Rare Cult (Ltd.Ed) (6CD)
With 48 of the 90 tracks in this lavish six-CD box set appearing for the first time on CD,Rare Cultlives up to its name. With a selection of single remixes, B-sides, and tracks that just never saw the light of day,Rare Cultcharts the rise and decline of one of Britain's premier rock bands, from their first full-length release under the name of the Cult (Dreamtime) to 1994'seponymous album, via the heady peaks ofLove,Electric, andSonic Temple. The most interesting offerings are those that were laid down for the original successor toLove, which was going to be calledPeace, and which provide more of a natural progression to the Rick Rubin-producedElectric. Even the later recordings show that they never really lost what made them great--the winning combination ofIan Astbury's distinctive vocals and Billy Duffy's rocking guitar. Indeed, many of the tracks from the sessions forCeremonyandThe Cultare better than the ones that actually made the cut. If you're looking for a greatest-hits package, tryPure Cult. However, if you're in the market for a lasting testament to an innovative and ever-changing rock band, look no further.--Helen Marquis