Fantastic boxset from a pretty good group
D. H. Richards | Silver Spring, MD USA | 01/28/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This 3 CD boxset is a really great documentation of the short lived, post Propaganda band Act. (Not to be confused with The Act, which had the guy from the Dream Academy in it). Act had several singles out at the height of the ZTT's labels heyday in the mid 80s. With post Frankie Goes to Hollywood cash, and based on the semi-success of Propaganda, ZTT poured money into Act with multiple singles and formats designed to push songs up the charts. The result were many 7 " singles, 12" singles, CD single and Cassingles, all with different tracks. This set neatly collects all (most?) of these tracks plus the album, Laughter Tears and Rage into a neat 3 CD set. Music-wise consider act a slightly less aggressive Propaganda, and also slightly less interesting. I think as Propaganda Claudia Brucken and Co. made interesting, challenging posy modern pop. Act, well, Act made less interesting music, but still present well polished pop. "Snobbery and Decay" is a fave here, but "Absolutely Immune" and "Chance" are as good as anything Propaganda did. So why not 5 stars? Well, aside from some brilliant moments, a lot of what is here sounds like the by-the-numbers stuff that would mare FGTH's "Liverpool" album. Lots of sequencer runs and funky basslines, big beats, but in the end not much there. And for goodness sake whoever though that their cover of "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" was a good idea should have been ashamed. Fans will already have picked this set up (right? It is limited I hear!) Casual fans may want to stick with the single CD reissue also out."
Winner!
Lucas | Holland | 03/20/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This box-set is really everything what you can expect from a good anthology of a band. (Nearly) Everything is on here (except 2 remixes that came out of S&D in the same period, but they were on a white label, so no official one!) and I think it's a good choice to do the album with bonus tracks on the 1st disc, the remixes on the 2nd and the rarities on the 3rd. The 1st one is still available in stores and has the booklet as the cover. All 3 CD's are full of music, so there was no space left for anything more (if there was any). It has the original ZTT-logo on the box-set (very cool) and if you want a copy of it, search on ebay or something, because it's not available anymore (limited). Don't be surprised if you must pay twice the price of the original box-set. Otherwise... buy the single disc, it's not limited.
Pick a number!, spin the wheel!, play the game of chance! ;-)"
Claudia Brucken Is The Diva Of Germany
Kenneth Allen | 04/19/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Fantastic album. Not quite as fabulous as Propaganda's cds but a very awesome, very interesting group. But with Claudia Brucken's vocals how could it be anythng but wonderful."
Track Listings (22) - Disc #1