There are also deluxe reissue editions of seminal albums by Lynyrd Skynyrd (Street Survivors) and Elvis Costello (This Year's Model) — which in Costello's case at least, makes this something like the 96th time this album has been brought back in a new "definitive version." The Doors vault of live recordings also continues to be scraped bone dry with this week's Live in Pittsburgh 1970.
"Big Ears." I've perhaps used this description too many times but, man...it fits! Many of my favorite musicians display this tendency. They draw musical elements from a variety of genres, extract the juice, and then produce a mix that sounds nothing like anything you've ever heard before. Check bassist Doug Wimbish's bio and you'll see the extremes: from playing on Grandmaster Flash's seminal The Message to taking part in the sonic brutality and brilliance of Living Colour. In the middle was Tackhead, another tough to pin down outfit.
I don't know anything about this release save the samples I've listened to. "Trippy" about does it. Sign me up.
As a long-time fan of the group, I've simply come to expect to be perplexed by what electronic-noise pioneers Autechre put out. And, as it turns out, the more perplexed I am upon immediate inspection of the new material, the longer I tend to be interested. First reaction may simply be "Jesus, what is this?" but something always calls me back. After multiple listens, something starts to jell. Somewhere, under the layers of twisted aural wreckage, there lies uncommon, awkward beauty. Despite giving a listen to the previews on Bleep.com I still don't really know what to expect - except the old cliche of the unexpected.
Here are all of this week's new album releases courtesy of All Music Guide:
Autechre
Quaristice
Warp
IDM, Experimental Techno, Glitch
The Black Crowes
Warpaint
Silver Arrow
American Trad Rock, Southern Rock, Blues-Rock
Carlene Carter
Stronger
Yep Roc
Neo-Traditionalist Country, Roots Rock, Contemporary Country
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Wow. The page actually broke perfectly this week. The writing and the picks are on page 1, and the list is on page 2. Nobody got clipped. How about that?
So just to be clear, I better not get any complaints about the page breaks this week. Are we clear on that?
-Glen
2 - Josh Hathaway
My copy of Gutter Twins arrived last night from Sub Pop and I'm finally getting a chance to listen this morning. I have a good feeling about this one.
3 - Tom Johnson
The notable thing about "this year's model" of This Year's Model is that it has that tempting live album tacked on as disc two. I think Costello may be shooting himself in the foot not releasing these live discs separately - I think they'd sell a lot better by themselves than paired with the albums all of us already own at least once, if not multiple times. Let's see - on CD, there's the old Columbia pressing, then the Ryko remasters with a few bonus tracks, then the Rhinos with bonus discs, then last year the Hip-O Select with NO bonuses whatsoever, and now this version. Not to mention vinyl, cassette, etc. What's extra annoying is that this REALLY is the best version of the album to get - aside from one lone BBC version of "Stranger In The House," it has everything the Ryko and Rhino issues had PLUS a live album. Which means I'm going to get suckered in to this thing eventually.
4 - Kevin Eagan
I'm looking forward to hearing The Gutter Twins and the Stephen Malkmus albums.
5 - Josh Hathaway
Kevin, the Gutter Twins record is FANTASTIC, surpassing my expectations.
6 - Glen Boyd
Tom,
I'd buy the live EC thing on it's own (or find a source to download it maybe), but much as I usually like what Hip O does as a label, the Costello reissues are kinda being done to death at this point. I stopped at the Rhino reissues myself, and am perfectly happy with those.
Kevin and Josh,
I'll have to check out the Gutter Twins (cool Stones reference in the name). I always dig Lanegan's solo stuff, but have always been kinda indifferent about the Afghan Whigs. The album does sound interesting though...
Thanx as always for the comments (and no bitching about the page breaks, lawd' be praised!).
-Glen
7 - Mark Saleski
i'd love the live content too, but i'm not buying yet another reissue. i think i've got the Rhino reissues...those are the ones with the demo? yeah, that's it.
8 - Kevin Eagan
Josh, I just bought my copy of the Gutter Twins' album and you're right, it's excellent!
9 - Josh Hathaway
I'm listening to it (still) as we speak. I've already posted a bit about it over at Fanboy. I'm working on a review proper.
Fantastic record.