One of rock’s most underrated bands, just released a Greatest Hits album and I am not sure what to think about it. I come from the school of rock fans who believe “best of” albums should be career recaps, the highlight reel of a band long gone. It’s true some bands like Tom Petty, Rolling Stones and U2 have all released greatest hits albums in the middle of their careers but when a band is still making new music, we have to ask “Why Bother?” Are they just trying to tour for a while? Are they strapped for cash? Are they calling it quits?

Whatever the purpose, The Place Between covers most of the Manchester trio’s best tunes spanning their four studio albums from 2000′s Lost Souls to last year’s Kingdom of Rust. If this album is intended for non-Doves fans than the luring qualities of “Pounding”, “There Goes The Fear” and “Kingdom of Rust” will surely draw you in. Other tracks such as “Snowden” and “The Man Who Told Everything” are a welcome change of pace but duds like “Catch The Sun” and “Jetstream” should have been left behind. Shockingly, some of the band’s greatest tracks are no where to be found. “Last Broadcast”, “Some Cities” and “Walk In Fire” are three gems that encapsulate the band’s atmospheric style and laid-back grooves. A real tragedy they didn’t make the cut but we’ve posted them below for your enjoyment. New song “Andalucia” is a simple fast-paced jam that fits perfectly alongside other classic Doves tunes but fails to do anything new.

Conflicting reports regarding the band’s future prompted drummer Andy Williams to address this in a rather ambiguous statement thru their website: “I’d just like to reassure you all that we’re definitely not splitting up and this is definitely not our farewell tour!! … Jez simply said there’s no plans to make a new record yet, which there isn’t at the moment…I’d never rule out us getting back in the studio again next year, we’ll see.” If this is indeed the Doves parting gift then I will cherish it as a collection of rock songs vastly under-appreciated in their time but stick with the band’s four solid albums as a truer testament to their hypnotic brit-rock contributions. If however, this temporary hiatus is merely a “time-out”, I’ll treat this collection more as a marketing ploy than an album and keep me eyes out for what’s next. But like the band said, “we’ll see.”