were one of the great cult bands of collegiate , not only because they had a distinctive sound, but because they were so damn weird. They sounded like nothing else in the late '80s/early '90s or anything that came before, creating an unusual hybrid of , , and the . So rabid was their cult that some critics said they could cross over into the mainstream, yet that never really happened, despite their strong English following. However, that notion gives the title to their best-of collection, . The 14-track compilation proves that they could never really have crossed over, mainly because their sense is quirky and they're often an acquired taste. , of course, wound up being a star with equally ambitious music, and while her talent is apparent here, it's often submerged by 's excruciatingly ridiculous showboating. was often overbearing on the albums (particularly toward the end of their career), and it is true that he's less irritating here than on the proper records, but casual fans should be aware that is only slightly less uneven than the actual albums, with the exception of the remarkable debut, . The collection, however, remains a nice way to round up the highlights, particularly those from and . ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine