A 24-track compilation spread over three CDs might seem like pushing it a bit for a man who's famous for just one song, the freak Baby Bird hit 'You're Gorgeous'. However, maverick Stephen Jones just about deserves the benefit of the doubt - as the few people who have followed him throughout his career will know, he's undoubtedly one of the most original and eclectic songwriters around. His compositions might seem straightforward at first, but cynicism is never far from the surface and he smuggles in dark undertones and subtle wordplay with a skill that frequently recalls the best of Elvis Costello. By the end of this sardonically witty collection it's hard not to conclude that if he'd had a more distinctive voice, Jones's picture would be on bedroom walls throughout the land.
