This week’s new releases include a new The Stranglers Box set, a 2CD/1DVD compilation from John Foxx, a new early-career best-of from The Fall, reissues from The Monochrome Set and Rip Rig + Panic, plus the U.S. release of the new triple-disc singles collection form post-punk legends Killing Joke.
The Stranglers have postponed tonight’s tour-opening concert in Detroit after visa trouble delayed the U.K. punk legends’ entry into the United States, but the band says it hopes to make up the date on a proposed second leg of its North American tour this September. No make-up date has yet been announced.
This week’s new releases include brand-new studio albums from Skinny Puppy (‘Weapon’), British Electric Foundation (‘Music of Quality and Distinction Vol. 3: Dark’) , The Stranglers (‘Giants’) and The Pastels (‘Slow Summits’), plus a Public Image Ltd. reissue and a box set from The Woodentops.
EMI Music will reissue The Stranglers’ 1992 box set The Old Testament: The U.A. Studio Recordings (1977-1982), which collects the punk legends’ first six albums plus bonus singles and B-sides on four CDs, and now includes a brand-new fifth disc of rarities including live tracks, radio edits and remixes.
The Stranglers — singer-bassist Jean-Jacques Burnel, drummer Jet Black and keyboard player Dave Greenfield, plus former Toy Dolls guitarist Baz Warne — this week announced a belated U.S. release for the band’s 2012 album Giants, plus initial dates in late May and June for a planned North American tour.
The Godfathers announced this weekend that they will release the long-in-the-works ‘Jukebox Fury’ — the reunited rockers’ first new album in 18 years — in late February or early March to coincide with the band’s upcoming support slot on a month-long, 22-date U.K. tour with The Stranglers.
BBC Four next month will follow up its excellent documentary ‘Synth Britannia’ with the new three-part ‘Punk Britannia,’ a look at the ‘historic cosmology, meteoric impact and smouldering aftermath of the most genuinely transformative force in British popular music history.’ The three parts air Friday, June 8 and June 15.
Q&A: Daniel Ash on Love and Rockets’ reunion, his new band — and figuring out how to play “So Alive” 
Q&A: Chris Frantz talks Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club and new book ‘Remain in Love’ 
Q&A: Steve Wynn on The Dream Syndicate’s first new album in nearly 30 years 
Q&A: Bauhaus’ David J on his ‘accidental’ concept album ‘Not Long For This World’ 
Q&A: Peter Murphy on ‘Ninth,’ Bauhaus’ break-up, reuniting Dalis Car 
Q&A: Joey Santiago on Pixies’ ‘Doolittle’ tour, possible ‘Surfer Rosa’ shows, new album talk 
Q&A: Prefab Sprout’s Paddy McAloon on new album, changing the world with music 
Q&A: Peter Hook talks ‘Unknown Pleasures’ tour, re-recording Joy Division 