All the Nations Airports (Remastered) [Deluxe Edition]

As is often the case with most great alternative bands, Archers of Loaf steadily evolved into a more precise unit. Their earlier records teemed with youthful energy and raw aggression. With album three, All the Nations Airports, the band channeled that ferocity into a sound far more detailed and carefully thought out. The vocals are still raw, but the guitars take the lessons of Sonic Youth and Pavement and integrate them into their own modified sound. The title track retains a rough edge, but "Scenic Pastures" beautifully crafts a unique pop sound that—had it been released in the '60s—would've had a shot at commercial success. As things stood, the Archers accepted their fate as underground heroes with modest visibility in the mainstream. The chiming guitars of "Worst Defense," the hungover slacker blues of "Rental Sting," and the mechanical electro-magnetics of "Assassination on X-mas Eve" showcase their restless search for the accessible yet unusual. The deluxe edition includes 19 bonus cuts, mostly 4-track demos that illustrate how the band initially brought the tunes into being.