When was the last time you heard a compilation that played like an album? This labor of love, assembled by Pete Yorn, Rami Jaffee of the Wallflowers and singer-songwriter Marc Dauer, is a strikingly consistent blast of roosty, melodic rock. The lovely Yorn rarity "Hunter Green" will no doubt be a major selling point, but there's a lot to dig among these 18 tracks. Things kick off with Peter Himmelman's divinely punchy "So Many Little Lies," followed by "Girl I Never Met," a sweet, jangly outing by The Minus Five (featuring R.E.M.'s Peter Buck and Scott McCaughey of Young Fresh Fellows). Other standouts include Gary Jules' evocative "DTLA," the sad-as-hell "Unstoppable" by Minibar and the bracing "Nothing New" by Evan Frankfort (who's been championed numerous times in Wheels & Deals). There are also winning entries from Jeff Trott, Ethan Johns and the Hangups. But I think my favorite cut is "Never Going Back" by Rusty Truck, aka photographer supreme Mark Seliger. Produced by Jakob Dylan (who also contributes ace backup vocals), it's an instant classic in the y'alternative category. Snap up one of these before it becomes a pricey collector's item.
-- Simon Glickman HITSdailydouble.com
FROM ALTERNATIVE ROCK TO NEO-GRUNGE
In 1996, "Swingers" helped launch the retro swing movement. Six years
later, Trampoline Records Greatest Hits Volume I similarly explores the
Silverlake-Los Feliz hipster music scene. Highlights include Gary Jules'
mesmerizing "DTLA," the dreamy, Brit pop of The Minus Five's "Girl I Never
Met" and the rocking pop of Marc Dauer' "Sentimental Tattoo."
Trampoline was founded by Marc Dauer, Rami Jaffee and Pete Yorn, like-minded
alt-rockers who often work together. The only thing missing on this CD
they've produced is retro swing but that's as been-there-done-that as the
expression been-there-done-that.
-- Tony Peyser Santa Monica Mirror
EMERGING ARTISTS
Those who developed a healthy addiction to Musicforthemorningafter, the debut from singer-songwriter Pete Yorn, should consult their doctors before spinning this 18-track collection selected by Yorn and his mates Rami Jaffee (Wallflowers) and Marc Dauer (Jukebox Junkies). Their brand of sensitive yet muscular rock is habit-forming!
-- Music Boutique Barnes & Noble.com
`TRAMPOLINE' BEST HITS DISC OFFERS A GREAT MIX
Before I get to my more formal album reviews, I want to mention a various artists disc I picked up. Normally I wouldn't bother plugging a various artists album that showcases artists from a particular record label because most of those are a dime a dozen and all are intended to be purely self-promotional.
But in the case of "Trampoline Records Greatest Hits Vol. I," I'll make an exception for a couple of reasons. First, the label is of interest because its creators include some very talented individuals, namely Pete Yorn, Rami Jaffee (Wallflowers) and Marc Dauer (Five Easy Pieces). Second, the compilation includes a number of great tunes from some very cool artists such as The Minus Five, Pete Droge and Minibar.
Third, the disc features a couple of Minnesota's best, Peter Himmelman and the Hang Ups. Finally, as with most of these types of discs, the best reason to mention it is that you usually end up getting turned on to a band or an artist that you didn't even know existed. If this sounds like it might interest you, the disc is available for a reasonable price at Barnes & Noble.
-- Karl Leslie St. Cloud Times
MUSIC SHORT TAKES
What do Pete Yorn, Rami Jaffee (Wallflowers) and Marc Dauer (Five Easy Pieces) have in common? Apart from huge success in the music industry, the refreshing answer is a collective willingness to give something back by discovering and nurturing new talent. The ethos of the label they teamed up to create is easily identifiable on this superb collection of diverse alternative pop/rock that features a selection of indie talent lying just outside the radar. The famous trio contribute stellar tracks including a quality Pete Yorn rarity, "Hunter Green", as well as "Sentimental Tattoo" by Dauer's retro-cool new band Jukebox Junkies, but the consistent high standard of the lesser-known artists showcased means there's no inferiority complex here. Standouts litter the 18 songs, with Rusty Truck's rootsy "Never Going Back", Gingersol's vibrant "Who Cares", Evan Frankfort's edgy "Nothing New" and the Marlboro-soaked reminiscences of Phil Cody's "We Could've Had It All" being the top picks. Meanwhile, in between the wonderfully contrasting sounds of Peter Himmelman's "So Many Little Lies" and Sake Sushi Orchestra's "I Agree With Mr. Scorsese", Sheryl Crow collaborator Jeff Trott, and the well-known producers/songwriters Pete Droge and Ethan Johns all prove their solo mettle. For anyone complaining of an over exposure to the horrors of manufactured pop, Trampoline Records Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 is the perfect antidote.
-- Andrew Ellis PopMatters
FRESH BREATH OF COUNTRY AIR FROM THE NORTH
3/5 Stars - While working on his highly-anticipated second album, rising young
songwriter Pete Yorn has also teamed with Rami Jaffee of the Wallflowers and
Marc Dauer of the Jukebox Junkies to start his own indie record label.
The Los Angeles-based Trampoline Records has some pretty impressive talent
on its roster, at least based on what's heard on this 18-song compilation.
Along with a sturdy new Yorn track ("Hunter Green"), it also features
standouts like the Brit-rock flavored "Girl I Never Met" by the Minus 5 and
the well constructed, wonderfully raspy "Sentimental Tattoo" by the Jukebox
Junkies.
Along with some lesser-known names like Gingersol, Minibar and Mavis, the
disc also features former major label acts like Peter Himmelman, who turns
in one of the set's strongest tracks in "So Many Little Lies" and Pete Droge
who offers the contemplative "All Lit Up."
Jakob Dylan of the Wallflowers makes a guest appearance as well, joining
with Rusty Truck on the acoustic tinged "Never Going Back."
For further information on the Internet, go to www.trampolinerecords.com.
-- Kevin O'Hare Union-News
MAKING THE GRADE
Latte, Jed?
Trampoline Records--the brainchild of
dreamy deep rock god Pete Yorn, Rami
Jaffee of the Wallflowers, and Jukebox
Junkie Marc Dauer--introduces itself with
the ambitiously and/or self-deprecatingly
titled compilation Greatest Hits Volume I.
Offering tracks by several music veterans
(Peter Himmelman wins the opening
track, and then there's the Minus 5, Gary
Jules, and Pete Droge), the first twenty
minutes feels like flannel rock for hipsters:
warm, stylish, fuzzy, maybe a little too
mature, and not so memorable. And then
the disc gets very "Morning Becomes
Eclectic."
Things pick up with singer/song
writer Phil Cody crooning a hooky "We
Could Have Had It All" over tinkling
acoustics; they get even lovelier with the
Jukebox Junkies' track "Sentimental
Tattoo," which feels just like its title: soft
with emotion and melody and driven by
near-scratchy vocals. The compilation
deepens with Minibar's circus organbacked
break downs,which melt into Evan
Frankfort's "Nothing New," whose electric
guitars seem almost maverick against the
gentleness of the rest of Greatest Hits. The
disc's progression is only interrupted by a
surprisingly bland Pete Yorn, who seems
determined to keep middle child status by
appearing midpoint in the comp with a
tune that hardly rivals the colors and
shades presented in Music for the Morning
After. Grade: A
