This time around will be taking a closer look at some of my box sets and another time some special or rare editions of some cool releases I own.
I've said it many times before, but to review, I'm a big fan of box sets, special editions, limited releases, etc. and generally when an album is available in a format different from the norm you can most likely bet I'll be going for those versions. I love stuff such as this because underground music provides some of most pristine and simply coolest looking items imaginable, as well they'll often show a great deal of creativity, effort and confidence in the final product. And we all know you'll rarely see that in mainstream tunes.
Therefore, I give you, 'Box Sets and Special Editions.'
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It would only be right to start with the oldest box set in my collection and that happens to be for Megadeth's 'Youthanasia' album, which I bought eighteen years ago. I'd officially become a Megadeth and heavy metal fan in '93 through the bands album 'Countdown to Extinction,' which I purchased after seeing the 'Sweating Bullets' video on MTV.
'Youthanasia' and this box set were released in late '94 and although I had already purchased the standard CD version when I came across this box I simply had to have it. Basically my main and only reason was to have the exclusive shirt, which I previously discussed in my Metal Shirt Collection post back in September. At the time I couldn't find a Megadeth shirt and this seemed like a fair enough way to go about having one, even if it meant having doubles of the album. As you can see from the pic the album has never been open and the shirt is in mostly fine condition all these years later. I remember a few months after finding this my dad took the family to Florida for a vacation where I found not just one, but three additionally Megadeth shirts. Yeah, I dig 'em!
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Back in '06, Andrew Curtis-Brignell, the sole member of Caïna released his debut album, 'Some People Fall' through God is Myth Records. Caïna, as far as I can remember, was one of the first bands to blend post rock with black metal as well some acoustics and other shit that generally doesn't work together, together. I'd originally received a promo edition from God is Myth Records, but was sort of upset since the traycard was bent. I had enjoyed the album a lot back then and a few months after its release Andrew mentioned something about a "Special Limited Edition' of 'Some People Fall.' Well, apparently this edition was so limited that Metal Archives doesn't even have knowledge of it, but from what I can recall I think Andy said this version was limited to something like 20 copies, thus making it absolutely the rarest item in my collection.
With this version you got the same old album in the jewelcase with the same artwork, but it came in Andy's own handmade packaging to hold the jewelcase. The cover is weird enough, but opening it up we find a few pages, the first of which had a portion of the Satanic bible clipped out while on the following page a verse from the bible makes an appearance. The last few pages have more quotes, mostly of the more Satanic variety clipped and pasted while the last page has an inverted cross and some other random bullshit close by. I can only assume a great deal of effort was put into these things since its assembled out of handmade paper and bound together with staples and string. I should probably shoot Andy a message some day and ask him just how limited these were and how much each one differed.
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Agalloch's 'Ashes Against the Grain' box set is pretty much the most awesome thing ever. Limited to just 500 copies, the original album (in slipcase) comes in a large wooden box. With the logo etched into the front, the owner will soon discover that a piece slides out to reveal the treasures within. Packaged alongside the CD are three photos, a sticker and a bag of ashes (some came with bones!).
In one of the photos is a skull of some beast amongst ashes and debris, while the second being a shot of the group near a fire, and lastly a shot of a bird dive bombing and about to take a dump on someone's head. The sticker I once thought about placing somewhere, but figured it be best to not do so, whilst the bag of ashes is just plain, well... neat. I've never played the CD in this box since I have a promo version of the album, which is almost equally rare and I'm sure a lot of us know how retarded their fans are for the bands rarer items. Its just amusing for me, considering I bought all of their rare sets, albums and LPs upon their original release and never had to worry about forking out an entire pay check to obtain them.
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Apparently Agalloch's foray into woodwork inspired a few others out there, even those far off in Greece. Originally released in tape format through Saturnine Society, Spectral Lore's monstrous second effort, 'II' was additionally released in a wooden box a few months later.
Limited to just 50 copies (mine is 4/50) and with the etched band logo and the 'II' on the front, the box opens on a hinge, inside is the booklet and the album in CDr format. There's no additional goodies or bonus tracks, but its still quite an attractive item, which I don't seem to recall being ridiculously expensive. Either way, I suspect someday fans will pay a bundle for these on eBay... not like I'd sell mine though.
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And our final item this time around is, Of the Wand & The Moon's triple LP and two CD box set, simply titled, '1998-2003.' Limited to just 500 copies (mine is 95/500), I remember paying a fucking shit load for this one, but back in late '04 when it came out I was on a real high for the neo folk stuff and sort of preferred it more so than metal at the time. The three LPs in question are the bands first three albums, namely 'Nighttime Nightrhymes,' ':Emptiness:Emptiness:Emptiness:' and 'Lucifer.' All three are absolutely gorgeous looking and I must also say that Kim's brand of neo folk with occasional ambient and other experimentation's sounds quite stunning on vinyl, though I've only played these a few times.
The two CDs are of both live and exclusive rare material, which I don't recall being that exciting, but fun either way for fans that have followed Kim's work since the beginning. Its probably not the most mandatory item for fans of the band, but its all quite nicely put together. If you go back to my opening statements and then pretty much consider the fact that I had a dispensable income at the time you'll then understand why I might have picked this one up, which was probably close to $100.
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That's it for now, but I'll be back someday day with more box sets, rare items, special editions and other junk you wish you had!
You're so lucky. I can't afford to buy anything like this.
ReplyDeleteNo, nowadays I wouldn't be able to do so either. Between living by myself and whatever bills I make each month is would be pretty much impossible to justify a $100 purchase on LP's or something similar. But, like I said, most of this stuff was purchased when I had a dispensable income.
DeleteMegadeth shirts are always the best since Vic is such a kick ass character and there's so much cool artwork of him.
ReplyDeletePretty much, yeah. Curiously those other shirts I mentioned disappeared from my collection some years ago. I figure I must have given them to a friend during some drunken bender or something, haha.
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