Featuring The Chills (my favorite of these 4 bands; check out the majesty of “Kaleidoscope World”), Sneaky Feelings, The Stones and The Verlaines with one side of vinyl each, this double 12” reissue of the seminal 1982 Flying Nun compilation that put them on the map (it was one of their earliest releases and cemented the role of Dunedin in New Zealand’s independent music scene) has recently been reissued by Captured Tracks in the U.S. after being out of print for a long time. Though only 2,000 were made, I had no difficulty finding copies. Perhaps the price tag turned some folks off, but this is a great release.

This brand-new RSD only 7” features two non-album tracks and artowrk by Shepard Fairey.

This is the DC melodic hardcore band 3rd and final Lp from 1998. I bought this for a good friend as I’ive never actually heard this album (I should rectify that), but I did see them a few times in 1995 and they put on a great show. I even jumped on stage to sing the encore (their covers of 7 Seconds‘ “We’re Gonna Fight” and Bold‘s “Wise Up”) at one of the shows at the old, short-lived Down Under club in New Brunswick, NJ.

I had this one around the time it was released and always liked it a lot, so I’m not sure why I didn’t have it anymore. Regardless, I’m glad it was reissued as I was able to get a copy and it still holds up quite well. I love this style of melodic, SoCal post-hardcore.

This was one of the releases I wanted the most, though part of it had already been released on the old Rykodisc compilation Live: The Mongoloid Years. This releases has liner notes by Gerald Casale, the complete performance and is limited to 2,000 copies. Unfortunately, the store I went to was already sold out of it by the time I could get in, so I hope I can find one or that there is another pressing.

With a roster featuring Speedy Ortiz, Bleeding Rainbow, Beverly, Joanna Gruesome and other bands, this is the best compilation roster I’ve seen in a long time. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get a copy, though what I’ve heard from it has generally been good to excellent.

Though it’s available everywhere as of last week and not an exclusive RSD release, the debut album from this great UK band was issued on red vinyl for RSD.

This is the last studio album that Sam Cooke issued in his lifetime and it contains some of his best work like the title track, “Good Times,” “Another Saturday Night” and of course, the Civil Rights anthem “A Change is Gonna Come”.

How is this different from the already existing vinyl reissue of their first major label album from 1986? Well, it was a few bucks more and issued on grey vinyl for RSD. I passed on it. I like parts of this album a lot (especially Grant Hart‘s songs) but in general I find it the weakest of their incredible 1983-1987 period.

Perhaps the most difficult RSD item to acquire as I only know one person who was able to get one, this is a quadruple (!) Lp featuring 11 never been heard performances. I’d love one, but does it justify the $90 price tag?