Customer Reviews

Merciful Release

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Back in the early nineties, The Sisters of Mercy released a neat collection of their early EPs called "Some Girls Wander By Mistake," a fastidious testament to sparse, electronic beginnings of this soon-to-be-huge masters of sprawling goth rock.

The three full length albums that followed - all with entirely different lineups, exempting Eldritch - stamped a lasting impression in New Wave and the 80's alternative music in general.

This collection takes those three albums and aside from some subtle sonic renovation, adds bonus tracks and various treasures that only the most hardcore SoM fans will recognize. Some of them, particularly the b-sides on 'First Last and Always," have never been 'officially' available on CD before now.

You'll Be @ The Mercy Of Collectors When This Goes Out Of Print!

While the artwork for the boxset differs than what is pictures (it's completely black with A Merciful Release logo in white / The Sisters Of Mercy name in red font), this is a reasonable priced CD Boxset featuring the 3 Albums (*with select B Side bonus tracks released for the 1st time on CD / and - or released again after being long out of print) and yes this (was a join effort with Rhino and WEA) is an Import Only!

I.

All Albums are released as Digipak Slipcases (Featuring Booklets with Lyrics, Artwork for each Album and the respective Singles, Quality Commentary - but not from Andrew - why? Well he signed off from WEA UK back in 1997, so please don't blame Mr. Eldritch for anything missing because I doubt he's getting any royalties off these releases that Warners is abviously cashing in on - saavy?)!

FIRST AND LAST AND ALWAYS [is it me, or is the mix for No Time To Cry Different than any previous CD release?]

1. Black Planet
2. Walk Away
3. No Time to Cry
4. Rock and a Hard Place
5. Marian [Version]
6. First and Last and Always
7. Possession
8. Nine While Nine
9. Amphetamine Logic
10. Some Kind of Stranger
-Bonus Tracks-
11. Poison Door
12. On the Wire
13. Blood Money
14. Bury Me Deep
15. Long Train
16. Some Kind of Stranger [Early "Bell Tower" Version]

Due to the fact 1984's Body And Soul wasn't on SOME GIRLS WANDER BY MISTAKE, it was released on A SLIGHT CASE OF OVER BOMBING (great to hear Long Train finally available on CD, yet this this means the following tracks *Body Electric (2nd Version) / *Afterhours / *Train (Original) are still not available on CD) .....


FLOODLAND [sound seems improved on this version compared to previous release]

1. Dominion/Mother Russia
2. Flood I
3. Lucretia My Reflection
4. 1959
5. This Corrosion
6. Flood II
7. Driven Like the Snow
8. Never Land [A Fragment]
9. Torch
10. Colours
-Bonus Tracks-
11. Never Land [Full Length]
12. Emma

I don't recall an extended version of Never Land available, however I'm pleased that Emma is finally on CD (we're still missing *Untitled / *Sandstorm off of the Dominion/Mother Russia Single), while the extended version of Lucretia My Reflection is on A SLIGHT CASE OF OVER BOMBING))


VISION THING [sound seems improved on this version compared to previous release]

1. Vision Thing
2. Ribbons
3. Detonation Boulevard
4. Something Fast
5. When You Don't See Me
6. Doctor Jeep
7. More
8. I Was Wrong
-Bonus Tracks-
9. You Could Be the One
10. When You Don't See Me [Remix]
11. Doctor Jeep [Extended Version]
12. Ribbons [Live]
13. Something Fast [Live]

Almost all of the B Sides are here, with the exception being *Knockin' on Heaven's Door(live bootleg) / *Burn (live bootleg) / *Amphetamine Logic (live bootleg) (from the Doctor Jeep 12" Single), *I Was Wrong (American Fade) / (from the Temple of Love (1992) 12" Single), *Alice(1993) / *Under The Gun (Jutland Mix) (from the Under The Gun (1992) 12" Single). Vision Thing(Canadian Club Mix) / Doctor Jeep (Radio Edit) can be found on A SLIGHT CASE OF OVER BOMBING.


II.

I gave the collection 5 stars, however my true complaint is if they really wanted to make this a a true Merciful Release Boxset, they should release 2 more CDs with the following tracks -

1. Body Electric (2nd Version)
2. Afterhours
3. Train (Original)
4. Untitled
5. Sandstorm
6. Knockin' on Heaven's Door(live bootleg)
7. Burn (live bootleg)
8. Amphetamine Logic (live bootleg)
9. Alice(1993
10. Under The Gun (Jutland Mix)

(C'mon that's over an hour of audio not available on CD, RHINO - WEA UK)

Remastered Sisterhood GIVING GROUND (Single) / GIFT (Album) -

Giving Ground (1986)
1. Giving Ground [RSV]
2. Giving Ground [AV]
Gift (1986)
3. Jihad
4. Colours
5. Giving Ground
6. Finland Red, Egypt White
7. Rain From Heaven

(C'mon RHINO - WEA UK, both of these are out of print Imports, with the different versions of Giving Ground that's over 60 minutes of audio)

I wonder if enough Sisters Fans can join me in bringing this to the attention of RHINO - WEA UK (wouldn't you like to see two more disks of the following mentioned remastered / re-released? I DO !!).


~(^)~
C J

The Sisters of Mercy, it doesn't get much better than this for me. They're one of those rare bands that I really did love all their albums, and here we have a set of their three main albums remastered, repackaged and laden with bonus tracks. If anyone deserved this treatment, it was The Sisters. First and Last and Always is notoriously known for having horrible mastering, and here you are treated to a much crisper version. Floodland and Vision Thing never really sounded bad in my opinion, but I can tell they have been remastered to a better state here. Add the multiple bonus tracks and you have an incredible set. If I wasn't an obsessive collector I would replace my old discs with this set, but I am, so own both still. This is a stellar box set very much worthy of purchase and not gratuitous in the least. A must have for not only Sisters fans but for anyone who likes rock music.

I cannot express how excited it makes me to see this set in the year 2007. Part of the holy trinity of gothic rock (along with the Banshees and the Bauhaus, in my opinion), The Sisters of Mercy have been living legends; their music still echoing in clubs across the world. This awesome collection of their albums also has some great remixes and hard-to-find tracks (all in the oh-so-totable CD format). Let's keep our fingers crossed for a reunion album!!!

To put it short and sweet, fellow Sisters fans everywhere can appreciate this compilation. Sure, it's just the three studio albums. However, the sound and overall production quality have been buffed. The album liner booklets contain a magazine article biography that is very interesting and insightful (chronicles the three studio recordings themselves, one at a time), and contained a few images of Eldritch and the band over the years that any fan can appreciate. The bonus tracks on each album also give a hesitant fan a reason to purchase. Of course, if you've already got all three albums (and the greatest hits and rare recording CDs) this may not be worth it. However, if you want the records updated and in the best quality (not just second-hand, back-shelf in hard-to-find shops) this is worth the money.

Sorry, but three albums with a few singles tacked on the end (most of which any average Sisters fan already owns) does not warrant $50. (He could have at least thrown in the Sisterhood LP at that price.)

Speaking as a diehard Mercy-head for two decades, and with all due respect, this is an insult! 15 years or so after the last studio recording and the only bone he can throw us is a box set of remasters??

And then to have the NERVE to call it a "Merciful Release"?!

HA!

I understand we all have bills to pay, but come on. What the hell is Andy wasting his time and talent on??

It's time to take the pink shirts back to the mall and get into the studio again...PLEASE and thank you.

Box set collection of all three of The Sisters' albums, remastered and expanded in 2006. Not a shred of input from the band, but a decent record company product.

First and Last and Always differs most in the remastered form, resembling the original vinyl mix from 1985. If you have this version and the long-available 90s CD, you have two distinct mixes. This one seems less punchy than the old CD, and a few tracks have different intro and endings. All of the FALAA b-sides are featured, though the main treat is an unreleased early version of Some Kind of Stranger (sounding tortured and low budget, but a welcome bit).

Floodland and Vision Thing don't sound astouningly different in this format, just a slight boost in the low end and a little bit more oomph. The only (new) gem off these is an extended mix of Neverland (no longer 'a fragment'). Otherwise, we get the b-sides from both and the few lives tracks from VT's singles.

Each album has a nice digipac and none-too-offensive fawning essay in each, par for course on remasters where the band has no input. Whether the band ever releases anything again officialy (on its own) is questionable. If you have the old discs, this is 'almost necessary' given the dearth of anything new. Definitely a 'merciful release', the original FALAA mix alone has been sought after for ages.

Unfortunatly, this Sisters boxset is just the three remastered versions of the albums packaged together in a cool looking outer sleeve. If you already have the remasters then there isnt anything new here other than the packaging. But still, the albums are timeless and do sound a whole lot better after being redone. If your a Sisters fanatic (like myself) this is still a must have but theres so much more that could have been included.....but hey, at least its something new with their name on it.

Finally the Sisters in remastered glory! Pity they only made 3 albums (excluding RIOs of course). Great value for money & a definite sonic upgrade, especially noticeable on First & Last & Always. I will leave the individual albums' merits left up to the individual reviews.

If you're a Sisters fan & don't have this GET IT! If you bought all of the remasters individually you already have it so just enjoy!

For the 80's Goth music lover this is a must have. Three of the best Sisters of Mercy albums together with added content. Great listen and you can't get these on iTunes.