Back catalogue: All genres

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


A full Twilight soundtrack reissue campaign is well underway, once again bolstering the staying power of the teen emo-gothic vampire brand. As with the entirety of the series, the score for the first edition in the film franchise was overseen by music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas, with its original elements composed by Carter Burwell and also featuring curated songs from the likes of Muse, Paramore, Linkin Park and The Black Ghosts.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Secret Superstar Sounds, courtesy of Soul Jazz, offers an eclectic and excellent collection of oddball punk and powerpop rare cuts from little-known bands from the late 70s, including but not limited to The Squares, The Meanies, The Monitors, Plummet Airline, and Krypton Tunes. Falling between the cracks of punk, new wave and post-punk, these unfairly overlooked and forgotten to time gems came from a slew of DIY ethos purists inspired by the messaging of bands like The Desperate Bicycles, Sniffing Glue fanzine and early UK punk labels like Stiff, Chiswick and Rough Trade, recording everything in-house, then sending their recordings to the likes of John Peel and labels with hopes of some airplay or recognition, little of which came. A long-lost micro-genre of unfairly forgotten underground punk (but not punk) gems awaits.

Review: The Velvet Underground's Loaded, a pivotal rock record from 1970, returns in a meticulously remastered SACD format. The album marked the band's bid for mainstream success, with label head Ahmet Ertegun pushing Lou Reed to deliver a record "loaded with hits". The result was a shimmering rock collection, though one far removed from the group's avant-garde roots. Though Reed left the band before its release, Loaded still shines as a masterclass in rock archetypes. Tracks like 'Sweet Jane' and 'Rock & Roll' cemented their status as proto-punk pioneers, while the sunny cynicism of 'Who Loves the Sun' and the rollicking 'Head Held High' showcased the band's sardonic wit. With Doug Yule taking on a leading roleisinging four tracks and playing much of the instrumentationiand Maureen Tucker absent on maternity leave, the album stands as both a departure from and a reflection of their earlier works. A near-perfect rock album, yet its polished production and radio-friendly leanings make it an outlier in the Velvet Underground canon. The SACD reissue offers audiophiles the ideal digital experience, capturing the tension between pop ambition and artistic identity that defines this bittersweet swan song. Everyone should own a copy of this magnificent album.