The Daily Toreador - Student Newspaper of Texas Tech

Whether you are a seasoned listener or a newcomer to the Kill Rock Stars' roster of highly respected music artists, Mollie's Mix is sure to please.

From the opening track of Gravy Train's wondrous explicitness in Titties Bounce to Mecca Normal's stranger side that seems to combine the Doors with A Chorus Line in What about the Boy?, it easily has something for everybody.

Highlights:

Previously unreleased tracks from Gravy Train, Carla Bozulich's Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Goxxip's 777595577@! (this is the art-rock side project of minimalist giants of the music industry that easily surpass the White Stripes, the Gossip) and Sport Murphy provide an interesting, further in-depth look at the Kill Rock Stars' repertoire.

It is in this more entertaining, progressive rock that Kill Rock Stars thrives and has rendered itself one of the most highly respected labels in the independent music industry today. Kill Rock Stars' plans to promote up-and-coming, interesting acts such as these Sport Murphy's Beatles Stepping off the Plane is like a history book of rock 'n' roll in a sense that not only covers every base of blatantly good songwriting, but also covers the history like an obituary, and Carla Bozulich's Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain is like what would happen if Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton had a daughter- it can only prove fruitful in the future.

Other surprises include the aforementioned Mecca Normal track What About the Boy? It's a riveting track of storytelling only produced through eyes like Jean Smith's. She relays the story of a young boy playing in the dirt, and ladybugs, and the nonsense of ladybugs and through the darkened melodies, it can only find a place in every music-lover's heart.

The Decembrists' track I Don't Mind also is another happy surprise, with a soft overtone of flutes and communism. The two Deerhoof tracks also prove to be fun installments.

Disappointments:

Sleater-Kinney's Oh! is on the one hand, not my favorite song off of their newest album (One Beat, released earlier in the summer of 2002 on Kill Rock Stars), nor is it, in my opinion, the best presentation of the normal Sleater-Kinney flare. Then again, when did Kill Rock Stars ever say that Mollie's Mix was supposed to acquire the most usual flavors of each band? Why Kill Rock Stars has chosen to promote Oh! over other songs on the album, like perhaps Sympathy, is beyond me. To top it off, the switch between the Bangs' I Want More to Sleater-Kinney's Oh! somehow does not work as well as the other transitions.

Kill Rock Stars' fans also might find other letdowns in Slumber Party and Stereo Total. Fans of Slumber Party might remember earlier efforts as a jangle/indie pop band, less progressive, more pop. Not that progressive rock is a bad thing - it is, after all, as earlier stated, Kill Rock Stars' claim to fame - it is simply that Slumber Party is beginning to divert in a direction, after something like 13 EPs (that is probably an exaggeration, but it seems to be 13) into a sound more like the Apples in Stereo. I guess, it was not as much a disappointment as it was a shock.

Stereo Total's track Kleptomane, which follows the opening track of Gravy Train's explicit Casio-keyboard-style hip hop, leaves the listener a bit dumbfounded. Perhaps, it is more that Gravy Train leaves the listener too dumbfounded to really and truly enjoy it, because it is actually a good song.

Despite the small amount of disappointments, the compilation is probably the most essential $5 spent. If you are looking to at least become a dilettante of the Kill Rock Stars family, this is an easiest and best way to do it. And since it is already out in stores, there is no excuse for you not to have it.

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