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Amazon.co.uk Review
No single box set--however sumptuously packaged, however comprehensively compiled--could hope to contain the bewildering, diverse array of musical styles and opinions that was brought together under the loose description "punk" between 1976 and 1979. There were so many fresh ideas and concepts--the final, irreversible emancipation of women in rock and the creation of an entirely new, non-R&B, guitar-based music form--contained within that one word, no compilation could hope to represent it fairly. 1-2-3-4 has a damn good try, though. Five CDs, featuring 100 tracks from the good, bad and downright ugly of punk. This is a compilation for the historical completist, taking in everyone from the early trail-blazers (Sex Pistols, New York Dolls, Ramones, Television) through to the 1978 Rough Trade independent outburst (Raincoats, Slits, Pop Group) and the politically-charged (Gang Of Four, Au Pairs, Tom Robinson Band).
The post-punk "new wave" explosion is represented by the Buzzcocks, Devo and XTC as are the art-rockers by Siouxsie, Ultravox and Pere Ubu).
Even the novelty records get a mention: Jilted John and Television Personalities. The list is virtually endless.
Considering the genre's (relative) lack of commercial impact at the time, it's astonishing how its repercussions are still being felt today. The punk explosion was Year Zero for the music press; it was the direct precursor of the American grunge movement and it became the initial working model for the DIY dance and rap explosions. Moreover, punk was a point of influence that no "indie" band creating music today can hope to avoid.Elastica, the Stereophonics,Nirvana, Green Day, Offspring, PublicEnemy and Prodigy are just some of the bands the can find their mirror selves in punk. This is a mind-blowing compilation. --Everett True
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