Record Rack: A weekly round-up of the pertinent new releases hitting stores this Tuesday:
ARTIST: U2
ALBUM: No Line on the Horizon
FORMAT: CD, LP, download
BACKSTORY: Bono and Co.’s 12th album leaked nearly two weeks ago, prompting the band to stream it on MySpace well before its official release date. The disc finds U2 working with longtime associates Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and Steve Lillywhite, recapturing some of the foursome’s ’90s-era sonic experimentation.
METACRITIC SCORE: 71
ARTIST: Erasure
ALBUM: Pop! Remixed
FORMAT: CD, download
BACKSTORY: This 10-track U.K. EP features remixes of the synthpop duo’s greatest hits, from “A Little Respect” to “Chorus” and “Stop!,” plus a brand-new Jeremy Wheatley remix of “Always.”
METACRITIC SCORE: N/A
ARTIST: David Byrne and Brian Eno
ALBUM: Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
FORMAT: LP
BACKSTORY: Last year’s excellent collaboration between the former Talking Head and that band’s one-time producer comes out on 180-gram vinyl this week. The sleeve features a full color matte varnish cover with a metallic sticker.
METACRITIC SCORE: 75
ARTIST: The House of Love
ALBUM: Live at the BBC
FORMAT: CD
BACKSTORY: This 19-track U.K.-only disc features previously unreleased live cuts culled from four different BBC concert performances recorded in the early ’90s, following founding guitarist Terry Bickers’ departure.
METACRITIC SCORE: N/A
ARTIST: Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3
ALBUM: Goodnight Oslo
FORMAT: LP
BACKSTORY: The second effort from Hitchcock and the Venus 3 (R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey and Bill Rieflin) receives a vinyl release this week.
METACRITIC SCORE: 80
ARTIST: Marty Willson-Piper
ALBUM: Nightjar
FORMAT: CD
BACKSTORY: Willson-Piper, guitarist and occasional singer for Australian rock act The Church, this week issues his first solo album in eight years.
METACRITIC SCORE: N/A
ARTIST: Revolting Cocks
ALBUM: Sex-O Olympic-O
FORMAT: CD, download
BACKSTORY: Ministry brainchild Al Jourgensen is now taking somewhat of a backseat in the 24-year-old RevCo, having picked a new lineup and singer to carry the torch. Still, he produced and contributed some backing vocals to this, the band’s sixth album.
METACRITIC SCORE: N/A
