Birds Of A feather (Best Of) IMPORT [Import, Original recording remastered]

ROUGH TRADE (Author) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Original Release Date: 1985
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: True North/Columbia, Canada
• ASIN: B000AMN6RM
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #838,559 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Tracks: 1.Birds Of A Feather-3:52 2.High School Confidential-3:12 3.All Touch-3:33 4.Weapons-3:44 5.Up Against The Wall-3:42 6.Insatiable-3:58 7.Fashion Victim-4:00 8.Crimes Of Passion-3:54 9.Territorial-4:42 10.Shaking The Foundations-3:57 // Canadian import compilation, long out of print, RARE.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Stick With the Studio Albums to Get Their Hits, March 10, 2011

By 

Kasey G (Toronto, ON) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Birds Of A feather (Best Of) IMPORT (Audio CD)

When Carole Pope and Kevan Staples decided to call it quits and disband Rough Trade, they still had one album left on their contract with True North records. The result was this 1985 greatest-hits package that also contained three new recordings that featured a new drummer and guitarist. The result is a mixed bag. I can't honestly give this album more than three and a half stars because it pales terribly compared to their stellar output like Avoid Freud and For Those Who Think Young.

The opener is a reworked version of "Birds of a Feather", but the original Rough Trade Live! version is far superior. This update is loud, cluttered and has a dated '80s sound. However, the presence of Lisa Dalbello on backup vocals helps make it the best of the three new songs. All three are very similar in production, which doesn't help either. Both "Up Against the Wall" and "Insatiable" are upbeat rockers (think "My Sharona") but are somewhat repetitive. On the former, Carole sings in a higher register during the chorus, which makes it more interesting.

Of course, their three Top 20 singles from 1981 are here: "High School Confidential", "Fashion Victim" and "All Touch". "High School" features a slightly-different ending than the original version (Carole's voice echoes on the fade-out) and I don't really like what they did to "All Touch". It seems like they edited the 12" extended version and the percussion is embellished and has a very tinny sound to it. Also, they added a second "Challenging eyes above the rim of a cocktail glass" during the first chorus, when it originally appeared only once near the end.

Rounding out the album are "Weapons", "Shaking the Foundations", "Territorial" and "Crimes of Passion". Of these, I'd say only "Crimes" deserves to be here. While the others were singles, none are what I would consider "The Best" of Rough Trade.

The casual fan who only wants this for "High School Confidential" or "All Touch" should consider purchasing those albums on which they appear rather than this. They are better albums on the whole and give the listener a better appreciation of the group than this compilation.

That being said, this is my favorite Rough Trade album cover. The way it's airbrushed, Kevan looks very sweet and innocent. The 11x17 CD insert opens up to reveal various black-and-white photos of Carole and Kevan as well as all their album covers. There are full credits for each song but no lyrics.

If you are a completist, you will no doubt want this for the three new tracks you can't get elsewhere, otherwise stick with their studio albums.