Echo and the Bunnymen: Porcupine (Remastered) CD Track Listing

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Echo and the Bunnymen Porcupine (Remastered) (2003)
2003 Rhino/Sire Records\n\nOriginally Released February 4, 1983\nCD Edition Released \nRhino Remastered & Expanded CD Edition Released January 27, 2004\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: The group's third album is a solid outing, a noticeably better listen than its predecessor, Heaven Up Here. Songs are intriguing and elaborate, often featuring swooping, howling melodic lines. Arrangements here owe a lot to 1960s psychedelia and feature lots of reverb, washed textures, intricate production touches, and altered guitar sounds. Ian McCulloch's vocals are yearning, soaring, and hyper-expressive here, almost to the point of being histrionic, most notably on "Clay," "Ripeness," and the title track. Driving bass and drums lend the songs urgency and keep the music from collapsing into self-indulgence. Parallels between the group's U.S. contemporaries such as Translator, Wire Train, and R.E.M. can be drawn, though all seem to have developed aspects of this style at about the same time -- and none utilize it as flamboyantly as the Bunnymen do. Highlights here include "Back of Love" (with its galloping drumbeat and fragmented yet ardent vocal line) and "Gods Will Be Gods" (which gradually speeds up from beginning to end, working itself into a swirling frenzy). This album is well worth hearing. [The 2004 reissue of Porcupine features new liner notes, photos, improved sound, and a wealth of bonus tracks. Best of the lot is the single that followed the record, "Never Stop," the band's most exciting and successful fusion of dancefloor energy and pop hooks. "Fuel," the B-side of the "The Back of Love" single that was recorded in Will Sergeant's bedroom, is included too. The most interesting additions for collectors will be the four alternate versions of songs from the album. There are plenty of subtle differences and a slightly more energetic approach. "The Cutter" is especially fun to hear in its early stages. A very well done expansion of an already fine album.] -- David Cleary & Tim Sendra\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nA fine transitional album, February 9, 2004 \nReviewer: wtdk from Fairfield, CA United States \nPorcupine was my favorite Bunnymen album for the longest time. The power of the opening tracks "The Back of Love" and "The Cutter" made an immediate impact on me. It's clear that bands like The Doves have been listening to this album and "Heaven Up Here" quite a bit. \n\nThe only bonus tracks here that was previously released on the boxed set is "Gods Will Be Gods" (Alternate version)and the discotheque version of "Never Stop". It's a pretty powerful album and sets up the stage for the band's next development with the powerful, moody and magnificent "Ocean Rain".\n\nThe sound is exceptional and puts the previously issued CD to shame. The liner notes are also very good as well although they do recap some of the points from the boxed set. Lyrics? Well you'll need to wait for the next reissue for those. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nFlawed reissue of a great album, November 28, 2003 \nReviewer: escalation746 from Eire \n'Porcupine' is the "difficult" third Bunnymen album, which saw them moving away from the open spaces of their previous records into a claustrophobic sound. A dense guitar mesh is laid over every track, augmented by Shankar's electric cello. Listening to these songs is like taking a machete to a jungle of vines -- every slash reveals something new, but you risk getting trapped in the foliage. \n\nThere are five vinyl b-sides from this period, all included on the boxed set. Sadly, only one is present here, the wonderfully moody 'Fuel', which in sonic texture is more in keeping with 'Heaven Up Here' material.\n\nThen follow five alternate versions of album tracks, one of which was issued in the boxed set. (The sleeve says only three are previously unreleased, but this is an error I believe.) I was excited to hear these, as the Peel Session versions and the b-side 'A Drop In The Ocean' show a group coming to grips with an sound even darker than what made it to the final album. Sadly, the versions here on display are similar but weaker to the album takes, though 'Ripeness' does make it more obvious what McCullough is singing about -- nothing too uplifting I can tell you! \n\nFinally, the Discotheque version of 'Never Stop' is tacked on the end of the CD. Which means that the very different 7" mix is neither here nor on the boxed set.\n\nWhat is missing from this disc is the monolithic 'The Subject', the 'Summer version' of 'Heads Will Roll', the fascinating live recording of 'Zimbo' made at WOMAD with The Royal Burundi Drummers, and the wonderful 'Way Out And Up We Go'.\n\nIt is criminal that we can re-purchase these albums (the third time over for many of us) and *still* have to buy a boxed set for a handful of tracks. They belong here, in proper chronological sequence. Maybe on the fiftieth anniversary? \n\nHalf.com Album Credits\nIan Broudie, Producer\nKingbird, Producer\n\nAlbum Notes\nEcho & The Bunnymen: Ian McCulloch (vocals, guitar); Will Sergeant (guitar); Les Pattinson (bass); Pete De Freitas (drums).Additional personnel: Shankar (strings).Recorded at Rockfield Studios, Monmouth and Amazon Studios, Liverpool, England. Originally released on Sire (23770). Includes liner notes by Max Bell. YEAR: 2003
This rock cd contains 17 tracks and runs 78min 1sec.
Freedb: ed124711
Buy: from Amazon.com

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