Bungalow with Stairs album

[funkboy3]

So I'd like to start this post by apologizing for inadvertantly starting this storm of activity. I looked back and I believe I'm the first person to "complain" about the price.
The funny thing is, I never meant to really be complaining, but rather venting my personal frustrations at the overall situation.

I completely see both sides of the argument here. I can definitely respect an artists right to package and distribute their art however they see fit. As a matter of fact, that's part of what I find appealing about "bands" like Underworld (and perhaps in the old days New Order, OMD, etc). Exciting sleeves, experimental ideas, different delivery methods. These are all things I like and I'm really fine at the end of the day with artists limitting the method in which they release their work. Perhaps Messrs Hyde and Smith feel that "Bungalow" doesn't exist without "Dancing" and/or vice versa. I get that, I really do.

On the other hand, as a fan of Underworld's, I have a desire to experience as much of what they create as I possibly can. But the realities of the world restrict my access to said art sometimes. I couldn't just fly off to London to see the iTunes fest Roundhose gig. I had previous engagements that prevented me from making the short trek to San Francisco to hear UW in my neck of the woods. And, I couldn't afford the cost of flying to Tokyo to see Karl paint and hear/buy "Bungalow" at the actual event. So, I make due with what I can access when/if I can afford it.

So, in the specific case of the "Bungalow" release, all I was attempting to say when I triggered this whole thing off was: I'm bummed that my situation won't allow me to hear it. That came from the fact that I initially thought I'd never get a chance to hear it (since it was originally only going to be played/sold at the "Dancing" exhibition). Then I heard that they were going to sell the left overs, so I got hopeful. Then when it was released and I knew it was out of my price range, I got bummed. In particular, I was (and am) bummed that to have access to the music, I have to buy a catalog to an exhibit/event that I didn't go to. I'm sure its lovely, and I find Karl's art interesting. But, not having access to the one without the other is something I find personally frustrating as I could probably justify the price of one without the other. (Obviously, my place physically (the USofA) makes this even more difficult with the exchange rate.) As an additional aside: for the longest time, all the various channels (the "official" email newsletter included) said that the album was going to be offered up. So, all along I had it in my head that we'd see "Bungalow" released by itself, and when it wasn't that was disappointing.

I never said (and I never will say) "UW should give me their art in the way I want at the price I want." But, that doesn't mean I'm wrong or evil for wishing that it would've been released in a way that I could access it. Moreover, with a "official unoffical" forum like Dirty, it makes sense to me to express this thought out loud, as there's an implict assumption that UW or their minions might see this and have it inform their opinion about how they want to release their art in the future. It really doesn't seem that egregious to me that I have done this (as have others). And its absolutely flummoxing to me why some of the folks who were able to buy this release see it necessary to lambast those of us who were just innocently trying to express our desire to experience the same art.

Anyway, if you've gotten this far, congrats. I'm done with my dissertation. ;-)