Warner Vinyl & CDs

Review: The Spotlight Kid was Captain Beefheart's sixth studio album and one, landing a mere three years after the legendary Trout Mask Replica classic, sees him continuing his avant-garde brilliance. Initially released in 1972, it stands out as the only album credited solely to Captain Beefheart, even though it does feature much of his Magic Band prominently. The material, integral to the band's repertoire, highlights Beefheart's eclectic musical vision and experimental spirit, taking raw blues as its starting point but then twisting into it hithertoo unrecognisable shapes and psychedelic distortions. Reissued for Record Store Day 2024 as a deluxe double LP set in a gatefold jacket with milky clear vinyl, this edition revitalises the album's enigmatic charm for contemporary audiences and reminds us all of its magnificent blend of blues, rock and avant-garde elements.

Review: If you're going to re-release a Deftones album with stacks and stacks of bonus material, including remixes by artists ranging from The Cure's Robert Smith to Squarepusher, then White Pony was always going to be a solid choice. First unveiled in 2000, the band's third album marked a major turning point in their career and sound, bringing in far more experimental ideas to the already-alternative metal of their early output.

Two decades on and the original work still holds up to significant scrutiny - the kind of scrutiny bands like Deftones are used to, having created legions of highly obsessed fans during their time on the road and in studios. What makes this revisitation so compelling, though, are the bits and pieces that weren't included with the record first time round, which should keep you busy for quite some time.

Review: The Flaming Lips commemorate the 25th anniversary of their classic album The Soft Bulletin with a limited-edition 2LP. This special edition features eye-catching Zoetrope designs by Drew Tetz and Wayne Coyne, along with new sleeve artwork and an insert with text by Coyne. Originally released in 1999, The Soft Bulletin marked a pivotal moment in the band's career, transitioning from alt-rock obscurity to festival headliners. The album includes standout tracks such as 'Race for the Prize,' 'Waitin' for a Superman,' and 'Feeling Yourself Disintegrate.' The new 25th Anniversary Vinyl is a visually and sonically enhanced experience, showcasing the Flaming Lips' evolution and enduring impact on the music scene.

Review: Warner Records has put together this special reissue of The Rising Tied as a limited-edition apple-red double album which includes four bonus cuts that are making their vinyl debut. It first landed in 2005 from Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda and marked his first foray into solo hip-hop production. The album went platinum and is packed with big-name collaborations with plenty of the scene's biggest names sun as Como as well as pop heroes like John Legend. Those bonus tracks are 'Be Somebody,' 'There They Go,' and 'The Hard Way' which were on CD back in 2005 and 'Welcome' which was a standalone single in 2015.

Review: Many a music lover will have gone through a rebellious teenage rock phase, and if so there is a good chance that for a short period at least they were well into Linkin Park. The stadium-sized rockers were a seminal act in the naughties and their ground-breaking second album Meterora was released in March 2003. It now gets a special 20th-anniversary reissue and comes with global hit singles such as 'Somewhere I Belong', 'Faint' and 'Numb' all of which have the big energy riffs the band became known for. This 4 x 12" bumper pack comes with some extra rare and unreleased material.

Review: Warner are in the midst of a massive reissue project that sees them remaster some of New Order's biggest tunes from the Abbey Road master tapes. Power Corruption & Lies (Definitive Edition) is one of the bigger ones as it offers up the iconic group's 1983 studio album across 180 gram vinyl, two CDs, two DVDs, and a 48 page book with obi strip. It is a completists dream with unreleased writing session material and the band's 1982 John Peel session, gigs captured live at The Hacienda and Kilkenny, plus all manner of rare photos and new essays to enjoy next to the music.

Review: Orville Peck's Stampede Vol. 1 is a choice blend of duets, marking his third album and the first part of a multi-part collection. The album opens with a serene rendition of 'Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond Of Each Other,' featuring Willie Nelson, setting a sweeping and airy tone. The pace picks up with 'The Hurtin' Kind' alongside Midland, an intense, rhythmic track with moaning steel and fervent harmonies. Elton John joins Peck for a scorching reimagining of 'Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting),' adding a vibrant energy. The Spanish-language 'Mienteme' with Bu Cuaron stands out, blending Peck's country style with traditional Banda music, honoring Mexican rancheros. 'Chemical Sunset,' featuring Allison Russell, evokes a 40s bar atmosphere with muted trumpet accents, while 'The Hurtin' Kind' references Chris Isaak's 'Wicked Game,' fitting its heart-wrenching lyrics. Noah Cyrus's 'How Far Will We Take It?' is a twangy ballad, and 'Conquer The Heart' with Nathaniel Rateliff is a hazy, guitar-led tune. While the seven-track album leaves listeners longing for more, Stampede Vol. 1 is a powerful showcase of Peck's collaborative and evolving sound.

Review: We've had more Neil Young compilations thrown our way over the years than many of us care to remember, but only one really sticks in the mind, and it's this one. Originally released in 1977 and chronicling the period in which Young went from being a simple member of Buffalo Springfield to one of the most heralded North American songwriters of the late century, and comprising work from that band alongside Crosby Stills Nash and Young, it's studded with delights aplenty. From the extended guitar sprawl of 'Down By The Ocean' and 'Cortez The Killer' to poignant balladry like 'After The Goldrush' and 'Helpless', no-one captured the dreams and hopes of the hippie generation in quite the way Young did, and this collection is a magnificent testimony to his most fertile and heartwarming era.