Oingo Boingo Album: “Anthology”

This is a tremendous compilation spanning the full career of the group as a rock band. Anyone who does not already own any of their albums and does not wish to buy them individually would do well to immerse themselves in the glory of Anthology.

Some folks have pointed out that there is not much to offer in this collection to those who already own some of the band's other albums. While there are no rare tracks per se, this release does offer a couple of perks for the already converted. Mostly, I think, for the ardent fan who's ready to drop another few bucks for any of the following reasons. First, the sound quality is excellent and may well surpass that of the original cd issues containing the same tracks. Second, this is the only way to get a studio version of Ain't this the Life on cd; I believe, in fact, that it's the only song to make it to cd from the 10 in. E.P. in its original form thus far.

Lastly, perhaps there is a very remote chance that if the album sells well, some exec will have the great idea of releasing all the rare and htf tracks that Danny's got safely hidden in his basement. In the meantime we can listen to our nth generation copies of said rarities, waiting for the day that the band can profit from the proliferation of those songs.

I adore this collection of songs. It introduced me to stuff I had never heard before and made me want to get more into Oingo Boingo. I was quite unhappy when I couldn't play all the songs after awhile. I learned on-line that the case it comes in is faulty, it comes unglued and the glue eventually gets on the CD making it unplayable, after my cd's started skipping in the last 2 or 3 songs. Thankfully the store I bought it at exchanged it without too much hassle and I immediately bought a new case for the cd's to prevent it from happening again.

This is a really terrific cd set, both for Boingo beginners and hard-core fans. I already have a somewhat extensive Oingo Boingo collection, but I still thorougly enjoy this album. Listening to Danny growl out some of the early tracks is especially satisfying. Plus the booklet has a lot of history and some really great pics of the band. Watch out, tender ears, disc 2 has some R-rated language.

As A Boingo fan from way back in the Mystic Knights days,I can only say this is a tired re-tread,in a new package. If you are the most casual of Boingo fan,you have nearly EVERY track on this C.D. The "rarities" are "Intro-Tender Lumplings(LIVE)" - which can be heard on the "Farewell" video,and "Insanity ( Medium Version)",which basically appaeared on a promotional c.d. featuring three different edits of "Insanity". Are those two songs worth the price of admission? No. The new package is nice,some great art by Georgeanne Deen,and has a great picture of the boys circa 1982 or 83 standing over a grave! But I would say this package is for the extreme collector. Besides...there are several "Best of" pacakges already! "Boingo Alive","Best O'Boingo","Skeletons In The Closet","Farewell" and now this. Sorry folks,in this modern age you could burn your own C.D.,from your own collection of Boingo,and make this exact C.D.! When the Boingo Vaults are truely opened,and we are offered stuff like "I Stand Defeated","Vultures","I Was A Teenage Monster",and other such unheard gems,then talk to me about "Anthology".

If you do not own any Oingo Boingo CDs one of their compilation CDs is a great introduction to their music. "Anthology" is probably one of the more complete compilations (I believe they have 4 or 5 total), because it was created once the band stopped making music (a very sad occasion).

Even though this has live music on it, if you want to hear a better sampling of them in concert get their "Fairwell" CD. Otherwise, you can't go wrong with this CD.