Scott Walker's "5 Easy Pieces" - which disc lords over the rest?

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So the new box set is ordered thusly:

In My Room: The complete bedsit dramas, including the kitchen sink
Where's The Girl?: Songs of a Lady, Love and Loss
An American In Europe: Home and away: songs from Europe and America
This Is How You Disappear: The darkest hour is just before dawn: 15 big hits
Scott On Screen: Music from and for films

For me, the gem is This Is How You Disappear, which features the four SW-penned tracks from the 1978 Walker Brothers record "Nite Flights" as well as four tracks each from "Climate Of Hunter" and "Tilt"...but the tone is immediately set by 1967's "The Plague" and 1968's "Plastic Palace People," which deftly illustrate the thematic consistency present nearly 30 years prior to "Tilt."

Anyone else?

― Erick H (Erick H), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 22:17 (twenty-two years ago)

gaaaaaah. when? where?

― Beta (abeta), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 22:27 (twenty-two years ago)

more important, why?

― amateur!st (amateurist), Tuesday, 2 December 2003 22:29 (twenty-two years ago)

"When?" Now.

"Where?" Europe-only.

"Why?" Evident when you listen to it.

― Erick H (Erick H), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 04:29 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Plague" so so so rules! Will this box thing be available stateside at some point soon? (official-channels-wise?)

― brian nemtusak (sanlazaro), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 04:39 (twenty-two years ago)

After a quick squizz at the full tracklisting on amazin, initial reactions suggest Disc 3 pisses all over the rest, but not from such a great height that it makes much odds. Blimey, what a phenomenal release. Dear Santa...

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 10:01 (twenty-two years ago)

But I thought Disc 3 only played on the right channel? Aren't they going to recall the boxed sets or something?

― Rob M (Rob M), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 10:30 (twenty-two years ago)

You can call Universal on 08705900909 and they'll send you a replacement disc for the faulty one. I got mine in the following day's post.

― Jonathan Z., Wednesday, 3 December 2003 10:38 (twenty-two years ago)

In answer to the question, 'This Is How You Disappear' contains most of the Scott Walker material that currently holds my attention, although I actually had it all anyway. I mainly bought it for the 'Pola X' material (which is pretty good, but maybe a touch disappointing?) and the two long pieces he did for Ute Lemper, 'Scope J' and 'Lullaby'. These two pieces are absolutely fantastic and truly original, and really make me wish he'd do another album. It's such a shame he's only released 2 albums in the past 20 years, God knows what his problem is - some sort of massive crisis of confidence presumably. I do think he's one of the few genuinely innovative people around - it's hard to think of anyone over 50 who's still coming up with new and original sounds and ideas.

― Jonathan Z., Wednesday, 3 December 2003 10:56 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think its crisis of confidence, more the exact opposite.

i.e. won't do anything unless it's exactly how he wants it.

Fair enough I say...

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 11:18 (twenty-two years ago)

It comes down to the same thing. Neurotic perfectionism masks a fear of having to actually put anything out there.

― Jonathan Z., Wednesday, 3 December 2003 11:21 (twenty-two years ago)

heard 'the war is over' off 'til the band comes in' for the first time this mornin on bbc 6 music. fckn fantastic, and i can't believe i haven't heard it before, despite loving '3' '4' and the brel stuff.

― piscesboy, Wednesday, 3 December 2003 13:00 (twenty-two years ago)

this box set could mean two things:

(a) scott has a new album ready, for which this is a kind of advance promotion, and he isn't afraid of his old work overshadowing his new work

(b) scott doesn't have a new album ready, and was under record company pressure to come up with product

i hope it's (a)

― amateur!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 13:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Jon Z., you sprung for the Japanese version of Ute Lemper's cd just to get "Lullaby?" Now that is dedication.

And I just got around to playing Disc 3 last night, which is when I found out about the right channel thing...thanks for the replacement info! :-)

― Erick H (Erick H), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 14:10 (twenty-two years ago)

saw this in gilbert jeune today...sort of pedestrian packaging...a few typos on the back cover. (but a nice font.)

i still don't see the point.

lots of fancy new box sets out...talking heads, david bowie, etc etc etc

consumer fetish paradise.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 18:53 (twenty-two years ago)

i bought the tuxedomoon reissue and joni mitchell's hejira at a discount

― amateur!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 3 December 2003 18:54 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

"the russians are going"

― , Friday, 29 July 2005 11:57 (twenty years ago)

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