i know...haha i was kidding :lol:

Spies wasn't on the Chinese version of the album

that's cos the chinese government thought spies was about actual spies and banned it, nothing like communist regimes eh? :stunned:

Plus they get a "hidden" bonus track 14(in addition to 'Til Kingdom Come..track 13). Dunno the title.

 

what :stunned:

 

Yeah, type "Coldplay Japan" on eBay. The Japanese version has 2 bonus tracks...one which is just "Til Kingdom Come" but they mention a 2nd one and don't name it. Japanese editions of most albums always have bonus tracks(and that cool obi strip), and will cost you about $40 as an import. Anyway, I'm going to make sure it isn't one of the SOS b-sides or a live track that'll probably show up on a single before forking over that much money for yet another import.

 

I have Japanese versions of both Interpol albums and the new Nine Inch Nails. The NIN release has 3 bonus tracks(1 remix, 1 alt. version which is awesome, and a great exclusive new song called Home). The 1st Interpol has 2 songs...Interlude and Specialist and their 2nd has 2 remixes. I'm going to have to hunt down their version of the new Oasis, as well. It has at least 1 song, although it'll probably show up on a single as a b-side. Most of the Japanese exclusives have. Japanese editions also tend to have nice lyric books and/or lyric posters that other versions lack, as well.

Wow. Why Japan though? :huh:

Japan tends to get limited edition and special versions of albums all the time.

It's been that way for as long as I can remember. The Korean versions of those Interpol albums also have the bonus tracks. Another good example is Radiohead's Pablo Honey. It has 5 bonus tracks. I think two were live, and two were b-sides and maybe Pop is Dead was on there...can't remember. It is lacking the US version's Creep(Friendly) hidden track, though. I think the US version is the only one that has that.

Here's a nice "synopsis" of the Japanese tradition of obi strips and exclusive material. I found this under the X&Y page at EIL. It only lists 12 tracks, but it specifically mentions an "exclusive" bonus track is included on it. It know "Til Kingdom Come" is on there, too.

 

http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=315374

 

No-one packages a CD album quite like the Japanese. Known as a culture for elaborate and excessive packaging, their approach to the CD album is no exception. From the visual delights of the artwork and packaging, to the content itself, you will without doubt get your money's worth here. The inclusion of the famous 'obi-strip' not only adds a uniquely intriguing aspect, but is also a great marketing tool for the Japanese labels. The term 'obi-strip' is derived from the name of the piece of wide fabric - the obi - that a geisha woman wears around her waist over the traditional Kimono dress. An amazing amount of information is packed onto this little wraparound piece of paper, often noting special tracks, concert dates, discography information and release anniversaries. And, as this information is intended to be read in the home market, it’s all printed in Japanese kanji and ~kana script! Whilst they are safely sealed on new release CD’s they are often discarded once opened, so they should be considered a real bonus when intact on out-of-print CD’s.

 

In recent years we have seen the obi-strip occasionally replaced with a sleeve sticker, no less attractive and equally unique to the Japanese pressing. Japanese CD albums often benefit from extra music and new video-style content, to further entice the Japanese public to buy their native release and not an import. Non-album tracks and exclusive mixes often feature and there are a huge amount of 'Japan-Only' releases that do not have an equivalent release elsewhere in the world. Japanese pressings will nearly always include a lyric booklet or fold-out lyric sheet. These are dual-language, printed in both the ~kana script and in English, the latter often having some wonderful mis-translations!

I was just wondering. SOS was in stores on the 19th of May here in The Netherlands. Four days before it's official release. So that could mean that X&Y could be in stores here on the 2nd of June :D

Coldplay and EMI need to hold on to their workers.. cause even if this album was leaked today, it was tightly secure.

 

 

dizzzamn this be a trip

Wow. Why Japan though? :huh:

 

yea, they dont do it because they like Japanese better than anyone else.. they do it for import reasons.. They know fans will buy the album at ludicrus prices.. for one track.. or maybe two

Maybe it's because American bands rarely tour Asia?

Okay I hate sounding ignorant, but what the hell is an "obi strip"?! Sounds like some kind of pregnancy test for...jedi masters. :happy2:

Okay I hate sounding ignorant' date=' but what the hell is an "obi strip"?! Sounds like some kind of pregnancy test for...jedi masters. :happy2:[/quote']

 

Ahahaha I thought the exact same thing until I read that synopsis. Also, isn't Japan wicked expensive so (along with making more money off us importing it) it gives the Japanese a reason to buy the CD...especially now when they can just download it.