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The Tuesday DiScussion: what's the best best-of?
Come every Christmas a rash of best-of releases floods store shelves nationwide, rendering thoughtful gifts forgotten and ensuring that anyone that once uttered “I prefered ‘Roll With It’, actually” receives a copy of Stop The Clocks, the Oasis best-of collection. This Christmas, anyway, and about time too – Blur’s correspondent release came out six years ago, ‘Country House’ and all.
Which makes you think, doesn’t it? When did our bands – Blur, Oasis, Manic Street Preachers, Supergrass, Nirvana, Mudhoney – start releasing best-of albums, and doesn’t it mean we’re getting old? Where was I when the stamp of approval was placed upon the plans for a Mansun best-of? Still, at least there’s no Kula Shaker best-of. What? There is? Kollected: The Best Of Kula Shaker you say? Released in 2002? Well I’ll be…
Convenient, though, said unlikely ‘greatest hits’ collection is, as this Tuesday’s DiScussion piece focuses on best-of releases, past, present and future. What bands have ever really earned a best-of? The Beatles? Fair enough, and we expect 1 to feature prominently when we ask you for your best-ever best-ofs. Led Zeppelin? Hell yes – buy Remasters now if it’s not already at home waiting for you to rock to it upon your return. Pink Floyd? Again, Echoes is a must-have if you’ve not already collected the ‘Floyd’s finest LPs. Then you've Bowie, Iggy Pop, T-Rex, Thin Lizzy, Fleetwood Mac, Hendrix... But these are all old bands, no? Bands that our dads listened to, releasing CDs that we’ve all purchased so that the old man can listen to ‘Communication Breakdown’ while parking the car at Sainsbury’s. When did our bands get to the best-of stage?
Look at the release schedule for the next few months: there’s Gomez’s 5 Men In A Hut (news story), Moby’s Go (likewise), Oasis’ aforementioned effort on November 20, and Mansun’s Legacy next month. These are bands and acts we grew up with, releasing records more regularly associated with crusty ol’ rockers looking for a little extra dough (or should that read crusty ol’ labels looking for a little extra dough). Or, are these acts that we hold so dear – acts that our parents called ‘noise’ before drowning our protesting out with Yes – actually old enough to deserve career round-up records?
Which, finally, leads us to the DiScussion of the day: what are your favourite best-of albums? There are, like, A Million Actually to choose from, but we’re thinking post-1990 affairs, really – it’s ‘cause we’re young, ish. Soundgarden’s A-Sides is pretty ace, no? March To Fuzz (Mudhoney) never fails to raise a smile chez Diver, and we’ve been enjoying Massive Attack’s Collected in the office lately. What about Nick Cave’s great best-of collection, or Placebo’s Once Again With Feeling, if only for ‘Teenage Angst’? Björk's best-of is a must-have for sure, if you don't already own the Homogenic and Vespertine albums. The there's The Prodigy...
Additionally, who should release a best-of? Beck, maybe? Radiohead? Fugazi? Weezer? The Flaming Lips? Primal Scream? Who’s due an update, after already releasing a best-of record? What about Sonic Youth? Screaming Fields Of Sonic Love could do with an additional disc these days. I’d mention another… but my brain’s fried from thinking about Kula Shaker.
DiScuss…
From the archive
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None of them
They're a marketing device/contractual obligation.
fin.
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yeah
good point, but its a good way to get into a band if you are a late bloomer so to speak.
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Does the
Complete Stone Roses count? if so, that gets my vote (apart from the fact it doesnt include the full fools gold version).
thought the nirvana greatest hits was a poor and predictable collection.
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Carter USM - Straw Donkey
A finer collection of singles is yet to be released.
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In an ideal world....
...I think they're shouldnt be a best of album until said band has split/called it a day.
but its just record companies cashing in innit?
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do anthologies count?
if so, then With the Lights Out (Nirvana) is one of the best ones shirley? Much better than getting the best of.
I think the best best-ofs that I have are a Cure singles collection, Bowie 196? to 197?, The Specials, and Toots and the Maytals
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Useful
I think that Best Of Collections are great for getting into a band you may know nothing about. Normally, you'll get all the hits, and a basic overview of the band's career. I found both Remastered by Led Zep and Singles by the Smiths very useful in getting into both of those bands.
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those Bowie best ofs
and The Specials saw me through a lot of long roadtrips around europe with my parents as a kid.
my sister demanded repeated listening of Exodus, the best of Bob Marley too, which is weird to hear in bavarian forests and along the grey Flemish motorways.
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best ofs are only good really if only half the songs were hits
if that makes any sense?
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If you like an album enough...
...you tend to have most of it already.
So I judge the best ones by the accompanying DVDs. And on that score, Supergrass, hands down.
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I don't see the point
of best ofs unless their back catalogue is out of print, or they were a really good singles band. I own about 3 or 4. I got Hank Williams' 40 Greatest Hits simply because it has everything great he recorded and it was cheap.
As for modern best ofs, I think the Mudhoney one is quite decent but thats about it. They are for people who don't actually like music.
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..
yep, makes perfect sense, singles are never usually the best songs, just the more immediate ones.
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i never buy best-ofs anymrroe
it's a policy. if i want to try out a band that sounds interesting, i ask people on here or elsewhere which is their best album, and try to get it.
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how could I forget bob marley!
I've got Legend (the one that everyone seems to have, I don't know if Exodus has more on it or not). That's probably the best one out of all of them.
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'who should release a best-of?'
I'd agree with Beck and The Flaming Lips, definitely.
My favourite best-of is The Who's best-of (the name of which I have currently forgotten...).
And I'm sure I'll get slated for this, but I also really like Feeder's 'Singles'. Reminds just what a fantastic singles band they are.
Same goes for Supergrass' 'Superegrass is 10'. -
Bluetones
Bluetones did it right.
Not making albums anymore so:
3 CD's
60 tracks
A's B's and a bounty covers.
A bargainous retrospect if ever I clapped my eyes on one. -
yeah we had legend too
whoops exodus was one of his albums but we had a remastered version.
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i think....
the best of Teenage Fanclub is excellent - despite me owning all their studio albums. I also am quite fond of the Supergrass one.
as for a band who deserve a proper one -Mission of Burma.
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bad idea...
"Best of's" miss off sooooo many cool album tracks.
Hmmm but thinking about Soundgarden makes me happy. Fell on black days is a mutha trucking tune ya dig?!?Kula Shaker are trying for a comeback this year are they not?
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I think BLuetones have a new album out soon
but forget about that, just buy Expecting to Fly
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but then if you're that much of a fan
that you care about the album tracks then you'll probably already have the albums anyway. Best-ofs are for people who kinda like a certain band, but don't like them enough to buy their whole back catalogue
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The Manics one is good,
Apart from The Holy Bible, there's no point in buying the other albums. The Clash were a singles band, so best of the clash is nice.
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the mudhoney best of
was like a bonus disc. what you were really buying was the b-sides collection.
but now i've found that i listen to the best of more than the albums. It's solid gold and some of the mid-period mudhoney do have a bit of filler.
It was also a good way to draw the line under an original member leaving and the band incorporating loads of brass and stuff into their new sound.
My first taste of Tom Waits was the Island best of Beautiful Maladies - such a powerful gateway drug, even if it was contract-ender...
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I think that from...
..a consumer's point of view, they can be an excellent introduction to a band. New Order's Substance 1987 was as good as an album as they ever released and spoke volumes about the development of their sound. I don't personally see anything wrong with them, they're a good way for record companies to recoup money on acts who perhaps didn't turn out to be as commercially viable as they had hoped. I've done so many compilations of bands that I like for friends (mainly Fall, Pavement, Tindersticks) that when a compilation finally does come out it's interesting to see what the differences are.
We're probably due a Best of Pavement soon, probably called "Wowee! The Best of Pavement." which would be a shit title. And an Arab Strap one too.
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Primal Scream already have one.
I think my favourite has to be the Ash singles collection. fantastic little album, that.
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Good point...
It could be a good stepping stone for such people. It’s just that I know die hard fans of certain bands that will purchase such an album...even though they clearly have everything the band has ever done. Just feel these sort of people are an easy target to make a quick buck. Ahhh well it’s their money not mine.
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bargainous?
amazon's got it for £27.99! it does look pretty great though. they've got some superb b-sides.
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.....
The Clash, a singles band?! Have you not heard 'Give em aough Rope', 'The Clash' or 'London Calling' albums then?
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There's also....
...the fact that some bands are great at singles, but their albums contain tons of filler. The Cult is a great example of this - the only album of their you ever need is Pure Cult as it has all their best on it, minus the rubbish.
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It might be stretching it a bit but...
if we can count that 20 years of Dischord box-set, then that's topping my list.
Along with the Cap'n Jazz anthology, of course...
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Fugazi Compilation
Should just be all their albums wrapped up in string and sold at a convenient price.
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I don't get the Kula Shaker slagging.
I listened to them and found them pretty good.
'1' isn't a best of. Its the number 1 singles. So I guess its a greatest hits... which counts.
But yeah, it'd be that.
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i'd go with ash as well
2 cds of genius rock/pop :D particularly the b sides
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Supersonic7"s
Is a lovely little record i concurr... espech with the bsides cd... literally the best of Ash...
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Yuck, I feel ill.
Ash are like marmite I think.
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The Buzzcocks
'Singles Going Steady', anyone?
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that ^^^^
buzzcocks singles compilation is immense.
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cap'n jazz
can't count - it's not a 'best of'as that implies some culling, analphabetapolothology is everything they've ever done.
my first thoughts were that and hello kids by Fireside, but then i realised they're not best ofs...
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The Fall
50,000 Fall Fans Can't Be Wrong.
I suppose the Peel Sesh collection doesn't count?
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easy
Super Furry Animals. yes, it's a singles compilation, but they're a singles band.
i quite like both the new order ones (substance and best of), even though the '94 one doesn't have Temptation on. eh, best ofs have their place and people who are "blah, best ofs are evil they should be banned" should just shut up and stop being uptight/idiotic/stupid. -
There's the
At The Drive In one too...
Doesn't really have the best tracks though... -
Gah....
...i was going to say Songbook, and hoped I'd get to the bottom before someone said it but no.
SFA a Singles Band? Are you quite, quite sure? Songbook is a fine 'welcome to the furries' album, but really:
Run! Christian, Run!
Mountain People
Venus & Serena
Arnofia/Glo In The Dark
Dacw Hi
the entire of Love KraftProbably bad examples, but I could go on. SFA make fine albums, Songbook should be enough of a musical snare to get people to listen further.
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A best of Radiohead tho
Would be a challenge - Im going to have a crack on the main board!?
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Pixies
Death to the Pixies, was bloody brilliant. Got me into the band
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The double disc Bowie release
was pretty special.
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I would buy
Greatest Hits collections if I didn't own much of their material. I have collections by Ash, Placebo, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Supergrass, Green Day, Led Zeppelin, etc etc etc etc.
They aren't bad, for people who don't know the band well.
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it was
I also plan to buy the Nick Cave collection
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Does Mcluskyism count?
if so that gets my vote.
Singles going steady as close second. -
Films About Ghosts...
...by Counting Crows is an excellent best of and they've just released a live album which is great.
Definitely not cashing in.
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regina spektor
mary anne... does this count?
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Blimey
that was hard reading.
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the way i look at it is
Usually the 'greatest hits' is either the first album of an established artist that you buy, or it's (in theory) the last one.
Either way you're basically wasting your money. If you like the GH enough, then you're going to buy the proper albums anyway.
And if you already own the proper albums then in buying a GH album you're effectively paying good money for a bunch of tracks that you already own. Plus a token new (rubbish) track tacked on the end just to lure in the completists.
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SFA
are an albums band!
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i have three of those
and they're all a bit hmmph.
i don't think i've ever listened to disc 2 of the prodigy one. -
an on
that nick cave best of had an anourmous effect on me when i was about 17.
The best of james was a fantastic album.
The trouble with most best ofs is that they feel compelled to reperesent later, lesser moments in a band's career, though its a great way to capture great singles mired in less than great albums, again so often bookending a career.
Generally i find the original albums so much more satisfying, though they do offer a great jumping off point sometimes.
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Kula Shaker?
Who's going to want that?
I found the Smiths - Singles really useful for getting into them and to then force on people.
My favourite has to be Galore - the Kirsty MacColl best of. Closely followed by the Best of Dean Friedman (although this is basically his first two albums minus a few tracks and therefore a little pointless; but i got this before they re-issued the albums on CD).
I think the Smashing Pumpkins 'Rotten Apples' is an ace introduction too.
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kula shaker
are great
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I think
that the Best of Frank Zappa is the ONLY way to start getting in to him. He has TOO many albums.
Apart from that, Best Of's would be a pile of wank, if only for the fact that they expose how good some bands are at writing singles (e.g. Supergrass)
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True
I'm with you on the Buzzcocks
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fair enough, I suppose
- it's still a damn good record, best of or not.
It's also just about the only way to get hold of Cap'n Jazz stuff on record, which I guess goes contrary to the whole "Best Of" label...
On the other hand, we've talked about Cap'n Jazz today, and that makes me happy cos it doesn't happen every day...
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The
Bjork one's good. Again, skip the filler. Although it doesn't have that big cover hit she had which might put some people orf.
Ash is rather ace. Mudhoney too. Flamin' Groovies' Greatest Grooves also. The Lemonheads Atlantic Collection is a great listen despite missing a handful of gems (and who wants most of those dodgy hardcore tracks they spaffed out in the 80's anyway?).
More interesting perhaps are the really bad greatest hits records by good bands. See Aaliyah's rush released 'I Care 4 U' and Cheap Trick's truly shameful 'The Greatest Hits' (only 1 track from their classic first three albums) for examples.
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ways to get cap'n jazz into a chat
when talk turns to soaps, mention that they covered the theme from 90210
when talk turns to the 80s, mention that they covered take on me
when talk turns to scandinavia, mention that they covered take on me
when talk turns to covers, mention that they covered take on me, and the theme from 90210
when talk turns to great bands that broke up/that people were in who are now in other bands/that have charmingly dodgy production etc. mention them
when talk turns to pirate-speak, mention the name cap'n jazz
when talk turns to made up words, or the geramn habit of squeezing words together into one long word, mention analphabetapolothology
when talk turns to the band We Are Scientists, mention the capn'n jazz song of the same name
when talk turns to christmas, mention that they did a version of winter wonderland
- don't forget to get a fix of the cap'n everyday :)
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For the first time EVER,
I wholeheartedly disagree with Therapyrock - the Clash's singles were often poor choices (Remote Control and Bankrobber spring immediately to mind) and there are far greater rewards to be found on 'The Clash' (particularly the US version) and 'London Calling'.
As for the Manics - surely it's time for a reappraisal of 'Gold Against The Soul'? Particularly as 'Everything Must Go' has attracted so much glowing prose for so many years, despite being basically a watered-down version of the same formula, with added Matalan clothing?
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Death To The Pixies
is probably my favourite 'Best Of' - for one thing, it actually makes sense as an album and contains no awful 'bonus' tracks or duffers.
The Smiths' 'Best I' was a brilliant compilation - again, it worked as an album and every song was pure fried gold. Unfortunately, it's been deleted and replaced by an inferior 'Singles' compilation (the one with Charles Hawtry on the cover). 'Best II' was patchy, to say the least.
The worst, most criminally wasted opportunity for a best of is probably Blur's poor excuse - mainly 'cause the band decided they couldn't be arsed to pick the tracks, resulting in rubbish sequencing, the inclusion of 'Charmless Man' and, insanely, in 'Popscene' being left off. The cover's pretty cool, though.
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mmm
I've probably listened to my Hendrix best-of more than any other. No duff tracks there.
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Seymour
I have the Smiths best of with Charles Hawtry on the front and it isn't a Singles collection. It's called "The Very Best Of The Smiths" and has some non-singles on as well. I believe there is also a seperate Singles album.
However even as a massive Smiths fan myself I get confused with all the different Smiths compilations, they all seem to be slightly different and there's quite a few of them.
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Also... REM Best Of Is Shocking
Some of their best stuff missed out and not enough from their earlier days.
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a
Rocket From The Crypt best of would be nice, but the fact that every song by them was fantastic, it could prove difficult.
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I hope it counts!
I totally second McLuskyism. That or Death To The Pixies.
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the best of massive attack wins
hands down. it sounds like a great album in its own right, the songs just fit. plus massive attack.are amazing.
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no one will read this, but in my opinion.
i heard the beatles '1' album the other day and didn't like it much. i prefer the two apple double discs for the early and later years. later beatles years wins hands down.
blur best of works very well for me, very well indeed.
& also the adverts anthology is on the whole very very good too. especially the live cd. -
The Blur best of is good
Ditto Mary Ann... by Regina Spektor, Death To The Pixies and Mcluskyism.
Ash wins hands down, the Sonic 7"s is fantastic.
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Agree
Substance - New Order, and yes, it probably was the best record they did.
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no need till your finished
if a band does a best of then it should be a best of their career not a release of whats the best to date because really what they are saying is 'we couldnt come up with an album so decidied to go for a best of instead to keep up intrest in us'.
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It's not...
...Tuesday anymore.
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Good call on "50,000 Fall Fans Can't Be Wrong"
An excellent example of a best of that's positively NECESSARY, as a way of getting into a band with a massive back catalogue of wildly varying quality.
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Whether or not you agree
a best of for a band that only released two albums is a bit unnecessary, no?
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*GASP*
:(
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Pavement
I did a CD of pavement singles trigger cut onwards that continues to please to this day... The ash one is great though.
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Smashing Pumpkins
Rotten Apples.
All the songs are rather good to godly. -
Best Of
I always thought Crowded House and Guided By Voices had some cracking Best Ofs.
It should be noted that there is a difference between a Greatest Hits and a Best Of.
Something that is fucking awful is the 'new' trakcs the record companies add to these discs to encourages purchases. Sickening.
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The Smiths
The Smiths Singles is great.
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Planxty
The Planxty Collection
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Mcluskyism
But also A Secret History by the Divine Comedy. Neil Hannon hadn't released any shit albums by that point, gone with any 'market-driven' changes in direction or generally gone all Daily Telegraph on our asses. It got to No3, they were at the peak of their powers, and with the exception of a badly-chosen cover version of 'I've Been to a Marvellous Party' and a horrendous new track called 'Too Young To Die', it was 15 tracks of unadulterated genius.
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best of
leonard cohen is his best album and also one of the best albums ever made.
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Queen: Greatest Hits Vol 1
is easily one of the best albums ever made.
or if not album - collection of songs in one package
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