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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2007)
EW ’s gift guide 2007 boxing for the holidays BUY THE BOX, AND YOU’RE SET By Chuck Adams W hy oh why do we love us our box sets? Perhaps because they are big gifts in small packages? For this, we must duly give thanks to the techno-wizards behind data compression and CD/DVD technology. Sure, their products are easily rendered skip-prone if not kept in an airless envi- ronment, but they have taken the once cumbersome burden of tapes, VHS and vinyl box sets (typically weighing in at over a gazillion pounds) and condensed them into paper thin volumes. Good or bad, this has just spurned the box setters to cram as much into one “set” as possible (e.g. Janus’ Essential Art House Films, a stack of 50 films for a lit- tle over $750). Also, giving a box set says a lot about the giver. While not technically a “box set,” The Smashing Pumpkins’ Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness double album was one of the most memorable gifts I received from a sibling back in 1995. After crack- ing open the jewel case, I remember thinking two things: “My brother cares about my musical taste” and then, upon seeing the two discs inside, “My brother isn’t a cheapskate.” Twelve years on, here is a roundup of the season’s highly anticipated releases. The Brit Box: UK Indie, Shoegaze, and Brit-Pop Gems of the Last Millennium (Rhino, $64.98) It’s fitting that the four-disc time cap- sule Brit Box kicks off with The Smiths’ “How Soon Is Now?” Because obviously such speculation as to “time” and “millen- nium” and “now” are beside the point when collecting some of the more defini- tive songs recorded by Brits between 1985 and 2000. No, this is not the col- lection in which to find The Beatles mixing blood with the Rolling Stones and the Psychedelic Furs. This is the anthology to give to anyone who came of age (musically) in the Thatcher-Major-Blair Dynasty. With tracks from criminally neg- lected Inspiral Carpets, Ned’s Atomic Dustbin and Kula Shaker to more mainstream cuts from The Cure, New Order, Oasis and Cornershop, The Brit Box packs in enough candy and curios to satisfy just about any Gen X music aficionado with a lick of nostalgia in his or her heart. EXTRAS: Packaging is designed like a “traditional English phone booth illumi- nated with a battery-powered flickering light bulb.” TARGET MARKET : Gen Xers; fans of music history; people who wear pea coats. Radiohead, In Rainbows discbox, includes two CDs, two vinyl records, digital photographs and artwork (www.inrainbows.com, approx. $82) Half the reason I bought Radiohead albums was the lovely packag- ing and artwork by Stanley Massage Center • Hanukkah Candles, Menorahs, & Gifts • Holiday Chocolate & Stocking Stuffers n 2868 Willamette Street, in South Eugene e i Appointments: 868-1575 ag s as Walk-Ins Welcome! m l a Mon-Sat: 10 am – 8 pm on Sunday: Noon – 5 pm ssi Pro fe $10 OFF! Introductory one hour relaxation massage for just $49 or $10 off any one hour upgraded massage service Joke & novelty items • Cheeses From Around the World OPEN THROUGH DECEMBER 28 Mon-Sat 10am-6pm • Sun 12-5pm 240 SW WASHINGTON Instructional DVD’s & books Clown accessories Qualtex balloons in downtown Corvallis next to The Beanery 233 W 7th * Downtown Eugene 541-754-6338 541-683-3059 www.tealartistcoop.com Tues-Sat 11am-6pm HOLIDAY RECEPTION FRIDAY, DEC. 7 6-8PM Park for Harvey’s at Olsen’s Auto just past Hunky Dory! A percentage of holiday sales will be donated to the Chintimini Wildlife Center Eugene Weekly’s Gift Guide 2007 c vironment Magic sets for young & old • Vitamins and Natural Body Care Products • iet, o ra r y e n [tÜäxçËá `tz|v XÅÑÉÜ|âÅ • Champagne, Wine, & Seasonal Beers 4 u aq emp ont One coupon per customer, one-time use only, off er good for your fi rst massage at BodyJaz only • Specialty, Organic & Gourmet Foods • Storewide Specials & Everyday Low Prices Donwood and Thom Yorke. Now I’m sitting here listening to a legally purchased burned copy of their latest, In Rainbows, and I’ve got nothing to look at. Half the joy is gone. But I salivate at the thought of this discbox, prima- rily because it comes in a vinyl edition. (Sure, $82 is big bucks to spend, but try finding Radiohead’s past albums on vinyl for less than $40, and those are used.) EXTRAS: Eight songs not on the digital download. That’s practically a new LP! TARGET MARKET: Vinyl-edition collectors; people who bought the iPhone as soon as it was released; college students; financial analysts; wolves in sheep’s clothing. We also have Gift Certificates
