Lush

No one has ever said that being a fan of British bands is an easy thing, especially when it comes to gathering up all their releases, myriad B-sides, compilation tracks, etc. Lush is no exception to this rule, and the variations in Topolino, the group's Lovelife-era extras compilation, provide a glaring example. A cursory comparison between the Japanese and Canadian versions of Topolino reveals that the Canadian version should be the one to get, benefiting from a lengthier track listing (12 versus nine). "Ah, the Canadian copy has three more songs." But, upon closer inspection, one notices that the Japanese version actually has two tracks that the Canadian version lacks ("Plums and Oranges" and "Piledriver"). What gives? Who knows, but the band shouldn't be blamed for holding fans' wallets hostage; company powers that be in the respective countries likely had a hand in this more than anyone else.

Now to the music itself. By and large, the Japanese Topolino is completist fodder, though it contains one major standout, "Ex" (also on the Canadian version). Certainly one of Miki Berenyi's best tales of post-breakup woe, its vaguely disco beat and gorgeous harmonies are something ABBA's songwriting team would have loved to write. And that's no insult. Unless it was recorded after Lovelife, "Ex has no business being relegated to a B-side. Drummer Chris Acland's "Piledriver," which doesn't appear on the Canadian version, is a slamming crush, marred only by Berenyi's distorted vocals. Had they been listening to Big Black that day? The other track not found on the Canadian version, "Plums and Oranges," is an almost successful foray into electronics and dub, but doesn't quite make the grade. And hey, not to kick fans when they're down or anything, but the purchase of both versions will still leave gaps in their collections. A handful of B-sides from the Lovelife singles remain missing, so no one should think that the extra money spent on the two versions will be rewarded by completeness. Purchase of all six CDs and three 7" singles, as they were released, would have completely avoided this headache. Yeah, sure. That would have only cost $75 U.S. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide