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Understand from the get-go that label retrospectives are spotty affairs. Rare is the label that's free of stiffs, and Stiff Records' raison d'état was to serve as a refuge for castoffs, including a fair share of flaccid acts. The off-center likes of Nick Lowe (having recently fleed the misbegotten Brinsley Schwarz), Ian Dury, Wreckless Eric, Larry Wallis, and a very young Elvis Costello found a home with Stiff in the '70s. It wasn't a punk label, though it boasted the Damned; it wasn't a ska imprint, though Madness and Desmond Dekker recorded for the company; it wasn't a power-pop or pub-rock haven, though a number of Stiff's leading lights (Dury, Lowe, Costello, Dr. Feelgood, Dave Edmunds) fell into those categories. And it wasn't terribly long-lived. This imaginatively designed four-disc overview definitely loses momentum toward the end, but there's a humble enchantment to an overwhelming percentage of tracks here from label mainstays, the semiacclaimed (Devo, Graham Parker, Lene Lovich, the Pogues), and uncelebrated (Mickey Jupp, Mick Farren, Jona Lewie). -- Steven Stolder ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Action Packed
Stiff is one of those wacky labels that always seemed to sneak by just under the pop radar.

I received this set as a gift a few years ago, and couldn't be happier about it. This collection is so full of unknown bits of whimsy and little-known cuts by more popular artist that it starts to become more of a treasure chest than a "best of."

Ian Drury of "Sex and Drugs and Rock & Roll" fame appears as vocals on several other cuts including "Kitchen at Parties." This collection is full of simmilar fun little nuggets.

So much of the "alternative" music scene that was largely contained by British borders seems to be archived here, and it's fun to tap into it. Americans (such as myself) who always thought that the band Madness was largely a one hit wonder will be surprised by the spastic "Baggy Trousers," a song I enjoyed so much I have purchased several Madness CDs since hearing it.

While Elvis Costello originally got his start on Stiff, he has only one song here - probably a god thing, as we all have a good idea what he sounds like - leaving more room for the lesser known artists of Stiff.

There is a charming wackiness to this collection and to the whole Stiff attitude. This is a great collection for exploring what the Brits were doing while we tollerated Dexy's Midnight Runners.

Oh! Special bonus: There is a fabulous (FABULOUS) cut of Desmond Dekker's "Isrealites" on disc three. This along merits purchasing this set.

Instantly enjoyable.
Strange...I remember trying to search for this boxed set earlier in the year and coming up with nil for my efforts. Then, after accidentally finding it in a New York record store and acquiring it right away, I find it on here. Must be my mind playing tricks on me.

In any case, I'm not old enough to have lived through the era from which these songs sprung, but the appeal of the music easily traverses the generation gap. I haven't even yet explored all of this set and it's already been some of the most fun listening experiences I've had while listening to "older music": Elvis Costello, The Belle Stars, Nick Lowe, Kirsty MacColl...and personal favourite, spunky popster Rachel Sweet. Vivacious and highly entertaining. My only complaint is that the liner notes are somewhat flimsy. Though full of the kind of tongue-in-cheek humour that, apparently, Stiff Records was famous for, the result of the non-journalistic approach is that there's very little real information on the music, the history, the label, and the context, hidden by the cheeky writing and witticisms. I for one would've liked some more detached, professional journalism to inform me of the significance of this music such as in that Amplifier article I had read (which led me to look for this boxed set in the first place). So on the packaging front, much is left to be desired. But the music is uniquely appealing, a world of its own.

best of my life
I was in my teens when this kind of music was played on the radio , I lived in ex Yugoslavia and I was reading a lot about the new wave and all those stuff i England. I loved those groups but I never actually had a chance to listen all those recors ( I Lived in ex Yugoslavia for Gud`s sake ) , now I lived in Sweden and have money to buy records but I am not 13 , 14 , 15 years old anymore and the music doesn`t mean EVERYTHING to me. This box remaind me what music can do with your life and how it is to be 17 again . By this one , no metter how old you are , this is history. ... Read more

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If the notion of indie intelligentsia expounding en français doesn't prompt your gag response, you'll find Pop Romantique a tasty fluff piece. Tunes with true French flavor work best: each note of "L'anamour," written by 1960s icon Serge Gainsbourg (who's covered four times here), is delivered with a no-tongue kiss from Ivy's front-femme, Dominique Durand; meanwhile, Air's delicate guitar suits famed countrywoman and guest vocalist Françoise Hardy--her tones are languid, luxe, and spent as vintage silk. Several unamphibian activities sound swell: Apples in Stereo apply their tweaked, fuzzy signature; Godzuki burble dark as a champagne-absinthe cocktail; and Luna seem positively jaunty. As for faux pas, John Wesley Harding's heart's in the right place (oozing appropriate melancholy, his outro a series of sighs), but he struggles with the accent, as does Lloyd Cole, who has the gall to go Gaul with Bob Dylan. In sum: a pleasant Valentine's spin for kitschy couples.--Nina Malkin ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great Selection of Indie-Pop Band Covering French Classics
Like Pop American Style, this compilation is a theme comp drawing from a broad roster of indie-pop bands, plus it includes the vocals of ye-ye pop legend Françoise Hardy on one of the tracks. What is great is the same hand (Skippy McFadden) that picked the songs for the Pop American Style comp also picked the songs for this CD.

Some of my favorites are Ivy doing "L'anamour," (previously performed by Françoise Hardy) Heavenly doing the "Nous ne sommes pas des anges" (previously performed by France Gall) and the Apples in Stereo doing "Avril en Mai." I'm not sure what "Zoom!" is doing on this comp, as it seems out of place. The theme is centered around 1960's French Pop, or Ye-ye as it is called. If you like Françoise Hardy, France Gall, Serge Gainsbourg, and 60's French Pop, you'll like this album.

QUELLE SURPRISE!
When you can have John Wesley Harding sing Serge Gainsbourg's "Je Suis Venu Te Dire Que Je M'En Vais" why do you need anything else? Okay, JW Harding's version is still not Gainsbourg's (which cannot be imitated or surpassed). But this clever arrangement of songs by contemporary artists performing French pop standards is a classic in itself. Air (French band) team with classic French pop star Francoise Hardy to provide a lovely version of "Jeanne". Probably my favourite track here, apart from John Wesley Harding, is Ivy's rendition of "L'anamour". One of my favourite songs anyhow, and Ivy has a very pleasant sound. There were other surprises... like Luna, Magnetic Fields, and other things. I think, if you enjoy, French pop-or any of the bands on the album-this is a must have. An updated, modern version (tribute, even) to the standards of French romantic pop. It was a great treat for me, at least.

promising but uneven collection of a neglected genre
Good idea, especially with Air-Francoise Hardy, Luna, Ivy, the Hang-ups and Godzuki. But I would have liked to have seen April March or Stereolab in here in place of Kevin Ayers, though his track grows on you. FYI: To all the critics of Lloyd Cole who call him gauche for translating Dylan's "If You Got To Go" into French, it's not his fault! Blame Fairport Convention, who did "Si Tu Dois Partir" on their 1968 album "Unhalfbricking." So Cole's actually covering Fairport Convention covering Bob Dylan.

BRAVO DOMINIQUE DURAND
THE SYNERGY OF COMBINING THE VOICES OF IVY AND FRANCOISE HARDY IS A REFRESHING REINTERPRETATION OF CLASSIC FRENCH SONG. ... Read more

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Maybe Graham Parker doesn't appeal to the masses, but he does appeal to a number of musicians who admire his unfaltering combination of roots, craft and anger. 20 such acts, almost all of them from the New York-New Jersey club scene, pay tribute to the misanthrope here. The biggest names involved are the Health and Happiness Show, the Figgs, Frank Black of the Pixies and Pat DiNizio of the Smithereens, but everyone involved has the good sense to neither slavishly copy the originals nor to arrogantly betray the initial intent. Highlights include Bill Kelly's Tom Petty-ish version of "Pourin' It All Out" and Richard Lloyd's guitar work on "Stupefaction." --Geoffrey Himes ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not up to Par(ker)
I was very disappointed in this disk. Graham has been a favorite of mine since 1977, and he would be a great artist to cover. But MOST of these cuts are water-down, uninspired drivel. I'd never heard of most of the bands, and won't buy them if I do

Not normally my favorite music but.......
I bought this album for one reason and one reason only ---- I'm a Jack Tannehill Fan and Jack sings one of the songs on the album. However, I enjoyed a number of tracks from local bands and singers popular to the NorthWest New Jersey Music scene. If you like Graham Parker you may or may not like these renditions of his songs. It really depends on if you like the way Graham sings them or you like the songs. If it's the latter then you are more apt to enjoy these versions of which some are not much different than how Graham would do them but others are quite different. Jack offers the most different and refreshing rendition with the song he does --- My opinion of course ... Read more

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With its sardonically intelligent liner notes, this 2 CD (Favorite Tracks and Unreleased Tracks, respectively) collection is the ultimate introduction to the record industry's harbinger of hip.Home to indie-rock integrity, Matador has helped usher critic's darlings like Liz Phair, Guided by Voices, Yo La Tengo, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and others to cult status, just as Matador cofounder Gerard Cosloy's Homestead Records provided a haven for groups like Dinosaur Jr. and Big Black in the '80s. If Homestead's The Wailing Ultimate ably summed that label's influence before Cosloy's departure, What's Up Matador is doubly impressive. Besides, where else can you hear Pavement's lazy-cool version of Echo & The Bunnymen's "Killing Moon"? -- Mark Woodlief ... Read more

Reviews (6)

What else do you expect?...
It's a MATADOR compilation. Since the label is immune to signing bad bands, you won't find a bad track on this disc.

An excellent sampler, but works just as well as an album. If you prefer to have your sounds mixed, you'll love the variety of this album.

Particularly good?: GBV, Pavement, Pizzicato 5, Chavez, Helium, and Yo La Tengo(as usual).

I WASN'T DUMB BUT I WAS SO NAIVE...
What an amazing collection! I bought it because I wanted to have Liz Phair's stunning and fun "Stuck on an Island"... for me, the bargain price was worth it just for her! But the rest of this 2 CD collection is stellar! Yo La Tengo is a consistent favourite, Pavement's super cool version of Echo and the Bunnymen's "Killing Moon" is exquisite, the Pizzicato 5 tracks are **SO FUN** (especially the cute "Happy Birthday"), and Cat Power is always a subtle and subdued hue of brilliant ("Nude as the News" is one of her louder songs and is also just... breathtaking)! Other treats here: Teenage Fanclub, the much overlooked Bailter Space, The Fall and Guided by Voices. Nothing bad about this collection... and if you are lucky you will find something new to love! There is definitely enough variety here to please everyone.

something for everybody- not quite
Too cool for mainstream radio listeners. If thats you, you might grimmace through most of the songs. If you listen to indie rock already, then its definately worth the price. It took me a couple times through to weed out the unlistenable tracks, Wich I later sratched out on the jewel back, track list. I am left with about 30 songs that have proven quite enjoyable. This comp has prompted me to buy CDs from Cat Power, pavement, bettie serveert, and posibly more when I find them. If you do own this set, you no longer have to buy these artists "blindly", wich I suspect was the original marketing strategy from the people at Matador.

Pretty Good...
Concidering The Price Of THis CD, It's Pretty Good( And Cheap). The Songs Are Only OK. Some Are Bad and Some Are Good. I Really Like Pizzicato Five On This CD. If You Like THis CD, Get LiZ Phair's "WhiteChocolateSpaceEgg," Cibo Matto's "Vavi! La Women," and Any Pizzicato Five CD.

best compilation I've ever purchased
Never before have I bought a cd, "blind", and been so all-out psyched with it! There is NOT a dud on here, and I'm a picky listener. I've got a whole bunch of new bands to seek out. Particular stand-outs are Guided By Voices, Helium, Cat Power, Railroad Jerk, Pizzacato Five... VERY guitar-driven, though, so, if that's not your bag, look elsewhere... What a bargain! Snap it up! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Lots of Music!
This is a great buy. You get 100 tracks of music that is VERY diverse. You get the electrical-sounding music of Joy Electric, hardcore styles of Zao and Overcome, the punk of MxPx, the weirdness of Danielson, and so much more! The songs are put in order of the years they were released, starting with the earliest, so you get to really hear how Tooth and Nail has progressed throughout the years. Brandon Ebel and Bill Power need to be congratulated on this 100th release. Only flaw is that its a little dated (made back in 1997 or 98, I think), so it won't include some of the newer bands Tooth and Nail has signed (like the great Juliana Theory). But it's a good buy for nostalgic reasons.

Also includes a neat-o booklet that tells the history of T&N and has colorful photographs of the staff and bands.

Unbelivable
I got hooked on tooth and nail by a friend. i only listened to a couple songs and fell in love with it! Its got a variety of song types like good mxpx punk and Joy Electric techno/synth! If ur a tooth and nail fan or just like good fast paced muzik get this! Its the best cd's i own, and its a good price for 100 songs!

The only album you need
My girlfriend let me borrow this CD. Now I bought it for myself! It's got all kinds of music to suit any need. Plus, you're Mom won't get mad.

GET IT NOW!
Any of you out there who are fans of tooth + nail should get this boxed set. It rocks through all five discs with a wide variety of music. It also shows how far tooth + nail has come since the good ol' days of starflyer and mxpx. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Deep elm records really knows what is up.
Even though some may say Deep Elm is cashing in on Emo, no one can deny the content of the Emo Diary comps.Strongest tracks are those by Jimmy Eat World and Emo rock purveyors Samiam.

a good introduction
Emo is a word I don't like to use to describe music. Classifying music isn't fair to the artist or to the songs they've put out. But, if you're interested in this kind of music (emo/post-hardcore/indie/etc.) then this is a good comp to get. There are a couple bands I knew ahead of time (Jimmy Eat World and Samiam), but then I found some very pleasent surprises (especially Pohgoh). If you can, I suggest you find their full length (on Outback Records). Overall, this comp does a decent job of showing the wide variety of music being put out by a bunch of young bands.

great emo-core/indie compilation from known/unknown bands
This disc is a must-have compilation of bands on deep elm and some bigger labels. the bigger bands on this are triplefastaction, jimmie eat world, and samiam, but there isn't a bad song on here. check out lazycain and the triplefast songs. i don't own numbers 2 and 3 yet, but believe me, i'm getting them as soon as i have the money. if you like emo, or if you want an introduction, or you just want to listen to some really intense stuff, get this. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Forget that bit about imitation being the most sincere form of flattery: in music at least, an artist truly pays tribute to another by fully appropriating his work and making it his own. Such is the case on Coat of Paint: Songs of Tom Waits, easily one of the best releases in the frequently tiresome genre of tribute albums. Indeed, the late Screamin' Jay Hawkins's delirious take on Waits's voodoo classic "Whistlin' Past the Graveyard" is so dead-on that it's almost inconceivable that he didn't write it. The same could be said for soul-man Andre Williams's sleazy version of "Pasties and a G-String," Flat Duo Jets' Dexter Romweber's manic "Romeo Is Bleeding," and Knoxville Girls' supremely tacky "Virginia Avenue." Lydia Lunch has been rewriting and singing "Heartattack and Vine" for at least 20 years, whether she wrote the original or not. Perhaps the single most impressive act of reappropriation comes from one-man band Christopher Watkins, a.k.a. Preacher Boy, with a mournful, near-orchestral version of "Old Boyfriends." And a trio of torchy ballads from Congo Norvell's Sally Norvell, Geraldine Fibbers' Carla Bozulich, and Eleni Mandell further illustrate the breath of Waits's huge body of work. New Coat of Paint is given an inner cohesion by the incestuous, intermarried connections of several of the acts, all veterans (appropriately) of Los Angeles's outlaw underground music scene. Perhaps the greatest compliment is that most of these tracks don't beg comparisons to the originals at all, but simply stand alone as classic compositions from the songbook of an iconoclastic American master of gutter poetry. --Carl Hanni ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Paling by Comparison
Only Tom can sing his songs, period. Keep moving -- nothing to listen to here.

A SAD TWCD
I like Tom Waits most of the time. It was hard for me to listen to all of this album. This is one I will probably give away or resell if I need some cash. I hope I can find a buyer for it soon.

So it's not Tom...
Nobody can be Tom but Tom. (Just listen to John Hammond's attempts to sound dangerous, and you'll know what I mean.) That said, these are some damn creative interpretations of Tom's work. Not just creative, because it can be creative and still [bad]. This stuff is creative and sounds good.

In my collection, I have four different covers of Heartattack and Vine, and Lydia Lunch's is still my favorite. Muriel is great done in prayerful whispers, and the guy that sings Broken Bicycles lays down a dirge for a vocal track. Screamin' Jay opens the throttle up wide on Whistlin', and the call-and-answer format of Virginia Avenue is really neat.

I like music that doesn't sound like everything else. That's why I like Tom. If that's why you listen, you owe it to yourself to pick up both this and "Step Right Up," which, in its own way, is even weirder and more wonderful than this one.

Not really worth it...
Ok, I picked this album up while buying another bad tribute album (Badlands: Tribute to Springsteen's Nebraska). I don't know why I buy these but when I run out of the artist's own material I'll buy anything close. First, like Dylan, Tom Waits has a unique voice which makes it hard to others cover his songs. However, there are a couple of gems on this album that I enjoyed. The last 3 songs are all enjoyable. The Black's version of Poncho's Lament is pretty good and the microphone effects just add to the song. The last song, Floyd Dixon's cover of Blue Skies is amusing and longer than the version I've heard Tom sing. The best song on this album is Neko Case's version of X-Mas Card From A Hooker in Minneapolis. The organ in the background is perfect for the atomosphere and it's great to hear a bluesque woman sing this song from a woman's point of view, considering the song is a woman telling a guy about her life. It's just interesting to hear this song sung by a female and so well. It's the one song that I can listen to over and over on the album. Other than that, like someone else said, go buy all of Tom's stuff and enjoy.

Stick to the real thing
This album - which I don't own, and never will - underlines the simple fact that Tom Waits covers never improve on the original. So why bother? I spent an evening at a friend's house listening to it, and found it pleasant enough but really not worth having. Spend the money on Frank's Wild Years, Swordfishtrombones or Bone Machine. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Cool
This CD is very good, as any of you who are familiar with Mountain Stage would anticipate. Like usual, host Larry Groce steals the show. His version of Leonard Cohen's "Bird on the Wire" is an all-timer. Danko and Hudson are great as well. Groce and company's cover of "Positively 4th Street" should be released. ... Read more

Album Description

Part 2 of the WTII label compilation series which again showcases some of the talent from the WTII roster. This 11 song release features new and exclusive tracks from HMB, cut.rate.box, Stromkern, Deceptio Mentis, Monstrum Sepsis and PTI as well as tracks from La Floa Maldita, Beborn Beton, State of the Union and Trigger10d. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A Dy-No-Mite tribute to K-tel Records...
Ahhh, the 70's...pet rocks, moon boots, Farrah slacks, and K-tel Records. Remember the television ads? "Not available in any stores!" K-tel Records would basically take the popular one hit wonder tracks, and re-package them into easily digestible compilations. "It's a nugget cuz you dug it!" And people dug it...I mean, how could you go wrong? The idea was sound...take a smattering of hook-laden recent hit and semi-hit songs licensed from the original labels, lay 'em down on a shiny vinyl platter creating an instant greatest hits album, buy some cheap air time on local television stations, sell direct to the customer cutting out the brick and mortar middlemen, and rake in the do-re-mi.

Pravda Records Inc. revives the heyday of K-tel Records in '20 Explosive Dynamic Super Hit Explosions!' by presenting 20 choice ditties performed by various artists, some popular, some not so much, but all pretty darn good...the tracks are as follows;

Track 1 Hooked on a Feeling, performed by The Slugs (originally by Blue Swede) complete with the immensely inane "ooga chaka, ooga chaka' hook.

Track 2 I Wanna Be With You, performed by The Sneetches with Shoes (originally by The Rasberries) sounding almost Beatlesque, if the Beatles were really incredibly lame...let's face it; there are some songs that defy any amount of 'coolin' up'.

Track 3 Jackie Blue, performed by the Smashing Pumpkins (originally by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils) sounding very electrified and slightly down-trodden, as was the Pumpkins signature style.

Track 4 Crocodile Rock, performed by The Farmers (originally by Elton John) The Farmers took this 70's staples and put an early sixties spin, sounding similar to the straight forward rock and roll of the time, i.e. the Big Bopper, Buddy Holly, the Everly Brothers.

Track 5 Little Willy, performed by Material Issue (originally by Sweet) Material Issue actually stayed pretty close to the original stylings (including the cowbell) of the song, adding an extra layer of smoothness...

Track 6 That's the Way (I Like It), performed by Trenchmouth (originally by KC and the Sunshine Band) certainly adds a level of hardness to the song, but maintains the singability.

Track 7 Brandy (You're A Fine Girl), performed by The Reivers (originally by Looking Glass) The Reivers take this perennial 70's classic and add a twinge of lounge while staying fairly faithful to the original.

Track 8 The Night Chicago Died performed by No Empathy (originally by Paper Lace ) I will say that while these guys really beat the hell out of this song, it still managed to maintain it's shape of just an incredibly cheesy song. Good effort, and a lot of fun, though...

Track 9 Shannon, performed by The Sinatras (originally by Henry Gross) Oh man, this is one of the soppiest, sappiest songs to come out of that era, and these guys work it pretty close to the original.

Track 10 Theme From Shaft, performed by Cheer-Accident (originally by Isaac Hayes) This is probably the most unique interpretation of this song I've ever heard...imagine Nine Inch Nails doing the song...it's sort of like that, but more experimental...

Track 11 Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes), performed by The Service (originally by Edison Lighthouse ) Another perennial 70's favorite...interesting take on the song, forgoing the smoothness of the original for a more bouncy, choppy feel, losing the distinctiveness in the process.

Track 12 Black Betty, performed by Young Fresh Fellows (originally by Ram Jam) This one just didn't work for me, as it seemed like a lot of the intensity was drained out comparing this version to the original.

Track 13 Hocus Pocus, performed by Spies Who Surf (originally by Focus) Pretty good remake, and they even managed to add a bit of twangy Hawaiian guitar into the mix.

Track 14 Convoy, performed by The New Duncan Imperials (originally by C.W. McCall) Okay, it seems pretty redundant to redo a novelty song, but they did, and here it is...

Track 15 Everything I Own, performed by 13 Nightmares (originally by Bread) I like this version...they took the original and just ripped the guts out, turning it into something pretty scary...despite the fact it's supposed to be a love song...

Track 16 Dancing In The Moonlight, performed by M.O.T.O (Master Of The Obvious) (originally by King Harvest) kind of a loungey version, keeping the original bouncy tempo of the original version.

Track 17 Mississippi Queen, performed by God's Acre (originally by Mountain) While I still favor the original version, this one rocked almost as hard...not quite as heavy, but certainly edged...

Track 18 I Feel Love, performed by Poster Children (originally by Donna Summer) There's certainly an interesting mix of styles on this album, including this pop disco song. Enjoy the punky disco stylings...

Track 19 Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne, performed by Boom Hank (originally by Looking Glass) I never really cared for Boom Hank too much, and I cared for the song even less...

Track 20 Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In), performed by Mojo Nixon & The Second Edition (originally by Kenny Rodgers and the First Edition) Nobody does cow-punk better than Mojo Nixon, and he proves that here...

If you enjoy this album, then you'll be happy to hear there are two more in this series, '20 More Explosive Fantastic Rockin' Mega Smash Hit Explosions!' and 'Star Power', both by Pravda Records.

Cookieman108

The Sinatras are the best!
The Sinatras' version of "Shannon" is the best!

it's okay
People who trash the Pumpkins for playing a song straight (in their first year of being a band) in 1988 should realize how foolish this actually is. Have they heard any recent Pumpkins covers? Of course not. They're too busy wallowing in their own delusions of self-proclaimed musical taste to realize that genius is under their nose, and they pass it off as worthless. Seriously, what band with no sense of humor would call themself The Smashing Pumpkins and still hope to retain some self-respect?

This cd is pretty good, despite some low points, there are some pretty good songs as well. For a good early 90s rock compilation, check out the Singles soundtrack, or the Alternative Rock Cafe, or No Alternative, or maybe the Hype! soundtrack.

Definitely a fun CD
Not withstanding the obviously biased opinions of the smashing Pumpkins fans who either praised this Cd because their beloved Pumpkins are on it or trashed it because their beloved Pumpkins are the only band they like on the whole CD, this Cd is a lot of fun. I love the hard rock treatment of "That's the way I like it." The completely over-exaggerated version of "The NIght Chicago died" is worth the price of the Cd alone. In short. If you remember all the corny hits of the 70s and have an open mind to different styles of music this CD is definitely worth picking up. Incidentally, since i'm sure some Pumpkins fan is waiting to trash my review, I don't really care much for the Pumpkins, but their verson of Jackie blue is very cool.

That 70's album
I love every song on here EXCEPT the Smashing Pumpkins song - mostly cause they play it straight. Leave it to the Pumpkins to have NO sense of humor... This album is hilarious and fun from start to finish. My cassette of it has resided in my car continuously since 1991! PERFECT road trip music! ... Read more

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With Mighty Max Weinberg and the house band mercifully relegated to the role of spectators, these uniformly tasty morsels focus on the too-cool-for-Letterman crowd--Squirrel Nut Zippers, Soul Coughing, Jonathan Richman, Ani DiFranco and Cake. Highlights: Matthew Sweet's sound check blitz through The Move's "Do Ya," Jamiroquai's dee-liteful "When You Gonna Learn," and a bubbly Edwyn Collins take on "A Girl Like You." --Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Let's Go Into The Late Night Darkness
Conan pretty much took up where Letterman left off at NBC: cutting edge comedy and under-the-radar musical acts that don't get a lot of TV time elsewhere. So, for nearly 20 years now, Late Night has "introduced" a lot of acts to a national TV audience. The artists on this compilation aren't nearly as obscure as some of the acts you'll see on a nightly basis on Conan, but it's a pretty interesting mix. From well-respected stars (Bowie and Costello) to indie acts with loyal followings (Sweet, DiFranco, Richman, Soul Coughing, SNZ) to artists who've had a modern rock hit or two in the 90s (Bjork, Cake, Jamiroquai, Edwyn Collins, 311). The highlights for me include Bowie's acoustic version of his "Dead Man Walking," Matthew Sweet's torrid soundcheck cover of The Move's "Do Ya," Costello's exquisite "All This Useless Beauty," Cake's driving "The Distance," and Jonathan Richman's slinky smooth "Let Her Go Into The Darkness." I'm not a fan of Jamiroquai or 311 (maybe you do) but they don't take away from the CD at all. Besides, it's hard to like EVERY band on compilations like this. It's still a great collection.

What can I say?
Late Night is the best show on the air ever. I have been a hooked from the start. I think they need a new one. This one is geting old. The new one needs tracks from Conan and Andy and some tracks from Max (If they can put him in.) The CD is not that funny. The next CD needs D.O.P and C.P.W. The two best band I have seen on the show. It just so hapend the one was made up for a skit in a joke, making fun of ABCs Making The Band and the other was in the AT&T find the best band. It would be good in the next CD had the performer interv. Its good 311 and Cake are great on the CD.

Great Artists, Great Variety
I had a hard time finding this CD, but now that I finally have it I've gotta tell you that it is GREAT. There are several superb artists giving fresh performances (David Bowie, Bjork, Elvis Costello, Cake) along with some really humorous lyrics in "Let Her Go into the Darkness" by Jonathan Richman. Bottom line: Even if you're not a big fan of "Late Night," I think you'll really enjoy "Live From 6A."

Great album from a a great show
Eventhough I havn't seen every performance from this album on the show itself, this at least makes it like you're almost there. I just wish there were most performances on the album, most notably They Might Be Giant's "The Sun is a Mass of Incandesant Gas" and Radiohead's "Creep" (which actually surprized me by not being included since they were the first band on the show).

Conan can make a good live CD
I initially heard of this album while watching Conan's show, and I had to get it. Unfortuanatley, everywhere I went to get it, they did not carry it. This CD has a varied amount of musical styles from Artists such as, David Bowie and Ani Difranco. I give the Live from 6A: Late Night with Conan O'Brien CD a 5 star rating ... Read more

Reviews (1)

good acoustic cuts some funny comedy mixed in
locally done in worcester ma , it freaked me out when i heard it in colorado soon after its release. personally have hung with rocko (sorry to say)& have to admit his comedy on the cd doesn't suck especially the sponsoring child thing(your BAD rocko). the bands are good & the acoustic versions of their songs are even more appealing than their studio cuts.worth adding to your tired collection ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great songs
I loved every song and i recomend it to everyone ... Read more

Album Description

Powerful and passionate instrumental music on electric violin and guitar.A journey from classical to contemporary, with jazzy, new age original compositions and dynamic interpretations of timeless classical works from Dowland to Pachabel, including a dynamic Blues selection.Our music will fill your days and nights with joy and positive energy. As it has done for so many, it can help to release you from pain and suffering and bring joy and love into your life and the lives of those you care for. Fifteen tracks. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Touches my soul
I "discovered" Malcolm Watson at an art show in Michigan. It was the end of the day, and suddenly we heard this wonderful violin music. My 6 year old son and I went over, and watched this odd man in a white tuxedo dance under the roof of a gazebo...bare foot. He seemed to be completely in love with his work. We purchased the Catharsis CD. This CD makes me want to learn the violin, just so I can come home after a rough day and experience the release that must occur when one coaxes such beautiful music from a man made instrument. Hell, I want to learn how to make the instrument that makes this music. It has that kind of an effect on me. If I could choose the theme song for the story of my life, it would be number 11, "Autumn". Highly recommended!
--TJM

A Journey on the Rivers of your Mind
I had the unexpected pleasure of first hearing Watson & Edge as they preformed on Pearl Street in Boulder, CO. Watson was dressed in a light colored suit and danced barefoot as he played on the street in the shadows of the Flat Irons on an Indian summer Sunday afternoon. His light steps kept perfect rhythm with his bow. I highly recommend this CD if you want to enjoy being consumed by music that will take you on a journey you have never been on before; and will not want it to end.

Savor the Range
This recording illustrates the widest selection range presented by the duo-all played with an emphasis on arousing strong emotion. The quality of Malcolm Watson's training is evident in the confidence of his technique. Darren Skanson is a worthy match. This duo generates a lot of music from two instruments. The listener will play it many times and remain engaged by the flow of each piece into the other, yet all representing different types of music. A recording to enjoy in many settings and one which will be played many,many times.

Music with emotion!
This is not the classical music you learned about in grade school, this is music with emotion, feeling and soul! This is music from somone who feels every note they play. Regardless of what genre of music you like, I think this is a must have for any music collection. I gave this only 4 stars because, the studio recording just can not capture the energy they bring to their live shows. ... Read more

Album Details

A Compilation of Essential Performances, Each No Longer Than One Minute, by an Eclectic Selection of Fine Artists from Mainstream Pop to the Cutting Edge. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Supershort tracks run the gamut from art to noise
I purchased this album on vinyl in the mid 80's and listened to it for many years. I tend to think of it as short-attention-span theater for the ear. A wide range of subjects are covered through music, spoken word, audio collage, and other methods. It's not all music, but the styles include folk, avant garde, punk, classical, even vaudeville; and all tracks have a certain lo-fi feel.

Alternately in-your-face and fragile, the tracks are contributed by not only musicians, but also poets, pilosophers, illustrators, teachers and other creative people -- all of whom received personal invitations to submit from Morgan-Fischer, the album's editor. And while a few contributors may seem mired in the academic or the 'arty', the album as a whole feels lighthearted, spontaneous and fun.

"Miniatures" shifts gears so often that it may take more than a few spins before you begin to appreciate the individual pieces on their own. (You won't get a complete picture from hearing just a few samples either.) There are some memorable tracks waiting to be found in the cacophony, however. Some of my favorites include the endearingly humble "Sweetest Love" as rendered by the infamous illustrator Ralph Steadman; a rapid reading of da-da poetry entitled "Sounds That Saved My Life" by George Melly; Quentin Crisp's lofty derision of teenage culture entitled "Stop the Music for a Minute;" and The Pengun Cafe Orchestra's "Aurthur's Treat" (still one of the most treasured pieces of music I own).

This collection sometimes tests the boundaries between pop music and dissonat noise as certain contributors experiment with technique and technology. But "Miniatures" manages to stay entertaining throughout, and I always thought of it as a rare and collectable novelty record. (It also provides excellent answering machine material.)

I would have given it 5 stars but it occasionaly suffers from its own lo-fi production values, and is also bound to be just too strange for most people.

Everything You Ever Wanted To Hear, in 60 Seconds or Less
In 1979 keyboardist Morgan Fisher (Morgan, Mott The Hoople) sent out invitations to about a hundred of his favorite musicians to supply him with a miniature of their work. The only restriction was that the piece couldn't be over a minute long.

Surprisingly, he received many more responses than he could use! What resulted is this album, chock full of fabulous little pieces by nearly every musician of interest twenty years ago. They range from the obtuse ("The Complete Works of Henry Cow" overdubbed into a cacophonous roar) to the sublime ("The Swift"). Along the way you'll meet classic eccentrics, rock idols, and more than a few names who are much better known today than they were then. Fisher is nothing if not a shrewd judge of character.

This project is not just a novelty -- well, okay maybe it is. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Forgotten alt-bands of the 90s remember alt-bands of the 80s
When bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam redefined the "alternative rock" genre in the early 90s, it became easy to forget that the 70s and 80s had alternative scenes of their own.

Except back then it was called "new wave" and the songs were characterized by synth-driven tempos, propulsive arrangements, and lyrics about alienation and nuclear war.

Freedom of Choice, a fund-raiser for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, presents some of the genre's best songs and places them in the context of the alternative rock of the 90s. So, songs by the Human League, A Flock of Seagulls, Missing Persons and Soft Cell are covered by Chia Pet, It's OK, Erectus Monotone, and Finger, respectively. Add covers of pre-new wavers Elvis Costello by Mudhoney and Iggy Pop by Tiny Lights, and you've got the idea.

When this collection came out in 1992, it was probably a little early to be commemorating the 80s and call -- as the liner notes do -- the Go-Go's Charlotte Caffey and Devo's Gerald V. "new wave legends". The good news, however, is that unlike most compilation CDs, this one is surprisingly consistent.

Sonic Youth, perhaps the best-known alternative band on the compilation, turn in a fine dismantling of Plastic Bertrand's "Ca Plane Pour Moi" as do Yo La Tengo, who cover Blondie's best song, "Dreaming".

White Flag provide an effective, albeit unrecognizable, cover of Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" and the Muffs score with an upbeat version of Paul Collins' "Rock & Roll Girl".

More faithful to the originals are Mudhoney's take on Elvis Costello's "Pump it Up" and the Connells' rendition of Split Enz's "I Got You."

Ten years after the fact, this compilation remains an interesting relic, though it's telling that the bands of the 80s covered here are still remembered fondly, while the bands doing the covering are, but for a handful, mostly forgotten.

The dream of a Tribute lover
Many people hate tribute records. Many people like them. I am one of the later. I accept that they are often made in a careless way, looking like the artist involved didn't care too much for something they are doing free. This is not the case here. Almost all the covers are taken very seriously, with love. After all those are the songs that really got a lot of people into music. And we are talking about some heavyweigths here: Sonic Youth (alma mater of the project), Mudhoney, Yo la Tengo... ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A diverse tribute indeed!
The late Drew Blood, a good friend of mine submitted the hidden track which follows the final track of 'Shutdown'. It is a spoken word poem he wrote about Darby, The Germs and LA Punk in general. It doesn't get credit but is audible if you wait for the last track. I really love the diverse versions each artist brought to show the influence The Germs had on them in whatever way they did. Darby you are missed and so are you Drew.

Circle of Friends
I loved the Germs when I was in Jr. High School and bought GI on vinyl when it came out. This seminal album has inspired many other bands and is a masterpiece. I picked up Circle of Friends at a used CD store yesterday and it brought back old memories. This is a great CD if you liked the Germs. I found the Posies rendition of Richie Dagger's Crime to be hilarious.

It's ok for a tribute album
I never really ever cared for buying tribute albums , but I only really bought this to hear NOFX's cover of "Forming" , but the rest of the CD has some pretty descent material , especially White Flag's cover of "Manimal" . It is descent , but I wouldn't really recommend unless you really like the Germs , or you like some of the band's on this. ... Read more

Album Description

The much anticipated 18 band/song CD covering Tesco Vee's legacy of punk rock from his early band Blight to The Meatmen to Tesco Vee's Hate Police.All artwork within was drawn up by the warped P. Earwig, the same guy that did

Mr. Bungle's WB debut CD. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

In a perfect world, we'd have heard of this.
Buy this with whatever spare change you can muster. This is a true taste of good alternative music: a bunch of talented no-names ranging from polished studio sound to what is a cut above the garage. There's a good chance you'll end up buying (or at least seeking) more from some of them. I was surprised to like Chimera, and "Obnoxious" by The Marshes was good too. The mark of a good compilation, however, is that different songs are different people's favorites (which I believe would be the case). Make your voice heard: the only way to sell a v/a compilation is to make it dirt cheap! ... Read more