Vinyl/CD Review: Soundgarden – Superunknown Re-Releases
Superunknown was first released in March of 1994, during the absolute pinnacle of grunge rock. Both In Utero by Nirvana and Pearl Jam’s Vs. had come out the year before to massive critical acclaim (and in the case of Pearl Jam, massive commercial appeal the likes of which rock has rarely seen before or since). And Alice In Chains were still in the productive era of their existence, releasing the EP Jar Of Flies, which would go on to be the best-selling of EP ever. Even grunge also-rans like The Toadies and Bush were finding mainstream success that year. 1992 might have been the year grunge broke, but 1994 was the year it broke big.
It was also the year that Soundgarden broke big, moving from their status as other (other) grunge band to bonafide superstars. Superunknown was a massive success for the group, selling over three million albums in the states alone; earning them widespread critical appeal and even three Grammys in the process. That being said, it’s probably one of the most underrated records of all time. I say that it’s underrated because, while the album was a pretty big deal when it came out back in 1994, who the hell still talks about it now?
Sadly, I feel that you could say that about a lot of great albums of the grunge era (Nevermind notwithstanding of course). But while talk of Pearl Jam’s Ten or Alice In Chain’s Dirt isn’t as strong as it used to be, both those albums (and bands) still have incredibly vocal fans who will exclaim the virtues of those records to this day. The same can’t be said about Superunknown, or Soundgarden as a whole for that matter. I guess they lack the devoted cult fanbase that can come from either non-stop touring or having your lead singer die young. No doubt that Soundgarden planned these deluxe editions of Superunknown to help remedy this problem, and while its great to see that the re-release has given the record some much needed attention, the extras on the more extravagant editions of the record probably won’t to much to enhance its legacy. Continue reading
CD Review: Cyndi Lauper – She’s So Unusual (30th Anniversary Edition)
It’s hard to explain to anyone who wasn’t there just how big a deal Cyndi Lauper was in the early 80s.
She seemed to have one hit single after another on the radio and on MTV; she contributed the theme song to one of the most beloved children’s films of the era; and even guested as a referee as the very first Wrestlemania. Before Madonna came to dominance, Cyndi was the diva for the 80s, and one of the very first artists to ride the MTV wave to epic mainstream success.
But Cyndi wasn’t an overnight sensation because of her wacky persona and out-there looks (although those helped). No, she made it big simply because her first album, She’s So Unusual, is a goddamn masterpiece. A masterfully produced slice of radio-friendly new wave, it was mainstream enough to appeal to the middle-aged baby boomers of the era; quirky enough to catch the eye of left-of-center teenagers; and fun enough to lure in the pre-teen youngsters who were just as enamored with Cyndi’s wild looks as they were her music.
Cyndi’s stay in the mainstream may have just been a fleeting moment, but She’s So Unusual remains a near-perfect piece of pop perfection. So it’s great to see that it’s getting the deluxe treatment to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
It’s just too bad that 30th anniversary edition is a big steaming pile of hot garbage. Continue reading
Reviews of Stuff i Bought Before I Moved To Japan
In the weeks before my move to Tokyo I bought a few ridiculous high-end LPs and special editions with the intention of reviewing them for this website. However, in my efforts to maintain two websites, a part-time job, sell my house, pack my things and plan my move to Tokyo, I damn near had a nervous breakdown and decided that something had to give – so no reviews.
But now that I’m finally starting to settle down into a somewhat comfortable routine in my new home, I’d thought I’d catch up and offer some quick reviews of everything I bought up until my move to Japan. Continue reading
Vinyl Review: Last House On The Left Soundtrack (One Way Static Re-Issue)
When people talk about The Last House On The Left, one of the things they usually don’t bring up is the film’s score.
That’s not to say it’s bad or not worth mentioning, it’s just that in a film that features some of the most disturbing scenes of depravity and sadism ever put to celluloid, I guess discussions about the music kind of get swept aside.
In fact, the soundtrack never even got an official release when the movie first came out (despite what Wikipedia may tell you). It wasn’t actually released at all until 1999, and that was an ultra-limited edition affair that vanished almost immediately. It’s not until now, in 2013, that the film’s complete soundtrack is seeing a wide release – thanks to the new genre re-issue label One Way Static.
And it’s a really weird record.
Seriously. There’s a part with a kazoo. Continue reading
(Mini) Vinyl Review: Nirvana – In Utero 2013 Mix
When In Utero was re-released in a stunning Super Deluxe Package earlier this year, an easy highlight of the release was the amazing 2013 mix by original album producer Steve Albini that presented a version of the album that was even more raw and intense than the original. Now that mix, which was previously only available on CD as part of the special edition or super deluxe edition of the album has been re-released as a special limited edition item for the Black Friday Record Store Day event.
And while the release does honestly come off as a bit of a quick cash grab targeted at hardcore Nirvana fans with more dollars than sense, it’s a really good quick cash grab targeted at hardcore Nirvana fans with more dollars than sense, so I’m going to let that part slide. Continue reading
Vinyl Review: David Bowie – Earthling (Music On Vinyl Edition)
Re-issue label Music On Vinyl has been on a bit of a Bowie tear this year. First they re-released Heathen, both as a standard black LP and an insanely limited edition brown/orange variant that was made exclusively available via the V&A web store (which I managed to get). They followed that up with a re-issue of Outside, which was also made in two flavors; a standard black LP and another brutally rare colored variant sold exclusively through the V&A website (which I didn’t manage to get and that makes me sad).
Now they’re finishing out 2013 with yet another Bowie re-release with a new vinyl pressing of Bowie’s 1997 album Earthling, which is mighty nice of them considering original vinyl copies of the album are currently going for over $300.
Vinyl Review: Patrick Cowley – School Daze
Although most have never heard his name, Patrick Cowley was an monumentally important artist in the development of electronic dance music. He first made his mark on the dance scene in 1977, delivering a legendary remix of Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” that stretched out the tune to 15+ minutes, turning it into a wonderful frenzy of synthesizers and sequencers. From there, he worked with the great Sylvester, performing, producing and/or co-writing on many of the late great diva’s best tracks, including “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” and “Do You Wanna Funk,” which remains one of the greatest dance numbers of all-time.
Cowley passed away in 1982, an early victim of the AIDS virus, but his legacy has lived on thanks to the artists he influenced, such as the Pet Shop Boys and New Order. But the Hi-NRG and synthpop sounds he helped to create were only part of Cowley’s musical output. Because in addition to his fast-paced, club-friendly dance classics, Cowley also composed some of the most compelling and interesting synthesizer instrumentals of the 1970s.
It’s just that most people haven’t heard them because, well, they were used as the soundtracks to gay porn flicks.
Vinyl Review: Donna Summer – Love To Love You Donna
Dance music has long suffered from amnesia, with new artists and fans rarely remembering who came before them. When I went to Ultra a few years back and talked to the young club-goers in attendance, I met house fans who didn’t know who Carl Cox was; dnb-fanatics who were unfamiliar with Goldie; and hardcore techno lovers who were unaware that Moby had released albums outside of Play. I didn’t even dare ask them if they knew who Donna Summer was – I didn’t want to set myself up for the inevitable heartbreak.
I suppose that Love To Love Donna is an attempt to rectify this situation. A brand-new compilation features remixes of classic Donna Summer tunes by some of the hottest names in “EDM” today, it’s the best bet that Donna Summer has of being rediscovered today’s dance fans, even if the mixes included are a bit hit-or-miss.
Vinyl Review: Earthless – From The Ages
I really feel like I’m doing this album a disservice by writing a review despite not once listening to the record whilst under the influence of mind-altering drugs. However, the last time I did that I ended up giving a decidedly three-star electronic album a five-star review*, and I’d rather not invalidate my critical opinion once again. But it really doesn’t matter all that much, because I don’t think any psychotropic drug could make me dig this album anymore. Because this is the kind of shit that melts faces. Continue reading
Vinyl Review: Studio Ghibli Koyko Kyokushu
As beloved and acclaimed as the Studio Ghibli films are across the globe, finding the soundtracks for them can be a real pain in the ass if you live outside of Japan. Despite the fact that you can get almost every Studio Ghibli film easily on DVD and Blu-ray, almost all of the scores to their films remain woefully out of print in the states, on any format from vinyl to digital. Out of the 18 films that Studio Ghibli has released over the years, only the soundtracks to two remain in print in the United States; Spirited Away, and, for some reason, From Up on Poppy Hill.
So when I discovered Studio Ghibli Koyko Kyokushu, the new 2LP compilation featuring selections from various Studio Ghibli films, I was elated. Finally, a domestic release of music from these legendary films!
Then I noticed that the release was by Mondo Tees, and it was all downhill from there.