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A lot of fans’ initial reaction to this release was “Not another greatest hits!” I actually didn’t mind this collection being released, because hopefully people would buy this instead of The Best Of Me, which was a terrible collection. I’ll focus on the international track listing rather than the US one. The small alterations to the second CD actually make a big difference. The second CD on the US version is enough to test the most loyal fans’ patience. Now I don’t care what BA says in the interviews about going through the back catalogue and choosing the most significant tracks from his career. This is basically all of the singles in chronological order, with a few exceptions. If I could make a few minor changes to the track listing, this is what I’d do: * Put “Kids Wanna Rock” on the first CD (obviously). Sure it wasn’t a single, but that didn’t stop if from going on So Far So Good. It’s a signature BA song, his best live, and its absence from BA’s Anthology is just plain wrong. Especially since this collection was made for the US market and all the fans there will remember and love this song from the 80s. If not, put a live version at the end of CD2. * Move “So Far So Good” to its correct chronological place, at the start of the CD2. Starting with 3 ballads in a row is a terrible way to start a CD. * Likewise put “18 Til I Die” in the correct chronological position and have the studio version (or even better Bob Rock’s mix). This would really liven up the second CD. * Add “Room Service” (the new mix). If anything this is the song that will be remembered from that album. * “I’m Not The Man You Think I Am”. Sure it’s nice to hear a new song, and I understand that it’s supposed to be obscure. But something tells me we won’t be singing along to this in years to come – it doesn’t belong on the Anthology. What this Anthology does allow you to do is reflect on what has happened to BA’s career over the years; and in particular, reflect on the difference between the kind of artist the general public perceive him to be, and the artist he actually is. During the 80s these two were the same. The general public that don’t buy BA’s albums can only judge him by the songs they hear, i.e. the songs that are released as singles. During the 80s everyone knew BA was a rock star. He was the boy next door, the “Canadian Springsteen” some called him. The singles that were released and the songs the radio played were rock songs. During the 90s, the public’s perception of who BA was severely grew apart from the artist that he actually was. BA was still producing rock albums and his concerts were nothing but rock. However, the majority of the singles that were released were ballads and pop songs. In the public’s eye he had change into a pop star; some even labelled him a crooner. The perfect example of this is in 1999. BA had just released an excellent rock album, On A Day Like Today, and he had started touring as a three piece. His live shows had never rocked as much as they did this year. The three of them blasted out every song; there was hardly a ballad in sight; songs such as “Back To You” were transformed into monster rock anthems; every guitar solo was at least twice as long; they did a six minute version of “Kids Wanna Rock” – SIX minutes!! And what two singles do we have to represent this time? “When You’re Gone” and “Cloud Number Nine”, two of the poppiest songs of his career. I reckon this is the reason he doesn’t pack out the stadiums like he used to. Before, when the general public saw him as a rock star, his music had enough pop to appeal to the pop market and enough rock to appeal to the rock market. Now that the public perceive him as a pop star, he’s alienated half of his market. If he wants to regain a lot of fans, I believe he has to not only create a great rock album, but let the public know about it. Easier said than done, of course, but it’ll be very interesting to hear how his next album sounds, and see what direction he will take his career. | |||||
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