One of the UK's longest running punk bands (formed on December 5, 1976), 999 released, by my count, their 14th studio LP late last year, Death in Soho. But for my money, 999 is first and foremost a live band and can only be truly
appreciated outside the studio. Among the numerous live albums the band has issued over the years, emusic (http://www.emusic.com/) just made available their 1987 live LP Lust, Power and Money. The recording has very good sound quality (unlike Live In LA: 1991 or Live at the Nashville 1979 which both sounded like the microphones were hidden in a shirt pocket). Their 1980 release The Best Tour in Sport (which is very hard to find and cost me $20 on the internet) still ranks as their best live LP but you can't go wrong with Lust, Power and Money , and the price is right.
Australia's The Hitmen have reissued both their 1981 debut LP The Hitmen and the 1982 follow-up It Is What It Is . Both reissues are 2 CD sets, coupling the original LP material with numerous studio demo's and assorted live recordings for an amazing 47 and 45 tracks in all, respectively. If you have to choose, I suggest going with their 1981 debut. It includes several great live tracks as well as their "hit" I Don't Mind.
Bahaus released a new studio album for the first time in 25 years this week with Go Away White. Recorded in late 2005 after their second round of live shows in the past 10 years (they first reunited for a tour with Nine Inch Nails in 1998), Go Away White is being reported as the last music the original members will be making together. No tour is planned in support of the release. Peter Murphy is in full Bowie mode on several of the songs and, for me, like most of the original 3 albums the band put out in the early 80's, I found 4 songs I really liked and will have to wait to see if the rest grows on me. If you're just looking to download a song or two I would recommend Too Much 21st Century and Int'l Bullet Proof Talent or Adrenalin.
emusic has also added Dramarama's first two full length LP's, 1985's Cineme Verite and 1987's Box Office Bomb. Forever to be known for their huge hit Anything, Anything (still the most requested song of all time on pioneering LA radio station KROQ), both of the bands LP's are worth adding. Along with the original material, these reissues include extra studio tracks and several live recordings. Box Office Bomb features an early studio demo of the their 1989 hit Last Cigarette.
