# The General Chatter/Off Topic Thread
**URL:** https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432
**Category:** General chatter
**Tags:** en, off-topic, musicbrainz
**Created:** [October 16, 2021, 9:18pm UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432 "2021-10-16T21:18:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@aerozol](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/aerozol)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2021, 9:18pm UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/1 "2021-10-16T21:18:29Z")
Kia Ora koutou!
Athough we have a ‘General Chatter’ section, there’s no thread that I can find where people can really go for it. Every now and again something comes up about threads going off-topic too much, or threads being split too much. So I thought an avenue for ‘pointless’ (but great!) discussion might be nice.
Use this thread for:
- Anything you want to talk about but don’t think warrants a thread
- About anything, including off-topic, or related to a MetaBrainz product (e.g. MusicBrainz)
- Uhm… and everything else too x
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### Author:  [@aerozol](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/aerozol)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2021, 9:29pm UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/2 "2021-10-16T21:29:02Z")
I have this weird thing that I’ve picked up over the last few years which is picking up _really_ DIY CD\* releases at charity shops and trying to archive them via ripping + MusicBrainz. [MB Collection here](https://musicbrainz.org/collection/cd8e0a8d-437a-4c1b-b808-60f37ba00c14). NZ releases only, more or less. I’ve really overdone it travelling recently and have a stack of like 30 really crappy (promising!!) CD’s on the desk…
Anyway I’ve posted some mini reviews on the social and I might share a couple:
[](https://musicbrainz.org/release/82d2412e-3682-4fb4-b61f-9cc9a2843e0d)
Rating: Doesn’t sound like 16 people playing accordion at once (disappointing)
Of note: Text on back reads “Formed in 1972 when there were five accordion orchestras in Christchurch, this orchestra is the sole survivor”. FIVE. What a time.
\*DIY CD’s: an archaic art, popular during a very narrow band of human history
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### Author:  [@IvanDobsky](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/IvanDobsky)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2021, 11:47pm UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/3 "2021-10-16T23:47:22Z")
Christchurch? Does the Wizard also play Accordion? 🧙
Just looked quickly at that collection… glad to see the madness is on all sides of the planet.
Think my favourite is this one:
[https://musicbrainz.org/release/a929130a-535c-4827-8663-f048e1a7ca0d](https://musicbrainz.org/release/a929130a-535c-4827-8663-f048e1a7ca0d)
Can I get a copy converted to MP3? I need to clean my MP3 player.
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### Author:  [@aerozol](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/aerozol)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2021, 1:58am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/4 "2021-10-19T01:58:32Z")
> [@IvanDobsky](#):
>
> Think my favourite is [https://musicbrainz.org/release/a929130a-535c-4827-8663-f048e1a7ca0d](https://musicbrainz.org/release/a929130a-535c-4827-8663-f048e1a7ca0d)this one
When I added that one I was _certain_ that it would eventually be removed from the database if it got noticed! I am so glad MB editor tolerance for weirdness is higher than I expected 😅
I really like the design so it had to go into the DB…
Rating: Best panflute album I’ve ever (briefly) owned
Of note: When I first saw ‘nominated NZ album of the year’, I thought “by who exactly, Mr. Lines?!?!”. But shame on me, because this album really did get [pipped at the post in 1996](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aotearoa_Music_Award_for_Album_of_the_Year), by Shihad’s Killjoy album, which has decidedly weak sweater game. Common ref.
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### Author:  [@IvanDobsky](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/IvanDobsky)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2021, 8:19am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/5 "2021-10-19T08:19:40Z")
> [@aerozol](#):
>
> When I added that one I was _certain_ that it would eventually be removed from the database if it got noticed!
You may notice I have corrected the language on the Release and added other database links. I was also very tempted to add a few more variations as I googled the cat number and it turns out they have been issuing the same thing for years, but changing the artwork with the decades. There are a few on EBay. Clearly a collectors item. And will be in many a tape collection so should be in MB in my mind.
Talking design - that panflute album. What a sweater! As to “Max Lines” - I assume that refers to the cocaine used during production.
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### Author:  [@Freso](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/Freso)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2021, 11:28am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/6 "2021-10-21T11:28:23Z")
> [@aerozol](#):
>
> I’ve posted some mini reviews on the social
Feel free to post your mini reviews on [CritiqueBrainz](https://critiquebrainz.org/) as well. 😃
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### Author:  [@IvanDobsky](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/IvanDobsky)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2021, 11:12pm UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/7 "2021-11-04T23:12:09Z")
This was funny to see today. Nice one who ever added that feature. But there seems to be a bug. It should be four candles 😂
Or would that be too much of a fire risk for the oldies around here?
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### Author:  [@aerozol](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/aerozol)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/8 "2021-11-11T21:36:42Z")
Did @akshaaatt post this anywhere? He interviewed @mr_monkey on his YouTube channel!
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjmGFMDPWdY)
Lovely interview 🥰
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### Author:  [@aerozol](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/aerozol)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2021, 7:40pm UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/9 "2021-11-17T19:40:04Z")
I used to not care about matrix/pressing info, and thought it was weird that Discogs always had a picture of the matrix. But now NZ pressing locations have been added to my compulsive editing needs (when I add an in-hand CD anyway)!
So satisfying: [Tag “new zealand pressing plant” - MusicBrainz](https://musicbrainz.org/tag/new%20zealand%20pressing%20plant)
Do you all ignore matrixes, or give them a peek?
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### Author:  [@UltimateRiff](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/UltimateRiff)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2021, 4:19am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/10 "2021-11-18T04:19:02Z")
I occasionally look, see if there’s a glass mastering credit or the like on there. otherwise, not usually.
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### Author:  [@IvanDobsky](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/IvanDobsky)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2021, 9:50am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/11 "2021-11-18T09:50:09Z")
> [@aerozol](#):
>
> Do you all ignore matrixes, or give them a peek?
I add as many manufacturer relationships as I can. The European plants change hands a lot so these are Labels (Manufacturer) as well as Places (Pressing Plant). As an example, I have two copies of one CD where the only difference is one was printed by PDO, the other PMDC after the plant changed hands. I can get into far too much geeky details in this area now. Something I 100% blame MB for. 🤣 🤪
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### Author:  [@jesus2099](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/jesus2099)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2021, 11:10am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/12 "2021-11-18T11:10:49Z")
> [@aerozol](#):
>
> Do you all ignore matrixes, or give them a peek?
I look at them when I have enough time to create my _disambiguated_ edition, instead of only adding a similar enough edition to my MB collection.
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### Author:  [@aerozol](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/aerozol)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2021, 9:19pm UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/13 "2021-11-20T21:19:50Z")
[](https://critiquebrainz.org/review/d454c1d6-ba2f-41b2-b0fa-2139d0d73660)
I am a big fan of storage so I was really looking forward to IKEA/Brand Music’s ‘STORAGE: Music for Better Living’. Storage lovers, join me.
1 Heksedansen - I realise this is probably not the storage-themed album I was hoping for
2 All About My Girl - pretty storagey actually. good montage music for putting a bed together
3 If You Buy This Record (Your Life Will Be Better) - great track, but not very storage related
4 We Like to Party! (The Vengabus) - a bus is a kind of storage for people I suppose? terrible song
5 That’s the Way I Like It - have ANY of these been recorded in or around storage? i’m starting to doubt it
6 Living in a Box - theme is finally on point but musically not very box-like
7 The Wild Boys - …visit the IKEA store!!
10 DooDah - actually had to skip this one. very very bad
12 Tocar Para Sarakali - last track, chill and storagey. wikipedia says the artist was since put into storage for 7 years himself, for abusing children, so on theme but still definitely the worst yet
A generous 1/5. Should have check the track list before I got too excited about storage and wasted $1.
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### Author:  [@jesus2099](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/jesus2099)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2021, 12:13am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/14 "2021-11-21T00:13:53Z")
You should add it the release to MB and your review to CB of not yet done. 😉
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### Author:  [@UltimateRiff](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/UltimateRiff)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2021, 6:01am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/15 "2021-11-23T06:01:43Z")
going through my iTunes collection, and I found that free U2 album from 2014, I haven’t ever seen an entity in so many collections, lol
[https://musicbrainz.org/release/ddccb62b-754a-4959-ae1c-1ff9d8532ec9](https://musicbrainz.org/release/ddccb62b-754a-4959-ae1c-1ff9d8532ec9)
_(I’ve also never listened to it, 😂)_
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### Author:  [@jesus2099](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/jesus2099)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2021, 8:37am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/16 "2021-11-23T08:37:45Z")
Yes and about that, [digital media](https://community.metabrainz.org/tag/digital-media) really suck.
I received it for free once on an iPad that I was also offered.
But one year ago, I wanted to listen to this free U2 album.
Guess what? I don’t have it any more.
Or it is impossible to listen to, I don’t know.
DL albums suck. 😃
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### Author:  [@UltimateRiff](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/UltimateRiff)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2021, 8:55am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/17 "2021-11-23T08:55:26Z")
that’s odd, I just re-downloaded all of my music from iTunes a couple days ago, and got that release… I’m in the US, so that might make a difference…
I do agree tho, losing digital media sucks. I got a couple digital copies of some vinyl some time ago, and somehow they disappeared from my main library. fortunately, I got them back after searching one of the _many_ duplicate libraries I have leftover from several hard drive clones and backups 😅
I will say though, it’s much easier to get free digital media than physical…
_(just don’t look at my [digital collection](https://musicbrainz.org/collection/c005a991-bb74-474c-abf5-81d0f2b7d8d4) that’s twice the size of my physical collections)_ 😉
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### Author:  [@jesus2099](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/jesus2099)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2021, 10:40am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/18 "2021-11-23T10:40:32Z")
> [@UltimateRiff](#):
>
> re-downloaded all of my music from iTunes
Maybe it’s because I don’t know how you do this: download stuff from iTunes.
How did you do that?
I went to [itunes.com](http://itunes.com) and it asked me to download some software.
But I want to download my U2 album, not some software.
I already have foobar2000 and Audacious.
I don’t have admin rights on office Windows PC and my home PC is on Linux, which they apparently don’t give a damn. 😉
I can’t even see my library, there.
There must be some other website, no?
I have [9 DL releases in my collection](https://musicbrainz.org/collection/f0574792-6af6-481e-8b2f-d5ea9fc59c4d?order=format&page=11), but mostly for testing my [mb. HIDE DIGITAL RELEASES](https://github.com/jesus2099/konami-command/blob/master/mb_HIDE-DIGITAL-RELEASES.user.js) user script, though. 😇
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### Author:  [@UltimateRiff](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/UltimateRiff)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2021, 12:16am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/19 "2021-11-24T00:16:21Z")
I think you gotta download the music through their iTunes software… that’s how I did it, at least. I don’t believe there ever was a Linux version of iTunes, but I read somewhere that it can work with WINE. I’m a total Linux noob tho, so I have no idea how that works… 😉
however, once you get the files, you should be able to play them wherever, if I’m not mistaken… if you need them in a different file format like MP3, iTunes can do that too, maybe even a big batch if you’ve got a lot of music.
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### Author:  [@jesus2099](https://community.metabrainz.org/u/jesus2099)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2021, 7:54am UTC](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432/20 "2021-11-24T07:54:18Z")
I buy many 1€–4€ second-hand CD, it’s easier.
I’ll add this one in mind when I browse the 1€ shelves. 😉
[Next page](https://community.metabrainz.org/t/the-general-chatter-off-topic-thread/555432.md?page=2)