V/A - The Sound of Deep Ellum (1987)

Once upon a time record labels (including major ones at that) would take a chance on unproven talent, both on an individual basis, and occasionally multiple artists for compilation albums.  In 1987 Island Records invested a few shekels to showcase ten artists that were part and parcel of Dallas, TX's burgeoning Deep Ellum scene. D/E was a neighborhood in East Dallas wherein there were numerous thriving nightclubs and concert venues.  Said to have peaked somewhere in the vicinity of the early-90s, this hipster locale engendered  a handful of acts garnering national exposure (and even one that was responsible a viral one-hit wonder).  The fact that nearly four decades after it's under-the-radar release, not one but two ...Deep Ellum artists are still performing in one guise or another - Reverend Horton Heat and The New Bohemians (yes, Edie Brickell's gang), is thoroughly astonishing.  

Punky provocateurs The Buck Pets were the main (and perhaps only) initial draw for these ears, and their contribution, the pulsating "Snatch Rap" is as potent as anything on their legendary 1989 debut LP.  End Over End and Three on a Hill sport gritty left-of-the-dial vibes, and The Trees offer a slightly twangier variation on roughly the same sonic motif.  As for the aforementioned New Bohemian's their "Jamaican Lady" is one of the more alluring numbers here, peppered with sweet, chiming guitar fills.  The remainder of the ...Deep Ellum roster delves into genres I'm typically not prone to featuring on these pages, but by no means should you let that dissuade you from investigating them and drawing your own conclusions.  Enjoy. 

01-Three On A Hill – No More Love

02-Decadent Dub Team – Six Gun

03-Buck Pets - Snatch Rap

04-Shallow Reign - Paint The Flowers All Black

05-Reverend Horton Heat – The Devil's Chasin' Me

06-The New Bohemians – Jamaican Lady

07-The Trees - Cattlecar

08-End Over End -  My Dark Earth Edge

09-The Daylights - Man o' War

10-The Legendary Revelations – Sales Tax

Hear