Stars We Are
Artist: Marc Almond
Community Score: 8.00

Another year and another label for Marc Almond, along with a newly stripped-down band, La Magia, with Willing Sinner vets Annie Hogan, Billy McGee, and Steve Humphreys on drums. Even more so than Stories of Johnny, this is Almond with an eye and ear on making a commercial record while still being himself, and the result is much better than... Read More

The Best of Bow Wow Wow - RECEIVER
Artist: Bow Wow Wow
History Never Repeats
Artist: Split Enz

The look of Split Enz was as important as the music the band produced (especially in the eccentric early years), so a translation to video is no great stretch; despite the lack of an outlet for videos, the band embraced the medium early on, producing clips for most of their singles, as well as album cuts. History Never Repeats (later retitled... Read More

History Never Repeats: The Best of Split Enz
Artist: Split Enz
Community Score: 10.00

Split Enz are probably best remembered in the U.S. for their new wave-era singles; History Never Repeats: The Best of Split Enz collects all of the major singles from the band's A&M albums in a single disc package. For the casual fan, there is no better starting point. The Australian issue is far superior as a career overview however, as it... Read More

All of This and Nothing
Artist: The Psychedelic Furs
Community Score: 10.00

The Psychedelic Furs acquired a million or so more fans in 1986 after they re-recorded their early '80s classic "Pretty in Pink" for the John Hughes box-office smash of the same name. The Top-40 success of "Heartbreak Beat" a year later took the once enigmatic new wave band further into the mainstream. 1988's All of This and Nothing is basically... Read More

Mission of Burma
Artist: Mission of Burma

One of the most important and influential American bands of its time, Mission of Burma also rocked hard with intelligence and a unique personal vision, and the group's records still sound fresh and exciting nearly two decades after they were recorded. This 1988 compilation marked the first attempt to upgrade Mission of Burma's back catalog to... Read More

Greatest Hits
Artist: The Human League
Community Score: 10.00

This well-chosen best-of contains The Human League's U.K. and U.S. hits from 1978 ("Being Boiled") to 1986, including the chart-toppers "Don't You Want Me" and "Human" and such non-album singles as "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" and "Mirror Man." It's a study in '80s dance-pop. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide Read More

The Best of A Flock of Seagulls - JIVE
Artist: A Flock of Seagulls

Liverpool's A Flock of Seagulls are best remembered for lead singer Mike Score's hair (and their number ten hit "I Ran [So Far Away]"). The quartet actually scored three lesser hits aside from that archetypal '80s smash. The kinetic "A Space Age Love Song"; the cascading, multi-layered "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)"; and the sweeping... Read More

The Light at the End of the Tunnel
Artist: The Damned
Community Score: 9.50

Anyone expecting a fully organized compilation from this double-disc effort will be sorely disappointed; while the years for release dates are mentioned, the sources for many of the releases aren't, leaving neophytes to the Damned a bit high and dry. Happily, an appreciative and detailed essay from one Herb Fenstein (more likely Chiswick label... Read More

History Never Repeats - AUSTRALIA
Artist: Split Enz

The Australian version of History Never Repeats: The Best of Split Enz offers a better picture of the band through a wider range (all of the albums are represented on this one) and better song selection. Although it may be hard to find, collectors will find this essential if only for the alternate mix of "Late Last Night," not available... Read More