1992-2012 - The Anthology

The three-disc 1992-2012 anthology replaces the two-disc 1992-2002 as a generous overview of Underworld’s lengthy second act. It was issued simultaneously with A Collection, a single-disc release featuring space-saving edits of the group’s lengthier highlights. Bizarrely, this lacks some of the cuts included on A Collection — namely “Beebop Hurry,” “Downpipe,” “The First Note Is Silent,” and “King of Snake” — and reserves the third disc for rarities, including B-sides, Japan-only bonus tracks, and compilation contributions. The cardboard foldout package is sturdy and holds a glossy, photo-packed booklet. Track information is minimal — there’s no release information whatsoever — yet most of the photos have dates and locations. Like a lot of career overviews, this is somewhere between an introduction and a collector’s item, but it initially retailed for the price of a single disc and holds an edge over the marginally less expensive A Collection.