Stew compiled and annotated this compilation by The Fall.
…this is a fine collection; brave, broad and admirably biased…
It is, of course, an appalling concept. Allowing writer/ comedian Stewart Lee to compile a selection of his favourite, latter-day Fall tracks smacks of misguided marketing;an ill-informed attempt to glean the collegiate vote for what surely remains the most virulently anti-student band in Britain. Duh!
Anyway. The onset of the ’90s saw Mark E Smith-uh and his ever-changing chums embrace new technology with gusto – a gambit that would provide a fresh framework for Smith’s misanthropic, beanbag-faced rants. While tracks such as last year’s brilliantly disorderly ‘Touch Sensitive’ could’ve been plucked from the riotous preserve of their late-’70s heyday, ‘A Past…’ shows the ramshackle approach of yore superseded by a battalion of samples and grinding, zeitgeist-courting techno beats. It’s an approach that has yielded some of The Fall‘s finest songs – with the synth-heavy, anti-EU wrath of 1991’s ‘Free Range’ and the deceptively sweet ‘Rose’ proving Smith‘s invective wears many, equally effective, disguises. With ‘The Chisellers’ being the only glaring omission, this is a fine collection; brave, broad and admirably biased.
– NME
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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FBC, finalgear.com
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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World Without End, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Idrie, Youtube
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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John Robins, Comedian
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Stuart, Chortle
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Etienne, Chortle.com
Etienne, Chortle.com
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
A D Ward, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk