Buffalo and Bison, Bison, Buffalo

Review Score: (10/10)
I've always thought this CD by Echo and the Bunnymen was under-rated. To me, it's one of the band's best. This new, remastered edition is fun, but there are a few things you should know before you buy it. First off, the bonus cuts aren't so special. "Hole in the Holy" is just "Over You" with different lyrics. "Jimmie Brown" is an early version of "Bring on the Dancing Horses." The other bonus cuts are either just alternative versions of Bunnymen classics or are available in other formats, like the "Crystal Days" boxed set. Still, this new edition is worth owning if you're a Bunnymen fan. The liner notes are great, providing some interesting context to what the band was going through at the time. (It's amazing they got any album out, let alone one this good.) But, take note: This edition does not contain a lyric sheet, so don't discard your old copy of the "gray album" or sell it. To me, the real charm of this record is that it takes me back -- back to (crystal?) days before kids, a mortgage, gray hair, etc. Those carefree mid '80s! Sure, we had to put up with Reagan, but the Bunnymen provided a balm for our post-punk souls. Pop it in the CD changer, and it takes you right back. Before you know it, you're sailing out on a blue, blue ocean.

More Reviews:

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• Echoes of the past
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