5 out of 5

Label: Zuma Rock Records

Produced by: Steve Albini

2017 Vinyl re-release of the classic album, with new liner notes from Steve Albini and four extra tracks (from scattered singles and soundtracks and one previously un-officially-released).

If you like the original album (as I certainly do) this is sincerely a must-own.  Albini’s notes are appreciably glowing – it’s so great to hear him wax enthusiastically about anything, having been in the biz for so long and having produced a bamillion albums – and the sound quality brings a whole new level to the listen.  I spent a good chunk of my middle school years spinning Razorblade Suitcase digitally, and have revisited quite often during the course of the band’s career.  And yet the vinyl allows certain sounds to float to the fore that I didn’t quite pick up before; tracks like Personal Holloway and Communicator have little flourishes that I, for whatever reason, previously missed, and it’s a wonderful experience to “rediscover” the album as such.  The packaging shows equal love, with a gloriously glossy cover and groovy black and white swirled vinyl in a double gatefold.

The extra tracks include one of my favorite Bush songs, Bubbles, and all four of them are in the punkier, speed-rock vein the group doesn’t employ enough.

Priced reasonably – people have picked this up for as low as $20 – if you’re a vinyl person, and a Bush fan, this is a really handsome addition to your rack.