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 It is like reading a book of unpublished stories by your favorite author, making you feel much closer to him or her because the editor isn’t in the way, the publisher isn’t in the way, and (we assume)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…)
