Bort's Compilation Collection

[bort]

Not to be confused with the mixes that I make.  I've decided to listen to all my comps.  Very few good ones come out these days, so I figure now is the time to wrap up my thoughts about each one.  My only two goals for this is to: listen to music that I own.  I sometimes get annoyed with the fact that I have too much music to listen to.  And more often than not, I find myself enjoying the experience of listening to something I haven't spun in a while moreso than listening to the Leftovers album for the 100th time.  My other goal is to make thread longer/more successful than my Misfits of Science one. 



Afternoon Delight (Sub Pop, 1992)
Maybe this just keeps getting better, or maybe I just forgot how good it was back in the day. The disc is a mish mash of exclusive stuff, 7” single stuff, and cuts from albums, all with a common theme of “love” – for better or worse. The Sebadoh demo of “It’s So Hard To Fall In Love” is nice, though not surprisingly they’ve sounded better. Beat Happening is just one of those bands that sounds great in warm, sunny weather. Unrest were underrated. Codeine were never my bag but they were good at the slowcore they did. The Smashing Pumpkins song “La Dolly Vita” isn’t anything spectacular (something that can be said about many, many Pumpkins b-sides – Corgan at least knew enough to cut the weaker stuff in his early days) but the guitar sound is still awesome. Seaweed put forth the best song on their weak Weak album, “Clean Slate” and the Reverend Horton Heat do their country bar ballad “Where In The Hell Did You Go With My Toothbrush,” which I think was exclusive to this comp until the RHH did a singles/rarities collection years later. The Vasalines are classic. Decent swings but misses from: Come, Green River, Afghan Whigs.
Batting Average: 7 for 13 (.538)

[ChaddDerkins]

I like this thread!  More!

[Grath]

I had that shit on tape!  I LOVE the Billy Childish and Kyra song!!  I used to really like the Rev Horton Heat song as well. 

[Paisley Park]

my two favorite, completely perfect compilations are PUNK USA and HEY DRAG CITY.  i hope you review them!

[bort]

PUNK USA

It'll be a while since i'm going alphabetically.

[Grath]

Back Asswards!!

[bort]

Back Asswards!!

Sooner than later, but not too soon.

[Grath]

I'M A VEGETARIAN!!!!!!!!!

[dan]

you should post tracklists (because I'm lazy)

[bort]

AK Press Presents: Better Read Than Dead and Return of the Read Menace
(AK Press/Epitaph, 1996 and AK Press/G-7 Welcoming Committee, 1999)

A two-fer this time. I’ve found that benefit cds usually produce better material than tribute albums. Both comps have two things going for them: exclusive cuts and a variety of material. The original, BRTD, not only gave me non-album treats from NOFX, Snuff, and Pitchshifter, but also has the honor of introducing me to Spazz, whose track “Mighty Morphin Power Violence” is the penultimate song of that genre. That, however pales in comparison to the fact that this comp introduced me to one of my favorite bands of all time – Chumbawamba (Tubthumper wouldn’t come out until a year later). And the track “Safety Pin Stuck In My Heart” is such a sweet one. The disc also contains cool stuff from Zoinks, Blaggers Ita, and the Levellers, all of whom I enjoy but never dug much deeper into their catalogs. BA: 12 for 22 (.545)

The sequel is even better (usually that’s not the case – especially with 90s punk comps). Basically this collection has music that falls into 3 categories: Well written, well sung tracks (Ron Hawkins, Randy, Weakerthans). Well written, poorly sung tracks (Screeching Weasel, Atom & His Package, Hot Water Music), and tracks from bands that aren’t putting forth their best, but still outshine a ton of other shit that plopped on us back in 1999.  J Church, Chumbawamba, Robb Johnson, and Discount all contribute solid tunes.  Propagandhi's Cro-Mags cover kicks ass and Avail's Elvis cover would also kick if it didn't sound like such a novelty.  I guess there’s a 4th category of filler but overall this one bats a respectable 15 for 25 (.600)

[ChaddDerkins]

The Weakerthans song on that second Red Menace comp is also a cover.

[bort]

you are right.  that makes two Phil Ochs covers i've heard this week.

[bort]

All The Punk… fit to print (Newspeak, 1995)

Remember this one, kids?  First of all, I now “get” the cover (old people at an old printing press, captioned as Mr. B., Tim Yo, and Ben Weasel at MRR HQ).  Ah, what a scene.  Hudson sound like Chadd Derkins is signing for them.  Then there’s a bunch of 90s punk stuff from Nonsese, Rhythm Collision, Bankshot, …the list goes on.  The Gotohells at least bring some rock’n’roll with “Back In FLA.”  Lagwagon provide “Wind In Your Sail” which is a pretty decent track, but the best song here is by a band that I’ve never heard of before or since (mostly due to never bothering to search them out): Sidecar’s “Everywhere” is perfect.  The song rips like 90s melodicore (though it’s a tad lo-fi, I wouldn’t necessarily call it Fat Wreck cheese), but it’s poppy enough to be called “pop punk” by people who don’t know what they are talking about.  But the best part is Sidecar had two singers – one typical punk singer, and the other guy that sounds like he’d fit right in on a Mutant Pop 7”.  Sadly, that’s about it.  I’m left with trying to decide which band has the worst vocalist: Skankin’ Pickle, Against All Authority, or Fury 66.  I believe it is AAA. 
BA: 5/16 (.313) ((Bollweevils cover Naked Raygun, and all the other crappy bands combine to make one nostalgic hit.))

[Danny Nuthin]

I had a couple of Sidecar albums and saw them live a few times.  They were pretty good from what I remember.

[Harry Hijinks]

i liked comes cover of the stones

[doctoracula]

i love that weakerthans cover
i might like it more than the original

[Christian]

AK Press Presents: Better Read Than Dead and Return of the Read Menace
(AK Press/Epitaph, 1996 and AK Press/G-7 Welcoming Committee, 1999)

A two-fer this time. I’ve found that benefit cds usually produce better material than tribute albums. Both comps have two things going for them: exclusive cuts and a variety of material. The original, BRTD, not only gave me non-album treats from NOFX, Snuff, and Pitchshifter, but also has the honor of introducing me to Spazz, whose track “Mighty Morphin Power Violence” is the penultimate song of that genre. That, however pales in comparison to the fact that this comp introduced me to one of my favorite bands of all time – Chumbawamba (Tubthumper wouldn’t come out until a year later). And the track “Safety Pin Stuck In My Heart” is such a sweet one. The disc also contains cool stuff from Zoinks, Blaggers Ita, and the Levellers, all of whom I enjoy but never dug much deeper into their catalogs. BA: 12 for 22 (.545)

The sequel is even better (usually that’s not the case – especially with 90s punk comps). Basically this collection has music that falls into 3 categories: Well written, well sung tracks (Ron Hawkins, Randy, Weakerthans). Well written, poorly sung tracks (Screeching Weasel, Atom & His Package, Hot Water Music), and tracks from bands that aren’t putting forth their best, but still outshine a ton of other shit that plopped on us back in 1999.  J Church, Chumbawamba, Robb Johnson, and Discount all contribute solid tunes.  Propagandhi's Cro-Mags cover kicks ass and Avail's Elvis cover would also kick if it didn't sound like such a novelty.  I guess there’s a 4th category of filler but overall this one bats a respectable 15 for 25 (.600)

Isn't the Screeching Weasel song on this comp "My Own World?" You think that's poorly sung? I don't get it.

[doctoracula]

was that one an outtake from emo?  the production sounds similar.  i love how rough it is.  great song

[bort]

Isn't the Screeching Weasel song on this comp "My Own World?" You think that's poorly sung? I don't get it.

by poorly sung i meant sung well (i think he hits 90%+ of the notes) with that nasal punk voice that i don't prefer.  i'd rather have sugar and not snot poor into my ears.  whenever i hear stuff like that it makes me think of conan o'brien when he does his mocking/old person's voice.  "nnnnn i want my mush." 

edit - and yes, one would have to infer all that from my small blurb.  i'm just "reviewing" (as in: short) this stuff.  not going into a dissertation about BW's vocal boogers.

[bort]

Alright, This Time, Just The Girls
(Sympathy For The Record Industry, 1999)

Another comp I’m glad I revisited.  SFTRI has released a lot of stuff.  Like, A LOT!  They’ve released some garage punk paint-by-numbers stuff like Sacred Miracle Cave and the Honeymoon Killers, and they’ve released some “indie” classics by the Muffs, the Shitbirds, Thee Headcoatees, Supersnazz, Electrocutes, April March – the list goes on.  They also struck gold with the White Stripes (who don’t appear here) and possibly another precious metal with Hole (who do).  Anyway, this DOUBLE disc comp collects the best of the female-fronted acts the label has had to offer since it started in 1988.  Aside from the aforementioned acts and some other “bigger” names like The Revillos and the 5, 6, 7, 8’s, there’s plenty of other great tunes by bands you’ve heard or heard of: Banana Erectors, Detroit Cobras, Lunachicks, Eyeliners, Buck, Neptunas, and the Chubbies to name a few.  One of the highlights is a track from Candypants, who just released one album on SFTRI and moved on.  “Dishy” is a perfect tune that walks the line between jangle punk and cutesy girl pop.  Do I even need to go on?  I didn’t even get to Free Kitten (aka Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon) covering “Oh Bondage, Up Yours!” or the Stool Pigeons (aka Lisa from Candypants) covering Herman’s Hermits.   
BA: 29/48 (.604)

[Grath]

Alright, This Time, Just The Girls
(Sympathy For The Record Industry, 1999)

Another comp I’m glad I revisited.  SFTRI has released a lot of stuff.  Like, A LOT!  They’ve released some garage punk paint-by-numbers stuff like Sacred Miracle Cave and the Honeymoon Killers, and they’ve released some “indie” classics by the Muffs, the Shitbirds, Thee Headcoatees, Supersnazz, Electrocutes, April March – the list goes on.  They also struck gold with the White Stripes (who don’t appear here) and possibly another precious metal with Hole (who do).  Anyway, this DOUBLE disc comp collects the best of the female-fronted acts the label has had to offer since it started in 1988.  Aside from the aforementioned acts and some other “bigger” names like The Revillos and the 5, 6, 7, 8’s, there’s plenty of other great tunes by bands you’ve heard or heard of: Banana Erectors, Detroit Cobras, Lunachicks, Eyeliners, Buck, Neptunas, and the Chubbies to name a few.  One of the highlights is a track from Candypants, who just released one album on SFTRI and moved on.  “Dishy” is a perfect tune that walks the line between jangle punk and cutesy girl pop.  Do I even need to go on?  I didn’t even get to Free Kitten (aka Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon) covering “Oh Bondage, Up Yours!” or the Stool Pigeons (aka Lisa from Candypants) covering Herman’s Hermits.   
BA: 29/48 (.604)

The Holly Golightly song on here is one of my favorites of hers.  I played that Stool Pigeons song over and over and over on my college radio show and not on my college radio show.  I spent forever after this thing came out tracking down the two Stool Pigeons albums.  I was bummed to find that this track was the best one; I never ever listen to those two albums.  Pretty good Supersnazz song on here as well.  This is one of my favorite comps, if only cause the layout and the booklet are thick and awesome.

[bort]

yeah great liner notes.  quality comp all around.

[hasblueshoes]

yeah great liner notes.  quality comp all around.

I love that comp too.  I am also a big fan of the artwork, although Ryden has done some much better covers since.

[bort]

Anakin (4AD, 1998)

This is great compilation.  Technically it’s a label sampler and was a preview of forthcoming albums on 4AD that year, but I’m not making a distinction in this thread.  His Name Is Alive does “Ain’t No Lie” which has always been a Libby Cotton song to me (though it’s older still – usually tagged as “traditional”).  Someone told me the Grateful Dead did it too but I never looked into it.  Anyway, the song is soft and sweet and acoustic – one of my favorite formulas of sound.  Plus the track only came out on HNIA’s rare Emergency LP so that was a nice bonus (not until many years later did I track down the album – it’s great).  Mojave 3 can do wrong in my book.  Lisa Germano was probably the most underrated singer on the label, and her track here is one of her best.  Kristin Hersh throws in a solid track as well.  The only other appearance of note is Starry Smooth Hound – who contributed this one track on 4AD before changing his to real name – Vinny Miller. 
BA: 7/11 (.636)

[Christian]

was that one an outtake from emo?  the production sounds similar.  i love how rough it is.  great song

The production sounds nothing like Emo to me!! It sounds more like a MLD or TVCD outtake to me. Anyone know?