Various Artists

"Homemade Hits Volume 2" CD

Kittridge Records

Genres: lo-fi, indie pop, experimental

Kittridge Records
PO Box 662011
Los Angeles, CA

July 18 - 24 2005

From lo-fi imprint Kittridge comes this lovely collection of pop and electronic gems from an assortment of obscure and somewhat known DIY acts.  Among the notable familiars are Boyracer, The Poison Control Center, and Gang Wizard, while the majority of the disc's 27 tracks are filled out by lesser-knowns.  Impressively, most of the comp is comprised of successful tunes, mostly pop but some experimental and electronic material as well. The listening varies from high-calibre rock (Golden Gram, Tigre Benvie) to very understated folk-pop (Papercuts, Tara S'Appart.)  Captain Ahab and Rocketship bring up the homemade experimental electronic end of things.  Personal favourites include Scrabbel's instantly infectious "Melody for Melanie," Thunder! Thunder! Thunder!'s strangely epic "Bossa Nostra: The Sound of Leisure," and Boyracer's predictably infectious "Wholly Generic."  The strange, robot-gone-awry vein of Gang Wizard's experimental finale is also worthy of note.  Overall, Homemade Hits Vol. 2 offers a valuable overview of Kittridge's roster and the modern lo-fi scene.  Like the Kill Rock Stars comps that defined a generation of avid hometapers and musical innovators, Kittridge's series is already making a name for itself.  Don't miss out.

87%

Matt Shimmer

[Vitals: 27 tracks, distributed by the label, released 2005]