Various Artists: Gimme Indie Rock V.1

The K-Tel label is best known for compiling hundreds of cheesy pop-music collections. Recently, however, the label has begun to capitalize on music listeners' love of compiling just about everything: not just the hits, but also peripheral music and cultural run-off. K-Tel has recently begun to branch out into more specific sub-genres such as Goth and punk to go with its usual radio staples. The new double-disc Gimme Indie Rock collects 30 songs from the heyday of independent rock labels—mostly the mid-'80s, which former Option editor Scott Becker's effusive liner notes hail as the most successful period in rock 'n' roll history. Hyperbole Perhaps, but one of the hallmarks of indie-rock is that no matter how small the band, someone will invariably think it's the best music ever made. In several spots on Gimme Indie Rock, though, the hype is justified: The collection draws heavily from the extensive, essential catalogs of Homestead (The Chills, Giant Sand, Squirrel Bait), SST (Hüsker Dü, Meat Puppets, Dinosaur Jr, Minutemen, Black Flag), and Sub Pop (Mudhoney). It also includes strong selections from The Mekons, The Wedding Present, The Fall, Pussy Galore, Half Japanese, Yo La Tengo, The Pastels, The Feelies, Galaxie 500, Flaming Lips, Spacemen 3, Melvins, The Vaselines, and—in the famous words of K-Tel—"many, many more." What the collection lacks is such '80s indie staples Sonic Youth, Big Black, and Sebadoh's title track. And many, many more. Of course, this is billed as volume one, so maybe volume two will pick up the pieces, licensing restrictions permitting. As it stands, Gimme Indie Rock sounds like the great mix tape you might have kept in the car with you at all times, only digital.