Definitive Version of the Essential Post-Punk Classic.
William J. Walker | England | 09/19/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have to admit I was completely unfamiliar with this band prior to this reissue and came to it via a recommendation. This is an excellent presentation of the music, as, rather than squeezing all the material on to two CDs as you might expect, we get: Disc 1, the immaculate album: Disc 3, the immaculate Peel session tracks: Disc 2 the variable quality other releases and demos, some essential, some not.
I decided to play Disc 3(Peel session) first as I figured it might be the most likely 'first point of contact' at the time of the original release. By the time its five 'short' tracks had finished I was hooked. The album(disc 1) is even better and is a 'proper' album i.e., good as the tracks are in their own right they are so much more when heard together.
The thing I find the most striking about the music is its deceptive simplicity, the driving force behind the music is the interaction between the Moxham brother's guitar and base, yet even the songs that rely solely on these instruments never feel lacking for it, in fact the spaces between the notes appear to have been chosen with as much care as the notes themselves.
The vocals and synth sounds aren't quite as strikingly unique(which is no criticism)since they have been so widely adopted by others since, but mesh perfectly with the sinuous rhythms to superb effect.
A lot of so-called influential/revolutionary music can seem primitive or to have dated but this really does sound as if it could have been released last week and would still trounce the opposition.
"
This is what reissues are all about
Chris bct | San Diego, CA USA | 01/28/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"First off, who is aware of YMG? Definitely an under the radar band even in punk rock. When their album came out in 1980 punx I knew were all into it. It wasn't punk. Still isn't. Yet it somehow is part of modern new rock, post rock, punk rock. Not new wave. It's so minimalist. There's a peace to listening to it. I bought the album and the 7" vinyl record and I think there was a 2nd 7" and some compilation album trax. Plus I got to hear the live in studio BBC Peel Session trax. They toured the U.S. once in 80 or 81. Didn't hear about it back then or I'd a gone. With the demos here and all the packaging it's clear that the folks who made this package did it lovingly. They're like a delicate butterfly musically. This package is a must have for those who are into punk, indie, post punk and so forth. There is simply no band out there like them, not even close. There's nothin' artificial about them. It's a delicate sound without being false. Another great reason to shop on [...]. They allow me to continue my habit from the early 70's on of shopping at used record stores. [...] is the Internet equivilent of that. Thanks."
This is excellent
Josh L. Patrick-Riley | Seattle, WA USA | 07/16/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A certain claustrophobic vibe is here in this whole album, like there is an enormous amount rage just waiting to explode and yet it never does. After listening to enough loud and angry music to make my head explode, this album is a welcome detour.
The melodies are amazing and the typewriter guitar can be hypnotic in combination with Alison's voice, which is beautiful in it's simplicity and reservedness (If that's a word). I've heard that the best music always draws you into it's world, and this album does that in spades. Colossal Youth is so brilliant that there is no way Young Marble Giants could ever top it, yet the closest is the quick glance at the band with the Peel Session.
Still, whatever you do, do not start listening to the album with EP/Salad Days disc, because though it has the amazing "Final Days" the Salad Days album is mainly inferior versions of what is on Colossal Youth. The intensity is lacking on Salad Days making Salad Days the weakest part of the collection.
All in all, I agree with another reviewer that the best way to experience the band for the first time is with the Peel session, though the main course is Colossal Youth."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1