I'm searching with my good eye closed, looking forward back in this week's New Album Releases as the titles most interesting to me are from the re-issue department as opposed to actual new albums. Before I get to those, I will throw some shout outs in the direction of Brian Eno's Small Craft On A Milk Sea and Bleu's Four. I'll also throw a shoutout to the Introduction To Elliott Smith compilation. If you don't know Elliott, you need to be introduced. Of course my advice in that case is to buy each of his albums and not to come out of your room until you're weeping and overflowed with emotion and gratitude for the life and music but that's just me. One more shoutout, our own BC Editor El Bicho has reviewed the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame 25th Anniversary Concert package being released in multiple formats. The shows were held last year and are being released today. With that, let's take a look at what's on my pre-Christmas list for the week:
Paul McCartney
Band On The Run (Remastered)
As has become the way of things, this remastered edition of Macca's classic Band On The Run is available in numerous packages/formats. There's the single disc version featuring the 9-track album, remastered by the geniuses who spectacularly remastered The Beatles' catalog for release last year. There's a 2-CD/DVD package, a 3-CD/DVD package, and a 2-LP vinyl package. I've selected the 2-CD/DVD package which includes the remastered album, a second disc with another nine bonus audio tracks, and a DVD with various goodies.
Weezer
Pinkerton (Deluxe)
Death To False Metal
Once upon a time, Weezer released a sophomore record named Pinkerton. Critics pretty well buried the record and the band disappeared for several years. It should have been a career killer but quietly, while no one was looking, new generations of fans dug deeply into the songs and learned one of life's undeniable truths: sometimes the critics are full of shit. Pinkerton became a cult favorite, Weezer returned, and the masses rejoiced. Weezer is returning Pinkerton to the kids newly remastered and outfitted with rarities, live cuts, and alternate takes of these songs that now mean so much to so many.
In the process of digging through the archives, the band assembled another disc of rarities and other material from their vault and named it Death To False Metal. It's being sold separately from the Pinkerton package and gathers tracks considered for different Weezer albums over the year. It includes a cover of Toni Braxton's schmaltzy hit "Unbreak My Heart." I'm going to buy this anyway.
Article comments
1 - Tom Johnson
Important programming note about Band On The Run: audiophiles may want to opt for the hi-rez downloads from McCartney's site, where they will get not only the option of buying any of the versions available, but also one version of the songs in high resolution withing any limiting applied whatsoever.
2 - Josh Hathaway
True, his site is offering several digital options in addition to the physical releases.
3 - Jimmy Pillar
Anything re-released by any of The Beatles is a treat in my book. Always seem to hear something a bit differently every time. Sometimes a re-mix of a good song is as good as hearing it as new again!