Fingerprints Music

Reviews:

Billed as "the definitive collection," thisnew best-of immediately becomes this beloved Scottish guitar-pop foursome's best LP. Because they wisely ignore chronological issues and fashion a new LP out of the familiar songs, their initial infatuations with Neil Young (on 1989's A Catholic Education), and Big Star (on 1991's more grungy Bandwagonesque) are more evenly distributed, instead of clumsily and misleadingly lumped at the start. Perhaps it was harder to choose from the last three much better LPs' more distinctive riches (where the Byrds and Beatles influences won out).

It's like a primer for perfect pop. Was it ever easy to forget the kissing charm of Gerard Love's McCartney-esque triumphs? No, but if you did, you'll be knocked out of your amnesia by the rather amazing "Sparky's Dream" from 1995's Grand Prix. Ditto his "Don't Look Back" from that album, "Ain't That Enough" from 1997's wonderful Songs From Northern Britain, and the top tunes on Bandwagonesque and Thirteen, "Star Sign," "Radio," and "Hang On."

Playing Lennon to Love's Sir Paul, Norman Blake is more the rocker, but proves as capable of writing hits just as sterling, in the pristine perfection of "I Don't Want Control of You," "Neil Jung," and the first-LP classic "Everything Flows." And if that makes Raymond McGinley the Harrison, his delectable "About You" and "Your Love Is the Place Where I Come From" nearly steal the show. Which leaves the three extremely good new songs, a reminder that the group's best days continue. All three composers pick up the thread from 2000's lighter but beautiful Howdy. That this 2003 trio adds to, rather than detracts, from a career-spanning compilation, says plenty. Newcomers, dive in; old-comers, refresh your memory with a swim; unsold-comers, dip your toe back in-the water's never been warmer.