Rock Indiana X Rock Indiana (2CD) Price: $26.00 Artist: Various Artists Description: Spain’s Rock Indiana Records is one of the, if not the, best labels going there! On “Rock Indiana X Rock Indiana”, 43 bands/artists, most of whom have had releases on the label, have come together to celebrate the label’s 30th anniversary on a 2CD set. The theme of the celebration sees the participants covering songs by OTHER artists on the label. Some of the many highlights include Michael Carpenter covering Roger Sincero, The Lemon Clocks cover The Afternoons, The Feedbacks covering The Heartbeats, Ross covering The Winnerys, Bryan Estepa covering Daniel Wylie, Dropkick covering Desconocidos, The Lookalikes covering Cirrone, Howdy covering The Pyramidiacs, Biscuit covering Bronco Bullfrog, Coffee And Wine covering Cloud Eleven, The Seasongs covering The Gurus, Jeremy covering The Records and M.A.P.A covering Farrah! Accompanied by a 28-page booklet with photographs, notes and information (all in Spanish), the double album is a fantastic tour of a substantial part of the label’s repertoire made with large doses of respect, personality and talent. Congrats on 30 years Pablo!! GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Charlotte Pop Fest 2008 Price: $15.00 Artist: Various Artists Description: Congrats to festival organizer/artist James Deem!  July 4 & 5, 2008 marked the first Charlotte Pop Fest!  Early reports are that it was a rousing success - enough so that looks like it will happen again in 2009!  The festival featured many artists... ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Poppies – Assorted Finery From The First Psychedelic Age Price: $15.00 Artist: Various Artists Description: Very kool 2019 compilation that showcases the breadth of music touched by psychedelia in the late 60’s whether it be pop, folk or rock. This eclectic mix of psychedelic masters is drawn from the Vanguard, Original Sound and Stax catalogs, offering tracks from cult-classic artists such as Buffy Sainte-Marie, Southwest F.O.B., the Serpent Power, Jefferson Lee, The Frost, The Sot Weed Factor, The Honey Jug, The Pasternak Progress, Chapter VI, Erik, and Circus Maximus. The collection includes the previously unreleased song "When Will You Happen to Me" by The Human Jungle, as well as many other rarities in their mono incarnations. “Showcases the diversity of influences that permeated psychedelic rock during the 1960s, including rock, pop and folk. Per the album notes, ‘it’s precisely because of the shape-shifting, amoeba-like parameters to which the genre pushes out, that psychedelic music requires an open mind.’ This release kicks off a series exploring the rich variety of music that comprises the revolutionary sound of the 60’s, from garage rock to sunshine pop, and more.” – UDiscoverMusic.com “Offers a great introduction to some of the more obscure and non-traditional psychedelic music of the late 1960s with some brilliant tracks that could well lead you down new paths of discovery.” – PopMatters.com “The songs here range from the unfortunately unsung to the remarkably obscure, and Alec Paleo's liner notes offers as much useful information as is available about each act here. If you thought there were no new worlds left to explore in 60’s psychedelia, ‘Poppies won't entirely turn your head around, but it will give you 40 minutes of great listening with a few bits along the way you probably haven't heard before - and certainly not sounding and looking this good. GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Too Much Time On Our Hands: A Styx Tribute Album Price: $13.00 Artist: Various Artists Description: When approaching this project, the participants rethought the arrangements of these Styx songs, avoiding the triple-tenor harmony vocals, progressive rock instrumentation, double-lead electric guitar solos, and theatrical leanings of the original recordings, thus the organic core of each song is revealed and appreciated. The album makes an interesting study for any Styx fan, or a fan of any of the artists that contributed. Unique in its approach, it emphasizes the vision of each artist's interpretation of the track to which they contributed. In that way, fans who know each artist's style will easily recognize their sound. Like any compilation or mix tape, there are highs and lows for every listener. Pacific Northwestern female-fronted punk trio Heart Beats Red turned in a ferociously garagey interpretation of "The Grand Finale", Alva Star channeled Prince in their dreamy take on "Lady", Echelon odernized the rock classic "Renegade", power-vocalist Beki Hemmingway out-emoted the original Dennis DeYoung composition "Don't Let It End", acoustic duo Lost and Found made "The Grand Illusion" sound like Simon And Garfunkel, college-town troubadour Jerry Chapman growled his way through "Man In The Wilderness", and project coordinator Jonathan Rundman teamed up his cousin Bruce Rundman and producer/drummer Andy Deitrich to record the Styx staple "Come Sail Away" and the obscure gem "Queen Of Spades". The result is a pretty cool, creative tribute of a group of artists interpreting Styx in unique and rootsy ways! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Friends With Benefits: A Compilation Fighting Cystic Fibrosis Price: $11.00 Artist: Various Artists Description: 16 bands from the Twin Cities area coming together for a good cause (and delivering some fine music in the process)! In the early months of 2005, after Minor 7 recording studio opened its downtown Minneapolis doors, its founders realized the best way to show off their new studio toys was to pimp some product. Problem was, they hadn't recorded anyone yet. The genius of their solution - to offer free recording time to any band willing to devote one unreleased track to this CD - is twofold. First, no group in their right mind will turn down free studio time, a fact that rewarded the producers the pick of the Twin Cities crop. Second, because the same engineers recorded each of the album's tracks in the same studio, the disc has a consistency of sound and flow all too rare in compilations. And, while the music on this disc demonstrates a wide array of styles and provides a musical "snapshot" of bands currently treading the boards, it does feature tracks from artists certainly familiar to pop fans - Heavy Sleeper, The Idle Hands, The Hang Ups, Autumn Leaves and Romantica. All proceeds from the sale of this nicely-priced CD go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation! EXCELLENT!!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Don’t Let The Bastards Get You Down: A Tribute To Kris Kristofferson Price: $12.00 Artist: Various Artists Description: Kris Kristofferson's musical legacy is a writer whose songs were recorded by dozens of artists, but as a performer, was something of an acquired taste with his gruff, semi-spoken singing style. But none of that changes the fact that at his peak, he was one of the very finest songwriters to ever emerge from Nashville, possessing a literate intelligence that never slipped into pretension and a masterful feel for character and detail. While his songbook would seem perfectly suited for a tribute from a roster of alt-country all-stars, this very cool tribute from 2002 takes a more ambitious approach, mixing electronic and indie rock artists in with a bunch of top-shelf roots rockers. Many of the tracks that appear here were originally recorded when the songwriter was young and hungry, but their melodies and ideas easily accept and absorb the contemporary treatments they receive. "While Polara and Oranger hardly offer a purist's approach to the songs, their contributions prove how malleable the material really is (and that his melodies are just as strong as his lyrics). In short, hipsters who don't know Kristofferson's work as a songwriter (or longtime fans keen on hearing new interpretations) are advised to check this out pronto." - All Music Guide "Oranger’s 'Casey’s Last Ride' blends surf guitar licks, sitar riffs and shimmering keyboards to create the same sort of swirling sound Brit-pop bands like Kula Shaker and Cornershop popularized in the ‘90s. Tom Heyman’s jazz-stoked cover of 'Sugar Man' snaps back and forth on the same acoustic guitar part Kristofferson built into the original. Paul Burch’s 'The Pilgrim (Chapter 33)' retains the earlier version’s rock ‘n’ roll swagger. Chuck Prophet’s 'Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)' sounds just as simple and fragile and clean as its model. The most successful tracks are the ones that sound darkest. John Doe’s take on 'Me and Bobby McGee' resembles a dirge. He allows his voice to float above the thick, melancholy rhythms of guitar and the drip-drop beats of drums. Keeping the pace slow and the arrangement simple, he creates an intensely stark sound. Remaking masterpieces always entails risk. More often than not, though, the songs collected here reveal an understanding of and reverence for the traits that made the songs so strong in the first place. Because of this, the album succeeds as both a tribute and a work of art." - PopMatters.com EXCELLENT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Trampoline Records Greatest Hits Vol. 1 Price: $9.00 Artist: Various Artists Description: This Pete Yorn-owned (along with Rami Jaffee of The Wallflowers and Marc Dauer of Jukebox Junkies) label sampler from 2002 is chock full of roots and pop performances (mostly exclusives) led by the likes of Peter Himmelman, Pete Droge, Ethan Johns, Gingersol, Minibar, The Minus 5, Jakob Dylan + many more! There are some real gems here by some of the best new artists on the scene at that time! "Peter Himmelman, the Minus 5, Pete Droge, and Pete Yorn are the names you're probably familiar with, but the other 14 artists on this inaugural compilation from Yorn's custom label sound very familiar. Maybe because Yorn and his co-owners (including one of the Wallflowers) fill their roster with bands and singer/songwriters that frolic in the same song-driven fields. Which means it's all very pleasant. Acoustic guitars, alt-country leanings, and overly earnest sentiments are the main ingredients." - All Music Guide "In a world where corporate conglomerates pollute our airwaves with mind numbing noise I wouldn't even call music, Trampoline Records is a breath of fresh air. The label is clearly a labor of love for founders Yorn, Jaffe and Dauer. It's all very, very good. An eclectic collection, so incredibly well produced it's a cohesive whole. " - Clever Girl "There's an impressive, quality flow to the songs here. Nary a bad tune on it. It is eminently listenable, front to back, and highly recomended." - FuelFriendsblog EXCELLENT!!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Divided By A Common Language: A Collection of UK Americana Price: $9.00 Artist: Various Artists Description: This nicely priced collection from Clubhouse Records features 15 of the best UK based Americana acts on the UK circuit today including Alan Tyler (of the Rockingbirds), Redlands Palomino Company, Two Finders of Firewater, The Cedars, The Hi and Lo, Southern Tennant Folk Union and The Dreaming Spires looks set to do for British Americana what C86 did for indiepop. "Well worth checking out for fans of homegrown country and roots music or people just starting to dip their toe in. Highlights include Southern Tenant Folk Union and Mat Gibson but there's not a weak track on this excellent collection." - The Sentinel "A nice snapshot of the UK's thriving Americana scene that offers proof that Americana is a state of mind more than a geographical concern comes with this mighty fine compilation ****" - The Sun "On this showing, UK Americana is mostly a big country-rock band; with The Snakes, Two Fingers of Firewater, Mat Gibson and the Fallen Hearts and The Redlands Palomino Company do little more than re-tread the paths taken years ago by The Rockingbirds, but without the warm kindness of Alan Tyler’s voice. Tyler’s track (and it is very right that there is one) here is nice enough, and the vocal enthusiasm of Sparkwood & 21 is a grand reminder of why country rock ain't a bad thing." - Americana-UK.co EXCELLENT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Drink A Toast To Innocence: A Tribute To Lite Rock Price: $16.00 Artist: Various Artists Description: WOW!! We'll let executive producer Andrew Curry provide the details on how this terrific 2CD set came about - "This is an idea that originated more than 20 years ago, as my three college roommates and I each discovered that we had grown up listening to (and loving) these AM radio classics of the late '70s and early '80s. As someone who has been fascinated with this music for decades now, I had the idea to reach out to some of my favorite musicians of today to see if they might be interested in recording new versions of these old classics. There was such an outpouring of affection and interest from these artists. So whether you love the original versions and you're curious about how the new recordings might sound, or you're a fan of the current artists, this is for you". "The lineup is impressive, featuring the likes of Bleu, Mike Viola, Willie Wisely, David Myhr, Michael Carpenter, Linus of Hollywood, Seth Swirsky and so many more of my (and your) favorite artists. As with most covers comps, this features the usual mix of faithful re-creations and bold re-imaginings. My favorite covers have fallen into a third category: ones that sound like they could have originals by the covering artist. Two that stand out in that regard here are Greg Pope's cover of Poco's 'Crazy Love' and Lannie Flowers' version of Orleans' 'Dance With Me'. In Pope's case, it's a great match of cover and artist; by taking the original and speeding it up just a microscopic bit it sounds like one of his typical slightly off-kilter pop gems, while Flowers turns his rendering into one of his usual rollicking (and rocking) power pop numbers by adding a honky-tonk piano to the mix in contrast to the highly laid-back original. In the re-imagining department, there are several standouts. The Davenports turn Randy Van Warmer's borderline treacly 'Just When I Needed You Most' into a driving power pop track, Lisa Mychols speeds up the David Soul ballad 'Don't Give Up On Us' and gives it the full-band treatment, while Willie Wisely takes the sexual subtext of The Atlanta Rhythm Section's 'So Into You' and makes it the text, complete with moaning female vocals in the outro. Also rocking things up a bit is Vegas With Randolph and their version of Little River Band's 'Cool Change'. As for the faithful covers, there are plenty to choose from too. Kyle Vincent, whose style is pretty much 70's lite rock and would be a natural to cover any of the songs featured here, is perfect on Ambrosia's 'How Much I Feel'; David Myhr captures the spirit of 10cc with 'The Things We Do for Love', and the two halves of The Red Button play to their strengths - Mike Rukeberg with the power poppy 'Believe it or Not' (theme from 'The Greatest American Hero') and Seth Swirsky's eerily channels Henry Gross almost note-for-note on 'Shannon', the ultimate tear-jerking dead dog song. Boston buddies Bleu and Mike Viola take on 'Baby Come Back' and 'Steal Away', each of which sound exactly you'd hear them in your head singing these. This is without doubt the best covers compilation since Not Lame's 'Right to Chews'." - Absolutepowerpop.com GREAT!!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Close To The Hedge Price: $14.00 Artist: Various Artists Description: LIMITED STOCK!! A collection of new and/or previously unreleased songs donated by the artists and friends of Pink Hedgehog Records. Present here is a wealth of poptastic treats to savour and enjoy like a delicious summer pudding; some by artists you already know and love, plus some that may be new to your discerning ears. Long-time supporters of the label will be excited to hear brand new songs from Peter Lacey and Garfields Birthday, a new recording of an Anton Barbeau classic featuring Robbie McIntosh (The Pretenders) on guitar, alongside unreleased gems from Cheese, The Lucky Bishops, Hamfatter, Eye and Electrasy, plus songs by artists that you wish you had discovered a long time ago, just so you could have been enjoying their music that much longer! The complete list of artists appearing: Anton Barbeau • The Bitter Little Cider Apples • the black watch • Cheese • Des'n'Al • Electrasy • Eye • Freak Circus • Chandler Fredrick • Garfields Birthday • Hallelujah Bay • Hamfatter • Stephen John Kalinich • Peter Lacey • The Lucky Bishops • Mondo Jet Set • Schnauser • Triops • Steve Wilson • YO MA MA If you're not already familiar with this very cool label outta England, then 1) you should be and, 2) this makes for a terrific introduction! GREAT!!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none