Picking up where Teenage Kicks left off, D.I.Y.: Starry Eyes: UK Pop II is even more pop-oriented than its predecessor, and that's taking
the Buzzcocks' searing "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've?)" into consideration. Although it includes a handful of great singles from artists that were on Teenage Kicks (
the Undertones' "Get Over You,"
XTC's "Life Begins at the Hop,"
Squeeze's "Up the Junction,"
the Revillos' "Where's the Boy for Me?"), plus
Joe Jackson's familiar "Is She Really Going Out With Him?,"
Starry Eyes shines in rounding up terrific singles from under-appreciated artists like
Bram Tchaikovsky ("Girl of My Dreams"),
the Jags ("Back of My Hand [I've Got Your Number]"),
the Records ("Starry Eyes"),
the Searchers ("Hearts in Her Eyes"), and
Purple Hearts ("Millions Like Us"). These are sparkling pop songs, with ringing guitars and immediate, catchy melodies. Very few of these songs were actual hits, but they are the cornerstone of British new wave and power pop, which has rarely sounded as energetic and vital as it does here.
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Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi