Sunday, February 22, 2009

V/A - Viva La Vinyl (1995, Dead Beat/Campground)

In the '90s, when the major labels and Epitaph were tending to their pampered punk flock, there was a much wider subterranean punk/hardcore scene underfoot, bolstered by Maximumrocknroll et al. While far from a definitive snapshot of this parallel universe, Viva La Vinyl, a co-release between Dead Beat and Campground Records, does a commendable job of compiling 16 basement-party punk bands of the mid-90s in to one handy vinyl-only package. True, it has it's share of "crusty" miscreants, Viva... touts a bevy of pop-leaning combos, including Bouncing Souls, Trusty (a Beatles cover - wtf?), Sicko, and the ever reliable J Church. Others like The Kids (not the Belgian band), Krupted Peasant Farmers, and Jon Cougar Concentration Camp opt for a rawer approach. Fighting Cause, who deliver this albums penultimate slammer, "My Crime," always struck me as potential torchbearers for the more anthematic wing of last decade's punk-revival, but wider notoriety just wasn't in the cards for them.

01. Verrucose - Shingle
02. Sleeper - Destroying the Builder
03. Bouncing Souls - These Are the Quotes From Our Favorite '80s Movies
04. Whatever - Streak (Bill # 1)
05. Trusty - Magical Mystery Tour
06. J Church - Bomb
07. Tilt - Can't Listen
08. Preachers That Lie - Happy All the Time
09. The Kids - I Wish
10. Tilt Wheel - Crawl
11. Queen Mab - Flower
12. Nonsense - Crazy Al
13. Jon Cougar Concentration Camp - So What
14. Krupted Peasant Farmers - Bear Named Dog
15. Fighting Cause - My Crime
16. Sicko - Weight of the Sun

Hear

2 comments:

theodore said...

isn't it a little contradictory to post digital mp3s of a comp that's entire purpose was to celebrate it's vinyl-ness? ;)

that said, this record kicks so much ass. it was one of my favorite compilations from back in the day. so many good band... thanks for posting!

Neal said...

this was a great compilation. the whatever song was my favorite and led me to their album, which is also awesome.