Customer Reviews

The Very Best of The Undertones

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

 

 

Some of their earlier stuff is catchy punky stuff, while later efforts veer more towards traditional pop tunes. Either way most of these songs are quite good. You've got a traditional ballsy Irish singer with an attitude fronting a rollicking good-time band. Some of the lyrics are a bit juvenile (especially the early stuff), but there are some classic songs as well. My favorites include "My Perfect Cousin", "The Positive Touch", "Julie Ocean", and the incomparable "Its going to Happen". With 25 songs there's plenty to get excited about. A very worthwhile purchase.

The Undertones were one of the great pop-punk bands of their time and this collection of songs is an excellent introduction, thank you Rykodisc. High energy, irresistable beats, great lyrics, Feargal Sharkey's voice, and songs about food, girls and perfect cousins. So many wonderful songs on here, from "Teenage Kicks" right on down. Five stars.

Until you listen to this it's easy to forget just how good the Undertones were. Not every song was a hit, but there's some corkers on here, such as It's Gonna Happen and Teenage Kicks. Just buy it and remember what a terrific group they were, then listen again, and again, and again and ask yourself why they didn't have more chart success.

the undertones a punk band that i love with all my heart when really i don't like punk that much i usually listen too metal/folk rock/blues but somehow i heard featured on a telvision advert and was blown away by the simple get amazing song it was a song to make every teenager sit up and go yeah
"i get teenage kicks right through the night alright"
that lines sums up my whole teenagehood what a band
and there's some other punk classics on here too,

family entertainment, get over you, girls don't like it,
more songs and chocolate and girls ETC i could gone on for hours at how great the undertones were but i won't
just one lst thing JOHN PEEL THE LATE GREAT DJ thankyou

The Undertones' first album was totally punk with a touch of pop to it (think Green Day, only 100 times better!!!). Then they moved in more of a pop direction slowly with each album, but that never bothered me, because the songs were so bloody brilliant!!! The evidence is here! If you are afraid to buy a later Undertones album, check this one out! You'll get the lots of the early stuff and small doses of the later stuff (and I think you'll be VERY pleasantly surprised - unless everything HAS to be Punk for you - how boring!) This CD is TOTAL JOY!!!
Nothing less than 5 stars! Even without What's With Terry!

Poor Undertones! They should have been so much bigger. They were hurt by their timing and how they were originally categorized. They came out during the Brittish punk explosion but they were hardly punk. They were, when they first came out, classified as a second rate, Irish Ramones which was also grossly inaccurate. This was primitive Rock and Roll with no negativity, no message, no agenda...it was just fun, bombastic music sang by 15-17 year old bandmates. They had a knack for hooky songs, played them nice and raw, and the singer had a nice gritty voice.

They were the opposite of a poser...they were like you and I, strapped on guitars, sat at the drums and pounded out the songs with no pretention.

They were never accepted in the U.S. and when punk died out, they went with it. Too bad!

Most of the 25 tracks here are real good songs. The songwriting waned after the second album but they never prodiced a weak track. "Teenage Kicks" is the best of the lot. A real simple, practically two chord song with a great hook and sing along chorus. Other standouts are "Girls don't like it", "Here comes the summer", "More talk about chocolate and girls (what a great title!)", "My perfect cousin" and "hypnotized". All of these songs appeal to the teenager interested in girls, cars, food, girls and girls. The lyrics are done in almost a conversational style.

I wish the compilation had the song "jump boys" on it.

If these guys would have been lumped in with the "power pop" crowd (which is more their character) rather than the punks, they would have had a longer lifespan and more accolades.

One day, one of their songs will be featured on a movie soundtrack or covered by some top 40 artist and they will be rediscovered.

Whatever happened to Feargal Sharkey (their lead singer)?

What's with Terry -one of their best songs is not on here. It is the theme song for the great WFMU DJ Terre T. This is an unimaginable slight, and a crying shame. Time for a rerelease, Ryko!!