
A real treat for fans of Howard Devoto's short-lived but well-respected collective. 3 CDs here cover alternate mixes, live tracks, Peel Sessions, singles, B-sides and cover versions. As much dependent on Dave Formula's keyboards as John McGeoch and Barry Adamson's guitars, Magazine were a cut above the childish tunefulness of Devoto's former band, The Buzzcocks, instead drawing on influences such as funk and new wave. In the beginning, then, Magazine produced a number of punk singles, of which 'Shot By Both Sides' is easily the best whilst the likes of 'My Mind Ain't So Open', 'TV Baby' and 'I Love You Big Dummy' showcases the kind of undemanding punk Devoto's former stooges provided. The group were considerably better and more original when creating anthems of bitterness and self-loathing such as 'Permafrost', 'The Light Pours Out Of Me' and their most successful hit, 'A Song From Under The Floorboards' and with its opening line of "I am angry, I am ill and I'm as ugly as sin" it probably invented articulate angst. Best of all is 'Back To Nature' an intense post-punk classic, knocking on for seven minutes. At a very reasonable price this compilation serves as an excellent introduction to this fine band and should not be considered as just a completist's collection for Devoto devotees.