SECRET HISTORY 1

The title claims this 2015 vinyl-only collection tells a "Secret History" but it's a tale that's been told in daylight, through B-sides and EPs and, of course, the 2002 Luxe & Reduxe double-disc deluxe reissue of Slanted & Enchanted. Secret History, Vol. 1 spins off many, but not all, of the bonus tracks from that release into a double-vinyl set, leaving behind such official releases as the Watery, Domestic EP bus showcasing S&E outtakes, two Peel sessions, and the entirety of a cracking 13-song concert at the Brixton Academy in London on December 14, 1992. The target audience for The Secret History, Vol. 1 is specific -- Pavement nuts who want to own their favorite band's deep cuts on vinyl -- but that doesn't mean the collection isn't useful. These are recordings that have never seen release on vinyl and, collected together, they do amount to a vibrant, exciting snapshot of Pavement at their wildest. For that specific audience, this is certainly worthwhile. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

• Format: Vinyl
• RSD Release Date: n/a
• Genre: Rock
• Released: 08/11/2015