...
The Bad Examples (and head Bad Example, Ralph Covert) are much better known than I realized (sorry guys), or at least well-known enough to warrant a "best of" compilation. Thus we have Popscape: The Best of Ralph Covert and The Bad Examples (Waterdog) which is a treat for those already familiar with the band as well as those just making their acquaintance. The 18 tracks are culled from four Bad Example albums and two Ralph Covert solo albums, spanning the period of 1987 through 1995. Imagine if Crowded House was from the Midwest instead of New Zealand and you might begin to get a clearer picture of The Bad Examples. Over the years, Covert and the BEs have evolved into a terrific little pop combo. That's why, for my money, the songs that have more of a "pop" sensibility are the best of the "best." "Shades Of Grey," "Cold Shivers," "Ashes Of My Heart," "Faces In Picasso's Notebook," "'Til the Cup Is Broke," "Adam McCarthy" (an extremely beautiful and moving song about a dying friend that should have some resonance within our community), "Out Of My Element," "Feeling Your Head Against The Wall," "Every Poet Wants To Murder Shakespeare," and "The Reunion" are all "good examples" of the power of music to transport the listener.