*HEALTH WARNING - I want to give this album the review it deserves, so I expect it to be huge! You have been warned :) *

It's been quite some time since I wrote a proper music op. Until just recently, it'd been quite some time since I wrote an op on anything at all! But now I'm back to stay, at least for a while, and while I'm here it certainly wouldn't be right if I didn't write an op on one of my great passions in life - music. So here we go - clasp your mug of hot chocolate, climb into your sleeping bag, and settle back, because this is going to be a biggie…

Compilation albums have been the subject of much debate for quite some time now. Are they worthwhile? What should they consist of? And are they really good enough to warrant the title 'album'?

Recent releases have done little to improve the already tarnished name of the compilation. There has been a glut of injected commercialism, milking of the market, and an altogether less than professional approach to them. So what I will say is this - compilations should take a strong theme or genre, and build a well-structured and balanced album around it. None of this 'stick anything on that fits under the banner' crap, just to get an album out. If you're going to do this, you're going to have to do it well.

And so we come to one of my favourite compilation albums of all time. The Shine series, now sadly defunct, was a series of albums (10 and a couple of Best Ofs in all) that focussed on the indie scene of the mid to late nineties. There was 3 or 4 released every year, although this varied depending of the state of the scene (4 in 1996, but 2 in 1997). It wasn't a case of over-releasing - the albums were only released when there was a sufficient amount of decent material to warrant making one. I have all 10 albums, and while some are better than others, it is Shine 7 that is the cream of the crop. A double CD released in mid 1996, it has consistently good tracks with only a few weak points. One of the beauties of the Shine albums was that you would hear a mix of well-known tracks and unheard newcomers. It made listening to one of the albums a journey of discovery…

CD1
Cast - Flying
Ok, admittedly not a good start. Cast sounded pretty good in their heyday, but frankly they have dated worse than John Peel's hairline. Happy happy happy, with little thought to lyrics and a simplistic tune to wrap them over. Time to hit the skip button I think.

Suede - Beautiful Ones
Suede always did have a unique sound - both in terms of vocals and melody - and this track is no exception. In fact, it is possibly one of their best, seemingly taking a rather sarcastic look at the rock and roll lifestyle. Upbeat and powerful, this is a top track.

Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go
Taken from the award-winning album of the same name, this is a combination of clever lyrics, serene strings, and the usual indie staples of drums of guitar. This is an epic sounding track, and every inch a classic.

Gene - Fighting Fit
The Smiths-esque Gene produced this track for their classic album 'Drawn To The Deep End'. It is a feisty little number - a strong drum presence, powerful vocals and clever guitar riffs. Definite jump-around-the-room stuff.

Skunk Anansie - Twisted
Another classic track - Skin's vocals can vary between both timid and defiant within seconds. The drums are the real stand-out feature of this mournful track, subtitled 'Every day hurts'. Continues Gene's power-filled vein.

Longpigs - Lost Myself
The Longpigs were a sadly overlooked band in their day, their only real hit being the relationship commentary 'She Said'. Their contribution to this album is a chilled rock ballad, telling the story of a woman drained by one all-consuming relationship. The overdriven guitar and strings combination produces a wonderfully tragic sound.

Pulp - Disco 2000
One of Pulp's best known tracks, superbly poppy and an anthem of the era. Organ, guitar and drums combine to make a happy-go-lucky sound for a teenage angst theme you can't fair to like. Or indeed, relate to.

Lightning Seeds - Ready Or Not
Not everyone is a Seeds fan, but I love the 'throwaway pop' feel of their music. Always happy, always uplifting. This isn't admittedly one of their better tracks, but still a great song nonetheless.

Ocean Colour Scene - You've Got It Bad
A great guitar band, this has to be one of OCS's best tracks. Creating a superb sound with clever guitar work and effective use of effects, this is just what you want from a rock track - fast paced, good vocals, and adrenaline-filled.

Boo Radleys - C'mon Kids
I'm not keen on this track, an effort to follow up 'Wake Up Boo' with a completely different heavy indie track in which everything appears to be overdriven. Not great.

Silver Sun - Lava
An interesting band, Silver Sun often remind me somewhat of the Welsh band, the Super Furry Animals. Fast paced and dynamic, with some effective use of guitar and vocal harmonies, this sounds like a complete song, with a very full sound.

Bis - Kandy Pop
New punk-rock hybrid. With a little girl. Fun for about five minutes.

Placebo - Teenage Angst
I love a good bit of Placebo - Brian Molko's voice is completely unique, and this has to be one of the band's best tracks. The title tells all really, with some really nice lyrics to match. The high-pitched guitar works surprisingly well.

Soundgarden - Burden In My Hands
Rather a quirky track, although there isn't an awful lot to it really. It sounds almost like late eighties rock, but not quite.

Terrorvision - Celebrity Hitlist
They of Tequila fame, here with one of their earlier hits. This is a great indie rock track. The guitar work is great - simple in the verse, then a top kick-in for the chorus. And a brilliant solo near the end. The concept of the song is a little strange, about gambling with his car and family and losing them, and now being chased by hitmen. Erm…ok. Sounds great though, and it is.

Speedy - Boy Wonder
I haven't heard from this band after this track, which is a shame, because it's really good. Good guitar work with an uplifting horn section, and really great vocals. The song centres on a teenage girl's obsession with her pin-up posters, and it coming to life in a rather sinister way. (But now, his smile seems like a leer/ She's afraid to get too near/ She undresses in the dark/ She feels his eyes upon her back/ And she thought she saw him move/ She swore his skin felt smooth/ And he touched her somewhere/ How would you feel?/ Very worried/ Would it be as if it came to life) It's a top concept and great track. Superb.

Geneva - No-one Speaks
Not a bad track, although I always get the distinct impression Geneva are trying to be grander and more epic than they actually are. Strings and guitars, but in the end, the song itself is rather dull.

Echobelly - Great Things
Nice straight indie song from the girl-band Echobelly. Happy and pleasant to listen to - almost Bananarama-esque at times! The song is all about having ambitions.

Sleeper - Nice Guy Eddie
Ok, I admit it. I had a huge teenage crush on a certain Ms Wener, although I think most of my generation did! Let's face it, she was sexy as hell! (and probably still is!) That didn't stop the band also producing some great pop-indie singles, and indie-rock albums. Nice Guy Eddie is about a girl getting together with an old bloke for his money, but then falling for him and being gutted when he dies. Quite a unique sound really, almost electronic in places, although only a light form thereof.

My Life Story - Sparkle
I've always maintained that My Life Story were hugely under-rated. I always categorised them with Ben Fold's Five, which is strange, since their sound is really quite different. Strings are used to great effect, with a superb drumbeat to carry it along with. I'm still intending to get one of their albums - check out their best single '12 Reasons Why I Love Her' too.

Oasis - Morning Glory
No introduction needed - this is one of the best Oasis songs by a mile. Slapped on the end of the 1st disc to finish it nicely.

CD2
Garbage - Milk (Wicked Mix)
The second disc starts off very chilled out, with this, Garbage's most laid back track. A deep dance beat backs up Shirley Manson's haunting vocals, with choral strings and gentle acoustic guitar. Tricky provides backing vocals, which add a much eerier feel to the track.

Sneaker Pimps - 6 Underground
Halfway between indie and dance, this is the Sneaker Pimps' best known track, and continues the chilled theme. Acoustic guitar, strong drumbeat, and haunting effects reminiscent of Radiohead's OK Computer album create an enthralling track.

Dodgy - If You're Thinking Of Me
Dodgy were your typical pop-indie band, but this forlorn love ballad combines piano, strings and guitar to create something altogether more interesting. With a Levellers style sound, this is a pretty good track.

Shed Seven - Chasing Rainbows
Without a doubt one of Shed Seven's best tracks. Brushed cymbals and guitar start off this track before breaking into a very tight drumbeat backed with guitar and strings. Shed Seven are great at the best of times, but this is superb.

Electronic - For You
I'm quite a fan of Electronic, and this track reinforces my favour towards the band. Always managing to remind me somehow of elements of a more indie-like version of the Pet Shop Boys, this is an uplifting track with a fast beat and crisp guitar sound.

Babybird - You're Gorgeous
Just like Cast, this sounds alright when it came out, but now just sounds old, tired and distinctly cheesy. Skip.

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Patio Song
A gentle 'floating along the river' track from Gorky's this time, the rather pleasant band from deepest Wales. The Welsh language is present as happens a lot with this band, woven in with the rest of the song. Chilled and serene, this is a great song.

Space - Neighbourhood
A little-known single from Space, but a rather good one. A strong drumbeat and what sounds like a harp complement the guitars well. The song talks about the residents of a rather less than respectable neighbourhood, which adds some comedy to the proceedings. (At 666 there lives a Mr. Miller/ He's the local vicar and a serial killer)

Blur - Girls And Boys
One of the real classic Blur songs. Plenty of electronic effects feature in this distinctly summery track. It always manages to give me images of Brits on the pull in Ibiza or somewhere.

Divine Comedy - The Frog Princess
Very quirky song. Sultry vocals lap over piano, guitar and whistles(!), in a song that seems to be packed full of metaphor. I would guess it is about women who aren't all they seem (But how was I to know that just one kiss/ Would turn my frog into a cow)

Oasis - Whatever
Another Oasis track, and while I don't usually agree with having more than one track by a particular artist on a compilation album, I can make an exception in this case as this is my other favourite Oasis song! Never released on an album, it is the only Oasis track I've ever heard to have a string section employed successfully behind the usual guitar and drum regulars. It sounds great, and deserves its place on this album.

Supernaturals - Lazy Lover
This track is about (whisper) masturbation. Yes, I remember vividly the lead singer revealing that fact at one of the gigs I went to (Imagine someone shouting "This song is about masturbation!" if you will!), and it's really obvious when you listen to the lyrics. The combination of guitar, drums, organ and piano works really well. Oh and the lead singer looks a bit like Mark Morris out of the Bluetones :)

Supergrass - Lenny
Back in their earlier days, before they started experimenting, Supergrass sounded like a cross between an indie band and the Stones. And this is one of their tracks from that era, sounding great with bongos, guitar and drums. Nice.

Super Furry Animals - If You Don't Want Me To Destroy You
I think this is a very poor track from the Welsh guitar band - a slow and boring ballad with lack-lustre lyrics. I mean, "Gravity, you just hold me down so quietly", is hardly a good foundation for a song now is it? Ok to listen to once or twice, but after that avoid.

Paul Weller - Broken Stones
The man himself produces another classic. Muted drums and keyboards sit well alongside the guitars, and the vocals from Weller himself. Top lyrics, and even a bit of harmonica for good measure, this song takes the metaphor of a stone on a beach getting broken and bits getting lost as a angle on life.

Lemonheads - If I Could Talk I'd Tell You
A happy-go-lucky track, with impressive drum work and a rather tired sounding lead singer. However, this isn't a bad track, just nothing special.

Radiohead - Street Spirit (Fade Out)
If anyone knows a Radiohead track, it's likely to be this one - a modern classic by any definition. Depressing (of course), but superbly put together. Intimidating guitars are order of the day here, a lovely choral effect to back them up, and of course, Thom Yorke's distraught vocals to round it all off.

Dubstar - Not So Manic Now
Raising the tone a little, the slightly happier Dubstar bring us this commentary on modern life. Lovely vocals, clever lyrics, keyboards and an interesting drum arrangement. I really quite like this song - I hear they were pretty good live too.

Catatonia - You've Got A Lot To Answer For
One of Catatonia's best songs, though, curiously, the one no-one seems to have heard of. That's what comes of becoming famous for your second album I suppose. The song talks of unwanted pregnancy (If it turns to blue/ What are we gonna do?/ If it stays on white/ Will it be alright?/ If it all turns sour/ It's too late/ The CSA are bound to find you soon), and the melody is created simply through the standard drums-guitar arrangement. It sounds great, even Cerys' voice sounds OK for a change!

The Aloof - One Night Stand
A really bizarre track to finish off the album, a little too bizarre if you ask me. There is an electronic heartbeat noise in the background, with strings over the top. The song itself in fact sounds very much like the classic INXS song 'Never Tear Us Apart'. Not a bad track, but a better one could have been substituted.

And so that's it - the entire album. It's not all shining examples of musical excellence, but I've yet to find a compilation album that is, the difference here is that the majority of the album is quality tracks, and introduces you to some new faces as well as some old faithfuls. Definitely worth a purchase if you can pick it up in your local second hand record shop, I know copies of this album are still available as I see them around from time to time. Superb stuff. Until the next time!