Record Rack: A round-up of the week’s new albums, expanded reissues and/or box sets, appearing each Monday on Slicing Up Eyeballs. All releases due out this Friday unless noted. (Since we missed last week’s round-up, this includes titles that came out this past Friday, too.)
R.E.M.
RELEASE: At the BBC
BACKSTORY: R.E.M. this week releases an 8CD/1DVD box set collecting material recorded for the BBC between 1984 and 2008, including a 1984 live set, a full Monster tour show, the band’s Glastonbury 1999 set and more
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
Nitzer Ebb
RELEASE: That Total Age, Belief, Showtime, Ebbhead, Big Hit
BACKSTORY: Following the release of vinyl box set, Nitzer Ebb this week reissues five of its albums in deluxe, expanded CD editions. Except for That Total Age, each are 2CD sets, filled out remixes and bonus material.
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
Camouflage
RELEASE: Voices & Images
BACKSTORY: The 1988 debut from the German synthpop outfit is reissued this week in expanded 2CD and 3LP sets, with copious bonus material, including five different versions of breakout single “The Great Commandment.”
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
Elvis Costello & The Imposters
RELEASE: Look Now
BACKSTORY: Elvis Costello releases his first new album in five years and first with The Imposters in 10 years. The 12-song album, out now, includes the tracks “Under Lime,” “Suspect My Tears” and more.
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
Belly
RELEASE: Dove
BACKSTORY: The reunited Belly — Tanya Donelly’s post-Throwing Muses, post-Breeders alt-rock outlet — has released its first album in 23 years, an 11-song collection previewed by first single “Shiny One”
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
David Bowie
RELEASE: Loving the Alien (1983-1988)
BACKSTORY: David Bowie’s box-set series continues with 11CD and 15LP editions that include a brand-new production of the Never Let Me Down album, two lives albums, a collection of remixes and more.
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
Cocteau Twins
RELEASE: Treasure Hiding: The Fontana Years
BACKSTORY: The Cocteaus’ latter-period work is compiled on a new four-disc, 53-track box set out now that includes their final two albums plus two discs’ worth of B-sides, EP tracks, live radio sessions and rarities.
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
Primal Scream
RELEASE: Give Out But Don’t Give Up: The Original Memphis Recordings
BACKSTORY: The Primals have released the original recordings, made in Memphis, for their follow-up to Screamadelica. Includes original versions of “Rocks,” “Jailbird” and more.
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- New releases: Echo & The Bunnymen, Joe Strummer, Pixies, House of Love, Nick Cave, XTC
- This week’s new releases: Ramones’ ‘Road to Ruin’ box set, Felt, Butthole Surfers, The Cult
- This week’s new releases: Siouxsie and the Banshees, Paul Weller, The Chills, Devo
- This week’s new releases: Soft Cell box set, plus Spiritualized, Durutti Column, Posies
Not sure what I’ll actually purchase here, but lots of this is interesting to me. Nitzer Ebb, Belly, Cocteau Twins, Camouflage…
The Belly album has been out for months, not sure why it’s listed here as a new release. That said, it’s really good.
I think the REM is going to surprise people — there’s some excellent shows here that will fill holes in a lot of folks’ collections.