The once was the FantoMelvins Big Band release. I love Fantomas, I love Melvins and I'd imagine the two would be great together, if recorded in a studio or with a decent live recording setup. Usually I'm not one to bitch about raw/unpolished recording quality (as my taste for punk,grindcore, and black metal would show) but with 2 bands that have a wide range of dynamics (not to mention a lot of heaviness) coming together in one place ,extra attention to detail is needed to make each sound discernable. I think that release is too unpolished sounding. (and not in the awesome Flipper or Mainliner way).
That one wasn't intended for release. They recorded it for archival purposes, but word got out that a recording existed and they got enough requests sayin' "I don't care if it doesn't sound good, I'll buy it" that they kinda had to put it out. I seem to recall it's priced inexpensively to make up for that, but it's been a while. Either way, I was on of those requesters so I can't complain. I'd love to hear a Melvins/Fantomas Big Band studio recording. Hell, now it could have three drummers.
If this box set contains "everything they've released on Ipecac", presumably that would include the H.A.T. singles b-sides and the alternate "Safety Third" (or is it "Pink Bat"? I can't remember right now.) from the PotRE vinyl, right? Those would be the first digital issues of that stuff as far as I know. Are the other odd singles just on Amrep, or are those Amrep/Ipecac? Maybe that's the content of the comp disc? Maybe there's more? I think it might behoove us to petition for a separate release of that disc.