At their best,
the U.K. Subs played state-of-the-art British punk in the 1970s and 1980s -- angry, sneering stuff that had a lot of heart as well as a lot of attitude. Not everything the Subs recorded back then was great, but the band had its share of creative triumphs. Assembled in 2001,
Time Warp: The Greatest Hits looks back on their 1970s and 1980s output with generally exciting results. This 16-track CD boasts many of their most essential songs, including "Stranglehold" (not to be confused with the
Ted Nugent favorite), "Tomorrow's Girls," "Endangered Species," "I Live in a Car," and "Party in Paris." The Subs weren't afraid to be sociopolitical -- those who appreciate the angry political rants of
the Sex Pistols and
the Clash tend to have an easy time getting into
Subs gems like "New York State Police" and "Warhead." But the Subs never let their sociopolitical agenda come at the expense of a good hook.
Time Warp: The Greatest Hits isn't the last word on
the U.K. Subs; some die-hard fans might complain about the absence of "Police State" or "Fall of the Empire." Nonetheless, those who are exploring the band for the first time will find that this CD isn't a bad starting point. ~ Alex Henderson