The Undertones

Singles Box Set BMG

13 seven-inch slices of perfection, boxed.

This is it. The pinnacle. There is no “better”. Anyone who tells you different is a fully registered flat‑out shit‑faced liar. Other bands dealing in loud guitars and pop music had their moments: Buzzcocks’ incredible run of pre‑1981 albums and singles, Ramones being Ramones, [fill in your own]. The Saints, of course.

But these five unlikely Ramones‑loving lads from

Derry with a dissolute choirboy on vocals top them all. Every single track featured here in this box set – every single track, mind you, including B‑sides, throwaway live outtakes, whistles and all – is solid gold, a pure diamond classic.

The mournful Julie Ocean? Check. The cheeky Subbuteo‑ referencing, jealousy‑infused

My Perfect Cousin? Check. These songs of glee and adolescent male excitement often had dark, uh, undertones. Check out Emergency Cases on the debut Teenage Kicks EP.

The cheeky live version of Family Entertainment on the flip side of the underrated deep soul throb of The Love Parade? Check. The brilliantly pushy You’ve Got My Number (Why Don’t You Use It!) and even cheekier I Told You So (B‑side of the so‑beautiful Wednesday Week)? Check.

No wonder the band split up, disillusioned, when their magnificent fourth album

The Sin Of Pride entirely failed to dent the Top 40 in 1983.

Fancy releasing something as incredible as that, and it transpires that all anyone ever wanted was five acne‑ faced 16‑year‑olds from Derry singing songs about doomed teenage infatuation.

For shame, great British public, for shame!