The
Jasmine Minks weren't one of Creation's better-known bands, certainly not one of the groups one would associate with the label on first thought. That being said, they crafted one of the label's earliest pop triumphs with the 1984 single "Think!" and released three excellent albums and numerous great singles between 1984 and 1989 that helped define the label's early sound. Jangling, heartfelt, and with
Byrds influences on their sleeve, the group melded skittering rhythms with insistent melodies on their earliest singles, then settled into a calmer, more thoughtful approach as they progressed. The highlight of this era is the magical "Cut Me Deep," which is the kind of mature pop
the Go-Betweens patented. This fine collection rounds up early singles, EPs, and album tracks made for Creation, in addition to sampling a comeback album made in 2001 for Alan McGee's Poptones label. It also grabs a track from a one-off single made in 2002 for the Bus Stop label and adds a newly recorded song, "Christine," that re-forms the original lineup of the band for the first time since 1986. A more casual fan would be wise to seek out the one-disc Revenge Of... collection, but anyone who wants to dive deep into
the Jasmine Minks' catalog will be well served by
Cut Me Deep. ~ Tim Sendra