The Lucksmiths
' third collection of stray tracks (following 1999's
Happy Secret
and 2002's
Where Were We?
) is an epic-length treasure trove of indie pop greatness. Stretching across two discs and spanning 11 years, the Australian trio's back pages show a band unparalleled at delivering emotionally powerful, melodically pleasing pop tunes. The collection gathers up single B-sides, compilation tracks, rarities (like a version of
"Hiccup in Your Happiness"
cut for a TV appearance and
Hydroplane
's remix of
"I Prefer the Twentieth Century"
), and a bunch of interesting covers. They tackle songs by influences like
the Smiths
(
"There Is a Light That Never Goes Out"
),
the Bee Gees
"I Started a Joke"
), and
the Modern Lovers
"Dignified and Old"
) along with friends and contemporaries like
the Magnetic Fields
"Deep Sea Diving Suit"
the Cat's Miaow
"Make a Wish"
the Sugargliders
"Dolly"
). This collection is absolutely essential for fans of the band; there's no way even the most dedicated follower could have all these tracks. Indie pop fans should also seriously consider adding
Spring a Leak
to their collections as well, as you'd have to go pretty far to find two discs packed with so many stunning songs and brilliant performances, indie pop or otherwise. ~ Tim Sendra