Can you believe we’re at our 21st Vault package? It seems like only yesterday we were overwhelmed with mono Icky Thump LPs, folding t-shirts, driving the packages to the post office (before we’d figured out USPS would just pick ‘em up from us) and generally feeling like there was no way we’d ever get through mailing all of those. Memories.
Keeping our promise made a few months back, the 7-inch for this go-round is another deadly two song pairing from the leather nightmares of the Dead Weather. THESE ARE TWO NEW ORIGINAL TRACKS…DEBUTING ON VINYL EXCLUSIVELY FOR VAULT MEMBERS! Pressed on pretty golden vinyl, the tracks “BUZZKILL(ER)” and “IT'S JUST TOO BAD” are further examples that this band, in their downtime from Queens of the Stone Age, the Kills and JW solo, are more deadly than 99% of the rest of the also-rans out there. Don’t let the waterfowl on the single cover fool you…this single spits fire.
The LP for Vault #21 is a release unrelated to new albums or anniversaries or anything of that sort…just something that feels right. THE WHITE STRIPES LIVE UNDER RISING SUN LIGHTS showcases Jack and Meg in their first overseas trip in October 2000. While the band’s two Japanese shows were far from sold out, the power transmitted by the band is captivating. This double LP contains the entirety of the the White Stripes’ two Tokyo performances. With an on-mic shout-out to the evening’s headliners the 5.6.7.8’s, the Stripes would also cover that band’s classic song “I Walk Like Jayne Mansfield” in an improvised medley that also included Screaming Lord Sutch’s “Jack the Ripper.” Other highlights from the two nights include a rare cover of Iggy Pop’s “I’m Bored” as well as pre-White Blood Cells takes on “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground.” Complete with unseen photos taken during one of the performances and a sneaky die-cut, gatefold jacket, this live document leaves nothing to be desired to even the most die-hard fanatic.
For our third item…a first in the Third Man world… A FLAG! A proper 3ft by 5ft, wave it high, show your colors, all aboard the SS TMR rock and roll flag. This thing will give the jolly roger a run for it’s money. And if that weren’t enough…there’s a contest involved. Once they’ve received their flags, Vault members are encouraged to submit photos of the flag in different, unique states of display. The “best” photo, as arbitrarily decided by a team of Third Man’s finest indentured servants, will receive test pressings of both the 7” and 12” discs from the Vault 21 package. You can’t beat that with a stick.
