Various Artists Lab Results Volume 1 Label: GSL Release Date:10/03/2006

When a record label releases a compilation DVD, it’s something that is either marketed towards the fanatical follower type or in some cases, the curious novice. The spotlighted label here is GSL aka Gold Standard Laboratories. In the seat of the fanatical one, are you willing to be be subjected to hours of hipster friendly music that you might get tired of by the end due to the overload? As the curious novice, are you ready to do the same and possibly get horribly disgusted with the amount of indirect Public Image Ltd worship? Do you have the courage to tolerate a label that has spawned a pretentious fanbase that has seemingly taken out the fun in indie rock? Proceed with caution.

I suppose the selling point of this DVD is all the “rare and live archival” footage featured on here.

Fans of At the Drive In, will probably get weak in the knees at the sight of De Facto. There’s a performance on here totaling five songs of atmospheric and druggy vibes with dub tendencies brought to you by guys with poodle hair and tight shirts. It appears that the first three songs are actually separate compositions. No kidding.

Up next, we have GoGoGo Airheart. Oh wow, we get to see a basement rehearsal at Mike’s! I could almost smell everything I would hate about living in the early 1970s when I watch this segment. That’s not to say these guys are bearded post-flower power folk-rockers, but watching these guys sit around in a basement, drink beer, and “jamming” in the way GoGoGo Airheart does, makes me want to cut their hair.

The Starlite Desperation seem a bit more energetic with their shaggy haired brand of garage rock. The two songs they contribute seem to be from a CMJ fest related event.

The Starvations seem to be some melancholic carnival-esque sounding band with a vocalist that is trying to channel a late 1970s punk rock sneer in the vein of Richard Hell or maybe even Boomtown Rats-era Bob Geldof. The music itself sounds pretty engaging and they are a bit more enjoyable than the others I’ve seen so far. There’s an interview where they are asked if they are a fan of “the unholy.” Their keyboardist replies, “Our bassist is an ordained minister.” However, it’s small things like the singer’s Colonel Sanders-like necktie that annoys me.

Aspera’s two contributions hit you like Sunday morning. It’s like the calm boredom that you don’t want to fight against. However, I’m willing to start a riot in response to Aspera’s semi-psychedelic musical swagger.

The Faint offers a song taken from a performance at the Fireside Bowl in Chicago. To sum it up, I believe fans of the Faint love to dance around in moments of complete darkness to 8 bit NES Megaman beats and disco drumming.

One of the Locust segments open up with them hanging around Japan eating some rather unattractive food. The live show that follows has them taking the stage in underwear and furry shirts. Their interview with a monotone Japanese girl reveals that they love Ozzy and Devo. How fitting. The footage shot in Los Angeles has some excellent non-grainy quality. However, I will never understand the synth breaks that accompany the “chaos” of their music. The fans don’t seem to mind as evident to the response they get during “Moth-Eaten Deer Head.”

There’s also tons of music videos on this from GSL’s roster. You get visual representations of either ultra-artsy post-punk or pseudo-rebellious and confrontational post-punk. However, I can’t help but feel like I’m watching some abstract Nickelodeon programming when I’m watching some of these videos. I get that vibe from watching Kill Me Tomorrow’s “The Best Siren is a Flesh Siren.” Their other video, “Born To Be Filed” seems like it could be a decent short film. Veronica Lipgloss and the Evil Eyes’ have seemingly hired day-glo mimes to appear in their video for “Strip Mall Glass.” I’m also curious as to whether 400 Blows made their videos in the same day or maybe they just don’t change their clothes. Their vocalist has that dirty 1970s cop vibe about him. I just wish he would grow a moustache to go with it.

If you’re a fan of this label, you are most likely going to want to buy this. So what are you waiting for? Smear your lipstick, be androgynous, and rock out in a pretentious manner. GSL wants you to.

GSL - Myspace

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 7th, 2006 at 12:35 am and is filed under FILM/DVD. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.