V/A – This Is Indie Rock Volume One / 2004 Deep Elm / 11 Tracks / http://www.deepelm.com / Reviewed 25 December 2004
For me, this signals Deep Elm’s completion of the Emo Diaries series, ending at the top of their game as well as being able to shuck a term that is becoming as popular as “gay” is to describe individuals. Stating out with a track more reminiscent of the alternative-rock of the mid 1990s, The Pit That Became A Tower shows a further divorce from the “Emo” moniker. Starting off in a very slinky and sultry way, The Blind King’s “Indie Pop Song” incorporates a myriad of styles and different generations of music to make a track that is emotionally hard-hitting while not dating itself. The shuffling beat of the song is pushed forth by the vocals and strummy guitar, while the electronic-esque drumming jazzes things up admirably. The numerous tempo changes shows a talent to The Blind Kind that is hard to surpass. Shades of Conor Oberst and early-era Goo Goo Dolls further influence this track. Treading dangerously close to “emo” is Dino Velvet, but the band finds companionship in At The Drive In instead of Taking Back Sunday; the bass line found on their “Weekend Warriors” comes through as intricate as anything Flea can come out with, but without the added baggage of poor songwriting that the Red Hot Chili Peppers package along with it.
The added synthesizer and dance beat patted out during “Weekend Warriors” recalls the halcyon days of dance-punk, and provides enough excitement to push the track to its inevitable conclusion. Second Hand Stories’ “Frontiers” never really gets started after a strong set of vocals opens the track, lacking instrumentation and a fury that would make the track memorable. A mid-CD lull occurs, with the ineffectual “Saturday” by Throat and the low-key “Puzzle: Part One” leaving listeners wishing for more.
The Fiona Apple-esque vocals and arrangements laid down by Joanna Erdos during eir “Silver and Gold” is a nice change from the fodder to be found during this disc, and the jazz/ragtimey piano on the track recalls a more innocent period in American music. Leaving Rouge’s “Rooms” elicits memories of both the Counting Crows and Matthew Sweet, with this track benefiting most tangibly due to their vocalist. This first volume of “This Is Indie Rock” is crafter with the same loving care in which the Emo Diaries found such great success, and it will be surprising if a number of bands to hit the mainstream won’t be helped at all by this series.
Top Tracks: Leaving Rouge’s “Rooms”, Dino Velvet’s “Weekend Warriors”
Rating: 7.4/10