»In praise of the box set

I finally opened up two box sets that deserved close listening: the anthology of The Fall Peel Sessions, and the Billy Bragg box set.

The Fall are, according to myth and legend, a favourite of Radio One personality John Peel, and recorded music for his show no fewer than six gazillion times. A set of six discs collects these appearances.

The Billy Bragg box, from our friends at Yep Roc, not only collects the EPs and album that made up the US release Back to Basics, but adds outtakes, concert recordings (audio and video, including two DVDs), and plenty of descriptive propaganda.