2 comments about Goth Anthology: Underground Anthems from Rock's Dark Side.

1. A disappointing colletion of mostly b-side tunes. Pretty In Pink as a goth anthem??? This set is NOT worth buying. I strongly recommend Goth Industrial Club Anthems released by Cleopatra instead.



2. This Compilation is a very resemblence of Goth II "04". It brings out the very essence of Goth. I liked it alot. Song number 4 is really good. Overall I would give it a 4out of 6 stars.

2 comments about The Doors Box Set, Vol. 2.

1. No it isn't horrible, but it's the worse half of this set.
   The first disc of this set (third disc overall) isn't
   as strong as the first disc of the other set because
   they compiled some of the Doors' not-so-good songs
   on it. You wouldn' believe the terrible sound quality
   on some of the songs. Many have garbled lyrics or there
   is too much white noise caused by the tape recorder they
   used.

   So if you wanted this set well, don't waste any[money]! Just get
   the first half. I say this partially because the 3rd disc was
   bad and partially because the 2nd disc (4th overall) is of
   no use to Doors fans buying this set because it is simply
   another greatest hits collection, only this time it was
   assembled by the band instead of Elektra.

   Overall not hideous, but not worth the money.




2. In the US, the Doors Box Set was released as a 4 CD set in one of those standard 4 x 8 inch boxes. Each CD comes in it's own jewel case with a small booklet. In addition, there is a nice 50 page booklet with details about each of the songs and a history of the band.

   The European version of the box set was broken up into two volumes and released in the standard double CD jewel cases. I don't know how complete the booklets are.

   This Volume II is the second two CD's of the Box Set. The third CD is a fairly good collection of live and studio material, but it isn't as good as the material on Volume I. The sound quality on some of the tracks is amazingly bad. There is the only live version of Soft Parade, which is fairly good. There is also the studio version of Orange County Suite, that never made it to an album. Listen to it and you will understand why. The fourth CD is a collection of previously released material, chosen by the three living band members. It is of absolutely no value to any Doors fan, because a Doors fan would already have this material on the original albums.

   If you think it is necessary to get the third CD, than you should get the US release of the complete Box Set.

4 comments about Electromagnetic Steamboat: The Reprise Recordings.

1. It is a pure pleasure to hear these tomes once again. And, as others have said, this is especially true of their album, "It Crawled Into My Hand, Honest." The enduring popularity of The Fugs is a testament to word of mouth advertising since many of these songs were banned for airplay by a number of radio stations. I know this first-hand since I was a DJ when The Fugs were in vogue. I chanced to play "The Divine Toe" (parts 1 & 2) one evening at about 1:00 AM ... and had my timeslot cut back by two hours when the manager who was listening in expressed his disapproval the next day (grin).
   
   The real puzzling thing is the fact that this CD set is made by Rhino Records ... and buying it new from their website is [...] cheaper than buying it here at Amazon.com. Go figure...



2. Can't believe someone called the music dated. Must be one of those effete snobs Agnew used to rail about. LOL. I guess you could call Gregorian chants dated. I guess you could call Floyd Cramer-ish country piano dated. Hell, punk rock is dated, now. Its all dated now. If it isn't hip-hop, its dated. (and some would argue that's dated, too!) What a weak arguement.
   
   Simply put, the Fugs ICIMHH is their masterpiece. Listen to how many styles they tackle successfully and weave them seamlessly together in a scatalogical pastiche that no one else could match, or even attempt. The second side of It Crawled Into My Hand is the Fugs' paean to Abbey Road's second side. So many classics.
   While our other reviewer thinks the early ESP albums are the heart of the Fugs oeuvre, I beg to disagree. It was here, while the band was signed to a major label and could afford to bring in top session players, that they were able to flesh out their songs and reach their maximum potential. Listen to the blistering guitar on Crystal Liason, the aforementioned, country piano on Ramses II, the operatic baritone on The Divine Toe Pt.II. There is no question this is a fully realized production that makes the ESP albums sound almost amateurish.
   Finally, this long forgotten masterpiece gets to see the light of day again. Too bad you have to shell out so much for it. It would have been nice to see this as a single release since it was the apex of their career.



3. So far, this is the only CD release of the Fugs' finest album, their out-of-print masterpiece: It crawled into my hand, honest. The best-funded and best-produced of the Fugs' albums, ICIMHH is rich with references to surrealism, Egytpology, politics, psychedelia, and (of course) the arcane sexual practices of Sixties hipsters. The range of musical styles is pure post-Beatles anything-goes, from Gregorial chant to chamber orchestra to folk to Nashville country, and the lyrical/satirical (satyrical?) wit of Ed Sanders, Tuli Kupferberg, and Ken Weaver is stroboscopic. The 40-page liner-notes booklet is a knowledgeable and honest history of the permutations of the Fugs throughout their career.
   
   Other Fugs albums included in this 3-CD collection have not stood up as well to the passage of time (as least, of my time), but it doesn't matter. Start with Track 11 to begin ICIMHH. I expect some previous Amazon reviewers didn't get that far, and I sympathize.
   
   ICIMHH is an important incursion of the avant guarde into rock history, on a par with The Mothers' We're only in it for the Money. It's funny, and it's beautiful, and, oh yeah, it's not for the easily offended.



4. these recordings are where the fugs mix of sexual outrageousness, political radicalism and social satire started to wear thin. since neither tuli kupferberg or ed sanders were musicians their music got weaker as they went along. some of the musical styles satirized here were already passe in 1970 and are now totally extinct. strangely these recordings are both politically radical and musically dated. look, the fugs first album and the fugs second album are classic and essential to anyone who wants to know or understand what the 1960s counterculture was like. both cds are miracles and highly recommended. electromagnetic steamboat is for diehard fans only.

5 comments about Live: 07-08-03 & 07-09-03 New York, NY.

1. Moving tribute to New Yorkers for post 9/11 concert.



2. The 7/8 show is good, but it's overrated- Eddie mentions on the next bootleg how memorable a night it was, but you don't get that from the bootleg. It's just an OK Pearl Jam show. It's got an inordinate number of Riot Act songs, most of which (I Am Mine, Cropduster, 1/2 Full) are card-carrying members of the momentum-killers club. They also butcher "In My Tree" by removing Matt Cameron's stellar drumwork from the forefront, and they let Ben Harper sing lead on Indifference, which is not a good thing. On the plus side, the 7/8 show does include good takes on hits Evenflow, Black, and Betterman, as well as rare covers Crown of Thorns, Sonic Reducer, and Baba O' Riley.
   
   The 7/9 show is almost the opposite: Low on radio songs, but big on obscure fan favorites. It's got Glorified G, it's got State of Love and Trust, it's got Deep, it's got Present Tense. They could have made this one into a DVD and I would have liked it more than the 7/8 one.
   
   The good thing about this bundle is that the places where one show comes up short, the other one picks it up. That being the case, I have to recommend this, even if it isn't exactly the band at their best either night.



3. Will be now and forever the absolute best concert I will ever go too. Mansfield was as good, but no doubt NYC CD be a clasic CD in years to come.



4. This was a pretty shotty CD, the quality was bad. Singing some times out of key. I love Pearl Jam but this was their worst live album I've heard. They didn't play some of their hits as well.

   Still not bad, only cost me 12 bucks new.




5. Great shows. More than 50 different songs, including gems like Crown of Thorns and Breath; along with classics like Do the evolution, Alive, etc.I prefer the first show, but both of them are great performances by the band. Get them both.

5 comments about Gothic Erotica.

1. Here I found songs that I was looking for since a long time ago, like "enchant me" by Faithful Dawn.
   This one is not for those who what to start into the gothic music, but for all those who lived the post-punk era of the batcave, or thoose who want to be more into the old school goth.



2. It is funny how people are recommending Cleopatra comps like the Black Bible when Cleopatra has reissued these Dressed To Kill releases.
   
   I am an old school goth and many of these bands were dark and gothy in the 80's. Like another reviewer said, they are way out of print, so it would be a good start for someone trying to get pass EBM and ethereal trip-hop and into what gothic music used to be.
   
   Sure, not all tracks on here are winners, but there are so many of them that I cannot complain about the price. Nice to have some of these on CD instead of record. All the little gothlings out there should know there are more gothic bands out there other than The Cure and NIN and they should educate themselves, because goth music isn't the same now, in fact, it was more fun and better...then again I love deathrock and batcave! :)



3. when i hear "gothic erotica" i hear sexy, twisting electronic melodies with seductive vocals. )
   i'm not going to say this isnt goth; about twenty years ago it was. this is, well, old goth. 80's goth. you can imagine how much goth has evolved from that. so dont expect anything current or "new" to be on this cd.

   now goth is definetly connected to romanticism. there might be like...well...five romantic songs? this cd is mostly kinky. .

   the thing is they'd be better off putting out two cds with the best songs . really. dont buy this unless you are a fan of bands like bahaus, cure, alien sex fiend etc. this sounds KINKY not SEDUCTIVE...ok? i'm done.




4. I don't know about most people, but when I thought of the title for a set of CDs being Gothic Erotica, I envisioned brooding melodies and powerfully seductive voices setting up a background of heady, primal, and lustful emotions.

   It isn't.

   After listening to many of the snippets offered by Amazon (of which I must have picked the only good ones), I thought to give this set a go. Disappointment soon followed.

   One of the first, and most obnoxious, issues is that many of the tracks are mislabeled. For instance, Track 4 on CD 4 is the same as Track 9 on CD 1; others are simply wrong, such as being the wrong band.

   Following this, is the music itself. It is not Erotica, nor is most of it Gothic either. Granted, there are a few good tracks, but it is mostly a compilation of a wide group of musics, which DO NOT share a common theme. I would swear that some of the tracks are more pop than goth.

   Looking at the work as a whole, its like a bunch of record marketing blokes decided they needed more revenue. So, they slapped a bunch of music together under a title they felt would sell. After all, associate something with sex or erotica and it'll sell, despite its quality.

   The only thing that will keep this in my collection is my being something of a pack rat for music. If I weren't, it'd go in the trash (then again, who's to say it will not end up so later).

   Save your money.




5. This collection isn't so much "bad" as it is a re-hashing of almost every single compilation that Dressed To Kill records puts out, and they've been releasing a lot of six-disc compilations lately. If you buy this, make sure that you check the track listing on every other DtK comp you consider buying ever again, as I can gaurantee that about two-thirds of the track-listing will be exactly like this one.

   Other than that, it's a decent collection of proto-goth bands from the early 1980s - do NOT expect Marilyn Manson heavy-metal-aggro-industrial music, but instead expect punk and glam-rock influenced music (as in *real* punk and glam rock) and a couple Lydia Lunch tracks.

5 comments about Product.

1. I find myself torn with this collection. It is great to have all of these albums and singles collected in one nice concise package. But why was this set not remastered along with the rest of their stuff in 2001? So if one wants the better mastering, one has to rebuy these albums individually. ADKOT goes for $50 used! EMI, please remaster this box set!



2. Even though I had all of their albums, I bought this--when it came out in 1989 in a big 12" size; now it's a CD-size--for the CD quality, and especially the added Live at the Lyceum 8 tracks and the Parts 1-3 e.p. The booklet may suffer in its reduction to CD package size, but it's well-written, and, of course, excellently illustrated with a sidebar about the integrated artwork and adverts that were conceived as part of the Buzzcocks' campaign. You'd expect no less from Shelley and pals, with him influenced by art school and tech education both. It all looks and often sounds so raw by our standards nearly thirty years on, but this appealing combination of savvy and awkwardness is the foundation of all that the band was, sonically, lyrically, financially, and visually. With the later release of an expanded bootleg Time's Up with the Spiral Scratch ep in 2000, that and this are pretty much the nearly complete works, with the exception of radio sessions and the inevitable slew of live concert tapes.
   
   While the later work did, as the notes certainly explain, pale by comparison with the earlier successes, it does not sound so bad on a fresh hearing. I actually like the "recorded underwater" sound of the late ep tracks, and their spaced-out, washed-bleached dessicated quality captures, if the sad dissolution of the band, then also their quintessential determination to soldier on amidst despair and ennui--something shared with co-founder Howard Devoto. With so many bands later influenced, if not always crediting, this pioneering group of four men from Manchester who make music, this is an essential purchase. IMHO this music outlasts the calculated if naively sincere agitprop of the Clash, the manufactured rebellion of the Pistols, the earnest anthems of the Jam, and the ramalama bang bang of the Ramones. The Buzzcocks brought sophistication, in their promotional, lyrical, musical, and even sartorial abilities, into the pop-punk scene without compromising their commitment to gender-liberating, likable, and cleverly insinuating music that captured the agression of the late 70s while taming it with its self-reflexive examination of romance. They scrutinized their times and assumptions, but also had fun.



3. This is a psctacular set containing the original buzzcocks' albums in full. Who needs anything more?



4. This is a monster 3 cd set that covers all 3 studio albums singles and a live show. This however does not have any material with Howard Devoto on vocals (stuck with Pete Shelley I'm afraid). Howard was only in the band for a while before forming another group on his own. While does not have spiral scratch its still worth looking into if you like these lads from Manchester. The first disc covers the albums Another music in a different Kitchen and Love Bites while Disc 2 covers the the album A Different kind of Tension and the Singles going steady comp. The 3rd disc features a 24 minute concert from the Lyceum but it is not the whole concert(I am still looking for it) This release was titled Many Parts (Live at the Lyceum) This also features the fantastic I look alone and also the last 3 singles as well. This is a very handy cd set to have if you like the Buzzcocks.



5. I don't think anyone who loves music and gives the Buzzcocks a serious listen with love and enjoy their music. Their name gives the impression that they were rawer and rowdier than they in fact were. They didn't produce great albums, but they did produce one absolutely great single after another. The value of this set is that is proves that the Buzzcocks didn't pen just a few good songs, but a bevy of them. One might think that SINGLES GOING STEADY contained all their great songs, but PRODUCT proves they produced many, many more. In many ways, this is a perfect set, providing proof to the public about just how superb a band these guys were. The set also comes with a great booklet.

   Two things keep the set from being just about perfect. First, its name. Has there ever been a more dreadful title than PRODUCT? Bland, uninteresting, and not keeping in the spirit of the Buzzcocks songs. Second, and this is by far the greater sin, the album neglects the four songs off their EP SPIRAL SCRATCH, which is probably the most famous EP in the history of rock. It does contain a live version of "Boredom," but the other three songs are not represented at all. These four songs are among the most crucial that the Buzzcocks recorded, and it is tragic that they couldn't secure the rights to include them on this set.

   Still, these two flaws do not keep this from being a great set, and one that ought to be in the music library of every serious fan of alternative and punk music.

4 comments about Eno Box II: Vocals.

1. Nearly perfect collection, of nearly perfect music.
   
   My only small complaint would be the few songs that were left out, off the early albums.



2. The real reason to get this set is for the excellent remastering job. Until his first four albums are individually remastered, this is your best option!



3. This box set is a deluxe masterpiece in its creation. It starts off as a box that has a box within it that slides out the open side and inside the middle box there are the 3 cds and a booklet.
   The discs are a complete overview of Brian Enos' vocal music. The first disc contains the first 2 solo albums he made. It is refreshing to have them both together vurtually untouched(i say vurtually because I dont even know what they omitted to fit them on together).
   The second disc contains the bulk of Another Green World and Before and After Science. Both Classics in my book. The last disc is the treasure for most people probably have the first 4 albums. The first discs only throw hints of having rare tracks with only a couple per cd. The 3rd disc which has not only Enos projects for outside artists represented but it also contains the unfinshed album of pop songs called My Squelchy Life. As far as i can tell he hasnt made anything like those early vocal albums since he worked on this album back in 91. Consequently the disc is very valuable and with the deluxe packaging of the box it makes a terrific box set.



4. "Eno Is God" was a common tag in New York for almost a decade. Well Eno's not God but he is the Lord sound. What he can hear and then record for us to enjoy is a uncommon gif

4 comments about What Goes On?.

1. I was at my local used c.d. store ; ' Reckless Records ' in Chicago , Il......I saw this behind the counter....have always been a HUGE fan of V.U.....knew that this box set was considered the ' Holy Grail ' of V.U. compilations....was in mint condition so I gobbled it up......came home and played it...all I can say is that THIS box BLOWS AWAY ' Peel Slowly and See '...it's out of print? on an Aussie label 'Raven' so might be tough to find ...... I'll also say that the sound is SUPERLATIVE to P.S.A.S.....as are the track selections / little rare tid-bits , and a GREAT book.......and the little sound bites of Andy Warhol in the early days is VERY cool !.....You know the track listings and all that so I'll spare you.... P.S.A.S. really should have been this good , but they dropped the ball in a lot of respects...this set does NOT !!!....all I will say is that if you come across this box GRAB IT , you won't be dissapointed !



2. Although the track list replicates many of the titles from the Peel Slowly & See st, What Goes On includes the entire first LP in MONO, plus the OOP original Closet Mix of the third! Also includes live versions from the 1969 album, plus otherwise unavailable live tracks, acetates, radio spots and interviews from Warhol's Factory.



3. I havent actually got this particular set myself but looking at it it seems to be a more streamlined version of the excellent Peel Slowly and See Boxset. Any VU record is going to first class so we@ll take that for granted. The interesting stuff here seems to be the tracks which arent on the Peel Slowly set. There are a few, tho mainly they appear to be interview, advert soundclips etc from the time which would give this set a more historical charm than many VU compilations. It certainly has all the best songs on it. including the bizaare experimental freeform rock of Melody Laughter (also on Peel Slowly) which is great for being a rare glimpse into VU live from that era, as most of the live stuff knocking around id from 1969/70, with the less edgy sound developed after Cale's departure. All in all I'd recommend all VU fans to add this just for the context into which everything is set.



4. This is a sensational compliation of VU recordings from all Verve/MGM,Mercury, and Atlantic/Cotillion releases.Released on the Raven label, who would have to be one of the worlds' best reissue companies, this set contains 47 tracks,interviews, 42 page book, rare photos and more. Raven for those who don't know is headed by Aussie Glen A. Baker who has been voted Rock Brain of the Universe a number of times (even beating Dave Marsh!). This 3CD set has over 228 minutes of music with a wonderfull spoken intro by Andy Warhol. A must for fans and rock historians!

5 comments about Downside Up.

1. .... Siouxsie and the Banshees's gorgeous, horribly overlooked B-sides, to me at least, are the real stars of the show. While hearing great singles like "Arabian Knights" and "The Killing Jar" was a pleasure, I craved for something more. I got it when I purchased "Downside Up", a marvelous collection of some overlooked gems. While the Banshees always had a prominent Eastern influence in their work, their B-sides really show this. Siouxsie herself sings in German ("Mittageisen"), Spanish ("El Dia de Los Muertos", one of my personal favorite B-sides), and French ("Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant"). Budgie's trademark tribal drums are better than ever on songs like the loony "Congo Conga" and the eerie "Red Over White" (my favorite B-side and possibly my favorite Banshees song of all time). I can't really pass judgement on a lot of the other songs simply because I haven't heard them, but none of the ones I have heard are the least bit bad (Even though I found "I Promise" a bit grating at first). The B-sides are a lot more experimental than the A-sides. There's a great deal of electronica on the third disc, especially on the beautiful "Sea of Light". A lot of the B-sides sound like their A-sides too; The dark, psychedelic "Tattoo" sounds very similar to "Dear Prudence", and the moving, spooky "Let Go" sounds a lot like a slower version of "Swimming Horses". "The Thorn EP" is also included, a collection of early Banshees B-sides and album tracks reworked with lush string arrangements. The best is "Placebo Effect", but the whole thing is just brilliant. All in all, if you really want to experience more of the Banshees's greatness, buy "Downside Up".



2. This triple CD with a bonus CD EP collects all the B-sides released by Siouxsie and the Banshees in their illustrious career, excluding the extended remixes. Of those who witnessed Siouxsie reciting The Lord's Prayer at the 100 Club Punk Festival in 1976, who would have imagined the glories that lay ahead for the Chiselhurst punkette and her troupe of Banshees?
   
   Siouxsie and the Banshees B-sides were always special, as they eschewed the practice of lifting a track off a current or recent album, or using a spare demo or radio broadcast. Occasionally, they were specially recorded cover versions (Twentieth Century Boy, Supernatural Thing) or songs recorded for an album but not used (Coal Mind), but usually they were specially conceived as B-sides and far from being throwaways were seen by the band as a chance to experiment, be spontaneous and creative, and to explore new musical avenues.
   
   Some of them explore the same themes as the A-side from a different angle. Pulled To Bits mirrors the scenario of Playground Twist, complete with sound effects; Eve White Eve Black concerns itself with two of Christine Sizemore's twenty-two multiple personalities, the subject of A-side Christine; and Red Over White continues the Christmas theme of Israel.
   
   During the life of the covers album Through The Looking Glass, the flipsides of the singles from the album were the only way new songs could reach their public, hence Shooting Sun, Sleepwalking, She's Cuckoo and Something Blue.
   
   Siouxsie herself has often said how proud she is of these B-sides. Because they are quite different animals to the A-sides they back, they generally sound better played alongside each other in a collection such as this, than when alternated with the fully produced confections on the top sides.
   
   As these tracks were exclusive to the singles, only those on disc three, which were released after the advent of the CD single, have previously been available in digital format (and some of these sound remixed), and this collection, first mooted in the eighties, has been long awaited.
   
   Voices, the opening track, is a quite remarkably brave and ambitious piece for a debut single and hearing it without the vinyl crackle and distortion that previously accompanied it on my well-worn single was like hearing it for the first time. The magnificent journey through the set ends with the two B-sides from the first CD single of Stargazer, more polished and melodious, but equally distinctive. The double A-sided German single Mittageisen/Love In A Void is represented by Mittageisen, the German-language version of Metal Postcard, and, oddly, Love In A Void is not included (but can be found as a bonus track on the remastered Join Hands).
   
   The bonus EP, The Thorn, making its highly anticipated CD debut, could have been squeezed onto the other three discs, at less than twenty minutes long, but having it as a stand-alone disc is an added plus. It features radically altered versions of songs from their past, newly realized in 1984 with sumptuous string arrangements.
   
   Sometimes the digital remastering is flawed and annoying, such as the early fade on Coal Mind; at other times it is newly revealing, as on Slap Dash Snap. Either way, having these recordings finally available on CD is an achievement, and surprising that they should have surfaced before a comprehensive collection of all the A-sides and 12" singles, or of their many BBC radio sessions.



3. The title of my review should become clear after reading it. 'Downside Up', the tremendously in-demand boxed set of Banshees B sides, finally came into existence in late 2004. For those who do not like a meticulously nit-picky review, please move on. For those who want to know all of the good and the bad, then I'm your unrestrained reviewer.
   
   Since the beginning of the decade, it seems the in-thing to do is to put out a boxed set of B sides and unreleased tracks by many of the great, true Alternative artists of the 80's. Both Echo and the Bunnymen and The Cure put out gorgeous sets in a nice book-style package, each containing excellent books which included picture sleeves, rare photos, etc. The sound quality on both sets is excellent throughout.
   
   FINALLY, the news came of the Banshees box, and fans began to get excited since this was something that has been mentioned for almost two decades. Steven Severin kept fans up to date on the progress of the set through his website, first mentioning he was not going to do the book style like The Cure or Bunnymen sets.
   
   Upon first look of 'Downside Up', it would appear the packaging was just as detailed and beautiful as most Banshees album and single sleeves, though once you slide the set out of the slipcase, it's a different story. The actual fold out digipack is quite flimsy and does not hold up well with regular usage. The artwork on the digipack is quite unremarkable. It's nothing more than a white background with the title and a selection of the red flowers displayed on the slipcase. The artwork on the CD's is also unremarkably white. The removable booklet inside, which is housed in the right flap of the digipack, is equally uninspired. It does contain a nice Foreward by Siouxsie, as well as some adequate sleeve notes. The book includes the lyrics to most songs and select band comments on each track. Though they did include a good selection of the picture sleeves, many differed from 7" to 12", though not all are represented. Also, the picture sleeves are itty-bitty squares cramped in the corner of each page. There's a load of unnecessary white space which could have been taken up by photos and larger sleeve shots. The whole thing looks uninspired and rushed - but the really important content is supposed to be on the CD's, so let's get to that.
   
   Well, here's the bad news. Something I will dread from now to eternity will be the credit; "Digitally remastered by Gary Moore". This sentence guarantees a C- mastering job. This guy's a hack with virtually no skill, and here's why:
   
   CD 1: It sounds like someone decided to try a little re-equalizing of some of the early tracks, resulting in thuddy bass that distorts more than pleases. Thankfully, those attempts seem to stop after a thumpy "Drop Dead/Celebration". Various songs have a very high tape hiss, which is not present on the original vinyl. "Red over white" and "Follow the sun" are the worst. This could easily be removed with careful skill, though considering who's behind the mastering desk, it's best he not try. Also, some songs fade quite sharply, cutting the last second or two of the song. "Drop Dead/Celebration" and "Red over white" also get that treatment as well.
   One of the biggest flaws is on "Coal Mind". The song falsely ends cold, then picks up with a guitar riff until fade out. Mr. Moore, in his infinite brilliance, started the fade after the false stop, thus making the guitar come on as the song is already fading - really good, pal. "We fall" has much lower fidelity than on the original 12" single, making it sound dull and out of place. I don't think they even used a computer with this project. It all seems to be done the old fashioned way. If the songs were simply ran into a pc, they could simply view the .wav files and see where the songs actually fade, then apply a smooth and proper fade.
   
   CD 2: Fans were pointing out the biggest flaw on this set before I even got my hands on it. "Tattoo" and "There's a planet in my kitchen" sound like garbage! Severin stated the masters for these songs could not be found in the Polydor UK archive, but copies eventually turned up in the German division. Regardless, they sound awful. There is so much hiss in the songs that you can barely hear the music. There is also a very noticeable, and easily repairable cut right at the beginning of "Tattoo". Again, a problem simply solved with a click of a mouse. "The quarterdrawing of the dog" is the same version that appeared on the Tinderbox CD, and not the full length version that was on the vinyl, which included a proper intro and outro to the song. Lastly, there is a brief bit of sound cut at the start of "The whole price of blood", but it's not that big of a deal. The majority of the rest of this CD is pretty decent quality, though I would most certainly NOT use the term "Digitally Remastered". Nothing has been remastered, as that term usually means enhancements and improvements.
   
   CD 3: "False Face" is missing a guitar bit at the beginning of the song, and there seems to be an extra "Smiling, beguiling" as well. "Sunless" is BLASTING in volume - like 10 decibals louder than anything else on the CD. Was someone in a rush to get this botch job completed? And last, both "Hang me high" and "Black sun" are different versions/mixes than were on the "Stargazer" CD single. "Hang me high" is missing the first drum beat, and is a definitely different mix. "Black sun" is also a different mix, even including some extra music towards the end.
   
   CD 4: This is the classic ep 'The Thorn'. It sounds typically unremastered, and "Placebo effect" suffers from the heavy hiss that appeared on some of the tracks on CD 1. Did someone forget to turn the Noise Reduction on?
   
   OK, now to comment on the music. Many artists will use the B side of a single to throw a studio doodle or bland instrumental, which I often find frustrating and a waste of money. The Banshees, along with The Cure, put some of their best material on their B sides; most of them being essential parts of the bands colorful history.
   
   CD 1: "Voices" is a great contrast to the excellent poppy A side "Hong Kong garden". Depending on the listener, it can be viewed as brilliant or irritating. The cover of "20th century boy" was a real treat. Though it's not their own song, they make it sound as such by giving it the Banshees circa 1979 touch. Even though Siouxsie didn't yet sing, as opposed to shout, the song is a classic. I've always loved "Pulled to bits" on Nocturne, though when I first got the "Playground twist" single, I was disappointed to hear the original. Though I prefer the song with the acoustic guitar and drums, which were added for the live version, this one has its own charm. I always thought this would have made a great fifth track for 'The Thorn'. With the opposite affect, "Eve White/Eve Black" was more disturbing in this original studio version. Siouxsie's quite terrifying! "Slap dash snap" is a very experimental bit of electronic oddness that I find stunning. Thankfully, the version on this set is a remix that was on the U.S. "Arabian Knights" 12" single, and not the original, less interesting mix from the UK "Spellbound" 12". I had mentioned the superior nature of the U.S. mix to Severin at the start of the project. Whether or not that assisted in its inclusion here, I'm just happy to have it clean and clear. "Supernatural thing" is a remake of an old soul song, and probably one of the worst things the Banshees ever released. Ack! "Coal mind" has a classic hook and overall great sound. It could have been an A side. "Obsession II" was a minor disappointment. I was hoping for a remix or alternate lyrics, though it's nothing more than instrumental.
   
   CD 2: Many fans hold "Tattoo" in a very high regard. I have always found it passable background music, but nothing more. "Let go" is a beautiful piano and drum piece that perfectly compliments its A side, "Swimming Horses". "I Promise" is another that fans love, but I find both the singing and music quite grating. "Lullaby" is a stunningly beautiful and moody song. Siouxsie sounds great, and in a perfect world this song would have been a number 1 hit. My absolute favorite Banshees song is the 1987 B side "Shooting Sun". I get chills every time I hear it. The music has a beautiful, subtle oriental feel and Siouxsie sings it to perfection - pure heaven. "She's cuckoo" is a fun bit of lunacy, with lyrics surprisingly written by Budgie. "Something blue" is another keyboard experimental track. It's a mellow piece that has some more of Siouxsie's beautiful singing; this was back when she could actually hit those high notes without cracking. "The whole price of blood" is a disturbing bit of industrial, while "Mechanical eyes" is just a noisy mess.
   
   CD 3: Though the first half of this CD is all generally good, it doesn't get to great until the rocking "Spiral Twist". That's followed by the somber and attractive "Sea of light". The final Banshees B sides "Hang me high" and "Black sun" are both winners, containing the signature Banshees sound. Though I like a good portion of their final album, 'The Rapture', it would have been stronger had these songs been included in place of the weaker songs.
   
   CD 4: Many fans, myself included, feel 'The Thorn' ep was the Banshees finest hour. Siouxsie's voice had really developed into a gorgeous instrument, and Severin and Budgie were solid, skilled musicians. Adding strings to these classic Banshees songs is a striking combination. I wish it was a full length album.
   
   Despite my feelings of contempt for the inadequate mastering skills of Gary Moore, and the fact that he's already begun botching the catalog album reissues, the sound quality is about 75% satisfying. I wish the project was handled like The Cure's box, both in appearance and sound quality, because I am a MUCH bigger Banshees fan.



4. I was too young to collect these gems when first released on vinyl so many years ago. As a result, I can listen without prejudice (unlike some jaded old fans) and appreciate these songs for what they are....and they are AMAZING! THANK YOU SATB for releasing this!!! For some of us its the first time hearing them. And the addition of lyrics and comments in the booklet was cool too.



5. As is the case with most every box set I have ever purchased, this B-sides collection is all over the place, much like the Cure's Join the Dots. It goes from jaw-dropping, astonishing brilliance to total "WTF?!" indulgence in the span of moments. And its sheer size makes it virtually impossible to sit down and listen to in one go. Having said all that, this is a career-spanning set of songs that absolutely must be heard, as the Banshees habitually hid some of their greatest material on the flip sides of their singles. Some of it insanely good, some of it not. But it simply can not be ignored.

4 comments about Singles Box.

1. THIS IS ALL THE SINGLES IN ONE PACKAGE AT A REASONABLE PRICE TOO BAD THEY DIDN'T PUT THEM ON FEWER DISCS TO SAVE SPACE



2. After I got introduced to Blondie last spring with "The Curse of Blondie" I was in an all out search for everything Blondie I could consume. Several group albums & three Debbie Harry solo albums later, I'm close to accomplishing my goal. Though, on a many shopping trips to my local F.Y.E. store with my boyfriend, I saw this deluxe box set of Blondie's singles from their first self-titled album all the way through to 1982's "The Hunter", I had to have it. Though "One Way or Another" is a glaring omission, what you get still keeps this set with a five star rating.
   
   I finally purchased it this summer & have to say that it was worth the price tag. You get all of the singles as they were presented in seven inch vinyl format, in a CD single format. This includes all the original artwork on the front & back of the original 45! You get many b-sides that were most likely unavailable from their first few singles off of "Blondie" & "Plastic Letters". You also get alternate versions of album tracks such as "Live It Up" from 1980's "Autoamerican", instrumental versions, twelve inch versions, French versions, Spanish versions, the whole lot basically!
   
   Also, the singles come placed in beautiful box done up in 1977's "Parallel Lines" art design in chronological order. A booklet with color photo's of Blondie & Debbie is included as well. Of course the hit single "Maria" & subsequent singles from the 1999 reunion album "No Exit" are not here & neither are the singles from 2004's "The Curse of Blondie". But this set I believe was meant to highlight their peak period of singles.
   
   I recommend this to the Blondie fan who may have these all on vinyl & wants them on CD, or for that new Blondie fanatic, who like me, had to have it all. I highly recommend.



3. Just about anything Blondie is great. Just to let buyers know. Atomic and Heart Of Glass new (Diddy,etc.) mixes ARE available on CD singles. If you search for them here on Amazon you can see the tracklist and maybe find a used copy.



4. This is an amazing collection of singles! I think it is highly essential for a Blondie fan. The quality of the songs is quite amazing considering all of the songs have been remastered. The best part of the collection is the inclusion of bonus and alternate versions for certain songs. The Disco Version of "Heart Of Glass", the Special Disco Mix of "Rapture", and the Extended Mix of "War Child" make this collection essential. Also, the inclusion of the "Call Me" single makes this set worthwhile too. "Call Me" was only available in it's Long Version on the American Gigolo Soundtrack and the re-release of AutoAmerican.
   
   The only track I wish would have been included was "One Way Or Another". It's kinda funny how that is not on here and that is one of Blondie's big hits. Also, the 1995 remixes of "Heart Of Glass" from Diddy, MK, and Richie Jones would have been good too, considering they had only been available on vinyl, and if they were on CD, they were on two different remix CDs that I was able to locate. Same with the Armand Van Helden and Diddy mixes of "Atomic." Also, I wish the Medley from Blondie's performance at that one awards ceremony would have been nice too. And the come-back single "Maria."
   
   All in all, I think this collection rocks!