Us CD

This budget-priced split compilation is an interesting animal in several ways; first of all, it's a little weird for two labels to collaborate on a compilation album, though there's certainly nothing wrong with that. Stranger is the fact that, although Up's profile tends toward homemade electronica and Slabco's toward indie pop and rock, both labels are represented here by a roster almost equally divided between electro (Land of the Loops, Volume All*Star, Buckminster Fuzeboard) and rock (Modest Mouse, Sick Bees, Mike Johnson). Still, there's definitely nothing wrong with a little genre diversity. So how does the album sound? About like you'd expect, with the definite edge going to the electro crowd; Buckminster Fuzeboard and Land of the Loops are the class of that clique, with "Snap Clarity" and the trippy sample-fest "France," respectively. Rockers Dark Fantastic turn in a very respectable entry entitled "My Wandering Eye," but the Concretes are a discouraging choice for lead cut and the program ends with an unbelievably lame contribution from Modest Mouse. Given the album's under ten dollar list price and the amount of great material on it, though, it's eminently recommendable. ~ Rick Anderson

Unreleased Material From Land Of The Loops,Modest Mouse

Performers include: Land Of The Loops, Modest Mouse, Draco, Buckminster Fuseboard, Volume All Star, Octant, Sick Bees, Dynomite D, Jana McCall, Scientific American, Cannanes/Explosion Robinson, Mike Johnson, J. Corn, Blackheart Procession, Explosion Robinson.

Personnel: Isaac Brock, Mike Johnson (vocals, guitar); Mark Pickerel (vocals, drums); Tassy Zimmerman, Jana McCall (vocals); Aaron Lundborg (guitar, keyboards); Josh Homme (guitar); Jen Charowhas (violin); Frances Woods (viola); Brent Arnold (cello); Mike Braden, Eli Braden (electric piano, Moog synthesizer); Stefan Nelson (keyboards); Matthew Steinke (synthesizer, drum programming, loops); Summer Mastous (synthesizer); Dan Peters, Jeremiah Green, Josh Gabriel (drums); Martin Feveyear (percussion, percussion programming).

Audio Mixers: Martin Feveyear; Phil Ek.

Recording information: Flora Ave. Studio, Seattle, WA; Jupiter Studio, Seattle, WA; The Dynamite Shack.

Unknown Contributor Role: Jim Winters.

Arranger: Draco.