i got to thinking today: in these days of cd burning and file sharing, do "best of" albums still mean anything to anyone? i'll only get one if it's an exceptionally great/classic collection.

I recently bought the Brian Jonestown Masacre 2xCD Best Of...

Works for me.. I always liked what I had heard, but never got motivated to dive into the catalog, so this covers it pretty much...

of course, people will have their pro's and cons statemtnes about what songs shouldnt have been on there, or what they would have included, but then i say..... who asked them anyway?

It really depends on the Best Ofs. Obviously. There were a few great ones that came out last year (Brian Jonestown, 50,000 Fall Fans..., Neil Young) And those are only three. There's really loads more great ones that came out last year alone.

Then again, there are definitely ones that are completely unnecessary.

But..yeah.

i lose respect for any band that releases a 'best-of' or 'greatest hits' collection before they're finished. i think of those compilations as the end of a band and can't understand why they'd release them when there's still more to come. this is also why i only read biographies of dead people.

In theory, yes, a good way to get a bunch of good songs together. However, as z pointed out, too many bands put out "best of" collections before they're even through recording as an artist.

They come in handy for me when I want to check out a band that I don't know a ton about, and don't have the time/energy to check out each individual album as well.

However, I do think that the "commercial success = greatest hit" formula is off, because there are many amazing songs by artists that don't get airplay.

I doubt that his rapping carrer is over, but I'm completely satisfied with my Shaquille O'Neal greatest hits record... and I'll be picking up the triple disc Yo La Tengo as well... Sometimes it's easier to get a Greatest Hits rather than tracking down/buying some of the earlier albums...

Useful for some artists.

Can serve as a good introduction to see whether or not you want to dig deeper into an artists calologue.

A disc of an artists singles can be all you need for an artist that was more successful in that format rather than albums.

Steve

Greatest hits albums are pointless for me because, if I like the artist enough to buy one album, I'll probably buy them all eventually (or at least the good ones).

What about someone like Tricky who has some great albums (first 3), and a heap of shit albums which have one or two good songs on.

I agree here. For some artists, a greatest hits will do you for when you need a fix of say, Tony Joe White or the Box Tops.

well, it's pretty much necessary for some singers/groups from before the time when albums mattered. i own a lot of compilations from the 50s to have those great songs that were singles, but many of them also feature various artists. 21 singles and singles going steady are good examples of single-artist comps, but they're also the exceptions to the rule.

Buy the good albums. Download the other songs. Go bowling afterwards.

What they said.

I own the "Essential" Tom Petty, for instance, and that works well for me.

I heard Slayer has a best of comming out.
That is something I would'nt mind having. All you need (and probably a lttle more).

Suicidal Tendencies is a great best of.

Neil Young is another all you need cd by him.

I fucking hate it when bands have 2-4 best of records.

I want to check it out (but heard it sucked) Primal Scream's best of.
Heard it has a lot of remixes.

I'm surprised that Public Enemy does'nt have one yet.

nah its good but they ignore pre Screamadelica stuff

the remixes are a bonus disc mostly

Another good best of is Everything But The Girl

I dont care what anyone says. She has a beautiful voice and the beats are as fresh now as they were 5 years ago

Sinner.

Thanks again for telling me aobut this web site, Splates.
This is much better than CMJ's bulletin page.

it sorta is CMJ's bulletin page (everyone moved here)

AH, I see.
Well, thanks again.

Their album Temperamental is a lost dance classic. I wish more bands made music like that. It's just too advanced for indie or mainstream attention I guess.

Walking Wounded is another good one, especially if you like their later material.

There are some artists that I only want a few songs of -- that Seal one comes to mind -- I can probably get rid of everything else I have by him.

The Jesus and Mary Chain are one of the best bands from 1985 thru 1994. 21 Singles is not even close to enough, IMO.

Psychocandy is a classic with Bobby Gillespie, of all people, on drums.

Darklands was in 1987 and contrary to popular belief, this is their best and another classic album. So bloody dark and delicious that they were never able to match again.

Barbed Wire Kisses and The Sound Of Speed are both non-essential B-sides type of albums but their cover songs of “Who Do You Love,” “Guitarman” and their classic take of “Surfin’ USA” are worth a listen or two.

Automatic is the cocaine/speed album and is about 60% good. I have rocked out to “Her Way Of Praying” more than any other Mary Chain song.

Honey’s Dead look’s pretty good from here, surprised because I haven’t played this album for a long time but they did include four songs on 21. “Teenage Lust” is their dirtiest song and is the very essence of this band.

Stoned and Dethroned is their Mutations or acoustic album and on the surface doesn’t seem like much. Underneath it finally reveals itself and really is another must own by this band.

Munki Sucked! An alright song here or there but this band was at it’s end and you can see that clearly on this album.

-------------------------------------

I do think it works for some bands that have a lot of stuff and you want to start somewhere. Songbook: Vol. 1, The Singles is a perfect example from Super Furry Animals. They put out so much stuff each year that if you are just now discovering them it’s overwhelming. I believe so many people will discover them thru this comp that they will seek out their older stuff. A brilliant move by Beggars

Yup, I'm with you on this one.

I own a few "best of" albums. It works best with artists whose albums I'm unsure of but I know there are specific songs I really like.

I was listening to the Blueprint last night and was thinking about Best of Albums. It seemed to me that old Jay-Hova will need a fucking 4 disc set to get all his hits in. I would probably buy it even though I already have all his albums.