Punk helped restore a nervy, stripped-down sensibility to rock that was quickly filtered through a number of more pop-oriented bands that were labeled as new wave. Not surprisingly, many of these new wavers were holdovers from pub rock, whose unpretentious, anti-star attitude foreshadowed punk rock. These pub rockers were devoted to the three-minute pop single, but they also had a biting wit and kinetic energy that separated them from conventional pop/rock bands, and the best of this first wave of new wavers are collected on the dynamic D.I.Y.: Teenage Kicks: UK Pop (1976-79). Beginning with Nick Lowe's explosive "So It Goes," the collection runs through a series of classic singles from Eddie & the Hot Rods ("Do Anything You Wanna Do"), Wreckless Eric ("Whole Wide World"), the Motors ("Dancing the Night Away"), Tom Robinson Band ("2-4-6-8 Motorway"), Squeeze ("Take Me, I'm Yours"), the Only Ones ("Another Girl, Another Planet"), XTC ("This Is Pop?"), the Rezillos ("Top of the Pops"), and the Undertones ("Teenage Kicks"), throwing in a number of forgotten gems along the way. Although the collection doesn't feature Elvis Costello due to licensing restrictions, he isn't missed -- in fact, the collection plays better without him, since focusing on overlooked artists demonstrates what an amazing era new wave was for smart, catchy guitar pop. Few various-artist collections capture their subject as well, or as infectiously, as Teenage Kicks does. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide