Best of 2009: Reissues
To be perfectly honest, I listened to more reissues of old records than I did new albums this year. If nothing else, 2009 will be remembered as a time of reunions and revivals, with a particular focus on 90s bands coming back into focus. Here are the best and most essential re-releases of the year.
Company Flow – Funcrusher Plus
Why It’s Relevant: Company Flow pioneered a wave of alternative rap in the late 90s, helping to usher in an era of left-field artists prevailing in the underground hip-hop scene. If you’re listening to guys like Madlib, MF Doom, or anyone on Stone’s Throw, chances are they’ve borrowed at least a tiny bit from Co. Flow’s business model.
Why It’s Necessary: The production on Funcrusher Plus just sounded dirty – and not always in a good way. The reissue beefs up the production in all the right places without taking away from its minimalistic charm.
Elvis Costello – Live At The El Mocambo
Why It’s Relevant: I live in Toronto, so to hear Elvis Costello play songs off his two first (and best) albums at one of the most iconic venues in my hometown is both a novelty and a pleasure.
Why It’s Necessary: The record has been bootlegged since 1993. This is its first official, standalone release.
Serge Gainsbourg – Histoire de Melody Nelson
Why It’s Relevant: Listen to the record and see how many samples you can pick out.
Why It’s Necessary: It was fairly hard to find both on vinyl and CD for a while, and now it’s widely available. Plus, a record like this needs all the attention it can get – a classic that should be enjoyed by millions, not just the diggers and geeks who cherish it.
Jawbox – For Your Own Special Sweetheart
Why It’s Relevant: The band just reunited, and this is arguably their best record.
Why It’s Necessary: The album has been out of print for years. It also needed a bit of polish in the production department, which it has received in a very tasteful manner. The new cover art is pretty rad, too.
The Jesus Lizard – Head / Goat / Liar / Down
Why It’s Relevant: With bands like Young Widows and These Arms Are Snakes on the rise, the kids need to hear about one of the bands that took aggressive music into art rock circles.
Why It’s Necessary: Fresh vinyl for the reunion tour. Corey Rusk deserves all the money he can get, anyhow.
Red Red Meat – Bunny Gets Paid
Why It’s Relevant: Califone frontman’s former band. If you want to hear where Wilco got their sound…
Why It’s Necessary: The production on the original wasn’t bad, but the remastering here sounds fantastic. It also comes with several b-sides that help round out the band’s best record.
DJ Shadow – 4-Track Era
Why It’s Relevant: Because, quite frankly, people need to rip this stuff off so we can hear more hip-hop like this. People keep talking about a 90s revival in hip-hop, but I’m not hearing it. Featuring songs Shadow mixed together for a radio show around ’92, this is some fantastic unearthed material.
Why It’s Necessary: It seems most people who are “into” 90s hip-hop don’t look too far past The Low End Theory. This is a great history review for both the uninitiated and the connoisseurs.
The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses
Why It’s Relevant: Because Blur just reunited, so these guys can’t be too far behind. Plus, Oasis just “broke up” – so what better way to celebrate than by listening to a much, much better Britpop band?
Why It’s Necessary: I love this record, but the production kind of sucked. The remaster makes sure the basslines hit hard and the guitars wash over you, like they should.
Sunny Day Real Estate – Diary / LP2
Why It’s Relevant: SDRE reunited for a third time this year, this time with original bassist and Foo Fighter Nate Mendel.
Why It’s Necessary: Have you listened to Diary recently? It sounds like shit. The Pink Album fares a lot better, and, for my money, is the better record, but Diary needed a remastering real bad. It’s also nice to have both the albums packaged so beautifully on vinyl. Kudos to Sub Pop for taking such care in the repackaging.
Swervedriver – Raise / Mezcal Head
Why It’s Relevant: With the band reuniting for a tour last year and talks of a new album in the works, it’s fair game that their first two (and best) records be reissued.
Why It’s Necessary: This falls under the “weak production” category. Neither record sounds bad, per se, but these new masters really do the trick. The opening of “For Seeking Heat” on Mezcal Head really kicks into high gear on this version, and the distorted aggression of “Son Of Mustang Ford” sounds far more urgent than the muddled original.
