A real treat for fans of Howard Devoto's short-lived but well-respected collective. 3 CDs here cover alternate mixes, live tracks, Peel Sessions, singles, B-sides and cover versions. As much dependent on Dave Formula's keyboards as John McGeoch and Barry Adamson's guitars, Magazine were a cut above the childish tunefulness of Devoto's former band, The Buzzcocks, instead drawing on influences such as funk and new wave. In the beginning, then, Magazine produced a number of punk singles, of which 'Shot By Both Sides' is easily the best whilst the likes of 'My Mind Ain't So Open', 'TV Baby' and 'I Love You Big Dummy' showcases the kind of undemanding punk Devoto's former stooges provided. The group were considerably better and more original when creating anthems of bitterness and self-loathing such as 'Permafrost', 'The Light Pours Out Of Me' and their most successful hit, 'A Song From Under The Floorboards' and with its opening line of "I am angry, I am ill and I'm as ugly as sin" it probably invented articulate angst. Best of all is 'Back To Nature' an intense post-punk classic, knocking on for seven minutes. At a very reasonable price this compilation serves as an excellent introduction to this fine band and should not be considered as just a completist's collection for Devoto devotees.
CD1 Track Listing
01
Shot By Both Sides (Alternate Recording)
02
My Mind Ain't So Open
03
Touch And Go
04
Goldfinger
05
Give Me Everything
06
I Love You You Big Dummy
07
My Tulpa
08
Definitive Gaze (Live)
09
Parade (Live)
10
The Light Pours Out Of Me (Version)
11
Rhythm Of Cruelty
12
TV Baby
Back To Nature
14
Permafrost (Live)
15
Feed The Enemy (Live)
= Standout Track
CD2 Track Listing
01
A Song From Under The Floorboards (Live)
02
Twenty Years Ago
03
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (Live)
04
The Book
05
Upside Down
06
Sweetheart Contract
07
Shot By Both Sides (Live)
08
Because You're Frightened (Live)
09
I Want To Burn Again
10
Model Worker (Live)
11
Vigilance (Alternate Mix)
12
In The Dark
13
The Operative
14
Come Alive (Alternate Mix)
15
The Thinking Flame (Alternate Mix)
CD3 Track Listing
01
Touch And Go
02
The Light Pours Out Of Me
03
Real Life (Definitive Gaze)
04
My Mind Ain't So Open
05
Give Me Everything
06
Burst
07
I Love You You Big Dummy
08
Boredom
09
TV Baby
10
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
11
Permafrost
12
A Song From Under The Floorboards
13
Twenty Years Ago
14
Look What Fear's Done To My Body (Because You're Frightened)
A real treat for fans of Howard Devoto's short-lived but well-respected collective. 3 CDs here cover alternate mixes, live tracks, Peel Sessions, singles, B-sides and cover versions. As much dependent on Dave Formula's keyboards as John McGeoch and Barry Adamson's guitars, Magazine were a cut above the childish tunefulness of Devoto's former band, The Buzzcocks, instead drawing on influences such as funk and new wave. In the beginning, then, Magazine produced a number of punk singles, of which 'Shot By Both Sides' is easily the best whilst the likes of 'My Mind Ain't So Open', 'TV Baby' and 'I Love You Big Dummy' showcases the kind of undemanding punk Devoto's former stooges provided. The group were considerably better and more original when creating anthems of bitterness and self-loathing such as 'Permafrost', 'The Light Pours Out Of Me' and their most successful hit, 'A Song From Under The Floorboards' and with its opening line of "I am angry, I am ill and I'm as ugly as sin" it probably invented articulate angst. Best of all is 'Back To Nature' an intense post-punk classic, knocking on for seven minutes. At a very reasonable price this compilation serves as an excellent introduction to this fine band and should not be considered as just a completist's collection for Devoto devotees.
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