My Album Of The Week for the week of August 26th-September 1st, 2013:
The Suburbs - Chemistry Set: The Best Of The Suburbs 1977-1987
I know, I know.... I've been living in Minnesota my whole life, I write about music, I try to stay up on Twin Cities music... Listen, somehow, over the years, I've never taken any time to figure just what all the fuss was about The Suburbs. It's something I've been meaning to do forever and I'm just now getting around to it.
Another thing you may be thinking (especially if you're a Suburbs fan), is, "Really, doo? Best Of?" Yeah, Best Of. For whatever reason, a lot of artists that I've really come to love over the years (Descendents, Smiths, Springsteen, Bad Religion The Specials, Buzzcocks, The Jam, Superchunk) I've started with "Best Of's" (or "Singles Collection's" or "EP Compilation's") and I've had great success.
With a lot of those bands I first acquired the compilation and then went back and bought the albums chronologically. I find that it's a nice way to approach an artist that already has an established legacy since once you go back and acquire those first few albums, when the band's sound may be a little more raw or underproduced, chances are there's at least one song on the record you already know from the "Best Of" album. I can only speak for myself, but I'm much more inclined to give the album more spins if I know there's something I can sing along to eventually. As you continue through the band's catalog those songs from the compilation become signposts. Like I said, this may not work for everybody, but I find it very rewarding.
Anyway... here's to finding out what all the fuss is about.
