I’m not the kind of completist who needs to own every last release from my favorite artists. Odds-and-ends compilations can be hit or miss—sure, it’s fun to hear an early version of a favorite track or a ramshackle cover of a guilty pleasure, but do I really want to pay a premium for a handful of outtakes sandwiched between leftovers? There’s a reason they were left over in the first place.

Enter On The Brink, Brad Marino’s new rarities and singles compilation via Rum Bar Records—the rare kind that feels like a no-regret purchase, the kind you can spin front to back and enjoy without skipping. Sure, you may have heard some of these tracks before (albeit in different mixes), but odds are they weren’t in your collection yet, either because they were digital-only or just hard to find.

On The Brink showcases all sides of Marino: decades spanning ramones-leaning pop punk (Dame Darcy, Hamburger U), garage power pop (C’Mon, C’Mon, C’Mon remains a favorite, as does Should’ve Known), classic rock’n’roll and ’60s pop influences, and killer covers of What’s My Scene? (Hoodoo Gurus) and Peggy Sue Got Married (Buddy Holly). This is good-time music from one of garage power pop’s finest songwriters today AND a lesson in how to make a rarities collection feel like a greatest hits album.

On The Brink is out now on CD/LP at a label that feels like Marino’s conjoined twin or soulmate: Rum Bar Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp