What the following review from Andy Kellman at Allmusic
misses, is that there’s never enough Josef K available to download at any
moment in time to satisfy the need, nay the urge, belay that the craving for
all things K. Every compilation/re-release is eagerly consumed by the hungry,
nay starving fans for the possibilities that a rare or previously un-released song
is included. As an introduction to Josef K’s impressive back catalogue, this is
a worthwhile download.
Released by the Marina label in 1998, Endless Soul is a
serviceable overview of Josef K's brief career, taking the best songs from the
band's lone album and several singles into consideration. There isn't exactly a
great need for its existence, as there isn't much of a point in distilling such
a limited output that can be swept up in whole through the purchase of two
other excellent discs: Young and Stupid (a compilation of singles, stray
tracks, and a BBC session) and The Only Fun in Town/Sorry for Laughing (which
pairs the group's only official LP with its aborted sibling). If you spot a
copy of Endless Soul in a used bin and want to hear what this spiky Scottish
pop group was about, it's definitely a good way to spend some money. But know
this: Odds are the disc found its way into the used bin because someone bought
it, liked what they heard, picked up the two discs mentioned above as a result
(which takes care of all the band's studio work), and sold the unnecessary disc
back. The possession of the other two discs renders the possession of this
particular one obsolete. Judged on its own, it gives a fair representation, but
it loses big points for not including "Sorry for Laughing," one of
Josef K's key moments. (Kellman is talking bollocks again, Sorry For Laughing
is included)