Various Artists - Left Of the Dial : Dispatches From the 80's Underground

Blogcritics review

Producer Gary Stewart put together the punk box set titled No Thanks! for Rhino Records and this is the logical followup. It is an awe-inspiring collection. 82 songs by 82 different artists sprawl across 4 discs and represent the incredible eclecticism of everything now lumped together as post-punk. 11 of the songs included here hit the U.S. dance charts and 28 of the artists have landed on the U.S. dance chart at least once. This is a cornerstone collection for understanding the music of the 80's.

Depeche Mode - Remixes 81-04

Blogcritics review

The grand tour of alternative mixes of Depeche Mode music. Some of these will make you rethink the original song and others are relatively simple extensions making the song work on the dancefloor. This collection works both as an expansion of the group's catalog and an introductory course in the art of the mixer. As a significant amount of Depeche Mode's success has come through the DJ and the dancefloor, this collection is essential to see the entire picture.

Beastie Boys - To the 5 Boroughs

And We Danced review

The most obvious trait of the Beasties in the rap world is their white skin color, but this latest set demonstrates once again another Beastie hallmark, their ability to crossover into other genres. The single Ch..Check It Out launched the new album complete with mixes for the club. Elsewhere there are obvious nods to rock and classic punk (that amazing riff from the Dead Boys' Sonic Reducer on An Open Letter To NYC). It may sound a bit odd, but ultimately this is one of the best feel-good albums of the year.

Various Artists - Get Down Tonight : The Disco Explosion

This box set accompanies a PBS documentary on the glory days of Disco. It's the best overall Disco collection since Rhino Records' The Disco Box. If you don't have these in your collection, this box is a must.

DVDs

Depeche Mode - Devotional

Blogcritics review

It's been a great year for Depeche Mode with no new material from the band. This is the long awaited documentary of the band's tour in support of Songs Of Faith and Devotion. It's filled with phenomenal performances and stunning stage design from visual mastermind Anton Corbijn.