It was the Proclaimers' great misfortune that back in the late 80s the music press took one look at them - geeky twins with glasses, spiky hair and broad Edinburgh accents - and instantly dismissed them as a novelty act. Now, with the arrival of this 20-track compilation (culled from their four albums to date), it's surely time to give Craig and Charlie Reid some of the credit they so badly deserve. Not only could the pair whip up a greater musical storm with two guitars than most bands three time their size, they also produced some decidedly hard-edged songs about emigration (Letter From America) and Scottish nationalism (Cap In Hand) which packed a powerful emotional punch. Moreover, even in their more sentimental moments (and there were plenty), they maintained a sense of warmth and empathy with their audience that made them impossible to dislike. Not just a quality collection of songs, then, but a powerful argument against always following the crowd.
