The Very Best Record Label Samplers of All Time

I was on Wikipedia the other day and found a link to a website that claimed to database all of the English record labels currently in existence. In total, there were over 24,000. Many of them are just subbed from other labels, but it gave me enough inspiration to go through my stack of albums and determine what I thought were the very best label samplers ever.
5. Saddle Up and Love it (Saddle Creek Records and Lovitt Records)
Although Hot Topic is the last place one wants to end up in pursuit of beautiful music, the advent of EmTeeVindie has allowed a few really good bands to slip through the cracks of mainstream entertainment. It just so happens that most of these bands are currently signed to Omaha, Nebraska based Saddle Creek Records. With a fairly mundayne collage of SCR songs (such as Supine to Sit, The Faint, and Bright Eyes single "Take It Easy (Love Nothing)"), the real peak is Lovitt Records' split on the album (Ex-Maximilien Colby conglomerate Sleepytime Trio is signed to Lovitt). "Around What's Done" by Bats and Mice may in fact have made the CD, rather than Saddle Creek's more widely-known songs by Oberst and friends, and contributions by Division of Laura Lee and Fin Fang Foom balance the slower, melodic sound that Saddle Creek is famous for. The album is an inimitable listen with a lot of cohesiveness and a flow that is entirely uncommon to independent record labels today.

4. Location is Everything: Volume 2 (Jade Tree Records)
It seems to me, in modern music, that most labels go out of their way to make sure that the bands they are promoting are united by similar styles of music (Many even going to the point of splitting their label to differentiate genres). Visiting Jade Tree Records' Myspace though can (in the words of Joe Pesci) "...put that theory to sleep." Jade Tree Records is one of those labels that most people only know one or two acts from, but unlike Saddle Creek Records or Bloodtown. They are never the same bands. If you are talking to kids in more aggressive circles they are likely to name drop From Ashes Rise, Challenger or These Arms Are Snakes. While if you are into the coffee shop quiet set, you are liable to hear someone (presumably with an underbeard) discussing the genius behind Onelinedrawing or Jets To Brazil's intellectual diversion from the grunge rock scene that C-Sectioned them. The one thing that can be said about any band on Jade Tree Records is that they are all incredibly original. Every band present on this compilation has broken rules of their scene and created something beautiful and influential in their image. The album does a great job of picking songs which represent this revolutionary binding tie, while still having the ability to convince somebody completely unfamiliar with the rules of any scene that what the song is doing is counter-intuitive. In a generation and market marked almost completely by unoriginality, Jade Tree's Location is Everything 2, is nothing short of necessary.

3. Revelation 100: A 15 Year Retrospective of Rare Recordings (Revelation Records)
The primary purpose of label samplers is to give any member of the public that will lend it's ears a taste of what the label supports and believes without any tricky words to turn complicated emotions into overwrought dramatics (see Tooth and Nail Records). It is rare that a label compilation dares to do something besides give the public a sample. Unlike Jade Tree, Revelation Records is in the business of hard music. They have turned Shai Hulud, Himsa and Youth of Today into household names while simultaneously giving birth to the emotive hardcore legacy that bands like Elliott and Texas is the Reason picked up on when true "emo" died in the mid-90's. Because Revelation is one of those labels that likely releases more albums on vinyl than they do on compact disc in a year, their vaults are full of hidden treasures. Splits, Singles, EPs, and the coveted Promotional Japanese editions are full of songs that must wait to be heard until a label produces a rarities comp. Being familiar with most Revelation Records bands already, I bought this compilation and was nothing short of impressed. The first track on it, is Curl Up and Die's "Nuclear Waste? Bring that Shit." Which is only to be found on their "But the Past Aint Through With Us" EP. The bright sun is this constellation, however, seems to divert from the title of the record entirely. Elliott begun as a progressive punk act when they first released US Songs in 1998. Although, it is not a selection from US Songs that made the final cut of the compilation. Instead, Revelation chose "Away We Drift" off 2003's airy and melodic Song in the Air. At first glance, it would seem to make little sense, but without the passionate melody of Elliot's contribution, the album is sure to be discarded by many unwilling to discover the infinite passion present in the lyrics of even the most aggressive acts, on the CD. On a side note, Since By Man represents the 262.

2. Location is Everything: Volume 1 (Jade Tree Records)
Whatever, Backwoods Nation by Pedro the Lion is an incredible song. Also Tim Owen's chrono quartet has earned two spots on this list.

1. 80 Records and We're Not Broke Yet (Level Plane Records)
The album is a dual disc, the first being a label sampler and the second being a collection of rarities and live recordings from bands like Envy, melt-banana and Hot Cross. In addition to being the New York Yankees of screamo acts, Level Plane now produces Cinema-Grindcore pioneers (or at least necromancers, after Mortician has been deceased for quite some time) Graf Orlock, as well as spiritual acoustic songwriter Hrishikesh Hirway also known as the One Am Radio. The selling point and victory of this CD (besides opening with a band they had just signed), is its closing. The final song of the second disc is City of Caterpillar's epic, 11 and a half minute, live-recording "Drive Spain Up a Wall." The song is like a story one reads with their ears. It begins with a dark, dissonant lead guitar playing in 3/8 time and picks up. The song then builds and builds adding the entire band in intervals until bass/vocalist Kevin Longendyke is the only one resigned to observation. After 7 minutes of this rising, the music climaxes and breaks into what can only be described the most beautiful dose of chaos the listener's ears will ever receive until the end of the song when the music once again slopes down and completes the masterpiece. The second disc is full of such titles, but Level Plane proves they know how to save the best for last and whatever doubt there was that this album, this label this credo was anything short of groundbreaking is erased by the 10th minute of "Spain".

It Came Without... Update 05

Hey brothersister I figured I would at least get he project report up here on the website, that way if there's anybody you know who might be interested in contibuting but is wanting more information you can hook them up (feel free to email it, or print it or whatever).

It Came Without Packages, Boxes or Tags: Shangri-La Media 2008 Project Report

Love yourself,
Jordan.

It Came Without... Update 04 (my Sunflower).

In the interest of keeping everybody abreast, the name of the anonymous contributor I had discussed in the previous post has been announced as they have decided to give one of their songs to ICWPBOT. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you.



I wholeheartedly encourage everybody reading to swing by and order a copy of the CD. Not only does Band Marino possess an incredibly eclectic sound (while managing to produce a cohesive and beautiful CD in total), but their contribution to the CD is going to help out a lot of people this Holiday season. If you live in the Valley here with me, you can go to Dimple Music and pick it up for $4.00. In other words, when I start getting a fuller track list, I will begin to review the CDs the artists are producing (with as little bias as I can for someone who has graciously donated their art for a bigger cause).
I took a vacation today, and went to the city, had lunch and saw Ghost Town. It is an excellent movie, and Ricky Gervais is an incredibly versatile actor (although I caught myself a couple of times finding David Brent mannerisms). Highly recommended and for anybody here in the twin cities, I apologize that Cinemark is lame.

Love yourself,
Jordan.

It Came Without... Update 03

I am getting some big names attached to this project. I can't say anything yet, but I have been planting seeds and there is already a giant sunflower in my lawn waking me up when I begin to fall asleep on all of this. Thank you sunflower.

For everybody else, send me your music I have 2 songs now added to the tracklist and I'll be recording 1 or 2 I wrote too depending on how many of the committed (>30 tracks) actually come through. Take it easy.

Love yourself,
NBK SLM

It Came Without... Update 02

I was hoping to use today to actual publish a review of a CD I just did yesterday but it will have to wait. Instead, I'll let everybody know that I have two songs received and probably 5 or 6 more promised in addition to the one or two I am planning to contribute.

That which is certain: The title of the project is "It Came Without Packages, Boxes or Tags: Shangri-La Media 2008." The album artwork for the front is being finalized. It will have no more than 19 tracks and no less than 14. It will sell for $7.00 a disc, once I cover overhead the price may go down but since it's completely non-profit, it shouldn't be counted on. The artwork I have received already will in fact be featured in the CD booklet and the back of the CD may as well already have it's vacancy filled thanks to somebody's creative force.

That which is uncertain: Which tracks will be appearing on the CD, What the overall theme of those songs will be. If I will have room to publish lyrics. What kind of online interactivity will follow purchase of the CD. How many copies of the CD will be pressed (this is up to you, I need everybody to promote as well as order and take orders from others). How I'm going to pull this off ha. Where I'm going to be living next month (also another joke).

That which falls somewhere in between: What type of pressing I will be ordering. Actual disc artwork. Copyright information. Standards for acceptance. Label it will be pressed under. What charities the proceeds will be supporting.

Any way you can help out, please do. Prayer is really needed right now as well as encouraging words, most of all though, I need you to send me your music. I'm looking at about a two and half month timeline right now for production and credit raising, I am now working in Sacramento, so I have even less time to take care of the administrative aspects of the project, recieving your music is taking a huge burden off of my shoulders. Thank you everyone for reading.

Love yourself,
NBK.

It Came Without... Update 01

I need you all to start emailing me the songs, not just telling me you have something to contribute but actually sending me the songs at Franceandarabia@yahoo.com it's crucial that I start getting these as it's going to take a long time for me to get everything together with the production.


Which leads me to my next point: I've gotten much more people who said they're interested than I have room on the CD. This might turn into a bit of a competition to see who can get their tracks on. Don't think for a minute that because your piece lacks musical complexity or a full band or anything that it will be omitted. I'm going for a really eclectic blend of alternative music and myself, have really strange taste in music (so even though you might not think it's anything special, I would imagine it to be genius). Please remember, you are always your harshest critic and that what you have inside is probably more beautiful to others than anything you've heard is to you. The title I'm working for right now is "It Came Without Packages, Boxes or Tags:________ 2008" (where the blank is the name of the media station and music review empire I am attempting to formulate, at least for an excuse to spend this autumn listening to music all of the time). Recognize the title? That's right it's from the Grinch, Dr. Seuss' timeless classic about a mistaken, bitter man confusing the spirit of Christmas for commercial indulgence. Sadly, American society has come to a point where Christmas would be little without the presents...

Which leads me to my next point: The unifying force behind this CD will be the thematically emphasized need of our generation to break away from such mystification at material goods. If you do your part, and I do mine, each song, each peace of artwork will stress the idea that the Holidays should be a time when we celebrate a genuine feeling of warmth for others people regardless of their situations. Not only will this message be stressed, but I hope it will be made an example as anything that goes beyond the production cost of the CDs will go to the charity organization, "Operation: Christmas Child" and "Toys for Tots" both organizations are certified accountable (that is, they don't just front and take the money for themselves) and awesome ways to reach out and help people feel some of the joy we take for granted in the American Christmas Spirit...

Which leads me to my final point (speech class much ha): The package I'm looking at right now is buying bulk, 1000 CDs in Digipak packaging (for those of you who don't know, Digipak is that cool CD case you have where it's cardstock on the outside printed and then inside has a plastic dock for the actual CD. It will include a booklet which will have contributed artwork, contact details and maybe even a short biography about each of the artists/musicians who have contributed. There will be an extensive thank you to anyone who has helped through financial donations, prayer or in any other way assisted the project (encouragement is a big one, and honestly, desparately needed).


Thank you so much, I know this was huge.


Love yourself,
NBK

It Came Without Packages, Boxes or Tags

I know starting out an unsigned music review blog, I should probably be writing about the greatest band you've never heard, but instead I'm going to re-enter my proposal for what will no doubt be consuming me for the next 3 months.

Here is the original post, which appeared on www.myspace.com/webecomesilence as a bulletin, a branstorm, a battle that will be fought.

"
As the Holiday time will be here in no time I thought it would be a good idea for anybody who is able to help with something good for others. Whether that is through Toys for Tots or Operation: Christmas Child I have a huge list of charities that work especially hard around the holidays.


Here is my idea. If you are an independent singer or musician, I think it would be really neat if you could record one or two of the songs you have written (for copyright purposes, please no covers, unless it is public domain like a Christmas song) and send them to me (in .mp3 format at Franceandarabia@yahoo.com). What I can do then, is I can put all of the songs I receive on a CD and have it printed and published.


Each disc would then be sold for about $7.00, initially, because I am a poor man, part of the cost would have to go to covering the cost of CD production. I've already researched though and found the most inexpensive printers who are in no way going to compromise the integrity of the disc. In fact, the grassroots printing will give it a certain character I feel, more of an indie vibe.


Also if you can record, or know of people who can record, let me know because I'm sure not everybody has the ability to do that in their household, and to keep cost low and charity high, its important that the recording is done pro bono.


Thanks everyone for reading this, and I look forward to hearing your contributions and being encouraged by your hearts.

"
Love Yourself
NBK