The Squirrely (Early) Years Revisited is up for pre-order. Looks like Everyday Is Halloween and I’ll Do Anything For You will be released as singles (with music videos) prior to the album release.
The goofy album title is to be expected, but this has to the worst album art to date. I was hoping for a reimagined Wax Trax era design, but we got this instead. Oh, Al…sigh. I really like the new versions that were played at Cruel World, so I’m still excited for this. Plus, we’ll be getting an early years tour, so that’s pretty cool too.
Here’s the write up by Cleo, looks like the final album with Paul is pushed back to 2026:
"Industrial metal rebel and icon Al Jourgensen finally makes peace with his past, exhuming a dozen of the best songs from his early synthwave years for a thoroughly brutal makeover!
Includes brand new studio re-animations of songs from the 1983 classic With Sympathy as well as early Wax Trax singles like “Everyday Is Halloween,” “All Day,” “I’m Falling” and more!
Will be heavily promoted with two pro-shot concept videos for the pre-release singles, “Everyday Is Halloween” and “I’ll Do Anything For You!”
Headline tour in support of this album, featuring a set built primarily around these songs, wil be announced soon PLUS appearances at massive festivals including Wacken, Sonic Temple, Tolminator and more!
I’m gonna get this too. I’m not sure if I will like it, but at least it will be interesting to hear these songs through his current lens. I kinda think they’ll manage pulling it off considering the goodness of the Fad Gadget cover from the last album.
Thank you Realm!! I was starting give up on this project. Looking forward to hearing what they put together. For some strange reason, I like the squirrel front cover art…the rest is…well, interesting.
I think I may pass on this because I have the Trax Box and the Ultimate Rarest Trax CD with all of those songs already on both. If anything, for their 80s material, I wish they would release the full 1981 NYE show cause that’s something we all haven’t heard yet aside from “She’s Got A Cause.” I heard from a friend I have on Facebook who is also friends with the OG bass keyboardist Paul Taylor that he has the full show on a cassette tape, but I don’t know if anything will ever come of that. I am looking forward to seeing more music videos from the mid 80s, I’m sure Ministry’s official youtube page will upload them.
I’m sure the first show from 1981 will come out in full someday. I’m actually surprised that Cleo hasn’t put it out yet.
Aside from the terrible cover art, I’m really looking forward to this release. They should be the same versions played at the Cruel World festival last year. Same Old Madness is a favorite and I’m sure the 2025 version will have a name drop in the lyrics that will replace Reagan
Curious to hear the new take on “Here We Go” and “Same Old Madness” since they weren’t performed at Cruel World. Also wondering if “I’ll Do Anything For You” will be updated further since it appeared in the 2015 Trax Box release. (I can’t believe that was 10 years ago already!)
I’m curious to hear the Twitch stuff too because the Cruel World setlist had him obviously lip synching to the original vox track. Newly recorded vocals could be cool. I hope Charlie Clouser is working on this album too, I’d like to hear his production skills in tandem with Al’s.
I think Charlie is doing some synth and programming work on this release. It also has the guest string players and vocalists that played with them at Cruel World, which is cool. I thought bringing in some organic instruments was a nice touch.
I could be wrong, but I think the Twitch songs are going to be the same versions we heard at Cruel World. I think the live drums and added guitar made them a bit punchier, but they aren’t total re-workings likes the Wax Trax/With Sympathy songs. Over the Shoulder definitely is the original vocal and was backtracked at the show. I did an A/B comparison on Just Like You and We Believe, and they are different vocal takes. They still could have been backtracked at the show, but they are definitely re-recorded.
My copy showed up today. What a fun record, I’m two listens in and am really enjoying it.
Several songs are spot on to the Cruel World versions, and some are quite different. My favorites so far are All Day, Revenge and I’ll Do Anything For You. They have a very epic rock feel.
My copy arrived yesterday in the mail. Enjoying it as well. An interesting book-end to nearly 45 years of Ministry - all of the different styles mashed together. Who is singing on “Same Old Madness”?
I still dig the original versions though. The 1982-83 lineup was special.
