Record Rack: A round-up of the week’s new albums, expanded reissues and/or box sets, appearing each Monday on Slicing Up Eyeballs.
Erasure
RELEASE: Snow Globe
BACKSTORY: The classic synthpop duo this week releases a 13-track holiday album featuring new renditions of “Silent Night,” “White Christmas,” “Silver Bells” and other seasonal fare (full album now streaming).
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
The Lords of the New Church
RELEASE: The Lords of the New Church, Is Nothing Sacred?, The Methods to Our Madness
BACKSTORY: Three out-of-print studio albums released by the postpunk supergroup that featured Stiv Bators are reissued this week on CD.
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
Various Artists
RELEASE: Songs For Slim: Rockin’ Here Tonight — A Benefit for Slim Dunlap
BACKSTORY: This 2CD set collects tracks from the benefit singles released this year to raise money for Slim Dunlap, including tracks from The Replacements, Frank Black, Chris Mars, Jeff Tweedy, Chan Poling and more.
BUY: Amazon.com
Matthew Sweet and Susannah Hoffs
RELEASE: Under the Covers Vol. 3
BACKSTORY: On their third collaboration, Matthew Sweet and the Bangles’ Susannah Hoffs move to the ’80s, covering Echo & The Bunnymen, The Smiths, The Pretenders, The Beat, Roxy Music and The Go-Go’s.
BUY: Amazon.com
MOAT (Marty Willson-Piper and Niko Rohlke)
RELEASE: MOAT
BACKSTORY: MOAT is a collaboration between guitarist/singer and songwriter Marty Willson-Piper (of the Church) and composer/multi-instrumentalist Niko Röhlcke. This album captures the fusion of sparse Scandinavian beauty and English folk sensibilities, filmic and evocative.
BUY: secondmotionrecords.com, itunes
Erasure album is really good. I cringed when I first heard they were doing this but I really like it.
Deluxe box set includes a great rework of ‘She Won’t Be Home’ from the Crackers Intl. EP.