The Wedding Present's history is inextricably intertwined with BBC DJ John Peel, an early champion who eventually invited them in for a dozen of his legendary, live-in-the-studio Peel Sessions between 1986 and 2004. (Peel would invite principal songwriter David Gedge in for a bunch more with his subsequent band, Cinerama, too.) As the name suggests, The Complete Peel Sessions gathers every session, from the snarling, super-strummed pop of its early years to a brief obsession with Ukrainian folk to later, slightly lighter years. The six-disc set also gathers live concert recordings from Peel's birthday party, interviews, and more. Yes, it's for completists, but most Wedding Present fans—people like Peel, who valued pop music as high art—tend to be understandably obsessive.
A.V. Club Rating: B
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