THE BEST OF 2

Despite the unsignificant and misleading title (Why "vol. 2" when there was never any "vol. 1"?) and the confusing cover image that is almost identical to the one used for 4LP box compilation "Sve ove godine" of 1986, this CD is interesting for collectors because of two things:

1) this was the first INDEXI release in the then still not widely produced CD format in ex-Yugoslavia; 2) this CD contains "Zute dunje" ("The Yellow Quinces"), previously unissued song recorded in 1989 for the movie soundtrack "Kuduz", including vocals by Davorin Popović and composition by Goran Bregović (ex-BIJELO DUGME), basically a re-working of the old traditional sevdah "Voljelo se dvoje mladih", full of acoustic strings.

From the prog perspective, this CD is largely neglectable; out of 17 tracks the majority belongs to the pop-schlager phase of the group recorded between 1976-86. Although sometimes first-class vocal pop or mainstream pop-rock music, many prog fans will want to skip this part. However, there are several prog-oriented or even fully progressive rock tracks: the title track from the masterpiece LP "Modra rijeka" ("The Blue River"), heavy guitar rock "Prazne noći a beskrajni dani" ("Lonely Nights and Endless Days"), prog-psychedelic masterpiece "Ugasila je plamen" ("She Extinguished the Flame"), and two not very known and popular but very good songs with prog elements "I mi i nas dvoje" ("We and the Two of Us") and "Pogresan broj" ("The Wrong Number", this one having a powerful spacey keyboards and guitars in arena-rock sound similar to some of THE WHO memorable moments).

"The Best of Indexi Vol. 2" may occassionally be useful to hear the first official digital release of the group, but more comprehensive and better compilations on CD were to appear in the following years.

PERSONAL RATING: 2,5/5

P.A. RATING: 2/5