Here at Akavinyl , we have many Japanese CDs for sale, many of which have bonus tracks. We thought it high time to showcase these for you so you can know what you’re getting if you buy from us. Enjoy installment #3: alternative bonus tracks! All of these items are available on this site. Click the links below to see more details for each.
Fatboy Slim – “The Greatest Hits Remixed” – 2007
Although it’s not a remix, Fatboy Slim needed a place to tag on his “Because We Can” which appeared on the Moulin Rouge soundtrack from 6 years earlier somewhere, so why not at the end of Disc 2 on this compilation of remixes based on a compilation of singles? The last track on Disc 1 is also a bonus track and is a kind of Fatboy Slim medley of sorts.
Hurts – “Happiness” – 2010
Know what’s super fun? Releasing a single before your debut album, then naming the album after that single, and then not putting it on the album. Psych! Japan rectified this by putting that single plus 4 other bonus tracks on Hurts’ maiden affair. Halleluah, ‘cuz it’s a good one!
Kasabian – “Velociraptor!” -2011
Although the “We’re big in Japan” joke is quite stale, it actually rings true for Kasabian. Frequent attendees of the Japanese summer festival circuit, they have built quite the following here. The fans and band have a reciprocal relationship and so the band rewards them with tons of bonus material. Take “Velociraptor!” for example, with its 3 bonus tracks and additional live DVD. Well, don’t just take it. Take it and pay for it on your way out. Thank you, come again!
Sneaker Pimps – “Becoming X” – 1996
Dig out and lace up those Sketchers I know you still have in the back of your closet because it’s time to pretend we’re back in college and stay up ’til … I don’t know, like 11 pm? This fun debut in Japan was given a hefty 4 bonus tracks. Perhaps they knew in advance that the most interesting part of the band was on the way out and it was time to cash in now?
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Show Your Bones” – 2006
Even their throw away bonus tracks rock. Track 12 is a bonus track for the UK and Japan, whereas the video for “Golden Lion,” that’s only for Japan, baby. You DM fans may recognize that video director as one of the few later good ones that they came out with.
Beastie Boys – “The Mix-Up” – 2007
Hey, ya know what’s super fun? Releasing an instrumental jazz album, then naming the album after one of the tracks you made for it, and then not putting it on the album. Psych! Japan also rectified this by putting that track plus 1 other on the Beastie Boys’ 2007 experimental affair.
Monkey – “Journey To The West” – 2008
Hey, ya know what’s super confusing? Starting a side project called “Gorillaz” and then having side projects off that which are all simian related in name to the point that anything that vaguely linked to that could be a Damon Albarn effort, or not. This one actually is. This 22-track mostly in Chinese endeavor gets an additional 2 tracks for a nice, round 24 number. We’ve filed this under “Gorillaz” in the menu to save you the task of wondering.
Beck – “Midnite Vultures” – 2003
This release with one big hit also got one bonus track in Japan, “Arabian Nights.” This whole album answers the question: what would it sound like if Flight of the Conchordes were given a budget and asked to be taken seriously as artists?
Vampire Weekend – “Vampire Weekend” – 2008
Masters of taking polaroids found in your grandmother’s boxes in the attic and making album covers out of them, this release from the uber-educated lads featured 2 bonus tracks: “Ladies of Cambridge” and “Arrows.”
Fatboy Slim – “Palookaville” – 2004
And let’s finish up this installment right back where we started with Fatboy Slim and one of the 2 bonus tracks from the Japanese version of “Palookaville.” Does anyone else think the back of the CD looks like the back of a certain Madonna cover?
We hope you enjoyed reading and check back next week for the 4th installment of the Akavinyl Bonus Track Spotlight.