ROCK IS LIFE PRESENTS...
A Guide to Box Sets

The box set; the ultimate purchase for the most loyal fan or CD collector. What better way to obtain such a massive collection of your favorite bands most precious material. Some box sets are anthology collections, containing nearly every song in a band's career, some are greatest hits collections, and some are a collection of crap scraped up off the cutting room floor. Chances are, if you're going to purchase a box set of a particular artist, you're already a fan. You probably have their back catalog already. Therefore, a good box set should offer something beyond an artists pervious releases; B-sides, unreleased tracks, demos, DVDs, or collectable merchandise of some sort. Kick-ass packaging is always a plus! So before you spend your hard earned cash on an often pricey box set, let Rock Is Life give you a brief rundown of some of the rock and metal box sets out there. The box sets that will be reviewed are from my personal collection. I do not receive promotional box sets for review from the labels (but if they wanted to send them, we'd be most gracious). We will add to the list throughout the year as more box sets are obtained. Did I mention they can be pricey?

Artist/Title: Gamma Ray - The Ultimate Collection

Type: Anthology - 6 CD remastered studio releases with bonus tracks (1990 - 1999)

Packaging: Cube shaped box with re-designed CD covers on each side. Digi-pack CDs with re-designed covers that form a bigger picture when put together. Tucked in each CD sleeve is the original booklet with original cover. A booklet/poster is included.

Extras: Bonus tracks of three or more on each CD consist of B-sides, cover songs, live songs, and unreleased.

Price Range: $75.00 - $140

Best Disc: Fans say Somewhere Out in Space. I say Powerplant.

Negative Aspects: Box is bigger than contents inside.

Rating: out of 5

The Verdict: Ultimate indeed. Well worth the money.

Status: Limited availability

Artist/Title: Helloween - Treasure Chest

Type: 2 CD Version: Best of / 3 CD Version Best of w/B-sides (1985-2000)

Packaging: Box is shaped and designed to look like a pirate's chest; opens like one too. Third disc titled Buried Treasure is on the bottom and designed to look like, you guessed it...a buried treasure chest. Comes with a poster/booklet that contains rare photos and the Helloween family tree.

Extras: B-sides disc (3 CD version only). Unreleased songs are taken from Helloween singles.

Price Range: $18 - $28

Best Disc: Disc 1

Negative Aspects: No songs from Chameleon, 1 from Pink Bubbles Go Ape.

Rating: out of 5

The Verdict: You can't beat the price of this treasure! Spend the extra cash for the 3 CD version.

Status: In print

Artist/Title: Judas Priest - The Remasters (1977-1990)

Type: Anthology - 12 CD remastered studio albums (Halford-era) with bonus tracks. Four CDs come with the box, you have to add to it.

Packaging: Box designed to look like a stage equipment box. All twelve CDs, when put side by side, spell out Judas Priest along the bottom. Also forms the JP symbol. All CD sleeves display original covers and printed lyrics. Collectable booklet also included.

Extras: Two extra tracks per disc that includes an unreleased song or live recording.

Price Range: $50 to get started. $150 when finished.

Best Disc: Screaming for Vengeance

Negative Aspects: Costly to put together. Box is out of print.

Rating: out of 5

The Verdict: Judas Priest is metal, plain and simple! It's great to hear how they progressed and experimented through the years.

Status: CDs still in circulation.

Artist/Title: Kiss - Box Set

Type: Greatest Hits + Unreleased (1973-1998)

Packaging: 2 versions: Standard - shaped like a book / Limited Deluxe - shaped like a guitar case. Both come with 120-page booklet with track by track commentary.

Extras: 30 unreleased songs taken from band and solo demos, outtakes, and live recordings.

Price Range: $65 - $175

Best Disc: Disc 4: 1983-1989

Negative Aspects: Demos of popular songs replace original versions.

Rating: out of 5

The Verdict: Unless you’re a die-hard fan of Kiss, the unreleased material is nothing special. However, you do get a comprehensive collection of Kiss' greatest hits and near misses.

Status: In print

Artist/Title: Metal Blade Records 20th Anniversary Box Set

Type: Greatest Hits / Compilation / Unreleased - 9 CD + 1 DVD (1982-2002)

Packaging: It's your standard long box featuring the Grim Reaper on the cover. Retrospective booklet inside.

Extras: 23 videos and 11 bonus tracks.

Price Range: $75 - $95

Best Disc: Disc 1 & 2

Negative Aspects: NONE

Rating: out of 5

The Verdict: A complete history of underground, bay-area heavy metal!

Status: Limited edition of 5000. Out of print.

Artist/Title: Alice Cooper - The Life and Crimes Of...

Type: Best of + Unreleased 4CD (1966-1994)

Packaging: Standard long box featuring Alice behind bars. Comes with retrospective booklet.

Extras: 12 unreleased tracks from Alice's time with The Spiders, The Alice Cooper Band, and solo.

Price Range: $20 - $50

Best Disc: Classic Alice: Disc 1 / Modern Alice: Disc 4

Negative Aspects: A little skimpy on the extras.

Rating: out of 5

The Verdict: If loving this box set is a crime, then lock me up and throw away the key.

Status: In print

Artist/Title: Journey - Time3

Type: Greatest Hits / Unreleased / B-sides (1975-1986)

Packaging: Standard long box featuring the Journey beetle symbol. 62 page retrospective booklet with track by track commentary.

Extras: 10 unreleased / 2 B-sides / 3 Soundtrack songs (from Tron, Vision Quest, and Two of a Kind)

Price Range: $20 - $40

Best Disc: Disc 3

Negative Aspects: Disc two is mostly live tracks of popular songs.

Rating: out of 5

The Verdict: A complete collection of Journey's best, plus some nuggets for the die-hard fans.

Status: In print

Artist/Title: Steve Vai - Secret Jewel Box

Type: Rarities / Unreleased 10 CD set. Box comes with first three CDs; you add to it as the rest are released over time. Currently, 6CDs have been released: Disc 1 – The Elusive Light and Sound Vol.1 - 40 unreleased songs, clips, and snippets from movies. Disc 2 – Alcatrazz - Disturbing the Peace. Disc 3 - Archives Vol.2: Frank Zappa Original Recordings. Disc 4 - Archives Vol.3: Mystery Tracks (Japanese bonus tracks). Disc 5 - Archives Vol.4 - Various Artists (Steve's contributions to other artists' albums). Disc 6 – Piano Reductions Vol.1 – Performed by Mike Keneally (Steve’s songs set to piano)

Packaging: Over-sized jewelry box with flip top containing mirror and three Vai custom guitar picks. Face of box comes down to reveal housing for CDs. A secret disc is housed somewhere in the box.

Extras: Basically, it’s all extra material. The tracks on the first five CDs are all rare or unreleased.

Price Range: Originally $65 to get started with 3 CDs. Now, $85 dollars to get started with 5CDs. $28 for every two CDs thereafter. It’ll be about $165 when completed.

Best Disc: Archives: Volume 4

Negative Aspects: You’ll pay more if you bought early. At the rate that the CDs are being released, it will be 10 years before it is complete. A bit pricey in the end. The secret disc is a joke.

Rating: out of 5

The Verdict: If you must have every single little thing Steve Vai put on tape, then this set it for you. Otherwise, it’s disappointing.

Status: Limited Edition of 10,000 - still available exclusively at www.vai.com

--George Dionne