Search - Squirrel Nut Zippers :: The Best of Squirrel Nut Zippers as Chronicled by Shorty Brown

The Absolute Best Modern Jazz Band of the 1990s

Devin DiMattia | North Carolina, USA | 12/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I mean it when I call the Squirrel Nut Zippers that, although they bend the term "jazz" inside and out until they've broken ground in every single sub-genre of jazz. This best-of compilation, however, is an oddity. There's no mention of it on the band's official website (which hasn't been updated since February 2002). Nobody's reviewed it on Amazon.com or the All Music Guide. And since the Zippers only had one true hit ("Hell"), everything's free game in this collection.This disc contains 18 cuts: three from their debut, "The Inevitable"; five from their breakthrough album, "Hot"; five from my favorite album, "Perrenial Favorites"; and three from their mainstream attempt, "Bedlam Ballroom". The two extra tracks are unreleased pieces recorded during the "Perrenial" sessions. The first new song is a caribbean cover version of the Disney song "Under the Sea", sung by the lovely and talented Katherine Whalen. The other song is "Dancing on the Moon", a bouncy ditty written by the Zippers' bassist, Don Raleigh.As for the other tracks, the disc has, of course, the hit "Hell"; other favorites like "Put a Lid on It" and "Suits are Picking Up the Bill"; the wild "Ghost of Stephen Foster"; and the madcap percussion blowout "The Kracken". My favorite tracks are "Good Enough for Granddad", "Prince Nez", "Pallin' with Al" and "Bedbugs". Of course, me being such a avid fan, there are tracks I wish were on here ("Blue Angel" from "Hot" and "Evening at LaFitte's" from "Perrenial" just to name a few). Still, this disc is worth it for the two extra tracks and three music videos: "Hell" and two versions of "Put a Lid on It".The Zippers still reign supreme and always will! Cheers!"

...and they are TASTY!

M. Hartman | East Coast, Etats-Unis | 05/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A hot jazz inspired band that brought back the wild abandon of 1920's and 1930's era music, the Squirrel Nut Zippers created some wonderfully original music and had a hit in 1997 with "Hell". This greatest hits collection was strangely difficult to find, but well worth the effort. This was my first SNZ disc and seemed like a good place to start. I was wrong, it was a perfect place to start. The Zippers approach their songs with infectious zeal. This album is consistently fun. As this collection moves more or less chronologically through their catalog, you really see how their musical style developed. From the rough-hewn Hot Jazz of "Good Enough for Grandad" and "Lover's Lane" to the lush parlor jazz of "Hush", the final track. The cd also includes a few unreleased tracks for the collectors (the Squirrel's previously unreleased cover of "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid is wonderful). "Hell" as well as some semi-hits "Ghost of Stephen Foster" and "Put a Lid On It" are here as well. SNZ were by no means slavish revivalists, their music was creative, original, witty and FUN. Plus you can dance to it. What more can you ask for? This is splendid stuff."