Record Rack: A round-up of the week’s new albums, expanded reissues and/or box sets, appearing each Monday on Slicing Up Eyeballs. All releases due out this Friday unless noted.
James
RELEASE: Living in Extraordinary Times
BACKSTORY: The Manchester favorites this week return with their 15th studio album and first new record in two years. There’s a 12-track standard edition, plus a deluxe edition that includes four more songs.
BUY: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- This week’s new releases: ‘C89’ box set, U2, Thomas Dolby, Art of Noise, The Colourfield
- This week’s new releases: Public Image Ltd. box set, Soul Asylum expanded reissue
- This week’s new releases: Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey, Kim Gordon’s Body/Head
- This week’s new releases: Morrissey, Erasure, The Jesus and Mary Chain
Wasn’t the biggest fan of their last couple albums, although there were a few good songs scattered throughout. Everything I’ve heard from this new one sounds far and away much better.
I feel like they have always had one or two duds sprinkled among even their best albums. But I really did enjoy le petit mort overall. They have definitely been worth following since reforming, including the two new songs on the Fresh as a Daisy singles comp.
Absolutely they’ve been worth following since Hey Ma (which was excellent I thought). Morning After/Night Before were nearly flawless, and I definitely liked Le Petit Mort more than Girl. I just wish they’d can it with the electronics and lean more toward an organic sound (the production really sounds machinelike). But I’m one of those fans who felt Laid was flawless, loved Whiplash, and would have been just fine if they’d never regrouped after Pleased To Meet You, one of the all time great albums by any band.