A Collection of Rarities and Previously Unreleased Material

Electronic · 2012 · 16 tracks

A Collection of Rarities and Previously Unreleased Material

July 16, 2012 · Ribbon Music

This isn't just a collection of leftovers; it's a map of a singular mind's evolution.

It sounds like a transmission from a 1980s public access channel that has been warped by decades of magnetic interference. The production is unapologetically lo-fi, with every track swaddled in a thick layer of tape hiss and cavernous reverb that makes John Maus sound like he is singing from the bottom of a well or a cathedral basement.

It is music that feels both ancient and futuristic, blending the rigid structures of Renaissance polyphony with the cheap, plastic textures of early home-recording gear.

Tracklist · 16 Tracks

01

North Star

2:32

02

The Law

1:23

03

Castles in the Grave

2:15

04

Angel of the Night

2:04

05

Mental Breakdown

4:37

06

Bennington

3:13

07

Big Dumb Man

2:12

08

No Title (Molly)

3:09

09

Lost

2:49

10

All Aboard

2:51

11

This Is the Beat

2:23

12

My Hatred Is Magnificent

2:56

13

The Fear

2:46

14

Fish With Broken Dreams

2:56

15

Rock the Bone

2:49

16

I Don't Eat Human Beings

3:41

Moments Worth Listening For

The sudden shift from the upbeat synth-pop of No Title (Molly) to the skeletal, haunting Lost creates a jarring emotional pivot.

The way Bennington uses a simple, repetitive bass hook to build a sense of suburban dread and longing.

The distorted, overdriven vocal peak in The Law where Maus's baritone breaks into a desperate, echoing shout.

Reviews

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Where This Album Departs

How does A Collection of Rarities and Previously Unreleased Material sound next to the rest of John Maus's catalogue?

This album stays in step with the catalogue across the board — no axis departs enough to be worth its own note. Hover the dots to see where each one sits.

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