Various - All Tomorrow's Parties 3.1 (Curated By Matt Groening)

  by Jamie Rowland

published: 19 / 10 / 2005

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Review

All Tomorrow’s Parties has proven to be one of the most interesting music festivals around, with a back log of incredibly diverse acts from both the mainstream and the underground music scenes. The key to their success? The people they choose to curate the events. Mogwai, Vincent Gallo and Slint have all chosen the line-up in the past, and in 2003, ‘The Simpsons’ creator Matt Groening also took the reigns. And it’s this festival which is the latest to have had its roster of bands transferred to CD format. Groening may not be the first person that comes to mind when you’re thinking about music, but this compilation shows that he’s a man of exquisite taste. Some of the biggest names in the alternative world (as well as some of those less well known acts) grace this CD; Iggy and the Stooges, the Shins, the Magic Band, Electralane and Elliott Smith all make an appearance, along with a fantastic cover of ‘The Simpsons Theme’ by Sonic Youth. But one of the real highlights for me is a contribution from Daniel Johnston, an artist I feel deserves so much more recognition than he receives. His song, ‘Syrup of Tears’, is a beautiful piece of truly emotional music. Daniel Johnston may not have the best voice in music (far from it, some might say) but the power of his song writing makes this criticism all but meaningless. This is an excellent collection of bands, all performing fantastic songs. The diversity of the album does well to illustrate the variety of bands that appear at All Tomorrow's Parties, although the absence of any acts from the underground dance/electronica and hip hop scenes is something of a disappointment. All the same, if you’re ever organising a big alternative music festival, it might be an idea give Groening a call for some hints.

Track Listing:-

1 Sonic Youth- Simpson's Theme
2 The Stooges- Fun House
3 The Magic Band- Dropout Boogie
4 Spoon- The Two Sides Of Monsieur Valentine
5 The Shins- Young Pilgrims
6 Modest Mouse- Bukowski
7 Elliott Smith- Pictures Of Me
8 Daniel Johnston- Syrup Of Tears
9 The American Analog Set- Come Home Baby Julie, Come Home
10 Electrelane- The Valleys
11 Deerhoof -Desaparceré
12 Jackie-O Motherfucker- Drake Hotel

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