V/A – Stranded In Stereo Volume 2 / 2006 Adeline / 43 Tracks / http://www.strandedinstereo.com / http://www.adelinerecords.com / Reviewed 28 June 2006

I mean, what is this? Is this a zine, or just a collection of music? Adeline Records put out the second volume of Stranded in Stereo, and the first disc is all audible. The second disc has a bunch of music videos and film trailers. Regardless, whatever Adeline Records is trying to do with this piece of media, they do it well. The audio CD is the first disc in this 2-disc set, and Adeline has the best idea when they put The Sounds (“Painted By Numbers”) up in the lead-off position to this disc. The second track on the audio CD is a Joan Jett track (“Five”); I had no clue that Joan Jett was still creating music, anyways. Joan Jett is still rocking out much as ey did when ey was still in the Runaways, even as the guitar work seems to showcase a more current, California (Bad Religion) type of sound.

While there are a number of acts that have already made a name for themselves in popular music (the aforementioned acts, Mellowdrone, The Vacancies, Anti-Flag), there are just as many if not more acts that still can make a name for themselves (Nicolai Dunger, Todd Deatherage, The Affair). Instead of just having videos for the songs that were on the audio segment of this compilation, Stranded in Stereo actually changes a number of the bands on the second disc, as well as changing the tracks that are put forth by the bands that are on both discs. Of all the bands that are not at the biggest part of their careers, slowrunner has to be the act that shines brightest during either disc.

The infusion of a synthesizer into a very bouncy brand of indie rock hearkens back to the days of acts like The Red Hot Valentines; Adeline et al know how to create a compilation that individuals will actually listen to instead of relegating it to the bottom of their CD pile. Obviously, the fact that this is the second volume of Stranded in Stereo should show that Adeline has thought about having this be a periodic release; let’s hope that this sells enough copies to merit a third, fourth, and even further CDs as the years pass. Pick this album up so there is a reason for the record label to cut more volumes of this set; there is just too much in the way of good music to make this album sit on the shelves any longer.

Top Tracks: slowrunner “Break Your Mama’s Back”, The Sounds “Painted By Numbers”

Rating: 7.2/10

[JMcQ]