This is probably my favorite compilation album. Yeah, I know that most of the tracks are probably rejects from the artists own albums, and/or experiments that didn't work out, etc. etc., but in my humble opinion the whole package (i.e. concept, songs, artwork, hidden track) is a winner.
So where to start?
Let's start with the hidden, uncredited track - Nirvana's Verse Chorus Verse. A. Classic. I still find it staggering that Kurt could dish out a long line of songs like this (e.g. Dive, Oh The Guilt, Aneurysm, Even in his youth, etc., etc.), which crapped from a great height over what the majority of similar bands were doing, and then have the perversity to leave the songs off Nirvana albums. Or in this case, allow the song to appear uncredited!
Then we have American Music Club and Bob Mould - two artists that, dare I say it, shoulda been huge - performing what I assume are outtakes, yet which eclipse the best songs from most bands.
Plus we have Soundgarden's Show Me, possibly their most under-appreciated song (including by the band themselves), which somehow manages to sound more like The Stones that their version of The Stones' Stray Cat Blues (go figure).
And also Straitjacket Fits' Brittle, and intriguing sounding song from an intriguing sounding band.
And when you thought that was all, there's Pavement's Unseen power of the picket fence. While not in the league of their best material, it's still worth a listen, if only to hear them professing their love for REM!
Hey, lets not forget the Beasties It's the new style, rapped to the backing tape from "Hold it now, hit it" (from memory) - not as good as the original, but again worth a listen.
Honorable mentions also go out to Smashing Pumpkins, Uncle Tupelo and The Breeders.
And the mighty Sonic Youth apparently appear on the cassette version (unfortunately not included here - sigh)!
1. Superdeformed - Matthew Sweet
2. For All to See - Buffalo Tom
3. Sexual Healing - Soul Asylum
4. Take a Walk - Urge Overkill
5. All Your Jeans Were Too Tight - American Music Club
6. Bitch - The Goo Goo Dolls
7. Unseen Power of the Picket Fence - Pavement
8. Glynis - The Smashing Pumpkins
9. Can't Fight It - Bob Mould
10. Hold On - Sarah McLachlan
11. Show Me - Soundgarden
12. Brittle - Straitjacket Fits
13. Joed Out - Barbara Manning
14. Heavy 33 - The Verlaines
15. Effigy - Uncle Tupelo
16. New Style - Beastie Boys
17. Iris - The Breeders
18. Memorial Song - Patti Smith
19. Verse Chorus Verse - Nirvana
FLAC Pt1, Pt2, Pt3
MP3
It's obviously been too long since I listened to this- I didn't recognize the inside art work you posted.
ReplyDeleteAnd since you already called out the best of this one- I'll go on record as saying Goo Goo Dolls blow.
This is worth the download just for the Matthew Sweet track.
ReplyDeleteI've got a soft spot for The GooGoo Dolls - does that make me a bad person?
Wow, a comment from Adelle and Rushbo on the one post - my life is complete! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteWe all have our soft spots, Rushbo. Plus you (both) might have had a different experience than I did with the Goo Goo Dolls over on the other side of the pond there. They were extremely over played... so much so that the song 'Name' still makes me jump over furniture to change the station. It was just hammered at me so much I ended up hating it.
ReplyDeleteHaving a soft spot for the The Goo Goo Dolls - doesn't make you a bad person, Rushbo. But out of respect for you I'll refrain from commenting what I think having a soft spot for the Eurovision song contest says about you!
ReplyDeleteActually, I don't even remember what The Goo Goo Dolls track sounds like. I remember listening to the track when I first bought the CD, thinking it wasn't my cup of bonox, and never giving it another listen. That's my problem - first impressions are everything when it's convenient for me!
Right on the mark about Kurt - his seemingly 'throwaway' songs would have made great singles, especially "Sappy" (the 'real title' of Verse Chorus Verse)!
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