Alt-rock collection delivers on diversity

‘Alternative HI’

Various artists
(Mountain Apple Co.)

Co-producers Shawn Livingston Moseley and Brandon Apeles cast a wide net in assembling this alt-rock compilation album. It includes business-savvy pros such as Kevin Jones, the Hollow Spheres and Saving Cadence, and a larger number of acts taking their first steps outside the comfortable environment of the local "underground" scene. Every song is an original, and the diversity represented by the 18 participants is impressive indeed.

For instance, Disaster Kit adds French horn to the familiar underground cacophony of electric guitar, drums, bass and screaming vocals. Look elsewhere and banjo and acoustic steel guitar give folkish elements to "Blue Eyes," by Matty and the Intire Project.

Want lyrics? "You thought you own me but you don’t," Kanoa Kukaua sings with strength and conviction on "Walk Away," a polished piece of powerhouse rock by the group Owaila. Several songs later a quartet named Mano Kano channels ’70s pop and British-invasion rock in fresh and catchy form with "Summertime."

Kevin Jones ("The System"), Saving Cadence ("Got Nothin’ but Love") and Sex Puppet ("My Chevelle") represent other subgenres of alt-rock with equal success.

Female voices stand out. Erika Elona sings of "sending smoke signals in the rain" in "Smoke Signals." Jessica "Rabbitt" Lewis gives a radio-friendly performance as the voice of Rabbitt and the Propers on "Just the Way It Goes." Kelli Heath-Cruz represents traditional acoustic folk-pop with "Closer."

Prevail, a hard-rocking quintet, has a winning edge in vocalist Janessa Marcos as she sings of "finally waking up" and moving on in "Brand New."

Some styles of music are inherently more seductive than others. Amanda Frazier, lead vocalist of After Ever After, brings seductive elements to her group’s contribution, "Falling." It’s one of the highlights in a strong collection of showcase performances.

www.mountainapplecompany.com

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