"I'm writing this short review to say that this is a very good collection and even though there ARE other collections available, the remastering on this double cd is fantastic.I wish all of you completists out there would realize that not *everybody* has to have every last unreleased track ever committed to tape to have an enjoyable collection.Of course, it would be great if EVERYTHING were here, but hey, that's what box sets are for. Relax, will ya?!?For the people out there that want a very good overview of Danny Elfman's genius with Oingo Boingo and you like crisp, wide remastered sound, I'm here to say that this collection is a perfect choice.For the rest of you who are ripping this collection for not having a bunch of "tresure chest" tracks, go annoy those frustrating record companies. Tell them to release a comprehensive b-sides and unreleased tracks collection. I'd like to see one of those myself.** "Ain't This The Life" is one of my very favorite Oingo Boingo songs. They did a magnificent version of it on the "URGH: A MUSIC WAR" video (1981). This song is usually left off of those other collections. It IS present here....sounding better than ever!"
Fantastic starter collection, some perks for Boingoloids.
A Customer | California | 11/29/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a tremendous compilation spanning the full career of the group as a rock band. Anyone who does not already own any of their albums and does not wish to buy them individually would do well to immerse themselves in the glory of Anthology. Some folks have pointed out that there is not much to offer in this collection to those who already own some of the band's other albums. While there are no rare tracks per se, this release does offer a couple of perks for the already converted. Mostly, I think, for the ardent fan who's ready to drop another few bucks for any of the following reasons. First, the sound quality is excellent and may well surpass that of the original cd issues containing the same tracks. Second, this is the only way to get a studio version of Ain't this the Life on cd; I believe, in fact, that it's the only song to make it to cd from the 10 in. E.P. in its original form thus far. Lastly, perhaps there is a very remote chance that if the album sells well, some exec will have the great idea of releasing all the rare and htf tracks that Danny's got safely hidden in his basement. In the meantime we can listen to our nth generation copies of said rarities, waiting for the day that the band can profit from the proliferation of those songs."
It Could Have Been Better
A Customer | 11/03/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Boingo deserves a better anthology than this record company ripoff! Even though all of the tracks are excellent and the packaging is nice, this is a Best Of... package containing nothing more than music that Boingophiles have had for years. What they should have released were all of the rare tracks that we, the collectors, have been trading for years such as the demo tracks, raritites and B-sides, dance mixes and songs for films which are very hard to find, plus some live cuts from the vaults. Boingo was one of the best bands to emerge from the new wave scene and they did intricate and intelligent music which still has a large and loyal following. The band deserves a better anthology than this."
Great compilation - if you don't have any of their cd's
Sheila Marie | 11/25/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Oingo Boingo is an exciting, fun band. This album is great to own if you are looking for a mix of their best songs. It has both studio recordings and great live stuff. The knock to the album is the lack of new material. There are no highly re-done songs that would make it a must have for a Boingo fan. So if you are looking to start a collection - get it, if you already have a collection - you're not missing anything!"
Great CD, Defective cover though
Sheila Marie | Tampa, FL | 01/13/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I adore this collection of songs. It introduced me to stuff I had never heard before and made me want to get more into Oingo Boingo. I was quite unhappy when I couldn't play all the songs after awhile. I learned on-line that the case it comes in is faulty, it comes unglued and the glue eventually gets on the CD making it unplayable, after my cd's started skipping in the last 2 or 3 songs. Thankfully the store I bought it at exchanged it without too much hassle and I immediately bought a new case for the cd's to prevent it from happening again."