Just over two years since Reef released their fourth album 'Getaway', the hairy British rock combo seemed to have withdrawn from polite pop society altogether. Then, just before Christmas, proving they'd not been idle, the band showcased new material in a tour of the UK's more intimate venues. Not to mention allowing 'Set The Record Straight' to be used as the theme to current Tamzin Outhwaite BBC military police drama 'Red Cap'. Oops, mentioned it!
Not that credibility has ever been a significant concern of singer Gary Stringer and co. After all, if it had, would they have kick-started their career on an advert selling Sony Mini Discs for 'The Man'? Hardly as contrived and plastic as 'Popstars' but not commendable all the same.
Nope, what Reef have done over the years with their 'authentic', bluesy, bar-room tunes, is make many friends, on the back of joyous, life-affirming live shows and catchy, Led Zeppelin-meets-The Black Crowes anthems. Alright, to some, Stringer may occasionally sound less like Robert Plant and more like a strangled cat on forty Bensons and a bottle of Jack a day, but to others he's still an inspiring, gifted frontman backed by a group of fine musicians.
Hopefully 'Together', which features nine of the band's Top 30 singles along with five new songs, will remind the faithful and the doubters what a wholesome, national treasure Reef remain. It's also ironically, the finest, most cohesive album the band have produced so far. For while previous works have revealed flashes of brilliance, they have always fallen short, filling the cracks with sub-standard material or going for the Trans-Atlantic vote with naff, Aerosmith power-balladry.
'Together' collects the band's greatest offerings on one album, 1997's 'Glow' being the best represented by four classics - the inspirational 'Place Your Hands', 'Come Back Brighter', 'Consideration' and 'Yer Old'. Debut album 'Replenish' (1995) only provides two tracks while both 'Rides' (1999) and 'Getaway' (2000) only merit one each.
Of the new George Drakoulias-produced material, current single 'Give Me Your Love' and the bustly, bristling 'Stone For Your Love' stand out, while fans of 'The Big Lebowski' will be chuffed with the closing, fun cover of Kenny Rogers and The First Edition's 'Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In'. 'The Dude' would definitely have approved.
A mighty fine album then. But why put five new tracks on a greatest hits package? Do Reef not have enough for an entirely new album - or are these merely leftovers from something fantastic? (Record company axe perhaps? - Reef-loving reviews Ed)
This'll do nicely while we wait.
