50% of this CD is pure bliss. The remaining 50% is merely excellent marred by a few spots that are great or just very good.In a lot of ways, the various SYMPATHY FOR THE RECORD INDUSTRY label's collections are the contemporary equivillents of RHINO'S STIFF RECORDS BOX SET. Buying them is like panning for gold and coming up rich. These are the gems you aren't hearing on the radio, but once you find them wonder how you ever lived without them.
The big revelation here is perhaps HOLE'S "RETARD GIRL" which proves a song that is not only politically incorrect but nearly despicable can also be insanely entertaining and addictive so, after showering upon your first listen, you want to dive right back into the mud wallow. (it also dispells all the hooey about Courtney Love's coat-tail ride to fame.) It's still a mystery to me whether the song is an endorsement of a point of view, an indictment of a point of view, merely a vignette of a bile soaked situation, purposely left to interpretation, or none of the above. Whatever the case, ultimately, it simply is a grinding erruption of Rock spit and fire. SO THERE!
To top it off, this is a great value. Over two hours of solid music for less than the price of the average major label release's ten minutes (or less) of singles and 30 minutes (or more) of filler (OK, even if the hypothetical release is good all the way through, you're still getting over twice the bang for your buck here.)
This disc is essential to any Rock'N'Roll collection, be it a collection of modern rock only or Rock of and for the ages.
My one gripe is with the on-line listing. No photo! This is a great looking CD package (extending to the disc faces themeselves) and deserves to be seen. Pastel candy colored heaven to go with the musical treats within, proclaiming "This is the world of girls, come on in and revel in its joys."
Also included is a booklet more generous (and entertaining) than those found in many four-times the price box sets. This is total entertainment.
Heck, the package art alone, the price, or just the song "DISHY" (everything else (AND I really mean EVERYTHING) is a bonus) make this a must buy. So buy it already.
C'MON, TURN OFF THAT RADIO AND SPIN SOME GOLD!
P.S. Anyone getting and loving this CD should then imediately get THEIR SYMPATHETIC MAJESTIES REQUEST which is more of the same... only different (not just the girls that is)