The Very Best of Deacon Blue

This import double-disc, 36-track compilation from genre-bending Scottish pop outfit Deacon Blue may be a bit much for the casual fan, but it nearly earns its "definitive" sticker for longtime followers, many of whom voted for the songs that appear here through the group's website. Culled from 1987 to 2001, Very Best of Deacon Blue features all of the obvious singles like "Real Gone Kid," "Your Swaying Arms," and "Your Town," but its charms are found in the 30-plus cuts that pepper the rest of the collection, touching on fan favorites like "Dignity" and "Raintown," as well as B-sides such as "Indigo Sky" and "When You Were a Boy You Were a Beautiful Boy." Listeners looking for a little brevity might be better off with Our Town: Greatest Hits (2000) or Singles (2006), but it's hard to argue with any of the sophisticated pop sounds that emanate from this excellent anthology.