Throughout history, many of the world’s greatest works of
art seem to have occurred in clumps.
Painting occurs in movements, music happens in scenes; but whether
you are talking about Impressionism in Paris during the late
19th century or Grunge in Seattle during the late 20th century,
it’s still the same – certain places seem to vibrate with a unique
creative energy at a certain point in time. Unfortunately, it’s
often only realized after the fact, and by that time, it’s too
late for most to take part.
While the musical explosion currently taking place in Brooklyn
may not end up being of historic proportions, it is exciting
nevertheless; and luckily, someone has already done something
to make people take notice before it’s all over and done with.
This month, the Arena Rock Recording Company, an indie record
label located in Greenpoint, released an extensive double-CD
compilation titled "This Is Next Year." The CD is comprised
of Brooklyn-based bands and it documents some of what is going
on in the current Brooklyn music scene.
"The name is a baseball reference," explains Arena
Rock co-owner Greg Glover. "In the ’50s, the Dodgers lost
to the Yankees a lot in the World Series and every time the headline
of the local Brooklyn paper would say ’Wait Until Next Year.’
The year that the Dodgers finally beat the Yankees, instead of
saying wait until next year, the headline read ’This Is Next
Year.’ When I read that, I thought that it was a perfect name
for the comp because it’s a throwback to when Brooklyn beat New
York, but it is also forward-looking, saying, ’This is the new
music you should be listening to now.’"
And with 42 tracks and well over two hours of music, there is
a lot of new stuff on the compilation to listen to. Some of the
bands, like They Might Be Giants, Nada Surf, Rainer Maria and
Ida, are fairly well known (at least in certain circles), while
others, like Enon, Mendoza Line and Mink Lungs, are just starting
to catch people’s ears.
"I wanted to get bands where people would say, ’I know that
band. I didn’t know they were from Brooklyn,’" says Glover.
"But I also wanted to give new, up-and-coming bands who
don’t have records out a chance to get noticed."
Anyone who listens to "This Is Next Year" will immediately
notice that there is a lot more than just rock ’n’ roll going
on in Brooklyn right now. Although the compilation doesn’t contain
tracks by any of the borough’s numerous DJs and MCs (another
double CD could easily be made of only rap and house), Brooklyn’s
folk, country and bluegrass artists are well represented.
One of the best tracks on the compilation is by Laura Cantrell,
a Nashville native who surprisingly moved from Music City to
the Big Apple to pursue a country music career. Cantrell’s "Cellar
Door" is classic Carter Family-esque country, which is a
pure joy to hear.
The foot-stompin’, banjo-pickin’, Appalachian sound of "Bound
for Brighter Days" by The Bogg’s (whose debut album on Arena
Rock is scheduled to come out soon) is another standout.
But don’t go thinking that Brooklyn has gone soft. Les Savy Fav
raises the intensity level with an energetic version of "No
Sleeves," recorded live at Maxwell’s, while Weeds of Eden,
Sean Eden’s Luna side project, contributes the fuzzed-out, guitar-heavy
"Radiate." For the most raucous track on the comp,
it’s a toss-up between Enon’s cover of Fear’s "New York’s
Alright (If You Like Saxophones)" or Grand Mal’s "Hey
Man."
"It’s totally over the top," explains Grand Mal frontman
Bill Whitten. "We threw everything into that song. It’s
super rock."
"This Is Next Year" goes from punk to alt-country to
new wave to bluegrass in the space of just a few minutes, but
even though the compilation shifts between sounds as many times
as a cabbie on the BQE shifts lanes, the album is surprisingly
cohesive.
And with so much great music by some of Brooklyn’s best bands,
no one in King’s County should need any additional incentive
to run out and buy this compilation. But there is another very
good reason to shell out a few hard-earned bucks for "This
Is Next Year." All the proceeds from the compilation are
being donated to benefit the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition
(BARC), a not-for-profit, privately funded, no-kill animal shelter
located in Williamsburg for homeless cats and dogs.
"We got involved in the compilation for three reasons,"
explains Karla Schickele of both Ida and k., her solo project.
"One, because we were asked. Two, because we are all big
boosters of Brooklyn, and three, because it’s a good cause."
"This is Next Year" (Arena Rock Records, $15.98)
can be purchased at Beacon’s Closet [110 Bedford Ave., (718)
486-0816] in Williamsburg. For more info about Brooklyn Animal
Resource Coalition, call (718) 486-7489 or visit www.barcshelter.org
on the Web.
