VARIOUS ARTISTS
Fields and Streams 2xCD (Kill Rock Stars)
By: Alex Steininger
Kill Rock Stars has always been a great way to gain exposure to some of the hottest indie rock and alternative culture-minded bands out there. On their latest compilation, Fields and Streams, a two-disc set of bands from various labels as well as their own, Kill Rock Stars manages to exposure you to forty-five bands, some of which you may be familiar with, and others you'll be hearing for the first time.Disc one, Fields, delivers the carnival-rock of The Quails, the melodic indie-rock of The Rock-A-Teens, and the experimental rock of Gene Defcon. Braille Stars create atmosphere pop for the subconscious, while The Reputation lay you down to sleep with a slumbering number entitled "For The Win".
Other bands on disc one include: Coolies, Lost Sound, Industrial Skyline, Dada Swing, Stereo Total, Mecca Normal, and The Aislers Set, to name a few.
Disc two, Streams, instantly hits you with a melodic rock song by Tender Trap, a band that instantly won me over. Always a winner, Bangs' brand of punk rock knocks you on your ass. And The Dishes keep you down for the count with an all-girl line-up that plays rock 'n' roll with more balls than most male-dominated rock acts.
Heavy hitters Mary Timony (ex-Helium front woman), Quasi (covering Curtis Mayfield), The Butchies, and Neko Case make Streams the winner of the two disc collection. Two Ton Boa, Jeff Hanson, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Love Life, among others, also find their way on disc two.
A solid collection of forty-five bands you'll want to check out, Kill Rock Stars' Fields and Streams is a 2-disc set worth picking up. I'll give it a B.
