Release Date: 04/13/2004

There isn't a single redeeming quality to Glitterbest: 20 Pre Punk 'n' Glam Terrace Stompers. Nothing but good old dumb fun. From the mindless cover of the Kinks' "You Really Got Me" by the Hammersmith Gorillas that kicks things off with a resounding thud all the way to the end of the disc, it is nothing but loud guitars, shouted vocals, stomping beats, and ridiculous lyrics. It covers the years 1971-1976, and if you recognize any of the bands here you were probably a member. Lost gems? There are a few: the tough power pop of the Jook's "Aggravation Place," the '50s-inspired outer-space boogie of Flintlock's "Sooner or Later," the tough Modern Lovers in a wind tunnel sound of Despair's "Sweet Sweet Heart," Streak's "Bang Bang Bullet" (which apes the New York Dolls right down to Johnny Thunders' trademark guitar swoops), and the primitive thunk of Crushed Butler's very very stupid "High School Dropout." (Is Crushed Butler the greatest name for a band ever? Maybe.) Best of all is the extremely nasty "Sick on You" by the Hollywood Brats, which includes tender lyrics like "I'm sick to death of everything you do/And if I'm gonna puke/Oh babe I'm gonna puke on you." Otherwise, the disc serves up a wide range of forgotten music that never made a dent in any chart but sounds damn fine in 2004. You get glitter with Bowie as alien vocals on Jet's "Nothing to Do With Us," weird Roxy Music by way of Taco cabaret glam from Tiger Lily on "Ain't Misbehavin'," an early primitive version of "City of Fun" by England's Glory (later the Only Ones), hyped-up pub rock from Ducks Deluxe on the rockin' "Coast to Coast," and wonderfully silly stuff like American Jam Band's "Jam Jam" and Spunky Spider's "You Won't Come." You won't find any of this stuff in the history books and no one would ever call any of these bands innovators or visionaries. So what. Crank it up next time you want to bug your neighbors, blast it out of your car speakers, embrace it as the offspring of the ridiculous novelty singles of the '50s that you always turn up when they get played by accident on oldies radio. Have fun! That is what rock & roll is truly about and Glitterbest is 100 percent rock & roll. ~ Tim Sendra, All Music Guide

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Release Date: 04/13/2004
Genre: Rock