Rating: 4/5.

It may seem strange to some that The Blow Monkeys (and frontman Dr Robert) have unleashed a greatest hits collection five years after their reformation, especially given the fact that The Blow Monkeys only achieved one Top 10 single - 'It Doesn't Have To Be This Way' - during their extended career. However, anyone who picks up this retrospective three disc collection will realise that there is a lot to be celebrated about the often overlooked eighties collective.

Formed by Dr. Robert in 1981, the quartet (Neville Henry, Mick Anker and Tony Kiley complete the line-up) unleashed their début album 'Limping For A Generation' in 1984, but only really caught the public imagination with their 1986 sophomore release 'Animal Magic'. Headed up by the controversial single 'Digging Your Scene', The Blow Monkeys proved they were about who were not prepared to beat around the bush when tackling controversial issues. While the single came close to the Top 10, peaking at Number 12, the group would have to wait another couple of years for their greatest commercial success - 'It Doesn't Have To Be This Way' - to score a Number 5 charting single and their only Top 20 album - 'She Was Only A Grocer's Daughter'.

With another two albums achieving moderate success before Dr. Robert went solo in 1990, the opening disc in the collection is the essential guide to The Blow Monkeys, as opposed to a greatest hits collection. A sensationally driven selection, The Blow Monkeys should be celebrated as one of Britain's best kept secrets. For when a group can release songs as delicious as they are socially relevant, then you know there is something special. While 'Digging Your Scene' is easily the album stand-out, 'Celebrate (The Day After You)', 'Springtime For The World' and 'Slaves No More' are equally genius.

Although packaged alongside his band's back catalogues, it would be unfair to assess Dr. Robert's efforts in a similar vein. While The Blow Monkeys excelled at new wave, Dr. Robert's mellow Britpop driven sound is better aligned with the solo efforts of Paul Weller (who features on two songs). While there is something undeniably striking about his grittier vocal efforts - notably album opener 'Birds Gotta Fly' - Dr. Robert really shines on his more uplifting Chris Rea meets Gary Barlow numbers - 'Staring Down The Birds' and 'Ode To Bacchus'.

The triple disc collection closes with an early live recording from the Hammersmith Palais. Clearly polished, accomplished live performers from an early stage in their careers, the collection closes by teasing fans with what they might expect from the reformed act when they hit the road.