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"), and
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
