If you played in a band in the late '80s, then you know that your scene wasn't anything without a regional compilation album to document the breadth and eclecticism present in your town/county/state's musical population. While many of these records were immediately relegated to the dusty shelves of the "local" section of your favorite music emporium, there were those that deserved better.
Badger A-Go-Go is a surprisingly strong record, with enough recognized and "unsigned" artists -- and beyond that, actual good songs -- to keep a college radio listener entertained. Who knew the diversity present in the state of Wisconsin:
Paul Cebar & the Milwaukeeans' laid-back, almost whimsical take on "Can't Sit Down," the
Hüsker Dü-influenced
Liquid Pink, the guitar pop of
Squares, and the more established individual sounds of E*I*E*I*O and
Die Kreuzen. Fear not, there are a few bum tracks (and it wouldn't be a regional compilation without them), but the depth of good bands and songs will ease the pain of listening to Appliances-SFB's "Play With Pain." The compact disc reissue includes bonus tracks by
Liquid Pink.