UNHEARD-OF PRAISE For UNSOUND, Volume One:
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More quotes below:
"A pet project of Shane Faubert, ex of The Cheepskates and latter-day solo artist, the premise behind this series is that some amazing recordings are made at home and that UNSOUND will compile and release the best of them. VOLUME 1 is entitled "Pop!" and concentrates on performers, writers and bands who fall loosely into this genre. Household names (we're talking about my household here) include Jeremy Morris (the wonderfully Beatlesque "The Actor"), Ed James, The Phenomenal Cats, The Breetles and, of course, Shane Faubert. Quality is remarkably high considering the circumstances, and the stripped down approach allows the songs to shine through. Good stuff."
(Rob Forbes, "Luke" Magazine)
"Gary Pig Gold, long-time champion of music for the people in his excellent fanzine "The Pig Paper," is releasing compilations of tracks recorded by artists in their own homes. Two volumes of UNSOUND, "Pop!" and"Guitars!," are of stunning quality throughout. Gold says, "We're always looking for contributions. And unlike most record companies, we pay!"
(Joe Cushley, "Mojo" Magazine)
"24 tracks assembled by Gary Pig Gold and Shane Faubert, who have a real taste for that good old pop sound. Hear The Beatles, XTC and remnants of many other pop masters as filtered through the current day stylings of home tapers like Lane Steinberg, Ed James, Ray Carmen, Rick Harper and of course Messrs. Gold and Faubert."
(Don Campau, KKUP-FM "No Pigeonholes")
"Prepare yourself for a different kind of House Music. Two do-it-yourself producers, Gary Pig Gold and Shane Faubert, have issued a challenge to listeners and music industry types alike: Demos sound better than studio recordings. Prove it, you say? They have, with the first release in a series of home demo anthologies called UNSOUND, VOLUME 1: POP! On its twenty-four tracks are some of the greatest tunesmiths you've never heard of. To mention any one of the contributors would require mentioning them all, since each and every track is essential to the flow and contour of the whole"
(Mark Keating, SOUND VIEWS Magazine)
"With the premise that home demos are more spontaneous and inspired than the finished article, "Unsound, Volume One" delights with power pop, pure pop and classic pop that would work in any environment. "
(Kevin Mathews, "The Power Of Pop")
"Volume One of UNSOUND succeeds wildly: virtually every track, from the humblest demo to the most competently performed and recorded, is astunner, a would-be pop classic, a far better song than 90% of what's put out by the major labels. And each of the artists on this notable compilation is as worthy of mainstream success as this week's entire Billboard Top 20. Highly recommended!"
(RZ Thoorn, "Pallid Pilgrim" Newsletter )
" A good idea bolstered by great execution, this disc is a motherlode of unknown pop treasures that deserves a prominent spot in any pop fan's CD changer."
( J. M. Borack )
" Proves that cool pop music can indeed be made on a budget, at home, and still be worthy of both attention and repeated play... an album that belies its experimental concept and is just plain enjoyable on its own terms."
( Carl Cafarelli, GOLDMINE Magazine )
"The UNSOUND compilation CD is something else. Various artists send in their home recordings to be featured on one amazing album. VOLUME 1 is directed towards Pop. It doesnít get any better than this."
(Paul Autry Jr., "Half Creeper" Magazine)
"If the term 'home taping' makes you think of amateurish performances and crude, low-fi recordings, think again. In terms of both musical performance and recording quality, the material is consistently strong throughout the disc. In fact, this is far better than most stuff you'll hear on major labels"
(Geoff Cabin, "Rock Beat International")
"Despite uniformly balanced and amazingly good sound quality, everything here was committed to tape in kitchens, bedrooms and basements. Featuring 24 truly great, pop-based tracks and 18 outstanding artists, The UNSOUND Series, Volume One is one of those rare, "must have" discs that'll still be an essential listen six months after you fork over the cash for it."
(Al Muzer, "Aquarian Weekly")
"It's better than good; greater than great: Words like "astounding" and "unique" are not even close to describing this collection of pop-art, neo-classic, pseudo-aboriginal, home-grown cosmic chantings and melodious siren songs that somehow seem to defy convention and order. With each song standing apart from the other, and each seeming to be greater than the whole, UNSOUND is an adventure that is timeless and self-defining."
(Elton Houck, Texas Twister Radio)
"Another of those, if we are to be honest, not-so-good compilations with home recordings of unsigned goofs with nothing better to spend their money on than a Tascam 4 or 8-track recorder? Nope, not this time, folks. This is traditional American pop: lots of melodies, jangly guitars (mainly Rickenbackers) and a distinct down-to-earth feeling."
(Tommy Bergman, "Benno / Stokage" Magazine, Sweden)
"I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't heard it. So many talented artists, a lot of them doing their own songs all by themselves. That's impressive. This compilation includes material that will please a wide majority of people. Get this CD and support home grown music!"
(Alex Steininger, "In Music We Trust")
"Pop compilations are multiplying like cute little bunnies these days, but you've really got to be discerning and learn how to separate the hamburger from the steak. Well, The UNSOUND Series is steak combined with lobster, I might add! An ace expose of enthralling pop moods a virtual "who's who" of contemporary underground pop."
(Beverly Paterson, "Twist And Shake" Magazine)
"UNSOUND is envisioned by its creators as a series designed to make great home-recorded music available to the general public. Perhaps the most interesting thing to me is that many of these tracks sound better than many regular studio recordings. An excellent comp."
(Blair Buscareno, "Teen Scene" Magazine)
"There are 24 hits and no misses on UNSOUND, Volume One: Pop, which blows the roof off the misconception that fully realized music can't be recorded in your living room (or bedroom, or closet)."
(Jordan Oakes, "The Riverfront Times")
"Lo-fi genius permeates UNSOUND, Volume One: Pop, which boasts a boatload of highlights."
(Timothy Gassen, "Psychedelicatessen", "Cosmik Debris" May '98)