EP's 1988-1991 (compilation album) by My Bloody Valentine

From Brad1770 10/19/2021 11:16

Dear JulianR and SleepDealer

Loving the passion around this one, it may have taken me three and a half years but I’m going to put your disagreement to bed once and for all, for you see I am ideally placed to provide commentary of the merits of these early MBV tracks being a “ there from the beginning ground floor fan” from the very first week ‘Isn’t Anything’ came out in 1988 (see my ‘Isn’t Anything’ I was there review on BEA from a couple of years ago)

But first a history lesson and context

M.B.V timeline

‘Isn’t Anything”

08/08/1988: ‘You Made Me Realise’ EP was released and nobody bought it. Note the release date (wink wink)

31/10/1988: ‘Feed Me with Your Kiss’ EP released, the buzz builds . . .

* 21/11/1988: ‘Isn’t Anything’ released & minds blown including my own

Gap

‘Loveless’

23/04/1990: the mythical White Unicorn ‘Glider’ EP released to unanimous acclaim

20/02/1991: the mythical White Unicorns baby foal ‘Tremolo’ EP also released to unanimous acclaim

* 04/11/1991: ‘Loveless’ (you may have heard of it ?)


‘EP’s 1988-1991’ first came out as a two CD set in 2012 and brought together for the very first time the afore mentioned four extended plays plus seven additional rare and unreleased songs

So is ‘EP’s 1988-1991’ any good? As someone who to this day still owns the four EP’s on vinyl from roughly when they first came and bought this CD set back in 2012 I know these tracks well

(1) Tracks 1 - 5 from ‘You Made Me Realise’ EP

"You Made Me Realise" - TICK

"Slow" - TICK

"Thorn" - TICK

"Cigarette in Your Bed" - CROSS

"Drive It All Over Me" - TICK ( I adore this one)

Winner: JulianR

(2) Tracks 6 - 9 from ‘Feed Me with Your Kiss’

“Feed Me with Your Kiss”- TICK TICK TICK ….holy cow what a song

"I Believe" - TICK

"Emptiness Inside" - TICK TICK TICK another blinder

"I Need No Trust" - TICK

Winner: JuliaR in a landslide

(3) Tracks 10 - 13 from Mythical Unicorn ‘Glider’ EP

"Soon" - TICK obviously

"Glider" - TICK but with a * ( I actually prefer the 10 minute version strangely enough)

"Don't Ask Why" - TICK

"Off Your Face” - small tick

Winner: Julian R

CD two

(4) Tracks 1 - 4 from mythical White Unicorns baby foal ‘Tremolo’ EP

"To Here Knows When" - TICK

“Swallow’ - small tick

"Honey Power" - TICK

“Moon Song” - CROSS

Winner: JulianR but closer

(5) Tracks 5 - 8 Rare Tracks

"Instrumental No 2" - CROSS

"Instrumental No 1" - TICK

“Glider 10 minute version” - TICK

“Sugar” - CROSS

Winner: Sleep Dealer

(6) Tracks 9-11 Previously Unreleased

"Angel" - CROSS

"Good for You" - TICK

"How Do You Do It" - CROSS

Winner: Sleep Dealer

OVERALL Winner Julian R (4-2)

Yes no doubt some tracks here are weak but the highs and highlights are so out of this world mind blowing good (“emptiness inside” / “soon” / “10 minute Glider” etc) the dips can easily be forgiven

I’m with you JulianR

From SleepDealer 07/03/2018 19:42

Another chance, getting play on my main stereo system, but I'm still really struggling. I agree that 'Soon' is about the most interesting track on the first disc, but that's also on one of their studio albums, so a bit superfluous for this release. 'Thorn' is okay too. 'Glider' is just bloody awful. 'Off Your Face' is only okay. Next good track 'To Here Knows When', surprise surprise, is on 'Loveless'. Come on everyone, there's a reason why these tracks were left off the studio albums! Maybe I'm in a minority here, that's fine. Just don't get it, and lord help me I've tried.

From JulianR 02/09/2018 05:50

God dammit I’m in love with this band! Everything they’ve ever done is just so cool and unique!

Also, if you’re finding this “insipid and uninspiring” try starting at “Soon”. That’s when it really gets good

From SleepDealer 12/24/2016 08:57

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From Anti 05/28/2014 02:28

Fantastic compilation that is worth the import price. I highly recommend this.

From alelsupreme 03/23/2014 20:25

The first half is far better than the second.

Get this album for Off Your Face Alone. The best song they ever made, no doubt.