SLIS Holiday Gift Guide: Best 2016 Music Box Sets: our picks for the best alternative, punk, metal and classic rock box sets, reissues, Blu-rays, deluxe vinyl and other music related items that make perfect holiday gifts for music lovers.
Hard to believe it but the holiday are almost upon us. And with it comes the challenge of getting the coolest gifts for the ones you love. And if you’re looking for the perfect presents for the music snobs in your life, we at SLIS have you covered with the must-have music releases (and memorabilia) of 2016.
If you’re interested in previewing/purchasing any item on our list, simply click on the link to go to Amazon. We get a portion of every sale you buy through out site, so thanks in advance if you shop through us!
Now let’s get started:
DAVID BOWIE:
The world lost one of the biggest musical icons in 2016, and these new releases represent his timeless mastery.
David Bowie: Who Can I Be Now? (1974 to 1976)(12CD) Box set
This 12-disc set (or 13-vinyl depending upon preference) features all of Bowie’s “American” recordings from the mid-70’s. In addition to re-releases of classic albums like Young Americans and Diamond Dogs, there is also The Gouster, a previously unreleased album recorded in 1974 (and produced by Tony Visconti). Also included: original and alternate album art and an 128 page booklet.
David Bowie: Legacy
This 2-disc collection features singles from Bowie’s entire career between 1969 and 2016.
Lazarus (Original Cast Recording)
Cast recording of Bowie’s Broadway musical, containing several previously unreleased tracks by the Thin White Duke himself.
PRINCE:
Gone but not 4-gotten, here are some excellent Prince-centric music and video releases.
Prince-4Ever (2CD)
A 2-disc set featuring Prince’s greatest hits along with some alternate versions, along with the previously unreleased 1982 track Moonbeam Levels and 12-page booklet featuring never before seen photos by Herb Ritts.
Purple Rain / Graffiti Bridge / Under the Cherry Moon (BD) (3pk) [Blu-ray]
All of Prince’s theatrical releases (minus concert film Sign O’ The Times) collected in one Blu-ray volume.
METALLICA:
Hardwired…To Self-Destruct (3Cd Deluxe Edition)
Deluxe edition of their 2016 album.
Metallica-Kill ‘Em All
2016 remaster of their classic début featuring deluxe packaging..
Metallica-Ride The Lightning
2016 Remaster of sophomore album, featuring deluxe packaging.
Metallica: Back to the Front: A Fully Authorized Visual History of the Master of Puppets Album and Tour
In honor of the 30th anniversary of Metallica’s thrash masterpiece Master of Puppets, give the Metallica fan in your life this epic coffee-table retrospective behind-the-scenes book.
ICONS:
Leonard Cohen-You Want It Darker
The critically acclaimed 2016 (and final) release from the late songsmith poet.
Beastie Boys-Licensed To Ill [LP][30th Anniversary Edition]
30 years?!? The Beastie Boys breakthrough smash gets the deluxe remaster treatment on 180 gram vinyl.
Iggy Pop-Post Pop Depression Live at The Royal Albert Hall [Blu-ray]
Concert film for Iggy’s recent tour with QOTSA’s John Homme for their 2016 collaborative album of the same name.
The New York Dolls-French Kiss ’74 + Actress – Birth Of The New York Dolls – Limited Edition Box Set by New York Dolls (2016-08-03)
ALTERNATIVE:
Depeche Mode: Video Singles Collection
This 3-disc DVD set collects all of Depeche Mode’s groundbreaking music videos from 1981-2013 together for the first time.
New Order-Singles (2015 Remaster)
A remastered edition New Order’s single collection, released on 2 CD’s and vinyl.
Temple Of The Dog [2 CD][Deluxe Edition]
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Soundgarden/Pearl Jam tribute to Mother Love Bone’s Andrew Wood, this 2-disc set features a remaster of their self-titled album along with outtakes and rarities.
Soundgarden-Badmotorfinger [2 CD][Deluxe Edition]
This 25th anniversary reissue features a remaster of the original album along with a second disc of outtakes, demos and concert recordings.
Minstry-Trax! Rarities Limited Edition
2 disc collection chronicling the early years of Al Jourgensen’s pioneering industrial outfit.
Placebo-Place for Us to Dream
20 year retrospective from the alt-glam-electronica outfit fronted by Brian Molko.
XTC-Skylarking: 30th Anniversary Definitive Edition
The critically acclaimed album by the post-punk trio presented in CD + Blu-Ray Audio including demos, instrumentals and rarities.
Air-Twenty Years (2LP 180 Gram Vinyl) or (2 CD)
A collection of the French electronic duo’s greatest hits, deep tracks and rarities.
Oasis: Supersonic [Blu-ray + Digital HD]
New Blu-ray release of the critically acclaimed doc focusing on the dueling Gallagher brothers and their Britpop heyday.
The Verve-A Storm in Heaven: Limited Deluxe Boxset (3CD+DVD) – UK Edition
This expansive edition of the alternative Brit-rockers début album, features rarities, demos, B-sides and live tracks, along with a DVD including music videos and concert footage.
Adam and the Ants-Kings of the Wild Frontier (Deluxe Edition)
39 track, 2-disc remastered deluxe reissue of the New Wave group’s début album, including rarities, B-sides and a previously unreleased 1981 concert recording.
Manic Street Preachers-Everything Must Go (2016 Remastered, Boxset) – European/UK EditionBox set
4 CD’s + 1 DVD deluxe reissue set of the Welsh rockers fourth album (and first to be released without missing member Richey Edwards).
Smiths – 30 Years Of The Queen Is Dead (3DVD Collector’s Box Set)
CLASSIC ROCK:
The Band: The Last Waltz (40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)(4CD/1Blu-ray)
This commemorative edition of The Band’s live concert (and documentary directed by Martin Scorsese) features the entire original live recordings, including rehearsals, outtakes and rarities, all presented in one package for the first time.
Queen On Air [6 CD]
This 6 disc set contains every BBC radio session the group ever recorded. The collection, recorded between 1973-1977 showcases just how incredible the band were as a live act, as witnessed on the fast version of We Will Rock You, which proved a revelation upon its online release early this year.
Pink Floyd: The Early Years Box Set (1965-1972)
This must-have for any die-hard Floyd fan is a 28-disc box set featuring a ton of previously unreleased material, including BBC Sessions, remixes, outtakes, concert performances and more seeing the British band in their formative years (11 CDs, 8 Blu-ray Discs, 9 DVDs, 5 vinyl singles, collectible memorabilia, & more).
The Rolling Stones In Mono
The entire mono recordings of the British classic rock pioneers (a whopping 186 tracks in total).
Becoming The Beach Boys: The Complete Hite & Dorinda Morgan Sessions (2CD)
Some of the earliest recordings showing the iconic group’s nascent beginnings, warts and all.
Led Zeppelin-The Complete BBC Sessions (3CD) Box set
Every BBC live session of the legendary blues-rockers are included in this remastered set (supervised by Jimmy Page himself), including eight previously unreleased recordings, along with a detailed booklet chronicling the included material.
Rush-Time Stand Still [Blu-ray]
The Blu-ray of the critically acclaimed documentary regarding the prog-rock trio’s 2015 40th Anniversary tour.
SOUNDTRACKS:
S U R V I V E-Stranger Things, Vol. 1
S U R V I V E’s wonderfully moody electro score for Netflix’s cult hit. Vinyl comes with Digital Download.
Star Wars – The Ultimate Soundtrack Collection
This 10 CD set includes all of composer John William’s work for George Lucas’s original trilogy, as well as interviews with Williams and Harrison Ford and a plus Star Wars: A Musical Journey, a DVD showcasing the history of William’s score with footage from the films.
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope Import
How awesome is this deluxe vinyl of Star Wars IV?
John Carpenter: Pic Disc Vinyl 2×12″ Pack
Limited edition picture discs: featuring the filmmaker composer’s scores to Halloween / Escape From New York themes on disc and Assault on Precinct 13 / The Fog on the other.
Warriors Original Recording Remastered
if you have a Warriors fan in your life, they’ll want to come out and play-ay…this gorgeous picture disc.
Planet of the Apes Vinyl (MONDO)
The original Jerry Goldsmith score for 1968’s Planet of The Apes with a beautiful jacket designed by MONDO.
Books and Collectibles:
Maynard James Keenan-A Perfect Union of Contrary Things
A biography of the wonderfully weird malcontent behind Tool and A Perfect Circle.
Iggy Pop 7-Inch Action Figure
Who wouldn’t want a miniature shirtless Iggy Pop figurine?
Lemmy Kilmister Pop! Vinyl Figure
The late, great Lemmy Killmeister immortalized in Funko Pop form.
Well that wraps up our list of the best music gifts for 2016! I’ll be sure to update with any Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals as they become available. Be sure to keep a lookout for our lists of best 2016 TV and Movie Blu-rays and Geek Gifts, both of which will be coming soon.
