This came out in 1999 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Ah, the ironies of pop.
Legendary Aussie new wavers The Go-Betweens toiled in obscurity for years, only to call it quits a decade ago. Now, naturally, their career has never been hotter. Earlier this year, ubercool U.S. indie label Jetset released their long-lost first recordings to much rejoicing; now comes this long-overdue best-of set. As David Byrne-ish singer Robert Forster admits, that’s Best Of as opposed to Greatest Hits — despite their spry melodies, wry lyrics and romantic acoustic-pop (think early Talking Heads meets late-period Stranglers), none of these 14 tracks ever came within spitting distance of a chart. Still, you never know — if they can just stay broken up, in a few more years The Go-Betweens could be huge.
