BOUGHT OR NOT
The past two weeks have not only been slow at work but also on the purchasing front. But not to fret, here's the new lot of goods.
Sigur Ros Hoppipolla/Heysatan Ltd Ed. # 7" Single
I pretty much bought this for collectors' purposes. I already have both of these songs a few times over. But since this is officially Sigur Ros' very first 7" single release. It needed to be bought. And it's a nice coupling of songs from Takk...
Gang of Four Anthrax/At Home He Feels Like a Tourist (Remixes) 7" Single
Another freebie from Brandon. These are two remixes that didn't make it on the remix disc of the Return The Gift album. Both mixes (Blood Brothers do the former, while Tommie Sunshine remodels the latter) are pretty bleh, really. But the cover art, done by Shepard "OBEY" Fairey, makes up for it.
Feeder The Singles/The Videos CD/DVD
I had most of these songs on their respective albums. I really bought it for the DVD which has all 26 videos that Feeder have made to date. I'm still a pretty new Feeder fan. I bought Echo Park a few years back because it was on sale at Tower. I've been casually following them ever since. But I'm still missing their first album. Anyway, this is a pretty good collection of Feeder songs. In my opinion, they've always released their strongest tracks as singles. There really isn't a dud on this whole album. The rocking ones are here (Buck Rogers, Shatter, Come Back Around) as are the emo ones (Tender, Comfort In Sound) and the punky ones (Just a Day, Insomnia). Feeder don't claim to be anything other than a straight up rock band. I agree.
I have yet to watch the DVD but judging by the few Feeder videos I've seen, they should be an interesting watch.
Chapterhouse Whirlpool CD
Reissued. But not necessarily remastered. That's alright though. I'm glad to have this album again. I foolishly traded it in when I got the best of comp, Rownderbout. Thankfully, Cherry Red records decided to put in back in print with 7 bonus tracks from the original pre-album e.p.'s. This album is an essential shoegazer album. It's just as important as the Valentines' Loveless, Ride's Nowhere, and Slowdive's Just for a Day.
As expected the album still holds up on its own. All of the "hits" still sound great. I still listen to Pearl at least once a week. I'm glad I get to hear Autosleeper again, which wasn't on Rownderbout. The booklet features cool liner notes about the bands earlier days as well as (for the first time ever) the lyrics for all the songs. Now I can figure out what the hell Andy Sheriff is singing on Falling Down.
Dirty Pretty Things Waterloo to Anywhere CD/DVD
2 Libertines, 1 touring Libertine, and a Cooper Temple Clause. As I write this, I'm a little more than halfway into the album. And I like it. A lot. I don't care what anybody says, Carl Barat was the best writer of the two. After hearing the songs on this album, I can almost pick out which Libertines songs he had a bigger hand in with the writing. I've developed a liking to the lead single, Bang Bang You're Dead. I still fucking loving You Fucking Love It. The songs just have more melodies to them. They have less of a drunken feel to them. It worked with the the Libs but I'm glad DPT decided to move away from it. Pete, on the other hand, seems to think that that's the way to go. Whatever, junkie. Ha ha ha.
I'm definitely going to listening to this one more than a few times. I haven't watched the DVD yet. It's footage of the DPT in concert in March 2006. I'm still waiting for my copy of the vinyl LP. It has a bonus 7" single.
The Departure All Mapped Out CD Single
The Departure Lump In My Throat CD Single
Found these two (as well as the one below) on the clearance table at Tower. $2.50 a piece. Couldn't pass it up. The Departure are the Menswear of 2K Britpop. Great songs but they will soon fade into oblivion. I really like the full length though. All Mapped Out is still one of my favorite songs of 2004. The two remixes on these singles are pretty much throwaways. The b-side, Blackout, is a nice mellow number. The radio session version of previous single, Be My Enemy actually sounds better than it's studio counterpart. More raw. The two videos that enhanced CD single are pretty nifty as well.
The Futureheads Decent Days and Nights (Remix) CD Single
$2 and a quarter for this one. Unfortunately, the b-side on this one, Banquo, was definitely a filler track. It's actually a more acoustic number instead of the usual ROCK. The only thing it has going for it is that Ross sings lead on it. But it doesn't save it all that much.
Sigur Ros Hoppipolla/Heysatan Ltd Ed. # 7" Single
I pretty much bought this for collectors' purposes. I already have both of these songs a few times over. But since this is officially Sigur Ros' very first 7" single release. It needed to be bought. And it's a nice coupling of songs from Takk...
Gang of Four Anthrax/At Home He Feels Like a Tourist (Remixes) 7" Single
Another freebie from Brandon. These are two remixes that didn't make it on the remix disc of the Return The Gift album. Both mixes (Blood Brothers do the former, while Tommie Sunshine remodels the latter) are pretty bleh, really. But the cover art, done by Shepard "OBEY" Fairey, makes up for it.
Feeder The Singles/The Videos CD/DVD
I had most of these songs on their respective albums. I really bought it for the DVD which has all 26 videos that Feeder have made to date. I'm still a pretty new Feeder fan. I bought Echo Park a few years back because it was on sale at Tower. I've been casually following them ever since. But I'm still missing their first album. Anyway, this is a pretty good collection of Feeder songs. In my opinion, they've always released their strongest tracks as singles. There really isn't a dud on this whole album. The rocking ones are here (Buck Rogers, Shatter, Come Back Around) as are the emo ones (Tender, Comfort In Sound) and the punky ones (Just a Day, Insomnia). Feeder don't claim to be anything other than a straight up rock band. I agree.
I have yet to watch the DVD but judging by the few Feeder videos I've seen, they should be an interesting watch.
Chapterhouse Whirlpool CD
Reissued. But not necessarily remastered. That's alright though. I'm glad to have this album again. I foolishly traded it in when I got the best of comp, Rownderbout. Thankfully, Cherry Red records decided to put in back in print with 7 bonus tracks from the original pre-album e.p.'s. This album is an essential shoegazer album. It's just as important as the Valentines' Loveless, Ride's Nowhere, and Slowdive's Just for a Day.
As expected the album still holds up on its own. All of the "hits" still sound great. I still listen to Pearl at least once a week. I'm glad I get to hear Autosleeper again, which wasn't on Rownderbout. The booklet features cool liner notes about the bands earlier days as well as (for the first time ever) the lyrics for all the songs. Now I can figure out what the hell Andy Sheriff is singing on Falling Down.
Dirty Pretty Things Waterloo to Anywhere CD/DVD
2 Libertines, 1 touring Libertine, and a Cooper Temple Clause. As I write this, I'm a little more than halfway into the album. And I like it. A lot. I don't care what anybody says, Carl Barat was the best writer of the two. After hearing the songs on this album, I can almost pick out which Libertines songs he had a bigger hand in with the writing. I've developed a liking to the lead single, Bang Bang You're Dead. I still fucking loving You Fucking Love It. The songs just have more melodies to them. They have less of a drunken feel to them. It worked with the the Libs but I'm glad DPT decided to move away from it. Pete, on the other hand, seems to think that that's the way to go. Whatever, junkie. Ha ha ha.
I'm definitely going to listening to this one more than a few times. I haven't watched the DVD yet. It's footage of the DPT in concert in March 2006. I'm still waiting for my copy of the vinyl LP. It has a bonus 7" single.
The Departure All Mapped Out CD Single
The Departure Lump In My Throat CD Single
Found these two (as well as the one below) on the clearance table at Tower. $2.50 a piece. Couldn't pass it up. The Departure are the Menswear of 2K Britpop. Great songs but they will soon fade into oblivion. I really like the full length though. All Mapped Out is still one of my favorite songs of 2004. The two remixes on these singles are pretty much throwaways. The b-side, Blackout, is a nice mellow number. The radio session version of previous single, Be My Enemy actually sounds better than it's studio counterpart. More raw. The two videos that enhanced CD single are pretty nifty as well.
The Futureheads Decent Days and Nights (Remix) CD Single
$2 and a quarter for this one. Unfortunately, the b-side on this one, Banquo, was definitely a filler track. It's actually a more acoustic number instead of the usual ROCK. The only thing it has going for it is that Ross sings lead on it. But it doesn't save it all that much.