Record Rack: A round-up of the week’s new albums, expanded reissues and/or box sets, appearing each Monday on Slicing Up Eyeballs.
Simple Minds
RELEASE: Sparkle In the Rain
BACKSTORY: Jim Kerr and Co.’s sixth album is reissued this week in a five-disc box set featuring B-sides, remixes, BBC sessions, a previously unreleased concert and a 5.1 Surround mix of the album. (Tracklist)
BUY: Amazon.co.uk
Shriekback
RELEASE: Without Real String or Fish
BACKSTORY: Shriekback returns with its first new album in five years, and 13th overall. The 12-track set features “Now Those Days are Gone,” “Soft Estate,” “Recessive Jean,” “Horrors of the Deep” and more.
BUY: Shriekback.com
Game Theory
RELEASE: Real Nighttime
BACKSTORY: The Scott Miller-fronted college-rock favorites’ 1985 sophomore album is reissued this week, supplementing the original record with 13 bonus tracks, 10 of which have never before been released.
BUY: Amazon.com
Alien Sex Fiend
RELEASE: Classic Albums and BBC Sessions Collection
BACKSTORY: This four-disc box set collects four of the goth-rockers’ albums, expanding each with B-sides, alternate mixes, live tracks and previously unreleased BBC session recordings.
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
Roxy Music
RELEASE: The Complete Studio Albums
BACKSTORY: All eight of Roxy Music’s albums are reissued on 180-gram vinyl and collected in this new box set. Includes download codes for each album on MP3. Due out in the U.S. later this month.
BUY: Amazon.co.uk
The Rezillos
RELEASE: Zero
BACKSTORY: The Scottish punk/New Wave act returns with its sophomore album, more than 36 years (!) after the band’s debut, Can’t Stand the Rezillos. Features “Groovy Room,” “Life’s a Bitch” and more.
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
The Monochrome Set
RELEASE: Spaces Everywhere
BACKSTORY: The U.K. post-punk group this week releases its third new album since reuniting in 2011, a 10-song set featuring the songs “Fantasy Creatures,” “Rain Check” and “When I Get to Hollywood.”
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
Various Artists
RELEASE: Thirteen O’Clock: Volume 1
BACKSTORY: Post Punk New Wave Records releases a compilation of late-’70s/early-’80s post-punk featuring rare and unreleased cuts from Futurisk, Los Microwaves, B-Movie, Units, Ski Patrol and more.
BUY: ppnwrecords.com
The Farm
RELEASE: The Complete Studio Recordings 1983-2004
BACKSTORY: The Farm this week releases a 7CD, 98-track box set that includes four studio albums, plus discs of non-album tracks and B-sides, BBC radio sessions recorded between 1983 and 1991, and remixes.
BUY: Amazon.co.uk
And the Simple Minds reissue is still dwarfed by Jim Kerr’s ego circa Once Upon a Time.
Leggings: Not just for Renaissance Fayres anymore . . . apparently.
I got this for $43 shipping included on Amazon Germany over the weekend and the price is still in place if I’m not mistaken.
The Simple Minds box that is.
Danke Charles! Amazon UK’s price has been steady for the past three months and I was close to giving in. Pulled the trigger on the German site and got it in the cart with shipping to the US for $45.16.
New Rezillos????
WOW.
Damn new Shriekback? Booyah
I’m with you Matt. I’ve been pushing this for the past two weeks, and I just got my copy Saturday. It’s classic modern shriekback, nice mix of electronics and live instrumentation. Carl Marsh makes a significant vocal contribution, Martyn Baker on drums, great stuff!
ok i was already convinced but you sealed the deal gonna order it now! lol
I haven’t really followed the Shrieks for years, but it’s good to hear Marsh is back in the fold. His vocals really gave the “Jam Science” and “Oil and Gold” records a killer edge.
Speaking of which: Is “Jam Science” EVER going to be released in a digital format? It’s been a glaring omission from the catalog for eons.
Hah! You’re welcome, Matt.
Jam Science and Care were recently remastered and rereleased. Not sure what’s available now, but you should check their website. promises of Tench remaster too.
FINALLY!!!! “Jam Science” was one of the best records of 1983. Heading over there now …. Thank you!
Update: I just downloaded it from the band’s website, and I’m not so sure about the claims of formal remastering. With all the clicks and pops, it’s pretty obvious the digital release was just mastered off some old vinyl. Oh well, it’s good to have anyway, and still worth the $10.
Hmm, I’ve got a copy of Jam Science on cd, haven’t noticed vinyl relics. Ah well. They are saying Tench and others to follow. Looks like they’re just going to work through catalog, some of it anyway.
I’m a big fan if Without Real String or Fish. Liking it a lot! Some good grooves, real sleaze the way Shriekback rolls it out.
I’ll look around for the CD. The download from their website is truly poor quality.