Well, yes, but the latest post there seems about four months old.

Anyone know how this is progressing? It's been quite a while since we've had an update.

Me, either 

No one's denying that Daniel has the perfect right to sit back and spend his days watching horror movies, drinking Coke, reading comic books... whatever.

I'm just saying it's sure looking like he began to wind down in the early 2000's... and I think that's a shame, because I love his music and want to hear more of it.

As for "real album" – I mean an album issued as DANIEL JOHNSTON. Not a compilation. Not live. Not a collaboration with someone else. Since "Fear Yourself," in 2003, the only album we've had like this is "Is And Always Was" in 2009.

Okay. So Daniel's been on his very own never-ending tour. To me, the vast majority of the time, he simply sounds like he's going through the motions in order to rake in some bucks. Nothing wrong with that, of course, and I'm happy to see him financially secure, of course... but what happened to that compulsively creative genius we've both been following for many years? As for the other things you mention, they're mostly peripheral products relating to Daniel Johnston - NOT Daniel Johnston projects. Truth is, there's been one real album from the guy in the past eight years... and tote bags aren't a replacement for that.

As for Rob's post (and my apologies for taking so long to respond), You're right – what's the point in producing new product for a market that doesn't really exist anymore? And, as you say – we have a whole generation of young people who scoff at the idea of actually paying for music. Still, with the exception of "Fun," Daniel's never been on a major label anyway. Given his status and popularity, I doubt very much that he wouldn't be able to find an outlet for anything he chooses to record.

The only song on my copy of "Merry Christmas" that cuts off is "Fool On The Hill".
Interesting about "Poor You." The one on the CD is 2:03. Which one does that match?

So... are we the last few Daniel Johnston fans on the face of the planet? Is there some other Daniel Johnston discussion board somewhere that's actually active?

When the latest posts here are responding to a website update made three years ago, it really makes me wonder!

Not only is there little discussion - there's no real news, either (which doesn't help).

His latest album, "Is And Always Was" is two years old now (yes, I'm ignoring "Beam Me Up!!"... that's not an album, it's a coaster). His last single ("Death of Satan") was also in 2009.

I need some new music! Daniel... record something! .

Amazon.co.uk has the CD edition in stock (Amazon U.S. is out of stock) ... and for a very reasonable price (>$80 to the U.S., plus shipping). For those of you who have never ordered from Amazon U.K. before... it's easy! You simply use the same login etc. as you do for Amazon.com.

The box itself looks great, and since it's said to be a limited edition of 1000... jump on it! The CD edition comes in the same LP sized box as the vinyl, with a poster and very nice color book. The 6 CDs are in individual black and white sleeves reproducing the original cassette artwork on the front and new (to me, at any rate) artwork on the back. Even better, it sounds like no one has got it into their heads to destroy the sound of the original recordings by trying to "improve" them (that is... no noise reduction!). The sound on "Songs of Pain" and "More Songs Of Pain," for instance, is noticeably better than the double CD previously issued in America.

In short... if you consider yourself a Daniel Johnston fan, you owe it to yourself to own this product. Daniel's early work is far too important to simply be entrusted to cassettes and CD-Rs (which FAIL), and it's GREAT to see them mastered with care on silver-pressed CDs.

Now we need real CD editions of "Retired Boxer," "Respect" and "Merry Christmas"... Munster, are you listening? 

Link works here, for what it's worth.

Any early reviews (promo copies are obviously out there)?

I would have liked to have seen this mastered from the original tapes – I've heard some of them, and the difference in quality is remarkable. It would have been nice to have had the discs filled out with additional unreleased material from the same period. Sadly, that doesn't seem to be the case either.

But it is what it is.

Is anyone buying this? Where?

Amazon's listing seems completely screwed up. The set seems to have two listings – one for $109.99, and the other for $135.49. You'd think this would be for the CD and vinyl versions, but both listings say "Audio CD" and there's absolutely no details. Good job, fellas.

In any case, this seems expensive for a six disc set. Anyone finding it at a more reasonable price?

Wow. Indeed. Now having received it, I think even less of it. I keep wondering if Daniel even recorded his vocals at the same time as that cacaphony of non-talent known as BEAM (at least the Portsmouth Sinfonia had a sense of fun about their playing... these guys just... well, don't).

I'd review it further, but that means I would have to listen to it.  

Wow...

If WE don't like it, makes me wonder who DOES...

The Stress Set looks fantastic (of course, it would have looked even more fantastic before I spent the money on "The Early Recordings Volume 1" double CD).

Please post the link here when it's available. 

New live album from DJ and BEAM. Available on CD from Germany here:

http://www.amazon.de/Beam-Me-Up-Daniel-Johnston/dp/B003AJEB9Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1272114505&sr=8-1

1. Sarah Drove Around In Her Car (short spoken thing)
2. Syrup Of Tears
3. Must
4. True Love
5. Wicked World
6. Mask
7. Try To Love
8. Devil Town
9. Love Enchanted
10. Walking The Cow
11. Last Song
12. The Beatles

I don't have the album yet (it's in the mail), but from what I can hear from the Amazon samples I'm not impressed. No one seems to be in key, and no one's playing in time. Some might perceive "art" in this... I think it's just amateurish. Of course, I might very well change my opinion once I hear the whole thing.

I did, notdan!

... and many thanks for sharing. All together, there was almost an album's worth of material there.

Indeed.

Another thing I personally owe to Danel's music... if it hadn't been for his association with Daniel Johnston, I would never have discovered the wonderful Sparklehorse albums ("It's a Wonderful Life" is my favorite).

So sad. Rest in peace, Mark.