Various Artists - rage Most Chosen (DVD)
Ten years ago, the ABC released a double CD of the most programmed clips that were regularly selected by travelling musos asked to select their own playlist for our enjoyment most Saturday nights. The CD opened my eyes to some of the greatest songs of my generation, and even generations gone before, and has been responsible for the germination of my blooming love of such acts as The Saints, David Bowie, The Church and The Stranglers. It was a double CD of such reaching potential that it even now it remains a mainstay of my ipod’s most played compilations.
It should be no surprise then that ten years later, as the ABC releases a new DVD, Rage Most Chosen, that this too is going to be responsible for the beginning of many new love affairs, not necessarily for me, but for you, dear reader, were you not lucky enough to jump on the bandwagon back in 1998. There are many of the same songs here (David Bowie’s Ashes To Ashes, The Saints(I’m) Stranded, The Church’s Under The Milky Way), but all is forgiven since this is in music video form, which wasn’t included with the original disc (if memory serves, you may have been able to buy a DVD of the clips back then, but don’t quote me – it was ten years ago!).
As you would expect of a new version of an old compilation, while the classics remain so, it is the new tracks that make this the most interesting. Sonic Youth’s 100% doesn’t appear to have aged a day, and sidled next to The Presets’ Are You The One? cements this even further. Another oldie but goodie, Faith No More’s Evidence remains one tasty film clip, and confirms that Mike Patton was sexy even back then. Once the girls get over that one, a newbie in the form of M.I.A.’s Bucky Done Gun or Beth Orton’s classic She Cries Your Name will go far enough to satisfy even the pickiest of guys.
There are older songs here that perhaps have increased in popularity as they have aged but missed out on most chosen the last time around (The Boys Next Door’s Shivers, Primal Scream’s Rocks), played side by side with tracks released just as the first compilation would have been coming out (UNKLE’s Rabbit In Your Headlights, Pulp’s This Is Hardcore) up to songs like the afore-mentioned song by The Presets which are still on high radio rotation. There doesn’t appear to be any common thread between the songs, except for two somewhat obvious similarities: they have all been chosen time and time again by those lucky enough to programme rage; and they are all great tracks. There isn’t anything here that should (or for that matter does) disappoint. It’s all five star playlist here, and all viewers, no matter which music you prefer, will find something to enjoy.
