Slowdive - Souvlaki Demos and Outtakes

As my consumption and absorption of music has gone from moderate to rabid, the number of records I find completely satisfying are outweighed by a sea of great songs on otherwise "ok" albums. However, one record my love only grows for is Slowdive's masterpiece, Souvlaki. Its importance to music (especially in the world of shoegaze/dream pop) is equal to its sonic beauty and has been the backdrop to a lot of important moments in my life over the past 7 years or so since I first heard it. These demos mark the transition period between their first album Just for a Day and what would eventually become Souvlaki.

Of these 16 demos and outtakes, only "Dagger" actually made it on to the record and varies from the final version (the album version is played on acoustic guitar instead of the more ethereal, electric version presented here). It's a shame more of these songs didn't make the final cut or see any general release as I like some of them more than some of what ended up on other Slowdive records - namely "Summer Daze," "Stars that Shine" and "I Saw the Sun." My friend Nick and I used to discuss how good a band is by how good their b-sides are and Slowdive validates that theory.

Slowdive - Souvlaki Demos and Outtakes