This collection spans The Alarm's entire career up until 1989's "Change" LP. The disc also contains 3 new tracks recorded especially for this collection and 2 CD only bonus tracks.
The Alarm: Mike Peters (vocals, harmonica); Dave Sharp (guitar, background vocals); Eddie MacDonald (bass, background vocals); Nigel Twist (drums).
The Alarm, Wales' biggest rock group of the '80s, started as a mostly-acoustic junior auxiliary of U2, setting that obvious inspiration's bombastic rock songs in a powerfully folk-influenced style. By the time of their first full album, 1984's DECLARATION, however, electric guitars were already making appearances, and by the end of the '80s, The Alarm were indistinguishable from any number of other U2-derived arena rockers.
1990's STANDARDS, released just after the group split, is a handy package for fans and newcomers alike. It contains the far superior original versions of "The Stand" and "Marching On" from the group's out-of-print debut EP, as well as the much-improved single version of "68 Guns," minus the overblown breakdown section in the middle. The song selection wisely leans more toward the early material, cherry-picking only the best songs from the uneven later albums. This could be the only Alarm record you need.
