11Nov/087
Two Questions re: “Chinese Democracy”
Best Buy is taking pre-orders for the new Guns & Roses album "Chinese Democracy." Like AC/DC, The Eagles, and Garth Brooks before it, it will only be sold in a large consumer store (although GnR is going through Best Buy, while the rest watch the prices fall at Wal-Mart). So that's the EXCLUSIVE location.
EXCEPT that I saw an ad at iTunes offering a pre-sale for the tracks in the iTunes store. So, now for my questions:
- If it's an exclusive, why is the album available at more than one location (yes, I know they're technically two different formats, but the "exclusive" was never qualified)?
- Why would you pre-order downloaded files? I can personally guarantee that the lines will not be too long.
Also, a quick aside - if the AC/DC album is Wal-Mart only, why did a see a new, sealed copy available at a local record store last week?
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November 11th, 2008 - 16:32
Logic has no place in the music industry. See to your smartness immediately.
November 11th, 2008 - 20:15
1. AFAIK, that was always the plan, that the download sales would be non-exclusive. (I think somone other than Apple is offering it as well.) Plus, Best Buy has no download store anymore since Sony’s deal went tits up. Since this album has already been leaked in every stage of development, I’m assuming they want to at least try to make people pay for a download.
2. I’m kind of with you on this one. Unless there’s an incentive such as a bonus track or a discount, I can’t exactly understand why you’d need to preorder a download. I guess it’s the Gamestop mentality that’s creeping to every area of retail where they’re trying to front load sales as much as possible. At least with Gamestop, I can understand it, as they are dealing with physical media and preorders help manage inventory. For iTunes, the only thing I can figure is insuring a high debut on the charts.
Bonus question: I’m guessing it’s the same deal as the Eagles album. Meaning, someone from the store went to Wal-Mart and bought the disc and is reselling it at their store. If I’m thinking of the same store you’re thinking of, the price was $13.99 vs. Wal-Mart’s $11.88, so you’re essentially paying someone else to buy a copy from Wal-Mart for you.
There’s also the possibility that it’s technically an import. IIRC, the Eagles thing was handled by regular distributors overseas and some stores bought them from those distributors. Or so I have read. It’s all a little silly. If you really want the album that badly, suck it up and go to Wal-Mart or buy the vinyl (like I did.) I’m all for supporting your indie record stores, but this is one instance where I think it misses the point.
November 12th, 2008 - 13:17
@Candice – what was I thinking?
@Captain Wrong – the album didn’t look like it was an import, but it definitely was still in the shrink wrap and everything, so I can buy getting it from Wal-Mart. It just surprises me that they’d bother; this is not a store I would go to for AC/DC.
November 19th, 2008 - 08:57
Chuck Klosterman reviews Chinese Democracy:
http://www.avclub.com/content/feature/chuck_klosterman_reviews
November 19th, 2008 - 09:37
I read that, and I’m not surprised he enjoyed it, honestly. The clips I’ve heard, though, would have sounded tired in 1999 – like the outtakes from a bar scene in that movie “Strange Days” or something . . .
November 20th, 2008 - 11:56
GNR’s Chinese Democracy is streaming on their MySpace page
http://www.myspace.com/gunsnroses
4 star Review on RS by David Fricke
http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/24024297/review/24161281/chinese_democracy
November 21st, 2008 - 11:46
Dr. Pepper is making good on their promise for a free drink to everyone in America if this album in released.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081121/ap_on_en_mu/guns_n_roses_dr_pepper