The Coolest Songs In The World, Vol. 6

They Say...

Review by Mark Deming, All Music Guide

Little Steven Van Zandt leads a charmed life -- plenty of record collector geeks who like garage rock make mix CDs to tip off their friends about their recent finds and enthusiasms, but Van Zandt has figured out a way to actually make money off such things, and he doesn't seem to be running out of enthusiasm as he released the sixth volume so far in his Coolest Songs in the World series. Van Zandt isn't afraid to get a bit idiosyncratic on these collections, which (of course) is a big part of their charm -- Vol. 6 leads off with Andrew Loog Oldham's theme tune for the British music show Ready Steady Go, around the midway point we're treated to a prime bit of vintage almost-psychedelic girl group vocalizing from the Cake, and the disc closes with something new from the Pretty Things (which sounds remarkably like something old from the Pretty Things). While the presence of the Stooges and the Go-Go's on this set is more than welcome, Van Zandt could have chosen better tunes than "Free and Freaky" and "La La Land," pulled from their respective comeback albums. The rest of the set thankfully ranges from good to excellent, with powerhouse tracks from the Paybacks ("Stranger in the House,") the Nomads ("Ain't No King of Rock 'N' Roll"), the Wolfmen ("Needle in the Camel's Eye") and the Stabilisers ("Belinda") rounding out the latter category. Van Zandt has a good ear for a great single (or would-be single), and while garage rock fans will dig just about everything here, he isn't afraid to mix up the formula and add some extra flavors to keep things interesting, which is why the Coolest Songs in the World series remains a great value for folks who dig their rock aged just a touch and with an extra serving of fuzz.