Kazu Makino alongside twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace entered the New York City rock scene in 1993, and their noise rock-influenced sound as Blonde Redhead was quickly picked up by Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley, who signed the band to his Smells Like Records imprint. This 4LP release from Numero collects BR’s long out-of-print first two albums, the self-titled debut plus La Mia Vita Violenta, in addition to an impressive amount of rare singles, demos, and radio performances. Previously unpublished photographs and two in-depth essays also accompany the boxset, and they help shine light on the exceptional New York outfit’s formative years as well as the vibrant “energy and grit” that “pre-Giulani Manhattan” was. Picks include: “Astro Boy,” Mama Cita,” Sciuri Sciura,” “Big Song,” “Vague,” “Woody,” “Country Song (La Mia Vita Violenta Outtake,” and “Young Neil.”

• includes booklet w/ essays & photographs
• music label: Numero Group 2016

reviewed by donut savage 10/2016