BEST OF THE REST
Other new releases out this month.
Motörhead
Everything Louder Forever BMG
Surely promising “Motörhead’s loudest” is a bit like pledging “water’s wettest”. Whatever, this 42-track ‘best of’ offers an excellent opportunity to rediscover some deeper ‘Head cuts, not least Burner and Sucker. 1916 clearly didn’t read the dress code. 8/10
Come
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell FIRE
Impressively expanded two-disc version of the ’94 second album from Boston’s Come, an ex-Live Skull/Codeine grunge-literate alt.blues quartet largely overlooked in an era spoilt for choice. Well worth a second coming. 7/10
Broken Social Scene
Old Dead Young: B-sides & Rarities ARTS & CRAFTS
A loose confederation of players revolving around Toronto’s Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning, BSS specialise in a form of fearfully intelligent Canadian post-rock where everyone seems to be trying to out-clever everyone else. Nice plan. 7/10
Renaissance
Scheherezade & Other Stories (Expanded) ESOTERIC
Prior to punk’s expectorating simplification of rock’s M.O., bands had it hard. Take the 25-minute slog of 1975’s Song Of Scheherezade. As brilliantly complex as S&OS’s epic climax is, it’s got to be just as hard to play as it is to listen to. Bonus live version? Tragically, yes. 7/10
Mud
The Albums 1975-1979 7TS
At their peak Chinn & Chapman could convince 70s man that even Les Gray was a glam-rock god. Sadly this post-hits Showaddyshoddy box misses Mud’s fleeting ’73/’74 heyday while unflinchingly charting their steady decline into ‘not very good’. Shame. 4/10
Colin Blunstone
One Year (50th Anniversary Edition) SUNDAZED
Back in ‘71 the ex-Zombies singer applied his soulful delicacy to this timeless set of breathlessly romantic ballads that even delivered an unlikely hit (Say You Don’t Mind). Now generously expanded with an entire unissued album (That Same Year) of quality extras. 8/10
Bob Dylan
Bootleg Series Vol. 16: Springtime In New York
COLUMBIA/LEGACY
Covering the least-loved period of Dylan’s serpentine career, SINY comprises out-takes, lives and alternatives from the Shot Of Love,
Infidels and Empire Burlesque era. Neither nadir nor zenith, Bob’s undervalued early 80s occasionally dazzle. 7/10
War
Greatest Hits 2.0 RHINO
Two discs (CD or vinyl) combining cuts from the Californian Latin funk-rock ‘n’ soulers’ early output as backing band to newly Animalless Eric Burdon (Spill The Wine) with latter-day stone-cold Sly/ Santana-styled classics (Low Rider, Cinco De Mayo). 7/10
Stackridge Recordings 1971-2021 ANGEL AIR
Often underrated as a quaint novelty by virtue of their Do The Stanley
(thanks, Old Grey Whistle Test), these ingenious Bristol/Bath stalwarts occupy a pop/prog pigeonhole between The Beatles and XTC. A concise two-CD ‘best of’ with their final ’15 show on CD3. 7/10
Orange Goblin
Rough & Ready, Live & Loud DISSONANCE
A live collection born of covid necessity, released digitally last year to celebrate the mighty Goblin’s quarter-century in harness, finally makes it to vinyl/CD. Blazing old-school metal, ripping in-form performances and an extra track (Blue Snow). 6/10
Watchtower
Control & Resistance DISSONANCE
Hugely influential, Austin’s implausibly technically adept Watchtower meld prog-metal with thrash and, on this second ’89 album, a flourish of jazz fusion. Harbingers of Death (not to mention Dream Theater), well worth seeking out. 7/10