I Have Been To Heaven And Back: Hen's Teeth... Vol. 1
Mekons are shambolic, glorious, messy, and inspirational. They've broken up and reformed about half a dozen times over their 20-year career, shedding and adding members at will. In the process, the collective (led by ace cartoonist and all-round beer drinker Jon Langford, haunting vocalist Sally Timms, and wiry good-looker Tom Greenhalgh) have created several genius post-punk, country-influenced, frantic, melancholy, and political records (look forOriginal Sinand 1991's hauntingSo Good It Hurts). It's very appropriate, then, that this new collection of rarities is chaotic--a sprawling 17-track compilation that includes collaborations with theRaincoats("Gill and Vicky"), antihooliganism stances ("Mekons Vs. Peace Love Hooligans"), and covers of English nursery rhymes ("Oranges and Lemons"), plus the odd snippet of rancor and biting sarcasm, of course. Buy Mekons now, and change your life!--Everett True