This Can't Be Today - comp on Cherry Red

 

I never really warmed to Michael Quercio's scene description, "Paisley Underground", probably because I was already evolving a bit past the true retro-60's look'n'sound (although, of course, it was still a huge influence on me) by the time he started using that, and partly because it was used for a clique of friends that I wasn't really part of (although I liked and supported the bands). 

In any case, this comp encompasses the LA groups from that were associated with the PU label - Three O'Clock, the Bangs, Dream Syndicate, Green on Red, Long Ryders, Rain Parade, Wednesday Week, etc. - but also includes some of the earlier purveyors of 60's sounds - the Unclaimed, the Last, the Droogs, the Pandoras, the Tell Tale Hearts, Yard Trauma, Thee Fourgiven and more. Along with that, the "American Psychedelia" label is used quite loosely to include bands like REM, Meat Puppets, Husker Du, the Flaming Lips, Camper Van Beethoven and others that I suppose were described at the time as Psychedelic, but were hardly utilizing any 60's sounds.

Regardless, along with these combos, this 67 track, 3-CD set has tons more groups, some I am completely unfamiliar with, but other cool cats like the Cynics, the Steppes, Dead Moon, Mod Fun, Redd Kross and lots of other hipsters (before that term became an insult!). This is a super varied comp and so hopefully fans of some of the larger groups will get turned on to the fab, more underground bands (I would never have expected to be on a comp with Husker Du!). Thanks to Cherry Red for including us one this one!