Pitchfork

For a band that only made music for two years, Tones on Tail had quite a remarkable influence on modern music. This remastered and re-engineered collection archives their entire output over two CDs: the first is the complete UK version of their only full-length release, Pop, while the second disc contains the EPs and miscellaneous stuff. With the exception of one very hard- to- come- by seven-inch, Everything truly contains everything.

When Tones on Tail-- two members of the ultra-spooky Bauhaus and a Bauhaus roadie-- released Pop in 1984, they faced the backlash of their former band's hardcore fans. Today, we can listen to Everything and rediscover the work of Tones on Tail in a new context, with the added benefit of hindsight. The music of Tones on Tail stands strongly on its own out of the post-Bauhaus context-- tracks such as "Performance" have clearly influenced not only new-wave peers, but also newer DJs in the electronic and dance scene.

"Go!" and "Twist" were two singles which definitively launched Tones on Tail into the spotlight, and it's clear why: their simple, straightforward, rock-n-roll approach was a brave step forward and the music was extremely catchy. Listening to these tunes after fifteen years have passed, I remember why I spent my youth listening to "Living it up/ It's a big kick/ It's good for you" on my walkman at full volume. These songs still have the power to move the mind-- it sounds silly, but listen again, and you'll understand.

On one hand, it's a shame that Tones on Tail never made another record, or that they didn't tour more extensively (they did only one international tour during their time together). On the other hand, there's a certain elegance in quitting while you're ahead. Everything gives us the opportunity to wistfully recall the days when "alternative" actually meant "different."