C86
by Various Artists

(This review is for a version of NME's C86 that's available on streaming services like Google Music. The track listing is much different than what's listed here on BEA but shares some tracks.) Nice compilation of fun songs from mostly lesser knowns from this time and place. Some appear to be knockoffs of more successful British guitar bands, like the Jam and Jesus & Mary Chain. (The Primitives' "Lazy" and 14 Iced Bears' "Inside" are especially obvious JMC copies, and the Claim's "Gullible's Travels" sounds a lot like the Jam, though it's one of the album's better songs. Meanwhile The Enormous Room's "I Don't Need You" appears to presage Stone Roses, who were around at the time but not yet a success.) The derivative nature of the knockoffs is endearing at this distance in time, though also a little sad, like watching insecure tweens try too hard to be like a more confident peer.