The Prodigy were the rave scene’s answer to The Sex Pistols: soundtrack to a generation of clubbers, yet frowned on by authorities and courting controversy, not least with their ‘Smack My Bitch Up’ promo video – initially banned by almost all channels, before being played by massive demand. Their Law does pretty much exactly what it says on the tin, collecting 15 singles from 15 years, spanning four albums – Experience, Music For The Jilted Generation, the mainstream breakthrough Fat Of The Land and comeback Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned – though perhaps not surprisingly omitting 2002’s ‘Baby’s Got A Temper’.
Which means?
If you’ve always been partial to The Prodigy’s mix of heavy guitar’n’bass dance music, but never actually shelled out on an album, this is for you. For those of you who’ve been living under a rock, think of contemporaries like Leftfield and The Chemical Brothers, or those they’ve influenced such as Adrenalin Junkies or early Junkie XL, then just buy this…
Is it much cop?
Undoubtedly. The massive hits ‘Firestarter’, ‘Breathe’ and ‘Smack My Bitch Up’ all appear early on, but older classics (‘Charly’, ‘No Good’) still get played regularly in clubs, while newer tunes like ‘Girls’ and ‘Hot Ride’ fit in well.
How many good tracks?
Some are better than others, but if you’re even a casual Prodigy fan I’d say all 15.
And the worst?
Perhaps a few tracks towards the end are a bit anonymous to have really merited their status as singles, but otherwise this is a pretty consistent set with no real weak links.
Biggest disappointment?
Unless you get the 2CD version, there are no new tracks, so not much incentive for fans already having the albums – other than to get all these songs together.
Verdict:
The Prodigy are unlikely to return to the status they briefly held around Fat Of The Land, and as such perhaps this will appeal more to nostalgic 20/30-somethings re-living their rave days. Nonetheless there’s no denying The Prodigy were important in their time, and their legacy has influenced others – and this anthology documents their music well for the uninitiated.

(4/5)

Release Date: 17 October 2005

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Their Law: Singles 1990 - 2005  Check For Live Dates