|
|
|
Hooray, it's another installment of Kittridge's awesome Homemade Hits compilations! Not only will it introduce you to some great new acts, it lets you catch up with new bands, side projects, and solo recordings from some of your favorite underground pop fixtures from the '90s.
The first almost-half of this disc is solid awesomeness. It's led off with some experimental stuff from Golden Gram (side project of Gram from Rogue Wave, ex-Schrasj), and then really kicks into high gear with the next track, from Seadiver (f.k.a. Lunchbox), which is flat-out awesome, sounding like an American version of Monograph (one of my fave bands of the late '90s). Next there's some bratty Le Tigre-style post-riot-grrrl pop from Warbler, a sound which is revisited later in the disc by Chika Chika. Thunder! Thunder! Thunder! sound like something you'd have heard on the Merge label in the mid-to-late '90s. (And when are they going on tour with !!!, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Hot Hot Heat, etc.?) Vets Boyracer show they've still got it with their absolutely ripping track "Wholly Generic". Sweden's The State of Samuel occupy the middle ground between Tullycraft and Apples in Stereo. Substance-worshippers Bedroom Walls will take you straight back to the '80s. Chris Thompson of Eric's Trip emerges from under the blankets with a new and excellent Moon Socket track. The Hit Machine bring some dense and gorgeous vocal harmonies to their Casio-driven pop, and the harmonies continue with Papercuts and their pretty pretty track. Lo-fi fixture A Boy Named Thor gets keyboard-happy.
The remainder of the disc is not quite as consistent, but still mostly enjoyable. The first sign of trouble is the super-annoying track from Sleepy Township. Forest Giants, an ex-Beatnik Filmstar, contribute a track which is noisy but not too tuneful or memorable. Things start to get back on track with Tara S'Appart (a part of the whole Halifax lo-fi family tree) with a nice minor-key twee-pop number. I like Bearhand's heady experimental glitch-folk, which is followed by an old-timey ukulele- and clarinet-led tune from Scrabbel. Cranky old Slumberland Records mastermind Mike Schulman surfaces with his new trio The Crabapples, sounding for all the world like a bunch of snotty 19-year-old twee-punks. If you're not familiar with Busytoby you might think they're Mates of State wannabes, even though they predate the Mates, if I'm not mistaken. Tigre Benvie is a Thrush Hermit solo project and gets a little proggy. Sound-wise the Bennett track reminds me of something from the pre-Sifl & Olly "Camp Sunny Side Up" album. Captain Ahab contributes a track of ominous, head-nodding electronica that would work great as a backing track for a UK hip-hop act. Purist fans of Rocketship's seminal 1993 album will be disappointed with their new track here, which sounds like a minimalist techno remix. Kangmin Shin brings a heavier guitar sound to the mix, though the track is ultimately not that memorable. Ben, Pete, & Steve need to come up with a better name (or go back to being called Persons), because if they keep up with the Futureheads-meet-Bloc Party sound of this outstanding track, they could blow up pretty big. Poison Control Center perhaps pay tribute to the Ramones on their track "Ramona" and sound like Love & Rockets on a Pixy Stix high.You can pretty much hit "skip" when the "final" track from Gang Wizard comes on, unless you like amelodic improvisational farting around, to get to the goofy unlisted bonus track, which you'll only need to hear once. Despite a handful of misfires, I would say that this is my favorite compilation that I've heard in a while; it's chock full of excellent pop goodness with some real rock-solid gems, includes a wide variety of sounds, and introduced me to tons of great new stuff. And once again it features snazzy cover art from Susie of boygirlparty. Hooray! (mike.06.05)
rating
Fittingly enough, this is the CD that's been in heaviest rotation in my sewing room lately --- as I'm pain-stakingly, yet blissfully hand-sewing and crafting cute copacetic products, I'm rocking out to this awesome new compilation featuring 26 songs from fellow artists who pain-stakingly, yet blissfully (i'm sure) recorded their song at home by themselves!
There are so many fantastic songs on here, I don't even know where to start! Highlights for me include some of the following:
"Slowboat" by The National Splits: This is the solo-project of former Wolfie/Mathlete/The New Constitution Mike Downey. It's awesome: very folky acoustic indie rock, remaninig me a lot of Portastatic.
"Want Me" by Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti This song is such an incredible stand-out on this comp: it has the cool moody kinda fuzzy feel of something out of the 1960's. Its strong retro feel reminds me of The Lilys.
"All That's Left Of Me Is You" by Honeybunch Yes, it's THAT Honeybunch, the indiepop veterans from the early 90's who you've heard on Slumberland, Bus Stop, SpinART and K Records! Their triumphant return delivers a sweet romantic song that's sure to be mainstay on Valentine's Day mixtapes everywhere.
"Teenage Frustration" by The Mosquitos If his voice sounds familiar to you, you might be recognizing him from Portland's Kissing Book on Magic Marker Records! Added cool points: this awesome track was recorded by Dustin of Rocketship.
Really, I could go on and on! There are so many great artists on this comp (Boothby, Snoozer, Katie the Pest...). The CD artwork is awesome, thanks to Susie of boygirlparty.com! (I love the issues of Tape Op and the Tascam manual on the floor.) And you get 26 awesome songs for the low, low price of ten measly dollars. You just can't lose! (janice.03.04)
rating
related links