Lene Lovich - 2013 Remasters box set !

[DavePlym]

I wonder if the forthcoming 'standard' box set will be CDr or CD? I've emailed them but no reply yet.

[danadotcom]

Artists are typically not business people, and this smelled a little funny to me from the get-go. 100 copies for a limited edition of an artist whose loyal following would love to have greater access to an already limited catalog? A sharper business mind would have gone all in for the "500 minimum" pressings and issued a proper product. Then, after seeing the demand for this box, would have been in for another 500. If Lene needed the money, as was indicated earlier in this thread, this whole operation could have been handled differently. We often wonder why some artists don't have careers as big as they should, why a decade+ goes by between albums, why they play the smallest bar in LA or on Bleaker once in a while (with an embarrassing merch table set up near the door), or make a shitty "remix" or tribute album for Cleopatra. Well, this is a fine example why. They have no acumen to self manage and poor decisions will only go so far. This clearly wasn't the best way to get this product to her fans. What a waste of hype! I really can't believe a beneficial deal for all involved couldn't have been reached with an indie, if even persued. Poor Lene needed professional council.

About 15 years ago I ordered some "singles" from Marilyn's website. They, too, were CD-Rs and of horrible quality. I was pissed and would have felt better burning the $25. So an entire boxset of that mess? Oh fuck no.

[danadotcom]

No reply yet, Dave, cuz they're probably too nervous to say that the same method will be used.

[Rubellan]

This is all terribly unfortunate. I expect that Lene is oblivious to what reaction the procedure chosen may elicit from fans, and I'm sure she was probably assured there would be no backlash. Surprise! It seems this Jude guy is the mastermind, so there's the likely culprit.

It seems others have posted messages on Facebook asking for their money back, only to have their post removed and their access blocked, like mine. But in the end, I did get a refund. I have that little black box of disappointment sitting on my kitchen table, unable at this time to even consider flipping it on eBay because of what's inside. But to turn this around a little, I intend on mastering the 12" mixes I have and posting them in the other forum to share. Hopefully at some point during the week.

[danadotcom]

Lovich being oblivious to this procedure and not being witting enough to be more inquisitive is greatly comical. It's like celebrities who file bankruptcy after millions have already gone down the toilet and blame it all on the accountant. Well, it might be the crooked accountant who flushed it all, but at the end of the day it was that celebrity's money and that celebrity should have had the ultimate grip and the ultimate responsibiliy. An undertaking of this scope--essentially her entire artistic legacy--should have instigated Lovich to become more educated about its process.

[aquarius]

It disturbs me that they've been deleting messages on their Facebook from unsatisfied buyers. That's pretty shady. And to think this box set was to be shipped in late Oct. and now we're in Feb and many of us still have not received ours. This is just not acceptable and I'm thinking of cancelling my order as well.

[pinkyblue82]

Oh, and according to the official website, all the 002 boxes were supposed to be shipped in January. Really??? 500 of them shipped out by now?? What a farce! I'm still heartbroken over having to cancel my box set. I hope it passes soon because I'm tired of dwelling on this. I'm just thankful that I have the official 3 CD Stiff box set.

[Rubellan]

I'm treasuring that item more as well now. I guess that is the pinacle of Lene releases, so we're lucky enough to at least have that.

[swerve]

I've received a refund as well.

[mychaelh]

Hello everyone! This is almost the same message I posted on another board. Sorry for the copy and paste, but I wanted to get the word out.

I registered on this board just so I could post to this thread. I've been a Lene Lovich fan since she toured with Nina Hagen in the mid-80s, and I feel more disgust than disappointment with everything that's transpired.

I am one of the "lucky 100" who scored a Flex001 boxset way back in October, and have yet to receive said boxset. In the intervening 4 months, I pre-ordered the Flex002 boxset as a birthday present for a friend, and the Stateless/Stateless '78 double "CD" with reversible art (Flex004/008), for a grand total of 120 GBP with shipping. I emailed Flex Music a week ago demanding a full refund for all 3 orders, and they have yet to respond to me at all. Clearly, they are inundated with cancellations.

I opened a dispute in PayPal for the Flex002 box, because the 45-day deadline was only a day away. I even apologized for doing so in the notes that the seller will see, but I didn't want to let that deadline pass. And because I have all my PayPal transactions taken from a credit card (for situations such as these), I was able to do a chargeback through my credit card company for Flex001, again by the skin of my teeth (the deadline was 120 days, but it varies by credit card). I'll wait for now to see what happens before taking any action on Flex004/008. I'm sharing this information to give anyone else in my situation a heads up that you might want to explore these options ASAP if they apply to you.

I cannot thank all of you enough for sharing the information and photos you've posted, especially Scott, and for speaking out and educating the rest of us. It's clear that Jude doesn't want unsatisfied customers communicating with each other, and I agree the disappearing Facebook posts and deleted threads are shady. Jude seems to be the mastermind behind this entire project. Looking back at all the Facebook posts, it doesn't appear any of them are specifically from Lene. I get this sickening feeling that Lene is being exploited, and I don't want any part of it.

I would have been embarrassed to give my best friend a beautiful looking (maybe) Flex002 boxset filled with CD-Rs! The concept for Flex001 was so great, but they basically ended up putting a turd in a Tiffany box.

Peace,

MyK-Hell

[DavePlym]

Yes, the Flex002 will be CDrs, here's the reply I received.


Hi David,

Yes it will. CD-R duplication is the only alternative to replication, and for runs under 1000, or at best 500, there simply is no other option available.

On-demand CD-R duplication has been a legitimate part of the industry for over a decade now, indeed companies like CD Baby and Amazon’s Createspace thrive on these products. Even huge companies like Warner Bros. have been providing rare archive material on-demand as a growing part of their business for ages.

The CDs comply with the international Red Book standard for digital audio, and are in fact identical to the discs from which factory-pressed CDs are generally replicated.

Some useful information about the processes can be found here:
http://www.mediareplication.com/index.p ... &Itemid=48

As you can see, there is no difference in the sound quality or shelf-life of the products.

I hope this answers your query.





contact@lenelovich.net wrote:

[BigManRestless]

I've had no reply to sending 2 emails asking for a cancellation / refund. Which email address is the best to use? I think I'm too late to take out a PayPal dispute annoyingly.

[pinkyblue82]

Unfortunately, you have to send another one that's more firm/threatening. That's how I eventually got mine.

[anfunny2003]

"You're having very little fun
Your lucky number isn't FLEX001..."

[:(]

[elviscaprice]

I see our voices are being heard over on facebook. Basically a round about admission to needing help.

Jude Rawlins: Upon Google investigation, it would seem Steve Hoffman is an audiophile mastering engineer specialising in vinyl (like any good audiophile should). Good tip there, we're looking for someone to help with vinyl masters. I will contact him. I must say, however, that subjectively I think it is a human right to lsten to music, and to love it, and there are as many "right" ways to listen to it as there are people listening to it. I have days when I miss cassettes. Not many, but some.