The Undertones

While the Buzzcocks may have done punk-pop first (and arguably best), the Undertones may well have had more fun with it than anybody anywhere, and no one ever blended the naïve sweetness of teen angst with the bitter energy of buzzsaw guitars the way Derry's finest did. The Undertones' first two albums (and nearly all their singles) are essential listening, and this collection of seven sessions recorded for BBC radio hardly improves upon the originals, but it captures the group's bright, passionate sound with the rough immediacy of a good live album, something the Undertones failed to record during their heyday. While the band certainly gains polish and confidence over the course of these 27 tracks, what's most pleasantly surprising is how little they changed otherwise -- from their first moments, John O'Neill and Damian O'Neill's interlocking guitars and Feargal Sharkey's keening vocals hit their mark just right, and the band rarely made a false move after that. While the final four tracks (from the brave but ultimately unsatisfying Sin of Pride album) lower the overall averages, it's hard to beat an album with songs like "Get Over You," "Family Entertainment," "Here Comes the Summer," "What's With Terry," and "You're Welcome," and the covers of "Rock n' Roll" (Gary Glitter, not Lou Reed) and "(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet" confirm these guys never lost touch with their teenage canteen band roots. Fine stuff, and I have a hard time imagining any kind of fan of the Undertones not enjoying this. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide