Disco de Cocteau Twins: “Lullabies to Violaine Vol. 2 [Digipak]”

This band came into my life in 1988 with "Blue Bell Knoll," and I've never looked back. Lullabies to Violaine, vol. 2 is a great addition with numbers I hadn't heard, "Mud and Dark," and "Summer-Blink." This is an example, though not complete, of their evolving from a heavier style to a lighter and more sophosticated sound. Where are "Carolyn's Fingers," and "Blue Bell Knoll?"

One Christmas, while working at a well known clothing store, the music playing in their sound system included "Winter Wonderland." I heard it day in and day out, and had no idea as to where to find it. I mentioned to one of the 20 something co-workers that it was Cocteau Twins, and she asked, "Who are they?" I didn't feel old, but privileged. That song, as well as "Frosty The Snowman," were two of the reasons I bought this collection. These renditions on the first disc are unique and very wonderful. I should love to hear how they might have rendered other Christmas favourites.

This CD is a must, as is vol. 1, for any Cocteau Twins collector. I only wish they could have a DVD for all of their videos, which were just as brilliant. Why not? Musically, they are superior and sadly missed.

What's not to love about the Cocteau Twins? Anyone with a modicum of taste would have the Cocteau Twins in there top 5 all-time best groups, so you have to own "everything" they make.

I only recently found out that this product existed after having visited the Cocteau Twins website. Both Volumes 1 and 2 are 2-CD sets. Much of the Cocteau Twins output was orginally done in the form of EPs having 4 songs per EP. This is a great way of getting to hear an hours worth of music on each CD without having to constantly change the CD your listening to (if you were listening to one of the original CD-EPs, let's say...) It's also a great collection of the many EPs they've put out, B-sides and remixes. When I first bought the set, I didn't know that there were alternate versions and remixes, so that's a bonus.