Record Rack: A round-up of the week’s new albums, reissues and/or box sets.
ARTIST: Gorillaz
RELEASE: Plastic Beach
BACKSTORY: The third album from Damon Albarn’s cartoon-fronted band features The Clash’s Mick Jones and Paul Simonon reuniting on record for the first time since 1982’s Combat Rock to guest on the title track; other high-profile artists pitching in throughout the album include The Fall’s Mark E. Smith and Lou Reed.
BUY IT: Plastic Beach via Amazon.com
ARTIST: Spandau Ballet
RELEASES: Journeys to Glory, Diamond
BACKSTORY: The recently reunited New Romantic torchbearers this week reissue their first two albums — released in 1981 and 1982, respectively — in remastered and expanded two-disc sets in the U.K., with each title including a bevy of bonus 7-inch and 12-inch single mixes and live BBC session recordings.
BUY IT: Journeys to Glory, Diamond via Amazon.co.uk
ARTIST: The Fleshtones
RELEASE: It’s Super-Rock Time! The IRS Years: 1980-1985
BACKSTORY: The long-running garage rockers — whose frontman, Peter Zaremba, hosted MTV’s “IRS Records Presents The Cutting Edge” during the mid-’80s — this week issue a new compilation celebrating the band’s five-year tenure on the aforementioned IRS Records.
BUY IT: It’s Super-Rock Time! The IRS Years: 1980-1985 via Amazon.com
Thanks for including the Fleshtones. Love this band and any time they can get some screen time is A GREAT THING!!