Various Artists

Item: Tracks & Fields
Author: Justin Brinker

Tracks & Fields

(2004)

Reviewed by Justin Brinker

Discogs Bandcamp

Label Kill Rock StarsDecapolisJuly 2004

experimental indie rock lo-fi

I have always been optimistic about compilations, because nine times out of ten you are going to hear a band that you are not familiar with and discover new music, which is always a good thing. I have rarely been disappointed with compilations, but it has happened a few times. Compilations are supposed to offer a plethora of artists and enough diversity to keep the listener's attention throughout the record, but that is not always the case.

With forty-one tracks and over two and a half hours of music, or lack thereof, the Tracks and Fields: Kill Rock Stars Compilation is a great example of this. There are two discs in this compilation: the first aptly titled "Tracks" and the second "Fields."

We will start off with "Tracks", which has its moments at times, and it's the stronger of the two discs. It opens with "I'm Not Like That" by The Legend! a band that sounds like a Smiths cover band, gone awry. Seriously, the vocals were so bad on this song I could not keep from laughing every time I listened to it.

Skip ahead to His Name is Alive and their bluesy "Peace In Detroit" was a much easier listen, Superchunk delivers the rock with "Everyone Gets Crushed." Bro. Danielson offers "Our Givest", a jangly acoustic song driven by his peculiar vocals, while Xiu Xiu releases a live version of "clowne towne." Female fronted The Capricorns, deliver snyth driven pop rock with "Steve and Tiffanie" one of my favorite songs on the compilation. Whether it's The Wiretaps or The Charades its basically the same thing, synth driven pop rock in the vein of The Capricorns, only not as good. Brooke's "inside out" that starts out with an acoustic guitar and her vocals before the drums and distorted guitar kicks in which reminds me of Juliana Hatfield.

On to "Fields" which rarely, and I mean rarely had its moments. While "Tracks" was the more accessible disc, the artists on "Fields" almost try to outdo each other. There are a few standout songs on "Fields" like the folky demo, "Poughkeepsi", a tinny lo-fi recording showcasing the singer's quivering vocals from Devendra Banhart. Sahara Hotnights offers their take on The Ramones "Rockaway Beach" and do a really good job at it. The Decemberists contribute "Everything I Try To Do, Nothing Seems To Turn Out Right" a great pop song driven by keyboards, guitar and drums, and the vocals of Colin Meloy. Male Slut features the male members of Sonic Youth, with Thurston Moore at the helm, "Industrial Noise Blues" is a tribute to Moore's heroes: Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, and Joey Ramone, as Moore sings "God Bless, Joey" over and over again at the end of the track. Other songs by Measles Mumps Rubella, Slumber Party, and sleetmute nightmute, tend to sound like one long song, or like someone had way too much time with a drum machine.

With over two and a half hours of music, I was only able to barely scratch the surface. I do respect Kill Rock Stars for their continual support of getting music out there by independent artists. There were times on each disc where I enjoyed what I was hearing, but those times were so few and far between that it gets very mundane with forty-one songs to sift through. This compilation opens your eyes to a whole new world of music and gives you a view of the Kill Rock Stars catalogue, in this second release of what will be a trilogy.

2/4