by Vincent Jeffries

This compilation was originally released in 1992 and contains many highlights from the Suicidal Tendencies' oeuvre up to that point in time. The pride of Venice, CA, had released a string of wildly successful (for their genre) recordings up to that point, and it must have seemed like a good time to try encapsulating all the music from the Caroline/Epitaph/Epic years. Standout cuts include "Suicidal Failure" and "Suicide's an Alternative/You'll Be Sorry" from the Mike Muir-led outfit's debut and "Trip at the Brain" from the band's classic How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today. Later re-released on EMI in 2000, this collection sounds vibrant and alive, and should be given more than casual consideration by any casual Suicidal Tendencies fan -- that is, if a casual fan of the band exists. Hardcore fans should, and probably do, have all the studio releases that were picked through to compile FNG, so they need not bother with the record, but this release is still a fine listen on its own merits.