What does it sound like?:
In conjunction with the deluxe reissues of the band’s catalogue comes this 2 cd anthology.
Starting out with their cover of Bowie’s ‘Boys Keep Swinging’, the first cd cherry picks the best material from The Affectionate Punch and Sulk, and is good way to pick up the cream of those recordings. Shame there’s no room for ‘Even Dogs In The Wild’ though – surely one of their most affecting songs.
The second disc includes curios such as their cover of Eloise, a demo of The Affectionate Punch and their riposte to The Smiths ‘William It Was really Nothing’ – ‘Stephen, You’re Really Something.’
A good booklet with detailed sleevenotes too.
What does it all *mean*?
This is a good introduction for the casual listener to dip into, and is a bargain on Amazon at the moment at around a fiver – an esoteric collection from a band who refused to play by the rules.
Goes well with…
Quirky music, maybe Talking Heads, Joy Division.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Trying something different – a quite unique band, I very much doubt we’ll see their like again.
Great review! I agree that Wild Dogs should be on there somewhere. If you can only have one Associates album (and everyone should have at least one), this is it.