aaamusic | On 08, Feb 2011

To me, reissues of classic albums are a funny concept. It seems to me their target audience – existing fans of the band in question – will more often than not already own a copy of the album in the first place. So what’s the appeal? Extra features. In this case, B-Sides are the main draw. But before I get into that, I should address anyone out their unfamiliar with Moseley Shoals. One of the great things about music (arguably unlike, for instance, film) is its resilience to the dating process that art of any kind inevitably goes through as time passes. Ancient records are evocative rather than out-dated. And while Moseley Shoals is hardly prehistoric, it is 15 years old this year, and has aged remarkably well. If you haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet, it’s definitely worth picking up this reissue. Listening to Ocean Colour Scene is a lesson in modern rock and roll; not only enjoyable in its own right, it will inform your listening habits elsewhere.

Now to the aforementioned extra features. Although earlier I mentioned B-Sides, there’s more going on here, including acoustic versions of two of the album tracks (The Day We Caught The Train and The Circle). There’s also a live recording of Day Tripper and a demo of You’ve Got it Bad. For the most part though, these are indeed B-Sides, and a good selection too. Pretty much every track compliments the main album, and certainly make interesting listening, particularly if you’re already a fan of the band. While many of the tracks are in the same vein as the original Moseley Shoals sound wise, I wouldn’t say they feel like a tired extension of the album – more of an extra-special feature, as intended. As a whole, the B-Sides are well-selected, refreshing, and a treat for existing fans to mull over.

If you loved the album the first time round, it’s definitely worth checking out this reissue, simply for the additional tracks available. Moseley Shoals is still a great listen – the B-Sides sweeten the deal. If you’re unfamiliar with the band, this is the best introduction you could ask for. A classic album through and through.

 Author: Katharine Sparks