Various Artists: Life Less Lived: The Gothic Box [Rhino – $64.98]
Bauhaus was goth; Peter Murphy or Love and Rockets were alternative. The Cure was goth; the Glove was alternative. Siouxsie was goth; the Creatures were alternative. And exploring that design is where A Life Less Lived: The Gothic Box, a three-CD-plus-DVD set from Rhino, will set itself apart. In a nod to the importance of goth’s visual style, the packaging is gorgeous — a faux-leather lace-up corset surrounds the hard-cover book-sized set. Inside is a 60-page “manuscript” that includes detailed track listings, thought-provoking and historical perspective essays, chapters on “The ‘G’ Word” (where the artists themselves address the label), playful step-by-step instructions on how to dance like a goth, and 10 cheeky essentials for hosting a proper goth night. [Amazon]