This review’s not meant for the download, purchase it on line, store it in the cloud listener ... this review’s for those who are still lost in the dream, feet firmly routed in the 60’s and 70’s, where giant discs of wax shouted like beacons, calling to likeminded souls. Why hey, this isn’t even a review of the music, it’s a review of the physical product, and all that I feared lost for all time.Kurt Vile’s Walkin’ On A Pretty Daze is a brilliant blast from that past, delivered as a limited edition numbered gatefold on two transparent aqua blue platters spinning at 33⅓ rpms, and sounding like nothing you’ll ever hear on compact disc. But it’s the presentation that’s so comfortable and compelling, designed for those of us who drop the tone arm, lay back, and let the music wash over us as we scan the liner notes and get swept away with the lyric sheets. Presentations like this don’t so much demand our attention, it’s more that they entice us in, unfolding, and like the music, showering us with something new at each turn.As a pre-release to Walkin’ On A Pretty Daze, Kurt had a commissioned wall mural painted down under the subway at Front and Master’s Streets in Philadelphia, right next to his home, painted with images and slogans taken from the album, and the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4RlljcBKg0 time laps presentation of this feat shows what would become the album cover for most people would come to know, though here, only the top half is presented, with Kurt giving us all of the mural’s detail on a sheet of small stick-ons, so that we can arrange and manipulate the mural in any manner we choose. And at this point, I must sadly inform you that some fool has since painted over this piece of artwork, for no apparent reason than he could. Nevertheless, this album touches the listener on a visual and playfully physical level, one that keeps the music in check, and hopefully reminding us not to take ourselves so seriously.There was a time when it was almost, but not quite, common to be dazzled by records like this, and these treats are what made owning and cherishing the physical product so tasty and special. So here’s to all of you who never peeled the Velvet Underground’s banana, punched out the buckle to open the Sticky Fingers zipper, or where mindful enough not to decorate their bongs with the Wish You Were Here stickers. But now that I think of it ... my hats off to all of you who did peel the banana, opened the zipper, and plastered those stickers, leaving me to hope for more of what I find right here.*** Oh ... and on a musical note, please do see my review of this great piece of music.Review by Jenell Kesler

Mine had a download card jammed into the fold

Did anyone else not get a download card?

Just to make this more confusing for you guys: I have number 0058. I bought it at the record store where I work in Berkeley California (USA)...

I emailed Matador earlier to ask about the same numbering issue Matt2011 had. They informed me it was because of the 1500 pressed for the UK release. They didn't mention anything about those 1500 not being foil stamped, however it seems they likely weren't.

@aspirin44 & ilikemilk & Emilgoul : a friend of me does have the same. UK version, no stamp / numbering on the back. So that makes 4, i think we can conclude the UK pressing isn't numbered.

Question to those with the UK limited edition: Mine is not numbered either, so I guess I got the UK edition, but mine has the catalognumber OLE 998-0, and not OLE 998-2. Does yours have that too?

How does the blue vinyl sound?

to answer my own question - Just purchased the blue vinyl. on good hifi, it sounds fantastic! no problems at all here. quiet, dynamic, mastered beautifully.

Eh, it sounds ok. I've heard worse, but colored vinyl never sounds better than black.

I have the US version, and though it clearly states it's limited to 3,500 copies in the US on the website, mine is numbered 3684. Confused.

I had something similar happen when I picked up Nirvana's "Insecticide" and got number 4001 on a "limited to 4,000" release. Talked to someone about and they said it's because there are often "casualties" in the pressing process that don't work out so they end up disposing of the default copies but continue the numbering. Hope that helps.

same as aspirin44. the uk pressing is not stamped.

Maybe I have a very limited version, but mine is not numbered with a foil stamp on the back cover (british deluxe edition)