Compilations: Best Of
There appears to be a stigma towards the concept of a compilation album.
For many bands it is an easy way to make cash, for others, it is a reminder of their earlier, superior material.
Certainly Pink Floyd, Radiohead and The Beatles would have little interest in their compilations and would point their fans to the albums that they recorded themselves.
The compilations of The Clash, Slade and Oasis proved that their earlier material was far superior to many of the songs that were subsequently released.
But in some cases, a compilation shows the brilliance and continual development of a band that was never fully realised on one of their studio LP`s.
In these cases, these compilations should be regarded as their finest work.
Manic Street Preachers -National Treasures (2011): The Holy Bible aside, Manic Street Preachers never quite mastered the album format.
All of their albums featured moments of unequivocal genius, but most of them were flattened out by some mediocre tracks.
But as a singles band, the Welsh band have been the most inventive and daring since The Beatles.
Their hard rock songs "You Love Us" and "Stay Beautiful" work as brilliantly as the more punk oriented "Faster", the dance oriented "The Love of Richard Nixon" and the poppy "Autumnsong".
From Richey Edward`s menacing political oriented lyrics on their early singles to Nicky Wire`s more subdued, poetic words on their later tracks, National Treasures shows the type of maturity that their influences AC/DC, The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith never achieved.
"Motorcycle Emptiness", "A Design For Life" and "If You Tolerate This, Then Your Children Will Be Next" should convince you to buy that album on their own.
A gluttonous treat featured over two discs.
Queen- Greatest Hits (1981) and Greatest Hits II (1991): A brilliant live band, Queen were quite hit and miss when it came to their studio albums.
Queen II and Sheer Heart Attack were undoubtedly fantastic, but Jazz, The Miracle and A Kind Of Magic are incredibly dull.
Instead of buying one of their studio records, it may be better to buy one (or both) of the greatest hits.
The first volume contains killer singles released between 1974-1980.
Overlooking the hard rock "Now I`m Here", the mainstream pop "You`re My Best Friend", the gospel influenced "Somebody To Love", their stadium oriented sing along`s "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions" as well as the biggest hit of their career "Another One Bites The Dust".
Oh, and Bohemian Rhapsody, the song that was voted song of the millennium.
Greatest Hits II may not be as popular, but it shows Queen`s transcension from seventies metal to eighties pop, incorporating some of the decade`s best songs such as "I Want To Break Free", "Radio Gaga", "Hammer To Fall", as well as what is arguably the greatest collaboration in music, the Queen-David Bowie track "Under Pressure".
The magnificent "The Show Must Go On" also features on the album, closing the curtain on one of the most exciting bands of all time.
Both are a must buy for everyone! Bee Gees - Their Greatest Hits (2001): A two disc set encompassing thirty five years of the trio`s hits, this 2001 gem shows the brilliant components of one of the greatest song-writing units.
Commencing with their meticulous sixties ballads "Massachusetts" and "I Started A Joke", continuing with seventies disco beauties "How Deep Is Your Love" and "Staying Alive" before ending with the satirical "This Is Where I came In", Their Greatest Hits shows the continual progression of the Gibb brothers.
Despite a multitude of different genres, Barry Gibb`s blue eyed voice, Robin Gibb`s vibrato and Maurice Gibb`s delicate harmony transcend through them all.
The psychedelic "World", the beatly-groove "Nights On Broadway" and eighties stomper "You Win Again" are all indicative of the pop masters talents.
Forget Odessa or Saturday Night Fever, this is the definitive Bee Gees album! The Smiths-The Sound of The Smiths (2008): Though the Smiths have released a ridiculous amount of compilation albums, this is the one that should be bought.
Although the Smiths could churn out great albums ("The Queen Is Dead" and "Strangeways, Here We Come" are particularly indicative of this), it was producing 45`s that Johnny Marr and Morrissey were truly in their element.
From the rhythmic jangles of "This Charming Man" to the acoustic eccentricities of "You Just Haven`t Earned It Yet, Baby", the comically downbeat "Heaven Knows I`m Miserable Now" to the morbid "That Joke Isn`t Funny Anymore", The Smiths truly encapsulated the indie scene.
Starting with the simple "Hand In Glove" and ending with the epic "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me", The Sound of The Smiths excels with its twenty four terrific tracks.
Madonna- Celebration (2009): Compiling twenty seven years of material is no minor feat, but what is even more impressive is how cognitive it all sounds.
From the sugar pop treacle of "Like A Virgin" to the modern Justin Timberlake duet "4 Minutes", the great compilation of tracks redeems the audacious album title.
Eccentric pop "Into The Groove", esoteric club tracks "Vogue" and miscellaneous dance rhythms "Ray Of Light" all abound on this record.
A mighty back catalogue that changed, developed albeit with the same level of sass and intrigue!
For many bands it is an easy way to make cash, for others, it is a reminder of their earlier, superior material.
Certainly Pink Floyd, Radiohead and The Beatles would have little interest in their compilations and would point their fans to the albums that they recorded themselves.
The compilations of The Clash, Slade and Oasis proved that their earlier material was far superior to many of the songs that were subsequently released.
But in some cases, a compilation shows the brilliance and continual development of a band that was never fully realised on one of their studio LP`s.
In these cases, these compilations should be regarded as their finest work.
Manic Street Preachers -National Treasures (2011): The Holy Bible aside, Manic Street Preachers never quite mastered the album format.
All of their albums featured moments of unequivocal genius, but most of them were flattened out by some mediocre tracks.
But as a singles band, the Welsh band have been the most inventive and daring since The Beatles.
Their hard rock songs "You Love Us" and "Stay Beautiful" work as brilliantly as the more punk oriented "Faster", the dance oriented "The Love of Richard Nixon" and the poppy "Autumnsong".
From Richey Edward`s menacing political oriented lyrics on their early singles to Nicky Wire`s more subdued, poetic words on their later tracks, National Treasures shows the type of maturity that their influences AC/DC, The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith never achieved.
"Motorcycle Emptiness", "A Design For Life" and "If You Tolerate This, Then Your Children Will Be Next" should convince you to buy that album on their own.
A gluttonous treat featured over two discs.
Queen- Greatest Hits (1981) and Greatest Hits II (1991): A brilliant live band, Queen were quite hit and miss when it came to their studio albums.
Queen II and Sheer Heart Attack were undoubtedly fantastic, but Jazz, The Miracle and A Kind Of Magic are incredibly dull.
Instead of buying one of their studio records, it may be better to buy one (or both) of the greatest hits.
The first volume contains killer singles released between 1974-1980.
Overlooking the hard rock "Now I`m Here", the mainstream pop "You`re My Best Friend", the gospel influenced "Somebody To Love", their stadium oriented sing along`s "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions" as well as the biggest hit of their career "Another One Bites The Dust".
Oh, and Bohemian Rhapsody, the song that was voted song of the millennium.
Greatest Hits II may not be as popular, but it shows Queen`s transcension from seventies metal to eighties pop, incorporating some of the decade`s best songs such as "I Want To Break Free", "Radio Gaga", "Hammer To Fall", as well as what is arguably the greatest collaboration in music, the Queen-David Bowie track "Under Pressure".
The magnificent "The Show Must Go On" also features on the album, closing the curtain on one of the most exciting bands of all time.
Both are a must buy for everyone! Bee Gees - Their Greatest Hits (2001): A two disc set encompassing thirty five years of the trio`s hits, this 2001 gem shows the brilliant components of one of the greatest song-writing units.
Commencing with their meticulous sixties ballads "Massachusetts" and "I Started A Joke", continuing with seventies disco beauties "How Deep Is Your Love" and "Staying Alive" before ending with the satirical "This Is Where I came In", Their Greatest Hits shows the continual progression of the Gibb brothers.
Despite a multitude of different genres, Barry Gibb`s blue eyed voice, Robin Gibb`s vibrato and Maurice Gibb`s delicate harmony transcend through them all.
The psychedelic "World", the beatly-groove "Nights On Broadway" and eighties stomper "You Win Again" are all indicative of the pop masters talents.
Forget Odessa or Saturday Night Fever, this is the definitive Bee Gees album! The Smiths-The Sound of The Smiths (2008): Though the Smiths have released a ridiculous amount of compilation albums, this is the one that should be bought.
Although the Smiths could churn out great albums ("The Queen Is Dead" and "Strangeways, Here We Come" are particularly indicative of this), it was producing 45`s that Johnny Marr and Morrissey were truly in their element.
From the rhythmic jangles of "This Charming Man" to the acoustic eccentricities of "You Just Haven`t Earned It Yet, Baby", the comically downbeat "Heaven Knows I`m Miserable Now" to the morbid "That Joke Isn`t Funny Anymore", The Smiths truly encapsulated the indie scene.
Starting with the simple "Hand In Glove" and ending with the epic "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me", The Sound of The Smiths excels with its twenty four terrific tracks.
Madonna- Celebration (2009): Compiling twenty seven years of material is no minor feat, but what is even more impressive is how cognitive it all sounds.
From the sugar pop treacle of "Like A Virgin" to the modern Justin Timberlake duet "4 Minutes", the great compilation of tracks redeems the audacious album title.
Eccentric pop "Into The Groove", esoteric club tracks "Vogue" and miscellaneous dance rhythms "Ray Of Light" all abound on this record.
A mighty back catalogue that changed, developed albeit with the same level of sass and intrigue!