I am totally new to Echo & The Bunnymen and I would like to hear more. I only have a couple of songs on compilations. My question is should I buy the box set or the individual albums? I noticed that the albums have been reissued with bonus tracks. I guess what I really want to know is are their many tracks exclusive to the box set? Or are all of the songs on it also on the individual albums? I hope that was clear. Any help would be much appreciated.

I wouldn't recommend picking up the box set if you're not familiar with the band. I don't own the box set, but I've given the track list a good going over a couple of times and it definitely struck me as being for dedicated fans (which is pretty standard m.o. for such packages). It does contain a lot of b-sides, alternate takes and live tracks that are unavailable on the re-releases of the original albums.

I think the two best Echo albums by far are Porcupine and Ocean Rain, though some dedicated fans prefer Crocodiles (I can leave it or I can take it, personally), There is decent material to be found on either side of these albums, but they are the two peaks of the bands output. Porcupine is frenetic and loaded with songs that will get your adrenaline pumping, while Ocean Rain is heavily orchestrated and quite lush in spots.

That's my two cents, for whatever it's worth...

flipwilson said:

Thanks for the info. I think I'll just pick up the individual albums and if I dig 'em I''l spring for the box.

Tanks, again.

How about Heaven Up Here also? Anyway, Wow Echo And The Bunnymen ya gotta buy the individual cds. I saw them a couple of times ya know they played the Old Ritz and some other NY Clubs and well Ian had a solo career going on...

Zelaira said:

I'm not too keen on that record, I'm afraid - I always thought it was the weakest of the first four albums by far. I'd keep Over the Wall, and the rest is pretty disposable imo.