The Year of the Diamond Dogs…
Don’t forget today’s release of the Diamond Dogs 30th Anniversary 2CD edition in the US. Not sure how much publicity the re-issue has had in the States, but it’s getting plenty of press advertising here. With full page adverts in both Mojo and Uncut, and double page spread ads in Record Collector and Classic Rock, it’s hard not to notice this campaign in Europe.
More reviews have been published since the last lot I posted on these pages. (06.01.2004 NEWS: DB ON Q CD PLUS Q AND NME DOGS REVIEWS AND MORE) The July issue of UNCUT has a full-page review entitled Bark Psychosis, whose three stars belie the fact that it’s actually a pretty positive review. Here’s part of the closing paragraph: Heard today, it’s obvious that these puppies didn’t all grow up to be Rottweilers. Dated in some parts, way ahead of its time elsewhere, Diamond Dogs now sounds like the work of someone too smart to be pressing the self-destruct button all the way down.
The July issue of Record Collector has a two-star attack by Jason Draper that’s not worth dwelling upon, suffice it to say, why do some think that what is clearly the best version of the release to date is a rip off? It’s great value for first-time buyers of the album, providing, as it does, the whole original album on Disc 1 and an 8-track bonus Disc 2 that collects together hard-to-find and out-of-print tracks.
Granted there’s not much new here for serious collectors that own everything (apart from the great packaging and David Buckley‘s excellent sleeve notes, of course) but it doesn’t have to be a compulsory purchase. The dissenters do have a choice as to whether they buy or not, and just because some think there must be more in the vaults, it doesn’t mean there is. OK rant over. (Record Collector is still worth a look for BowieNetter Andy Barding‘s Liza Jane piece previously mentioned here.)
If, for some insane reason, you don’t yet have Diamond Dogs, this 30th Anniversary 2CD edition is easily the best version available now, or at any other time.
Dominic Wells of The Times understands the value of this package when he says at the end of his five star review: “This re-release is, then, quite literally the dog?s bollocks.” You can read the whole of his review by clicking on the appropriate doggy parts in the montage above.