Customer Reviews

25th Anniversary Anthology

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've been a Fixx fan from the beginning and it's great to see them release an anthology. Most of the hits are found in other greatest hits packages, but the blend of live and studio tracks make this a unique release. BUT...... how in the world could they have left out "The Sign of Fire"?!?!?!? This was a radio hit and belongs in this collection before more than half of the tracks. Very strange.

Even though I have all the Fixx albums I was ready to buy this too until I saw the track listing. The substitution of live versions of hits would frustrate most new listeners. And for old fans the omission of Sign Of The Fire, Crucified, Phantoms, and Shut It Out etc is inexcusible. Also 5 songs from their good but LEAST good album Want That Life makes no sense. It was nice they included Deeper And Deeper but should've added Don't Be Scared along with it. The Fixx deserve a box-set but judging by this collection even if they got it it wouldn't be selected with much care.

There's a lot of songs on this collection, but probably more than deserved unless you're a die-hard Fixx fan. I just had heard and liked a few songs on the radio over the years (Saved by Zero, Happy Landings, Two Different Views) and figured the rest would be pretty good, too, but alas, not the case. Some were good, others not very memorable, so I would have given this collection 3 stars.

But what really got me was my favorite song, Two Different Views, was only included in live version, and IT WASN'T VERY GOOD. I have no problem with live recordings if done well. I recently got a best-of style Styx album and when I discovered it was actually all recorded live (not prominently noted on the cover) I initially groaned, but it turned out that I actually liked some of the songs better than the originals, and the others were just a little different but still as good. Such was NOT the case with Two Different Views. It's too bad they butchered one of their best songs. I'll probably listen for a while then sell this collection.

I'm giving this collection five stars even though i have two major complaints about this collection. the first complaint is four songs are live recordings which take away from the flow of the songs. The fixx are a great live band, but most fans own at least one live fixx cd. I really don't need to hear the fans sing the chorus of one thing leads to another. It sounds much better when Cy Curnin and the band sing it. The second problem is some of the omissions could make your head spin, most notably the sign of fire and less cities more moving people, which in my opinion is their best song along with stand or fall. (I had to buy the phantoms cd remastered to get that song even though i do own the ultimate collection which includes less cities but the mastering is so inferior to this collection. I guess that is the reason for omissions which happen to almost every artist)
So even though this collection could have been, and should have been much better, it is still superior to the ultimate collection because it gives you solid blocks of later material which some fans might not have. every album is adequetly represented. calm animals which arguably is their best album has five solid tracks on this collection while the ultimate collection only picked out driven out but had no room for calm animals which is another excellent song instead we have to listen to the extended version of deeper and deeper which is not even one of their best songs. precious stone is another aunting song from calm animals which represents the softer side of the fixx. There are also five songs from both albums elemental and want that life. I could have done without their version of "these boots were made for walking". For the casual fan the ultimate collection would be a great introduction to the fixx especially if they decide to reissue that collection remastered and add the song calm animals or precious stone by replacing the longer version of deeper and deeper with the shorter and better version. But for hard core Fixx fans like myself this double cd 35 song collection is a must have simply for the crispier sound ,which is amazing. listening to stand or fall in its original version you can't believe it was recorded in 1982. The clarity and overwhelming sound quality is outstanding. This is one of the best remasterning work I've ever heard. I compared it to some of the better bands of today like Coldplay, radiohead, and Travis, and the sound of these songs is actually superior 25 years earlier. The music definately stood the test of time. At this point you could probably pick up this double cd for about ten bucks. If you are a Fixx fan or casual fan get it. You might not like every song in this collection but you will find many great songs you never heard before in excellent sound.

Where's "The Sign of Fire"???!!! That is one of my favorites...I would rather just get the last compilation and then add other albums...

The Fans of The Fixx needs a box set, with rare cuts, liner notes and photographs of the best and honest rock band in the world. Meanwhile buy this compilation, its an eyeshore of all great songs of Fixx

I wasnt buying music when these guys were new, but I think this is a great cd Glad I got it.