Complete Albums, Singles and BBC Collection

McCarthy are 80s indie stalwarts trading in politically energized guitar pop - a true treasure chest of hooks, riffs, and leftist messages. Hailing from Barking, Essex, McCarthy are today considered one of the standard-bearing politically inclined bands of that era, possessed of a broader outlook and wittier, better-observed lyrics than most of the competition.

This four-disc set comprises the band's three albums (originally recorded between 1987 and 1990), related singles and b-sides, and a sixteen-track BBC sessions collection, most of which is previously unreleased. The albums are packaged in mini LP replica wallets and presented - along with a booklet - in a hard clamshell case. The collection contains countless classic originals and classic live sessions versions, totaling 75 tracks, including 3 indie top ten albums and several indie chart hit singles. It also includes 12 songs recorded for the legendary John Peel.

Excellent value and a must-have for anybody with an interest in the 1980s' British independent and alternative scenes or politically minded guitar pop. McCarthy disbanded in 1990, and two of its members went on to form the wonderful Stereolab. Other members have gone on to work in popular music and the media, and the band often receives exposure from Manic Street Preachers, who regularly cite their work as both beloved and influential.