success with Night and Day , a blend of pop and Latin flavors that produced highly memorable tracks such as this retrospective's title song, "Another World," and "Breaking Us in Two." That very sophistication, however, has often proven the downfall of some Jackson discs and ultimately blurred his musical identity beyond the focus that, say, Elvis Costello has maintained through many stylistic shifts. Even powerful early music--such as several cuts from 1980's dub-wise Beat Crazy --is marred by sledgehammer irony, while excerpts from later albums are anything from tastefully bland to downright irritating. --Rickey Wright  (less)

who caught a snapshot of the artist at the start of his career and charted his phenomenal rise to success. Recorded between 1979 and 1983, this collection contains 32 live recordings including Is She Really Going Out With Him Steppin Out , Real Men , Breaking Us In Two and It s Different For Girls . Certainly, Joe Jackson in his prime! Universal.  (less)

moments of déjà vu. Pop hooks and programmed Latin rhythms abound, and the signature chords from "Steppin' Out" find their way into "Glamour and Pain" and "Stay." But Jackson has new tricks up his sleeve, including a potent string quartet and character-driven songs with vocals from Marianne Faithfull (on the darkly operatic "Love Got Lost"), Iranian singer Sussan Deyhim (on the no less elegiac "Why"), and transvestite protégée Dale DeVere (on the Pet Shop Boys-like "Glamour and Pain"). Still, it's Jackson who delivers the sucker punch with his bittersweet delivery on "Hell of a Town," "Stranger Than You," and the particularly barbed "Dear Mom." The sequel gimmick may not get Jackson another hit, but it should reintroduce people to an artist whose skills as a songwr...  (less)

top 40 album in the U.S., it includes 'Right And Wrong', 'Wild West', 'Soul Kiss' and '(It's A) Big World'.  (less)

his Pop/Rock and New Wave output from his early days straight up through his more mature offerings in the early '90s. 35 tracks including 'Steppin' Out', 'Is She Really Going Out With Him?', 'It's Different For Girls', 'Be My Number Two' and many more. Spectrum. 2007.  (less)

strikingly simple line-up in mind: just piano, bass, drums and his own unmistakable, eternally yearning voice. With its adventurous spirit and piano-based sound, Rain boasts plenty of humor, swing and sophistication among barbed social commentary and even some punk-like rocking out. Deluxe CD digipack includes 40-min DVD of live performances, interview and a rare look behind-the-scenes.  (less)

rock's angst and sneer with new wave's melodicism, Jackson would later mature in his artistic expression, exploring everything from reggae to big band jazz. Greatest Hits chronicles this development nicely. The urban sophistication of "Steppin' Out," and even "Breaking Us in Two," had Jackson entering Cole Porter territory. His adroit ability to turn a phrase, casting his keen eye toward the ironies of relationships and entanglements often made him seem like a new wave Noel Coward. While his later material hasn't always had the same commercial success, "You Can't Get What You Want" and "Hometown," it found Jackson receiving some of the most fawning critical praise of his career. -- Steve Gdula  (less)