While the original Nuggets compilation concentrated on the American pop
and rock scene, the second Nuggets shifted its focus to the rest of the
world, collecting cuts from the United Kingdom (such as the Pretty
Things and the Small Faces), Canada (The Guess Who and The Haunted),
Japan (The Mops), Australia (The Easybeats, The Masters Apprentices),
New Zealand (The La De Das and Chants R&B), Sweden (The Tages),
Iceland (Thor's Hammer), the Netherlands (Q65, Cuby & the Blizzards
and Golden Earrings), Peru (We All Together), Brazil (Os Mutantes) and
Austria (The Slaves).
All those who enjoy music richer in energy and daring than intelligence and maturity should add
Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond (1964-1969) to
their music collection--where it should sit right next to the series'
first volume. The lyrics to songs such as "I Can Hear the Grass Grow"
and "14 Hour Technicolour Dream" won't unlock life's mysteries, but the
reckless abandon with which these songs were written and played will
remind anyone how it feels to be young and angst-ridden. A few of the
selections, including "Pictures of Matchstick Men," achieved some
commercial success upon release; some were covered by bands more recent
or lasting than the mostly one-hit wonders who performed the originals;
others are so simple they sound like a lot of rock songs; and a number
include a distinctive sound or effect other rockers felt compelled to
steal. Plenty of songs, though, will be new to all but the most
dedicated collectors, and the fact that the best of these didn't make
the charts when they were originally released confirms that timing is
indeed everything.
