Ladytron, "Best of 00-10"
While the term electroclash came in and out of style almost instantaneously, only a small number of the groups lumped together under that umbrella had the ability to continue on past one or two albums. Ladytron have since proven their ability to create brilliant hooks and infectious songs (as evidenced on this collection) long after many of their contemporaries of 1999 and 2000 dissolved.
The album plays like a concert, songs are not in any chronological order but sound like a set list, with a strong opener, some valleys, peaks, and a strong closing. Additionally, the curator managed to squeeze as many songs as possible into the space allowed on the conventional compact disc. Best of 00-10 is available in both a single and double CD set as well as for digital download, which is beneficial for those of us who don't want to throw down the money to buy the same songs all over again.
The songs on disc one (or the standard release) are strategically chosen, opening with their massive "Destroy Everything You Touch" from 2005's Witching Hour and ending with two brand new recordings, a knockout shocker of a cover of Death In June's "Little Black Angel" (mad props from the Brainwashed crew!) and the new song and single "Ace of Hz." Disc two, while less essential, has plenty of other strong favorites like Velocifero opener "Black Cat," "Mu-Tron," from 604, and the adorably sweet ballad "All the Way," from Witching Hour in addition to the rare instrumental noisy Light & Magic bonus track "USA vs White Noise," which could easily be a tribute to their once contemporary (and equally nerdy) Add N to (X).
In 2000 Ladytron was all over the college radio airwaves with songs like "Playgirl," "He Took Her To a Movie," and "Discotraxx" from 604, which wasn't as much of a debut album as it was a collection of music recorded between 1997 and 2000. I'm disappointed that this collection neglects the single and fiercely popular track "He Took Her To a Movie," (probably because it sounds quite dated by now) as well as the brief but rare lead ditty on their Japanese only EP, Miss Black and Her Friends, "Miss Black." It also avoids the catchy tune "Sugar," which was a strong single and had a great music video to go along with it.
The versions of songs like "Seventeen" and the incredible "Runaway" are the original full-length LP versions, so whoever compiled the collection didn't seek the more concise "radio edit" single versions of the songs. While this is acceptable, it makes this a rather lazy "best of," as nobody made the effort to consider that fans don't want to buy the same versions they already own and new listeners can latch on easier to a version that is more direct and to-the-point. While Ladytron have mastered the riff, they do have a tendency to overplay it a few too many times and wear out their welcome, especially on "Deep Blue" and the aforementioned "Seventeen."
To be honest, this set reeks of a record label who bought the rights to their back catalog, freshly eager to reissue each original album, as it sounds more like a sampler than a true hits or singles album. It's a decent introduction for a new listener who showed up to their concert and wanted to leave with only 1 item that best represented their concert experience, however any true fan will realize the sloppiness of the package. Even though the deluxe version comes with an 80-page booklet of photos and such I would much more prefer disc two to have been a DVD compilation of all their music videos, however, as there's no true quintessential show-stoppers on disc two.
samples:
