Omar Rodríguez-López - Amor De Frances.... Unboxing a 57 Album Box Set!

Omar Rodríguez-López, the prolific multi-instrumentalist and one half of The Mars Volta has released an incredible 57 album career spanning vinyl box set. I was very lucky to have this one sent to me by Clouds Hill Music to unbox on the channel.
Limited Edition: The box set is an ultra-exclusive limited edition, with only 500 copies available. This is a VERY exclusive club!
Four-Piece Box Set: It comes as a beautifully crafted four-piece box set, with each box adorned in vibrant and artistically designed banderoles.
Vinyl Collection: This collection comprises 57 albums, all pressed on recycled black vinyl to ensure exceptional sound quality.
Unreleased Material: There are two previously unreleased records included in the collection.
Vinyl Debuts: Adding an extra layer of excitement, 31 records are making their vinyl debut, making this release truly special.
Cover Artwork: The original cover artworks have been faithfully recreated and have selected redesigns for a couple of the artworks.
Art Prints: Included IS a set of nine art prints. One day I'll work out how to put them together! Additionally, the sleeve can be replaced with "The Clouds Hill Tapes Pt. 1-3" from 2020 (not included in the box set) to complete the silhouette on the spines.
Remastered Sound: The collection has been remastered by Cloud Hills in house mastering studio Soundgarden for vinyl.
The first single, "Your Own Worst Enemy," from "Is It The Clouds?", one of the unreleased records, is available on all major streaming platforms: orl.lnk.to/YourOwnWorstEnemy.
If you would like to get hold of the box set, individual albums or a tee shirt or two, the links are below.
Amor de Frances Box Set (Available exclusively at Clouds Hill online store from December 4th, 2023): gtly.to/JLv109VQ7
Individual LPs (Available for pre-order now, everywhere): gtly.to/0DC4NcNty
Merch Collection: gtly.to/A9kY_fOtY

[@LoudModeOn]

Oh wow Jim, speaking as a huge Omar fan I am very, very envious! Personally speaking I find his earlier solo work more interesting and more cohesive than the later stuff. But I would give my right arm for that entire box set. Enjoy!

[@FunK0Slap0GB]

Wow, incredibly envious. I will be buying a handful of albums I don't already own on vinyl (or were never released on the format), but unfortunately, I don't have the spare change to buy the whole boxset. Nevertheless, glad you've managed to get hold of a copy!

[@JimNewstead]

It’s a biggie isn’t it! No, And there’s no way I’d be able to afford this either. I’m very fortunate.

[@funkym0nkee77]

Wow, TMV are my favourite band! Very jealous of that beast of a boxset, hope you enjoy it! My favourite is The Apocalypse Inside an Orange, also highly recommend Xenophanes and Cryptomnesia

[@JimNewstead]

Crazy box set, eh?

[@effectosis742]

"Solar Gambling" and "Octopus Kool Aid" are best for introduction . These are the only album I also have heard on public radio when they came out . He also had a very cool project "Bosnian Rainbows" with musicians from "Octopus Kool Aid" session .

[@DavidWilliams-ic1nn]

super jealous. some of my favs are Solar Gambling and Xenophanes

[@MaraxisArcanist]

I know nothing about his music and suspect it's probably not my cuppa, but that's a hell of an impressive body of work!

[@JimNewstead]

It mad isn’t it? I’m not sure I’m going to like all of it, but I like The Mars Volta and it will obviously have some common ground with that.

[@FunK0Slap0GB]

@@JimNewstead The first two boxes have Omar's best material. I'd start with Xenophanes, his self-titled album, Cryptomnesia, or an Apocalypse Inside of an Orange if you want a good insight into his solo catalog! The later stuff is mostly stuff released much later from Omar's archives, which wildly varies in quality and genre. Some real gems there, but also a few duds!.

[@feintcircles]

As a long time fan of Omar Rodriguez-Lopez I will be the first to admit that several of his albums are not my cup of tea. His music runs the gamut from Latin-free Jazz, to otherworldly pop ballads, to experimental tape-noise. If you're interested in dipping your toes in. Se Dice Bisonte No Bufalo, Solar Gambling, and The Apocalypse Inside of an Orange, are all great places to start.

[@fleazapp]

nice someone actually bought it. I am a die hard fan of Omar's solo catalogue, but I cannot imagine myself playing this music anymore. them momentum is gone, and only a few albums will pop to my mind if ever. having said that I will get Solar Gambling as I didn't buy it back in the day (I have the rest on CD)

[@JimNewstead]

(Shhhh, don’t tell anyone…. I didn’t!) Clouds Hill and I did a collaboration unboxing video so I very luckily got this for gratis!

[@fleazapp]

@@JimNewstead amazing! kudos to them then 😊🙏

[@fleazapp]

please let us know the liner notes on the unreleased records soon

[@keytothestorms]

"Xenophanes" is a piece of art.

[@palantir135]

Hi Jim, Your Christmas days are filled I see. I never heard of this artist and about Mars Volta, I know the name and one album you reviewed. I can’t remember if I liked them and that is not a good sign for the answer to that question. If I ever would buy such a collection, I would buy it on cd. Much more durable and much more user friendly; listen to the whole album in one go I mean. Have fun with it and I presume we’ll hear about these albums soon.

[@JimNewstead]

Quite the box set, eh? I’m certainly bring some of the music to the channel.

[@Ivanselectsongs]

if anyone asks, "Nowhere Sides" + "Regenbogen stelen van prostituees." Some personal favorites: "You're Welcome" "Un Escorpion Perfumado" "Umbrella Mistress" "Solar Gambling" "Old Money" "Blind Worms Pious Swine"

[@ASNnKC913]

Hey Jim! Any idea if you'll ever do Lore by Elder? It's right there with the other two you've done in terms of quality, I think you'd love it!

[@Matasky2010]

John FROOOSH-ON-TAYYY 😅

[@KnightlyTruth]

My opinion means nothing, but from experience I can tell you it becomes a pain in the 🫏, changing vinyl every 3 songs lol

[@JimNewstead]

Indeed!

[@rudolfbecker4313]

Never seen such a big one .... nice to have, but when do you listen to it all ? As you said, it will take years and how do you remember when you are ready, which one's really good ? I'm sure you'll find a way 😆 have fun 🤘

[@user-zi2vx2ib3x]

SUEÑOS DE UN HIGADO

[@IllumeEltanin]

I’m guessing this has taken over your Devin Townsend record in shelf real estate? (I think Devin Townsend currently held the most shelf real estate in your collection?)

[@andrewlloydpeterson]

are there any credits/lyrics on the newer albums?

[@realbser1956]

Not sure whether to be envious or confused. Do you need to clear out a bedroom to store this? 😊

[@ryn5302]

[@fleazapp]

here's my top 10 in random order: sworn virgins, solar gambling, buffalo, old money, aplocalypse, escorpion perfumado, xenophanes, cryptomnesia, absence and megaritual

[@gilsaraiva5815]

French love ahahahahah. Sorry =/. I am buying them individually 'cause I already have many of them in LP. But yeah, his collection was severelly lacking in vinyl. The first pack of LP's you went through I have them all for example and from the second box ORL only lauched in LP format Octopus Kool Aid, Cizaña de los Amores, Tychozorante, Ciencia de los Inutiles, Sepulcros de Miel, Solar Gambling, LOs sueños de un Hígado, Xenophanes and Cryptomnesia. From that onwards there were no more LP's and many of them are worthy. From free Jazz, to eletronic, blues, pop, math rock, classical music...this guy only didn't made metal and reggaeton ahahahaha. I hope to see ORL reviews very soon now hehe.

[@leperlord7078]

You're one lucky SOAB LOL " all pressed on recycled black vinyl to ensure exceptional sound quality." Is recycled vinyl the choice for quality sound? i ask with respect because 1600.00 seems a lot to pay for the vinyl i have spent years avoiding where possible

[@tonygrinney7115]

57 albums!!!! Did you take a bank loan? ;-)

[@JimNewstead]

Not this time 😊. The label Clouds Hill Music sent it to me following the video I made 2 years ago unboxing The Mars Volta box set. It’s quite a box set, eh?

[@mrkitewine7700]

Wow, it’s a beautiful set but at 1,499 euros I’ll do the honourable thing and let the hardcore fans buy it before me.

[@tonygrinney7115]

@@JimNewstead what an incredible generous gift! You'll need more shelving space!

[@iaoshua]

Pretty much everything after Part 2 is of questionable quality and can be considered filler.

[@EmmanuelAbraham]

Sworn Virgins, Corazones, Blind Worms Pious Swines, Weekly Mansions, Umbrella MIstress, Killing Tingled Lifting Retreat, Gorilla Preacher Cartel and Birth of a Ghost are pretty good non-remake/remix albums IMO

[@WORMW0OD]

Not a fan of Teri Gender Bender I take it? The albums she sings were on are on the top of my list to preorder individually.