Who Is Saying What About UNSOUND, Volume Two:
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"This second collection yields a number of outstanding finds. Ranging from the swinging "She Wants Money" by John McMullan to the shimmering pedal steel in Tennessee Tuxedo's "Man of Simple Taste" to the hilarious "Dead Cat Song" by Ken Burke, the treasures here seem never ending. In fact, the best way to give you a complete listing of the gems is to simply list all the tracks. This is a collection sure to introduce a bevy of new artists to a very grateful audience.
(Ron Davies, "Splendid E-Zine")
"Let's face it, most of us aren't hooked into the home-taping underground. This series allows us a glimpse of some extraordinary talent. Almost as importantly, we learn that the only things necessary to produce a good song are creative vision, a room (any room!), and the drive to put in the necessary time."
(Blair Buscareno, "Teen Scene" Magazine)
"The first installment in The UNSOUND Series was titled "Pop!" and it featured, cannily enough, a surfeit of self-produced pop songs. There was no shortage of guitars on that volume and there is no paucity of pop on this one, so this release is a worthy and appropriate companion to that remarkable debut. In case you were not yet aware, Volume One was a home run, and with this release UNSOUND is two for two."
(Mark Keating, "Sound Views" Magazine)
"The UNSOUND Series Volume 2: Guitars! proves that the first volume was no fluke. There's so much great stuff here, it's hard to know where to start. This is another outstanding collection of home recordings from artists who deserve your support. Check it out."
(Geoff Cabin, "Rock Beat International" Magazine)
"UNSOUND Volume 2 claims Guitars as its starting point, though much of the material here can live comfortably with the Pop tag. Not that pop and guitars are incompatible; the opposite in fact. But Volume 2 does have a bit more variety and is better for it, especially when scary folks like Johnny Dowd and Jack Pedler get a turn. Other highlights include the Jim Basnight and Phil Angotti tracks, together with Kurt Reil and Mark Johnson."
(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)
"The second CD in The UNSOUND Series is even better than the first. Very cool songs from Kurt Reil, Randell Kirsch (an amazing Beach Boys-like track), Cranbury Sauce and even 60s icon Ian Whitcomb. Dee-lightful."
(Don Campau, KKUP-FM "No Pigeonholes")
"While the best pop music has always been meticulously crafted, the most convincing results seem to come from opposite ends of the spectrum; either from top-dollar studios or someone's living room. This compilation draws from the latter and has but one stipulation -- that the music be recorded at home. The resulting 23 tunes make for some of the sweetest and most guileless pop this side of the Cryan' Shames and Dwight Twilley. Not surprisingly, the Beatles serve as the touchstone for most of the artists, but there's more than enough variety to keep things interesting. Even more intriguing, the lineup puts folks like longtime British popster Ian Whitcomb and current "gothic blues" auteur Johnny Dowd next to more obscure (but no less valid) artists like New Jersey's Kurt Reil, Sweden's Cranbury Sauce and Los Angelinos The Masticators."
(Michael Lipton, "Charleston Daily Mail")
"There really is something to please just about everyone on this disc -- including some Rickenbacker jangle, some punk and some country-rock. If the qualitative improvement between UNSOUND Volume 1 and Volume 2 is any indication, pop fans will be anxious to hear Volume 3. So much music, so little time."
(Eric Sorensen, "Amplifier" Magazine)
"The second volume of Gary Pig Gold and Shane Faubert's UNSOUND compilation series (which celebrates home tapers and their handiwork) has recently been unleashed, and there are several exclusive-to-this-collection, pop-friendly tracks that make this a must-own: Kurt "Grip Weed Boy" Reil's boppin "Over The Edge," John McMullan's "She Wants Money," and Phil Angotti's acoustic reading of The Idea's excellent "The Knack" are all stellar. Rave On's fave raves The Masticators also show up, and steal the show with their outrageously perfect "He's The One," which sounds like Tracey Ullman taking on a Buddy Holly classic. On the not-so-pop side is a cool little folk tune called "Signed To EMI" by one Lord Litter."
(John M. Borack)
"Unsound, Volume Two" presents a twenty-three track set that spotlights some of the best unsigned and/or underappreciated musical talent available. Despite its title, "Guitars!" begins with one of two offerings from crooner/pop rock legend Ian Whitcomb (with ukelele accompaniment), covering Guy Lombardo's 1932 smash, "I'm Sure Of Anything But You." From that point on, the byword is diversity. Proof positive that independent labels with a comparatively modest budget are still the most reliable source for consistently superior new music.
(Mike McDowell, "Blitz" Magazine)
"Pristine recording production isn't everything, y'know. Here are 23 home demos that will nail that truth conclusively. This time around the focus is on the "Guitar!" Stellar work from Kurt (Grip Weeds) Reil, Mark Johnson, Cranbury Sauce, John McMullan, The Masticators and more. Indispensable."
(Kevin Mathews, "The Power Of Pop")
"The second installment of The UNSOUND Series has finally been hatched, and analogue to its predecessor it crackles on and on to a stirring sprawl of enchanting musical tricks. Hooky pop may be the main course here, but there's also a decent amount of other nifty noise to be savored, specifically the twang-a-rama doodlings of hillbilly country rock, along with a pinch or two of deliberate silliness. Featuring a caravan of artists who give four hundred and seventy-three percent to their craft, "Unsound, Volume Two: Guitars!" is Required Listening!"
(Beverly Paterson, "Twist And Shake" Magazine)
"Crossing genres from power-pop, rock 'n' roll, and folk, to various offshoots of the above-mentioned labels, the Unsound series does in fact do what it claims. The magic of a home studio recording is brought to life as many musicians contribute tracks recorded fresh at home with nothing more but the basics. Technology and money aren't needed (though sometimes they help); what is needed is a good song. Here are good songs recorded at home; I'll give it a B+. "
(Alex Steininger, "In Music We Trust")