Mc5

Great compilation for those who appreciate the different faces of rock music, from the gentler, the more pop through the independent to the hardcore, hard rock. 80 songs recorded on the four CDs. For rock fans, Fleetwood Mac and Do not Stop, alternative fans can savor The Smith and their classic "How Soon Is Now?". There are also Dr. Feelgood ("Milk and Alcohol"), Echo And The Bunnymen (The Cutter), The Darkness ("I Believe In A Thing Called Love"), Royal Blood ("Out Of The Black"), Biffy Clyro ("Mountains").

Alice Cooper is to release a six-track EP later this year. It’s titled Breadcrumbs and it'll launch on September 13 through earMUSIC and is said to be Cooper’s tribute "to the Garage Rock Heroes from his hometown Detroit City.”

Lead guitarist Esa Holopainen and drummer Jan Rechberger formed the band Amorphis in Finland in 1990. To complete their lineup they recruited vocalist/guitarist Tomi Koivusaari and bassist Olli-Pekka Laine. They released a demo in 1991 called Disment of Soul. The demo was so successful in getting attention for the group that they acquired a record deal and released an EP the same year. They next released their first full-length album, The Karelian Isthmus, in 1992. The following year, their early demo recording session was released as Privilege of Evil…

Before the hits really starting coming, Slade showed why they were one of England's best live acts with this fevered concert recording from 1972. Set alight by plenty of stomping beats, lumbering bass, fat guitars, and Noddy Holder's hoarse vocal scream, Slade Alive! finds the lads from Wolverhampton goading on their rabid fans at every juncture ("Wan ya ta really let loose on iss one")…

Like their music, the personal and creative relationships of Japanese rock & roll deviants Speed, Glue & Shinki were in a state of total disarray during the recording of their eponymous double-vinyl sophomore album in 1972. The ostensible bandleader, guitarist Shinki Chen, was already partially distracted from the proceedings, and original bassist Masayoshi "Glue" Kabe had completely checked out to resume his hobo-like travels, which left preternaturally wired vocalist and drummer Joey "Speed" Smith to jump into the driver's seat and accelerate the band's psychedelic rock school bus right over the cliff of reason.