Various Artists
Selector Dub Narcotic
[K]
Rating: 9.0
Calvin Johnson? Fuck yeah, Calvin Johnson! The man behind Beat
Happening and Dub Narcotic Sound System has a brand new bag of goodies:
a 23- track compilation that could have been labeled as Dub Narcotic Sound
System and Friends. Some of these bands (Jon Spencer Blues Explosion,
Beck) are familiar. Most will only be known by a few die hard
indie kids who live and die by the 'zines. All who purchase shall be set
free into Calvin's world.
K Records has put out fantabulous compilations in the past, including the way
more awesome than you'll ever be International Hip Swing. But Selector
Dub Narcotic is all that and more. Calvin gets hip to rap and funk, not
just with the Dub Narcotic tracks, but with hardcore hip- hop groups like Black
Anger Movement and No. 1.
Yes, all your favorite indie kids are here,
too. Versus turns in a swell slice of dream pop called "Sunlight
Flier." Jon Spencer leads a funky charge on "Blues Explosion Attack," a
strange run through all six of his lyrics ("Blues Explosion! Russell
Simmins! Judah Bauer! Come on! I need help! Hoo-uh!"), some weird
rants about being under attack, and unless he's just a freak, I think he
even misquotes Dr. Octagon. ("There's a horse in the hospital!")
Beck's track, "Close to God," sounds like an outtake from Mellow
Gold. But weirdest of all is "Go Sonics" by Tommy; not only are
neither of these girls named Tommy (one is Lois Maffeo, the other is
Carrie Brownstein), the song doesn't have a goddamned thing to do
with my favorite b-ball team. How's that for false advertising?
Others turning in stellar performances are Calvin and some indie pals,
K.G., Jason Traeger, ICU, Jen Smith, and Miranda July.
In all, this disc contains a very minimal amount of filler, leaving
consumers with whole lot of love, straight outta Olympia to music
fans from Puyallup to Persia.
-Jason Josephes