In Japan one can purchase beer, condoms, flowers, cameras, and pornography from vending machines. And occasionally, a salaryman might just pick all of those things up in one spree-- assuming he has a big night planned. So, I've been thinking-- what if music came in vending machines? My guess is there'd be about as much variety as... say, a candy machine. (Let's see... we've got chocolate, chewing gum and... er... licorice.)

Watered- down, neo- K-Tel rock samplers marketed to the khakied hoi polloi would be available at any time of day. Today's choices? Living In The '90s, Dance Party USA, Pure Moods, and MTV's 120 Minutes Live. A compilation with as much flavor as bleached wheat flower, 120 Minutes Live sufficiently fits every niche of the modern rock crowd. (Who do you think picked the songs, Matt Pinfield or a guy in Marketing?) Brit-pop? Check. (Oasis, Radiohead.) Lilith Fair fare? Check. (PJ Harvey, Bjork.) Sterile punk? Check. (Bad Religion, Sex Pistols.) Something for the frat boys? Check. (Verve Pipe, Porno for Pyros.) Aged cred? Check. (Victoria Williams with Lou Reed.) '80s indie- pop that hints at 120 Minutes' "legacy?" Check. (They Might Be Giants, Violent Femmes.) This compilation's heterogenaity is as suspect as the cast of the Real World.

However, the mixture does make this compilation a tad more listenable than soundtracks to recent teen slasher flicks. Thanks to MTV's ubiquity, my role of critic is less necessary. The music is sturdy, but far from stellar. Part of the problem lies in the continued inclusion of hit songs. Do I need to hear another live version of "Fake Plastic Trees?"

With less obvious picks, this compilation may have barely gotten a recommendation. As it stands now, I long for the days of Dave Kendall.

-Brent DiCrescenzo