A Comprehensive Anthology
Ivan Siler | Greensboro, NC USA | 02/23/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Although currently unpopular among grunge-rock Gen Xer's, the Stranglers were purveyors of intellegent New Wave during the late 70's/early 80's. With such themes as alien infestation, genetic engineering, and "dark" theology they were refreshing amidst the glut of punky headbangers and mindless slam dancers. This compilation is one of the most well balanced packages I've ever enjoyed--all of their mostly european singles with the juiciest album cuts thrown in for good measure. An average of 4-5 tunes per "era"(recording session>album) provide an excellent sampling from each of their mutations. The only improvement I could offer would have been some of their extended mixes interspersed through the mix, but that would have compromised the huge 21 and 22 songs on two discs so I suppose that variety was the primary consideration...a wise choice! When the Stranglers become hip again this will be the first disc to go out of print...I have certainly enjoyed listening to it!"
The place to start
Andrew Stafford | Brisbane, QLD Australia | 11/16/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If, like me, you're a casual fan of the Stranglers, then the well-titled The Hit Men will give you all you need and more. A terrific singles band, for my money most of their albums are a bit spotty, but there's no doubt their best work features some of the best and most original British pop this side of the Kinks. All the singles are here, and the smattering of album tracks are well-chosen. 43 tracks arranged chronologically over two discs: it's a daunting feast, and one that takes a while to digest.For those new to the band, the earlier material is tougher, grimier - the title of the first album, Rattus Norvegicus, and its content (Grip, Peaches, Down in the Sewer) gives you a pretty good idea where these guys were coming from. The Stranglers were older than most of their punk contemporaries, and had a reputation for thuggish misogyny which they've never really shaken off. But they could conjure menace and atmosphere like few other bands of the time, not least through Dave Greenfield's carnivalesque organ sound.Still, I prefer the second disc, where the Stranglers smooth out their sound into something that's spooky, sumptuously melodic and often very beautiful. The peak, of course, is Golden Brown, which still sounds like nothing else in the band's (or anyone else's) catalogue. Hugh Cornwell is an underrated writer and he peaked in the mid 80s - songs like Skin Deep, Strange Little Girl (recently covered by Tori Amos), European Female and the magnificent Always the Sun were deserved hits and have held their age very well.If you're curious, this is the place to start - far more comprehensive than the 1977-1990 compilation, it gives you enough of a look-in to decide whether or not this is a band you want to spend more time and money on. For me, though, The Hit Men is all I really need."
