I've had this album on tape for many years and was looking for a good excuse to buy it on CD and this is a really great package! The original album, to those who don't already know, was a bit of a landmark in British indie music. From the sweeping string section on 'The Chad Who Loved Me' (a nod to James Bond and their lead guitarist) through the wonderful indie/Beatles/club music of 'Taxloss' it's an absorbing listen that intrigues and impresses at the same time as never taking itself too seriously (just listen to 'Egg Shaped Fred').
However, I imagine most will want to know if it's worth parting with a bit more money to get the two extra discs that come with this version. In short, yes it most certainly is. Mansun, as others have pointed out, knew their way around a quality b-side. The b-sides (EP tracks), like with many a great band, serve to show the bands musical progress. From the punky/cheeky 'Take It Easy Chicken' and the (almost) Oasis sounding 'Ski Jump Nose' to the shimmering guitars and paranoia present on 'Things Keep Falling Off Buildings'- Mansun knew what they were doin'. Paul Draper describes 'Flourella' as "Led Zeppelin with loops. Led Zooplin" in the liner notes, which comes close to describing the unhinged genius of this track. Paul also reveals that he swore never to write a love song (spare from the obvious- 'Mansuns Only Love Song') so the songs topics/lyrics are always interesting. Personal favourite 'No One Knows Us' seems to be about an imaginary friend called Scruffy ("Me and Scruffy , we float above the crowd. Scuffy's birthday, balloons are all around"). Another highlight is the track they co-wrote with Howard Devoto of Magazine, the drunken, propulsive 'Everyone Must Win'. Oh, and 'Closed For Business' and 'The Worlds Still Open', both from the same EP, are just awesome- huge, Bowie-esque pop songs! The acoustic versions scattered through the two bonus discs are also pretty great and in the case of 'The Impending Collapse Of It All' surpass the original...
Mansun went on to release the insanely brilliant 'Six' album (which is pretty different from '...Lantern' but well worth a look!), followed by the strangely under-par 'Little Kix' then called it a day- a fantastically underrated band (even though this album did go to the number one spot back in the day!). Smashing stuff!
If you like fellow outsiders Magazine and The Teardrop Explodes and aren't familiar with Mansun then this is an ideal introduction...