Interview with Alex L and Benny

Here is a recent interview with Alex L and Benny. Pretty interesting! They talk about their friendship, writing processes, and the live DVD. Benny says he thinks it will be part of a re-release of Handwritten.  My thoughts are similar to his. A re-release must be driven by the label (obviously).

I love Alex's eyeroll when they're talking about what the label might be planning regarding this re-release.

I'd love to get the DVD, but this re-release is gonna have to have more than a few covers to get me to buy it. I'm sick of gimmicky shit and clearly still bitter about wasting $60 on a falsely marketed, over-priced, "super deluxe" version of this album, haha. Also, the album's been out what..a year and a half? can we wait like a decade before we talk about a re-release? 10-year anniversary perhaps? or, like normal artists, 40 year anniversary?

That sucks if it is part of a re release. Great idea..... re release it as part of most fans probably least favourite album. Yeah Shelby it's only been a short time since it was first released which makes no sense. Seems like a shameful ploy to rob loyal fans of money. This should be sold seperately and preferably with loads of features on the dvd

The idea of re-releasing Handwritten, especially this early, does sound like a really stupid idea. Honestly though I think Benny and Alex seem to agree with that sentiment, it appears to me that it's a label decision that's kind of out of their hands.

If the DVD is only available by purchasing 'Handwritten' AGAIN, then count me out! Haha

I gotta agree. At least make it worth repurchasing, with more than just a DVD.

This sounds like a reboot of what they originally planned to sell for Record Store Day last year. If I remember right, they originally announced a special CD/live DVD combo for Record Store Day but ended up just selling copies of the "super deluxe" CD.

White Man In Hammersmith wrote:

If the DVD is only available by purchasing 'Handwritten' AGAIN, then count me out! Haha

Green Day did the same for Europe, you have to buy their album "¡Tré!" again to get their DVD....

Shrewsbury_Stars wrote:

This sounds like a reboot of what they originally planned to sell for Record Store Day last year. If I remember right, they originally announced a special CD/live DVD combo for Record Store Day but ended up just selling copies of the "super deluxe" CD.

I had forgotten about that! I wonder if they originally thought it might be ready in time for RSD?

I hope it isn't a buy both or neither kind of deal, becuase then it might no sell that well and they (or the label at least) might think it's because we don't want the DVD. Although, if I'm being real, I don't know how well many of us will resist buying it just for the DVD. Unless it's outrageously priced.

i thought the part of the interview where they talked about their musicianship and wanting to improve their playing on the bluesy songs was really interesting and exciting

DeathoftheCool wrote:

i thought the part of the interview where they talked about their musicianship and wanting to improve their playing on the bluesy songs was really interesting and exciting

Opposite for me haha If the new record is gonna be more heavy blues riffs then I'll be gutted. TGA for me are at their best on songs like 45, Howl, Handwritten etc at least as far as the newer stuff is concerned. Halloween was a great tune so I'm hoping they may go in that direction. Not a fan of the Pearl Jam type songs on Handwritten.

In truth we'd all love a 59 Sound part 2, right? Haha