This is
a pretty decent collection of goth/industrial artists signed to the Van Richter
label. Two tracks a piece from The Fair Sex, Girls Under Glass, Testify,
Plastic Noise Experience, Death and Horror Inc., and Sielwolf. Aside from the
Plastic Noise Experience tracks, these tunes have all been released elsewhere.
Still, if you don’t have these albums and are wondering what the Van Richter
roster of artists sounds like this is a great way to find out. I wouldn’t say
these artists are doing anything I haven’t heard from other acts in the genre,
but the overall quality of the material is solid. If you like your music dark
and danceable, chances are you’ll dig this compilation. (Bob Ignizio)
The Woolly Bandits
aren’t pushing the limits or anything, but I don’t care about that because it
appears they are writing albums just for me. Which I don’t mind, in fact, I
quite enjoy. The Woolly Bandits ‘Say Hello to my Little Friend’is no
exception. They are simple garage rock that is maybe a little better than garage
rock. The songs have energy, but they are not focusing only on the energy. They
have good beats, great hooks, and the ability to make you want to do the swim,
if only you knew how. No, really, I know how, and I did it. Even though I was
listening to this band at my real job, in my cubicle, I stood up and did the
swim. Then people looked at me funny, and now I’m back to just listening. So, I
love The Dirtbombs and The Gories. This band may not have Mick Collins, but
they do have Rick Collins and a keyboard played on the organ setting, so it’s
close enough for me. This band is fun and good, which is a hard combination to
find lately. But don’t trust me, I’m just a girl who likes to dance. (Feowyn
A. MacKinnon)
I’ve reviewed a
single from these guys and girls before and I liked them. I think that’s why Bob
sent me the full length album. Let’s see, what did I say last time, “the
pounding of a farfisa throughout the record perfectly placed in each song.”
Check. “Drums, bass, and guitar working together to compliment each other rather
then play against one another.” Check. “Vocals that stand out, and a female
singer who doesn’t have the greatest voice in the world but knows exactly how to
play up her assets without simply screaming off key.” Check. (Feowyn
pretentiously quoting herself. Check.) All the good stuff still applies. They
managed to stretch those same elements into a full length album, this time
adding leads and solos to flesh out the songs. Some of their songs remind me of
classic girl groups from the fifties, while other songs remind me of The Rocky
Horror Picture Show. Don’t laugh; some of those songs were great! Not as much
energy as I would like, but when the singers are not only singers, they are also
playing instruments, its not as easy to sound like your having fun, because
you’re probably concentrating on playing the right chords and stuff….but what do
I know, I can’t play an instrument. I might just be making excuses because I
like them. (Feowyn A. MacKinnon)
This is
a pretty decent collection of goth/industrial artists signed to the Van Richter
label. Two tracks a piece from The Fair Sex, Girls Under Glass, Testify,
Plastic Noise Experience, Death and Horror Inc., and Sielwolf. Aside from the
Plastic Noise Experience tracks, these tunes have all been released elsewhere.
Still, if you don’t have these albums and are wondering what the Van Richter
roster of artists sounds like this is a great way to find out. I wouldn’t say
these artists are doing anything I haven’t heard from other acts in the genre,
but the overall quality of the material is solid. If you like your music dark
and danceable, chances are you’ll dig this compilation. (Bob Ignizio)
The Woolly Bandits
aren’t pushing the limits or anything, but I don’t care about that because it
appears they are writing albums just for me. Which I don’t mind, in fact, I
quite enjoy. The Woolly Bandits ‘Say Hello to my Little Friend’ is no
exception. They are simple garage rock that is maybe a little better than garage
rock. The songs have energy, but they are not focusing only on the energy. They
have good beats, great hooks, and the ability to make you want to do the swim,
if only you knew how. No, really, I know how, and I did it. Even though I was
listening to this band at my real job, in my cubicle, I stood up and did the
swim. Then people looked at me funny, and now I’m back to just listening. So, I
love The Dirtbombs and The Gories. This band may not have Mick Collins, but
they do have Rick Collins and a keyboard played on the organ setting, so it’s
close enough for me. This band is fun and good, which is a hard combination to
find lately. But don’t trust me, I’m just a girl who likes to dance. (Feowyn
A. MacKinnon)
I’ve reviewed a
single from these guys and girls before and I liked them. I think that’s why Bob
sent me the full length album. Let’s see, what did I say last time, “the
pounding of a farfisa throughout the record perfectly placed in each song.”
Check. “Drums, bass, and guitar working together to compliment each other rather
then play against one another.” Check. “Vocals that stand out, and a female
singer who doesn’t have the greatest voice in the world but knows exactly how to
play up her assets without simply screaming off key.” Check. (Feowyn
pretentiously quoting herself. Check.) All the good stuff still applies. They
managed to stretch those same elements into a full length album, this time
adding leads and solos to flesh out the songs. Some of their songs remind me of
classic girl groups from the fifties, while other songs remind me of The Rocky
Horror Picture Show. Don’t laugh; some of those songs were great! Not as much
energy as I would like, but when the singers are not only singers, they are also
playing instruments, its not as easy to sound like your having fun, because
you’re probably concentrating on playing the right chords and stuff….but what do
I know, I can’t play an instrument. I might just be making excuses because I
like them. (Feowyn A. MacKinnon)