In the years before the grunge/punk/ska wave of modern rock radio, imported English gloominess was the original alternative; the hip kids in high school were making out to stuff like the Cure and the Smiths. But it was 4AD Records, a little independent label in the UK, that literally turned that gothic gloom into art. 4AD probably wasn't the first record company to be spawned from a design studio, but no other label married a cohesive sound to striking visual imagery to create such an effective package. And for a while, this package inspired slavish brand loyalty like few other labels before them; before Nevermind came out, the Pixies and Throwing Muses were celebrated college-rock fare, while the harder-core fans scoured record stores for Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, and This Mortal Coil imports. Hey, if it was on 4AD, you knew what you were getting, and chances were it was pretty good.

So what happened? Well, 4AD had pretty much designed themselves into a very narrow demographic, and when punk broke in America, they were caught completely unprepared. Their best-selling acts broke up, and lesser acts like Pale Saints and Lush tried to update their sound, to little success. The label floundered through the 90s, cashing in on Pixies/Muses spinoffs and doing some design work on the side, effectively selling out their "look" to other labels. Not to say they didn't still put out some great music (Gusgus and His Name Is Alive, to name two) during this time, but on the whole, 4AD is still unsure how they're supposed to fit in to the New Music Order.

Which doesn't really explain why 4AD decided to produce the soundtrack to some obscure film called "Joyride", much less release it. It's basically a compilation of previously released 4AD tracks, plus a few extra unknown oddities that really aren't worthwhile finds. Since it's a soundtrack, it focuses a little more on the atmospheric side of 4AD; hence, lots of instrumentals, and a few moody cuts from Pale Saints, Lush, and Tarnation. A few long- since- forgotten goth-pop obscurities also make an appearance, reminding you why they were forgotten in the first place.

Joyride functions more as a medicore, 4AD-heavy mix tape than of anything else. If you're looking to become more familiar with 4AD's back catalog, you're better off searching for an earlier compilation.

-Nick Mirov