Merry Music Gifts

Nov. 22, 2009

Merry Music Gifts for the Holidays
By Kristi Kates
A new CD by your gift recipient’s favorite musician or band is always a great holiday gift, for sure.
But what if you want to take that gifting a step further with something a little more special? No problem - here’s our take on the a half-dozen of the best modern rockin’ merry music box set gifts for the 2009 holiday season.

NIRVANA - Live at Reading
(Geffen, $34.99)
The long-awaited release of this landmark band’s headline show at the 1992 Reading Festival is here, complete with both standout performances and a little of Nirvana’s melancholic brand of onstage tomfoolery, too. Singer Kurt Cobain makes his entrance in a hospital coat and wheelchair to elicit a gasp from the crowd - only to tumble onto the stage moments later to reclaim his raucous frontman throne with a laugh - and it’s all rock n’ roll from there. It’s an energetic, often ebullient show showcasing the band in top form, including charged renditions of such classic Nirvana tracks as “In Bloom,” “Lithium,” and “Sliver.”

DIRECTOR’S LABEL SERIES BOX SET 2 (UMVD, $79.98)
Featuring Anton Corbijn, Stephane Sednaoui, Mark Romanek, and Jonathan Glazer, this 4-disc set shows off the work of some of the top music video craftsmen in the business. A must-have for video aficionados and modern rock fans alike, this particular set includes Corbijn’s striking, often black-and-white work with the likes of Echo and the Bunnymen and the aforementioned Nirvana (for which he helmed “Heart Shaped Box”) and Stephane Sednaoui’s avant-pop visuals on videos like the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s metallic-painted “Give It Away” and U2’s Moroccan-filmed “Mysterious Ways.”
Also featured here are clips from the standout work of Mark Romanek, who’s perhaps best known for working with Johnny Cash on the fragile video for “Hurt”; Michael and Janet Jackson on the futuristic and glossy “Scream”; and Beck on the jittery, quirky indie-vid for “Devil’s Haircut.” Finally, Jonathan Glazer’s work is highlighted, including his groundbreaking Jamiroquai vid for “Virtual Insanity,” UNKLE’s stark “Rabbit in Your Headlights”, and Blur’s “The Universal.” If your gift recipient is mourning the fact that MTV - “music television” - rarely plays videos any more, this’ll keep them happily viewing for hours.

THE BEATLES IN MONO/THE BEATLES IN STEREO (EMI, Mono Box $298.98, Stereo Box $259.98)
It’s a never-ending argument, as to whether or not The Beatles’ music is more “pure” in its mono or stereo forms. But snagging both of these box sets - both just released this past September - is sure to cover all of your Beatles bases. In a long-overdue reissue (well, *reissues,* if we’re being technical), these are rich, well-executed remasters that avoid the temptation to remix, instead showcasing the original mono and stereo mixes, just with slight but positive tweaks in sonics and clarity.
Each box set offers its own special bonuses, and both include nifty packaging, although the Mono Box’s visuals and booklets are a little better (perhaps a subtle homage to all of the effort The Beatles spent on their mono mixes?); one of these sets would make a great gift, while both would be pretty spectacular for any Beatles fan.

FACTORY RECORDS: COMMUNICATIONS 1978-1982 (Rhino/Wea, $65
Rhino Records has apparently been listening to their synth/new-wave/post-punk fans, as they’ve finally released a Factory Records box set that both collects the highlights of that groundbreaking era and points the way to those who have influenced many of today’s acts (Editors, Keane, Oasis, and Moby are just a few who spring to mind.)
The chart-hitters are definitely here, from OMD (“Electricity”) to New Order (“Blue Monday”) to Happy Mondays (“24 Hour Party People,” “Step On”) - while The Names, Cabaret Voltaire, Quando Quango, Stockholm Monsters, Northside, and Electronic are just a few of the more obscure bands that are also included. It’ll be a big synth-fest under the tree for whomever you choose to get this retro-fied and musically-historical set.

KRAFTWERK: THE CATALOGUE (Astralwerks, $159.99)
Not a label, but a band, Kraftwerk has influenced plenty of today’s acts all on their own, giving them a top-notch position as one of the pioneers of modern rock and indie-experimental music. David Bowie, Radiohead, Daft Punk, LCD Soundsystem, and even Dr. Dre are just a few of those who claim Kraftwerk among their influences; and this way-danceable box set collects eight of their classic albums in newly remastered editions. Autobahn, Radio-Activity, Trans Europe Express, The Man Machine, Computer World, Techno Pop, The Mix, and Tour De France are all included. For the true Kraftwerk fan, the artwork will be yet another bonus; mini-LP sleeves surround the CDs, and eight large-format booklets accompany the discs.


ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME LIVE (Time/Life, $39.98)
Three discs, 40 performances make up this new 2009 package of 24 years’ worth of legendary musicians and bands, plus unique performance combos unlikely to be seen anywhere other than the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame stage. From Mick Jagger inducting The Beatles in 1988 to Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder inducting The Doors in 1993 (and Vedder’s subsequent jam with The Doors on “Light My Fire,”) this set is chock-full of music fan favorites and great introductions to classic artists, too. Also included here are induction speeches and performances from Roy Orbison, Crosby Stills and Nash, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, R.E.M., U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea, The Byrds, Fleetwood Mac. Additional documentary clips give intriguing insights into various rehearsals and other backstage footage.