Vinyl Me, Please Unboxed: Broadcast ‘Tender Buttons’

Good things comes in 12 inch packages. Delivering limited edition vinyl pressings of new and classic albums directly to your doorstep, VMP operates under a simple philosophy: The Album Lives! With a carefully curated catalog of new and hard to find releases, the subscription service is more than just a record club, it’s a lifestyle choice for folks who wish Record Store Day could happen every month … in their living room.

Here’s how it works. You send Vinyl Me, Please some of your hard-earned money and they send you one carefully selected album they feel is Essential to any record collection.

Now, the subscription is not quite what it used to be these days, as VMP has made some pretty radical changes to how things work. That includes essentially ending the record of the month format – a fact that is already proving problematic for many longtime members. VMP has wisely posted a full breakdown of the new format on its FAQ page, and I highly recommend reading it before you sign up for a subscription.

Despite the changes, VMP is still offering record of the month level pressings to those interested. And yes, that list includes the recent reissue of Neon Indian's chillwave marvel Psychic Chasms. You can also tailor your monthly box with selections from the Vinyl Me, Please vaults and other selections available in the online storefront. Yes, the store is open, and Team VMP are dropping fresh new selections on the regular.

Word to the wise, while subscribers are given first access to the new releases from VMP's various tracks, the purchase window is pretty short, with those selections quickly becoming available to the general public. So, if there's something you're interested in, it's probably in your best interest to pick it up sooner rather than later, as there's no guarantee it will be available when the Swap window opens every month.

As for the record packed away in my most recent box, I grabbed a copy of VMP's 20th anniversary reissue of Broadcast's 2005 indie classic, Tender Buttons. Here's a look.

For The Love Of Vinyl, Please DO NOT BEND

Before I get started here, I did want to personally address the big fat elephant in the room, which is, of course, the aforementioned overhaul in the way Vinly Me, Please is conducting business these days. Like many, I'm also a bit wary of the changes, largely due to the fact that, in essence, those changes dramatically limit the advantages of maintaining an actual subscription to the service.

I am, however, gonna give VMP the benefit of the doubt and at least test out the new approach. I might even take a chance and let them pick an album for me from the back catalogue at random, which is now an option for those who continue their subscriptions. I don't know how this is all gonna shake out, but for now, I'm gonna trust the process and see how it goes. It is entirely up to you if you want to do the same.

Now onto to bigger business, which is VMP's Essentials pressing of Broadcast's 2005 stunner, Tender Buttons. I know, I can't believe it's been 20 years since this album was released either. It's even harder to fathom that more than a decade has passed since the tragic death of Broadcast front woman Trish Keenan. Tragedy aside, Keenan left behind a body of work that ensures her legacy will likely never fade from the annals of the indie music arena. And a case could be made that Tender Buttons is the best of the artist's impressive catalogue of releases.

The album may also be the most bare-bones of Keenan's output sonically, as the lead-up to the recording of Tender Buttons led to the departure of several members of Broadcast. As it was, James Cargill was one of the few to stick around, and Tender Buttons was largely recorded with contributions from just Keenan and Cargill. The approach paid off in spades, however, with that duo cranking out 14 immaculate tracks of shimmering electronica rife with tinges of dream pop and stone cold psychedelia.

There are a few obvious standouts in that batch, including album openener “I Found the F,” and its followup “Black Cat,” as well as “Tears in the Typing Pool” “Corpreal,” “Michael A Grammar,” and “Goodbye Girls.” But in all seriousness, there really aren't any songs worth skipping on Tender Buttons, which is good because, well, it's not very easy to skip songs in the vinyl format. To that end, VMP has taken such care in the production of this anniversary pressing that skipping even a single second of this immersive marvel is not likely to cross the mind of many listeners.

Cover Matters

Trish Keenan's singular voice and songcraft are, arguably, the driving force behind the sonic energy on display in Tender Buttons, so it's only fitting that her face should grace the cover.

The album also comes in a gatefold sleeve lined a few lyrics from the album, and a collage of images featuring Keenan and James Cargill as they craft the sonic textures of Tender Buttons.

Yes, VMP releases still come with the company's official seal of approaval.

If you're questioning the Essentials credentials on this pressing of Tender Buttons, the info on the OBI-strip should put any fears to rest, as this half-speed mastered beauty arrives under the guidance of the great Barry Grint.

As for the art print accompanying the anniversary pressing of Broadcast's Tender Buttons, it comes from none other than Julian House. Yes, that's the same Julian House who designed the cover of this album – as well as works by Stereolab, The Prodigy, and Oasis. He also assembled the collage work spotting the gatefold, with those images essentially re-assembled for the print.

This month's zine offers a look at some of the albums either on the way, or now available through Vinyl Me, Please. There's also a clue on the back cover about an album that is in the works at VMP, though I have not been able to decipher it myself.

As for the viny, it comes in an official VMP archival quality rice paper sleeve, which is nice.

And yes, the magenta & cyan colorway is a sight to behold indeed.

It should go without saying that the pseudo-swirly colors looks pretty great when Tender Buttons is spinning too.

Give VMP a spin

How's it sound? Like listening to the echo of a distant dream in the hazy moments just after you wake. And I cannot thank the folks at Vinyl Me, Please enough for all the TLC that clearly went into the making of this 20th anniversary edition of Broadcast's Tender Buttons – which is an album I've been utterly entranced by myself since its 2005 release. So much so, that I already have a copy of this one on vinyl. But now that I've given VMP's version a spin, I'm seriously contemplating going the PIF route with that other copy. And I'm betting there are a lot of Tender Buttons fans out there facing the same quandry. Happy spinning, my vinyl-obsessed amigos.

A big THANK YOU to our friends at Vinyl Me, Please for sponsoring this subscription. Don’t forget to check out the Vinyl Me, Please website and sign up to get some choice wax delivered right to your door every month! Be sure to check back next month to see what vinyl treasure Team VMP sends our way!