This post was started before both discs of Volume 3 got irretrievably stuck in the soon-to-be-scrapped midi system.
Four different volumes, confusingly not volumed. Eight discs in all. Aptly named. The cream of early-mid 90s rock, with some classics from earlier eras thrown in for good measure. Three or four years ago these were pretty constantly on the CD changer.
Some compilation albums work because, taken in the round, they provide a canvas of pleasure. Others work because they have such a high proportion of really classic tracks. These albums, or, at least, the first three are special becaue they manage to combine both elements. I'm tempted to namecheck tracks such as Ash's Angel Interceptor and Happy Mondays' Kinky Afro, or really really adrenaline-forcing tracks like Pulp's Common People but however good they sound on a compilation album they sound even better on their artist album, but won't because I shall just name the tracks that make me go "Ooh! wow! Yay oh yay!"
Life of Riley - Lightning Seeds
It's Oh So Quiet - Bjork
Little Britain - Dreadzone
Hope Street - The Levellers
Yes - McAlmont/Butler (really wooo!)
Zombie - the Cranberries (seriously woo ee ay yo!)
15 Years - The Levellers
High and Dry - Radiohead
Every Day Is Like Sunday - Morrissey. One of my top twenty two of all time pop songs. I have always thought that this (along with Chris de Burgh's line 'Nothing Quite Like An Out of Season Holiday Town in the Rain') was written about Morecambe, the most god-forsaken seaside town I have ever visited. Sadly, I now think - hope - Morecambe will be remembered for more than two obscure late Eighties pop songs.
Vin-da-loo - Fat Les. Oh what fun we had explaining to two American friends, Megan and Phil, why an England football song should be called Vindaloo. I think we came up with "because it's difficult to get anything to rhyme with chicken tikka masala."
Brimful of Asha - Corner Shop
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