Fanboy Shopping List Vol. 1: The Christmas Season of Greed Begins
It’s time for the big look ahead to a bevy of must have new releases slated for next week. It’s no coincidence the best Tuesday for new releases in some weeks comes as we begin our annual Christmas Greed Fest. Rather than waiting for someone to buy me these beautiful gifts, here are a few of the items I plan to gobble up on my own:
First up is Nirvana’s Unplugged in New York DVD: What’s to explain here? This was a seminal musical moment in my life and the life of my generation. This, in a sense, was our Beatles on Ed Sullivan or Elvis comeback special. Even before Kurt Cobain’s death, this was a classic, galvanizing, magnetic performance. Yeah, I’m having one of these.
I’ve worn grooves in my CD and now I’m ready to watch it again for the first time in more than a decade. Can you believe Kurt would be 40 if he were still alive?
Have you forgotten how good this is? Check out some streaming video of “All Apologies” and refresh your memory.
That’s only the beginning. I’m just getting warmed up with next week’s releases…
Next up, the Super Deluxe 20th Anniversary Edition of U2’s The Joshua Tree. A re-mastered CD, a bonus CD of B-sides and rarities, and a DVD of what I believe is the complete 1987 Paris, France show. All that and a nice hardcover booklet with photos and liner notes from the principles come in a nice little box with a nice big price. It’s going to be my big Christmas present to me this year.
We’ve also got a whole lotta Zeppelin. The band is getting ready to do a “reunion” show as soon as Jimmy Page’s broken finger heals. In the meantime the band is released a new 2-CD compilation, Mothership this week and next week will update The Song Remains The Same. The CD soundtrack is getting expanded and remastered while the film will be on DVD for the first time.
I’m not as big a Led Zeppelin fan as I used to be, but this is some cool stuff and it has to be under my tree.
Last up… GuitarFest! Eric Clapton has written an autobiography and released a new compilation. I’m more interested in the book because the comp isn’t as good as the box set I already have.
In addition to the book and CD, EC has a DVD arriving in stores and I’m going to have to have it, as well. Once again, Clapton put on a big show to raise money for the treatment center he opened in Antigua. That July show is making its way to DVD and features performances from Clapton, Buddy Guy, Hubert Sumlin, Robert Randolph and some other greats. Unfortunately, they also invited John Mayer. Still, this is going to be paradise for guitar lovers and I’m planning on parking myself in front of the show (skipping past the Mayer clips, of course).
One performance I’m going to want to be sure I check out is Clapton and Steve Winwood doing their old Blind Faith number “Presence of the Lord.”
One week, all that music. It’s going to be a good Christmas this year!
Filed under: Tags: Led Zeppelin, Musical Musings and Random Ramblings, Nirvana, Robert Randolph, U2
i don’t know how this Nirvana stuff could possibly be better than your birthday present.
Who said it would be better?
Next week could be expensive. U2 ($40 at Barnes & Noble with 25% coupon, shipped - sorry Amazon,) Zep’s Song Remains the Same on CD, new NIN remix album (I’m just as curious about the multi-tracks to play with on the DVD as the completed tracks on the CD,) and a live Opeth album. I may have to put a couple of those on my Xmas list.
There are, by the way, apparently no deals to be had on The Joshua Tree super ultra mega deluxe edition. I’ve been scouring forums and such and no one has any kind of special pricing. $45-50 is the general price. This B&N deal is the closest I could find. Sucks. If this sells well - and it will - be prepared to see more of these for other big albums.
The Song Remains The Same is kind of a mess, but i’m still gonna pick up a copy.
Yeah, I haven’t seen a good price on Joshua Tree either. I’m prepared to pay it because it’s such a great package and this is the first U2 re-issue, as it were. I’m excited about it, maybe more than any of the others.
I think TJT is following the blueprint of Springsteen’s Born to Run set. He gave us 2 DVDs and a remastered CD. This is 2 CDs and a DVD. I’m excited about it all, though. Great albums deserve this kind of treatment.
The Zep stuff will be a mess, but at times it will be a glorious mess.
What kind of pricing was there on that Springsteen set? Was it this high? This just seems ridiculously high. Like, “‘let me wipe the drool from my greasy lips before I handle all this cash,’ said the label exec” high.
No, Springsteen’s set was cheaper by a fair margin if I remember right. I believe it was in the $24.99 to $29.99 range. This is a definite gouging, price wise.