Search - Primitives :: Thru the Flowers: the Anthology

C86 Classic

Jd Martin | Coralville, IA United States | 09/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A welcome release featuring many of the band's ep tracks only available on vinyl or on the long deleted and impossible to find Lazy 86-88 album. The first cd collects all the early single releases when the band was at they're best. Each track is a three minute burst of pop heaven. The second cd features the majority of their major label material from the hit single 'crash' to their final baggy material (which never really suited their style). A great compilation that's been well thought out and put together."

=_=_=_=_=_= Long Live The Primitives =_=_=_=_=_=

L. Juarez | Boston, MA USA | 10/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"(...) This brand-new anthology---at the time of this writing, it's only three weeks old---may be a bit more expensive, but here's what you get: (1) Almost double the amount of tracks, including rarities and B-sides (2) Better packaging and better artwork (3) A more detailed chronicle of the band in the CD insert (4) It's limited. There you have it. You pay more money BUT EVERYTHING YOU GET IS BETTER IN EVERY WAY. The second disc on this anthology includes the best of the tracks in "The Best of The Primitives" anyway.



I won't go into detail re-telling the story of the band, as it's been done to death on all the other reviews of their albums. I just want to vent out how fantastic this band is. I own *literally* a half a thousand CDs spanning the canons of a lot of bands, and since I only buy what I like that's only a fraction of bands and music that I know. This isn't a display of arrogance, stick with me I have a point to make: The Primitives are my favorite band by far. Every one of their tracks is pop brilliance. If you ever get a chance to read the lyrics to their songs, do it. Paul Court wrote about 95% of them, and doing so will make you realize just how great of a songwriter he is. It's just happy, optimistic lyricism, even on the songs about heartbreak and loneliness. Says Court on the fantastic "Buzz Buzz Buzz" (Disc 1)***, "Church bells ring/Blue birds sing/A noise in my ear's goin'/Ring ring ring about you/What can I do?"



I'll tell you what you can do: get back together. Everything about this band is perfect. Tracy has the voice of an angel, and the hooks just keep on coming. Look, there's a reason why this collection is selling fast (don't pay attention to the "Amazon sales" number figures, when I was writing this only one copy was listed as being left in Amazon's inventory). Hardcore fans know what's good, and I think the uninitiated are getting in on the action because of fantastic word-of-mouth. Purchase this and be part of musical history. Cheers.



*** Surprise, surprise, but "Buzz Buzz Buzz" isn't on "The Best of The Primitives." That track is definitely one of the band's "best," so what does that tell you about which is better, huh?"

If you enjoy The Primitives' music, then get this!

J. Ouyang | SF, CA | 11/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Primitives is one of those bands whose star shined only briefly, but ever so brightly when it did. Get this album if you enjoy their music!"