Singles 2001-2005

Singles 2001-2005 focuses on the Scottish punk-pop outfit's tenure with Beggar's Banquet, highlighting tracks from the band's first three albums Blackened Sky, The Vertigo of Bliss, and Infinity Land. Released to capitalize on the success of 2006's Puzzle, the band's first release for 14th Floor (an offshoot of Warner Bros.), Singles serves as decent primer for new listeners but a frustrating one for longtime fans, many of whom consider Biffy Clyro to be an album band (at least up until Puzzle). That said, as far as gateway drugs go, Singles provides a decent enough high to facilitate a return trip, especially on the strength of high-energy emo/power pop/prog gems like "27," "57," and "The Ideal Height." ~ James Christopher Monger