Stereophonics – Decade In The Sun
It is that time year again where we start to get the usual onslaught of package compilations and greatest hits packages in time for the holiday season. This year Stereophonics have compiled their singles together in a nice package for the public. Now, the band is often maligned out there but they still have a rapid fan base and I must say I really enjoy how they handled this set.
“Decade In The Sun” does not include a lot of those sub-par singles on the main package. It saves those for the deluxe edition. So, we can easily avoid tracks like “Bank Holiday Monday” and “Moviestar.” Yet, the bands best songs on here. The bands only number 1 single “Daokta” starts off the album as it should as it is the bands defining tune. Then “The Bartender and the Thief” and “Have A Nice Day” follow suit and as you start to listen to this you will find yourself remembering and liking more track than you had let yourself admit to. “You’re My Star” is the new track on the album and it is a bit of a bore to be honest. The band’s cover of “Handbags and Gladrags” steals the show for me. They turn the track into an emotional epic and Kelly Jones never sounded so good. This type of track is when he always sounded the best never putting too much power in the voice and just letting it all flow out of his body.
If you put whatever you feel about the band aside it is hard to admit that some of their songs are worthy in our vastly growing collections. Plus, it does a nice job of cutting out the fat and giving you all you will ever need for the band.
By John Siwicki
