GUNS N’ ROSES – LIVE ERA ’87-’93
As a live act, Guns N’ Roses was unpredictable. They could be raw, energetic, feeding off the crowd and regurgitating that intensity right back at them. It could also be chaotic: late starts, riots, lectures and rants, or entire show cancellations. Taking that raw approach, Live Era ’87-’93, feels a bit like lightning in a bottle. It showcases sets from sweaty clubs to stadiums that all have a bubbling sense of danger.
Stream • Geffen • Connect: @gunsnroses
PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION – AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY (DELUXE EXPANDED EDITION)
Prince worked hard and the Paisley Park archivist works harder. It seems like every year we’re getting a reissue or era appropriate vault track (Taylor Swift, eat your heart out). Prince is already back in the top 10 on iTunes with release of the 40th Anniversary reissue of Around The World in a Day. A celebration for an album that took a complete left turn away from pop after the success of Purple Rain. It’s whimsical, political, psychedelic, deeply funky, and now you can hear all the non-LP tracks that came out in that era (although there are no vault tracks or demos this go round).
THE REPLACEMENTS – LET IT BE (DELUXE)
Let It Be remains a perfect mess, it’s equal parts lackadaisical-punk and heart-on-sleeve confession. Fans of The Replacements will appreciate the deluxe edition extras: hearing demos, outtakes, and live versions. And if you want to enjoy hearing all the glorious chaos surrounded by other ‘Mats fans, join 92 KQRS this Friday, November 21st for a listening party at the Electric Fetus starting at 4pm.
Stream • Rhino/Warner • Connect: @thereplacements
THE SMASHING PUMPKINS – MELLON COLLIE AND THE INFINITE SADNESS (30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION)
Billy Corgan’s magnum opus was sprawling. It brought in industrial, indie, ’70s rock, and electronica dipped in nostalgia and sprinkled with hope and pain. The 30th Anniversary edition of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness adds even more: demos, B-sides, and remastered glory. it’s a reminder of how audacious the Pumpkins were at their peak—melding genres and poetry into a double album that somehow works. Three decades later, it’s still a beautiful,(if bloated) masterpiece.
Stream • Capitol • Connect: @smashingpumpkins
