New Items Recap: September 2017

Drowned World Tour 2001 / German DVD (7599-38558-2) / Plastic Case
Bedtime Stories / German 2016 Re-Issue LP (081227973544) / Gatefold Picture Sleeve
Who’s That Girl -Mitsubishi Special Live In Japan / Japanese Laserdisc (08WL-35) / Picture Sleeve
La Isla Bonita / Canadian Cassette Maxi (92 06334) / Plastic Case
Rebel Heart Tour / USA 2-CD (ER416712) / Jewel Case
Rebel Heart Tour / USA DVD+CD (EVB053317) / Digipak
Rebel Heart Tour / USA Blu-Ray+CD (EV0220862) / Digipak
Rebel Heart Tour / Japanese 2-CD (UICO-1297/8) / Jewel Case
Rebel Heart Tour / Japanese DVD (UIBO-1144) / Plastic Case
Rebel Heart Tour / Japanese Blu-Ray (UIXO-1001) / Plastic Case
Don’t Tell Me / German Promo CD (PR 02296) / Slim Jewel Case
Sorry / Australian CD Maxi (9362428922) / Jewel Case
American Pie / Australian CD Maxi (9362448392) / Slim Jewel Case
Hung Up / UK CD Maxi-TSDC press (W695CD2) / Slim Jewel Case
GHV2 Megamix / USA Promo 12″ Vinyl (PRO-A-100790) / Generic Sleeve

Rebel Heart Tour Releases

So, as you all know, the Rebel Heart Tour was finally released last Friday. 3 formats were released in the USA: Blu-Ray+CD, DVD+CD (both in a digipak) and a 2-CD audio set (in a jewel case). 2 other formats were released internationally: a stand-alone blu-ray disc (in a standard blu-ray snap case) and a stand-alone DVD disc (in a standard DVD snap case). Besides the USA versions, at this point the only other ones I ordered and am waiting on are the 3 Japanese releases (2-CD, standalone DVD and standalone Blu-ray). The Japanese video versions contain a bonus performance of “Take A Bow”. I had a viewing party with a couple of friends who hadn’t seen the entire show yet and they really seemed to enjoy it. Although I still think the editing is very overdone, I enjoyed watching it as well. Overall, I’m pretty satisfied with this release. I think the packaging and artwork looks pretty good (much better than the MDNA tour).

So now that the Rebel Heart era is officially closed, we can start looking towards the future! Unfortunately, I don’t think we will get any new music until late 2018 or 2019. I certainly hope that Madonna is at least inspired to start writing. I would love for her to make more dance music for the next album, but I could also see her going a more downtempo acoustic route. Guess we’ll have to wait and see!

Ranking The Album Tracks Part 14: Rebel Heart (2015)

In late 2014, several tracks from Madonna’s then-upcoming album Rebel Heart were leaked across the internet. As a result, 6 of the album’s final tracks were made available on iTunes, while the entire album was finally released a few months later in March of 2015. As with her previous album, 2012’s MDNA, many different writers and producers were involved in the making of Rebel Heart, resulting in an eclectic album. The general consensus was that it was an improvement over MDNA. For me personally, it definitely felt like Rebel Heart had more of Madonna’s involvement in it, though it still didn’t feel completely cohesive. I did, however, feel that this was her best effort since 2005’s Confessions On A Dance Floor. At over 20 tracks, it definitely felt a little too long, and perhaps a trim of the track list would have produced a more completely solid body of work. I can’t really complain, though. It was pretty exhilarating to get so many Madonna songs at once! Below is my ranking of the tracks.

New Items Recap: August 2017

Hey there! Here are the 3 items I acquired in August:

Like A Prayer / German 12” Vinyl (921 189-0) / Picture Sleeve
The Video Collection 93:99 / Singapore Limited Edition Video CD (7599 38506-5) / Jewel Case & Slim Jewel Case with Card Slip Cover
Erotica / Korean Double LP (WL-151) / Gatefold Picture Sleeve

The Korean double LP of Erotica is pretty cool because it has an alternate back cover design.It also has a cool gold hype sticker on the front. Take a look at pictures below:

The Singapore limited edition video cd of 93:99 is interesting in that it includes a second bonus picture CD that has absolutely nothing on it. No music, no videos, nothing. So, it looks cool but that’s about it. Both come housed in a card slip cover. I’ve also read online that this edition was withdrawn from sale shortly after its release.

Elsewhere, as you all know, the Rebel Heart Tour is going to be released on September 15th across various video/audio formats. It will be nice to finally get something new to collect! I’ll also be getting the Japanese versions since they will be including bonus tracks.