Colourbox

[jsd]

4AD have released a deluxe 4-CD box set which contains almost every commercially available bit of music by Colourbox, and also includes a rare BBC session which I don't think was ever officially released (I had a bootleg of some of it).

It's beautifully packaged, including heavy stock cards with the cover art and credits for every one of the original releases.

Sound quality is excellent - there is no loudness war peak limiting at all. In fact, it's rather quiet compared to most modern releases. You'll want to crank your volume up. In the few A/B comparisons I made with the original 80's releases, the new ones are all brighter and clearer with better defined bass.

http://shopusa.4ad.com/featured-4ad-homepage/colourbox

At US$30 for 4 packed CD's it's a steal. Get it!

[Eric Generic]

I have wanted this ever since it was first announced. Regardless of WORD magazine's unflattering review.

[anfunny2003]

I got mine today - I mentioned it in the reissues thread earlier... pretty nifty little set.

[jsd]

I have wanted this ever since it was first announced. Regardless of WORD magazine's unflattering review.

What did they say?

[Eric Generic]

Basically, that the collected works of Colourbox hardly warrant a boxset, and the results (in their opinion) illustrate the "scraping the barrel" involved in the project. Actually, I think it may have been Q Magazine - it's hard to tell anymore, since I don't buy any of the music rags and their review sections (and review "style") are so interchangeable!

[jsd]

Basically, that the collected works of Colourbox hardly warrant a boxset, and the results (in their opinion) illustrate the "scraping the barrel" involved in the project. Actually, I think it may have been Q Magazine - it's hard to tell anymore, since I don't buy any of the music rags and their review sections (and review "style") are so interchangeable!

Well, that's their opinion and I can understand where they are coming from, but the counterargument is this is not a mass market product. It's a niche offering for fans, and as such, I think it is successful. Even as a massive fan, I'm probably not going to be listening to the 7" edits that much. But considering you get 4 discs and a nice box for $30 I think it's excellent value for the dollar, and if you're a fan of this sort of thing, you are going to be happier with the "scraping the barrel" approach more than the curated one. So basically, who gives a fuck what they think :)

[Eric Generic]

Ha, I agree! I'm certainly glad that this set exists, even if it's not one for the Stone Roses/Hendrix/Nirvana crowd....

[sometimesxtc]

Woah! This is awesome. I have the Double LP and a couple of their 12s, but always fancied a portable version. Arena II leaves me absolutely gutted.

[Eric Generic]

I'm awaiting a replacement copy of my set. It didn't look new at all, scuffs and dents everywhere. Beautifully designed though, the art cards are nice and glossy, and the expanded version of the main album is ace.