Topic: Bands who you only really need to own a Best Of for... (Read 22314 times)

Thrillho · « **on:** 19 Apr 2006, 06:21 »

Surely everyone here has a few bands in their collection that they only really need a best of for. Most people I know have the Queen Greatest Hits, but I prefer to have the studio albums for them.

The guys that I just want Best Of collections for are R.E.M. (I own In Time) and The Pogues (The Essential Collection w/Live at Brixton Academy 2001) and I plan on getting a Marvin Gaye collection. The only Nirvana CD I physically own is the self-titled collection, though I plan on getting the Unplugged CD because I've always loved it.

TrueNeutral · « **Reply #1 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 06:34 »

Alice In Chains Music Bank

OH WAIT THAT IS ALMOST ALL ALICE IN CHAINS

GebStar · « **Reply #2 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 06:36 »

I think Hillary Duff is coming out with a Greatest Hits CD.
I'm totally picking that up next time I'm at the store.
and I'm a 14 year old girl.
With bad taste.

Houdinimachine · « **Reply #3 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 06:41 »

I can't think of any off the top of my head, but I can think of TONS of bands I would never buy the "Best Of" for because... well... their best of isn't their best of at all. It's their singles... And, a lot of bands have crappy singles and awesome B-Sides. Read: Barenaked Ladies.

Patrick · « **Reply #4 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 06:42 »

Garth Brooks. He has his good'uns, and he has his complete and utter shit ones.

And somewhat off-topic but somewhat not, after Smashmouth's AstroLounge, I've gotta be quite frank with you, a greatest-hits album would be the worst thing you could possibly do to mankind.

Inlander · « **Reply #5 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 06:44 »

I never buy best-ofs. My C.D. collection is pure.

Zaarin · « **Reply #6 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 07:15 »

Back when I was ignorant of the delicate art of CD collecting (that is, about five years ago, when I was 13), I bought two best of CDs: Bob Marley and Sting. The Bob Marley one is basically just Exodus with a few extra tracks and a single unavailable on CD elsewhere. It was actually almost worth the $20 for that single ("I Know a Place"), it is really goddamned good.

The Sting one has "Russians" and "Englishman in New York", which used to be two of my all time favourite songs.

Nowdays I try to avoid buying compilations, particularly greatest hits type affairs. I sort of feel like it's a cop out: buying just the one CD instead of the original albums. Though it is considerably cheaper, I suppose.

KharBevNor · « **Reply #7 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 08:59 »

Motorhead - The Very Best of Motorhead.

Because it really does have almost every great track they've ever done, and a lot of interesting side-material, which endeared it to me (A Hawkwind and a Headgirl track, and Girlschools cover of bomber, for example.)

The only other best ofs I own are Edward the Great, because I was once dumb, and Echoes - The Best of Pink Floyd, which I bought back when I only had a CD walkman, as it had almost all my favourite Pink Floyd tracks on and I could not be arsed to get their entire collection on cd (I have Floyds discog in vinyl.)

Thrillho · « **Reply #8 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 09:05 »

Quote from: tommydski

Quote from: DK
I just want Best Of collections for are R.E.M.

you'd be missing out. the first nine albums are almost flawless. in fact, they are flawless except for 'green' being a bit dull and 'monster' being inconsistent.

R.E.M. are a band I would consister spilling out of the BEST OF thing for. But I have so much music I want to buy at the moment that since I'm quite happy with just In Time, I'll leave them for a while.

I want Shiny Happy People

Omnicide · « **Reply #9 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 09:14 »

Stiff Little Fingers have a 3 CD 'best of' with 45 tracks. All the angry Irish punk you'll ever need.

JLM · « **Reply #10 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 09:14 »

Swervedriver - Juggernaut Rides `86-`98 covers just about everything you'd want to hear from the band.

nescience · « **Reply #11 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 09:49 »

I argued in a review I once wrote that while many would be happy to have their singles, No Doubt only requires ownership of a singles comp (and not their albums) for all but their most hardcore fans. I might be biased.

Bastardous Bassist · « **Reply #12 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 09:51 »

AC/DC. Of course they have a "best of" album out. Just go to the AC/DC section in your record store and buy the first album you see.

Misereatur · « **Reply #13 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 09:56 »

I also have Maiden's Edward The Great, because it has all of my favorite Maiden tracks. I also own A Real Live One.

pat101 · « **Reply #14 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 10:43 »

While I do own a few of his albums I think a Beck 2-Disc Greatest Hits would be very, very good.

karl gambolputty... · « **Reply #15 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 11:18 »

If we're talking about a hypothetical person who has no 'favorite' bands, and just wants to buy a bunch of Best Of's (sorry, Anthologies), to see if any catch his/her ear:

Talking Head's Once in a Lifetime (Greatest compilation EVER)
The Pixies' Death to the Pixies
Joy Division's Permanent
Ultimate Run DMC
Yo La Tengo's Prisoners of Love
and B.B. King's Anthology

For anyone else, it really depends on what they like (IMHO).

Omnicide · « **Reply #16 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 11:31 »

Quote from: karl gambolputty...

Talking Head's Once in a Lifetime
Ultimate Run DMC

Tis' true

Ah- almost forgot: Super Furry Animals' Songbook. Delirious psychedlic indie that puts the Flaming Lips to shame.

Hmm...will Aphex Tiwn ever put out a best-off?

E. Spaceman · « **Reply #17 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 11:48 »

Quote from: karl gambolputty...

The Pixies' Death to the Pixies

I'd say the Wave of Mutilation compilation makes Death to the Pixies rather redundant.

Misereatur · « **Reply #18 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 12:16 »

Quote from: karl gambolputty...

Joy Division's Permanent

There is a Joy Division 'Best Of' album. Fairly good.
Nothing like the real thing though

alyosha · « **Reply #19 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 12:37 »

Quote from: tommydski

Quote from: DK
I just want Best Of collections for are R.E.M.

you'd be missing out. the first nine albums are almost flawless. in fact, they are flawless except for 'green' being a bit dull and 'monster' being inconsistent.

i really dislike 'best of' as a phrase. let's say 'anthology', so i don't start to weep. honestly though, there are two 'anthologies' i would recommend -

'staring at the sea' by the cure. (great singles band, terrible terrible albums)
'march to fuzz' by mudhoney (a fairly good band makes a great compilation. second disc especially)

REM is one of those great bands whose best songs are their least known. "Track 11" on Green, for instance, or 'Don't go Back to Rockville". Anything off of any of their early albums. I really liked Green, it's still my Low-Key-Driving CD. Automatic For the People is a masterful album. Monster, I agree is a bit inconsistent, and just not very good.

As to the Cure: What Cure albums are you listening to? "Bloodflowers" is a great album. "Disintegration" has its weak spots. THeir Best of just doesn't cut it, though, I'd rather make my own mix.

I, too, usually stay away from Best of Compilations, but some are just well-produced albums-- Like Aerosmiths "Big Ones"

karl gambolputty... · « **Reply #20 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 13:08 »

Quote from: E. Spaceman

I'd say the Wave of Mutilation compilation makes Death to the Pixies rather redundant.

I'm afraid you are incorrect good sah. Death to the Pixies has two discs over Wave's one, the second of which is all live, and I don't think Wave has a single live cut (I could be wrong on that, but whatever). Death to the Pixies is by far the superior collection. The live version of Hey, where the audience sings along, is the greatest thing ever recorded.

E. Spaceman · « **Reply #21 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 13:21 »

Quote from: karl gambolputty...

I'm afraid you are incorrect good sah. Death to the Pixies has two discs over Wave's one, the second of which is all live, and I don't think Wave has a single live cut (I could be wrong on that, but whatever). Death to the Pixies is by far the superior collection. The live version of Hey, where the audience sings along, is the greatest thing ever recorded.

But that's only the special 2 disc edition. The normal one is basically Wave of Mutilation with less tracks. That 2nd disc does rock though.

Thrillho · « **Reply #22 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 13:31 »

Quote from: karl gambolputty...

If we're talking about a hypothetical person who has no 'favorite' bands, and just wants to buy a bunch of Best Of's (sorry, Anthologies), to see if any catch his/her ear:

Er...we aren't, but okay!

Not An Addict · « **Reply #23 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 13:38 »

The Clash.

karl gambolputty... · « **Reply #24 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 14:04 »

Quote from: DynamiteKid

Quote from: karl gambolputty...
If we're talking about a hypothetical person who has no 'favorite' bands, and just wants to buy a bunch of Best Of's (sorry, Anthologies), to see if any catch his/her ear:

Er...we aren't, but okay!

Maybe I put it wrong. Perhaps an example will make it clearer: If you hate hip-hop, and have no desire at all to listen to it, then Run DMC is not a band who you only really need to own a Best Of for. If you do like hip-hop, (or just don't hate it), it is. If you LOVE hip-hop, then Run DMC is a band all of whose albums you need to own. See?

Thrillho · « **Reply #25 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 14:12 »

No I understood what you meant, but the thread didn't really have a purpose, was just me bemusedly wondering whose Best Ofs I owned.

karl gambolputty... · « **Reply #26 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 14:13 »

Sweet. After all my high-falutin' that's exactly what I did too.

Johnny C · « **Reply #27 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 15:14 »

Quote from: Misereatur

There is a Joy Division 'Best Of' album. Fairly good.

I'm ninety percent sure you're talking about Substance, which covers singles and a bunch of b-sides. It's a good primer, I'd say.

Aphex Twin - sorry, AFX, rather - put out a best-of of its 2005 11-vinyl (yikes!) series recently. So, that seems like it might be an okay investment.

karl gambolputty... · « **Reply #28 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 15:24 »

There's also JD's HeartandSoul, which is pretty much everything they ever recorded.

Thrillho · « **Reply #29 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 15:43 »

Quote from: Johnny C

Quote from: Misereatur
There is a Joy Division 'Best Of' album. Fairly good.

I'm ninety percent sure you're talking about Substance, which covers singles and a bunch of b-sides. It's a good primer, I'd say.

But it's not worthy of the name 'Best Of' when it's not got anything from Closer on it.

Heart and Soul doesn't really count because it contains like, EVERYTHING they ever did, so defeats the object of the thread.

Kai · « **Reply #30 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 15:44 »

Quote from: Bastardous Bassist

AC/DC. Of course they have a "best of" album out. Just go to the AC/DC section in your record store and buy the first album you see.

BA DUM TSH

Gryff · « **Reply #31 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 16:49 »

Substance is not so much a "best of" and more of a "singles collection", and thus it makes a good companion to Closer and Unknown Pleasures.

Singles Going Steady by The Buzzcocks is another singles collection that is pretty much a must-own.

Generally I am not a fan of the best of thing and I prefer my music in complete albums, but I am okay with the singles collection idea because they often include songs that you can't find on albums. Still, I do own a couple of best ofs: the Blur best of, and Frank Zappa's Strictly Commercial (sorry Kai!).

Inlander · « **Reply #32 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 17:00 »

Quote from: nescience

I argued in a review I once wrote that while many would be happy to have their singles, No Doubt only requires ownership of a singles comp (and not their albums) for all but their most hardcore fans. I might be biased.

The way I look at it, a singles compilation is a very different beast from a "best-of". A best-of is basically somebody picking what they think the most popular songs will be, and are rarely representative of the band. A complete singles collection, on the other hand, can give the listener a very good overview of the band's history and how they changed over time. An excellent example (and one that I've mentioned frequently on this forum in the past) is Fossil Fuel: the X.T.C. Singles 1977-92 (current and up-to-date when it was released).

Gryff · « **Reply #33 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 17:03 »

The Smiths singles collection is also really brilliant.

Houdinimachine · « **Reply #34 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 17:09 »

Ahh I got it!

The only band that comes to mind is Big Audio Dynamite's greatest hits album which pretty much has all the stuff of theirs I want.

Thrillho · « **Reply #35 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 17:16 »

Quote from: Gryff

Substance is not so much a "best of" and more of a "singles collection", and thus it makes a good companion to Closer and Unknown Pleasures.

Yes, of course. My point was it's not really very good as the be-all and end-all of your collection.

Quote

Singles Going Steady by The Buzzcocks is another singles collection that is pretty much a must-own.

Well Buzzcocks always were a singles band, like the Cure.

E. Spaceman · « **Reply #36 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 17:17 »

Quote from: Gryff

The Smiths singles collection is also really brilliant.

But I prefer the Best Of... series

Gryff · « **Reply #37 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 17:33 »

Well, I hate to break it to you, E. Spaceman, but your opinion is WRONG!

Kai · « **Reply #38 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 17:38 »

Quote from: Gryff

and Frank Zappa's Strictly Commercial (sorry Kai!).

Ach! You should have totally boughten the 50+ albums instead!

Storm Rider · « **Reply #39 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 18:04 »

EVERYONE MUST BUY HAWKWIND'S ENTIRE DISCOGRAPHY.

YOU HAVE UNTIL 2084.

Also, if anyone knows the significance of that year, they get 5 million awesome points

Gryff · « **Reply #40 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 18:23 »

How many Zappa albums do you own, Kai?

El Opium · « **Reply #41 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 19:22 »

Quote from: JLM

Swervedriver - Juggernaut Rides `86-`98 covers just about everything you'd want to hear from the band.

Ack..cough..no. Mezcal Head is a very worthwhile purchase. Though the above comp does have a large number of previously vinyl-only E.P. tracks.

Tergon · « **Reply #42 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 20:06 »

* counts off fingers *

Greenday, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, AC/DC, Machine Gun Fellatio, The Cat Empire, The Darkness, Spiderbait and R.E.M. Oh, and Billy Joel (yes, I like him).

U2, The Living End, Grinspoon and Oasis are ones that you *should* have a "Best Of" compilation, but really they can't be compressed into one album. So maybe you oughta have two or three.

Gryff · « **Reply #43 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 20:15 »

I disagree!

Tergon · « **Reply #44 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 20:19 »

What with and how so?

Inlander · « **Reply #45 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 20:41 »

Just in general. He's a contrarian.

Gryff · « **Reply #46 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 20:49 »

Well, I could be more specific. If you're into that.

I would say that Nick Cave and REM cannot possibly be done justice in a best of, and I would say that most of your other choices do not deserve one!

Well, that's probably a bit harsh, but why would anyone need a Grinspoon best of? Or the Darkness, for that matter.

Anyway, what it boils down to is that my taste in music is much better than yours.

valley_parade · « **Reply #47 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 21:05 »

Quote from: KharBevNor

Motorhead - The Very Best of Motorhead.

Because it really does have almost every great track they've ever done, and a lot of interesting side-material, which endeared it to me (A Hawkwind and a Headgirl track, and Girlschools cover of bomber, for example.)

What the hell ass lame copy of The Very Best of Motorhead do I own? Mine doesn't have any covers of Bomber, or the like.

E. Spaceman · « **Reply #48 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 21:19 »

Quote from: Gryff

Well, I hate to break it to you, E. Spaceman, but your opinion is WRONG!

OK, MUSIC FIGHT IS Go!!!!!!!!!!!!! (since we are talking about The Smiths this will be a match fought with handbags)
The Best of series includes every single song in the Singles album and more, incuding the unedited version of Rubber Ring, so clearly my opinion is better.

I've got a summary for you Gryff:

1.- I'm right
2.- You eat dong

Gryff · « **Reply #49 on:** 19 Apr 2006, 21:30 »

Yes, but the Singles has far better sequencing and the most essential tracks. If you want all the obscure tracks then you just need to get Louder Than Bombs to complement the albums.

As a summary of their career, the Singles works better.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: Bands who you only really need to own a Best Of for... (Read 22314 times)

TrueNeutral

Zaarin

Omnicide

nescience

Omnicide

alyosha

Not An Addict

El Opium