Best of

Aztec Camera never really caught on in the United States. Finding their music in record stores was difficult, and rarely was their music ever played on the radio. After listening to The Best of Aztec Camera, I still remain mystified as to why the band never found an American audience because they delivered some of the most insanely tuneful and pitch-perfect pop songs of the 1980s. Roddy Frame, the band's song writer and lead singer, had impeccable pop instincts and was a stellar guitar player to boot. Aztec Camera deserves wider recognition, and if you don't believe me, listen to The Best of Aztec Camera for yourself.

In addition to "All I Need is Everything," the album contains delightful gems like "Oblivious," "Walk Out to Winter," and "Pillar to Post." Plus, you get the hilariously low-key re-make of Van Halen's "Jump." There are a few notable omissions. (How could they not include "Still on Fire"?) And I'm not particularly fond of some of Roddy Frame's excursions into blue-eyed soul. However, on the whole, this is a solid set of songs from a vastly under-recognized and underappreciated band. Do yourself a favor and get the album. It is superior pop music.


Roddy Frame rules the known universe   August 12, 1999
bry@interport.net (New York City)
30 out of 34 found this review helpful

With a maximum of 1,000 words -- and knowing that most Amazon.commies read far fewer of each review -- I won't spend the many lines and lines I'd like to in raving about the many geniuses of Roddy Frame. You can always ask my sister -- she'd tell you what I'd say.

I was compelled to write this review, though, having just purchased this latest greatest hits collection (two others, in the past, have been available as bootlegs -- I think they were promotional hoo-hahs of some sort or another), and wanting to assure potential buyers of three things:

1. You must buy this CD. If you know Aztec Camera, you know why. If you don't know Aztec Camera -- sheesh! -- you should.

2. If you don't know Aztec Camera, this is a great introduction, though there are many lamented absences ("Mattress of Wire," "Stray," "The Boy Wonders" and "Still on Fire" come to mind, any one of which I would have gladly traded for "The Crying Scene").

3. This should not be the only Aztec Camera album you purchase. You should get the full effect (not just the singles) of (AT LEAST) High Land, Hard Rain; Knife; and Dreamland. Not everything is in print, but if you prowl Amazon and your local record shop (both indies and chains -- my local Tower evidently has an import buyer with a thing for Aztec Camera, because I can always find something) you'll be able to piece together the collection you should have been building all along.

I'll stop now, but not before imploring you to ignore all those who say that the "Love" album sucks ('shallow lyrics, whine whine, blah blah' -- crud! Roddy with slick production and semi-fraudulent soul is STILL Roddy) or that "Stray" sucks ('what happened to the pop whine, whine blah blah' -- crud! all crud! 'Stray' is sigh-inducingly beautiful) and to discover Roddy for yourself. Now! You'll be glad you did.