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 : Pet Shop Boys
RELEASE: Format: B-Sides and Bonus Tracks, 1996-2009
BACKSTORY: The classic synthpop duo this week releases, in the U.K., a new 2cD collection rounding up 38 newly remastered B-sides and bonus tracks (“The Truck Driver and His Mate,” “Nightlife”) originally released between 1996 and 2009, a sequel to 1995′s 2CD set Alternative (see full tracklist here).
BUY: Amazon.co.uk (CD
ARTIST : Wire
RELEASE: The Black Session – Paris 10 May 2011
BACKSTORY: The post-punk legends this week give wide release to last year’s tour-only live album, a 13-track set recorded last May at Radio France’s Paris studios in front of a studio audience. The album features such classics as “Pink Flag,” “Kidney Bingos” and “Map Ref 41°N 93°W” (stream the full album here).
BUY: Amazon.com (CD)
ARTIST : Cocteau Twins
RELEASE: Stars and Topsoil: A Collection (1982-1990)
BACKSTORY: Beggars Archive this week reissues the Cocteaus’ 2000 compilation — which collected the band’s output on the venerable 4AD record label, from the group’s 1982 debut album Garlands through 1990′s Iceblink Luck EP — as a 2LP set on white vinyl (see full tracklist here).
BUY: Amazon.com (Vinyl)
ARTIST : John Foxx and the Maths
RELEASE: The Shape Of Things
BACKSTORY: The Ultravox co-founder and synth pioneer returns with his second album under The Maths banner, released this week in the U.K. as a 2CD set featuring 14 new songs (including “Rear View Mirror,” “Invisible Ray,” “Vapour Trails” and “September Town”) and a second disc featuring eight remixes.
BUY: Amazon.com (CD
ARTIST : Big Country
RELEASE: The Crossing: Deluxe Edition
BACKSTORY: The reunited rockers this week reissue, in the U.K., their classic 1983 debut album in a 2CD format, with the original album supplemented by seven B-sides and a second disc featuring 17 demos — 10 of which are previously unreleased. The album was last reissued in 2002 with just five bonus cuts (see full tracklist here).
BUY: Amazon.co.uk (CD
ARTIST : The Plimsouls
RELEASE: Beach Town Confidential: Live At The Golden Bear 1983
BACKSTORY: This new archival live album, out this week on Alive Records, features the only recordings of six songs by the Los Angeles power-pop act (incluidng “Making Time,” “Fall on You,” “Who’s Gonna Break the Ice?” and “The Price of Love”) and the only official live recordings of three more.
BUY: Amazon.com (CD)
