AMG Review of Homemade Hits, Vol. 1

Johnny Loftus
All Music Guide

Kittridge Records' Homemade Hits returns to the days of the Harriet label -- and, ultimately, Sarah -- by offering 26 purely home-recorded gems of the indie pop variety. Rose for Bodhan and Lil Pocketknife team up for the squelchy, somehow funky keyboard workout "Pig I'm," while Pumpkin Picasso's "Robot and My Friend" is like a time capsule from 1994, when types like Archers of Loaf and Butterglory were doing their thing. Pragmatics' "Velcro" is cool, lo-fi synth pop, while Vergel Tears get the best line of the comp with "Out With Your Happy On," as in "Nice to see you...." There's some filler here -- Dewey Decimator's "Late Night Booty Call" is more about sound loops and telephone feedback than anything, and the rudimentary indie pop of the Awesomes' "Teamwork Hi-5 Awesome" doesn't live up to its, well, awesome name. Still, Homemade Hits is pretty strong throughout, and great one-stop shopping for anyone hungry for new music.