THE SHORTLIST

ANNIVERSARY EDITION DON’T SLEEP ON THESE SPECIAL RELEASES...

ELLIOTT SMITH: EXPANDED 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION: KILL ROCK STARS L7: SMELL THE MAGIC: 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION: SUB POP

Seventeen years after his tragic death, Kill Rock Stars is releasing Elliott Smith’s eponymous sophomore album to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its initial release. The set includes a remastered version of the self-titled album and an unreleased Live at Umbra Penumbra bonus disc - the earliest known recording of Smith performing as a solo act. Both records come inside a 52page coffee table book with handwritten lyrics, reminiscences, and dozens of previously unseen pics by JJ Gonson. - John B. Moore L7's second album, and first for Sub Pop, Smell the Magic, the ferocious follow-up to their 1988 self-titled debut, is hitting its 30th anniversary this year. And so, at this momentous time, Sub Pop is releasing a newly remastered version of the record. The L.A.-based band, comprised of vocalists/ guitarists Donita Sparks and Suzi Gardner, bassist/vocalist Jennifer Finch, and drummer Dee Plakas, really set the template for their unique amalgam of punk, metal, and rock on this album, and cemented their place as grunge pioneers. The heavy, sludgy, punky album offers up one tough, hard-yet-fun blast after another, starting off with the Gardner-sung “Shove,” and concluding with their take on Eddie and the Subtitles’ classic, “American Society.” In between, they sprinkle in such notables as the hard-hitting, Sparks-helmed “Fast and Frightening,” “Packin’ a Rod,” and “Deathwish,” Gardner’s captivating “Broomstick” and raucous “’Till the Wheels Fall Off’,” Finch’s awesome take of the Sunset Strip glam-metal scene of the times “Just Like Me,” and the bruising “(Right on) Thru.” Yeah, just namechecked all the songs on this nine-track album. What can you do when every song is so notable and tough AF? - Janelle Jones

NEW BOMB TURKS: 20TH ANNIVERSARY NIGHTMARE SCENARIO:

DIAMOND EDITION In honor of its 20th anniversary, Nightmare Scenario – Diamond Edition, is being released by punk veterans New Bomb Turks. This special version of the album actually consists of the raw, original mixes recorded by Jim Diamond, now newly remastered. Nightmare Scenario, a modern classic originally released in 2000 by Epitaph, is of course drenched in the Columbus, Ohio-based band’s raucous and energetic garage-infused punk sound. And it should be noted that all proceeds from the sale of this 13-song digital release, available on the band’s Bandcamp page, go to Black Queer & Intersectional Collective and Columbus Freedom Fund, two Black Lives Matter organizations. - Janelle Jones

The Lemonheads fourth album, Lovey —their major label debut—gets a proper anniversary celebration this fall. The remastered edition, coming 30 years after its initial release, comes as a double LP or CD with a book of expanded liner notes and unseen photos. It’s accompanied by a second disc with eight tracks, Triple J Live at the Wireless, taken from their Australian 1991 tour. Lovey was the album that tracked the band’s pivot from pop punk to jangle pop, hinting at what would follow. Both formats are out October 24. – John B. Moore

THE DISTILLERS: THE DISTILLERS: 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION: EPITAPH The Distillers may have only put out three records since forming in the late ’90s, but goddamn those three albums are pretty impressive. On October 30, they are releasing the 20th anniversary of their self-titled debut – 17 (!) years after their last album was released. The remastered, reissued record will be available digitally and on vinyl. The exclusive vinyl will be limited to 2,000 pieces in opaque sunburst, 1,550 pieces in clear with green/ purple/black smoke, and 500 pieces exclusive to Zia in “summer sky wave.” The band is also apparently back in the studio working on new music, so this should tide fans over until a new record finally surfaces. - John B. Moore IN FLAMES: CLAYMAN: 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION: NUCLEAR BLAST Swedish band In Flames helped pioneer melodic metal with their blistering twin guitar lineup backed by smart lyrics, helping to inspire an entirely new generation of metal bands. Recently signed to Nuclear Blast, the label put out a 20th anniversary edition of their Clayman album on August 28. The set features the original tracks remastered, as well as some bonus ones, including four of the songs re-recorded and a new instrumental track. It’s being released on CD and a double LP colored vinyl trifold with a 16-page booklet and five bonus tracks on a 10” record. |- John B. Moore Also coming out in October is the 40th anniversary edition of one of the greatest hard rock albums to do the improbable and bring together both the metal kids and punk rockers: Motorhead’s Ace Of Spades. This anniversary set comes in a slew of varieties including a two CD and three LP 180-gram vinyl version that contains the original album, an unreleased recording of a 1981 Belfast concert, and a 20-page book. There is also a deluxe box set with even more goodies… and a super deluxe box set with EVEN MORE extras. - John B. Moore

GWAR: SCUMDOGS OF THE UNIVERSE: 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION: PIT RECORDS In the waning months of the first Gulf War, and a good few years before Bill Clinton would be getting a hummer in the White House, a spunky little start-up from Virginia going under the moniker GWAR released their sophomore effort, Scumdogs of The Universe—and holy shit we were not prepared… Thirty years later, those scrappy kids are a little older, bloodier, and ready to give that classic a formal anniversary party. On October 20, Gwar will put out a 30-year anniversary re-release that will include a CD, double LP, cassette and digital versions of the classic. There are also a few limited-edition box sets still available exclusively at www.gwar.net. - John B. Moore ANTHRAX: PERSISTENCE OF TIME: 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION: MEGAFORCE RECORDS Over the decades, Anthrax has put out some shitty records, some great records, and arguably one classic record. On August 21, they celebrate the 30th anniversary of that classic album, Persistence Of Time, with a deluxe edition. Available as either two CDs and a DVD, or a four LP set. The vinyl collection includes revised cover art, while the CD set comes with a 40-minute DVD that was shot when Anthrax was on tour with Iron Maiden in 1991. - John B. Moore