Alive Records 2009 Sampler

Various Artists | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: February 3, 2009
• Label: ALIVE RECORDS LLC
• Copyright: 2009 Alive Records
• Total Length: 24:30
• Genres:
• ASIN: B001R6HF5E
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,311 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Sampler For Fans Of Lo-fi Music Production, February 10, 2009

By 

Lance G. Augustine (The Midwest, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alive Records 2009 Sampler (MP3 Download)

The Alive record label specializes in 'garage'-style, indie blues-rock and retro-rock, and on many of their recordings they use what's called lo-fi production...a deliberate attempt at making the recording sound very raw and loose. Many times the music is purposely distorted.

If you don't mind lo-fi, you're likely to find that most of these songs have a lot to offer. On the other hand, if you prefer "mainstream" production, this sampler strays a bit from what you may be used to hearing. Not all songs on this sampler are produced this way, however. The first track, "She's Got A Hold On Me" is very good all around...good song, good production. Its distorted bass guitar is tastefully done, and the handclap/snare combo sounds very cool. "Get Out While You Can isn't bad, either, although the vocals use a bit more reverb than the typically produced track. And on "Leave The Sun Behind", the drum set has a great-sounding 'raw' but clear character, and most of the other instruments & vocals sound fine (one lead guitar is just a tad overwhelming in spots).

Some of the songs next up have some interesting characteristics. "When You Find Out" is a nice tune, but the drums sounds chosen aren't necessarily what I would prefer to hear...a little too much on the electronic side...I think real drums would have been a better fit. On "Filthy Flowers", the background guitars and organ take up so many frequencies, and that, combined with vocals drowned in reverb make it a bit difficult to hear the instruments and vocals distinctly. But that's just part of the lo-fi technique at work...the recording is geared to sound like the band is jamming out in the garage with just a couple of mikes out front...very loose and raw.
On "A Million Years"...there are some fairly constant, harsh-sounding cymbal crashes that some may find a bit overwhelming.

On "Wash It", there's some strange instrument or sound in there that's all distorted, and the drums are distorted, too. The last track, "Make Love Time", goes totally lo-fi and all instruments and vocals have a high degree of distortion.

Again, some of these songs are actually quite good, and if you dig the garage-style recordings you'll love the whole sampler. But if that's not a style you enjoy, you may want to refrain from downloading some of the worst offenders. You're definitely safe with "She's Got A Hold On Me", my personal favorite.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better As It Goes, April 14, 2009

By 

M. Johnson (Harrold, SD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alive Records 2009 Sampler (MP3 Download)

It's like being in a club as it gets more exciting through the night. (The "some strange instrument" that another reviewer found off-putting is called a slide guitar; that reviewer seems unfamiliar with the blues.) This album is progressively bluesier, and better, as it goes along. The album is not physically louder from song to song, but it does give that impression as it also gets more distorted, as though with each number they were driving the stage amps harder and harder.

So, grab a drink, and enjoy the bands!

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When You Find Out, February 10, 2009

By 

Cw (So Cal, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alive Records 2009 Sampler (MP3 Download)

"When You Find Out" by The Nerves is a power pop gem! Peter Case went on to front The Plimsouls and to New Wave stardom. But this is buried treasure.

For more info. on 80s New Wave bands go to:
http://www.djcraig.net/the80s