Originally published in Verbicide issue #5

Redline Distro is a Chicago-based collective of punk rock labels who are looking for a new way to do business in the independent music world. The eight labels share responsibilities, and they printed 5,000 of these samplers to promote the labels and the bands. A pretty good idea, I think, and there’s some good music, too.

Arms Reach Recordings have a terrific band called The John Sparrow, whose song “Chinook” is a seriously good track.  Other high points include Matt Bourjaily’s “Letter to Sherlock Holmes” from Walk In Cold Records.  “Disappointed” by Winepress proves that Buddy Holly and the Queers did influence someone in a positive way.  John Brown Battery is doing something creative if their track “Maps & Continents”(He Who Corrupts Records) is any indication.  The sampler winds up with a live track from the Irish band The Tossers.

(Redline Distribution, 5420 S. Bishop, Chicago, IL 60609)