Nothing quite matches Ocean Rain, but I reckon the first four should be owned: Crocodiles, Porcupine, Heaven Up Here, Ocean Rain. All great. Echo & the Bunnymen is pretty poor, but the reissue does contain the 12 inch version of Bring on the Dancing Horses which I love with a passion, despite, or because of, it’s eighties production sheen.
Evergreen, apart from Nothing Lasts Forever, ain’t much cop.
I am probably the only person in the world with a very soft spot for What are you going to with your life? It’s a bit middle aged but some great tunes: Rust is even better than Nothing Lasts Forever. One of the great lost singles of the 90s.
Flowers is v poor. Siberia is worth a download from emusic. As is the new one The Fountain.
Also worth mentioning two of Mac’s solo albums. Candleland – none more eighties but some wonderful songs. Slideling – enjoyable, but undemanding indie. But avoid Mysterio like the plague.

I love it, two absolutely brilliant singles from those early 80s charts Back Of Love, The Cutter, and on the remastered CD, Never Stop which is just as wonderful. The rest of the album is great too, but because of those singles it's a perfect place to start.

I adore the Bunnymen - Heaven Up Here is dfinitely THE one to go for and WATGTDWY is far better than people realised at the time, the new one is mch betterhat it seems at first play. See them live if at all poss -still the best live band on the planet

It's a great album in itself, but the reissue has the full length version of Broke My Neck (which I have to thank James Blast for introducing me to).

I think Crocodiles, their debut, is the classic, for sheer power, urgency and directness.

Heaven Up Here is the creative peak - much more experimental and exploratory.

Porcupines is similar; has some great moments, but I think overall isn't as good.

Everything after that - overrated, I fear...

but no finer compilation album exists than "Songs To Learn And Sing".

The first 4 albums are all great in my book (still).

However, for an even better single than Nothing Lasts Forever, try 'Rust'of the subsequent album. A real gem, although I didn't think much of the album.

..those first four are classics. There are more ideas on Heaven Up Here that most bands manage to come up with over entire careers.

Any more thoughts on The Fountain? The AC review put me off buying it..

Is it just me that has a soft spot for the Electrafixion album Burned that McCulloch and Sargeant released during one of their hiatuses from the Bunnymen then...?

Other than that, totally agree that the first four albums are must-haves and that there are some great tracks to pick and chose from the later albums.

I'd also argue that not many bands have had a series of consecutively released singles as strong as their first dozen: The Pictures on My Wall, Rescue, The Puppet, A Promise, Over the Wall, The Back of Love, The Cutter, Never Stop, The Killing Moon, Silver, Seven Seas, Bring On the Dancing Horses

...must dig that out! Great record.

Been a fan since their first album and caught them on most of their tours, but his time they were blown off stage by their support band Exit Calm.

just checked Spotify and all you need is on there, in fact I think I'll ask Santy Claud for the Ocean Rain remaster simply because of all the live at Bert Hall goodies. If nothing else the Bunnymen were one of those bands who's singles were worth buying because of the gems on the b-sides, Suede and Mansun were another two. Did I mention I hate The Killing Moon and Donnie Feckin' Drecko!?

when it came out and still think it was a worthy comeback album. Saw then a couple of times around it's release and felt the Evergreen material was on a par with most of the older material.
Spookily I was listening to "Never Stop" for the first time in yonks when I came across this blog.
PS Mac has to be one of the coolest frontman ever?

It's worth seeking out old clips of the Bunnymen on YouTube, if only to remind oneself of the inspired, sensitive drumming of the late Pete de Freitas. Wonderful stuff.

Still my favourite Bunnymen album and enjoying The Fountain