My Pal God's 50th release is a budget-priced sampler with highlights from the New Jersey-based indie's solid roster. While a unique, off-kilter, or even challenging approach to making music is common among the artists represented, their actual output is widely varied. There's squiggly, inside joke indie electronica like
Emperor Penguin and Knodel next to contemplative singer/songwriter material from
T.W. Walsh, or
Bitter Bitter Weeks' sensitive chamber country (the banjo-tinged "Sage"). Elsewhere, MPG offers "Faith Healer," a scratchy slice of post-punk from the influential Kansas combo
the Embarrassment, as well as material from
Taking Pictures,
the Goblins, Del Rey, and
Drums & Tuba, whose "Meter Maid" is as great an introduction as any to one of indie land's more fun trios. For that matter,
A Sense of Where We Are is the perfect primer for anyone curious about the imprint's musical intentions. At a budge price, to boot. ~ Johnny Loftus