I have to admit I bought this album for 'Teenage Kicks' and the summer classic 'Here Comes the Summer' but what I got was so much more than I expected. The tunes are so catchy that one listen of 'Top Twenty' will have it running though your head for days. The Undertones have a raw sound about them, some of the songs seem almost unfinished or underdeveloped (many of the tracks are under two minutes) but they sound good and in a world of formulated 'perfect' pop its actually quite refreshing.

Other tracks to listen out for are the Beatlesesque (or is it more like the Monkees?) 'One Way Love', the excellent 'Mars Bars' and the "I swear I've heard this one before from somewhere" 'You've Got My Number (Why Don't You Use It!)'.

*Update*

First of all I have to point out that my review is for the 26 track version of this album released in 2000 by Essential/Castle Music Ltd (ESMCD 831). I have since become aware that there is now a 31 track(2 CD)version been released by Salvo Music Ltd (SALVOCD017). The version I have has the same track listing as the version re-released by Santuary in 2004.

The extra 5 tracks you get in the 2009 2 CD Salvo version are:

Here Comes The Summer (Single Version)
Top Twenty (Peel session)
Nine Times Out Of Ten (Peel session)
The Way Girls Talk (Peel session)
Whizz Kids (Peel session)

And you get the "Teenage Kicks" video as part of the enhanced CD feature.

I did my review way back in 2003 and I stand by it. The Undertones debut album really is fantastic no matter which version you choose to buy. The B-sides are a must have and the follow up album "Hypnotised" is brilliant too.

Overall 5 out of 5. Great Stuff!