Until the U2 phenomenon broke the Blades were considered to be the Irish band most likely to go global. This Dublin trio acquired a massive hometown reputation in the early 80s with their dynamic blend of punk, pop and soul but somehow failed to make the vital commercial breakthrough. This retrospective is a completist's dream, containing as it does their only proper album The Last Man In Europe as well as all the other singles. It has to be said that there are signs here of why the band never really made it; some of the lyrics are awkwardly derivative and the production isn't really up to scratch. At their best, however, the Blades were an exciting band who wrote and played their songs with real conviction. They deserve to be remembered.
