Echo & The Bunnymen Are As Old As I Am

My wife's college graduation present to me was Echo & The Bunnymen's Crystal Days (1979-1999) box set. It was my first box set and I'd asked for it because I figured it would be the cheapest and fastest way to sample the band's first seven albums. As a kid, I'd picked up their first greatest hits CD, Songs to Learn and Sing, just for "Bring On the Dancing Horses," which I'd heard on the Pretty in Pink soundtrack. After years of enjoying every song on that compilation, I decided it was time to branch out. Then I liked every song on the box set. After sampling all ten albums they have out, I can honestly say I have yet to come across a song I have to skip. My picks below are the songs that demand to be listened to, but all of their stuff works nicely as background music for me. Watch for their next studio album out 10/12/09 with the first single hitting 9/28/09.

1. "Read It In Books (Original Single Version)" (1979) B-side on the single, The Pictures on My Wall
2. "All That Jazz" (1980) from the album, Crocodiles
3. "Do It Clean" (1980) from the album, Crocodiles
4. "The Cutter" (1983) from the album, Porcupine
5. "Angels and Devils" (1984) B-side on the single, Silver
6. "Seven Seas" (1984) from the album, Ocean Rain
7. "My Kingdom" (1984) from the album, Ocean Rain
8. "Ocean Rain" (1984) from the album of the same name
9. "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue (Live)" (1985) from the unauthorized album, On Strike, a semi-bootleg of their Scandanavian tour featuring mostly covers
10. "All My Life" (1987) from the album, Echo & The Bunnymen
11. "Rollercoaster" (1987) B-side on the single, Lips Like Sugar
12. "Start Again (Live)" (1987) broadcast in Gothenburg, Sweden; my absolute favorite Bunnymen song
13. "Gone, Gone, Gone" (1990) from the album, Reverberation
14. "Devilment" (1990) from the album, Reverberation
15. "I'll Fly Tonight" (1997) from the album, Evergreen
16. "Rust" (1999) from the album, What Are You Going To Do With Your Life?
17. "Get In the Car" (1999) from the album, What Are You Going To Do With Your Life?
18. "Of a Life" (2005) from the album, Siberia
19. "Nothing Lasts Forever (Acoustic Version)" (2007) from the compilation album, B-Sides and Live (2001-2005)
20. "Rescue (Mindwinder's Remix)" (2007) from the compilation album, B-Sides and Live (2001-2005)

OUT TODAY ON DVD: KATH & KIM SEASON 1