The Saints – All Times Through Paradise – EMI - ??? - ****

This four disc set of the first three studio albums by Brisbane's punk pioneers The Saints was first issued in 2004, its newly compact packaging reflecting the diminishing shelf space of its forty-something consumers.
But the kids should at least download the '76 disc I'm Stranded for its perfect meeting of mess and melody, and its rarely-bettered, genre-defining, title track.
1978's Prehistoric Sounds sees Ed Kuepper and Chris Bailey ditch the Detroit style dirt for jazz and soul influenced ditties, establishing a contrarian approach that continues, alone or in their recently reunited pairing, to this day.

(9/4/11)