This five disc set is such a cool release. I suppose if you have the original albums, the main selling points would be the booklet and bonus tracks. Both of those are great. For those like myself who don't own those original discs, though, this is a goldmine. U.K. Subs are a real icon of punk rock music, and having all these discs is one place is great.

I should say that punk rock isn't necessarily the most diverse musical style. That's not the point of it. The energy and angst and power are what makes punk work. However, that doesn't make it all that well suited for track by track reviews of something this massive. That's how we do CD reviews at Music Street Journal, though, so I've done it that way. Let's suffice it to say that if you like punk rock and don't own these albums, I can't recommend this enough.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2024  Volume 3 More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2024.

This comes in noisy and almost metallic. It drops out to more of a pure punk sound for the song proper. This is all class.

Driving punk rock is on the menu here. This features some harmonica and is really driving. There is also a short melodic break that almost feels like arena rock.

I really love the mean guitar sound on this track. The whole tune is driving and full of venom.

Still definitely punky, this is a little more mainstream at the same time.

Another angry punk rocker, this is no big change, but another effective romp.

Fierce, furious and mean, this is another powerhouse. Explosions end this and take it into the next number.

The effects that ended the last track start things here. This come in percussive and builds out gradually from there. It ends in chaos.

Another driving, angry punk stomper, this has some intriguing sounds at play at times.

A bit more stripped back, this rocker works well. It's punk, but brings a bit of variety to the table.

Driving, fierce and mean, this has some almost psychedelic noise in the mix.

While not a big change, this is another effective punk stomper.

This isn't any kind of surprise. It's another driving punk rocker.

I really like this stomper a lot. It reminds me a little of The Ramones.

Not a big change, this is another fierce and effective one.

Another driving punk song, this is solid.

This is even faster than the rest here. It's a mean one that manages to stand really tall.

Now, this is not a Ted Nugent cover. This is another edgy punk rocker that works well.

I love the bass sound on this. This version of the track does seem a little more mainstream. It's still mean and punk rocking, though. I like this version better than the other one.

Again, I think I prefer this mix.

This doesn't seem all that different from the other version. It's driving and mean.

Feeling much more mainstream, I am not sure I like this take as much as the other version. Still, it's an interesting variation.

Noisy and driving, this is a strong version of the track.

I prefer the other version of this track, but in some ways this is meaner and rawer.

This is another driving punker.

Mean, raw and fierce, I like this a lot.

This is another frantic and furious tune. It's not a big change, but it does have a lot of energy.

Bass gets things going, and the track comes in with a mean punk meets garage rock sound. This has an almost psychedelic edge to it.

Fierce, raw and mean this is really cool.

Mean and driving, this is another solid punk rocker.

Somehow there is more of a classic garage band sound at play here. It's still decidedly punk, though.

A bit rawer, this is driving and classy.

While not a big change, this is another effective punk stomper.

Driving and furious, this is a killer track.

This is another example of classy punk rocking sound. There are no molds broken, but I do like the almost metal section later a lot.

Not any kind of big alteration, this is another fierce punker.

Another that delivers style without a lot of variance.

This is another driving rocker that works really well.

Fading upward, this is intense and driving.

This is a cover. As you might guess, it's a raw, but effective rendition of this classic tune.

Driving, fierce punk rock is the order of business here.

Not a big change, this is another powerhouse punk tune.

More stripped back, but still fierce, this does bring a little variety.

Starting with bass, this is a powerhouse number.

More of a blues rocking song, this has harmonica and a bit of a bluesy angle. It's an instrumental.

Raw, fierce, driving punk is on the menu here.

I think I prefer the other version, but this one works well, too.

Mean and meaty, this is another scorching hot punk rocker. I really love the guitar sound on this thing.

Driving and raw, this is another classy punk rocker.

After a little audience noise as they hit the stage the band power out into a driving punk jam that's full of fury and fire.

They bring the intensity and pace up on this screamer. It's another furious, angry tune.

Old-time rock and roll merges with punk on this powerhouse.

They don't let up as they pound out with more fierce punk.

This feels more intense and crazed.

While there is no big change here, the driving punk rock continues with style.

If anything, this is more furious and frantic.

With some stage banter at the start, this has an almost Dead Kennedy's feeling to it as it drives outward. I really like the guitar section at the end a lot.

Bass gets this track underway. They build it outward gradually, but work to a pretty standard punk jam as it continues.

No big changes, this is another driving live punk powerhouse.

This is even faster. It's raw and effective.

More driving punk is on the menu here. It's angry and just what you expect. I dig the guitar solo on the piece quite a bit .

Starting percussive, this builds out slowly. It eventually drives outward with a lot of punk fury.

Angry, raw and still catchy, this is another winner.

There is no big change here, but rather this is just another punk stomper.

Drums get things going here, and we get more driving punk.

This isn't any kind of surprise, but it doesn't need to be. It's another potent punk number.

With a little stage banter at the start, they power out into another stomper.

They keep up the pounding we've heard to this point.

This has an interlude mid-track along with a shift, making it a bit of a change. The powerhouse fast-paced jam late is absolutely on fire, too.

Fierce and angry punk is on the menu here.

While this doesn't hold any surprises, it's another competent stomper.

This mean number works well in this live telling.

Intense, driving punk rock ends this third disc.

This has plenty of punk built into it, but there is also some psychedelia and old school rock and roll here, too. It's an intriguing blend of sounds, making this one really stand out.

Driving, furious punk rock is on the menu here. It's angry and raw.

Furious and mean, this is another powerhouse.

Drums get things underway here. This is angry and reminds me of The Sex Pistols.

I really like the guitar sound on this a lot. There is plenty of energy and intensity here. This makes me think of The Dead Boys to some degree. There is a cool instrumental break on this thing. I think this is one of my favorites of the whole set. It has so much going for it.

There are no big change here. Instead, we get another driving punk rocker. That said, this is stronger than some of the others on the set.

Frantic and seriously pounding, the intensity is really ramped up here.

This is a bit more rock and roll than some of the rest. It's also got some catchy hooks.

Another competent punk stomper, this works well.

There are no surprises here. Just more driving punk rock.

Feeling a little meaner and rawer, this works well.

Furious and driving, this works well. There is a cool guitar solo section, too.

Not any kind of big variant, this one is another driving punk rocker.

I think I prefer this version of the song. It does have a real rock and roll vibe at play.

The production on this feels a bit more polished. The song loses no fury and power, though. It's another mean punk rocker.

I really love the more melodic introduction to this. The track has almost an early Police vibe. It's still tempered with plenty of pure punk, though. This is another highlight for me. It works so well.

Driving hard rock with plenty of punk in the mix is the idea here. This is another powerhouse.

Bass brings this in and some echoey, more mainstream guitar joins. This has a Clash meets Goth sort of vibe to it, at least to my ears.

This is sort of what you'd expect, but there are some hints of French music in the mix.

I'm definitely reminded of The Clash on this stomper. It has a more mainstream rock vibe than some of the rest do. It also has some catchy hooks.

This starts tentatively and drives out from there as it coalesces. This is some classy punk that seems to have elements of both The Clash and the Sex Pistols to me.

I dig the rock and roll meets psychedelia and punk vibe of this. It's more mainstream and classic in sound.

The mix of sounds on this track is similar to that on the last one. This is another that's much more of a mainstream rocker.

Mean and driving, this really feels a lot like The Sex Pistols to me.

Sneering, snarling and heavy, this one leans toward metal, but it's still pure punk rock.

The sounds of war, perhaps from a movie, get us going here. They bring it in from there with a plodding sort of sound that feels very metallic. This whole cut has a definite metal vibe to it. There is plenty of punky raw edge at the core of this track, too.

Punky and rather DIY sounding, this has almost a mainstream rock meets blues texture to it. It's an interesting bit of variety.

Furious and angry punk rock is on the menu here. This is a real screamer.

Mean punk rock is the idea here. This is another real winner.

I first heard this song when Guns 'N Roses covered it. This is the original. It's loaded with punk magic and goodness.

While this is somewhat subdued, it's also very dramatic. It's more melodic and mainstream rock based in a lot of ways. It's also a great song.

This has some of that understated, melodic, dramatic nature to it. It's another classy cut.

More dramatic punk is on the menu here. This has some definite Clash vibes in some ways. I'm reminded quite a bit of "London Calling."

A bit more metallic, this punk rocker is definitely strong. It has some anthemic moments and some cool guitar work.

There is sort of a wall of sound vibe to this. It's decidedly punk rock, but it has elements of garage rock and psychedelia at play.

This is fierce and meaty.

More of a pure, mean punk track, this is cool stuff.