Beating Up The Campus
by Various Artists

Beating Up the Campus: 18 College Rock Classics of the 80s is a nice and compact overview of the 80s paisley underground and roots rock brand of alternative rock music. This album is practically a showcase of Slash Records artists of the 80s, a label generally keen on avante garde roots rock (Los Lobos, Green on Red, Rank and File, BoDeans, Violent Femmes, X, The Blasters and Faith No More). From IRS records, the compilation contributes the influential R.E.M. and The Cramps. Delightfully, the record borrows heavily from the jangly rock of paisley underground artists (Dream Syndicate, Rain Parade, Long Ryders, and Prime Movers), which compliment the Slash Records contributions especially. To round it off there’s a heavy dose of jangle pop / power pop (Feelies, Matthew Sweet and The Dickies). The only oddball track is Real Wild Child by Iggy Pop, a sugary display from the proto-punk idol. The icing on the cake is some brief liner notes contributed by Sid Griffin of The Long Ryders.



Die-Hard fans of UK (The Smiths, The Cure) and US (Husker Du, The Replacements) alternative rock will be disappointed with this lot. However, it serves as an excellent introduction to the lesser known artists that helped develop an exciting era of independent American jangle pop and roots rock that served as a stepping stone between classic rock and contemporary indie rock.

Condensed to a 7" Slash Records Single:
A-Side: She's a Runaway
B-Side: Gravity Talks