Stuck in the Middle

Taking a look at my iTunes list I will make no excuses. I won't try to explain what songs are on there ironically or just as a joke between friends. Between the Counting Crows and Creation I have the Greatest Hits Album of The Cranberries. I'm not going to make an excuses for having this band except that they rock. I might have mentioned this in a previous post but I think it was only in passing.

For my money I think 'Zombie' is my favorite song of theirs. I also remember seeing the video on MTV when I was a young chap and not knowing what the hell is going on and what the song was even referring to (Those wacky Irish and their "Troubles"). The greatest hits track list opens with an absolute hall of fame starting three of Dreams, Linger, and Zombie. Thats an impressive starting three. It's worth noting that Dolores O'Riordan the lead singer of The Cranberries has also done one of those 'I thought she was kind of cute but now years later turns into a babe' category. This brings up a point to hit on though.

How should a greatest hits album be constructed. A band that was a One-Hit-Wonder or maybe just a Two Hit Wonder probably wants to frontload their album. (This is of course rather blasphemous in the era of the MP3 single, but lets just pretend you're buying a CD greatest hits and are going to listen to it sequentially like a reviewer for Rolling Stone in 1992) Give the listener what they want right away. The immediate fun song that got a ton of radio play and the one you really bought this CD for. Depending on the number of true "HITS" you might sprinkle them through a CD. I'd argue that unless you're a perennial mega band you should probably limit your greatest hits to around 12-14 tracks. This does not include the 2nd disc of studio outtakes and bootlegs from live shows though.

Say what you will about the Red Hot Chili Peppers but I think we can all agree they've been around the bend more than once and have lasted longer than anyone would have thought. Speaking of which I just sawy Anthony Kiedis today and not only is he rather short, but he is sporting some sort of mustache. He must live close because I've seen him something like 3 times coming from the same place and he is always wearing a jacket or something even though its sunny and hot out. But enough about bullshit celebrity sightings, lets talk about the Greatest Hits album by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Really well balanced and almost all the tracks are pretty much "Hits" that I can listen to from the first track to the last. Key in placement is the first track being 'Under the Bridge'. I don't think I know anyone who will say that Under the Bridge sucks. In fact its probably the most popular/well known song they've ever done. Its not a case of shooting your wad too fast though because they have enough hits to fill out the rest of the disc. Bold placement is rewarded in this case.