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UT's College Radio Station Masters the Mix-Tape

By Darcie Stevens
Austin Chronicle | July 23, 2004
91.7FM KVRX

Local Live Volume 8: It Came From the Basement

Variety is the spice of life, they say, and KVRX has embraced that adage with fervor. This eighth installment of tracks from the college radio station’s touted Local Live Sunday night show shines with a melange of genres and an honest representation of Austin’s rabid music scene. From Scott H. Biram’s psychobilly romp to Knife in the Water’s alt.country sway, LL8 treads through 17 songs, hitting only one bad seed. The album meshes seamlessly chapter to chapter – not an easy task considering the wealth of talent from experimental to bluegrass to post-punk and beyond. Biram’s "Truckdriver" starts things off in high gear screaming and thumping, and Philly’s Need New Body follows with a highlight in "Show Me Your Heart," a crossing of modern-day Einstürzende Neubauten with the Liars. After dancing the salsa with Maneja Beto, LL8 lands in the midst of post-punk/trance rebellion with Single Frame, This Microwave World, and Stars as Eyes, the last bringing in an intense conglomeration of anxiety and comfort. Delving into psychedelia with Echo Base Soundsystem and MadamImAdam, the album then starts to calm with the pop-folk of Chicago’s Califone and Portland’s M. Ward, who turns in a precious, melancholic version of Bowie’s "Let’s Dance." Closing with a minimalist Sondre Lerche’s "You Know So Well," the album dances through almost every known emotion. Three unreleased nuggets within more than an hour of Austin’s best locals and guests make for a truly impressive and successful endeavor.

*** – Darcie Stevens
Tags: 91.7FM KVRX, Local Live Volume 8: It Came From the Basement

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