National Acrobat Tna: The Complete Recordings CD

It's not often one gets to sample a watershed band's entire musical output on a single CD (Minor Threat's Complete Discography being the ultimate example), but that is exactly the case with this collection by Louisville, KY's National Acrobat. Totaling a colossal 30 tracks, 2004's TNA: The Complete Recordings squeezes all four of the group's official releases: 2000's Can't Stop Casper Adams, 1999's It's Nothing Personal, 2000's cheekily named The National Acrobat, for All Practical Purposes, Is Dead, and 1999's eponymous debut, as well as four unreleased and compilation cuts (in that order) into its 77 minutes. Phew! And yes, in case you're wondering, the group's varied hardcore assault (at times, though they probably wouldn't admit it, verging on sludge metal -- as seen on the Cavity-inspired "Ceramic Ages" and "I'm a Gine") is inventive and lyrically literate enough to sustain one's attention throughout. And you really can't complain about getting everything -- I mean, c'mon! Recommended even before you realize there's a goat-and-pentagram drawing concealed beneath the CD tray. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia

The National Acrobat includes: Evan Patterson, Ryan Patterson, Robby Scott, Stephen George.

Audio Mixers: Mike Baker ; Kevin Ratterman.

Recording information: Burnt Ramen, Richmond, CA (02/19/1999-02/10/2001); Dsl, Louisville, KY (02/19/1999-02/10/2001); In Transit Studios, Louisville, KY (02/19/1999-02/10/2001); Mercury Paw, Louisville (02/19/1999-02/10/2001); Ty's Basement (02/19/1999-02/10/2001).

Editors: Jason Loewenstein; Ryan Patterson; Evan Patterson.

Personnel: Casper Adams (vocals); Robby Scott (guitar, acoustic guitar); Ryan Patterson, Evan Patterson (guitar, electric guitar); Eric Young (acoustic guitar); Phil Stosberg (drums); Mark Brickey, Chris Higdon, Elizabeth Lutz (background vocals).

CMJ (p.6) - "Amidst ferocious wounded-animal vocals, disjointed guitar rhythms and cymbal assaults, National Acrobat's innate sense of threat seemed uncontrollable."