Jawbreaker, "Boxcar"
After Jawbreaker broke up in the wake of their sole Geffen record, there were a couple more releases to tie up the band's catalog. In addition to a live record we got Etc., a collection of rarities, outtakes, and singles. Jawbreaker were great enough that even though this collection of stuff isn't coherent, it's still a good overall release. Some things I could probably do without, like this alternate take of "Boxcar", but I'll forgive those sins to have the rest of the material all in one place.
μ-Ziq, "AEC Merlin"
This is from Bilious Paths, a record where he left his label and went out on his own. The new freedom didn't really radically change the direction of the record, though, as this more or less picks up where Royal Astronomy left off. Which isn't so bad.
Metallica, "Ride the Lightning"
Hot damn, makes me wanna draw a dragon on a Pee-Chee.
Ride the Lightning took the aggression of Kill 'Em All and brought a ton of sophistication and ambition to the sound, to tremendous effect. It's their biggest leap forward, even if it's not quite their best record. Master of Puppets was a refinement of this album's formula, but the innovations were here.
Panegyrist, "Ophidian Crucifix"
And somehow, 34 years later, it mutated far enough that we have a weirdo in Chicago making Christian black metal. Write songs about Satan like a normal person! Freak.
Wilco, "Airline to Heaven (Alternate Version)"
As we open with an alternate take, so we close it. The original was on one of the Billy Bragg & Wilco records, this version is on Alpha Mike Foxtrot: Rare Tracks 1994-2014. It's also a good comp, so I guess I'm full of positives today.