Alice Cooper’s *Killer* reissue via Warner Bros. Records.
The Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso - B.M.S. reissue on CD from Virgin.
Band Of Susans - Veil (CD, Album) (Rough Trade)
Be Bop Deluxe - Live! In The Air Age (CD, Album, RE) (Harvest, EMI)
Blondie - Eat To The Beat (CD, Album, RE, RM) (Chrysalis)
Blondie - Plastic Letters (CD, Album, RM) (Chrysalis)
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Kaya (CD, Album, Remastered Reissue) (Tuff Gong)
If you’re looking for a definitive starting point, you can’t really go wrong with Bob Marley & The Wailers' *Legend*. It’s that quintessential "Best Of" compilation—the kind of record that practically defines an entire era of music. Even though this specific version is a reissue under the Tuff Gong label, the tracklist remains the gold standard for anyone wanting to dive into his catalog without wading through deep cuts just yet. It’s polished, it’s iconic, and honestly, it’s a staple for any serious collection.
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Survival (CD, Album, Remastered Reissue) (Tuff Gong)
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Uprising (CD, Album, RE, RM) (Tuff Gong)
I finally got my hands on this reissue of Brian Eno’s *Discreet Music*. It’s one of those albums that really tests whether you actually want to listen to music or if you just want a sophisticated layer of wallpaper for your living room. Think of it like this: most modern pop is a loud, neon sign flashing in your face, demanding attention. This record is more like a dim, recessed light in a high-end hotel lobby—it’s there, it’s atmospheric, but it isn't going to start a fight with you. It’s designed to be felt rather than analyzed, which is a hard sell for people used to the constant sensory overload we deal with these days. The remastering feels solid. It doesn't feel like they took a dusty old tape and cranked the volume just to make it "loud" for modern ears; instead, it preserves that sense of space that makes ambient music work. If you're looking for a hook or a chorus, you're going to be disappointed. But if you want something to drift away to while you're staring out a window in Seattle or just trying to drown out the sound of your neighbor's lawnmower, this is exactly what you need. It's deliberate, quiet, and unapologetic about its lack of structure.
Buzzcocks - Love Bites (CD, Album) (Capitol Records)
The Clash’s *Combat Rock* (Columbia reissue) is another one for the collection. It’s a solid pressing, though if you're looking for that specific era's grit, you really have to listen to how they balanced the experimental funk stuff with their classic punk edge. It's like watching a high-budget Hollywood production try to maintain its indie street cred—it works, but you can tell there was more money behind the lens this time around. Still a heavy hitter.
David Bowie - Lodger (CD, Album, Remastered, Enhanced, Reissue) (Capitol Records)
Station to Station – David Bowie (Remastered CD, EMI)
David Bowie - Young Americans (CD, Album, RE, RM, Enh) (Atlantic)
Echo & the Bunnymen – Porcupine (CD, Remastered Reissue Compilation via Warner)
Gong - Gazeuse! (CD, Album, RE) (Virgin, Virgin)
Iggy Pop - Lust For Life (CD, Album, Reissue, Repress) (Virgin Records, US)
Jam - All Mod Cons (CD, Album, RE, RM) (Polydor)
Jam - Setting Sons (CD, Album, RM, RE, RP) (Polydor, Polydor)
Jam - Sound Affects (CD, Album, RE, RM) (Polydor)
I just picked up the Japanese import of "Gentlemen Take Polaroids." It’s one of those releases where you really have to weigh whether the extra cost for the specific pressing—whether it's the original or a remaster—is actually worth the premium. Looking at these Virgin reissues, it’s a bit like buying a vintage Mustang versus a modern restomod. You know exactly what you're getting with the classic, but sometimes that updated engineering makes the whole experience smoother. With this album, the nuances in the production are everything. If you're a collector who lives for that specific sonic texture, hunting down the right version becomes a bit of an obsession. Is it worth the markup? For me, if the remastering doesn't add something substantial to the atmosphere, I'd rather stick to the basics. But for certain albums, that specific pressing is the only way to hear it the way it was meant to be heard.
Jethro Tull - Benefit (CD, Album, RE, RM) (Chrysalis)
Jethro Tull - Stand Up (CD, Album, RE, RM) (Chrysalis, Chrysalis)
John Cale - Slow Dazzle (CD, Album, Reissue) (Island Masters, Island Records)
Joy Division – Closer (CD, Album, Reissue) (London Records)
Joy Division - Still (CD, Album, RE) (London Records)
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II (CD, Album, Remastered, Reissue) (Atlantic)
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III (CD, Album, Remastered) (Atlantic)
Led Zeppelin - Presence (CD, Album, Reissue, Remaster) (Swan Song)
Lou Reed - Street Hassle (CD, Album, RE) (Arista)
Minutemen - 3-Way Tie (For Last) (CD, Album, RE) (SST Records)
Neil Young – Hawks & Doves (HDCD, Album, RE, RM) (Reprise Records)
New Order - Movement (CD, Album, Reissue) (London Records)
Nico - The End... (CD, Album, Reissue) (Island Records)
Patti Smith Group – Radio Ethiopia (CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered) (Arista, BMG)
The Psychedelic Furs just dropped this reissue through Columbia, and I’ve been spinning it all morning. It’s their self-titled debut, and honestly, it still hits like a freight train. There’s something about that early 80s post-punk energy that modern production just can't replicate. It’s raw, it’s moody, and Richard Butler’s vocals have that specific grit that makes you feel like you're standing in a rainy alleyway in Chicago rather than sitting on your couch. It isn't polished pop; it’s textured, layered, and unapologetically dark. If you're looking for something that captures that perfect intersection of New Wave melody and punk attitude, this is it. It’s a solid addition to any collection, especially if you value atmosphere over radio-friendly sheen. Definitely worth picking up if you want to revisit a classic that hasn't lost its edge.
The Skids – *Masquerade Masquerade: The Skids Live* (CD Compilation, EMI/Virgin)
The Smiths - Hatful of Hollow (CD, Compilation, Reissue) (Warner Music)
Steel Pulse – Handsworth Revolution (CD, Reissue, Island Records)
Steely Dan - Can't Buy A Thrill (CD, Album, Remastered) (MCA Records)
Steely Dan - Countdown To Ecstasy (CD, Album, Remastered) (MCA Records)
Stevie Wonder’s *Talking Book* is one of those rare albums that doesn't just sit there—it demands you pay attention. When Motown dropped this, they weren't just releasing another record; they were releasing a blueprint for modern soul. Listening to this today, it hits differently than most old-school classics. It’s not just nostalgia; it’s pure, unadulterated musical genius. Stevie wasn't just playing parts; he was building entire sonic universes from scratch. Think about the sheer technicality involved here—it's like watching a master architect build a skyscraper using nothing but hand tools. Every layer feels intentional, every groove feels earned. If you’re looking for something that captures the intersection of raw emotion and flawless production, this is the gold standard. It’s a masterclass in how to be experimental without losing the soul that makes music feel human. If you haven't sat down and given this album a full, uninterrupted listen lately, you're missing out on a fundamental piece of American musical history.
Stiff Little Fingers - Inflammable Material (CD, Album, RE) (EMI, EMI)
Stiff Little Fingers - Nobody's Heroes (CD, Reissue) (Capitol Records)
Stranglers - (The Gospel According To) The Meninblack (CD, Album, RE) (Capitol Records)
The Stranglers' *La Folie* reissue via EMI is back on the shelves, and honestly, it’s about time we gave this era of their discography some proper respect. Looking at this CD release, you can tell they aren't just slapping a new cover on an old file; there's a certain weight to this reissue that feels earned. If you grew up listening to the gritty, post-punk energy coming out of the UK scene, you know that *La Folie* represents a specific kind of polished tension. It’s like watching a high-stakes legal drama unfold in a Manhattan courtroom—everything is controlled, methodical, and slightly claustrophobic, yet there's an underlying sense of impending chaos. They moved away from the raw, unhinged punk of their earliest days and leaned into something much more sophisticated, almost cinematic. For those who missed the original pressings or just want a cleaner digital transfer, this EMI reissue serves as a solid bridge between their experimental roots and the more structured songwriting that defined their later years. It’s a measured, deliberate listen. It doesn't scream for your attention with cheap gimmicks; it just sits there, heavy and undeniable, demanding you pay attention to the craftsmanship. If you're building a collection of essential late-70s/early-80s alternative classics, this isn't just another option—it's a requirement.
Stranglers - No More Heroes (CD, Album, Reissue) (Capitol Records)
Stranglers - The Raven (CD, Album) (Capitol Records)
Suicide - American Supreme (CD, Album) (Blast First)
I finally got my hands on this remastered reissue of Ultravox’s *Vienna* on the EMI Gold label, and honestly, I have some thoughts. It’s one of those albums that everyone treats like sacred scripture, but when you pull it out of the plastic, you realize how much weight a good remaster actually carries. Think of it like restoring a classic muscle car. You can have the most iconic engine in history—in this case, that synth-heavy, moody New Wave sound—but if the fuel lines are clogged and the tuning is off, you aren't going to feel the power. Some versions of this record feel thin, almost like they're struggling to breathe through the digital compression. This specific pressing tries to give it that extra punch, smoothing out the edges without stripping away the grit that makes the tracks hit so hard. It’s a solid addition to the collection, but I’m still skeptical about how many times these "gold" reissues are going to cycle through the market before they actually bother to fix the mastering issues once and for all. It’s decent, but let's not pretend it's a religious experience just because there's a shiny logo on the jewel case.
The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground (Remastered CD, Polydor)
Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat (CD, Album, RE, RM, RP)