Search - Various Artists :: Old Enough to Know Better: 15 Years of Merge

Bargain

Jean Anne Miller | Portland, OR | 08/26/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This compilation is like a deep, porous sponge with many dead ends hidden in the most unlikely places. I don't mean to say it's disappointing; actually, it's quite the contrary. Think in terms of economics. A bargain, a deal, a steal. You start to believe you're getting something for free. And in a society where capitalism wrings each paycheck dry, it feels good to enjoy the supposed best things in life. Merge has hit us with a collection of odds and ends...3 CDs deep, it's a healthy mixture of indie gems and pointless experimentation, all for the price of one CD. Know what you will about Merge, but all I knew prior to my purchase was that Merge is Spoon's label. That was reason enough for me to take a chance on three CDs for the price of one...and it should be reason enough for any indie pop-rock enthusiast who would like to discover a new reason to blow a paycheck on music by one or more of the Merge artists you'll discover through repeated listens to this compilation. The first two CDs give the listener a nostalgic retrospective, while the third disc is chock full of B-sides and songs recorded especially for this collection.



Personal recommendations:

"Long Vermont Roads" - The Magnetic Fields (CD 1)

"Song Against Sex" - Neutral Milk Hotel (CD 1)

"Today is Gonna Be Mine" - David Kilgour (CD 2)

"Out of My Head" - M.Ward (CD 2)

"Decora" - Spoon (CD 3)

"Some Small History" - Portastatic (CD 3)

"Happily Ever After" - The Rosebuds (CD 3)

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