Echo & the Bunnymen/Psychedelic Furs

Some things never change. But then, sometimes they do -- especially for musician types. Namely, they get older. Stop drinking. Find God. Procure a pet. Whatever. But if they're lucky, the sentiment never falters, meaning the music never stops. So it is for '80s goth-pop pioneers Echo & the Bunnymen. Save that little respite back in the mid-'90s, Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant have been making records for more than two decades. It hardly seems wrong to want to liken them to a stodgy old married couple, kibitzing in lawn chairs and the like.

Most recently, the band released a four-disc boxed set, Crystal Days 1979-1999, packed with singles, rarities, covers, B-sides, etc., as well as a brand-new studio album called Flowers, the follow-up to 1999's What Are You Going to Do With Your Life? For those who care, the record was rather nice: darkly pretty, slightly nostalgic, nearing vintage Bunnymen status. For those who couldn't possibly give two craps about new Bunnymen music, don't worry -- we're pretty sure they'll play "Killing Moon." And it's worth it just for that.

As for the Psychedelic Furs, well, they have no new material. And they haven't since 1991's poorly received World Outside, which was the band's swan song before frontman Richard Butler started Love Spit Love. Is any of this relevant? Probably not. But hey, this is cool: The band recently recorded its first-ever live album, Beautiful Chaos (Greatest Hits Live), in May during a reunion show at the L.A. House of Blues. And for those who couldn't possibly give two craps, don't worry -- we're pretty sure they'll play "Pretty in Pink." And yes, it is indeed worth it just for that.