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: The Charlatans
RELEASE: Who We Touch
BACKSTORY: The Madchester survivors this week release their 11th album in the U.K. (it’s out in the U.S. next week; the band’s first American release in nearly a decade), a 10-track effort produced by Killing Joke bassist Youth. There’s also a deluxe edition with a 13-track bonus CD of “early versions, outtakes, alternate takes and mixes.”
BUY IT: Who We Touch via Amazon.co.uk
ARTIST: James
RELEASE: The Morning After
BACKSTORY: The long-running Manchester act this week releases its second mini-album of the year in the U.K., a companion to last spring’s The Night Before. The two discs, totaling 15 tracks, will be packaged together as The Morning After the Night Before for a U.S. release due out next week to coincide with the band’s upcoming tour.
BUY IT: The Morning After via Amazon.co.uk
ARTIST: Various
RELEASE: We Were So Turned On: A Tribute to David Bowie
BACKSTORY: The Thin White Duke is honored this week with a new 2CD tribute album that benefits War Child. Among the contributors: Duran Duran (“Boys Keep Swinging”), Vivian Girls (“John, I’m Only Dancing”), French first lady Carla Bruni (“Absolute Beginners”) and Mick Karn (“Ashes to Ashes”).
BUY IT: We Were So Turned On: A Tribute to David Bowie via Amazon.com
See more new releases from Madness, Lou Reed and Nick Marsh after the jump…
ARTIST: Madness
RELEASE: Wonderful
BACKSTORY: The ska-pop act’s reissue campaign continues this week with an expanded 2CD edition of this 1999 album, which was the first to feature all seven original members since 1984’s Keep Moving. The set includes three music videos of the album’s singles, and a 14-track bonus disc with B-sides, edits and other tracks.
BUY IT: Wonderful via Amazon.com
ARTIST: Lou Reed
RELEASE: This Is Lou Reed: The Greatest Hits
BACKSTORY: Sony Music releases a new 18-track best-of in the U.K. this week featuring early-career stuff like “Perfect Day,” “Walk on the Wild Side,” “Men of Good Fortune,” “Caroline Says II,” “Satellite of Love” and “Berlin” but is missing later classics such as “Dirty Blvd.”
BUY IT: This Is Lou Reed: The Greatest Hits via Amazon.com
ARTIST: Nick Marsh
RELEASE: A Universe Between Us
BACKSTORY: The former Flesh for Lulu frontman this week reissues his self-released 2006 solo debut in the U.K. with new cover art. It’s the first release by Bellissima Records, the new record label started by Marsh and his partner, ex-Miranda Sex Garden leader Katharine Blake, who also produced the album and lends vocals and strings.
BUY IT: A Universe Between Us via Amazon.co.uk
