Led by gifted singer-songwriters Robert Forster and Grant McLennan, Australia’s Go-Betweens were a jangly folk-rock combo that compiled an impressive body of work from the late ’70s to late ’80s, broke up, and then reunited for another strong run in the early 2000s—until McLennan suffered a fatal heart attack in 2006. While comparisons to the Velvet Underground and R.E.M. are not implausible, the band was really its own unforgettable creature, suggesting a punk group trying to play nice pop songs, but not quite getting things right. Sometimes sweet, often astringent, the duo’s songs never felt pat or predictable (or truly finished), creating the sensation of hearing riveting first takes of future classics.
Compiled by Forster, G Stands for Go-Betweens contains four vinyl discs, including their first three albums and a compilation of early singles, and four CDs that offer a whopping 70 rarities, including an electrifying ’82 live show. It’s not for beginners—either of the early albums Before Hollywood or Spring Hill Fair makes a good starting point—but anyone who’s already joined the cult will find this imposing package irresistible.
