VARIOUS ARTISTS
Homemade Hits V.1 (Kittridge)
Reviewed by Erick Mertz

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If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: I am, as a rule, not a fan of Various Artist collections. They don't get me enthused like full albums or EP's do.

But that being said, when they arrive in the mail, I usually listen; it's just that most often, I do not listen from beginning to end. With Kittridge's "Homemade Hits V.1" I'm pushed to perhaps give my whole compilation complex an examination. The bands here are fantastic, showing off Kittridge's ability to find obscure, talented and interesting groups the globe over. The Natural Splits sound like your new favorite Paul Westerberg clone with "Slowbeat." Droning, hook laden pop never gets old and "Breathe" by Going Stagg is evidence of that. One of the most haunting lo-fi pop sounds out there undoubtedly belongs to Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti's song "Want Me" and Troy Taroy evokes "Heroes" era Bowie on "Crystalline Emotion." There are over twenty songs, and with them, twenty distinct sounds. If these aren't your taste then perhaps something more German late 1970's techno would be? It's there.

All that now divulged it might be advisable to check out what is going on at Kittridge Records and give these bands a deserved listen.

[You can buy this CD at the Kittridge Records website.]

© 2004 - Erick Mertz