VINYL REVIEW: Their / They’re / There – ‘Analog Weekend’ EP

January 13th, 2014

Brian Leak

Artist: Their / They’re / There
Album: Analog Weekend EP
Label: Topshelf Records, Polyvinyl Records
Original Release Date: Dec. 10, 2013

The three members of Chicago’s grammatically adept post-indie math-pop outfit Their / They’re / There are certainly no strangers to the emo and indie rock scenes. Evan Weiss has been gracing endless headlines over the past few years as Into It. Over It. while Matthew Frank spends some of his time with his band Loose Lips Sink Ships. Many would argue that those two combined are yet to even scratch the surface of what Mike Kinsella has accomplished in his two-decade career with bands such as Cap’n Jazz, Joan Of Arc, American Football, Owen, and many more. The album also features piano by the one and only James Dewees (The Get Up Kids, Coalesce, Reggie and the Full Effect). Regardless of individual merits, though, when you bring these three (or four) together as T/T/T, you get a genre-bending side project that can certainly hold its own in the ranks of the aforementioned bands from whence each member came.

To follow up their early 2013 Record Store Day self-titled debut, the band released a 3-track EP, entitled Analog Weekend, in December to wrap up the year. The EP was a split release between two of our favorite labels, Topshelf and Polyvinyl, and was released on 12″ vinyl and cassette tape which featured both of the band’s EPs. We have a copy of Analog Weekend‘s baby blue retail version 12″ and we’re going to tell you all about it.

Pressing Info

This is the retail version of Their / They’re / There’s Analog Weekend EP cut at 45RPM on baby blue marble vinyl with an etched b-side that was released on December 10, 2013. The amount of baby blue copies pressed seems to be vague but as a retail version that wasn’t an exclusive to either label, it’s safe to assume that anywhere from 800 to 2,000 copies were pressed. However, both labels received an exclusive version that were limited to 500 copies a piece — Topshelf’s being forest green and Polyvinyl’s being maroon, both also containing the etched b-side. Both labels have the record priced at $11.00 regardless of color chosen. Polyvinyl’s maroon version appears to be sold out as they’re currently only selling the baby blue colorway. Luckily though, Topshelf Records looks to still have some forest green copies in stock so you’d better act fast if you’re interested in that specific variant.

Packaging & Presentation

Inside and out, Analog Weekend looks great. You normally may not expect an extensive presentation for a mere 3-track release but the band and the labels put a lot of care into this EP physically. The disc itself is pressed on an attractive ice ice baby blue that has a lot of white accents and different blue shades in its marbling. The etched b-side is a really nice touch as well as it’s cut to look like an Ampex 406 tape reel. The etching is very easy to see as it pops well in the light blue coloring.

The album’s jacket is great quality also, printed on a thick reverse-board that feels nice to the touch. The included lyric sheet is on a thick cardstock with some artwork on one side and the three tracks’ lyrics on the other along with more information regarding the album credits. The disc itself comes protected in a standard white LP sleeve.

Sound Quality

Hence its title and etched b-side, the band recorded Analog Weekend directly to tape over a single weekend which gives it a bit more warmth in sound than most digital recordings would offer. This obviously adds to the already worshiped sound present on vinyl and makes for a great quality, depending on preference of course.

I personally love indie, math, and post-rock albums on vinyl as the sounds just seems to fit the styles perfectly, so I had a good feeling that Analog Weekend was going to sound great before I even began spinning it.

Wrap-Up

If you’re a fan of any of the artists involved with T/T/T, Analog Weekend is a must-own. Even with only 3 tracks, the EP has a lot to offer from the Chicago-based trio and a vinyl collector alone would enjoy the unique etching and quality in its packaging. As there are still copies available from both Polyvinyl and Topshelf Records, take advantage of the great price and pick up a copy or two before you’re kicking yourself as you surf the dreaded secondhand market in the future.