Rock Stars Kill is the third permutation of the compilation series that the label inaugurated with its first full-length comp, Kill Rock Stars (Stars Kill Rock appropriately being the middle of the trilogy). The dozen and a half cuts here represent a potent snapshot of punk rock circa 1994 and include tracks from such indie rock luminaries as the Boredoms, Helium, Rancid, the Spinanes, Cupid Car Club, Free Kitten, Kathleen Hanna, the PeeChees, and Pell Mell among the cast of highlights. As important to the package as the ...
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Rock Stars Kill is the third permutation of the compilation series that the label inaugurated with its first full-length comp, Kill Rock Stars (Stars Kill Rock appropriately being the middle of the trilogy). The dozen and a half cuts here represent a potent snapshot of punk rock circa 1994 and include tracks from such indie rock luminaries as the Boredoms, Helium, Rancid, the Spinanes, Cupid Car Club, Free Kitten, Kathleen Hanna, the PeeChees, and Pell Mell among the cast of highlights. As important to the package as the cuts contained herein, though, is the manifesto typed on the back cover by KRS' Tinuviel. It rails against the invasion of corporate hegemony into music fans' (consumers') leisure time (with "Is Your Leisure Time Private?" as the guiding thesis). It makes a convincing case for the planned obsolescence of vinyl as expressed by the corporate control of the production and distribution of music culture. Written before Napster and its freewheeling web-based file-sharing progeny made a run at wrestling distribution control from corporations, it is both dated and prescient. Standout tracks include an eerily atmospheric work contributed by the Boredoms, Team Dresch's "Seven," Smog's "37 Pushups," Hanna's "I Wish I Was Him (For Evan Dando)," and the Mulkiteo Fairies' "We Are Not Your Entertainers." However, each track has a reason for being on this compilation and adds to the underlying energy, spirit, and diversity that has made Kill Rock Stars an indispensable imprint in forging a future for D.I.Y. rock & roll. ~ Chris Kelsey, Rovi
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