MOG Editorial Review

Like many of the best British Invasion bands, the Hollies evolved over time from a pleasant pop-rock act to something much more intriguing and diverse, an evolution that's captured perfectly on this best-of compilation. Opening tracks like "Carrie-Anne" and "King Midas in Reverse" share plenty in common with early Beatles tracks, but by the time Epic Anthology hits the halfway mark, more mature, bluesy tracks like "Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)" and "Magic Woman Touch" show that the band was capable of growing over time and expanding their sound even as the poppy choruses stayed in tact. The Hollies are one of the few British Invasion bands to never break up, and while they never quite gained the notoriety of the Rolling Stones, staying together for all those years resulted in enough memorable tracks to make the ride worth it.