Finally! ...and yet... (Martina Topley-Bird's Anything gets released stateside)

[Dusty Chalk]

Yes, that's right, it's called Anything now. They deleted three tracks and played with the sequencing. Hmmm...

Read more here (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:g2kxiknsbb19).

Well, it's about time, and since you're paying half the price I and other early adopters paid, don't complain about being ripped off. Go out and get it. Highly recommended. So is this going to be another album that is not going to get a fair shake on the best of 2004 lists because it's really a 2003 release?

NP: Halou, Wiser -- if you'd like that, you'd like this, and vice versa.

And if there is a god, and if god is fair, I know you will suffer...

Another stateside release: M83! Bastards...sometimes it hurts to be an early adopter.

I will also mention some re-releases: Paul Simon, Megadeth, and Mercury Rev (specifically, Yerself Is Steam tied with Mint Humbucker -- thought you might want to know that, Jar, though you probably already have everything on it).

[Davey]

Yes, that's right, it's called Anything now. They deleted three tracks and played with the sequencing. Hmmm...
Wow, that is weird. Haven't seen anything like that since the "old" days, although I'm sure it probably happens way more than I could know. Kinda like those first Beatles albums on Crapitol that looked nothing like the UK versions. I did see a release date for Anything but assumed it was just the single. I wonder if she had any say in the US version. Oh well, I've got the "real" UK version and paid less than $13 so no biggie to me, but "Lying" is one of my favorites and I can't imagine why they would cut it. Must be something with copyrights, although she's the only one credited with writing it in the liner notes. Maybe Tricky actually wrote it and got miffed at her, kind of like when the Massive Attack guys wouldn't give him production credit on the Protection album for those three songs so he "stole" them back to use on his own album in altered form :)

Can't imagine the album without beginning with the "Intro". I like "Anything" but it doesn't seem like a very good opener. On the other hand, I never thought that "Need One" was the best thing to follow the "Intro" with either. Strange. Good album, but I already said that enough times around here last year. I'd get Quixotic though, even if it did cost a bit more. I think some of the European versions have even more songs than the UK version.

[Davey]

BTW, have you heard anything about this? I was just at amazon checking to see if anyone had comments on Anything (gawd, what a gaudy cover too :)), but it's not out yet so no comments. But the album below was listed as one of those twofer deals with Quixotic and quite a few favorable comments including this description....

<img src=http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000AJIKI.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg align=left hspace=10>If you can imagine Portishead, with more accsessible vocals, rich harmonies, classical style piano playing, gorgeous string sections and the most amazing beats ever programmed, then you have Daughter Darling. This project is the culmination of 6 years of beat production, the most talented piano, guitar and string players, a world class DJ battle champion and a girl who knew she was going to be a singer since 3 years old. Every song has been carefully crafted into a masterpiece.

Natalie's unique voice provides a strong basis for music that is dark and moody. The title track "Sweet Shadows" deals with her emotions of moving to a big city, feeling alone with only the shadows to guide her as she walks around seeing many "soul-less" people. Voodoo games, is about an ex-boyfriend who can't let go, and uses a voodoo doll to try and continue to keep his violent hold on her from afar.

[Dusty Chalk]

Nope, haven't heard anything about Daughter Darling, but welcome (her/them/?) to my wish list!

BTW, I agree with most of your comments. One other possibility is that one of the musicians that played on it has an exclusive contract in the US, and therefore was not allowed to be performing on someone else's release in the US. I know that happened with Mike Oldfield's Islands. On one of the tracks, "Magic Touch", the vocalist in the US was Max Bacon, and on the UK version, it was Jim Price, for that reason (Jim Price was not allowed to be on the US release because he had an exclusivity clause in his contract).