sublimeric

I purchased the "Mastered for iTunes" edition of ATS, just to see if they changed the mastering from the original iTunes release. I've ranted and raved here before over the iTunes version of ATS, since I have found it to be my personal favorite edition, due to it containing less clipping and distortion than other releases (CD rip, AmazonMP3, HDTracks Flac). From comparing the waveforms of the original iTunes version of "Burning in the Skies" to the new "Mastered for ITunes" version, the new version is just like all of the others: blown out and full of clips. In my mind, I hear "Mastered for iTunes" and think "mastered to sound best with headphones", since most users would ideally be listening via iPods or iPhones. Listening with headphones allows you to pick up on things that might get lost when playing music in the car, at home, etc, so I'm surprised they would make the mastering WORSE when something is "Mastered for iTunes". End of rant, and glad I have the original iTunes release of ATS. Will the loudness war end already?!

For the sake of Astat's ever increasing blood pressure and/or sanity, we should just call these "demos" (ATL, NRL, SOTD) "alternate versions" or "alternate mix". Yeah? I downloaded "Blackbirds" to replace the 8-Bit Rebellion rip I had, and love the quality.

I'm not surprised about there being alternate mixes or instrumentation during the songs. I recently purchased the new vinyl release of "Californication" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the same thing happened on that album. Wonder if it was a mistake, intentional, or just something that happens with Warner artists lol?

Interesting to note that the iTunes edition of the "Studio Collection" includes bonus tracks (we've heard them all) and is newly "Mastered For Itunes." I've done some research on the whole "Mastered For Itunes" concept, and although the audiophiles call it a BS term, I've found that LP's last two albums sound better on iTunes than CD, Amazon, etc. There is more compression than a lossless CD rip, but less clipping and distortion since the waveforms are not as blown out as other digital editions.

1. With You 2. Figure.09 3. In Pieces 4. Burning in the Skies 5. In My Remains

Wow...that would be amazing! I've always loved that song, and was at the show in Worcester where they recorded the live version that most of us have heard. A piano version could be incredible.

I bet LP will add more shows in the USA for 2013. I don't think a full-fledged US tour will happen, but definitely would expect them to pop-up on a festival or a special radio show. I'd like the chance to see LP in the states, but so long as they're playing SOMEWHERE in the world in 2013, I'm cool with it. The more shows they play between now and the next album, the more chances we have to hear more tracks from LIVING THINGS live, IMO. If LP go back in the studio and record something new, it just means 3 or 4 more songs to add to the setlist of hits, reducing the chances of hearing something like "Skin to Bone" live.

I haven't heard every DSP yet but Bristow, Lisboa & Cape Town are my top 3. Bristow was cool, being the first show of the US tour. Lisboa holds a special place after hearing how great the crowd is, especially on the TV version, and Cape Town is great for similar reasons. I really need to see LP outside of the states. The international fans know how to party

Cape Town sounds great, even with the usual "what the fuck was that?!" reaction my ears have to the sudden "bursts" of crowd noise in certain parts. Excellent DSP! On a side note, it would be cool to have a poll on the site voting on the Best DSP of 2012. People could "write in" their favorite and the Top 5 could be voted on? It's slow at work, bear with me & my boredom-inspired ideas :-p

I checked out the webcast just to see "Castle of Glass", and after streaming flawlessly up to that point, it literally said "buffering" until the last 30 seconds of the song. Played perfect since then too. Just my luck. Hope someone is ripping the video

Me too. It sucks being a hardcore fan when it comes to setlists. They should just call them "Hitlists." Obviously LP's shows are tailored to the casual fan that they hope to convert to a regular, paying customer. I wish LP would do a 50/50 mix of singles and fan favorites, but they seem pretty stuck in their ways. Being able to download & listen to every show doesn't help the burn-out factor, either. I'd probably like "Numb" alot more if I had not heard it 500 times on my iPod while listening to new shows over the years.

It's not the best setlist LP have ever played but at this point I'm most interested in hearing the newer songs live, so in that sense it was a good show. Lost in the Echo, Castle, Burn It Down, Lies & a verse from UIB are good enough for me. Anxious to see the webcast tomorrow!

There's no way the live version, especially in it's first performance AND at an awards show, was going to top what's on the album, but it was still a good effort from LP. Cool to see the guys all singing together in a row, and I always love when Chester's background vocals overpower Mike's. As much as I'd like to see the song performed in person, I think it has the same live vibe as "Burning in the Skies" in that it's just not concert friendly.

So happy to finally have this arrive in the mail today! Wish it was 180gram, but beggars can't be choosers and the white vinyl looks great. It's a shame LP did absolutely nothing to promote the release!

I'm stoked to see LP & Slightly Stoopid on the same bill!

Me too! I wish Pooch would mix the crowd levels louder instead of only being able to hear the people at the start & end of a song. Especially when you see a show like Rock in Rio where the people are loud as hell and then suddenly inaudible on the DSP. The mixes sound excellent otherwise

Now available for pre-order on Amazon.com in the USA, too, with 11/19 listed as the release date Amazon.com - LIVING THINGS (USA)

If they are not going to release an official version of "She Couldn't", then I don't really care about what they put on LPU12. Something with vocals would be nice, though. Instrumental demos of songs they never finished seem pointless and boring to me. The vocals are the highlight of LP.

I'm thinking I'll get my wish for colored vinyl on this release! Soundstage Direct Pre-order ElusiveDisc Pre-order Amazon.CA Pre-order Those 3 "sources" all make mention of the record being pressed on WHITE vinyl! Still haven't found out if it will be 180gram, but it looks like it'll be a single record. Can't wait to own this!!!

180 gram multi-colored vinyl, please.

YES!!! Just listened to the ATS vinyl a couple days ago and absolutely love it. So glad they decided to release LT on wax as well, but hopefully the price goes down.

I'm with you, Joze! Chaz & Mike are better together, and although I like bits and pieces of their side projects, I love almost everything LP does. Very cool to see the SOB album getting released, though. Can't wait to check it out. I'm pre-ordering the double disc version

Just dropping in to note that I still have yet to hear back from basecamp about the Uncasville error. I assume they'll write back before LP play at Mohegan Sun again? :-p

WOW! Congrats to LPL and thanks for sharing this! I became an LP fan from the first time I heard "Crawling" on the radio in 2001, but watching the Docklands footage from "Reverb" turned me into a hardcore fan and was my first taste of how excellent LP are in a live setting. Can't wait to watch this!!!

HD Net / AXS TV are notorious (at least with me personally!) for sub-par audio mixes. The same thing happened with the handful of 311 concerts they have shown and also a Sublime with Rome performance that was god-awful. Rock in Rio is still my favorite LP proshot of the year