Readers Poll 2011: Best reissues of the year

As 2011 quickly winds to an end, we’re happy to roll out the second of four days’ worth of results from our second-annual Slicing Up Eyeballs Readers Poll, in which nearly 500 of you cast ballots for your favorite new, reissued and freshly compiled music of the year over a four week period in late November and December.

Today we dig into your Top 10 reissues of the year. All told, more than 50 titles received votes — plus, as always, a few that weren’t eligible (this time it wasn’t just The Smile Sessions that got thoroughly misplaced votes, but reissues from Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones, too).

So here’s the agenda for the week:

MONDAY: Best compilations, box sets, live albums of 2011
TODAY: Best reissues of 2011
WEDNESDAY: Best singles/tracks of 2011
THURSDAY: Best new albums of 2011

Best reissues of 2011:

10. Echo & The Bunnymen, Heaven Up Here

BACKSTORY: Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab this year released a series of new titles on numbered, limited-edition, audiophile vinyl, including the second album, originally released in 1981, by Ian McCulloch and Co. The album features the singles “A Promise” and “Over the Wall,” plus album tracks including the classic “Show of Strength” and “All I Want.”
COVERAGE: Echo & The Bunnymen’s ‘Heaven Up Here’ re-pressed on audiophile vinyl
BUY IT: Amazon.com

9. Primal Scream, Screamadelica: 20th Anniversary

BACKSTORY: The genre-hopping C86 grads this year reissued, in the U.K., their landmark 1991 album in both 2CD and 2LP sets, plus a massive 4CD/1DVD/2LP deluxe box set highlighted by “a new cut of the album” remixed by none other than part-time Scream member Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine. The band spent much of the year performing the record, too.
COVERAGE: Primal Scream taps Kevin Shields to remaster ‘Screamadelica’ for box set
BUY IT: Amazon.com

8. Peter Murphy, Should the World Fail to Fall Apart

BACKSTORY: Cherry Red this year reissued, in the U.K., an expanded 25th anniversary reissue of the former Bauhaus leader’s solo debut — newly remastered by the folks at Beggars Archive — featuring a bonus disc with 14 B-sides, remixes and alternate versions, including three different mixes of the singer’s well-known Pere Ubu cover “Final Solution.”
COVERAGE: Peter Murphy solo debut ‘Should the World Fail to Fall Apart’ to be reissued
BUY IT: Amazon.com, iTunes

7. Ride, Nowhere: 20th Anniversary Edition

BACKSTORY: The beloved debut from the seminal British shoegazers —  who initially signed to Creation Records in the late ’80s — was reissued this year in a 2CD set via Rhino.com. The new edition includes the full album plus seven bonus tracks, in addition to a second disc featuring a 12-song live set recorded at The Roxy in Los Angeles on April 10, 1991.
COVERAGE: Ride’s ‘Nowhere’ reissued in 2CD 20th anniversary set
BUY IT: Amazon.com

6. INXS, Kick

BACKSTORY: Another new Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab title released this year, the Aussie rockers’ global 1987 blockbuster arrived on numbered, limited-edition, audiophile vinyl. The album features the unforgettable hit singles “Need You Tonight,” “Devil Inside,” “New Sensation” and “Never Tear Us Apart,” plus tracks such as “Mystify” and “Guns in the Sky.”
COVERAGE: INXS’ smash ‘Kick’ reissued on audiophile vinyl
BUY IT: Amazon.com

5. Nirvana, Nevermind: 20th Anniversary Edition

BACKSTORY: The Seattle trio’s landmark 1991 album received a 4CD/1DVD 20th anniversary reissue this year featuring Butch Vig’s original, rejected mix of the record, the band’s initial Smart Studios demos and a full 1991 Halloween concert on both CD and DVD. A slimmed-down 2CD version and a new vinyl pressing also were released.
COVERAGE: Nirvana ‘Nevermind’ reissue to include Butch Vig’s original mix
BUY IT: Amazon.com, iTunes

4. The Jesus and Mary Chain, Darklands

BACKSTORY: The Scottish noise-pop legends this year reissued all six of their studio albums in 2CD/1DVD expanded editions via the Demon Music Group; the new edition of their classic sophomore album features 30 bonus tracks, including non-album B-sides, outtakes, the Some Candy Talking EP, a long-sought 1986 Janice Long session, an alternate version of “Some Candy Talking” and a “recently unearthed” version of the title track with strings.
COVERAGE: Jesus and Mary Chain reissuing all 6 albums this fall in 2CD/1DVD editions
BUY IT: Amazon.com

3. The Jesus and Mary Chain, Psychocandy

BACKSTORY: This year’s expanded edition of the Mary Chain’s legendary debut came packed with 30 bonus tracks, including all of the corresponding singles’ B-sides, previously unreleased demos, rare outtakes, the band’s 1985 acoustic John Peel session and the original rejected version of controversial track “Jesus Fuck,” intended as an early B-side. The DVD features music videos and live performances on “Old Grey Whistle Test,” “The Tube” and more.
COVERAGE: Jesus and Mary Chain reissuing all 6 albums this fall in 2CD/1DVD editions
BUY IT: Amazon.com

2. R.E.M., Lifes Rich Pageant: 25th Anniversary

BACKSTORY: Months before their break-up, Athens, Ga., college-rock heroes this year reissued their classic 1986 album complete with a second disc of demos including early recordings of all 12 Lifes Rich Pageant tracks, plus several songs later recorded for subsequent releases — plus one song, “Wait,” that never had been released in any form. 
COVERAGE: R.E.M. ‘Lifes Rich Pageant’ 25th anniversary reissue to include 19 demos
BUY IT: Amazon.com, iTunes

1. U2, Achtung Baby: 20th Anniversary Edition

BACKSTORY: The Irish band’s most acclaimed album was the subject of a massive 20th anniversary reissue this year, and was repackaged in six different CD, vinyl and digital configurations, including a $470 ‘Uber Deluxe’ edition with six CDs, four DVDs, two LPs and five 7-inches. That set includes early versions of each track on the album.
COVERAGE: U2′s ‘Achtung Baby’ box set: 6 CDs, 4 DVDs, 2 LPs, 5 7-inches
BUY IT: Amazon.com, iTunes