Search - Echo & Bunnymen :: Crystal Days 1979-99

A must for the die-hard

Wallace V. French III | 07/22/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you're trying to decide whether to buy this, here's how it works. Do you already own Crocodiles, Heaven Up Here, Porcupine, and Ocean Rain? If not, buy them. They are classics, and you can get the four of them together for less than the price of this set. If you love those four discs and want more, then buy this. It has good digital recordings of the original Bedbugs and Ballyhoo, Over Your Shoulder, and Angels and Devils, which are among their best songs and aren't otherwise available on disc. Plus the long version of Silver, and a few other goodies that have been out of print for years. There also are some good live numbers on disc four. The songs from the first four albums that appear here sound perhaps a little cleaner than on their original CDs, but if you are thinking of buying this set just to get upgraded sound on those numbers, I predict you will find the difference small for the price. Much of the rest of the stuff here is junk that's fun to have but not as much fun to listen to -- alternate takes or unreleased songs that were suppressed all these years for good reason. There also are a few tracks from the recent comeback albums, about which the less said the better. Basically there is about one disc worth of stuff you will listen to a lot, and three discs worth of stuff that has some curiosity value but that you probably won't listen to very often (assuming you own the first four albums). All in all, not a great value but an absolutely necessary and delightful purchase for the big fan. The annotations inside are sometimes interesting but nothing reveletory."

Oh, the days!

Robert Westermeyer | Olivenhain, CA United States | 07/19/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"An awesome package! When I first saw it set on the "New Releases" rack, I said to myself, "Oh, great. All the songs I already have packaged in a pretty book." Upon further inspection, I was amazed to find that there are nearly forty songs/versions I'd never heard. Peel Sessions! B-Sides! Live performances! Outtakes! Well worth the price. I'm listening to it right now, and I know that this is going to be my main spin for the rest of the summer. E&theBMen are so amazing, especially the early stuff. Saw them in 85, having only heard "Seven Seas". I was immediately hooked. Not too fond of the recent stuff. Thankfully, though, this package is bottom heavy, that is, most emphasis is on the early and mid period Echo. If you are an Echo fan, you must own this. If you are calculating its worth by counting the songs you already have, forget it. Even the album cuts have been re-mastered beautifully."

Better Buy It

Wallace V. French III | Boston MA | 07/02/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A couple very good reviews on this box set already in here, but I thought I would throw my two cents in the ring. A great box set for the Echo fan. Cool pictures and a lot of unreleased stuff here. I bought this in Chicago at an in store appearance and the band said they were very proud of all this stuff and were amazed when they heard the final product because they used some high speed equipment to remaster these old recordings that were thought to be lost. I am amazed by these guys each time I hear this music. They have really grown musically, but retain that great sound they've always had. The new releases are just as good because they keep that same sound they've had since Urgh! A Music War. Good stuff here and well worth the price. Not easy to find in the stores anymore so you may need to order it online."