 Various
Artists
"Homemade Hits, V.1" CD
Kittridge
Records
Genres: indie pop, lo-fi, DIY
Kittridge Records
PO Box 662011
Los Angeles, CA
90066
May 31 - Jun 6 2004 |
Homemade Hits, V.1 is the type of indie pop compilation that
can plant a smile on almost anyone's face. While the songs
aren't all great, there is just such a lovely atmosphere - and so many
lusciously infectious melodies - that you can't help but dig the music.
On this disc you get twenty-six offerings by a wide range of indie
pop, indie rock, and lo-fi acts. Many you won't have heard of,
but if you're a fan of the genres, there will definitely be stuff here
that you'll find appealing. Firstly, you've got your standard
multiple doses of cheery, catchy twee (Going Stagg's pretty
"Breathe," Lunchbox's playful "Fernruf").
Then, of course, there's the juicy lo-fi pop, filled with tape hiss
and simplistically brilliant melodies (Pumpkin Picasso's
"Robot and My Friend," Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti's
"Want Me"). Then there are the more energetic indie
rock numbers (Katie The Pest's "What Color Are You?,"
Le Pepes' "PU You Stink"), as well as the offbeat pop numbers (New Bethel's electro-jerky
"Telepathy," Boothby's spacey "Diamond
Ring"). And, as if that weren't enough, you get a fine dose
of sonic experimentation, in the form of Dewey Decimator's
avant-garde "Late Night Booty Call" and Tugboat
Fantastic!'s electronic "Laughter and Forgetting."
Overall, while this disc does suffer from some lesser moments (just
what were Luke Top and Troy Taroy thinking?), it
is - for the most part - a very satisfying release. Who doesn't
love comps like this?
87%
Matt Shimmer
[Vitals: 26 tracks, distributed by the
label, released 2004] |
