Keepin' Time: Quick & to the pointless

As an avid music collector, I am often faced with the dilemma of whether or not I "need" something. For example, if a band rereleases an album with new artwork and a couple bonus tracks, I am not likely to pick it up. I already own the album, why would I buy it again for a new promo shot and a couple b-sides I'm not going to like anyway? However, if you sweeten that deal with a DVD or a slipcase (I don't know why, if I see a slipcase I have to have it. Don't judge me) odds are you're going to be able to get another $13 out of me. With decreasing CD sales, labels have been cooking up new ways to get kids to pick up physical copies of albums. When Victory Records rereleased A Day to Remember's Homesick album last year, they fattened it up with a DVD and a full color booklet that came in an absolutely gorgeous pink, purple and green gatefold slipcase. Now that is a collector's item, and that's worth the money. 

Some labels don't quite get it yet. Hopeless Records put out a retooled edition of The Wonder Year's latest album The Upsides and just changed the cover and tossed a couple acoustic tracks on the end of it. No thanks. Labels: if you want me to buy an album again, the packaging better be on point and the material more so. 

Another problem I run into is whether or not to buy the live album. Unless a band changes the makeup of the songs somewhat drastically, plays some cool covers or something, is there really a point? As a general rule, I say the heavier the band, the less necessary the live album. Screaming really hardly ever sounds good when recorded live (As evidenced on Comeback Kid's ill-fated Through the Noise: Live in Germany album and Bleeding Through's Live In L.A. EP that came with later pressing of This Is Love, This Is Murderous), so why would you want to sit in your room and listen to live metal or hardcore when you could just hear the originals?

Conversely, bands like Nine Inch Nails, Pearl Jam and Queens of the Stone Age have all released absolutely stunning live albums with extended and reworked versions of their biggest songs, all compressed neatly from big stadium shows to mp3 format, ready for your iPod.  Just for the hell of it, here are 5 live albums that are way more than worth it:

Blink-182 – The Mark, Tom & Travis Show – My favorite band plays my favorite songs, followed by 20+ minutes of hilarious stage banter. It really doesn't get any better than Blink-182 live, but you already knew that.

Queens of the Stone Age – Over the Years & Through the Woods: Live In London – This is a masterpiece. Amazing live versions of Josh Homme & company's greatest hits and a few choice rarities, accompanied by an absolutely phenomenal DVD.

Nine Inch Nails – And All That Could Have Been: Live – This is how dangerous live Rock N' Roll should sound. Trent Reznor sounds absolutely furious throughout this entire set. After I heard the version of "Head Like A Hole:" from this album, I can't listen to the original.

Against Me! – Americans Abroad!!! Against Me!!! Live in London!!! – Excellent versions of excellent songs, with Tommy Gabel truly is his most intoxicated, violently angry prime.

Bayside – Acoustic – Anthony Raneri writes a lot of sad songs, but when they're played on just a lonely acoustic guitar, they truly become haunting.