V/A - "How To Be A Hero" compilation cd

"How To Be A Hero" was the introductory release from Prizefight Records, an obscure label located on the outskirts of Saint Louis, Missouri which existed briefly during the tail end of the 90's and was operated by a really nice guy named Neil Simpson. This compilation was a benefit for Habitat For Humanity, and featured a pretty diversified lineup of bands, something that I've always appreciated with comps where this is the case. Styles included on "How To Be A Hero" range from melancholic instrumental pieces (Indiana's Ativin, who released a bunch of stuff on Secretly Canadian), midwestern-ish post-rock-tinged stuff (Nova Scotia), screamo (Delaware heroes Joshua Fit For Battle and Missouri locals Johnny Angel), interestingly weirdo indie rock (Paper Castles), really good indie rock (Cursive), indie rock featuring some off-key vocals in the chorus (Civic), yet another band named after a character from an outstanding, classic NES video game^ (Piston Honda) and more.

There are sixteen songs on here, so more than likely if you've got at least a passing interest in underground shit and have a somewhat decent taste in music, there has to be something here you'd be interested in hearing*. The manila envelope packaging is simple yet effective, and in case you can't read the text on the cover, it says "and then you thought you had no friends". My copy included an insert advertising two releases by a couple of bands that appear on this comp, Park and Civic. My apologies for the less-than-stellar liner notes picture in today's post, but it's the best I was able to do because I stink.

At the end of the day, this is an enjoyable disc which, when released during the summer of '99, was connected to a good cause. Prizefight Records #1.

* It is probably worth the download for The Firebird Suite's song alone, y'all.
^ I play in such a band.

Tracklist:
1) The Firebird Suite - "The Pleasant Return Of Kerrazo"
2) 21 Union Square - "It Couldn't Be Me"
3) Park - "The Pandorian Adventures Of Dan Rosenthal"
4) Quell - "Aftermath"
5) Cursive - "After The Movies"
6) Johnny Angel - "Sweet Shop Savvy"
7) Civic - "Pincushion Flower"
8) Nova Scotia - "Achilles Heel"
9) 47 Ronin - "Something To Be Desired"
10) Baxter - "These Times"
11) Piston Honda - "For All The Bryn-Mawr Girls"
12) Paper Castles - "Miss The Sunset Rising"
13) Joshua Fit For Battle - "Song Three"
14) Penfold - "Chaper Two"
15) Joel Madigan - "Driven Drove Drought"
16) Ativin - "My Eyes Of Yours"

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V/A - "A Document Of Nothing" compilation cd

This cd was a joint venture from Second Nature Recordings (#2) and Out Structured fanzine (#1), two pretty important 90s ventures from the mid-western state of Missouri. Up to this point, Dan from Second Nature cut his teeth with Second Nature Fanzine, which was quite an enjoyable read. I have three or four issues of SN, and I hope to get them uploaded on here sometime soon. The first Second Nature Recordings release was a Coalesce cd, which combined the band's 2 song 7" (originally released by San Francisco's Chapter Recs), two live songs from CBGB's and one previously unreleased jam. This here compilation was Dan's second release as a record label, and it came out in 1996. In addition to Coalesce, this label went on to release tons of stuff by bands such as Grade, Rocky Votolato, Reggie And The Full Effect, Isis, the pre-Harvest and Threadbare band Krakatoa, Blood Brothers, etc.

Needless to say, this is a pretty necessary mid 90s comp, with quite a few notable bands from the era making an appearance. My personal favorite songs here are the ones from Harvest, Converge and, once it gets going, Mainspring. It also has arguably the best song Enkindel ever wrote, before they became shitty and re-branded themselves as The Enkindels. Enjoy!

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Tracklist
1) Enkindel - "Half Witted"
2) Harvest - "Cessation"
3) Cycle - "One Thousand"
4) Stedding - "Tread"
5) Two Line Filler - "I'm Just Fine"
6) Despair - "Fletcher"
7) Walleye - "Crowned"
8) Combination Grey - "Twelve Steps"
9) Endeavor - "Balance Of The Rungs"
10) Autumn - "Final Dream"
11) Rain Still Falls - "Driver"
12) Converge - "Shingles"
13) Surface - "View"
14) Jejune - "Stresser"
15) Mainspring - "From The Tranches"