Stereophonics: Decade In The Sun

Ok lets get one thing straight. Stereophonics are not a bad band. 

It's easy to push them aside and write them off as has-been dad rock that no longer hold any significance in the modern musical topography. The Klaxons latest single followed by a classic Phonics record would seem out of place on any of today's radio stations, but that was never what they were about. 

Decade In The Sun, their official Best Of is honestly the best compilation of Phonics music we've heard on a single CD and shows that even if your sound is dated in the here and now, you can still be relevant in the grand scheme of things.

The 20 song long Best Of kicks off with Dakota, not exactly their strongest effort but an OK introduction into a long list of past hits. Local Boy In The Photograph is a perfect example and sounds fantastic even today, showcasing Stereophonics at their best.

And Jesus Christ is it good to hear Mr. Writer again, the rasping of Kelly's voice, the backing "oooo's", it shows its age so well and still comes off as one of the most mature Phonics songs to date. Same goes for The Bartender And The Thief, More Life In A Tramps Vest, Step On My Old Size Nines, we could go on.

Maybe Tomorrow is personally the best song they've done and sits well within the first half of the CD, noticeable but subtle in sound.

Sure you could argue the age old debate that every song sounds similar in structure but your not really listening to the songs as individuals if you can only focus on the entirety.

This isn't just a Best Of, its a celebration of a band that enjoyed 10 years in the mainstream and managed to hit the number one spot with every album from 1999 onwards. 

Call them dated, over-rated, a rock band for grumpy, old men but don't ever call Stereophonics unnecessary.