Sound Check Nov. 11

November 11, 10:40 AMMusic ExaminerLinda Laban

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New Order. Photo: Warner Bros. Records

New Order “Brotherhood,” “Low-Life,” “Movement,” “Power, Corruption & Lies,” “Technique” (Rhino)

It is both fitting and annoying that 1980s music has been fine tooth combed both as inspiration and revisionism.  Just when you thought it was safe to move on and hit the ‘90s, this reissue of New Order’s five classic ‘80s albums appears. And it’s an exciting repackaging  of the band’s ‘80s back catalog to be sure. These double-disc collectors editions include bonus tracks, many of which were issued only in the UK as b-sides and 12” remixes. The 12” remix craze began in the early ‘80s alongside the prophetically named New Order. It spearheaded the union of rock and pop artists and DJ’s, elevating the latter as something more than glitterball glitz. Hindsight has proven that New Order’s embrace of electronic elements and dance rock went hand-in-hand with the birth of techno and the rave scene. Beautifully packaged, the original CDs number those great New Order cuts, including so many versions of “Blue Monday” it’s dizzying. But this is the age of reproduction, rehash, and revivalism, where originality only seems possible with some enormous, unprecedented  leap in musical evolutionary spiking. Still, you’ve had the history lesson, enjoy the music. Again.

The Smiths “The Sound of the Smiths” (Rhino)

The Smiths is another ‘80s name that’s been quartered, drawn, and hung-out to dry: So do we need a best of? Well, yes, especially when it's overseen by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr, the dynamic Manchester duo who, along with drummer Mike Joyce and bassist Andy Rourke, arguably shaped indie rock. Morrissey's sardonic lyrics and fey, dry yelping delivery was often brilliantly offset by Marr's jangling notes. It was a bizarre happy sad conundrum that always seems distanced and disenfranchised form the modern world. This compilation comes as a single singles disc or double, with b-sides and sundry cuts for the more than curious. It's hard to imagine that the former would be an option, even though it includes all the bands best moments -- "What Difference Does It Make," "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now," "Pretty Girls Make Graves."   The latter offeres them in many different versions: live, "Peel Sessions," and remixes, as well as demo cuts. A perfect revision for no good reason than The Smiths remains one fo the '80s most influential sound makers. Now, if Marr (who these days plays with indie rockers Modest Mouse) and Mozz (a solo crooner) managed to get together across a conference table, what about on stage for a reunion tour? Strike while the '80s iron is still hot.

The Postmarks “By-the-Numbers" (Worlds Fair)

As if to prove the point that originality is currently impossible in rock and pop in the pre-Christmas season, even indie popsters The Postmarks has a covers set. Still, at least they inhabit these cleverly arranged, symphonic nuggets and don’t simply do a swift tempo change and add a slo-mo or speed metal version. In fact,  “By-the-Numbers collects the Miami sugar pop trio’s recent singles in their monthly cover series. This is a big trend that many twee pop – The Postmarks wistful simple songs are certainly that -- and other bands favor: From Joseph Arthur to One Happy Island, the EP has ruled this year. It’s a simple and cheap way to record a song or even an EP, here and there as time and cash allow. Then when you have enough, voila! Unite to create an album. Or a collection, at least. There is a theme to “By-the-Numbers” though. The song titles count from one to 12 and includes a sweet,  spacey version of the Jesus and Mary Chain’s "Nine Million Rainy Days,"  a Motown girl group turn through the Ramones "7-11," and even  recalculates  Blondie's 1978 classic "11:59"  as a winsome airy pop swoon.

This week’s rock releases numbers a deluge of re-releases and cover sets: A wash of the familiar before this month’s pre-Christmas blockbusters burst forth: Guns N' Roses, The Killers, and Kanye West among them. The non-reissues include  Mudcrutch “Extended Play Live” (Reprise) is a measly live EP of rootsy rock culled  from Tom Petty and his boyhood pals' recent touring… The Mars Volta guitarist and all-round whiz Omar Rodriguez Lopez goes solo on the digital-only  “Old Money" (Stones Throw Records)...  Seal does “Soul” (Warner Bros) a cover set of soul classics, so no surprise there... Not content with producing songs for two of the year’s biggest albums – from Pink and  Katy Perry –  Butch Walker returns with "Sycamore Meadows” (Original Signal),  which is packed with the kind of lovely pop  ballads, heartland rock, and power pop... UK Britrock heroes Razorlight hits album number three with “Slipway Fires” (Vertigo)… Histrionic Japanese metalheads Dir en Grey notches up its seventh disc, “Uroboros" (Sony)… For a hit of the dark stuff,  try Sunn 0)))’s “Domkirkens Guttekor” (Southern Lord), whose title is doom metal for Happy Thanksgiving. We think.  

Click for Sound Check Nov 4 album reviews
For a full list of album releases go to Billboard.com.