The best material from some so-so records
Ham On Wry | 10/06/1999
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This collections gives you three tracks from "Globe of Frogs," three from "Queen Elvis," four from "Perspex Island," and two from "Respect." Looking back over Hitchcock's recordings for A & M (1989-1993), this "greatest hits" format provides a more-than-adequate summation of what-in retrospect-seems to have been a dry spell in Hitchcock's career. Pulling most of the best album material free from the surrounding dross gives some of these songs a new lease on life. It's not that these are bad songs, but 1990's stellar "Eye" (released on Twin Tone and not represented on his collection) proved pretty conclusively that Hitchcock wasn't firing on all cylinders during these band sessions for A & M. In any case, as these records are now out of print, this is all that's currently available. "Perspex Island" is worth picking up if you can find it used, but as for the other records-this collection really gives you all you need. (In the case of "Respect," it gives you more than you need: "The Yip Song" was annoying in `93 and is even more so today.The nine non-album tracks are b-sides and live material-highlights include a solo acoustic reading of Bryan Ferry's "More Than This" and a live band take on The Byrds' "Eight Miles High." Other tracks range from ho-hum ("Legalized Murder") to great ("Bright Fresh Flower")Hitchcock's move to Warner Brothers seems to have done him good: both "Moss Elixir" (1996) and "Jewels for Sophia" (1999) are excellent."
Unsung Genius
Ham On Wry | Decatur, GA USA | 07/04/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I don't why Robyn Hitchcock is relegated to the left end of the radio dial. I guess people are too busy paying attention to Michael Jackson to follow a weirdo. If I were introducing somebody to Hitchcock, I'd give them this and point them to Perspex Island. There's also a chilling new addition, "Legalized Murder"."