Nothing important comes out today, right?
The Beach Boys, The SMiLE Sessions (Capitol/EMI)
It's only, you know, one of the greatest unreleased albums ever. And it's now yours. Two CDs, five CDs plus vinyl or double vinyl on its own. Take your pick. You win either way. (And read the first part of Joe's review! It's awesome.)
U2, Achtung Baby: 20th Anniversary Edition (Island/UMe)
The other megabox of the week, available as a single-disc remaster, double-disc set with bonus tracks, vinyl box or two versions of an insane 6-CD/4-DVD box featuring remixes, a remastered Zooropa, live material and more. (One has swag, the other does not.)
Jethro Tull, Aqualung: 40th Anniversary Edition (EMI)
The last of the major megaboxes for the week: a brand new stereo mix of the classic prog album, with a bonus disc of rare and unreleased studio material, a bonus DVD (with surround mixes!) and vinyl. (Also available as a double-disc set, naturally.)
Journey, Greatest Hits 2 / Steve Perry, Street Talk (Vinyl) (Columbia/Legacy)
A compilation of deeper Journey cuts, available on CD or vinyl (or alongside the still-great original Greatest Hits disc), alongside a new vinyl remaster of lead singer Perry's solo debut.
Various Artists, The Best of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum Live (Time-Life)
Three discs of killer live performances from years of induction ceremonies, from a veritable who's who of performers.
Slipknot, Iowa: 10th Anniversary Edition (Roadrunner)
A two-CD/one-DVD edition of one of the Iowa band's heaviest and most successful of albums.
IMPORT ALERT!
Manic Street Preachers, National Treasures: The Complete Singles (Columbia)
A compilation to celebrate 21 years of the Manic Street Preachers, available as a double-disc set, deluxe set with DVD and - what else? - a mega box set version sold exclusively online.
The Association, Insight Out: Deluxe Expanded Mono Edition (Now Sounds)
The album that bought you the hits "Windy" and "Never My Love," expanded by 10 instrumental and single bonus tracks! (Check back soon for a full rundown from Joe.)
Various Artists, Movement: BBC Radio 1 Peel Sessions 1977-1979 (EMI)
A double-disc set of rare Peel sessions from the punk and New Wave era - and apparently the first of many!
Galley says
The third and final volume of the "Queen 40" boxed sets also come's out today.
Hank says
The expanded, 2-disc version of Elvis Presley's Grammy-winning 1972 album "He Touched Me" from the FTD label is supposed to start shipping this week.
Joe Marchese says
Funny you mention that, Hank! We've got a post in the works covering the (packed!) FTD slate for the rest of 2011. Watch for it soon.