Big Stir Singles: The Tenth Wave

Big Stir Records

The latest and last, for now, singles comp from Big Stir is the latest in college rock and power pop, but the overriding sentiment is that it's the latest in punk rock, as it has an edge.

Among the originals are some great covers, like the Incurables trashing Captain and Tennille's "Muskrat Love," The Guess Who's "Share The Land" covered by the Popdudes, D.F.E.'s cover of the Christies' "Yellow River," and a loungecore version of the Dead Kennedys' "Nazi Punks Fuck Off" that calls ut the Proud Boys by NPFO Stratagem. 

But it's the punk rock part that makes this more than just a great comp. The Popdudes' sincere, punky R&B cover of "O-o-h Child" leads into "Radio Safe" by The Speed of Sound, which could be a slam at mainstream modern and indie rock and mainstream radio playing soulless corporate rock. It's the best song to trash it since Elvis Costello's "Radio Radio." Add in "Share The Land," an angry song about why there isn't enough peace and love, and it all points the way to a punk rock update with a touch of hippie in it, the best kind of punk rock.

This comp could point the way to a new kind of underground, blasting away at corporate rock, which is what's needed now so much.

Andrea Weiss