Double LP - limited silver/purple, or standard black
1988-1990. The full stretch of Galaxie 500's recorded career. An album for each year, a handful of singles, some select covers and done. In-fights and fall-outs meant that was that, and a sense of what could've been even if we did end up with a fair amount, all things considered. Uncollected New York Noise imagines an in-between secret history of sorts, 24 tracks that include eight previously unheard recordings as well as cleaning up all of the remaining music the trio committed to tape during their short lifespan (yes, their version of 'Ceremony', yes 'Blue Thunder' with the sax et al). Devotees will have experienced a good few of these tracks via boxsets and B-sides, but for most this will play as a much-needed service, fleshing out understandings of a band that glow with a rare mystery. So perfect, so quickly, and no excess either. The Velvets influence remains an obvious one, but the duality of their vulnerability and their power is all their own. You know a Galaxie 500 song as soon as you hear one, radiant, soaring, emotionally wide and ready to commit even if comprised of the most minimal of arrangements. The headline is always going to be those eight unheard tracks, but it also misses the point - a Galaxie 500 song is a Galaxie 500 song is a Galaxie 500 song. And there's always room for another, wherever you can find them (and really, 24 extra songs in three years is a lot of music for what was an already prolific band) . When you burn this bright, you tend to also burn fast. But Uncollected New York Noise is evidence, should more be needed, that no energy was wasted.
