Record Rack: A round-up of the week’s new albums, expanded reissues and/or box sets, appearing each Monday on Slicing Up Eyeballs.
ARTIST: Crowded House
RELEASE: Intriguer
BACKSTORY: The Crowdies’ second post-reunion album arrives this week in the U.K., although it won’t be released here in the U.S. for another full month to coincide with the band’s North American tour. The 10-track disc comes in a limited-edition set with a bonus DVD featuring most of the new album’s songs performed live.
BUY IT: Intriguer via Amazon.co.uk
ARTIST: Devo
RELEASE: Something for Everybody
BACKSTORY: Devo’s first studio album since 1990’s Smooth Noodle Maps arrives this week, featuring the core brotherly lineup of Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh and Gerald and Bob Casale, plus onetime Nine Inch Nails drummer Josh Freese. The record also includes contributions from Santigold, The Dust Brothers’ John King and Teddybears.
BUY IT: Something for Everybody via Amazon.com
ARTIST: Suzanne Vega
RELEASE: Close-Up Vol. 1: Love Songs
BACKSTORY: The singer-songwriter this week releases the first of four volumes of re-recorded versions of her back catalog; each of the albums, to be released throughout 2010 and 2011, will feature new stripped-down acoustic versions of Vega’s past material, arranged thematically rather than chronologically.
BUY IT: Close-Up Vol. 1: Love Songs via Amazon.com
ARTIST: The Dream Syndicate
RELEASE: Medicine Show
BACKSTORY: The 1984 sophomore album by the Paisley Underground act is reissued on CD for the first time since the late-’80s this week, with the full This Is Not the New Dream Syndicate Album… Live! EP as a bonus, including the 10-minute blast through “John Coltrane Stereo Blues” previously cut from the CD.
BUY IT: Medicine Show via Amazon.com
