First off, let me say that the Stiv Bators track, a shameless piece of Mersey Beat worship, is pure genius. Why this song didn’t burn its way up the charts in the same way as “My Sharona” will remain a mystery. More power pop in a myriad of hues here, all from America, all from the letters B and C, all dang cool in their own way. Featured this time around are Cheese, Comateens, Conditionz, Beat Rodeo, Clicks, Comets, Crash Kills Five and a bunch of others. For those of us who like to know who the hell we’re listening to, liner notes are also included. Send all your lunch money now or expect to be kicking yourself in the ass ten years from now, ‘cause this is some good stuff.
–jimmy (www.hyped2death.com)