Rarely in popular music has there been a family so closely associated with the sound of a city as the Nevilles and New Orleans. Since the mid-"50s, Art, Aaron, Cyril, and Charles, as the Neville Brothers and as solo artists or central contributors to key Big Easy bands, have defined that wonderful, sensual gumbo of soul, blues, and funk that is the sound of New Orleans. This compilation, a two-disc set compiled by Rhino with their usual attention to detail, follows the brothers in almost all their recording incarnations through to the mid-"80s, just before they released their most popular records for A&M. It is an extraordinary testament to filial chemistry and, in Aaron"s voice, one of the most beautiful instruments in all of popular music. It is worth noting that, fine as it is, the version of "Tell It Like It Is" here is a live one and not Aaron"s original divine single. Also, the compilers sadly decided to exclude any recordings by the Meters. That said, this is an essential document of a quintessential American band and will stand in good stead until the inevitable and definitive multi-disc box is issued. --Rob Stewart