Number 9...number 9...number 9.. (PPG CRS review)
A track-by-track rundown. Bold-faced artist names indicate the tracks I like well enough that I would probably check out more of their work (some definitely).
1. Tiny Volcano - a nice comp opener, very power-poppy.
2. Riddle of Steel - an instant ear-grabber for me. Why doesn't radio play more stuff like this and less of the crap they do play?
3. American Analog Set - interesting indie-esque track but never kicks in the way I hoped it would. Really good recording job on it, though.
4. Mae - nice little jazzy guitar riff/acoustic-based singer/songwriter that does kick in nicely at 2:27. A melody that could get in your head and hang around a while.
5. Wrens- 80's-esque vocals with a driving bass, tight band.
6. Electrelane - dark female vocals, not my cup o'joe.
7. + / - The vocalist in this band sometimes reminds me of Joe Jackson. Good stuff going on here.
8. Spiritualized - Hard-ass rockin' band with a busy mix here. I can imagine these guys would just put on a killer live show in a small smoke-filled club.
9. Tantric - Have I been reading some negative comments about this track? I don't get that - this is a very good cover, IMO. Updating the Fleetwood Mac track with some real fire while doing justice to the original Buckingham-Nicks vocals.
10. Chain - excellent prog metal. Sometimes I'll get the gist of a track and hit the next-track button but I wanted to hear all of this one.
11. RPWL - I love tracks that have those mysterious-sounding astronaut-in-space sound bites. But, aside from that, this is some good sh*t! I'll definitely be checking this band out.
12. Sun Kil Moon - Zebra-like acoustic guitars in an almost New Agey instrumental. I like it.
13. Handsome Family - oddball track here that would fit well in a David Lynch film. Sonically, it's superb.
14. Damien Rice - Acoustic-based singer/songwriter type with a moody composition. This doesn't knock me over too much after one listen but it might be a grower.
15. Twilight Babies - back on track after a couple of slow-downs in the track line-up, one of the best tracks on this comp. Another one to check out further, definitely.
16. Julian Coryell - another acoustic singer/songwriter with an excellent composition. I heard influences of Elliott Smith, Lennon/McCartney but the guy is no mere imitator - you hear some influences but he doesn't try to sound like anyone but himself. A great CRS closing track.
JDaniel, you did a helluva good job with this comp, the sequencing is terrific, the music the most consistently solid I've heard in a single collection in a long time. Without a doubt my favorite of the CRS series and puts to shame your typical mag samplers.