Some might like best the "Sweet Dreams" Eurythmics, featuring the frigidly-cool, androgymous detachment of a carrot-topped Annie Lennox. Some may prefer the hard rock of "Be Yourself Tonight," with its funky riffs and a more human Annie Lennox holding her own vocally against Aretha Franklin. But whichever Eurythmics CD you prefer the most, all suffer from the same problems. The hits are consistently awesome -- well-crafted songs filled to capacity with pop hooks, professional musicianship, and sung by one of the great voices of the last few decades. BUT ... the filler is wretched. Flat, lifeless (but well-played and well-sung) boring no-idea songs that go nowhere.

"Savage" is where all of the best features of the Eurythmics come together. It's basic electronic disco, but the songwriting and arrangements have never been more consistent. In other words, there is so much less filler. "You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart" may feature Annie Lennox's best vocal performance, striking the appropriate balance of the emotions of resignation, understated anger, and want. "Beethoven (I Love to Listen to)" and "Heaven" are pure fun electro-disco. The amusing "I Need a Man" adds some "rawwwwwwwk" to the disco sound. (Yes, rock and disco are not incompatible. Just listen to KiSS do their classic disco burner "I Was Made for Loving You.")

The bonus tracks are notquite as essential as they are on many of the others Eurythmics' "Remastered" releases. The one bonus track of note is a surprisingly good reading of the Beatles' over-played "Come Together." Annie's vocals turn this into a demand, rather than John Lennon's simple request.