The Y!X review: Simply the Best New Wave - Various Artists
Billed as '34 Punk Pop Classics', "Simply The Best New Wave" deals with the fascinating post-punk era which gave rise to a new generation of bands.
And there are some great artists on the two-disc set - Joy Division, The Cure, and Elvis Costello to name a few - which give the collection a certain gravitas.
But, not withstanding the high points of Mink Deville's anthemic 'Spanish Stroll', Squeeze's 'Cool For Cats' and Patti Smith Group's 'Because The Night' there are a few too many fillers on this album to make this a definite buy.
In fact, a tighter one disc set could have elevated this from 'consider buying' to 'must own'.
The compilation starts well enough, with the lusty vocals of Chrissie Hynde on The Pretenders' 'Brass In Pocket', but generally there feels like a lack of cohesiveness with the great songs bunched together and the lesser knowns (to me, anwyay) also clumped.
A few of the choices also seem a little strange - I would rather have had 'Making Plans For Nigel' representing XTC than 'Senses Working Overtime', for example, as I think it summed up the era a little better.
And who wouldn't rather listen to Richard Butler singing The Psychedelic Furs' 'Pretty in Pink' rather than 'Love My Way'? (Possibly just me?)
Perhaps I'm being a little harsh as post-punk legends such as Joe Jackson's 'Is She Really Going Out With Him', The Stranglers' 'Golden Brown' and Dr Feelgood's 'Milk and Alcohol' are there and definitely warrant turning the volume up.
And the tortured vocals of Ian Curtis on Joy Division's 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' is almost enough for me to shell out the cash by itself.
Ultimately the lack of certain songs prevents me from being able to buy into this being "Simply The Best New Wave" (where is The Vapors' 'Turning Japanese'?), but it's a great starter for anyone who hasn't heard the delights of that particular musical era.
There is enough good music and memories contained within the album to make this a worthwhile addition to your record collection, but if your interest lies more in real punk than pop you might be a tad disappointed.
