Heaven & Hell: The Very Best Of The Mekons CD

While the world's loyal legions of Mekons fans will undoubtedly complain that this or that great song has not been included on the set list, the fact remains that HEAVEN & HELL is the Mekons anthology that the universe has long been waiting for. A two-disc retrospective, HEAVEN & HELL spans from the UK band's early output (1980's "Snow") to 2004's "Work All Week." The superb, non-chronological sequencing gives a whiplash, merry-go-round tour of the group's multi-directional musical charms, which pack punk, folk, country, reggae, and art noise, among other influences, into a body-flattening wallop.

Nearly 25 years of consistently high-quality work is featured here, with equal attention to the Mekons' post-punk origins, their classic mid-period records (FEAR AND WHISKEY and THE MEKONS ROCK N' ROLL), and their very fine late-'90s/early 2000s Quarterstick albums. Politically committed, fiercely independent, and tireless makers of unique, rootsy, and energetic music, the Mekons are one of rock's great heroic bands. HEAVEN & HELL reminds us of this, and, in many ways, it's a perfect rock & roll document.

The Mekons: Jon Langford.

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.Uncut (p.141) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[N]o other British band has cast its net so successfully wide..."