Copper Blue - 2CD/1DVD [UK]

Product Description
The debut album by Sugar has received countless critical accolades since its original release in 1992.

Frontman Bob Mould had sung and played guitar for visionary midwest punks Hüsker Dü, openly acknowledged by the likes of Nirvana and The Pixies as a huge influence. Following their break-up and two well-received solo albums, Sugar saw Bob return to a band set-up in partnership with the powerful rhythm section of David Barbe and Malcolm Travis.

Previewed by an extensive campaign of packed out, energetic live shows, the band was truly a force to be reckoned with. Issued in Europe by the iconic Creation Records, Copper Blue's ebullient collection of richly melodic and anthemic songs saw Bob triumphantly reclaim an alternative rock legacy he had helped create. The NME named it their Album Of The Year.

Twenty years on, this modern classic has been lovingly remastered from the original tapes and is now presented in this expanded edition including b-sides, radio sessions, a full length live concert, promo videos and TV appearances.

An extensive booklet contains rare photos, memorabilia, and exclusive new interviews that tell the story behind the album in the band's own words.

Disc 1: Copper Blue
01. The Act We Act
02. A Good Idea
03. Changes
04. Helpless
05. Hoover Dam
06. The Slim
07. If I Can't Change Your Mind
08. Fortune Teller
09. Slick
10. Man On The Moon
11. Needle Hits E
12. If I Can't Change Your Mind [Solo Mix]
13. Try Again
14. Clownmaster
15. If I Can't Change Your Mind [BBC Session]
16. Hoover Dam [BBC Session]
17. The Slim [BBC Session]
18. Where Diamonds Are Halos [BBC Session]

Disc 2: Live At The Cabaret Metro, Chicago, Illinois, 22nd July 1992
01. The Act We Act [live]
02. A Good Idea [live]
03. Changes [live]
04. Running Out Of Time [live]
05. Helpless [live]
06. If I Can't Change Your Mind [live]
07. Where Diamonds Are Halos [live]
08. Hoover Dam [live]
09. Beer Commercial [live]
10. Slick [live]
11. Anyone [live]
12. Clownmaster [live]
13. Tilted [live]
14. Armenia City In The Sky [live]
15. JC Auto [live]
16. The Slim [live]
17. Dum Dum Boys [live]
18. Man On The Moon [live]

DVD
01. Helpless
02. Changes
03. If I Can't Change Your Mind
04. Helpless [Live on The Late Show UK]
05. Interview - MTV UK
06. Interview - MTV US 120 Minutes

2CD/1DVD: (available May 28)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007KLY8VY/?tag=imwan-21

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Beaster CD/DVD [UK]

Product Description
Recorded at the same sessions that produced their classic debut Copper Blue, this sophomore collection was very much the dark flipside to the first album's widescreen powerpop.

Although retaining his gift for great hooks, Beaster saw frontman and songwriter Bob Mould screaming confessional and rawly emotional lyrics against a raging torrent of noisy guitars. Ably backed up by the bass and drums of David Barbe and Malcolm Travis, the intense suite of songs combines wall of sound dynamics with powerful religious imagery and carefully layered arrangements. Remarkably, Sugar were vindicated in issuing such an extreme sonic statement when the album entered the UK charts at number three and cemented their reputation as an uncompromising but brilliantly creative outfit.

Lovingly remastered from the original tapes in remarkably improved fidelity, this edition combines the 1993 album with a DVD featuring the band blasting through their live set in front of a huge outdoor audience at one of the many festival appearances they made that year.

Disc 1: Beaster
01. Come Around
02. Tilted
03. Judas Cradle
04. JC Auto
05. Feeling Better
06. Walking Away

DVD
01. Tilted
02. The Act We Act [Live At Finsbury Park, 13th June 1993]
03. A Good Idea [Live At Finsbury Park, 13th June 1993]
04. Changes [Live At Finsbury Park, 13th June 1993]
05. Beer Commercial [Live At Finsbury Park, 13th June 1993]

CD/DVD: (available June 4)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007KLY8U0/?tag=imwan-21

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Copper Blue / Beaster - 3CD or 2LP [US]

Product Description
Copper Blue / Beaster 3-CD is a remastered deluxe edition of Sugar's quintessential debut album and companion EP, plus B-sides, a complete 1992 live show and 40-page booklet. The 2-LP version contains Copper Blue and Beaster on vinyl, with a coupon included for full download of the records, B-sides and the complete 1992 live show.

Disc 1: Copper Blue
01. The Act We Act
02. A Good Idea
03. Changes
04. Helpless
05. Hoover Dam
06. The Slim
07. If I Can't Change Your Mind
08. Fortune Teller
09. Slick
10. Man On The Moon
11. Needle Hits E
12. If I Can't Change Your Mind [Solo Mix]
13. Try Again
14. Clownmaster
15. If I Can't Change Your Mind [BBC Session]
16. Hoover Dam [BBC Session]
17. The Slim [BBC Session]
18. Where Diamonds Are Halos [BBC Session]

Disc 2: Beaster
01. Come Around
02. Tilted
03. Judas Cradle
04. JC Auto
05. Feeling Better
06. Walking Away

Disc 3: Live At The Cabaret Metro, Chicago, Illinois, 22nd July 1992 (CD only)
01. The Act We Act [live]
02. A Good Idea [live]
03. Changes [live]
04. Running Out Of Time [live]
05. Helpless [live]
06. If I Can't Change Your Mind [live]
07. Where Diamonds Are Halos [live]
08. Hoover Dam [live]
09. Beer Commercial [live]
10. Slick [live]
11. Anyone [live]
12. Clownmaster [live]
13. Tilted [live]
14. Armenia City In The Sky [live]
15. JC Auto [live]
16. The Slim [live]
17. Dum Dum Boys [live]
18. Man On The Moon [live]

3CD: (available July 24)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0084ZIWNA/?tag=imwan-20

2LP: (available July 24)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0084ZIWLC/?tag=imwan-20

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File Under: Easy Listening - 2CD/1DVD [UK]

Product Description
Packing an amazing body of work into three intense years of activity, File Under: Easy Listening was sadly Sugar's swansong.

Although feeling the effects of a difficult recording process and a relentless live schedule, the band managed to deliver a concise collection of driving, melodic rock songs whilst still experimenting and showing other facets to their sound with some beautiful country-inflected acoustic-based compositions.

Although Bob Mould went back to a still-flourishing solo career after this, his short-lived and highly successful power trio with David Barbe and Malcolm Travis is remembered with great affection by the many people who witnessed their barnstorming live performances and triumvirate of classic records.

This album has been lovingly remastered from the original tapes in remarkably improved fidelity, and is presented here in an expanded edition that includes b-sides, a full length live concert, promo videos and TV appearances.

An extensive booklet contains rare photos, memorabilia, and exclusive new interviews that tell the story behind the album and the band s break-up in their own words.

Disc 1: File Under: Easy Listening
01. Gift
02. Company Book
03. Your Favorite Thing
04. What You Want It To Be
05. Gee Angel
06. Panama City Motel
07. Can't Help You Anymore
08. Granny Cool
09. Believe What You're Saying
10. Explode And Make Up
11. Mind Is An Island
12. Frustration
13. Going Home
14. In The Eyes Of My Friends
15. And You Tell Me
16. Believe What You're Saying [Campfire Mix]

Disc 2: The Joke Is Always On Us, Sometimes
01. Gift [live]
02. Company Book [live]
03. Hoover Dam [live]
04. After All The Roads Have Led To Nowhere [live]
05. Where Diamonds Are Halos [live]
06. Slick [live]
07. Going Home [live]
08. Running Out Of Time [live]
09. Frustration [live]
10. Changes [live]
11. Can't Help You Any More [live]
12. Helpless [live]
13. If I Can't Change Your Mind [live]
14. In The Eyes Of My Friends [live]
15. Clownmaster [live]
16. Gee Angel [live]
17. Explode And Make Up [live]
18. The Slim [live]

DVD
01. Your Favourite Thing
02. Believe What You re Saying
03. Gee Angel
04. MTV - Sugar Feature
05. Bob Mould & Lou Barlow - "Believe What You're Saying" [Live on MTV 120 Minutes]

2CD/1DVD: (available June 11)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007KLY8PK/?tag=imwan-21

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File Under: Easy Listening - 2CD or LP [US]

Product Description
File Under: Easy Listening is a remastered deluxe edition of Sugar's classic second album. The 2-CD set includes B-sides, a complete 1994 live show and a 32-page booklet with band interviews. The LP version contains the remastered album on vinyl, plus downloads of the full record, B-sides and a complete 1994 live show.

Disc 1: File Under: Easy Listening
01. Gift
02. Company Book
03. Your Favorite Thing
04. What You Want It To Be
05. Gee Angel
06. Panama City Motel
07. Can't Help You Anymore
08. Granny Cool
09. Believe What You're Saying
10. Explode And Make Up
11. Mind Is An Island
12. Frustration
13. Going Home
14. In The Eyes Of My Friends
15. And You Tell Me
16. Believe What You're Saying [Campfire Mix]

Disc 2: The Joke Is Always On Us, Sometimes (CD only)
01. Gift [live]
02. Company Book [live]
03. Hoover Dam [live]
04. After All The Roads Have Led To Nowhere [live]
05. Where Diamonds Are Halos [live]
06. Slick [live]
07. Going Home [live]
08. Running Out Of Time [live]
09. Frustration [live]
10. Changes [live]
11. Can't Help You Any More [live]
12. Helpless [live]
13. If I Can't Change Your Mind [live]
14. In The Eyes Of My Friends [live]
15. Clownmaster [live]
16. Gee Angel [live]
17. Explode And Make Up [live]
18. The Slim [live]

2CD: (available July 24)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0084ZIWMQ/?tag=imwan-20

LP: (available July 24)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0084ZIWLW/?tag=imwan-20

The only thing I don't see included in these tracklists is the TV Mix of "And You Tell Me", which was a b-side of "Your Favorite Thing". Interestingly, this alternate mix was actually released before the "original" version, which later surfaced as a b-side of "Believe What You're Saying".

The Demon Music Group (parent to Edsel) website includes some interesting comments from remastering engineer Jim Wilson:

Copper Blue
“Just in terms of the size and power and clarity of it all, the effect of this 2012 remastering is going to be immediately obvious to anybody.”

Beaster
“The effect of this 2012 remastering is going to be immediately obvious – Beaster has now really opened up, and you can really hear into the density of the sound, and you can hear all the words and all the melodies. It’s not just a wall of noise. It’s completely different. It’s a lot more of a melodic record than people know. The amount of air, the amount of energy and snap: if you thought that record made your head bob before, now it’s like being in a whole room full of people with brain injuries.”

File Under: Easy Listening
“I’m really happy this deluxe edition is coming out because it really does highlight the songs in a new way. I think a lot of people are going to be surprised hearing it again. The remaster is light years different sounding. It sounds like the record has been remixed. Now it sounds to me how we heard it in the control room. Both Bob and I are really thrilled.”

I am excited about these, need to keep my eye on the reissues when a good sale price becomes available.

Thanks Calijawn for the posting.

Rick A.

NOTE: The live concert presented on Disc 2 of FU:EL, "The Joke Is Always On Us, Sometimes", was previously released as part of the limited edition 2-disc version of the b-sides compilation Besides.

I have all of the original albums and singles, and they sound fine in the original mastering, so there does not appear to be enough here to interest me (unless I find a really low price). Thanks for posting this info, though, Cali !

I'm most intrigued by the notion of a "modern" Beaster... beyond that, the remaster of Copper Blue got good reviews when it was previously released in LP format. But yeah, otherwise I think I have all the non-video material, so no rush.

Pitchfork reports that Merge is handling the reissues in the US with a release date of July 24. If the information is accurate, the differences from Edsel's releases are as follows:
--no DVDs
--no BBC session on Copper Blue
--Beaster is now included as part of Copper Blue
--vinyl

Meh... even though I'm increasingly less interested in video content, if you're going to do it definitively, then you've gotta go with the UK configurations.

UPDATE: I have revised the thread title and the initial post in this thread to include both UK and US versions.

Bonus points to Pitchfork for the excerpt from the Bottom of the Hill set, though!

Picked up the 2 disc File Under: Easy Listening last weekend. I was never into this band much the first time round but I am enjoying this set. Looks like I'll have to give Copper Blue a chance next. I've only heard a few tracks off it and that was eons ago, or at least it seems that long ago.

Unless you're a completist who needs all the content from the separate UK versions, the US Copper Blue / Beaster combo is a no-brainer for any fans of '90s "alternative rock".