Pitchfork

The Microphones' 2001 windswept epic The Glow Pt. 2 is, with love to Cody ChesnuTT, a true headphone masterpiece.

The disc-- which some website called its favorite album of that particular year-- was a triumph for young Phil Elverum (then calling himself Phil Elvrum), who somehow managed to encapsulate the unique beauty of the Pacific Northwest in Pt. 2's crackling sonics and delicate homespun songcraft. So if your copy's as well-worn as mine (damn coffee cup rings) or if you're curious to hear just what was setting Pitchfork's ears aflame around the turn of the millennium, you need only wait until April 8. That's when K Records will issue an expanded version of The Glow Pt. 2 on two CDs and three LPs.

Two CDs? Three LPs? Wasn't that album long enough already? Not for Phil, who has added a bonus disc of previously unreleased material to the set for the reissue, turning a hefty 20 tracks into a colossal 40. Say goodbye to the fire-stompin' elephant on the original cover, as there's brand new art as well. As with anything from Camp Elverum, even if you don't listen to the music, the packaging alone generally justifies the cost. And you should listen to this album, because it's really, really beautiful.

Thanks to reader Anders Bjornberg for the tip!

In related news, Elverum also lent his voice, instrument playing, and recording touch to Karl Blau's latest record. Titled AM and featuring renditions of poems by Winnie-the-Pooh author A.A. Milne, it's due March 18 on Whistler Records.

The Glow Pt. 2:

01 I Want Wind to Blow
02 The Glow Pt. 2
03 The Moon
04 Headless Horseman
05 My Roots Are Strong and Deep
06 Instrumental
07 The Mansion
08 (something)
09 (something)
10 I'll Not Contain You
11 The Gleam Pt. 2
12 Map
13 You'll Be in the Air
14 I Want to Be Cold
15 I Am Bored
16 I Felt My Size
17 Instrumental
18 I Felt Your Shape
19 Samurai Sword
20 My Warm Blood

Bonus songs:

21 Where Lies My Tarp?
22 I Felt My Size (acoustic)
23 I Hope You Wish You'd Die
24 I'm Like You, Tree
25 The Glow Pt. 2 (sequel)
26 We're Here to Listen
27 Sleepy Hollow
28 Lanterns
29 Map/Moon
30 The Glow Pt. 2 (version)
31 I Want Wind to Blow (backwards)
32 Instrumental (version)
33 The Moon (version)
34 Samurai Sword (version)
35 The Gleam Pt. 2 (version)
36 My Roots... (version)
37 I Felt My Size (version)
38 My Warm Blood (humming)
39 You'll Be in the Air (version)
40 The Moooon (version)