Record Rack: A round-up of the week’s new albums, expanded reissues and/or box sets, appearing each Monday on Slicing Up Eyeballs.
Blondie
RELEASE: Blondie 4(0)-Ever: Greatest Hits Redux + Ghosts of Download
BACKSTORY: The New Wave legends celebrate their 40th anniversary with a 3-disc set that features a disc of re-recorded greatest hits, a brand-new studio album and the “Live at CBGB 1977” DVD.
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
Swans
RELEASE: To Be Kind
BACKSTORY: Michael Gira and Co. return this week with their thirteenth studio album, available as a triple LP, a double CD and a 2CD deluxe edition that includes a DVD filled with live performances.
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
The Beat
RELEASE: The Complete Studio Recordings
BACKSTORY: Edsel Records this week releases, in the U.K., a 4CD box set from the ska legends featuring their three studio albums and a bonus disc of rarities. A similar set was released in the U.S. in 2012.
BUY: Amazon.co.uk
Talking Heads
RELEASE: Performance
BACKSTORY: The Applebush label this week releases, in the U.K., a live Talking Heads concert recorded at the Berklee School of Music in Boston on Aug. 24, 1979, during the Fear of Music tour and broadcast on FM radio.
BUY: Amazon.co.uk
Also out tomorrow: new remix album (Echoes) from Front Line Assembly, and new Vomito Negro (Death Sun).
It’s Berklee College of Music.
I will happily be purchasing BLONDIE 4(0)EVER tomorrow. I’m very excited to hear this deluxe, Special Edition Box Set w/ 2-LPs/CDs and a CBGB DVD. After hearing the 21st Century versions/recreations of “One Way Or Another” and “Sunday Girl”, from the DELUXE REDUX LP/CD (and Deborah Harry’s and the Band’s excellent, incredibly faithful performances), I’m probably even more intrigued to hear album 1 more so than album 2…but, ALSO hearing the singles “A Rose By Any Name”, “Sugar On The Side”, and “I Want To Drag You Around”, I’m very intrigued to hear GHOSTS OF DOWNLOAD, too. I hate that the album originally contained 16 tracks, and that 3 have been relegated to iTunes-only release. I think fans who purchase the Special Edition Box Set and/or the vinyl double LP set should get the bonus tracks…shouldn’t physical digital media releases get “the extras”, as opposed to the audio-only ones?
Next on the list, Chrissie Hynde’s first offical solo album. Great to see these rock Ladies of the Golden Era are still doing great, progressive work. Hopefully, Siouxsie’s new album(s) will join the party soon. That would make one helluva triumvirate.