Search - The Jam :: Jam Collection

If you own "Compact Snap!" . . .

biggrabbag | Minneapolis, MN USA | 01/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

". . . you should pick this up. There is no overlap, and it restores all of the deleted tracks that were on the original LP version of Snap! In short, this disc and Snap! form the ideal two-disc "best of" set that The Jam deserve."

Best of the Rest of the Jam

Rob Hosking | 01/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you're new to the Jam, get the Greatet Hits - and then get this. It's a compilation, but less of the singles than of the best album tracks. And although one can always quibble about this or that song being included or omitted, the compilers here do a pretty good job. Some of the band's best work is here: the amazingly mature 'Thick as Thieves', the regretful 'Ghosts', the aching 'Mondays'... songwriter Paul Weller was barely out of his teens when he wrote these. The Jam have a similar problem to one of their influences, the Kinks. Both bands produced some of the best songs of the rock era, but neither of them could come up with an album that is top notch the whole way through (athough for the Jam 'Sound Affects' comes close). Short of getting that work, (for newcomers to the band, make it purchase no. 3), get this. It's the best of Brit-pop before it became Brit-pop."

What a collection

Rob Hosking | 05/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first bought this about 5 years ago, and will admit I only liked the stuff before the "Sound Affects" era, i.e. the first half of the compilation. I was more a fan of the "classic" Jam sound, but have recently become familiar with their later work, so that now I reckon that this compilation is, in places, remarkably good. This collection of non-single album tracks and assorted B-sides gives a perfect accompaniment to any greatest hits compilation. Even at a hefty 25 tracks, it is a testament to this band's quality that I still would liked to have seen some other tracks to have been included. To summarise, watch out for the uptempo style of tracks like "To be Someone", "In the Crowd", and "Private Hell", and the edgier, more challenging styles of "Monday" and "Tales from the Riverbank". Also watch out for Paul Weller's lyrical and observational gift. I highly recommend this to anyone who has a greatest hits type compilation and wants to find out more about the musical depth of The Jam."