Like many conceptual bands, Big Audio Dynamite were primarily an album-based group, turning out records that had a consistent sound and theme. The problem was, Mick Jones had too many ideas. Each B.A.D. record was teeming with intriguing sounds that only made sense on a handful of tracks -- in other words, they were an album band most listenable in small doses. That made them easier to anthologize than the average album-rock band, as the enjoyable hits collection Planet BAD proved. Super Hits, a budget-line comp that concentrates on their Columbia recordings, is nearly as entertaining as the full-fledged hits package, since it contains nearly all of their biggest hits, including "The Bottom Line," "C'Mon Every Beatbox," "Rush," "E equals MC2," "Contact," "Medicine Show" and "The Globe" -- everything except "Free," really. Hardcore fans will naturally prefer the full-fledged albums, and some will like the more extensive hits package, but this Super Hits will satisfy the needs of most casual listeners, especially those on a budget.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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