Naming a ten-track Flock of Seagulls collection "Essential New Wave" is a bit questionable, to say the least (what's next, "Essential Pop" by the New Kids on the Block?). After all, A Flock of Seagulls seemed to vanish from thin air almost as quickly as they appeared -- leaving a pair of synth-dance hits and hair spray-heavy dos in their wake. Anyway, if you're looking for an affordable sampling of the quartet's best material, Essential New Wave accomplishes the task somewhat, compiling the expected tracks ("I Ran [So Far Away]" and "Space Age Love Song"), as well as such similarly styled, oft-overlooked new wave ditties as "Telecommunication" and "What Am I Supposed to Do." However, keep in mind that this is by no means a complete overview of the Flock -- such deserving tracks as "D.N.A." and "Modern Love Is Automatic" are nowhere to be found.