A compilation of this delectable Delaware label contains tunes of solid emo groups such as
Paint It Black and
These Arms Are Snakes, the latter of whom nail the challenging and inventive "Riding the Grape Dragon," resembling
At the Drive-In mixed with
My Bloody Valentine. "Kill Me," courtesy of
Cex, is a dreary, sparser electro-clash effort that rarely gets its footing. But for the most part, this album is more up-tempo and upbeat, especially on
Strike Anywhere's punk-pop "Infrared." The group could draw easy comparisons to
The Ataris. Another gorgeous gem is the melodic, vocoder-tinged "Hours Seems Like Days" from
Statistics. The deeper one moves into the album, the more it opens up to the listener, particularly on
Denali's "Hold Your Breath," containing enough tension throughout to make it glisten. A rapid-fire "Reaction" performed by
From Ashes Rise hits the right balance between hardcore and emocore. The dichotomy between this and the catchy power pop hooks on
Onelinedrawing's "We Had a Deal" is surprising, but shows how great the ears at this label are. Whether it's the reflective yet grandiose "The Greatest Thing" that brings
Radiohead to mind or infectious
Clash punk of Kid Dynamite's "Heart a Tact," Jade Tree is able to pull these bands together for a greater musical sum. A sleeper tune is the minimal "Dead Together" by
Joan of Arc. And this album wouldn't be complete without something from
Jets to Brazil, who offer a shimmering and polished nugget in "You're the One I Want." Six bonus tracks, including live performances and demos, are a bit shoddy in places. Only on the one-take sounding "Cut Wrists" and
Pedro the Lion's pretty "I Do" does the extra material seem worthwhile. Overall it is a great collection compiled from roughly three years worth of music. ~ Jason MacNeil