Adele, Smashing Pumpkins [week's Top Releases]

As each year comes to a close, truly excellent music releases become fewer and further between. The beginning of the holiday/gift-giving season is, however, the perfect time for established artists to let loose box sets, accompaniment DVDs, and other goodies that enhance already-heard material. This week, Adele (@officialadele) figuratively emerges from the doctor-ordered vocal rest that has capped off an otherwise lucrative year and Smashing Pumpkins (@smashingpumpkin) take a triumphant victory lap 20 years after their debut.

Destined for Grammy glory and guaranteed to be at the top of more than a few year-end best-of lists, Adele’s 21 has certainly made a lot of noise in 2011. To conclude an insanely successful year, the British songstress brought us Live at the Royal Albert Hall, recorded in London earlier this year. In addition to stellar performances of all her 21 hits, the concert boasts Adele’s covers of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” and Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love”, the latter a moving tribute to late British vocalist Amy Winehouse. Special features include refreshing footage of a low-key, casual Adele getting ready the morning of the concert. Live at the Royal Albert Hall could not have come at a more appropriate time for Adele fans. As pretty serious vocal cord issues have caused Adele to cancel the majority of her tour dates after September, this CD/DVD set will have to hold us over until she makes a full recovery.

Rhinoceros – Smashing Pumpkins // Buy

Smashing Pumpkins are launching an ambitious reissue campaign that will last two years and eventually culminate in a “best-of” compilation in 2013.  Today marks the re-release of the Pumpkins’ debut album Gish and their sound-defining follow-up masterpiece Siamese Dream. The albums are all remixed and remastered, and the deluxe editions include a second CD full of additional demos and live recordings. Deluxe editions also contain a full-length DVD of a previously unreleased concert. Both recorded at The Metro in Chicago, the Gish reissue features a show from 1990, and Siamese Dream features one from 1993. Perhaps the most valuable addition to these reissues, though, are the printed materials. New linear notes by music journalist David Wild accompany both Gish and Siamese Dream, and they feature a track-by-track commentary straight from the mind of Billy Corgan. These reissues are the most outstanding way to explore the beginnings of one of the greatest bands of the 90s at an up close and personal level.