Singles, demos, and unreleased: 3 that Do It Right
Collections of singles, demos, and previously unreleased material are increasingly popular. Here we look at four instances that get it right.
It became fashionable to release collections of singles, B-sides, demos, and other adorable material a while ago. Sometimes it’s done well, but not very often. When such compilations work, they change our perceptions of the artist. It is like reading a book of unpublished stories by your favorite author, making you feel much closer to him or her because the editor isn’t in the way, the publisher isn’t in the way, and (we assume) the author’s voice is private. In a word, we experience a voyeuristic thrill. Any VU fan that first heard the demos when the box set was released knows this thrill intimately. (more…)
Dean Wareham’s Legacy
As frontman for Galaxie 500 and then Luna, Dean Wareham has given us several albums of reasonably witty songs, ambling guitar work, and a handful of pop gems. Here we consider his covers and argue that they will comprise his legacy.
Dean Wareham has made a career of coupling unhurried guitar solos with reasonably intelligent, tongue-in-cheek lyrics. After three albums and Kramer’s invaluable assistance in creating the Galaxie 500 sound, Damon & Naomi released sporadically and Mr. Wareham formed Luna. Since 1992’s debut LP Lunapark, Luna has released a number of albums and EP’s, as well as contributing songs to a few prominent compilations. (more…)
