Crystal Days: 1979-1999

Disc 1
1	Monkeys / Julian Cope Original Version 3:04
2	The Pictures on My Wall Original Single Version 2:51
3	Read It in Books Original Single Version 2:59
4	Villiers Terrace / David Balfe Live / John Peel Session 4:13
5	Rescue 4:26
6	Simple Stuff previously unreleased 2:35
7	Stars Are Stars 2:47
8	All That Jazz 2:47
9	Crocodiles / David Balfe 2:40
10	The Puppet 3:07
11	Do It Clean / David Balfe 2:48
12	Show of Strength 4:50
13	Over the Wall 6:06
14	A Promise 4:04
15	Heaven Up Here 3:43
16	All My Colours / Leslie Penny 4:02
17	Broke My Neck Long Version 7:17
18	No Hands Live / previously unreleased / John Peel Session 3:11
19	Fuel previously unreleased 4:05
20	The Subject previously unreleased 5:09
Disc 2
1	The Back of Love 3:15
2	The Cutter 3:52
3	Way Out and Up We Go previously unreleased 4:03
4	Clay 4:16
5	Heads Will Roll 3:33
6	Gods Will Be Gods previously unreleased / Alternate Version 5:30
7	Never Stop Discotheque / Version 4:46
8	Watch Out Below Live / previously unreleased / John Peel Session 2:50
9	The Killing Moon previously unreleased / All Night Version 9:13
10	Silver (Tidal Wave) previously unreleased 5:12
11	Angels and Devils previously unreleased 4:23
12	Crystal Days 2:26
13	Seven Seas 3:20
14	My Kingdom 4:06
15	Ocean Rain 5:18
16	All You Need Is Love previously unreleased 6:42
Disc 3
1	Bring on the Dancing Horses 4:05
2	Over Your Shoulder previously unreleased 4:07
3	Lover, I Love You previously unreleased 4:20
4	Satisfaction previously unreleased 4:11
5	New Direction previously unreleased / Original Version 4:23
6	Ship of Fools previously unreleased 4:04
7	All My Life 4:10
8	The Game 3:51
9	Bedbugs and Ballyhoo 3:29
10	Lips Like Sugar Single Version 4:37
11	People Are Strange 4:32
12	Rollercoaster previously unreleased 4:05
13	Don't Let It Get You Down 3:52
14	I Want to Be There (When You Come) 3:39
15	Nothing Lasts Forever / Liam Gallagher 3:56
16	Hurracaine previously unreleased 4:21
17	Rust 5:24
18	What Are You Going to Do With Your Life? 5:11
Disc 4
1	The In the Midnight Hour previously unreleased 3:30
2	Start Again previously unreleased / Live 1987 3:26
3	The Original Cutter (A Drop in the Ocean) previously unreleased 4:00
4	Heads Will Roll previously unreleased / Summer Version 4:25
5	Bedbugs and Ballyhoo previously unreleased / Original Single Version 3:38
6	Zimbo / The Royal Burundi Drummers Live, 1982 4:57
7	Angels and Devils previously unreleased / Live, 1985 3:04
8	She Cracked previously unreleased / Live, 1985 2:54
9	It's All Over Now, Baby Blue previously unreleased / Live, 1985 3:33
10	Soul Kitchen previously unreleased / Live, 1985 3:50
11	Action Woman previously unreleased / Live, 1985 3:21
12	Paint It Black previously unreleased / Live, 1985 3:15
13	Run Run Run previously unreleased / Live, 1985 3:59
14	Friction previously unreleased / Live, 1985 4:44
15	Crocodiles previously unreleased / Live, 1985 6:06
16	Heroin previously unreleased / Live, 1983 5:43
17	Do It Clean previously unreleased / Live, 1983 8:18
18	Cutter previously unreleased / Alternate Version 4:06

Barnes & Noble

They never had a major U.S. radio hit, but Liverpool's Echo & the Bunnymen made an indelible mark on the alternative music scene in the '80s, '90s, and beyond. Back then, there were few cooler bands. As Pavement's Spiral Stairs acknowledges in his essay in this remarkable box set, "They made me want to make music myself" (not to mention ape their gravity-defying hairdos). The Bunnymen were very much of their time and place, coming up alongside the likes of the Fall, the Teardrop Explodes, and the Chameleons U.K., but they also forged a distinct sound, built on angular guitars, heady beats, and sweeping vocals, that evolved throughout the years, becoming less angst-riddled and more lush. Over the course of this lovingly packaged box's four CDs, you'll hear elements of the dark-hued psychedelia of the Teardrop Explodes, the punk fury of early Siouxsie & the Banshees, and the grit and gloom of Joy Division and the Cure. But it's the alluring collision of Ian McCulloch's deep, yearning vocals, Will Sergeant's dazzling guitar showers, Les Pattinson's throbbing bass lines, and Pete DeFrietas's incomparable hammering drums that makes the greatest impression. Crystal Days: 1979-1999 offers enough to please both diehards and casual Echo fans. The first three discs sample their recorded works from the very beginning -- a 1979 recording of "Monkeys," featuring Julian Cope on keyboards -- through the band's 1999 album What Are You Going to Do with Your Life? Here you'll fine the band's key singles -- "Rescue," "Do It Clean," "A Promise," "The Cutter," "Never Stop (Discotheque)" (originally issued only as a single), "The Killing Moon (All Night Version)," "Silver" (in the lovely 12" "Tidal Wave" mix), "Bring On the Dancing Horses," "Lips Like Sugar" -- along with standout B-sides, alternative versions, outtakes, and BBC recordings. Disc 4 is where fans will have a field day, reveling in previously unreleased tracks (a cover of Wilson Pickett's "In the Midnight Hour"), alternate takes (a live version of "Zimbo," featuring the Royal Burundi Drummers), and a big batch of the live cover versions the band was known for -- including the Doors' "Soul Kitchen," Television's "Friction," the Stones' "Paint It Black" -- songs which, in retrospect form a blueprint for the Bunnymen's expansive sound. The smartly designed package features a ton of photos, original album and single cover images, a lengthy essay by longtime Echo publicist Mick Houghton, personal commentary from McCulloch and Sergeant, and a detailed track listing, making this a must-have for any alternative music collection. Lydia Vanderloo

All Music Guide

The answer is a resounding yes -- Echo & the Bunnymen's Crystal Days: 1979-1999, a four-disc set boasting a great built-in book with a biography and track-by-track commentary, is worth every penny. Through 71 tracks, it does an excellent job by catering to the longtime fan and merely curious, running through all the hits and selecting standout album tracks, rarities, and unreleased curiosities, all worthwhile. The very fact that compilation producer Andy Zax was driven to put this project into motion after realizing he just had to find a way to get stellar B-sides like the Velvets-meets-Byrds heaven of "Angels and Devils" and the Peel Session version of the experimental "No Hands" into circulation tells you right off that you're in good hands. If this great-sounding box proves anything, it's that the Bunnymen don't deserve to be merely regarded as an excellent '80s band; sure, they've had some bumps along the road, but despite having thrived in a decade known for plasticity and fad crazes, this collection establishes that their legacy exists apart from the negative connotations the "'80s band" tag carries. And by carefully selecting songs from their '90s incarnation, they throw a pie in the face of those who believe all reunions are artistic no-nos. The first three discs run chronologically through the band's first 20 years, occasionally throwing surprises into the mix with alternative versions and outtakes. The only gripe one might have is the favoring of the "All Night Version" of "The Killing Moon" over the original, which would be nitpicky. The final disc is chiefly occupied by live covers, including a great set-closing combo of the Velvets' "Heroin" and their own "Do It Clean." This is no mere nostalgia kick -- it's just solid, ageless rock & roll with attitude and brains. Andy Kellman