Various - Simply the Best New Wave

Rating:

* *

With its subtitle "34 Punk Pop Classics", this double disc collection is already showing a certain amount of confusion even before it gets to its track listing. Yes, a few hits it compiles mainly from the years 1977-82 could accurately be described as New Wave (B-52s, Lene Lovich and Blondie). But this also comes with a fair smattering of English pre-punk pub rockers (Dr Feelgood, Dave Edmunds, Wreckless Eric, Tom Robinson Band) who don't fit the picture even if they had a rousing anthem or two.

And a few more who simply just don't sit well in this neon jukebox - whether it's Joy Division, New Order, Iggy Pop, the Patti Smith Group, The Beat, or The Jam or The Cure.

An album that goes from Tubeway Army's

Are Friends Electric

to one of Television's lesser songs

Glory

to Jona Lewie's novelty hit

You'll Always Find Me In the Kitchen in Parties

to Cheap Trick's

Surrender

to The Stranglers'

Golden Brown

isn't too worried about cohesion.

True, much of it should bring a smile to anyone whose formative years involved appointment viewing with

Radio With Pictures

. But this feels

Stars in their Eyes

in its take on that vital period in pop.

Russell Baillie