There?s nothing like U2 and Greenday covering one of your most well known songs to spark the release of a greatest hits compilation.

Formed in 1977 in Dunfermline The Skids were undeniably the biggest Scottish punk outfit of 1977 - 1979. It?s clear from this back catalogue that this band has undoubtedly had an influence on their contemporaries.

From the choppy number of ?Sweet Surburbia? with it?s dumbed down fretwork and anthemic chorus to the surging punk outburst of ?Charles?. These singles are no-nonsense heady guitar riots. The gritty production gives such songs a real sense of the authentic. We see bands nowadays that sound truely amazing on record but in the live arena clearly cannot cut it. The Skids were clearly not into polishing their product, it was clearly more about the edge and the drive to how the music was made.

Into The Valley? has a pounding bassline and whiplash of guitar overdrive that creates a perfect trashy, pop punk record. There are certain songs that hold The Skids in common with the likes of The Clash and The Rammones, ?The Saints Are Coming?, ?Goodbye Civilian? and ?Melancholy Soldiers? all guilty of such. However there frequently crops up gems such as ?Masquerade? with its elegantly timed drumming and rhythmic breakdowns to give The Skids that much needed otherness.

Hopefully the release of the cover version will help elevate the profile of The Skids once more. This artillery of songs shows that they were a great force to be reckoned with and it?s important that people realise who the current flock of garage pop predecessors take from.