This compilation, another in Virgin Records' lengthy line of double-CD "Best Ever" compilations, tackles the world of glam rock. It's expansive length allows The Best Glam Rock Album in the World Ever to show off the impressive versatility of the artists who worked under the glam rock banner: from the pure pop of Sweet and Mud to the edgy and intellectual stylistic excursions of Mott the Hoople and Roxy Music, this compilation shows off an impressive range of artistry that existed in this genre. It also includes some impressive rarities that attract the genre's hardcore fans: "Seven Deadly Finns" is a non-album Brian Eno single that finds that arty iconoclast in an unusually pop-minded mood, and Chris Spedding's "Motor Bikin'" is a delightful glam rock tune built on roaring, motorcycle-style guitar riffs. However, The Best Glam Rock Album in the World Ever suffers from the kind of basic selection problems that hinder many compilations. The first problem is the occasional questionable choice of artist: Golden Earring's "Radar Love" may have the kind of tribal drum break that popped up in many glam rock classics, but it is really a prog-rock trac,k and the Faces' "Stay With Me" rocks as hard as a glam classic, but it is too straightforward a rock & roll song to fit under the genre's banner. Also, the compilers sometimes make the wrong choice for the right artist: Bryan Ferry was a leading light for the artsy side of glam, but the R&B-styled ""Let's Stick Together"" is one of his least glam-oriented tracks, and "Perfect Day" is a great Lou Reed ballad, but "Walk on the Wild Side" had a stronger glam feel and a greater influence on the glam rock scene. Finally, there are a few big oversights: the biggest and most notable is the total absence of tracks by Gary Glitter, who scored one of the definitive glam hits with "Rock and Roll, Part 2." Despite these problems, The Best Glam Rock Album in the World Ever remains an entertaining and solid compilation of glam rock tracks with enough rarities to entice the hardcore enthusiast. It may not succeed as a definitive collection, but it makes a good introduction to the charm and surprising stylistic versatility of glam rock. ~ Donald A. Guarisco, All Music Guide