Lots and lots of reissues to talk about lately. It is nice to see so many albums we love get a proper remastered package complete with extra tracks, exclusives and more.
Next up on our radar is the 25th anniversary deluxe edition of R.E.M.'sdebut Murmur.
The double-disc set features the original album completely remastered.
The second disc contains a live concert recording of a show R.E.M. did at Larry's Hideaway in Toronto. The show took place just three months after Murmur's April 1983 release and is previously unreleased. The live set included many tracks from Murmur plus a cover of the Velvet Underground'sThere She Goes Again, a track the band later recorded in the studio for the b-side to Radio Free Europe. The band also played tracks from The Chronic Town EP as well as early versions of 7 Chinese Bros., Harborcoat and Just A Touch.
Murmur deluxe edition is due November 25th - track listing -
Disc 1:
01 Radio Free Europe
02 Pilgrimage
03 Laughing
04 Talk About the Passion
05 Moral Kiosk
06 Perfect Circle
07 Catapult
08 Sitting Still
09 9-9
10 Shaking Through
11 We Walk
12 West of the Fields
Disc 2 (Live at Larry's Hideaway):
01 Laughing
02 Pilgrimage
03 There She Goes Again
04 7 Chinese Bros.
05 Talk About the Passion
06 Sitting Still
07 Harborcoat
08 Catapult
09 Gardening at Night
10 9-9
11 Just a Touch
12 West of the Fields
13 Radio Free Europe
14 We Walk
15 1,000,000
16 Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)
We are just now picking up on the highly addictive sounds of The Jealous Girlfriends. There is something extremely hypnotic about Organs On The Kitchen Floor. We can't seem to stop playing it.
For this installment of "vintage" we are Looking all the way back to this live Depeche Mode performance of Photographic back in 1983.
To this day the track still remains one of our favorites. Photographic was also the first song the band ever recorded. It originally appeared on the band's 1981 debut Speak & Spell during the Vince Clarke years.
The Dodos recently played a live set at Spiegelworld in New York City. Baeble recorded the show and is featuring the full set over on their site for your streaming enjoyment.
Chickens The Ball Fools Joe's Waltz Men It's That Time Again Paint The Rust Jodi Untitled Season
The guys were also awarded with a San Francisco Goldie Award in music this month. Congrats. The Dodos are the best band to come out of the Bay Area in a long time and it is nice to see them being acknowledged as such. Read more on the band and their win this year over on the San Francisco Bay Guardian site here.
With all of our Smiths coverage this past week we almost overlooked a group of releases from another of our favorite bands.
Rhino, yep Rhino again, re-released the first five New Order albums in special remastered expanded 2-CD collector editions this week. Let's face it, these are the New Order albums that really matter. It is nice to have them all in remastered form with incredible sound. Each album is backed with a second disc containing coinciding b-sides, remixes, a rarity or two, instrumentals, alternate takes and more.
All five re-issues contain expanded liner notes including interviews with all four band members.
We just got our copies and can't wait to dig in.
Let's have a look at what exactly each release contains -
Movement(original release 1981 ) - contains the original album remastered plus a bonus disc made up of two versions of Ceremony, the 7" and 12" versions of Temptation, the 12" mix of Everything's Gone Green, Cries And Whispers and In A Lonely Place. Power, Corruption & Lies (original release 1983) - contains the original album remastered plus a bonus disc featuring Thieves Like Us, The Beach, instrumentals of Confusion and Thieves Like Us, Murder, Lonesome Tonight and the 12" single version of Blue Monday.
The Low-life(original release 1985) - contains the original album remastered plus a bonus disc featuring extended versions of Shellshock, The Perfect Kiss and Shame Of The Nation as well as Elegia (the full 17-minute version!), Dub Vulture, Salvation Theme, Sub-culture (John Robie remix) and Let's Go.
Brotherhood (original release 1986) - contains the original album remastered plus a bonus disc featuring the Shep Pettibone remixes of True Faith and Bizarre Love Triangle, the True Faith True Dub, Evil Dust, Beach Buggy, Touched By The Hand Of God, Blue Monday '88 and one of our favorites, 1963.
Technique(original release 1989) - contains the original album remastered plus a bonus disc featuringVanishing Point , Fine Time (Silk Mix) Run 2, MTO, Best & Marsh, Don't Do It, Fine Line, the Round And Round 12" version and the Cabinieri remix of World In Motion.
New Order, Temptation live at the BBC Radio 1 studios in 1984 -
Our favorite Norwegians Monomen just released a new track on their MySpace pagehere.
The track is called Polaroid.
Hopefully this is a sign of a new album in the works? The guys have been quiet for quite some time.
If you are not familiar with the band make sure you listen to Drum Of Glass as well. We can't express enough love and lust for this track. Pure goodness.
The time has come. We've been talking and talking about the release of The Sound Of The Smiths for quite some time.
The release hits shops today. Let's re-cap.
Details on the standard one-disc version and the two-disc deluxe version here.
Details on extra tracks available via iTunes here.
The Smiths rank as our favorite band ever. Hardcore fans probably have most of the tracks included in this collection, but there are a few things that really make this set worth it -
1) The Johnny Marr involvement in the remaster of the music. We heard things we've never noticed in Stretch Out And Wait and Morrissey's vocal on Sweet And Tender Hooligan comes across much more raw and vivacious, giving the track a completely new life.
2) The live version of Meat Is Murder recorded at the Oxford Apollo in 1985. Fans will remember this live version as the b-side to the vinyl release of This Joke Isn't Funny Anymore. A true favorite, it is nice to finally have a remastered copy of it ready for the digital age. One of the most powerful live recordings ever put to tape during the band's short lived career. It still gives us chills with each listen. Morrissey's haunting vocal is completely impassioned while the dramatic switch-up in the music sets it apart from the original conception.
3) The package. Rhino did it right. The deluxe edition contains beautiful glossy photos both posed and live. The backdrop to the CD trays is made up of the singles original covers. A token of Morrissey's genius as art director for The Smiths. The accompanying booklet plays out as a tiny photo book containing 22 images. Many of them shot by long-time Smiths photographer Kevin Cummins.
4) The music itself, of course. This anthology is a reminder of why the band is still one of the most talked about, respected and enjoyed musical entities of all time. Morrissey's lyrics alone have spawned pages after pages of critical thought and wonder in magazines, books and even classes.
A nice place start if you are new to The Smiths but surely not a substitute for the actual albums. A good collection of remastered material and random b-sides, live takes and alternate versions for the more hardcore.
The Smiths, Stretch Out And Wait live - Irvine, CA 1985
Letters To Cleo kicked off their reunion tour at The Roxy here in Los Angeles last night. Expectations were uncertain as the band had not played together officially since their disbandment in 2000. However, any sense of ambivalence was quickly diminished the minute the band took the stage with a ferocious take on Demon Rock.
The show never let up from that point. Cleo rocked through a string of hits and fan favorites spanning their full body of work. Mellie's Coming Over and closer Rimshak were definitely highlights of the night. Rimshakhas always been a favorite and the band did right closing out the set with it. Front gal Kay Hanley dedicated the rarely played Co-Pilot to daughter Zoe who was in attendance. Hanleyand band mate/husband Mike Eisenstein pulled out a stripped down, raw and unrehearsed version of Little Rosa . Fastway, Awake,Veda Very Shining, Big Star and the band's big hit Here And Now were all represented as well.
Without a doubt the band were stronger and tighter then they had been in their original inception. Clearly the years prior to the band's demise and the work done by all members in the music world resulted in better musicianship. They've returned stronger then ever. It felt like they had been playing together secretly for the past eight years preparing for last night's show. Hanley's vocals were spot on and you could automatically here the progression in Einstenein's guitar genius and Stacy Jones skills at the drums.
Next stop, hometown shows in Boston on December 8th and 9th followed by a show in New York City on December 11th.
Oh, also worth mentioning. The band is selling a CD they compiled of rarities, demos, soundtrack songs, etc... titled When Did We Do That? We picked one up and will be spinning it all day long today.
Track list -
Come On Let's Get High I Want You To Want Me Happy Ever After (WTFAMP) The Christmas Song Breathe Dangerous Type I'm A Fool I See '99 Cruel To Be Kind Disappear Pretty Things
Johnny Marrconducted a short interview on his official site regarding The Sound Of The Smiths release where he spoke primarily about his involvement in the mastering.
A snippet below -
johnnymarr.net : Is it true that you were involved in the Mastering ?
JM : I had to be. It wasn't going to be done right unless I got
involved. I asked the Mastering engineer; Frank Arkwright, who I really
rate, to come and do it, and I¹d check it all out and make some
suggestions and changes if needs be. What happened with the mastering
really was that in the past whoever did it added a lot of stuff that
actually made the tracks sound quite bad to me. Frank and I actually
took a load of crappy EQ off it and tried to get it to sound like it
did in the studio, which we've succeeded in doing. I think it sounds
really good, that's what I'm happy about; it sounds good. We've also
got rid of the compilations that I don't like.
We got our copy this past week and we have to say it is sounding mighty fine. A lot of hardcore fans are quick to dismiss this release as most already possess the material in one form or another. The remastered sound is actually pretty fantastic Getting this puppy into the iPod really makes a difference when you play it alongside the original counterparts.
A little more info for you all on the upcoming The Sound Of The Smiths collection that hits stores here on our shores next week on the 11th - the 10th for all of our UK buddies. Just to re-cap our mega-post on the release, The Sound Of The Smiths compiles 23 tracks that were either singles or songs intended as singles onto one disc. A special two-disc version will also be available containing a full disc of b-sides, live takes and "sort-of" rarities. Morrissey selected the releases title while Johnny Marr oversaw the mastering. We'd guess they also had a hand in selecting the extensive track listing. True, there are tons of Smiths compilations out there, but at least this one has the stamp of approval from Morrissey and Marr and it does contain actual remastered tracks.
If you are not going to go old school like us with the actual CD version and plan to buy this one digitally, take note that iTunes will be offering a few exclusive tracks with purchase. The standard "one disc" version contains What She Said and a live version of Hand In Glove. If you opt for the special deluxe model you will have access to Rubber Ring and The Draize Train. Fans most likely have Rubber Ring (via Louder Than Bombs) and The Draize Train is a pretty accessible b-side appearing on various singles for Panic and Some Girls Are Bigger Then Others but mostly in the vinyl format. A live version of course appears on the live Smiths album Rank. What She Said is taken from the band's second album Meat Is Murder and also appears alongside The Draize Train as a live track on Rank. We are curious to check out the live version of Hand In Glove, not sure where that comes from exactly.
Let's run down the track list once more -
* blue type equals the deluxe 2-disc version, pink type equals the cover for the single disc release
SINGLE CD
VERSION 1. "Hand in Glove" - Single
Version 2. "This Charming Man" - Single Version 3. "What Difference Does
It Make" - Peel Sessions Version 4. "Still Ill" - Album Version 5. "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" - Single Version 6. "William, It Was Really Nothing" - Single Version 7. "How Soon Is Now?" - 12" Single 8. "Nowhere Fast" - Album Version 9. "Shakespeare's Sister" - Single Version 10. "Barbarism Begins At Home" - 7" Version 11. "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" - Single Version 12. "The Headmaster Ritual" - Album Version 13. "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" - Single Version 14. "Bigmouth
Strikes Again" - Single Version 15. "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" - Album Version 16. "Panic" - Single Version 17. "Ask" - Single Version 18. "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet Baby" - Single Version 19. "Shoplifters Of The World Unite" - Single Version 20. "Sheila Take A Bow" - Single Version 21. "Girlfriend In A Coma" - Single Version 22. "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" - Single Version 23. "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" - Single
Version
DOUBLE CD DELUXE VERSION (Includes the Single CD along with the following)
1. "Jeane" - Single B-Side
2. "Handsome Devil" - - Single B-Side, Live 1983
3. "This Charming Man" (New York vocal)- 12" Single
4. "Wonderful Woman" - 12" Single
5. "Back To The Old House" - Single B-Side
6. "These Things Take Time" - 12" Single B-Side
7. "Girl Afraid" - Single B-Side
8. "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" - Single B-Side
9. "Stretch Out And Wait" - Single B-Side
10. "Oscillate Wildly" - 12" Single B-Side
11. "Meat Is Murder" - Live In Oxford - Single B-Side
12. "Asleep" - Single B-Side
13. "Money Changes Everything" - Single B-Side
14. "The Queen Is Dead" "Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty" - Medley
15. "Vicar In A Tutu" - Single B-Side
16. "Cemetry Gates" - Single B-Side
17. "Half A Person" - Single B-Side
18. "Sweet And Tender Hooligan" - 12" Single B-Side
19. "Pretty Girls Make Graves" -- Single B-Side, Troy Tate Version
20. "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" - Album Version
21. "What's The World?" -Live In Glasgow
22. "London" - Live In London
Our full take on the release is coming next week.Seeing as this happens to be our favorite band of all time any editorial from us would encompasses novel size output so we will do our best to keep it short and sweet.
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