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SOUND AFFECTS
New compilations cover careers to varying degrees of success ROSS RAIHALA Originally published December 21, 2001
In November 2000, Capitol Records released "1," a collection of the Beatles' biggest hit singles. While expectations were high for the record, no one expected it to sell 5 million copies in a month.
So it comes as little surprise that for this holiday season, record stores are jammed with new compilations hoping to capture even a fraction of those sales.
For those still seeking last-minute presents, here's a look at a few of this season's hit collections.
Madonna, 'GHV2'
- What it is: Madonna's follow-up to her 10-times platinum 1990 best-of "The Immaculate Collection."
- What's good: It's all good, really. Popular wisdom holds that Madonna lost it during the first part of the '90s, but the songs here from that era ("Secret," "Deeper and Deeper" and "Bedtime Story" among them) are just a few examples of the nuggets to be found there.
- What's bad: No new tracks, although Madonna is apparently already working on a new album with "Music" man Mirwais and Stuart Price of Les Rythmes Digitales.
Smashing Pumpkins, 'Greatest Hits'
- What it is: A distillation of the Chicago band's five studio albums wrapped in a cover that showcases Billy Corgan back when he still had hair.
- What's good: The first nine songs ("Siva" to "1979") are pretty remarkable and may well be the finest run of singles among all the early-'90s alt-rock bands that went on to sell millions of records. The initial pressings of the album come with a second disc featuring 16 b-sides and unreleased songs.
- What's bad: It sure would have made sense to include the band's debut single "I Am One" and its "Batman & Robin" soundtrack contribution "The End Is the Beginning Is the End" in favor of some of the weaker, late-period Pumpkins offerings.
The Cure, 'Greatest Hits'
- What it is: A seemingly needless Cure compilation that is saved, slightly, by the limited-edition double-disc version that includes acoustic takes of all 18 songs.
- What's good: One of the two new numbers, "Cut Here," is a slight but quite excellent example of the Cure in its breezy pop mode. "Wrong Number," previously available only on the band's last compilation, is pretty excellent, too.
- What's bad: There are plenty of questionable omissions: "Killing an Arab," "The Caterpillar," "Catch," "The 13th." The bonus disc aside, you'd still be better off picking up the Cure's two previous singles collections, '86's "Staring at the Sea" and '97's "Galore."
Green Day, 'International Superhits!'
- What it is: A comprehensive helping of the California trio's major label singles, with two middling new numbers stuck at the front of the disc.
- What's good: "Brain Stew/ Jaded" is one of the coolest and weirdest sort-of hits of its era. Plus, this disc will easily replace any post-"Dookie" Green Day albums one might have clogging up the collection.
- What's bad: "Minority" is an absolute embarrassment that's even worse than -- oh yes -- Green Day's world-conquering prom theme, "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)." And, sadly, there's nothing here from the band's early days on Lookout! Records.
Pink Floyd, 'Echoes'
- What it is: Two discs that draw from Pink Floyd's lengthy recording career, which is notorious for its concept albums rather than its hit singles.
- What's good: Floyd fanatics will be happy with the inclusion of "When the Tigers Broke Free," previously heard only in the film version of "The Wall." For a band that seems nearly impossible to anthologize, this is probably as fine a collection as we're going to get.
- What's bad: The non-chronological running order can be jarring, like when it moves from the playful psychedelia of the Syd Barrett-era "See Emily Play" straight into "The Happiest Days of Our Lives," a humorless cut from "The Wall" that represents the Roger Waters era at its worst. Also, the booklet is unbelievably garish and lacks the clean simplicity of Pink Floyd's finest sleeves.
Free show at Le Voyeur
Poet Chuck Swaim and the experimental electronic group the Dead Air Fresheners decided to join forces after playing two separate shows at Olympia's Le Voyeur Cafe and Bar back in February. They've since recorded together, toured and played Olympia's Experimental Music Festival in June. Saturday night, they'll be back at Le Voyeur for a free show. Music starts at 9:30 p.m. and Los Cuatro and King Dinosaur also will perform.
Ross Raihala covers music for The Olympian. Send news and Top 10 lists to OlyRoss@aol.com. The Olympian Copyright 2001 back to main SOUND AFFECTS index
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