13th Floor Elevators

To put this into proper context, this double-disc Roky Erickson compilation is a double- disc, 32-cut collection that documents Erickson's tenure with the 13th Floor Elevators. Those who are indeed collector's of the influential psychedelic band's material have everything already, the only convenience is that this is in a single package and leaves off some of the real dross, although there is some here. There is a great version of Bo Diddley's "Before You Accuse Me," taken from a 45, and a fairly clean-sounding of "Pictures (Leave Your Body Behind)," and the acoustic "Dust." Of course it opens with "You're Gonna Miss Me" (what did you think, it wasn't gonna be here?) The problem with this set is that it's on Charly, who do fine reissues except for sound. Their CDs are always muddy, for the most part, and this is no exception. Still, as hard as some of this music is to find readily, it may be worth the investment because the tunes themselves are, for the most part, amazing. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide