I have gone on record before to say that I don't believe Greatest Hits records are a good idea. They're a blatant cash-in and often are used to free up a contract so a band can move on. I'm certain this is the case for New Found Glory. They're one of my favourite bands and certainly one of my favourite live acts, but despite all my love for them it can't be excused to put out a record like this. A b-sides album, fair enough, a live DVD or some kind of odds and sods collection, I could handle that too. But this record simply does not offer anything new - there's absolutely no need whatsoever for any fan to buy this CD.
I'll get back to the morals and ethics in a minute as I need to write a few words about the music. The tracks on this CD are great. Let's face it, NFG
are one of the greatest pop-punk bands of all time and are an influence on a great many acts. 'Hit or Miss', 'My Friends Over You'... there are literally dozens of songs the band have recorded which could have made this record. It's always the case that fans will pick fault in the selection because that's what fans do. But the songs that are here are pretty faultless and a perfect representation of the band in their middle years -there's a lack of material from 'Nothing Gold Can Stay' perhaps, but as a band in their early years perhaps they don't see those songs as fully representative as they are now. As a musical package you really cannot fault what is here, especially for people who are not familiar with the band or younger fans looking to get into the band.
But I just don't feel there's enough here to warrant a purchase from true fans. We've already bought all these songs once, why should we buy them all again? If this had of been packaged up with a DVD or demos or something new I couldn't have cause for complaint. But this is a rip-off, there's no two ways about it.
4.5/5 for the music.
1.5/5 for the concept.
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