B-Sides & Abandoned Tracks

-Sides and Abandoned Tracks documents the non-LP material from the second LP through the present (the earlier non-LP stuff belongs to an indie label who's already compiled it on another great LP) and it instantly catapults itself over five of the six proper NMA LPs, and gives 1986's The Ghost of Cain a run for its money for the "best-ever NMA LP." No joke, this is a band whose B-sides have been mind-bogglingly great, and this 18-track monster plays start to finish with one truly memorable composition after another; how they could have left some of these off the LPs we'll never understand. In particular, "Ten Commandments" not only joins XTC's "Dear God" (also originally a B-side, unbelievably) as the finest anti-organized-religion song ever written by non-atheists, but the music is pulverizing. It demands singing along (no mean feat for such words). Ditto the anti-smack song "Heroin," and the anti-gang violence disgust of "Adrenalin" (up there with the (Newtown) Neurotics' "Mindless Violence" on this subject); both are as melodically and rockin' great as their no-nonsense, articulate and passionate lyrical matter. And that's just the start. Sullivan's burgeoning compassion is all over "Ghost of Your Father," "Prison," (which blew away its A-side "Get Me Out"), and the piano-only backed "Brave New World," so somber and ghostly, while the harsh keyboard that runs through "Courage" sends a chill. It's all here: acoustic tracks (some full band), full-blown rockers, one dance mix, and terribly, terribly fine material, do not miss this! Proof that at their most inspired, as this is 100%, all 18 songs, New Model Army has been one of the most important, exciting, topical, and emotional bands in all the world for 14 years. And this is clearly them at their finest! ~ Jack Rabid|