Various Artists - Do The Pop!

The Do The Pop! compilation series, particularly the widely praised original 2002 release and its 2008 Redux follow-up, serves as a definitive historical document of the Australian garage-rock and punk scene between 1976 and 1987. While the first collection is celebrated for its near-flawless 50-track run featuring heavyweights like Radio Birdman and The Saints, the Redux edition expands this scope to provide a more comprehensive, albeit grittier, snapshot of the era by including rare unreleased tracks and deep cuts from obscure cult legends. Critics generally view the series as an "invigorating" and raw essential for fans of the genre, though some reviewers from The Guardian note that the Redux version occasionally leans into more generic punk sounds compared to the rewarding diversity of the original set. Overall, the collection is highly regarded for spotlighting a powerful, isolated musical movement that prioritized raw energy and melodic hooks over the art-centered or fashion-focused trends of the UK and US scenes.

The Do The Pop! compilation series is widely regarded as the ultimate sonic archive of Australia's explosive garage rock and punk movement between 1976 and 1987. The original 2002 release is often cited by critics as a "near-flawless" 50-track masterpiece that meticulously maps the rise of influential titans like Radio Birdman and The Saints. Unlike the art-focused scenes of New York or the fashion-driven punk of London, this collection highlights an Australian scene that put raw music "firmly up front and center".

Historically, the series provides a benchmark against which modern garage-revivalists are often measured and found wanting. Reviewers at Urban Aspirines note that the sheer potency of tracks like The Lime Spiders’ "Slave Girl" or The Fun Things’ "Savage" captures a unique, isolated energy that allowed Australian bands to develop distinct sounds—much like the continent's own wildlife. It documents how geographical isolation fostered a grit and uncompromising melody that later influenced international acts like The Hives and Mudhoney.

The 2008 Redux edition offers an even deeper dive, focusing on the grit of the 1976–1981 period with a vast selection of rare and unreleased gems. While this "open-cast mining" beneath the surface is praised for its historical value and excellent biographical notes, some critics, including those at The Guardian, argue it can feel more "generic punk" than the original. They suggest that while the first set is an essential starting point, the Redux version is better suited for dedicated collectors looking for the "gold in those hills".

Ultimately, the Do The Pop! series is an "invigorating" journey into a powerful, often overlooked era of rock history. From the proto-punk brilliance of The Victims’ "Television Addict" to the dark power-pop of The Stems, the collection preserves the spirit of bands that prioritized raw energy and spirit over mainstream fame. For anyone looking to understand the foundations of Australian alternative music, these compilations remain a must-own document of a nation punching well above its musical weight.

Ripped to MP3

Disc 1

1. (I'm) Stranded - The Saints

2. New Race - Radio Birdman

3. Wild Weekend - The Psycho Surgeons

4. One Way Street - The Saints

5. Television Addict - Victims

6. Aloha Steve and Danno - Radio Birdman

7. King of the Surf - Johnny Kannis

8. Crying Sun - Radio Birdman

9. Didn't Tell the Man - Hitmen

10. Hindu Gods (Of Love) - Lipstick Killers

11. Living World - The Visitors

12. Face With No Name - Passengers

13. Simple Love - The Saints

14. Last Night - Scientists

15. Savage - Fun Things

16. Alone With You - Sunnyboys

17. Face A New God - New Christs

18. Alone in the Endzone - New Race

19. I Don't Mind - Hitmen

20. 24 Hours (SOS) - The Celibate Rifles

21. Happy Man - Sunnyboys

22. Driving the Special Dead - Lipstick Killers

23. Leilani - Hoodoo Gurus

24. Bwana Devil - Hitmen

25. Voodoo Slaves - Minuteman

 

Disc 2

1. Swampland - Scientists

2. 25th Hour - Lime Spiders

3. Igloo - Screaming Tribesmen

4. Be My Guru - Hoodoo Gurus

5. Slave Girl - Lime Spiders

6. Like a Curse - New Christs

7. Mirror Blues, Pt. 1 - Died Pretty  

8. Ice - Screaming Tribesmen

9. Don't Look Down - Decline of the Reptiles  

10. Johnny and Dee Dee - Eastern Dark

11. Burning Red - Exploding White Mice

12. Bye Bye Girl - Hard-Ons

13. Groove to the Eye - Psychotic Turnbuckles

14. Out of Control - Lime Spiders

15. Atom Bomb Baby - Scientists

16. Can't Resist - The Stems

17. Stoneage Cinderella - Died Pretty

18. Don't Talk About Us - Someloves

19. Girl in the Sweater - Hard-Ons

20. Walking - Eastern Dark

21. Back in the Red - The Celibate Rifles

22. Early Morning Memory - Philisteins

23. When You're Down - The Headstones

24. At First Sight - The Stems

25. I Swear - New Christs