Search - Church :: Starfish (Bonus CD) (Dlx)

Classic Church album gets second disc in re-release making t

Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 05/31/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Starfish" one of The Church's best and biggest selling albums receives the deluxe treatment on this reissue import. The sound is louder and here than the previous edition. I haven't compared this head to head on my computer to see if the dynamic range is crushed to create this effect but it sure sounds good to my average ears. The big reason to get this, though, is the second disc of EP/single b-sides that didn't make the album. Many of these tracks appeared on "A Quick Smoke at Spots" but not all of them. Also, ther remastered sound on the second disc of those tracks is much better--crisper sounding--than "Spot's" which sounded rather flat and dull by comparison. YOu get the good with the bad though as the sound is loud with little dynamic range so just be aware of that. Certainly this is a five star album for the content and the bonus disc but the mastering is another matter...



We also get the trio of acoustic tracks that the band released on their CD single "Under the Milky Way" (which was selling for a princely sum on Ebay). All three acoustic tracks are worthwhile for fans to have. These aren't stripped down versions but new recordings of the same songs that were done around the same time. While some of these tracks did appear on the band's acoustic album (and on Steve Kilbey's acoustic album as well), these are terrific takes for fans to have. There are also some unusual songs here that I haven't heard before and can assume that they were never released.



Track listing for second disc:

1. Texas Moon (from "Spot's")

2. Perfect Child (From Spots)

3. We Both know Why We're Here (from Spots)

4. Frozen and Distant (From Spots)

6. Nose Dive (from Spots)

7. Afterlife (from Spots)

8. Under the Milky Way (acoustic)(CD Single)

9, Antenna (Acoustic)(CD single)

10. Spark (Acoustic)(CD Single)

11. Warm Spell

12. Musk (EP b-side)



If you have "Spots" then you may not feel the need to get this or if you're an avid collector of the band you probably have most of these songs on other discs. For those of us who couldn't afford to buy everything at the time this is a nice summation of many of the b-sides/Spots songs that were released. The rest of the Spots songs are on the second disc of "Gold Afternoon Fix" (which also has some unique material as well).The booklet has additional photos from the recording sessions but I am disappointed that we don't get song lyrics.



"Starfish" became The Church's biggest selling album. Breaking through to the top 50 (it peaked at #41), Arista had hopes they would be the new U2 but The Church are a bit too idiosyncratic to fit into the narrow confines of a mainstream band. Nevertheless, "Starfish" is a terrific album with nice production by Waddy Wachtel and Greg Lanyani. The duo cleaned up the band's sound a bit producing a crisp, clean sounding recording that appealed to radio particularly with the first two singles "Under the Milky Way" and "Reptile" charting in the United States as singles (their biggest selling ones to date). The Church aren't just a one hit wonder however, they've consistently made compelling albums AFTER this album. When they reformed as a quartet with Tim Powles as their drummer and engineer), they produced a startling array of rich, terrific albums."

Finally, sound quality up to par

D. Cross | Hollywood, CA USA | 03/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Though probably always my favorite Church album, I was disappointed with the flat sound on the original disc. This remastered version finally brings out a deeper, fuller sound. And once again, it is just a masterful album wherein each song ebbs and flows in one perfect motion.

I am glad that they've decided to make these 2 disc releases so that the original album is as it was. The bonus disc is interesting enough. Most Church fans already know Texas Moon, nothing else really matches that level but still a welcome listen for fans."