Best Of The Bodeans: Slash & BurnUK compilation for U.S. roots-rocker’s who debuted in 1986 with Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams on Slash/Warner Bros. 17 tracks including live versions of ‘Still The Night’, ‘Say About Love’, ‘Paradise’, ‘Naked’, ‘Idaho’ & ‘Feed The Fire’. 2001.The BoDeans may have to play second-fiddles to guitar great Les Paul as Waukesha, Wisconsin’s favorite musical sons, but their rootsy, unpretentious rock & roll carved them a comfortable niche and loyal following from the late 1980s on. This 17-track anthology spans a decade of the band’s history, eschewing strict historical chronology for a running order that’s both more artistically interesting and listener friendly. Indeed, fully a third of the tracks issue from the band’s 1995 live album Joe Dirt Car, a gambit that helps underscore their spare, straightforward musical charms. The twin talents of singer-songwriters Sammy Llanas and Kurt Neumann form the band’s core, and the close harmonies of early hits “She’s a Runaway” and “Fadeaway” set the band’s tone, recalling rough-hewn takes on a vocal tradition that stretches back to the Everlys and Lennon-McCartney. But it’s a collection that also reveals the band’s range, from the U2-like drama of “You Don’t Get Much” to the pop-savvy Party of Five theme “Closer to Free” and a passionate live take of “Feed the Fire” that recalls John Mellencamp at his best. –Jerry McCulley   List Price: $ 13.96 Price: $ 6.09 |
Find a copy of ‘Thick as Thieves’ if you can ! It’s a much better anthology…,
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While I probably would never give ANY BoDeans release less than three stars, I would have to agree that this contains WAY too many tracks from ‘Joe Dirt Car’ (which, in my opinion, was one of the most overrated live albums ever – the latest ‘Homebrewed: Live from the Pabst is a MUCH better representation of what the guys sound like live). If you can, find a copy of the Australian import ‘Thick as Thieves: The Best of the BoDeans’ – it has 20 tracks as compared to 17, no tracks from ‘Joe Dirt Car’, and takes you right up to 1996′s superb ‘Blend’. Skip this disappointment of an anthology — it’s certainly not awful, but it could have been compiled WAY, WAY better.
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|Too Many Live Tracks,
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The pride of Waukesha, Wisconsin, The BoDeans scored some success on the college rock circuit in the late 80s and early 90s with their tuneful brand of midtempo strumming. Though they failed to score big with any of their individual singles, they had a half-dozen or so songs that became fan favorites. The 17 tracks included on “The Best of BoDeans” would have been a good overview of the band’s music were it not for the inclusion of five songs from their live album. Particularly unfortunate is that one of the live cuts is “Still the Night,” the studio version of which is one of their best songs.
There are some good original versions included in the collection, most particularly “Only Love,” “Closer to Free” and “You Don’t Get Much,” but it should be noted that the collection fades in the second half, reflecting the band’s waning fortunes as the 90s progressed. The CD booklet contains a fairly extensive history of the band and numerous photographs, but no lyrics sheet.
Overall, an unfortunately ill-chosen anthology that does contain some good moments.
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|An excellent overview for the uninitiated,
This is a nice compilation of BoDeans tunes from throughout their recording career, and includes at least one cut from every album. As will always be the case with long-time fans, I have particular favorites which were not included (“That’s All,” “Good Work,” “The Other Side”), but I really can’t quibble with the selections which are here. “She’s A Runaway” was the first BoDeans song I ever heard and it’s still one of the best; “Fadeaway” is a long-time favorite; “Say About Love” and “Feed The Fire” are both from their live album and rock out nicely. There are some strong mid-tempo ballads as well (“I’m In Trouble Again,” “Paradise”) and the song my son and I love to sing along with in the car (as do BoDeans concert-goers) “Still The Night.” Highly recommended.
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