This greatest hits album was released in 2003, following the band's career spanning 1981-1998.
Being a compilation, the sound can vary greatly between songs, although it is definitely good enough throughout. I will still note a couple of gripes that came up regularly, though: clarity seems to have been prioritised at the expense of envelopment, and it's got the 1980s reverb effect laid on too thickly for the snare and vocals.
Anyway, Talking to a Stranger kicks things off with a solid riff, which is wrung out for all of its worth... and then some. However, the early songs (also including Carry Me and The Slab) don't have much of the magic that the band were eventually known for.
Say Goodbye is where the magic starts. The horns and strings bring a grand sense of scale, the twangy guitar provides an interesting counterpoint and the lyrics are poetic brilliance. The chorus is a bit of an awkward fit with the rest of the song, but it's still a great chorus, so I won't complain!
Everything's on Fire continues the recipe as above, however for me doesn't hit the same heights. And Is There Anybody In There is actually a step backwards (ie grunty bass-guitar based rock) but with some horns tacked on. I do like the refrain in the bridge though.
Back on the Breadline is quite similar to the band Pulp, I reckon. The Pulp trademarks of a poetic depiction of everyday middle-class scenes and a wonderfully catchy chorus also work a treat here.
Speaking of "everyday Joe", Do You See What I See has been played out of crackly Holden stereos on surfing trips for decades now. Deservedly so, it has great energy. Similarly, When the River Runs Dry is a fantastic mini rock-opera. In particular, I enjoy how it subtly ebbs and flows throughout its journey.
One of my alltime favourite songs is Blindeye. Highlights include: great bassline, great use of horns, great twangy guitar, great subtle hammond, great poetry. So many wonderful ingredients all combined perfectly. For some reason, I always really enjoy the transition when the strummed chords and rimshots steps up a gear to the driving rock beat and guitar riff. I've heard this song a thousand times, and would happily hear it a thousand more.
Unfortunately, the songs True Tears of Joy, Where Do You Go and Back in the Hole come across as overproduced and lacking humility. Now for an embarrassing admission: I don't rate Holy Grail. Its almost an unofficial national anthem for Australia, so to not like it is almost blasphemy! I'm not exactly sure why. The lyrics are great, I think the problem is I find it musically bland.
Throw Your Arms Around Me is a beautiful song. And the live version on this CD makes it even more emotionally intense. Brilliant.
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