ARTICLE JUMP
Re-releases or rarities compilations can be done extremely well or extremely poor with the rare outcome being mediocre. Sometimes, the song selection (with favorites being left out of the tracklisting or some great rarities being excluded while sub standard ones take their place is always a point of contention) or the packaging (little to no liner notes hap hazard packaging that makes the release forgettable) are always dangerous possibilities. These are releases that I found to be personal favorites this year.
1. Rorschach - Remain Sedate / Protestant (Gern Blandsten)
Besides their obvious rank as a seminal hardcore act (in the way that they influenced Converge, Deadguy, and so many other acts), Rorschach did release a sizable discography during their relatively short existence. This reissue compiles both of the bands full-lengths complete with the full re-master treatment and new artwork and packaging. Seeing as their previous discography release (Autopsy) was pretty much out of print, this release came along with their recent stint of reunion gigs.
2. Three Mile Pilot - 1991-1999 Box Set (Independent)
First, let me say, the packaging on this is not amazing; but what this release (I am fairly certain that the band self-released this) does is compile the complete recorded works of Three Mile Pilot up to the single released in 2009 on Temporary Residence. Three full-lengths, a two CD rarities collection, and an EP are represented across six CD's and it was relatively cheap considering the amount of music. It truly is a worthwhile purchase and a worthwhile effort by the band to make these recordings available again.
3. Disembodied - Psalms of Sheol (Prime Directive)
This release compiles one song that I am not 100 percent sure of where it originally was from, two "officially" unreleased songs (barring a small print run "bootleg" 7" that contained them), and the hard to get early releases of this bastion of low end rumbling metallic hardcore. Seriously, for the month following my receiving this record, all I did was punch holes in dry wall and randomly scream my head off in my office at work (my co-workers who thought I might be nuts were officially convinced). The only thing that could be better than this release is if Disembodied wrote their best record ever and released it.
4. Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary (Sub Pop)
If just for sheer sentimental value this record finds it way here that would suffice, but this record is one of a few handful of records that might legitimately be called a landmark. Having the original album in re-mastered form is nice, but adding decent liner notes is better; the icing on this the cake in this situation is including two tracks from the hard to get early seven inches. People who are into emotionally cathartic music have almost no excuse to not own this album.
5. Sunny Day Real Estate - LP2 (Sub Pop)
The slightly less flashy, less accessible, but equally challenging younger brother of Diary (maybe more so), LP2, or "the pink album," sounds great in this re-release. Just like with the Diary reissue this includes nice liner notes that kind of explain the turmoil around the recording of this album, and it includes more previously vinyl only-tracks as extras.
(Bob)
