They've been around for so long that most people know how they feel about Ocean Colour Scene by now. Indeed, few bands have provoked such extreme reactions of devotion or derision. In their twelve-year career though, the Scene have proved themselves one of the UK's most popular bands. And deservedly so, actually.
It is to their credit that the chaps have waited this long before releasing their first 'best of' collection. Lesser bands have been known to cave in at the five year stage, with a last ditch attempt to boost their flagging popularity. It is also to their credit that this 18-track strong collection of singles (ten Top 20 hits) album cuts, one live track and one new song maintains its high quality throughout. Add to that a limited edition five track live CD and by jingo you've got yourself a bloomin' marvellous package!
Few 'Best Of' compilations start off so well. The driving, riff-laden, beery anthems of 'The Riverboat Song', 'The Day We Caught The Train' and 'One For The Road' - all taken from 1996 breakthrough album 'Moseley Shoals' - show just why the band became such a success in the heady days of Brit-pop, alongside their muckers Paul Weller and Oasis.
The Scenesters' huge musical ability and their devotion to the mod-rock sounds of The Small Faces, The Beatles, The Kinks and the Stones, mixed with shades of The Strawbs and Neil Young, saw them delivering classic tunes long after the Brit-pop. The driving Thin Lizzy style thrill of 'Hundred Mile High City', the epic balladry of 'It's A Beautiful Thing' (featuring PP Arnold), the campfire, anti-war strumming of 'Profit In Peace', the infectious groove of 'Up On The Downside' - winners all.
Also featured here are a live version of 'Robin Hood' recorded at the Royal Albert Hall in February 1997 - guitarist Steve Cradock on the venue's organ- and the glorious, tongue-in-cheek, glam-rock stomp of new single 'Crazy Lowdown Ways'. Part Slade, part Wizzard, part Oasis it's a massive sing-along tune with a great life-affirming grin on its face. Which is exactly what 'Songs For The Front Row' leaves you with... that is, of course, if you're a fan.
by Gary Crossing