Record Rack: A round-up of the week’s new albums, expanded reissues and/or box sets, appearing each Monday on Slicing Up Eyeballs.
Erasure
RELEASE: The Violet Flame
BACKSTORY: The classic synthpop duo returns this week with its 16th studio album, a 10-song set that features such tracks as “Stayed a Little Late Tonight, “Be the One,” “Reason,” “Smoke and Mirrors” and more.
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
Information Society
RELEASE: _hello world
BACKSTORY: Information Society returns this week with the first new album from the classic lineup in more than 20 years. Tracks include “Land of the Blind,” “Dancing with Strangers” and “Jonestown.”
BUY: Amazon.com
Thompson Twins
RELEASE: Remixes & Rarities: Classic 12″ Mixes & B-Sides
BACKSTORY: This two-disc, 24-track collection assembles rare tracks from the archives alongside classic full-length extended versions of the group’s hit singles from the 1980s. All remastered from the original tapes.
BUY: Amazon.co.uk
David Bowie
RELEASE: Sound + Vision
BACKSTORY: The classic David Bowie box set, originally released in 1989, is reissued yet again this week. The 4CD set spans the 21 albums from Space Oddity through The Buddha of Suburbia.
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
Erasure’s The Violet Flame is a superb piece of work, pulsating electro dance from start to finish, best record since Cowboy, check it out ;)
Can’t wait to hear the new InSoc album!
Bowie did another reissue? Pipped Elvis Costello at the post on the unnecessary reissues front.
He is sort of to blame for this but also not. He sold his catalog rights as an IPO many years ago for 50 million and since then has had no control over what is released or re-released in this case. It’s the reason why we keep getting new versions of previous albums every couple of years, etc. he may be regretting it at this point.
Figured as much that it was whoever owned the back catalogue, but it’s still his work, so it makes sense to say Bowie is reissued again. It seems like he, Elvis Costello and The Kinks get reissued as often as the sun comes out.
Absolutely, Just giving background, and I know what you mean with the Kinks as well. Between myself and a few friends we have all the Kinks remastered but different issues, I have the recent two disc remasters, one friend has all the ’98 reissues and another has the Sacd versions from Europe. I believe they released some or all of their catalog on DVD Audio as well at one point. Very silly.
The reissue of Sound + Vision would have made a little more sense if they would have added a fifth disc covering the 90’s & early 2000’s stuff. But I suppose most of that material was already covered on the double disc reissues of “Black Tie White Noise” through “Hours”. Perhaps they don’t want to infringe on the new compilation coming out next month too.
And yet, still no CD release for Bertold Brecht’s Baal where The Dame looks like Steve Kilbey on the cover.
The Information Society album is fantastic. I love “Where Were You?” and the lead single “Land of the Blind.”
I downloaded the InSoc album earlier today and have been listening to it non stop. It’s really a good balance between their old material and newer dance music trends. I highly recommend it to fans of InSoc or electro pop.
InfoSoc has outdone themselves once again with _hello world! Plus being part of the PledgeMusic AccessPass pre-order has been great! The group has been sharing so many extras all the way up to our early releases (both digital and physical)!
Great music, great group, great was to Pledge our support! We got The Prize with this ’80s band newest release!
This Thompson Twins release has me interested. Back in the day, the cassette version of Side Kicks had a great collection of B-sides and remixes that I’ve not seen anywhere else. It looks like at least several of them are represented here (inc. “Love Lies Fierce’). Hooray!
It’s amazing to listen Information Society’s Hello World, ’cause that feeling left on 1992 of something strong, pop and creative are back on this record. Good for think, good for the floor.
A+ on the INSOC release, received the lp last week, nice clean quiet press, quality writing and production :)
Been enjoying the new InSoc album. Not quite the brilliant return I had hoped for but a pretty solid collection of songs. A good listenable mix of the lyrical content of “Don’t Be Afraid” with classic InSoc sound and a bit of modern EDM touches. I’d say about 7-7.5 out of 10. Great cover of the Devo classic “Beautiful World” as well.
**NEW INSOC IS GREAT!!! I listened to the free stream today and it’s fantastic.
That being said this band only seems to tour in South America. I tell you what kurt, paul, james… you guys actually TOUR the U.S. and I will BUY your album. And not some rinky dink 4 song set at a few venues like last year – a real tour, playing most major markets to support the album.
Again, great album, but if we in the U.S. will never see the songs played live, its pointless to buy it.
InSoc and Erasure in the same week? (faints)
Yes – found the new Information Society on Spotify. I had my sites set so low that it’s a bit of a pleasant surprise overall.
Funny to here Gerald V. singing cover on one of his own songs.
This may become my favorite Information Society album. It has something for every mood, and I can’t stop listening to it.
Personal favorites are: Dancing With Strangers, Above And Below, The Prize, and Where Were You.
Incorrect regarding Bowie. He still owns his catalog and has full control. An IPO does not necessarily give investors control over creative and business decisions.