to be decent.

fitzrik · « **Reply #12 on:** 5 Sep 2006, 12:02 am »

Scott Walker's 'The Drift' is even crazier than normal for him. nice vinyl though. Must give it another try though.

For those who like Calexico have you heard Tom Russell? Similar blend of tex mex but with more of a cowboy storytelling emphasis.

Gordy · « **Reply #13 on:** 5 Sep 2006, 12:35 am »

I have Tom Russell's "Borderland" from a few years back, I think you nailed the description pretty well, Tex Mex / Western Balladeer! Maybe a bit too much western for my tastes, but it's been some time since I've given it a spin... "Must give it another try" Thanks for bringing it up

Borderland also features Dave Alvin and Eliza Gilkyson, both of whom I like!!!