This reissue is a mixed bag, but still essential for power-pop and new wave fans. Simply put, if all it included was the first seven songs, then it would still be essential. It’s some of the best power-pop I’ve ever heard and fans of the period and sound should run, not walk, to get this. These are the four songs on their only previously released material (the previously almost impossible to find self-titled 1976 EP), two other Nerves songs and one by THE BREAKAWAYS, a short-lived band formed by two Nerves members (JACK LEE and PAUL COLLINS) before they went on to a short-lived solo career and THE BEAT, respectively.
Of the songs on the EP, future PLIMSOULS leader PETER CASE’s song “One Way Ticket” starts things off on an awesome note. I suspect that THE EXPLODING HEARTS may have listened to this one. Another clear highlight on the EP is the original, Jack Lee-penned and sung version of “Hanging on the Telephone” (later made famous by BLONDIE). I can’t say that I like it more than Blondie’s much more well-known version, but it could be just as good. Furthermore, Case’s “When You Find Out” (which I’d previously heard on one of the Rhino D.I.Y. comps) is nice to hear as well.
As for the rest of this 21 song compilation, it’s really a mixed bag consisting mostly of live performances that are hindered by less than stellar studio quality. In an odd way, it reminds me of the early ‘90s NEGATIVE APPROACH reissue Total Recall in that the studio stuff is awesome but the live stuff is so poorly recorded that it’s almost unlistenable.
As for the other studio tracks included, the one Jack Lee solo tune called “It’s Hot Outside” has a neat hook and a great BILLY ZOOM-ish guitar riff, but suffers from overproduction. The three Nerves demo included at the end are nice, but nowhere near the quality of the EP.
