Album of the Day

Following the tour supporting their eponymous 1997 album, U.K. indie greats Blur released a Japanese-only collection of remixes and live recordings, BUSTIN' + DRONIN'. Having employed producer Stephen Street for several preceding studio sets, the quartet turned to such other talents as William Orbit, Moby and Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore to rework BLUR songs including “Death of a Party,” “Beetlebum,” “Essex Dogs” and “On Your Own.” The second half of the compilation was cut live at John Peel's home; these six bracing tracks underline Blur's prowess in concert (Graham Coxon's guitar work is particularly strong). As an import-only title, the album did fairly well in England and reached the Top 50, and BUSTIN' + DRONIN' will be released this month on colored vinyl for the first time as a Record Store Day exclusive.